Chapter 8
Bella had just finished dressing when her mom knocked on her door. "You ready?" Renee asked.
"Yeah," Bella said, slipping Edward's phone into her pocket.
"You have a cell phone now? Did Charlie get you one?" she asked.
Bella blushed, feeling like she'd been caught doing something bad. "Um, it's Edward's. He lent me his so I could call him. He has more than one."
A look crossed Renee's face that Bella couldn't interpret, but Renee didn't say anything more.
"We leave in five minutes," Renee informed Bella and closed the door.
Bella and Renee were soon entering in the empty video rental store, the first customers of the day. They grappled with what category to pursue before settling on an actor study. They grabbed all the Harrison Ford movies they could find in the small selection of movies.
They grabbed an indulgent selection of popcorn and candy on their way out before heading home to start their movie marathon.
Bella enjoyed the sense of companionable escapism. She laughed as Renee shouted commentary at the television screen. Even though it had been months since Bella had done this with her mom, it was so comfortingly familiar.
While there was a constant twinge of anxiety in Bella's stomach at what was to come later, she had to admit it was a nice way to pass the day. It felt like a long time since she'd truly laughed. It was a good medicine to counter all the crying she'd been doing lately.
The credits were rolling on their third movie when Charlie walked in. He surveyed the carnage before them with slightly raised eyebrows. There were popcorn kernels all over the floor from when Renee threw popcorn pieces at the TV when she disagreed with the character. Candy wrappers were scattered all over. "Looks like you girls had fun today," he offered with amusement in his voice.
Seeing Charlie standing in the doorway brought the daunting plans rushing back to Bella. She jumped up and started to gather up the mess they had made. "We did," Renee confirmed, getting up to help Bella clean up.
"So, when's Edward going to be here?" Charlie asked, hanging up his gun belt.
"Umm," Bella said unsure. They hadn't settled on a time. She looked at her mother.
"I'll start dinner going. It should be ready in about 45 minutes. Bella, do you want to give Edward a call to let him know? He's of course welcome to get here early."
Bella nodded, grateful for her mother being on top of this. She darted upstairs and pulled out the cellphone Edward had given her. She pressed One, and heard his voice floating through the phone before it had even a chance to finish its first ring. "Bella," came his velvety voice.
"Um, hi Edward," she said. "Um, dinner's going to be ready in about 45 minutes. Mom said you can come over early too."
"Okay," he said. "How about I get there in twenty minutes?"
Bella nodded, then remembered to say out loud. "Okay, sounds good. Ummm, are you going to be okay, you know, with the whole food thing?"
She heard his beautiful laugh. "Don't worry. I have my ways of playing human."
"Okay. Ummm, are you sure you're ready for this? You're probably about to get interrogated by Charlie, you know he's-"
"Bella," Edward interrupted. "It's going to be fine. Deep breath."
Bella complied and took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. "I'll see you soon," he promised before hanging up the phone.
Bella went downstairs to update her parents on the new timeline. Charlie turned on the TV to put on the baseball game for a bit while they waited. Bella joined her mother in the kitchen, helping out where she could. Her mom asked clarifying questions about what Edward liked or didn't like. "Ummm," Bella said unsure how to navigate this conversation. "I don't know. He doesn't eat too much, but I'm sure that whatever you make will be fine." Bella wanted to prepare her mother not to get offended if Edward didn't eat her food.
Soon enough, a knock sounded at the door and Bella's heart leapt into her throat.
She started toward the door but Charlie beat her to it. He opened the door to Edward looking remarkably presentable, wearing pressed slacks and a button-down shirt tucked into his waistband, and a suit jacket to match his slacks. He had a large bouquet of flowers in one hand. He outstretched his right hand toward Charlie with the greeting, "Chief Swan, I'm glad to officially meet you. Thank you for having me over."
Charlie took Edwards hand and shook it, gruffly saying "Edward" in reply.
Renee came waltzing in from the kitchen. "Oh, you must be Edward. It's so good to meet you. Please, come in, come in."
Charlie stepped to the side to allow Edward to step inside. "Mrs. Swan, it is an honor to make your acquaintance. These are for you, they are from my mother's garden," he said offering Renee the bouquet of flowers.
"Oh, they're lovely," Renee said, accepting them. "Thank you, Edward. And please, call me Renee. Let me find something to put these in. I'm just finishing up dinner, why don't you sit and chat with Charlie." She bustled away to find an acceptable vessel to put them in water. "Go easy on him," Renee directed to Charlie as she wandered into the kitchen.
Charlie offered a grumble in reply that bore the energy of I make no promises.
Charlie sat in his armchair as Bella sat next to Edward on the couch.
"So, Edward," Charlie started, and Bella recognized that he was in Chief of Police mode. She groaned silently with dread. "Why do you want to date my daughter?"
"Dad!" Bella protested.
Charlie gave her a look. "Bella, it's a reasonable question."
Edward placed a gentle hand on top of Bella's. "It's okay, Bella. It is a perfectly reasonable question." Edward looked directly at Charlie and said, "Chief Swan, I have been getting to know your daughter for many weeks now. I have been most captivated by her way of viewing the world and handling herself. You should be very proud of the young woman you have raised. I want to assure you that my intentions are quite pure. I love your daughter and would be satisfied to spend any time she allowed me to be by her side."
Charlie cleared his throat, somewhat uncomfortable at the intensity of Edward's answer.
"I imagine that you are aware by now that Bella suffered a violent assault mere days ago," Charlie prompted.
Edward nodded. "I am, Sir. It deeply pains me knowing that Bella was harmed. Believe me when I say that I genuinely regret that I wasn't there that evening to protect her. I do vow to be here to support her in her recovery from that event, whatever she needs."
