So, how do we like FighterWard? Isn't he swoon-worthy? Anyway, I hope you're enjoying the story … What's up next?
So, Charlie and Bella's conversation is happening next chapter. We'll also hear some more from Alice and Edward, too. We're going to move forward in time, along with Bella and Edward's relationship.
I do apologize for the delays. First off, I had a recent death in my family. My aunt, who was my godmother and adoptive mom after my own mother passed away, died rather suddenly. She fell and never regained consciousness after she had a couple of seizures. As of right now, it's the day before her wake and funeral and my mind is on my family.
Secondly, I started some new meds that really wipe me out. Once I take them, I have to go to bed within an hour or I'm a drooling mess. I'm hopeful to get back to my regular posting schedule by next week. Thank you for your patience.
What I own: A magnifying mirror in my bathroom … I can't see when I put on my face. Getting old sucks, man.
What I don't: Twilight
Chapter Twenty-Three
Bella was working on pay roll. Or rather, she was trying to work on pay roll. Her head was throbbing, and the numbers were swirling on the computer screen. With a huff, she closed the computer and pressed her fingers to her temples, trying to massage the pain in her head away.
Life royally sucked donkey balls at the moment. The largest, most disgusting, and smelly pair of donkey balls.
"Little Bell, what did the computer do to you?" Charlie asked from the door jamb.
"It's not the computer. It's my head," she grumped. Turning she faced him, displaying her goose egg. "I should be wrapped in bubble wrap."
"What happened?" Charlie asked, crouching down in front of her, gently pressing around the bruise.
"I was a little looped from the pain killers when I went to the bathroom. I got tangled with my crutches, clocking my head on the corner of the counter," she said. "It was bleeding like a bitch. Edward put some steri-strips on it. Alice put on the gauze pad after she washed my hair. She was squicked out, seeing the bruise." She pressed her fingers to the gauze. "I was squicked out, too, to be honest."
"Let me check," Charlie murmured, removing the bandage. He concentrated as he gently probed the bruise. "Masen did a good job. You should let it breathe."
"I don't want to see it, Dad," Bella huffed. "Bandage back on."
Rolling his eyes, Charlie rebandaged her injury. His daughter had always been squeamish around blood. He handed Bella her crutches. "Let me make you some dinner and we can talk, Little Bell," he said softly.
"No rabbit food, Dad. I'm recuperating," she snickered, hobbling next to her father into the kitchen.
Charlie rooted around in the fridge, pulling out the ingredients for spaghetti and meatballs. "Will this do, your highness?" he quipped.
"Perfect," Bella said. "I'll get started on the meatballs."
They worked together, creating an Italian meal – the epitome of comfort food – which was exactly what the doctor ordered. The sauce was simmering in the stock pot, filling the house with a delectable scent.
"Little Bell, I'm … when I texted Edward to check up on you. He said that you …" Charlie trailed off. "That everyone throws you away."
Bella's face flamed, vaguely remembering her conversation. "I was completely hammered from the pain medications. I was completely talking out of my ass. Ignore it, Dad."
"Pain killers are truth serum," Charlie said. "Talk to me, Little Bell. You're my baby girl, my everything. When you hurt, I hurt. I love you more than anything in this universe. Please?"
Bella took a few breaths, trying not to cry. "My confidence is all a front, Dad. I keep everyone at arm's length. Rose and Alice are my closest friends, but even they don't know everything. I'm afraid that they'll realize that I'm not worth it, like Mom did. Like Jacob did."
Charlie pursed his lips. "You're worth everything, Isabella. You're my world. You are the most intelligent, beautiful, amazing woman I've ever known. You are so selfless and I'm so proud that you're my daughter," he whispered, cupping his daughter's face. "Now, your mother? She was a heartless, spiteful bitch."
"Don't hold back, Dad," Bella deadpanned.
"I hate that she did what she did. She only thought of herself. She was incapable of loving you the way you deserved," Charlie murmured. "The only person she's capable of loving is Renee. She's a self-centered bitch."
"Did you ever find her?" Bella asked. "I mean, she fell off the face of the planet after she left me with Granny."
"Only recently," Charlie sighed, scrubbing his hand over his face.
"What? When? How? Tell me everything, Dad!"
