Are You Happy Now?
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Chapter Ten
When Jacob entered the house towing Bella with him, he found his father next to the kitchen table. Billy's face was tense with concentration as he focused all his attention on the wood carving in front of him. Billy was a skilled wood carver. The skills had been handed down from father to son. Jacob was quite competent as well, but not in his father's league. A wood carver needs to have a lot of creativity and to know what works structure and design-wise. They can't just create any random model. The design needs to not only look good but hold up in real life. Creating a design from scratch can take a long time, and so can recreating existing models.
"Dad." Jacob called out in greeting.
Billy jumped at the sound of his son's voice. He pushed the glasses perched on the end of his nose up onto his forehead as he turned to look around. A smile lit up his face when he saw Jacob, but when he noted that Bella was with him, it immediately faded. "So, you caught up with each other then." He didn't phrase it as a question, just an observation.
"No thanks to you." Jacob couldn't hide his sour tone.
"I don't know what you want me to say, Jacob." Billy refocused his gaze back onto his wood carving, but his hands shook a little, showing he was clearly affected.
"Bella knows everything, Dad." Jacob revealed.
"What?" This time Billy dropped his tools. He stared at Jacob in shock, his throat working as he tried to regain control of his vocal cords.
Jacob sighed and glanced at Bella. She gave his hand an understanding squeeze and disappeared into the Black's tiny kitchen to give father and son some privacy. Jacob took a seat opposite Billy and began to fill him in on everything that had happened. Billy sat quietly, his complexion greying as Jacob told him about the psychotic redhead hunting Bella and the reason behind it.
"And the Cullens knew about this and abandoned her anyway?" Billy questioned when he got over his initial shock.
"I don't think they knew." Jacob said reluctantly.
"I warned Bella, Jake. Over and over. I tried to make her understand the consequences of getting involved with them. I even sent you to her damn prom, didn't I?" Billy didn't hide his bitterness. "She was so enamoured with them she wouldn't listen."
Jacob winced at the memory of the time Billy had bribed him with thirty dollars and a part for his beloved Rabbit to make a fool of himself at Bella's prom. He had thought the stuff he was spouting at the time was pure nonsense, who knew that he would learn it was all true.
Jacob couldn't deny he still felt a degree of anger toward Billy for keeping him in the dark about the whole wolf thing. His father had explained why countless times since his life had been overturned, Jacob could even sympathise with his reasoning, but he would rather have known what was coming. According to legend (as he was the son of the tribal chief) he should have been the first to phase, but something had stopped his transition, meaning Sam had phased first. No one had any idea what had delayed things, but Jacob knew. It was Bella. He had been so happy being in her orbit. His happiness had stifled the intense anger that was needed to transform.
"None of that matters now." Jacob brushed the past aside. It was pointless going over old ground. "You need to make things right with Charlie."
Billy's brow furrowed into a deep frown. "Don't you think I've tried? The stubborn fool won't take my calls."
"You have?" Jacob's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"Of course, I have." Billy snapped. "Charlie and I have been friends for years. This is not the first time we've fallen out. But we usually work our way through things. This time he refuses to engage. He's still very angry. I admit I said some harsh things when we last spoke. I just hoped he would calm down."
"Can't Harry act as mediator?" Jacob suggested.
"He's working on it." Billy admitted. "But Charlie is even snubbing his overtures."
Jacob slumped in his chair. This reconciliation wasn't going to be as easy as he thought. It was vital that the two men made up though. He needed Charlie on the res where it was safe, the pack was stretched too thin as it was. They couldn't afford to have one of them always based in Forks, tailing the police chief all the time.
"Dad, you have to try harder." Jacob implored. "Its important."
"What would you have me do, Jake? I'm stuck in this chair." Billy banged the armrests of his wheelchair in frustration. "I can't exactly leave the house without help. And you haven't been home much lately."
"That's not my fault."
"Of course not! That's not what I'm saying." Billy reached out to his son with a melancholy smile. "I just ran out of options. And I didn't know about Bella. Maybe she can be the one to lure Charlie here."
"How?"
"By telling him she's here in La Push with you. I don't think he'd be too happy to hear that right now. If I know Charlie, he'll storm down here at the first opportunity. It's probably the best way to lure him here temporarily. When we're face to face, maybe then I can get him to listen." Billy suggested with a tired smile.
Bella spent the rest of the day in La Push, the majority of it in Billy's house watching television with Jacob. They sat on the old couch snuggled up together. Billy remained at the kitchen table carving. The stuff he made was often sold at local fairs, it brought in much needed extra income. His welfare check didn't stretch very far these days. The odd jobs that Jacob used to do to help being in money were non-existent now he was part of the pack. There was no extra time for anything.
As the afternoon wore on Bella plucked up the courage to leave a message on Charlie's phone and at the station. As predicted, the angry police chief turned up around dinnertime, incensed that his daughter had gone against his express wishes and gone to the reservation anyway.
Billy was the one who opened the door to him. "You came." He said by way of greeting.
"Where is she?" Charlie demanded, red faced.
"Inside." Billy rolled his chair out onto the porch, blocking the entrance to the house. "And before you go charging in there like a bull in a China shop, I have something to say."
