Chapter Twenty Two

Charlie

Bella had been officially missing for months now and it was getting harder to keep up the pretence of looking for her knowing in reality where she was. Carlisle kept in touch to tell me of her progress, how she was happy with Jasper but I needed to hear it for myself, hear her voice and see her. However much she may be altered she was still my little girl and always would be. Renee had rung every day at the outset but now only once a week and I think that was only because she felt she should. Bella's Mum had always been strangely intuitive and I think she knew there was more to her Daughters disappearance than I'd told her but she didn't push it. Perhaps deep down she knew I was protecting her from heartache, who knows.

The house was strangely quiet this evening, usually Billy, Jake, and Angela, or Harry and Sue were here and if not them then Carlisle and Esme. They'd all told me more or less all about themselves and I still couldn't believe I hadn't noticed the oddities, not with Jake so much as with Carlisle and his family. Looking at them with the knowledge of what they were I could suddenly see things that should have set alarm bells ringing when I first set eyes on them but as Esme explained,

"Its all part of the show Charlie. You see what we want you to see not the reality behind it"

And I guess she was right. The crazy thing was that even knowing they were vampires and werewolves I never found myself feeling scared or threatened. Now I could see how Bella felt about them, they were individuals first and monsters, for want of a better word, second.

I turned the TV off and checked the doors were locked before climbing the stairs wearily. These days I went to bed early because I knew I wouldn't sleep much, it was at night I missed Bella most, as I had always missed Renee at that time. The comforting feel of another person being in the house, now it just felt empty and hollow, just the way it had after Renee left and before Bella came back into my life on a permanent basis. I felt guilty about what had happened, as her Father I should have taken more care of her and as a Police Officer I should have kept her from danger and I failed in both tasks. A failure as a Husband and as a Father, not much of a summation of my life, but the truth.

As I got put of the shower I heard the phone ringing and looked at the clock beside the bed. I hadn't realised it was so early, only 10 pm so I wrapped a towel around my waist and ran down the stairs to answer it

"Dad?"

"Bella? Honey its so good to hear your voice. Are you OK? Where are you?"

"Hi Dad, I'm really sorry about what's happened. I love you Dad"

A lump formed in my throat but I managed a

"Love you too kiddo."

"Hows Mum?"

"I haven't told her anything but I think she realizes I know more than I'm saying. How are you? Is Jasper Cullen looking after you?"

"Yes Dad he's watching over me. Did Carlisle tell you he's my mate?"

"Yeah kind of, although I'm still a bit vague about the details"

"Its like a Husband but without the ring and deeper"

"Oh well that's much clearer then"

She laughed and it sounded like my little girl but just very slightly different.

"Will I be able to see you soon honey?"

"That's why I was ringing. Jazz thinks I'd be controlled enough to meet you and I miss you Dad"

"Right, safe eh? OK, how are we going to do this? You coming here? No I guess that wouldn't be a good idea"

"We wondered if maybe you could get some time off and join us in Italy"

"Italy? Wow, I guess so"

She laughed again,

"I know its out of your comfort zone but I don't think I'm ready to fly just yet."

"I'll see what I can do honey. Its great to hear your voice, I miss you, the house is so empty."

"Dad, Jasper wants a word with you if that's OK"

I hesitated then thought if he's in her life I have to at least speak to the guy,

"OK Bells put him on"

"Chief Swan this is Jasper Whitlock Bella's...Fiancé I guess would be the best term"

Yeah I prefer it to mate"

"I'm sure. I'm sorry about all of this, I did try but I'm afraid I was too late to stop Bella's change. I have tried to look after her since though and it would make her very happy if you could visit. I realize its quite a trek and expensive so I wondered if you would object to my sending you the plane tickets if you can give me the dates you are able to get away or the money for them"

"I see, I take it that money isn't a problem for you?"

"No not really, I've been around a long time and made some good investments"

"I didn't mean to pry Jasper it was just an unusual question. If you give me a contact number I'll get back to you as soon as I get things arranged. How is Bella really? She sounds good."

"She is, very calm and controlled, an unusual woman in every sense"

"You just make sure you look after her"

"I will Chief, I look forward to meeting you properly I don't think we were ever introduced when I was with the Cullens."

"Oh yes, you don't use their name any longer I take it?"

"I never did, I was Jasper Hale in Forks, Rosalie's brother, but Whitlock is my real name."

"By real do you mean vampire or human?"

"It was my birth name"

"I see, and just how old are you Jasper?"

"I was born in 1844 in Texas"

"I understand from Carlisle that you stop ageing when you're bitten so how old were you then?"

"19"

"That's a relief"

"You thought I was older?"

"Well, from the way Carlisle and Esme have spoken about you I expected you to be older yes, you have a lot of experience of...life."

"I was in the Confederate Army during the Civil War that's probably part of the reason"

"Yeah I guess it would be. Well I feel a little better for speaking to you. I'll ring as soon as I get something sorted out. Where would I be flying to?"

"The closet Airport for you would be...Naples"

"OK give my love to Bella"

"I will Charlie and we look forward to seeing you soon."