"And, um," Charlie started uncomfortably. "I know what it's like for teenage boys and, I want to make it very clear that even if Bella hadn't been attacked, I wouldn't want any funny business. But now that-" Charlie trailed off, unsure how to finish this line of inquiry.
Bella's face flushed red. "Dad!" she protested again.
Edward interjected calmly. "Chief Swan, I want to assure you that you have nothing to worry in that regard," he said. "Some may call it old-fashioned, but I do not believe in sex before marriage."
Bella's face flushed a deeper crimson, but Charlie seemed to be impressed by Edward's response.
"How about school?" Charlie asked. "Do you get good grades?"
"I'm a straight A student," Edward answered.
"Where are you thinking about college?" Charlie shot back quickly.
"I'm still considering my options. It's a mix between local colleges and University of Alaska."
"Alaska?" Charlie asked.
"Yes, sir," Edward answered. "It's where my family lived before moving here, and I still have some good connections there."
"Dinner!" Renee called from the kitchen.
They all rose and started walking toward the kitchen. Bella gave her dad a look behind Edward's back. Charlie gave her an innocent look in reply.
"This smells wonderful," Edward announced as he took his seat next to Bella.
Renee smiled appreciatively. "Mushroom ravioli. I hope you like it."
Charlie started eating, and Bella picked up her fork, anxiety hitting.
"So, Edward," Renee started. It was her turn. "Did I overhear correctly that you're considering University of Alaska?"
"Yes, ma'am," Edward responded.
"What are you thinking about studying?" she asked, taking a bite of ravioli.
"I'm still deciding, but I'm thinking medicine, like my father, Carlisle."
Renee looked impressed. "Your father's a doctor?" she asked.
"Yes, ma'am," he responded.
"Please, Edward. Call me Renee."
"I'll try to remember, Renee," he said with a smile that Renee returned.
"And your mother, what does she do?"
"Esme. She's an architect. She enjoys restoring old houses."
"And do you have any siblings?" Renee asked.
Edward nodded. "Four."
"Wow, four. How old are they?" Renee followed.
"Me, Alice, and Jasper are 17. Rosalie and Emmette are 18."
As Renee began to puzzle out how that all worked, Edward clarified for her, "We're all adopted."
Renee's eyes widened at this information. "Oh, wow. How long have you been with the Cullen's then?"
"Pretty much my whole life. I don't remember much of my life before Carlisle adopted me."
"Oh, so, Esme didn't…" Renee wondered off, trying to put all the pieces together.
"They met after Carlisle had been with me for a few years. Esme's always wanted a big family, so they continued to adopt."
Esme looked impressed at their unusual family structure. "And are you close with your family?"
"Yes, ma'am, very." Renee gave him a look, and he corrected himself. "Sorry, Renee."
There was a lull in the conversation when Renee took some time to eat a few bites off her plate. Bella glanced over at Edward. While she had not seen him take a bite, there were less pieces on his plate than when it was first served. She scrunched her forehead in confusion. "Bella, you haven't touched your food," Edward commented.
Bella blinked and thoroughly confused, took a pointed bite of her mushroom ravioli.
"So how do you like Forks?" Renee asked Edward after everyone had some time to eat more of their meal.
"I quite like it. I admit that I started liking it quite a bit more once Bella moved to town," he smiled at Bella, who blushed at the public pronouncement of affection in front of her parents.
"Aww, that's sweet," Renee gushed.
Charlie's fork clattered slightly when he set it down, announcing he was done with his dish. Renee popped the last ravioli in her mouth before setting her own fork down.
"That was a lovely meal," Edward announced. "Thank you very much Renee for cooking and for having me over." Bella looked over with wide eyes to see that Edward's plate was completely cleared. Edward gave her a pointed look at her own plate that was still quite full. Bella stubbornly popped another ravioli in her mouth and forced herself to chew.
Renee smiled broadly at him. "You're so welcome. Thank you so much Edward for coming over and giving us a chance to get to know you. I hope you can appreciate that Bella is very precious to us, and we want to make sure she's in good hands. You seem like a nice boy," she offered approvingly.
Edward returned her smile. "You raised a wonderful young woman. I appreciate the trust you are placing in me by allowing her to spend time with me. I hope that I can prove myself worthy of that trust."
"Oh, wow," Renee breathed, impressed.
"We should talk ground rules," Charlie said, breaking the silence he had sunken into during dinner.
Edward nodded. "Of course."
Everyone turned to look at Charlie, waiting. "If you go out, I want to know where and who's going to be there. Bella needs to be home by 10pm. 9pm on school nights." Edward nodded his agreement. "No partying, no drinking, no drugs." Edward nodded again. Charlie appeared to be thinking before finally adding, "And I reserve the right to add more rules as we go." Edward nodded.
"Sounds good," Edward said. "I feel confident that I can honor those requirements."
Charlie nodded stiffly.
Renee chimed in. "We should make sure we have your contact information. And for your parents."
Edward nodded and obligingly started writing out the information with the pen and two sheets of scrap paper that Renee handed him. "Oh, and you should put down the number of the phone you gave Bella."
Charlie's head snapped up at this information.
"I gave Bella my phone so that she could reach me if she needed me," he offered to Charlie in explanation. "I hope that was okay."
Charlie considered it a moment before nodding finally.
Once that was all settled, everyone rose from the kitchen table.
"Thank you again for having me over," Edward offered cordially.
"It was our pleasure," Renee smiled.
They walked to the door. "Chief Swan," Edward offered his hand once more in goodbye.
"Edward," Charlie replied, taking his hand and giving it a firm shake.
"Bye Bella," Edward said to Bella who stood stunned behind her parents. He turned and walked out.