To all who are still reading this, thank you!

CHAPTER 29

HERE GOES

"I'm telling you, it'll be fine. My dad likes you. He won't freak out."

It was December 22nd, just after 5:30. Carlisle was in his office at the hospital, talking to Bella on his cell phone. Though he had yet to see her in person, she had arrived at Charlie's earlier that afternoon, and would be spending the holidays in town.

"Maybe you're right," he said, and reclined in his office chair. Eyes on the ceiling, he pressed the plunger of his pen a few times. "But that doesn't mean he'll be thrilled that we're dating."

"Are you having second thoughts?"

"No. Nothing like that. I'm just a little worried about what he'll think. You've been through a lot these past few months."

"Well, first of all, I'm a grown woman. And he can't expect me to stay single forever. And two… you're not Evan. To him, that'll be a significant upgrade."

His mouth tugged at the corner. He spun his chair toward his lamplit desk. "You're quite the optimist."

Her laughter floated over the line. "And you're a worry-wart. Now relax. Tie up your loose ends at the hospital, then come on over. I miss you, and dinner's almost ready."

"Miss you, too. Did you at least give him a heads up?"

"I did..." Carlisle could hear sizzling and stirring in the background. "Sorta," she amended. "I told him I was making dinner, and that a friend was coming over. But I didn't tell him it was you. He's in the shower right now."

Carlisle clenched his eyes, and pinched the bridge of his nose. Great, we're totally going to ambush Charlie.

If Carlisle hadn't been bulletproof, he might have feared for his life right about now.

"As for the food, I'll keep the portions small so you won't have to eat that much. I know I said this already, but thank you for doing this. You're a good sport, Carlisle."

His hand fell away from the bridge of his nose, his features softening along with his voice. "There's nothing I wouldn't do for you, sweetheart."

There was a pause. When next she spoke, he knew she was smiling. "I know… See you soon?"

"I'll be there shortly."

"Okay."

As they severed the call, Carlisle couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head. Maybe Bella was right. Maybe he was catastrophizing.

Because he didn't have time to drive home to change, Carlisle fetched the spare set of clothing he kept in the doctors' locker room, and promptly swapped his outfit. Standing before his small magnetic mirror, he combed his hair, and pondered his appearance.

His charcoal cardigan and light gray shirt were a good choice, he reckoned. Not flashy, but smart. Sensible.

Since no one was around, Carlisle figured he could prepare himself by figuring out what he was going to say. "Hello, Chief Swan," he practiced in the mirror. "Yes. I am dating your daughter, Sir."

Carlisle cringed at hearing himself. Schooling his features, he tried again. "Your daughter is an amazing person. I care for her very much." He sighed at the wording. Come on. This should be straightforward. After all, it wasn't like he was asking for her hand.

Yet.

Unable to shake his nervousness, he blew out a breath, and addressed his reflection. "You're going to mess this up, aren't you?"

Oh, he definitely was.

Since there was nothing else for it, Carlisle adjusted his tie, and squared his shoulders. Enough with the jitters. "You can do this."

And he would.

Carlisle was crossing the hospital parking lot, on his way to see Bella, when his nose caught a most revolting scent. That of wet dogs. Wolves, he thought before he saw them in human form.

Same as their first encounter, the three shape-shifters met him near his car. After all, the hospital parking lot was something of neutral ground. Lest someone see them, the men couldn't phase into wolves here, same as Carlisle who couldn't risk using his vampire strength and speed.

Standing slightly ahead of the other two, the Alpha, Jacob Black, was the one who spoke. "I assume you know why we're here." Even if there was no one around, he kept his voice relatively low.

"Waylon Forge," Carlisle answered, and was surprised it had taken this long for the pack to seek him out. "I assure you it wasn't us."

Jacob heaved a sigh, the muscles of his jaw flexing before he grudgingly admitted, "We know."

Well, then why are you here? Carlisle wanted to ask, but didn't. He sensed that Jacob had more to say.

"Do you know who it is? Where they are?"

Now it was Carlisle's turn to sigh. "No. But Rosalie and I have been searching the woods. If we can find them and get them to move on—"

Jacob huffed a sardonic laugh. "Move on." Now his face turned deadly serious. "If we find the leeches first, I promise they won't be moving on anywhere. We'll take care of the problem right then and there. Embry, Sam," he said to the other two. "Let's get out of here."

With final stares at Carlisle, the three began to backtrack toward the snow-covered woods, where they would likely phase and continue their vengeful hunt.

Alone in the parking lot, Carlisle stared at the woods for a few moments more. What a mess, he thought.

The media was having a field day, and the people in town were scared, angry that a "wild animal" was out there, killing and snatching the residents. If the nomads continued their reckless hunting, how long would the truth stay hidden? And how long before the Volturi got involved?

Since there was nothing he could do—at least not right now—Carlisle unlocked his car and got behind the wheel.

Setting thoughts of wolves and nomads to the side, he turned his focus to tonight's dinner. How would it go, he wondered. How would Charlie react to him dating his daughter?

As his nervousness arose once more, Carlisle started the car, and put it in reverse.

Here goes, he thought, hoping it would go well.

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