"I think you've already said enough." Charlie snapped. "I just want to collect my daughter and go home."
"I'M SORRY!" Billy said loudly, cutting right through Charlie's bluster, making the police chief pause mid rant.
"What did you say?"
"You heard." Billy had the grace to look contrite. "Everything I said was bullshit. You know that. I was angry. You were angry. We've been friends for too long, old man, to let a few harsh words divide us."
"It was more than harsh words." Charlie was not so easily swayed. "You made it quite clear neither me or Bella were welcome here. And am I supposed to forget the way that your son treated her? She'd already been through enough, only for him to cut her off like that. I never thought he would do something like that….and when I call him and you out on it…."
"I know, Charlie." Billy interrupted again. "He was wrong. And I was wrong to defend him. I can only apologise. Things have been tough lately. You and Bella got caught in the middle. Out of the goodness of her heart she's forgiven Jacob and accepted his apology. Will you please accept mine?"
Charlie was beginning to waver under Billy's heartfelt plea. Truth was he missed his best friends like crazy. With Harry being caught in the middle of the two of them, it meant that Charlie had seen little of him as well. He had been annoyed that Harry was acting as mediator, trying to reconcile him and Billy, when he felt that the Clearwater patriarch should have understood why he was so hurt and upset.
Charlie had lots of acquaintances but few close friends. Being the closed off individual he was, he let few people in, Billy and Harry being the rare exception. The three of them had weathered several storms together-Renee leaving, Sarah dying in that dreadful car accident, Harry's ill health. Through all the trials and tribulations life threw at the trio, they always knew they could rely on each other. To have that taken away was like missing a limb.
"I'm not finding it easy, Billy." Charlie finally admitted. "You betrayed my trust. You could have just been open with me. Whatever was going on, I could have helped."
Billy nodded gravely. "You're right, Charlie. I wish I could take it all back but I can't. I was struggling. Truth is, I still am."
"With what? What's going on?" Charlie had calmed down now.
Billy sighed heavily, his complexion turning wan. "I wish I could tell you, but its not my story to tell. All I can say is life has been challenging lately and Jake has been bearing the brunt of it."
"Is it money?" Charlie asked, now feeling really concerned by Billy's defeated tone. "If you need some, don't be too proud to ask."
"Ah, the old male pride." Billy mustered up a smile. "Thanks for offering but it's not about money. I cant go into it right now, but can you believe me when I say that its not because I don't trust you. It has nothing to do with that. Its tribal business that I'm not allowed to share, even though I would share the burden if I could."
"Does Harry know?" Charlie asked stiffly.
"He's on the council." Billy reminded him. "He knows."
Charlie's jaw worked as he considered Billy's words. It was clear his friend was doing his best to be as honest as he could be. Charlie didn't expect to be let in on every little secret, but it was hard always being the one looking from the outside in. Normally it didn't bother him, but seeing how hurt Bella was by Jacob's rejection, following directly on the heels of nearly being destroyed by that bastard Cullen, it had hurt Charlie deeply.
"So, Bella has forgiven him? They're friends again?"
"Yeah." Billy felt his breathing becoming easier. "She has."
"Okay then." Charlie's whole body relaxed. He was weary of holding onto his anger. "But if Jake steps out line again. If he hurts her – "
"He won't." Billy cut in again. Rolling his chair backwards, he created a gap so Charlie could enter the house. "Shall I order up some pizza?" He offered.
A smile finally touched Charlie's lips, brightening his whole face. "Yeah, I could use some food."
Even though he had verbally forgiven them, Charlie continued to eye Jacob suspiciously all night. He asked about the hair; Jacob shrugged and told him it was just more convenient. Billy ordered two large pizzas, one of which Jacob ate all by himself.
It was getting late. Bella was reluctant to leave. She knew that as soon as she and Charlie headed home, Jacob would take off-off to run around as a wolf. The pack would keep up a constant watch all through the night, looking for some sign of Victoria's return. But since they'd chased her away from the hot springs the previous night-chased her halfway to Canada, according to Jacob-she'd yet to make another foray.
Jacob walked with her to her truck after dinner and lingered by the window, wating for Charlie to drive away first, but the police chief wasn't having that. Charlie waited, his eyes trained on Jacob, which meant that there was no privacy for a kiss goodbye, much to the teens frustration.
"Don't be afraid tonight, honey." Jacob whispered. "I'll be nearby."
"Be careful, Jake." Bella whispered back, placing her hand over his.
"I'll be fine, Bells. I'm made for this. Hunting vampires is the best part of this whole mess as long as it means I get to keep you safe."
"Jake, please." Bella whined.
Jacob laughed. She was too cute when she was worried about him. "Get some rest, Bells. You look exhausted. I'll see you tomorrow."
Charlie honked the cruiser's horn impatiently. "Get a move on, Bella." He yelled.
Bella threw her father an annoyed glance. "Bye, Jake." She said reluctantly.
"Come down first thing." Jacob reached into the truck and touched her face with his warm hand. Bella leaned into his touch briefly, before he was forced to take a step back. "Bye, honey." He said with his heart in his eyes.
Bella whispered her goodbyes again as she switched on the Chevy's loud rumbling engine and finally pulled away.
A/N-thanks for reading!