Things started with a literal bang, pulling Bella from her bed late Thursday morning to answer the door. Expecting her persistently (almost annoyingly) early stepsister, it surprised her to find Charlie waiting instead.

"Hey," she greeted him awkwardly. "What are you doing here?"

"Just checking on ya before I go back to Forks. I had to run some errands, so I was in the neighborhood."

Uh-huh. Making sure I'm not trying to bolt on this stupid bonfire, more likely. Charlie had already warned her she better show up at lunch the day before.

Charlie hesitated to say something but then smirked as he bit back a chuckle. "So, uh… I heard you were seen leaving someone's house early yesterday morning."

Bella closed her eyes as she sighed, wondering who had recognized her despite her very blonde hair, told on her, and who else had already heard about it. Had Jacob seen her leave Paul's and dismissed her like she'd forced herself to ignore him? The possibility didn't make seeing him this afternoon feel any better.

She gestured for him to come into the room. Charlie immediately plopped into an overstuffed chair, and she shut the door.

"Yeah. I stayed at my soon-to-be ex-husband's house, and nothing happened. We barely even spoke. He drove me back to La Push, and I passed out in the car, so he let me sleep in his spare room. I left like twenty minutes after I woke up."

Charlie shook his head. "You've been home almost a week, and I have yet to hear you say the guy's name out loud, Bells. You act like it's physically painful to talk about him and fucking balk when someone says his name. Now, I've seen you do that shit before, remember? You really expect me to believe there's not still something there between you two?"

Bella frowned. "There isn't. I drank too much and got into a little tiff with one of the younger wolves. He got Devon to leave me alone, but I was pretty rattled."

Charlie surprised her as he demanded, "Say his damn name, Bells. Look me in the eye and tell me you don't still have feelings for the guy. You forget I know what falling for someone on a whim feels like. I married your mom after knowing her a week, and it took me eighteen years to get the fuck over her."

Bella sat down on the matching sofa and sighed. "I… can't do that. He's an entirely different person now. I don't even know him, Dad. He doesn't know me either, and that's probably for the best. If I can keep the boy I knew, the man I married, and now, this… stranger, separate in my head… If I separate the past from the present, it's just better. Otherwise, I just overthink every fucking mistake I made, all the trouble I've caused every single person here, and then I have no peace of mind. I can't live like that. I'll drive myself insane."

Charlie hesitated again before saying, "You know… your little mental separation between them doesn't really work. He's a different guy now, but they're still the same person, whether you like it or not. You can't change the past by pretending it didn't happen."

Bella huffed. "I don't pretend it didn't happen. I choose not to dwell on it."

"You can't just ignore your feelings, kiddo."

"I can when those feelings disrupt the life I'd rather have," Bella said carefully. "One far the fuck away from supernatural creatures that proclaim to love me one second and hate me the next. I don't want the drama. Or to worry about whether the person I've given everything to is going to imprint on another woman and abandon my ass. I don't want kids… I don't want any of that shit."

Incredulously, he asked, "Is that the truth, or what you tell yourself to get by Bells?"

She grumbled, "It's what is best for me and my mental health, Dad."

Charlie's stern gaze met hers, unblinking. "Uh-huh. Sure."

What the hell was his problem? "What's with the sudden change of heart for you, Dad? A few days ago, you seemed to like who I've become just fine."

"And I do, Bells. I meant what I said then, too. It doesn't change that I saw your face when I told you I knew about your court date. And I've thought about it a lot since then, how you never once said his name. Not during that conversation, and not during lunch yesterday either, even though you'd just left his house? Now… I used to do that shit when I'd talk about Renee. Do you remember how I always started sentences with, 'Your mom said?' It's not like I had to tell you who your mom is, Bells. I just hated saying her name."

Bella nodded. She'd never given it much thought as a child, but in hindsight… God, you really are your fucking father's daughter, Bella Swan.

"Then you understand why I don't like it. Okay? Can we just leave it at that?"

Charlie scoffed. "So you're admitting you still care about that guy?"

Bella rolled her eyes. "Dad, just leave it alone. What I feel or think about him doesn't matter. It changes nothing… and if he had ever wanted to fix things, he had opportunities to reach out to me."

Charlie frowned, looking skeptical. "Has he, now?"

