Chapter Seventy

Bella

That night changed everything. We were now so attuned to each other that I knew what he was thinking and feeling and it was the same for him. It was as if we had one shared consciousness now, we were two parts of a whole and I felt a warmth through my whole body. The next morning we made love again and the warmth just grew more intense. I could hardly bear to leave him long enough to shower, so he followed me in. His body set me on fire when it touched mine and it was afternoon by the time we left on our journey back to the cabin. As it was empty and he was paying cash we were able to move in almost straight away.

I never realized that building a home with someone could be so rewarding. In the mornings we would work on the house itself, pulling out rotted timbers and clearing the debris of the years that had accumulated both inside and out. In the afternoons we worked outside and this was my favourite part of the day because Jasper would strip to the waist and I often did nothing but watch him at work as he cleared the bushes and weeds and relaid the crumbling flagstones of the path to the summer house in the back garden. As the sun started to die in the evening I would cook myself something to eat and then we would sit on the dusty old couch in the huge bedroom and talk about the future or cuddle up and this always lead to making love again, we were both insatiable for each other and only when I was too tired to even speak would we stop, then he would hold me in his arms until I woke again.

Jasper

This small oasis seemed like paradise to me, the one place and one person I could really be myself with. Bella was happy whatever we were doing, she never needed more than we had, no shopping trips or theatre visits or fashion shows and I loved her all the more for it. The only thing that marred it was the knowledge that Alice was still out there somewhere and she wouldn't be idle. I knew Peter and Charlotte were still looking but Alice was extremely cunning and wouldn't be easy to find. I hoped they would catch up with her before she did something stupid like join Aro and the Volturi. The place was almost finished now and it was even better than I'd imagined, Bella came up with some really good touches and it felt like our home already. I thought she might like to invite Charlie to visit and see that she was happy and had a secure home, so I suggested it and she rang him straight away. Surprisingly he was more than happy to come and stay, he'd decided I wasn't the worst thing Bella could have done.

Charlie

I got the invitation from Bella by phone one day and the next she sent me an invitation in the mail. Wow I must be eagerly awaited because Jasper had arranged for a car service to pick me up and drop me at the airport and a ticket for the flight out, money wasn't a problem obviously. In the note was a request not to phone the house in case Bella answered, it was to be a surprise for her. I hated surprises and so did she normally but maybe he'd changed her. My holiday was already arranged with work so I dragged out my battered old suitcase and pondered what to pack. Jasper never seemed the jacket and tie type so I settled on one good outfit for when we went anywhere although I thought a meal out was probably not on the cards knowing what I did about him. Other than that I threw in some casual stuff, then contemplated my fishing gear, I wondered if there were any good fishing rivers nearby, I couldn't ring to ask so I decided against it. I hadn't been this nervous about a holiday in years, but then I hadn't had a holiday away for years, now I came to think about it. My vacations were usually spent with Harry fishing around Forks.

The car arrived promptly on the Friday evening, along with a guy in full livery and I cringed hoping no one I knew would see me in the car. The Driver took my case and opened the back door for me so I slid in nervously.

"There are drinks in the bar Sir, compliments of Mr Whitlock"

I thanked him and looked in, sure enough there were my favourite brand beers plus some shorts. Feeling like a pop star I opened one of the beers and poured it into a glass. The driver was going slowly down the road watching me in the mirror.

"Anything else Chief Swan?" he asked as I finished pouring the beer.

"No thanks, let's go"

He nodded and put his foot down smoothly at the same time sliding the privacy panel up. A bit O.T.T I thought but I sat back enjoying my beer. This was definitely the way to travel I thought as I put my feet up with a smile.

I noticed after a few miles we were going the long way round and tapped on the screen. I heard a voice near my ear and jumped but it was just an intercom,

"Yes Sir?"

"Why are we going this way?"

"Orders Sir. I think my employer wanted you to have time to relax."

"Oh OK"

I heard a click which must have been the intercom clicking off again. I finished my beer and sat looking at the scenery, something I never normally had time to do with work. The slow drive and the beer must have relaxed me because I started to doze off as we approached Seattle. I blinked and yawned, I didn't want the driver to find me asleep in the back when he opened the door at the airport but I couldn't keep my eyes open and as they closed for the last time I registered that we were in fact heading away from the airport.

Bella

I was really looking forward to seeing Charlie, he'd been really good about everything considering the shock he must have felt when he was told about the Cullens and the wolves. He was due to fly out this evening and I'd rung earlier but he must have already left. Jasper had gone to hunt so I was putting the finishing touches to the meal I'd cooked in Charlie's honour. It seemed ages since I'd cooked a proper meal and I felt rusty. We were going to the airport later to pick him up and I'd rechecked his room at least a dozen times making sure everything was just right, the bathroom supplied, the bed made properly, fresh flowers in a vase, totally over the top but it gave my fidgeting hands something to do. I looked at the clock, Jasper would be back in the next couple of hours depending on how far his hunting took him and then we'd have a couple more hours before we had to leave and pick Charlie up. I was sure I could think of something to pass the time I thought with a grin, then the computer message alert sounded and I went over to see, in case it was from Peter about Alice.