Chapter Five
Jasper
Once Bella knew she had some family left, Chief Swan no less, there was no holding her back and I understood her longing for some connection in the human world, some link to her dead mother. We held a family meeting and it was decided we would move back to Forks so Bella could hopefully build a relationship with her Uncle. Carlisle did point out that it was a link she would have to break once she became a vampire but that didn't make any difference. He also pointed out that Caden would have to be taught to be very careful around his Great Uncle, so as not to give our secret away.
"Please don't think I have any problem with you meeting your Uncle and forging a relationship with him Bella. I just feel that someone has to point out the pitfalls and as the father figure here that falls on me."
Bella
I understood everything Carlisle said and Jasper and I had discussed the matter for hours. I knew I would be meeting my Uncle only to lose him again as soon as I became a vampire myself but it was so important to me to find him, to see and talk to him, to have that one link to my human life. It was going to be awkward and potentially dangerous if Caden forgot about keeping our secret but it would be worth it, for me at least. I had spent most of my life with everyone thinking I had murdered my parents, alone, an outcast and the thought of family was too strong a lure. I would work hard to ensure Caden understood how important keeping our secret was, he wasn't stupid, he was very bright and I knew he wouldn't let me down. In fact he was excited him self at the thought of having a Great Uncle and I had to explain the difference between Uncles and Great Uncles to him.
When it came time to leave the house in Portland I began to panic, this had been my first real home, we had given up our own rental once I knew I was pregnant to be closer to Carlisle and now I was leaving it's security to travel to a place I didn't know, to meet an Uncle I had no idea even existed until a few weeks ago. The others were all going home and I tried to remind myself that Jasper's home was my home too. He had offered to find somewhere for us on our own but I loved being surrounded by family, why on earth would I want to leave them? We had time to ourselves when we wanted it and Caden would miss Charity if they were parted. For that matter Charity would be lost without him. So, we traveled in convoy from Portland to Forks and I got caught up in Caden's excitement at his first road trip. His nose was glued to the window staring out at the scenery, the forest and mountains, the traffic, even the towns we passed through on our journey. His questions came like a machine gun, "What's that?" "Why does the sign say...?" "Is that a restaurant?" "Is Forks like this?" By the time we arrived even my ears were tired!
We drove through Forks to get to the house and I looked eagerly when Jasper pointed out the Police Station but was disappointed when he also noticed that Chief Swan's cruiser was not parked outside. I would have loved to get a glimpse of my Uncle but it was not to be. The house was out the other side of town down a long winding driveway and was not at all what I had expected. There was so much glass, and the furniture was all cream and white as if they wanted as much light as possible inside. It was huge, the grand piano that Edward played looking small inside the lounge. There were suites for everyone and I shared an unused one with Jasper while Alice and Justin took her old suite, the one she had shared with Jasper at one time.
I was impatient to see my Uncle but I knew I couldn't just barge in and announce myself, I had to take it slowly. While Emmett and Justin took the children to explore the house and grounds I made my first contact, my hands shaking as I rang his number,
"What if he's not home?"
"Then you can ring again later Bella. Just take a deep breath and calm down. It's going to be fine."
I wished I was as confident as my husband!
When I heard the voice on the other end I almost dropped the receiver,
"Chief Swan."
I hesitated then took the plunge,
"Hello, this is going to sound strange but did you have a sister called Katherine?"
There was a long silence and I feared he would cut me off but then he spoke again, more carefully this time,
"Who is this?"
"I'm...Katherine Swan was my mother."
This time the silence stretched on even longer and fearing I was losing him I blundered on,
"I know this must be a shock to you, it was to me."
"You said was..."
This threw me for a second,
"Oh, yes. My parents are both dead. They died a long time ago and I never knew my mom had a brother until a few weeks ago. You are Katherine Swan's brother aren't you? Your mom and dad were Charles and Isabella Swan."
"What's your name?"
"Bella, Isabella."
"Kat named her daughter after our mother? I bet that pleased her."
"I don't know. I don't remember them, they died when I was very young."
"Yeah well, Kat was a late and unexpected arrival in the family."
"Right, so you were older? I heard you went to boarding school then joined the army before beginning a career in the Police Force."
"Yep, and you? Are you working?"
"No, I'm married and I have a son."
"Where do you live? I guess your parents left you their house?"
This was getting too hard, I didn't know what to say and Jasper took the receiver from me.
"Chief Swan, this is Jasper Hale, one of Dr Cullens foster kids. Bella is my wife and it was a friend of ours who traced you. It's pure chance that we were living here."
"I appreciate you telling me this Jasper but I need a little time to take it in. Can I reach you and Bella at Dr Cullen's?"
"Yes, we're living here at the moment, back in Forks."
"Please tell your wife I will contact her, I just need time to think, to understand it all."
"I will, and thank you Chief Swan."
Bella
I wasn't sure if my Uncle even believed me but perhaps he would speak to Carlisle, he might believe him. I'd frozen at the critical moment and I couldn't thank Jasper enough for taking over for me. He put the receiver down and hugged me, making me feel instantly a little better.
"Do you think he'll ring back?"
"I'm sure he will. He was just as shocked as you were when Darius told you about him. To suddenly find out that he has a niece with a family and that his sister is dead is a lot to take in at once, especially over the phone. He may not ring you for a couple of days but I think he'll probably approach Carlisle beforehand."
We went to tell Carlisle the news and he agreed with Jasper that my Uncle would probably speak to him first.
"Chief Swan and I are friends. He'll probably want to know more about you before he speaks to you again. It's hard all round I'm sure but don't worry Bella. What man could resist seeing a niece and her family? Especially one he didn't know existed."
"Does Chief Swan have any family?"
"No, he's never been married as far as I know and there's no girlfriend either. Your Uncle spends a lot of time on the Reservation with his friends Billy Black and Harry Clearwater."
"The reservation? I didn't know there was one here. Do you go there to treat the sick Carlisle?"
The two of them exchanged a glance and both looked a little uneasy,
"No Bella, we aren't welcome on the reservation, they...disapprove of our kind."
"You mean vampires? They know what you are?"
"Yes, they know our secret but so long as we do not attack any humans they leave us in peace."
I understood, or thought I did, and I wondered if it would cause difficulties for us all. After all my Uncle didn't know about vampires but his best friends did. All this was extremely confusing but I would feel a lot happier when he rang, if he rang.