A/N: I told you the good stuff would start in this chapter, so here it is.

Anam, you are awesome. Thank you so much for loving my story. ;)

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyers owns Twilight.

Chapter 19. Charlie

(3 Days before Christmas)

As I woke up this morning, the realization of what I was going to do today finally hit me.

I was going to see my father.

I should have been nervous about the whole thing, but I wasn't. Maybe it was because I've always felt a sense of calm when I'm in the cabin, or maybe it's because I know that Edward will always be here for us.

After I had taken a shower and gotten dressed, I walked into the kitchen to make us all breakfast. I decided to make pancakes, scrambled eggs, and toast. As soon as I had the food on the table, Edward and Riley woke up and came and sat down at the table. Once we were done eating and the dishes were washed, Riley ran off to his room to play for a bit while Edward and I sat down and talked.

Edward started first. "So, what's the plan for today?"

"Actually, I was thinking that you and Riley could drop me off at Charlie's house and then go out and do something for a bit. I really need to do this alone, but if I need you, I promise to call you right away."

"Are you sure that's what you want to do?"

I turned towards him and nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure."

He grinned and said, "Well, if that's what your gonna do, then that's okay with me." He leaned over and kissed me. "Just remember, I'm always here for you." Then he stood up and went and got Riley and helped him put his coat and shoes on before taking him outside and getting him settled in his carseat.

I was already dressed and ready to go, so I grabbed my purse and walked out to the car. I got in while I waited for Edward to run back inside to get his jacket. As soon as he got in, we were on our way to Charlie's.

Edward dropped me off at the end of the driveway and waited until I reached the door before taking off with Riley. I hope they are going to have fun because I'm certainly not going to have any.

I stood on the porch for a minute before knocking on the door a few times. A few moments later, I heard heavy footsteps approaching the door.

The door swung open and I suddenly found myself face to face with my father for the first time in six years.

He didn't recognize me at first because he asked, "Can I help you?"

"Hello, Charlie." I said, quietly.

He stared at me for a few seconds before he realized who I was.

"B-Bella?" he managed to stutter out. "Is-is it really you?"

I nodded. "Can I come in?" I asked. That seemed to bring him back to his senses and he stepped aside to let me pass.

"Um, sure. Uh, why don't we go into the kitchen to talk?"

"Fine." I said, curtly. He looked slightly hurt at the toned I used, but he didn't say anything about it. As he led me past the living room towards the kitchen, I looked around and noticed how nothing seemed to have changed.

Once we reached the kitchen, Charlie asked, "Um, do you want anything to drink, or something to eat?"

I sat down at the table and said, "No thanks."

He walked over to fridge and I was expecting him to pull out a beer for himself, but to my surprise, he grabbed a bottle of water.

"What, are you out of beer or something?" I asked sarcastically.

He walked over to the table and sat down across from me. He looked down at the table and said, "Um, no. I, uh, don't keep any kind of alcohol in or around the house." He lifted his gaze back to me and said, "I've been completely sober for nearly six years now."

"Oh." I said. We were both quiet for a few minutes. I took that time to take a good look at him. He looked like he had aged a lot in the last six years. His hair had bits of gray in it and there were shadows underneath his eyes, but other than that, he looked the same.

Charlie was the first one to break the silence. "How have you been?"

"Honestly?" I asked. "I've been better."

I could tell that my short answers were starting to annoy him, which I thought was slightly amusing, seeing as though he wasn't much of a talker himself. I didn't plan on making this reunion easy on him, so to annoy him further, I began to tap my fingers on the table.

Charlie looked at my hands and a look of sadness crossed his face when he noticed my wedding ring. "You're married?" he asked.

"I was." I answered quietly.

"What do you mean was? Are you divorced?" he questioned.

"No. My husband was killed by a drunk driver nearly 10 months ago." I explained.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I know I have no right to ask this, but was he good to you?"

I knew that my husband's identity would eventually come up, and since I kind of wanted to piss off my father for all the hurt he caused me, I told him.

"He was extremely good to me. James Hunter was one of the best people I know. He took very good care of me. He always made sure that we were happy. We loved each other very much."

The look on my father's face when I told him that changed from sadness to anger in a matter of seconds. He stood up and shouted, "James Hunter? As in the James Hunter that I had arrested for kidnapping you years ago?"

"Yes, and for your information, he didn't kidnap me. I was staying with him for a week while I had a break from school because he was my only friend at the time." I said loudly.

"Your friend?" he asked in disbelief. "Bella, he was nearly 8 years older than you. He was a pervert."

I wouldn't let him speak about James like that. "He wasn't a pervert! He was a good man. James was the only person who cared about me back then. I didn't have anyone else. My friends had abandoned me and you were too busy getting drunk and ignoring me." I looked away from him and said quietly, "You owe him. If it weren't for him, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now because I'd be dead!"

Charlie looked confused. "What are you talking about? What do you mean you would be dead?"

I stayed quiet.

"Answer me!" shouted Charlie.

"I was going to kill myself." I whispered. "I took the same gun that mom used and I went to a clearing in the woods that I liked to go to. I had the gun to my head, and I was about to pull the trigger, when James stepped into the clearing and stopped me." I took a deep breath and continued, "He didn't even know me at the time, but he showed me more concern and compassion than anyone that did know me."

We both sat back down. "I don't even know what to say to that, Bella." He had tears in his eyes when I looked over at him. We remained quiet for about five minutes, before he said, "What else should I know about?"

"I've been in Chicago this whole time."

"Chicago?" he asked.

"Yeah, that's where James was from. That's not the only reason I went there though. I got accepted into the University of Chicago and James gave me a place to stay and a job at his company."

"What else?"

"I'm rich." I stated.

"What?"

"I'm rich." I repeated. "Like, really, really rich. I'm talking about millions of dollars kind of rich."

He looked perplexed. "I don't want to offend you, but how did you manage that?"

So I explained, "James inherited his father's publishing company and when James died, he left it to me."

"Got anything else to tell me?"

"Two more things, actually." I replied.

"What's the first thing?" asked Charlie.

"I have a son."

It was Charlie's turn to take a deep breath. "You have a son?"

"Yeah, his name is Riley James Hunter and he's 2 years old."

Tears began to form in his eyes again when he asked me, "Can I meet him?"

I nodded. I had thought about this before I came here, and I decided that if things went well here, that I would bring Riley over the next day to meet his grandfather.

"I can bring him over tomorrow if you're not busy."

"I'm off of work tomorrow. I usually go to Billy's on Saturdays. I'll just tell him that something came up." he said. "What's the second thing you have to tell me?"

I got straight to the point and said, "I'm dating Edward Cullen."

"How long has that been going on?"

"Not long." I wasn't going to tell him about what Edward and the rest of our friends did to me back in highschool because it didn't concern him, and there was nothing he could do about it anyways. "He showed up in my office a few months ago with an appointment. We started hanging out again and realized we had feelings for each other."

"How is he with Riley?"

"Edward is wonderful with Riley. They both get along great with one another. Riley looks up to him and Edward treats him like a son."

"I'm glad. I'd have to get out my shotgun if he didn't treat you two right." he joked.

That made me smile. "Me too."

It was getting late, so I called Edward and told him to come and get me. When Edward pulled into the driveway, Charlie and I said our goodbyes and I told him that I would be back tomorrow, so he could meet Riley.

As I walked out the door, I smiled to myself because I knew things between my father and I would be okay.

A/N: So, what did you think of this chapter?

Thanks for reviewing, favoriting, and following.

See you soon! :)