Thank you :) I have free time over the next week now, so I will post when the chapter is ready to go up :) then it'll go back to my original plans of Sunday uploads :)
Forks Washington...
I think this has to be the tiniest place I am ever going to live in, I thought as we drove past the Welcome to Forks sign, and made our way to Charlie's place. The ride has been a peaceful silence, as Uncle Billy tapped away to whatever song came on the radio. My phone buzzed, and I picked it up from between my legs, to see a text.
You're very calm my love, are you there yet?
Just arrived, love. Just got past the Welcome to Forks sign. ILY B x
It was funny teaching Aro the shorter version of texting when he saw the text my mother and I sent each other a few times. When I looked up I was surprised to see the Welcome to La Push sign next.
"Um, I think you've gone the wrong way, Uncle Billy?" I say to him, as we drove down the ocean road, I loved so much as a child, as it took me to my happy place - Uncle Billy's and Aunt Sarah's place. I have so many more happy memories here.
"I will explain everything when we get back home, Bella. I'm sorry for the crypticness... it's best if we wait till we get home. I just hope you will have an open mind. I just want to say beforehand that I am so proud of the person you're growing into and the way you have handled certain situations. I think you will also get some answers you've been searching for today as well."
Surprise, uncomfortableness, suspicion and embarrassment for the praise, I'm not used to receiving all rolled into me at once.
"Um... okay. " My phone buzzed, and thankfully there was no more talk after that.
Everything okay love? ILY AV x
I don't know yet... I'll let you know when I know, I'm not in any danger so don't worry, your Kingly ass off. ILY - BS x
Kingly ass? That's a new one. (Inserts crying with laughter emojis) ILY, AV x
I love you more, and will text you soon :) BS x
I didn't expect a reply after that, and I could feel Uncle Billy's eyes on me as I was texting but glad he didn't question or pester me for who it is I'm talking to, like my mother would have done. That is one thing I don't miss. As much as I love my mother, I did hate the constant pointless chatter that she used to do, to fill in the quiet spells. It's been nice to have time, kind of alone, to process things and become stronger for it.
"We are here," Uncle Billy said. I looked up surprised, to find I'd been staring off into space and checked to make sure I had turned my phone off. And there she stood, just as I remembered the little red house, set in a field, surrounded by forest and well nature in general. The only thing I noticed that was slightly different, is new windows and red paint. The old red Chevy truck is still here as well, I loved that beautiful beast.
"Your eyes always used to light up when you saw the old girl, it's yours by the way, to help you get from A to B. She's had a new paint job as well. When Sarah died, I kind of let her go for years, but knowing you were coming I did her up. I hope this also makes up for the stuff I'm about to tell you."
"Where's Jake?" I ask.
"At the Clearwater's. I wasn't sure how you were going to be feeling, and feel after I tell you what I'm about to, once we are inside."
"I don't know how to feel right now with what you're telling me, with just those words," I confessed to him.
"I understand, I have had since you were eight to process everything, but let's get inside first and put the kettle on." More suspiciousness and confusion hit me. My phone rang this time but I ignored it.
"You not going to answer that?" He asked.
"No, it's just some friends from Phil's team, that I kept in contact with, after New York and the funerals." I wasn't completely lying, so I didn't feel too bad about it.
"They seemed like a lively bunch. I'm glad they've still kept in contact with you, even though Phil never unfortunately got to play with them." I nodded, unable to speak as an emotional lump grew in my throat and I felt my eyes start to annoyingly water.
"He was more my best guy friend than a stepfather figure in my life." I managed to say to him, as Uncle Billy rolled my one suitcase and carried my carry-on in.
"I understand, that's what Harry is like with Jake, his godfather. He plays more of a friend role, so Jake has another older person to talk to and guide him other than just me and before Charlie." Anger suddenly hit me, upon hearing Charlie's name, and it took me completely by surprise.
"Do you still have coffee the same way?"
"Yes, but no sugar this time of the evening."
"Make yourself at home, Bella. This is your home for however long you want to stay."
"What's going on Uncle Billy?" I ask him, after he makes the coffees and puts them down on the table, he sits down directly opposite me on the long bench and looks directly into my eyes, which I notice are the same colour brown as mine.
"There is a reason for Charlie's behaviour and I am a big influence as to why you are here. I have wanted to tell you but didn't know how and didn't want to freak your mother out or cause any more problems with Charlie than there already have been. I felt stuck and I don't like that feeling." He paused, leaned back and closed his eyes, before speaking again, and sighed.
