When the morning dawned, Bella rubbed her eyes and sat up. She felt better than she had in years despite needing more rest.
She dressed for the day quickly and shook out her braids, letting her hair fall to her waist in waves. When she was completely ready, bag packed, and room tidied, she descended the stairs to the main floor.
At the bottom, her host, Damon, intercepted her. "Good morning, Bella. You look rested this morning. I hope your accommodations were to your liking?"
"The bathtub was amazing, and the bed was so comfortable! Thank you for letting me stay. I haven't slept that well in years."
"Glad to be of service," he said with a tilt of his head. His deep blue eyes studied her, his blatant curiosity making her nervous. "Are you leaving us today? Or can we tempt you to stay another day?"
"I need to get home. My dad needs me."
Even if she didn't know why Charlie needed her, she knew Jake would never lie about Charlie. He would never be so cruel as to lure her home in such a way.
"Will you be driving? I could pack you a care package. Do you want snacks for the trip?"
"Actually, I was thinking about hiring someone to drive my car to Washington so I could fly. That way, I could get home sooner." She shrugged one shoulder and gave him a small smile.
"You're from Washington?"
"Yeah, the Olympic Peninsula. I haven't been back in over a decade."
She didn't understand why she was telling him, but there was something about Damon. It seemed he genuinely cared, which was odd since they were strangers.
Damon grinned. "What if I drive your car back for you? It's time for a change of scenery–I could use a vacation. I can bring my friend Bonnie. She probably needs a break."
The last two statements seemed like he was just speaking random thoughts as they came, but she couldn't help but wonder if he meant the same Bonnie she'd met the previous day.
With a subtle wave of her hand, Bella tried to decline. "Oh, I couldn't ask you to do that."
His grin widened. "You aren't asking. I'm volunteering."
"But… why? You just met me last night." Bella's brow furrowed with suspicion as she tried to think of a plausible reason for wanting to help her.
Quietly, ruefully, Damon said, "Something about you… reminds me of myself. I know what it's like to feel you are drifting, just barely existing and scraping by."
She sighed. "I'll think about it." She wasn't trying to be rude. Bella was innately distrustful, jaded after living in constant survival mode, and practically disillusioned from years spent running.
He chuckled and nodded. "I get it. No hard feelings if you say no. But the offer is there. Just let me know so I can plan, too."
"Of course." Bella wanted to say more, but her stomach growled loudly, and Damon smiled.
"Come on. Let's get you some breakfast."
Scooping up her phone, Bella dialed Charlie's number while she sat in the empty library of the boardinghouse. She held her breath as she waited for him to answer.
His voice was raspy, weak sounding as it echoed across the miles to her. "Hello?"
She whispered, "Dad?"
"Bells?" He sounded shocked to hear her voice. A moment of déjà vu flashed through her as she briefly remembered her conversation with Jake the night before.
"Yeah, it's me. Um…" Bella cleared her throat, fighting back tears, "I booked a flight. I'm coming home later today. I just have to find someone to drive my car to Washington."
"You're really coming home?" She could hear the tears in his voice as he fought them back, too.
"Yes, Daddy."
She hadn't called him that in years, but it suddenly fell from her lips like the tears from her eyes. She knew that even though she was thirty-three years old, she was still a little girl needing her father's hugs and care. Victoria's vengeful chase had stolen a decade of that love from her.
Bella asked, "Are you okay? You don't sound quite like yourself."
"Don't worry about your old man, Bells. I'll be right as rain as soon as you're home."
She smiled despite the tears and reassured him. "Me, too, Dad. I'm in a town called Mystic Falls. I'm supposed to land in Seattle at nine tonight, and I know that's late, b-"
"Nonsense, Bells. I'll be there to pick you up, just like I always was. I can't wait to see you."
"Thanks, Dad. I'll see you soon." She paused, gathering another breath, and whispered over the line, "Love you, Dad. I've missed you."
"Love you, too, Bells. See ya soon."
The soft click as he hung up the phone made Bella sigh. It was official. She was going back home. It was still hard to believe. She had likely missed out on a great deal while running and had left so many people behind.
As she thought about it, she called a number she hadn't dialed in nine years.
"Isa?"
She felt instant relief at the sound of his voice. "Hi, Klaus."
Sounding worried, he asked, "Are you in trouble? Do I need to come wherever you are? Do you need me to send someone?"
She chuckled. "Actually, I think I may finally be safe. I met a…" She hesitated. She wasn't sure what Bonnie was. A psychic, perhaps? Not an ordinary little human, that was certain. "Well, I don't really know what she was, but she seemed to know it was safe for me to go home. So, I called an old friend who confirmed it for me."
His voice was calm as he answered, "You've been running for too long, Isa. It's time. Let your body and mind find healing and rest, love." He sighed softly over the line, "It's long-passed time for you to make peace with yourself. You deserve it."
Her eyes filled with tears as she smiled at his words. She still didn't believe them herself, but the sentiment was nice. "Thank you, Klaus. I just thought you should know."
"Thanks, love. I might have to visit Spork, Washington. I miss you, Isa."
Giggling, she almost didn't correct him, "It's Forks, Klaus."
He chuckled so quietly she nearly missed the sound. "I know, love."
"Klaus?"
"Yes?"
" I miss you too."
