Chapter Twenty Four

Charlie

I'd seen it coming, Bella was crazy about Jasper and I liked both him and his family. She was far better suited to Jasper than she had been to Jake although I did have to wonder how he would take the news when he found out. Him I could cope with, Renee, on the other hand, was going to be a bitch as she always was. I knew their news before I arrived at the Cullen house purely because Bella had already rung her mom to tell her and of course Renee called me right away,

"Why didn't you tell me how serious things were between this Cullen boy and my daughter?"

"My? Don't you mean our daughter? Renee, she's an adult and she doesn't tell me everything. Besides, they seem happy enough and I am not going to stick my nose into something that is none of my business."

"Of course it's your business, mine too Charlie, she's my daughter. I don't know anything about this Jasper Hale except she met him at work. He's a photographer or something so I guess he's not exactly wealthy, especially as he's a state kid."

"He's was in the foster system yes but only because his parents died in an auto accident and there is no other family except his twin sister."

"So, orphans? Were their parents wealthy? Is there a trust fund? Or will Bella be working her butt off to keep him in film and booze?"

"One. I have no idea about a trust fund but he works hard and appears to love Bella very much and two, he doesn't drink. I think you might be getting mixed up between Jasper and your second husband Zac. He's the one who drank himself to death isn't he?"

I know, I should have refrained from the snippy comment but she caught me at a bad moment and I was sick of everything that went wrong with Bella being my fault when all I'd done was to offer her a permanent home when Renee decided she needed some space to "find herself" after the alcoholic Zac took a dive off the roof of their apartment building. By that time Bella was living with me almost full time in any case.

Relief flooded through me when I found out that Esme had already asked Renee to come up and help with all the arrangements and stay at their place. The thought of her turning up on my doorstep with Frank and a suitcase was more than I could stomach.

"We're thrilled with the news Charlie, they make such a beautiful couple. I hope you'll come over more often, I think Bella is going to be around here most of the time and I'd hate you to feel lonely."

I appreciated the kind invitation and truth be told I wasn't looking forward to being alone again and eating at the diner most nights.

Bella left Jasper long enough to come over and talk to me alone before I left. She reassured me that her wrist wasn't broken but as she would be off work for the week, did I mind if she stayed there. I just nodded giving her a quick hug, neither of us were big on affectionate gestures.

"So long as you're happy Bella, that's my only concern. Just promise me I won't have to wear one of those monkey suits."

"Don't worry dad, I already told Esme I didn't want a lot of fuss."

"It's not Esme I'm worried about, Renee on the other hand….."

"That's why I'm leaving her to Esme."

I laughed feeling relieved, I thought Esme might just be a match for my pushy ex-wife.

On the way home I got a strange feeling that I was being followed but when I checked my mirrors I couldn't see anything. At home, there was a figure waiting on the porch and I recognized Jake's motorbike, so the news had gotten out. Wearily I got out of my cruiser and trudged slowly to the front door.

"Jake."

"Chief Swan. I was hoping to see Bella, Leah saw her coming out of the clinic with a splint on. What happened?"

"She slipped and fell, that's all and she's not home."

"Will she be back tonight?"

"Why don't you call her if you want to find out? Oh no, you can't, she told you not to. Jake, why can't you take a hint? Bella has moved on and you need to."

He scowled,

"He's not right for her Chief."

Not that old chestnut again! I guess I might as well tell him, he'd hear soon enough as it was.

"You should probably know that Bella got engaged today, it's over Jake, let go."

He opened his mouth then shut it again, after all, what could he say or do now? With a muttered oath he stormed down the steps and grabbed his bike,

"Take it easy Jake, the roads are still pretty slick."

I don't know if he even heard me, he just took off with a squeal of tires and I really hoped I wouldn't get a call in a little while to a crash on the way to the Reservation.

I wondered if it had been Jake I had sensed following me but it was unlikely, he didn't know I had been with Bella or where I had been and it looked like he had been sitting there waiting for a while. Going inside I made coffee and turned on the TV to catch the news before getting ready for work. I could see I had messages on the phone but knowing they would probably be from Renee I decided to leave them for tomorrow.

Edward

I had followed Charlie home hoping for I don't know what, frustrated that I couldn't hear his thoughts I was about to return to the house when I saw Jacob Black sitting on the porch waiting. Deciding this might be interesting I decided to hang around and watch but it got me nowhere. Jake wasn't going to tell Chief Swan anything about our family and it was obvious he wasn't going to do anything. The pack Alpha must have told him to lay off and of course Jake wouldn't be able to resist the order. That was a shame, it would have made things difficult for Jasper and Bella.

If Jake had been free to act then maybe he could have thrown a spanner in the works but as it was I was all alone. Totally alone without the thoughts of everyone around me in my head. It wasn't fair, I should have the backing of the family, Carlisle with me not against me. I decided it was worth a try to contact him but I waited when I got back until I heard him shut the door of his study so I knew he would be alone.

I was too uncertain of my ground to actually see him face to face so I called his cell phone. At least with the soundproofing, no one else would know we had spoken.

"Carlisle."

"I didn't expect to hear from you Edward, I thought I made my position perfectly clear in the message I left you."

"There's something you should know Carlisle. Bella is dangerous, she stopped my gift from working, I'm in silence and I don't think I can take it alone. Besides, she led me to believe she liked me. Yeah, I went too far, I accept that but it wasn't all my fault."

"Stop right there Edward. Do not try to lay this on Bella and as for losing your gift perhaps guilt at what you did stopped it from working, guilt Edward, guilt."

"Carlisle, I need you to stand by me. Don't set me aside like this. Don't take Jasper's part against me."

"Has it sunk in yet Edward? Have you understood the consequences of your actions? You have put this whole family at risk by your stupidity and I will not stand by you and risk losing them."

I was crushed, I could hear the determination and finality in his voice, I suddenly realized I had lost the only person I really cared about and it was all Bella's fault.