Chapter Twenty Eight
Jasper
I drove as fast as I could without getting pulled over, luckily it was very late and the roads were fairly clear. Bella held my hand as we drove and I received as much comfort as I gave on that journey. It seemed strange, here I was driving my family to Port Angeles, my mate, for I was sure she was, and my daughter, a miracle I would never take for granted. Looking in the mirror I saw her peacefully asleep, Shadow firmly grasped in one hand, she was so beautiful I could have watched her constantly but I needed to keep my eyes on the road so I tore them away reluctantly. Bella saw me and smiled,
"We all find it difficult to tear our eyes away, she is so beautiful"
"Like her mother"
She laughed quietly,
"Like her father I think, the face of an angel"
"OK, but not her father's heart, black as the devils"
"No, that's not true. You aren't a bad person Jasper. I'll never believe that of you."
"Thank you Bella but you might feel different when you know my history"
"I do, Char told me but you only did what you thought was the norm for the world you'd been pulled into. My Jasper is a good man"
"Thank you again."
Bella
I enjoyed the journey despite the reason and it didn't seem long until we were at the hospital and I went to find my dad while Jasper stayed with Grace who hadn't woken up. He promised to take her into the restaurant at the hospital and get her breakfast when she woke. I soon found Charlie's room and went in quietly so as not to wake him. Sitting by the side of the bed was Sue Clearwater and she looked up as I opened the room.
"Bella, thank goodness. He keeps asking for you."
"How is he?"
"A little better. He lost so much blood but the surgeon says he's strong and he expects him to recover."
She got up and I slid into the seat, glad to get the weight off my foot. Sue looked but didn't ask any questions. I must have looked a sight with my grazed face and bandage but all that was forgotten as I looked at my dad so weak and vulnerable in the bed. I picked up his hand and squeezed it,
"I'm here dad."
His eyes opened and he tried to smile,
"Bells. I was worried about you. What happened?"
His hand came up to touch my cheek
"Just a fall, you know me. Are you OK?"
"Well getting shot isn't how it looks in the films, it hurts a lot more"
"You'll be fine dad. I'll check on the house and move back into my apartment while you're in hospital. They wont let me stay too long, you're going down for a scan in a little while but I'll be back later. I love you dad"
"Love you too Bells"
He closed his eyes and drifted off.
"Harry and I will check on the house if you like."
"Thanks Sue. I'll get some shopping in then I'll be back"
"You're welcome to stay with us if you want to"
"No I'm OK thanks, and thank you for being here with Charlie"
"Well we couldn't contact you so we thought we'd better"
There was censure in her voice but I ignored it and we walked out of the room together,
"Can I give you a lift?"
"No thanks I have one"
She looked curious but I didn't elaborate and eventually she shrugged and walked out to the car park while I went to the restaurant.
I found Grace and Jasper sitting at one of the tables. She had a bowl of cereal and some toast in front of her and a glass of orange juice and was chattering away as she ate, Shadow in place of honour on the chair next to her along with the pink bear Jasper had bought her. She beamed when she saw me,
"Mummy, how is grandpa?"
I looked at Jasper who shrugged,
"I just told her grandpa was sick and that's why we came"
I smiled and nodded,
"I spoke to him for a few minutes"
"Can I see grandpa? Shadow wants to"
"Later perhaps. He's very sleepy and the doctor is going to do a scan in a little while"
"What's a scan?"
Jasper wiped butter from her chin so naturally it made me grin.
"It's a picture of grandpa's insides to make sure they are all working right."
"Oh, OK"
"I think we'd better get some food in and go to my place. It's not much I'm afraid but it will give us a base."
"Fine. You finished Princess?"
Grace nodded finishing her orange juice and clambered down from her chair to run to me and take my hand.
"Is daddy coming with us?"
I looked at him,
"I certainly hope so Grace."
He smiled and came to take her other hand,
"Lets go."
Jasper
Bella's apartment was a bit of a shock, it was in a dangerous part of town and was very small but spotlessly clean. She saw me look round and coloured,
"I'm sorry it's not much but on my wage it was all I could afford."
Grace went running into the bedroom to explore so I took Bella in my arms,
"Hey, it could be a cave. We're together and that's the important thing but promise me you'll allow me to help you find somewhere for a family home"
"We'll find our family home together"
She whispered as she kissed me then pulled away to unpack the groceries.
From the ice pattern on the inside of the window I could see it was cold in the room so I put the gas fire on and pulled the small battered couch a little closer as Bella put the kettle on. Although it was small and sparse it felt more homely than the Cullen house. She'd added little things making it warm, a couple of pictures on the wall, seascapes, little ornaments on the shelf below her books and a small cheap CD player. I went over and hit play, recognizing the song immediately and hitting pause. Bella turned to me,
"I found it in your room, it's a beautiful song, who's the singer? I don't recognize him"
I hesitated,
"Me"
"You sang that?"
"Yes. I did it as a birthday present for Alice but she wasn't very impressed, too country for her taste."
"Oh do you mind my having it? I can throw it away if you prefer"
"No, if you like it then please keep it."
I hit play again and smiled as I heard Bella sing along. She'd played it often enough to know the words.
Grace came out of the bedroom and started dancing with Shadow to the music then she saw the TV,
"Can I watch TV mummy?"
"It doesn't work honey, its broken"
She looked puzzled,
"Why didn't you get it fixed mummy?"
"Mummy didn't have the money at the time. Anyway we won't be here long. I'll get your books from the bag and you can read Shadow a story"
"He prefers my stories"
"Oh, well you tell him one."
I listened as she sat on the floor with Shadow and started a story, it was very involved about a beautiful but evil witch who stole daddies.
How did she know so much? Had she heard us talking? I smiled as I heard her finish the story.
"And fierce Uncle Peter came riding in on a dragon and cooked the witch to save all the daddies"
So Peter had put his own spin on things, he never ceased to amaze me.
Bella made herself coffee then came to sit beside me wrapping her hands round the mug to warm them, the fire struggled to keep the cold at bay.
"How am I going to explain Grace to Charlie?"
Her voice was low as Grace wandered through to the bathroom.
"It's not going to be easy, she looks and acts much older than her real age and I wasn't pregnant when I left as far as he knew."
"Maybe we should keep it a secret until he's stronger"
She agreed with my suggestion.
"I'll keep Grace occupied while you go to the hospital. I thought she might like to see a film, there's a new Disney one out"
"How do you know that?"
"I saw it as we drove by. Do you think she'd like that?"
"I think she'd love it, and thank you"
"What for?"
"Being you."
She kissed me again and every time was better than the last. Grace skipped out with Shadow and the pink bear under her arm and came over to us,
"Daddy, Shadow is hungry"
"Oh right, hay coming up"
"What's hay?"
"Dried grass, horses love it"
She frowned,
"Not Shadow, he likes our food, cookies especially"
Bella smiled at me as I got up,
"I'll bet. OK come on then lets find some cookies and milk for Shadow, would you like some too?"
Oh..Yes please."
I laughed as she took my hand,
"I'll find the cookies daddy while you pour the milk."