" Yes. We've corresponded through email every tax season. We're married, Dad. Neither of us could just avoid our taxes. We file as married, and I transfer his portion and the difference into his account for him. I didn't know Jamie existed until I ran into them at the restaurant the other night. He never told me. That's part of why I was so rattled when they showed up. How many women do you know run into their estranged husband and find out he has a child four years younger than their marriage?"

Charlie's eyes went wide at that, and he sighed. "Look, kid, I'm sorry. I just… don't want to see you pass up the opportunity to be happy with someone you care about."

As if she wouldn't take the chance to be happy with him if she could, but they'd immediately proven that impossible. And now, he was so different while she'd remained utterly unchanged for seven years, aside from gaining a little weight, dying her hair a thousand times, and protecting her heart with every ounce of energy she had.

Admitting more than she'd ever allowed herself to, her bottom lip quivered. "It was never just up to me, Dad. I told you, we made a drunken mistake. Two days later, we were at each other's throats, and after all the shit Edward put me through… I can't handle that. The temper, constantly arguing, feeling cherished one second and loathed the next. I won't do that again. Not for anyone."

Charlie argued, "And he's a totally different person now, Bella."

"Yes," she nodded emphatically, insistent. "A complete fucking stranger with a kid and entirely not my type." Bella pinched the bridge of her nose in aggravation and sighed. "Can we drop this, please? Just let me worry about my lack of relationship my way. Okay?"

Charlie sighed again as he stood. "Fine. But I can see you care about him whether or not you admit it to yourself. And so can everyone else, by the way. You're gonna have to face reality eventually, Bella. And I hope it's not too late for you both when you do."

Who the fuck is everyone else?! "Well, I guess I will handle that problem if it happens. Right now, I just want to get this divorce over with and be done with it. That's what is best for everyone."

She could hear the disbelief in his voice as he said, "Okay, Bells. If that's what you want…"

"It is," she said, standing. Bella closed the distance between them to hug her father. She loved Charlie, even if he was currently pissing her off. When he wound his arms around her to hug her back, she had to blink away tears. Pulling away, she said, "I'll see you at the bonfire later."

Charlie walked to the door and asked, "You are coming, right? You want to ride over to the beach with me and Sue?"

Bella shook her head. "Leah's riding with me, and I'd rather have a way to leave when I want if I want. I don't… enjoy feeling trapped in places."

"I can understand that," Charlie said. "That's why I rarely carpool. You're too much like your old man, kid."

"I've been thinking the same thing since the second I came home," she admitted.

As Charlie opened the door, he asked, "So, why did he need to drive you home, anyway? Because of Devon Uley? That little shit is all bark and no bite, Bells."

Bella laughed. "Yeah. I kind of figured that out when I told Devon just because he has a dick doesn't mean he has to be one, and he didn't lose his shit. Also, I'd drank a little. It was just a kindness on his part, that's all."

Charlie barked out a loud laugh. It instantly relieved some of the tension in her limbs. She hadn't realized how incredibly physically strained her muscles felt during their conversation. She wanted to go back to bed.

"That's one thing I certainly like about the newer Bella," Charlie admitted. "You're much more outspoken. And honest. It's kind of refreshing."

She tried not to seem as sad as it made her while admitting, "Took me a long time to kill the timid little mouse Edward tried to turn me into."

Thankfully, Charlie chuckled. "You seem to have upgraded from mouse to 'possum."

As he stepped out into the hall, she asked, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'll let you think about that on your own." He grinned as he pulled the door shut behind him.

Bella rolled her eyes and climbed back into bed, hoping to sleep until Leah inevitably arrived to wake her again. Instead of sleeping, she tossed and turned, unable to keep her conversation with Charlie from replaying.

Who told him she'd spent the night, and why did anyone care what she did? More importantly, had Charlie been able to see through her careful facade the entire time? Bella reminded herself she chose to be the person she had become and had willingly done so for a decade. More or less divulging that fact was as much of an admission to herself as to Charlie, even if she'd always been conscious of it.

He was right that she'd have to face her unresolved feelings for her husband eventually, but she wasn't wrong, either. Her husband was a virtual stranger now. He had been little more than a stranger, then.

She knew that the whole day would be a shit storm, as at least one confrontation would happen when she finally got surrounded by the people she'd run away from.

Jesus, Bella, you're literally walking into the wolves' den today. She swallowed back the anxiety that welled in her chest and took a deep, calming breath.