"Relax, Little Bell," Charlie said soothingly. "After your mother left us, I had a private investigator look for her. I needed to find her in order to terminate her parental rights, along with granting me a divorce. She was in the wind, completely off the grid."
"If they couldn't find her, how did you get a divorce?" Bella asked. "Never mind. That doesn't matter. When did you find her?"
"A couple years ago. Periodically, I had Jasper use his private investigators to go in search of Renee," Charlie explained. "She was trying to finagle money, using my name. I flew out to confront her."
"What did she say?" Bella whispered.
"At first, she ignored me, but I cornered her," Charlie muttered. "I asked why she up and left. She shrugged. Fucking shrugged! I pressed her and she said that she was never meant to be a mother. She thought you were cute, but couldn't handle being a parent."
"She thought I was cute," Bella repeated slowly, narrowing her eyes at her father. With a low growl, she snarled, "What a bitch!"
"Exactly," Charlie frowned. "You're better off without her. She didn't ask about you, but she did demand money from me. Alimony she called it. I told her to go to hell. I also said that if she tried to pull that bullshit again, I'd have her arrested for something … money laundering, fraud or whatever."
"Why didn't she love me?" Bella asked, looking at her dad.
"Little Bell, if I had to guess, she's incapable of loving anyone but herself. I love you more than anything," he pressed, taking her hand. "I'm so sorry that … I'm not sorry about having you, but I'm sorry that she's your mother. You deserve a mother who adores you unconditionally."
"It's not your fault, Dad," Bella mumbled, shifting to hobble to the family room. "It's her fault."
"Because of her actions, she never got to know the most amazing, brilliant and beautiful woman," Charlie breathed, sitting down next to her, and enfolding his baby girl into his arms. "I'm here for you, Little Bell."
"Thank you, Daddy," she whispered. "Do you think that Jacob looked for … affection elsewhere because of me? Am I incapable of giving my heart?"
"Jacob's actions are his own. His choices were made in the boozy, delusional fog of fame and drugs. You gave him your heart and he chose to throw your heart away because he's an asshole," Charlie spat. "I cared for that boy like a son. To see him make those choices in his career was abhorrent. To see him hurt you so brutally, it took all of my control to not kick his ass from here to the ends of the earth." He kissed Bella's forehead. "You deserve all the happiness, baby girl."
"How do I get that happiness? How do I let people in?" she asked. "I don't want to be hurt."
"It's my job as a parent to protect you from that hurt, but letting people in also opens you up to possibly getting hurt. But … it can also lead you to undeniable happiness. Renee hurt me, hurt you, but being with her gave me you," he whispered. "I wouldn't trade my Little Bell for anything in the world. Don't shut yourself away from that happiness."
Bella listened to the steady thrum of her father's heart. Idly, she played with some loose strings on his t-shirt, thinking about what he said. Heaving a sigh, she murmured, "I'll think about it."
"And, don't discount Edward Masen," Charlie quipped.
"Dad," Bella sighed, pulling away.
"Little Bell, he's one of the most stand-up guys I've ever met," he pressed. "And, he stepped up to help you out. He's smart, conscientious, and very kind. I also worked with him today. He's incredibly strong, quick on his feet and after recuperating from his injuries, he's going to be a force to be reckoned with. When a door closes, a window opens."
"Are you saying that Edward Masen is my window?" Bella asked.
"Yep. A huge bay window, overlooking the water where you can curl up to read a good book," Charlie teased, kissing her forehead. "Now, you just relax. I'll finish up making our dinner."
"Thanks, Dad," Bella said, giving her father an appreciative smile. "I love you."
"I love you more, baby girl."
A/N: So, Charlie and Bella had a heart-to-heart. This is just the start of Bella's healing, but I won't belabor the point. Anyhow, pictures from this chapter are on my blog. You can find that link on my profile. I'm also on Facebook: Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation. Twitter, too: tufano79.
Up next will be a conversation between Edward and Alice, discussing his 'image', along with plans for rebuilding that image. We're also going to get some Bella/Edward time, too.
Leave me your thoughts! Thank you for reading.
Updates will resume this weekend, but will go on hiatus until early May (which will get me through my musical and final choral concert). Again, thank you for your support and patience. Much love to all of you!