"Almost eighteen years ago, your mother and I caved into the attraction we felt for each other and had from the moment we first met. I have never experienced that since, not even with Sarah, who I loved very much, and no she never knew about this. Only, Charlie, Renee, myself and those of my inner circle do... now, now that you are here. I told them yesterday. The only one who knew is Harry, who has also known from the start, about that night and explained things to me, that stopped the guilt and confusion, I felt and carried for so long, due to my strong feelings for another person that wasn't my girlfriend/wife. That magical night created more blessings than I realised at the time. Our one night brought you into the world, Bella, and I have let my thoughts wander a few times, but had no way of contacting Renee, unless it was through Charlie, who didn't want anything to do with her. He only found out after doing a DNA test the last time you were here, after stealing hairs from your hairbrush, the year you turned eight. That's when everything changed for us all, and Renee confessed it was me, and the guilt she felt is the reason why she left Charlie and that things were starting to sour between them before our one and only night together. Renee confirmed she and Charlie hadn't been that way together, for a year before our night and I don't regret it one bit, because you were created out of that union. It's also why we think she stopped your visits because we assume she didn't want you to know, and Charlie also confessed when everything came out in the open that he couldn't have children anyway, which he'd kept from your mother after having done a medical test before starting the police force. So there were lies all around, and secrets kept on both sides, so no one was honest or perfect. As soon as you got your first phone it felt like a door had been opened back up, and I have wanted to tell you ever since, but I didn't know how and didn't want to upset or scare Renee, who could easily block contact again... so I continued to play the role of godfather and let Renee and Charlie do whatever they did," he explains.
I didn't even realise I was crying, until I blinked, and felt how wet my eyes were from tears. We just stared at each other for what felt like a long time, when in reality it probably wasn't that long at all. My phone buzzed again, but I ignored Aro, I will talk to him when I can. I sent him love and a lot of reassurance through our bond.
"I don't know what to say. I've had the odd stray thought myself, our eye colour is the same, hair colour almost the same. I never really felt connected to Charlie or Forks, the way I have you and La Push, which has always been my happy place. I've secretly always hated Phoenix and the busy, hot and sticky, city life." I pause for a sec. "I always felt like I had done something wrong, and I had tried asking Charlie a few times in the past if I could move in with him when things weren't good with Mum and her previous boyfriends at the time before she met Phil, and he flat out said no, with no room for arguments. So I was surprised when he agreed this time, not knowing any of this, I'm even more surprised. He barely spoke when I called him and he rarely replied back with even a simple text message. So this kind of explains everything in a way. I have always felt more connected to you, than him and often wondered why. I understand why you've decided to tell me now, now there's no one to interfere... what of Charlie?"
"He had a freakout and I said, you're staying with me, this is no place for someone who's been through what you have, to live with someone who clearly doesn't care and isn't actually your blood relative or father. He agreed and we went our separate ways. Things haven't been good between us, since this family moved b-to Forks, a few years ago... the Cullen's, I want you to have as little interaction with them as possible when you go to Forks High. Even though I am Chief and this is my land and little pocket of the United States... La Push High is unfortunately full. I made sure Charlie secured you a place at Forks at least. If you want to go by your birth last name of Black, we can figure out how to change it."
"I'd like some time to process things, I don't start till Monday... what's so bad about this family in Forks?" I ask him, knowing exactly who he is referring to, and my curiosity is burning with knowledge so I can let Aaron know what is going on here.
"They aren't good people Bella, and I don't want you getting mixed up with them. I can't tell you too much." I feel almighty disappointed with the lack of information I got from him, and my phone buzzed and I knew it's Aro, probably confused and concerned by my mixed emotions. I took a swig of my coffee, as we stared each other down and, I waited hopefully for some more information about what's just been said.
"Please just trust me. I've just got my daughter back on a more permanent basis. I can't say all I know, because then you'd be involved in it. I'm half hoping Jake doesn't get involved in it either." He sighs, closes his eyes and puts his head in his hands.
"I'll do my best, U-um... Billy, to stay away from them. I was hoping for an uneventful few years anyway, after everything. I don't think I can handle any more nasty surprises or unexpected events happening."
"That's all I ask, Bella. I hope in time you may come to call me Dad, I know it's going to take a while for us all to adjust."
"Baby steps," I say, and he nods as we fall into a comfortable silence and I pick up my phone as I sip my coffee and text my concerned and worried mate.
I have a feeling these next two years aren't going to be as peaceful as I hoped.