Chapter Eight

Bella

Renee didn't give me a moments peace in the lead up to the wedding and when I said I needed to finish packing she got really angry accusing me of being selfish even though I was leaving in a few days and still had the last things to wash and pack. She had begrudgingly bought me a waterproof coat which would serve as my birthday and Christmas presents for the year explaining that it always rained in Forks. I had looked at my trainers but knew there was no way she was going to stretch to boots too. I knew that once I got settled in I needed a job, if my dad would allow me, that way I could buy all the things I would need in my new home. My clothes were not water proof or even suitable for the damp and cold and I wanted then to save up for a car of my own. I had passed my test, Renee deemed it useful, so I could drive her and her friends home from the nightclubs they frequented even if it was three in the morning and I had school the next day!

The night before the wedding I thought mum and I could eat in together as a farewell and good luck meal and I used the housekeeping I had saved over Christmas because she and Phil were at his parents place to buy steaks and creamed corn, one of her favourites along with crème brulee and a bottle of sparkling wine. I set the table up with candles and a cloth and put some of her favourite music on the CD player then sat down to wait for her. She told me she'd be back by six at the latest as I was doing her nails for her but at eight she still hadn't appeared and wasn't answering her phone so I grabbed a sandwich and a soda and put the TV on. She finally got home at nine with Phil and pleased I'd gone to a lot of trouble they ate the meal I'd prepared for us and drank the wine after which I was expected to do her nails while Phil watched sport on TV. I didn't bother to ask where they had been or show I was hurt she hadn't come home as promised but I was relieved to think that this was the last time my mother would ever hurt me.

By eleven I was shattered and finishing her toe nails after she changed her mind about the colour three times I got up yawning.

"Where are you going?"

I looked at Phil in surprise, he rarely addressed me directly,

"I was going to bed"

He pointed to the kitchen,

"Get some beer out of the fridge and make me a sandwich I'm still hungry. Toasted cheese with onion and tomato. What about you honey?"

My mother who was falling asleep in his lap looked up,

"Coffee would be nice and some of that cake you made yesterday. Peggy said it was to die for. I should have got you to make one for tomorrow."

Phil sat up straighter looking at the clock,

"There's still time, its early yet. You heard your mother she wants a cake."

"But its almost midnight. I have to shower and pack my last few bits for tomorrow"

"Hey, your mothers done plenty for you so shut the hell up and get out there before you feel the back of my hand you ungrateful little bitch"

I looked at Renee for support but she had sank back on the couch and closed her eyes so I went through to the kitchen wiping the tears of sadness and anger from my face.

The next morning I collected the flowers and chased up the caterers before grabbing my cases and putting them in the trunk of Peggy's car while she had wine with the blushing bride. The wedding ran late and when I had to rush off I couldn't find Renee and Phil but then they sauntered out chatting to friends and all I got was a wave of the hand in farewell before they went back inside. Peggy hadn't seemed to notice and grumbled all the way to the airport about the traffic and not being able to drink before starting on about missing the beginning of the reception and I was relieved when she pulled up at the terminal. She gave me just enough time to grab my cases before driving off without even a goodbye, well I guess I shouldn't have expected any more but of course I had only to be hurt once more. I got a trolley and checked in only to find my flight wasn't for another four hours. I had just enough money on me to get a soda and a chocolate bar and found a quiet corner opening the book I'd put in my jacket pocket for the flight to pass away the hours as I waited for my flight to be called but knowing I was leaving Phoenix and my mother behind for good.

Charlie

I had my fingers crossed that nothing would happen to stop me picking my daughter up from the airport and I was relieved when I finally drove out of Forks with time to spare. I was going to be there in plenty of time even if I hit traffic which wasn't likely thinking about the time of the flight. Only Renee would book a flight that landed in the early hours of the morning, Isabella would be shattered by the time she landed but I had made sure to leave Sue's casserole in the oven to keep warm and put the electric blanket on her bed so she'd be cosy. I was off tomorrow so once she'd slept in I could take her on a whirlwind tour of Forks and then give her the surprise present. I just hoped the truck would be OK, I was sure Renee would have got her something much more practical but hopefully she'd sold that to give Isabella some money so she didn't feel she had to ask me for money. I'd opened a bank account for her and filled it from the jar I'd kept for her college fund, we'd work out something for that when the time came but I wanted her to be comfortable here with me. I'd vacuumed the place through, dusted, and made sure the place looked clean and fresh although once her room was decorated I realised how desperately the rest of the place needed a coat of paint, I'd just let things slide and concentrated on work until now but for the next couple of years or however long she wanted to stay Isabella was going to be my most important item on the agenda. I'd put her bear in the bed then taken it off and left it on the window sill. I didn't expect her to remember old Max but it was the first thing I ever bought her and Renee had left it behind when she left me.

It was raining when I pulled up at the airport parking area, nothing new there then. I just hoped Isabella could cope with the weather, it wasn't Phoenix after all. I sent money for Renee to buy her a coat and boots and a few jumpers and things just to make it easy and I hoped she'd remembered not to pack the boots and gloves, she'd need the when she got off that plane. I had a few words with the head of airport security, an old pal Jimmy Hale, and then went to get coffee and wait for my daughters plane feeling extremely nervous. I wasn't sure I'd even recognise her these days but of course I did. I stood watching as the passengers filed out all looking for whoever was going to meet them and Isabella was one of the last. She looked around nervously pushing her cases on a trolley and I put a hand up in greeting. The smile on her face told me things were going to be fine and I went over taking charge of the trolley after hugging her a little stiffly.

"How was your flight? Would you like a drink or shall we head straight back? Did the wedding go off OK?"

I realised I was gabbling and stopped suddenly as she looked at me shyly,

"I think I'd like to go straight to Forks if that's all right with you of course"

I nodded

"Sure, I have something hot for you when we get back and don't worry its not my cooking. Come on but you might want your gloves its freezing outside, I think we might get some snow."

I looked down at her feet,

"Did you pack your boots?"

She looked at me puzzled,

"I don't have any boots. I guess I'll have to buy some."

"No boots? OK, Gloves?"

She shook her head blushing and looking nervous.

"Never mind, here borrow mine, they'll be too big but it doesn't matter."

She took them reluctantly sliding her hands inside but I could see the relief when we got outside and she felt the biting wind.

Once in the cruiser I turned the heater up high and she started to relax a little.

"Sorry about the transport but its all I have, a perk of being Chief of Police."

She turned a little startled,

"Are you the Police Chief? I didn't know that"

"Yeah for my sins. Anyway now your teeth have stopped chattering and I can manage one question at a time I hope you had enough room in your cases for everything you wanted to bring"

"Oh yes plenty thank you. It was kind of you to pay for the extra."

"Well. I just thought seeing as you were coming here to live you'd want all your things around you."

She nodded blushing even more,

"Do I call you dad?"

"That would be nice, yeah and far better than Chief."

She smiled and I saw a young carefree Renee for just a second.