'You can do this,' she reminded herself.

At least half of the wolves didn't hate her, and that was an enormous relief. It didn't make her any less apprehensive about the rest of them. Bella reminded herself of her promise to see Billy and support Charlie. She felt determined to keep it, regardless of discomfort.

As far as her husband was concerned, maybe establishing a cordial relationship with him would be best. Regardless of their secretly failed marriage, they would always have ties. Bella couldn't help but consider the positive transformations she'd seen in him, especially when he was with his son. She recalled her thoughts on the drive to La Push, revealing she wanted a memory of the new him to replace the one she remembered. She recalled the look on his face afterward, too.

Bella sighed as her cell phone rang, saw that Jack was calling, and finally forced herself to crawl out of bed. She cleared her throat and tried to mask her anxiety as she answered.

"Hello, Honey," he said cheerily. "You have been seriously quiet with me for the last few days. Do you know that? I'm half tempted to fly there to confirm you're still alive."

Bella chuckled and said, "Oh, Jackie. I miss you too. I'm fine. It's just been… busy."

"Oh, yeah?" He teased, "Too busy to check on your stupid Ficus? What if I told you the fern is wasting away without you?"

Bella laughed again and sighed. "How are things going back there? Any more terrible first dates for you?"

He grumbled, "No, but I vacated your lousy wine selection. We're going shopping when you get home."

Bella chuckled and said, "I don't know, Jack. Seems like all I've done since I got here is drink. I might need a week or two of sobriety by the time I get there, just to let my liver recover."

Immediately suspicious, Jack asked, "How was dinner with your classmates?"

Bella told him as much as she could, including her husband's presence, his later defense of her, and then waking up in his spare room. She told Jack about Jamie and her husband's appearance and personality changes.

"You sound slightly infatuated, you know?" She cringed as Jack chuckled.

"I'm wondering if I should hire representation and come home, Jack."

"Honey…" He sighed. "You do whatever is best for you. I've always known you hide things about your past. I've never judged you for it."

"I know." And she had always been grateful for that fact. That was why Jack was her best friend.

"I think your dad is right."

Bella nearly dropped her phone. "What? Seriously, Jack?"

"What, honey? It's been seven years, and from what you said, it doesn't look like he's with anyone. I know you don't want kids, but you don't have to have any or raise his kid to be with him if you want to. You could be together and live separately."

She couldn't believe what he was saying. Where was the Jack that discouraged going in the first place? She argued, "And do what, Jack? Fly home to see him every other month? My life is in Florida."

Softening his tone, Jack said, "You just called Forks home, honey. I think you owe yourself the time to examine that."

She said, "You sound like my father and stepsister."

"See? There ya go, honey. If we are so different and can agree, maybe you should listen. I can petition to postpone your court date another week if you'd like."

She huffed, "No way. I'm already itching to leave." When he chuckled, Bella growled in aggravation.

"By the way," he said, changing the subject. "Leah sounds feisty. I'm half-tempted to fly there just to meet her."

Bella pictured Jack's expertly tailored suits and fancy martini bars compared to Leah's simplicity and uncouth demeanor and chuckled. "I highly doubt you two would mesh well romantically. You're basically exact opposites aside from both being bossy."

Chuckling, Jack said, "I like bossy. Besides? If you relocate to be with your husband, I might have to move somewhere a little colder. Florida sucks."

Bella shook her head and laughed. "You're incorrigible, sometimes."

"You love me, though."

"You're right. I do. I guess I should start getting ready for this damn bonfire."

"No offense, Bella, but I'd love to be a fly on the wall for this."

"Well, it's on the beach, so you'd be one screwed fly."

"Fine. Fly on the beach, then. Either way, you better call me tomorrow. Unless you decide to sleep over again."

"Shut up," she grumbled as he laughed.

"Are you going to go on a date with the guy you went to school with?"

"I… don't know." She laughed anxiously. "I was a little drunk when I encouraged that idea, but we'll see?"

Incredulously, he teased, "Is that gonna depend on your husband ?"

"Don't make me hang up on you!"

Jack huffed. "What? It's a legitimate question. What if you decide by next Thursday that you don't want a divorce?"

"You sound a little worried, Jackie. And I'm sure that won't happen. I didn't belong here ten years ago. I don't belong here now."

Sarcastically, he grumbled, "Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, Honey."

I do. Every fucking day.