The drive to Hartwell was long. Notorious for falling asleep in the car, I had slept for half of the car ride. Edward didn't seem to mind. As we left Florida behind, nerves churned through my stomach. The drive consisted of Edward attempting to ease my anxiety, snacking on the last fruit I grabbed from my garden, and a couple of bathroom breaks.
"We're almost there, love," Edward said. A sign stating we were twenty miles from Hartwell flew by.
He held out his hand over the center console and I slid my hand into his. Alice had called an hour ago letting us know the family had made it safely to Charleston. My thoughts flickered over speaking with Angela a couple of days ago, who wistfully canceled the wedding. When she called, she was in tears.
"Aro has to ruin everything," she had muttered dejectedly, "Now we have to reschedule the entire thing! It's ruined." I tried to console her the best I could over the phone, reassuring her everything would work out.
Angela, Ben, and her family were also evacuating, as I found out this morning. They were traveling to Montgomery, Alabama where Angela's aunt and uncle lived. I felt relief my friends would be safe. Jessica, Lauren, and Kate had also all fled to their respective relatives out of the path of the storm.
Just then, Edward's phone rang and he pressed a button on the steering wheel to answer the call.
"Hello?" he asked aloud to the speaker.
"Edward," a voice breathed throughout the car. I knew that voice...
Edward's face scrunched with displeasure and panic, he eyes looked to mine in a hurry.
"Edward, are you there? I'm so scared about the storm, baby." Tanya's voice said again.
I squeezed his hand and nodded to him.
"Tanya, how the—"
"I'm calling from the house, a number you didn't block."
"Tanya," he began, his voice weary and eyes on the road, "You can't call me anymore."
"But why, Eddie? I need you."
"I can't be that person for you anymore. I've moved on. Contact your mom, I'm sure she can help you stay safe during the hurricane."
She let out a whimper.
"Tanya, I'm going to hang up now. Goodbye."
"Wait—" she said, but Edward effectively cut her off by pressing another button on the wheel.
"Fuck, Bella, I blocked her number, I—"
"Edward. I trust you." He eyes scanned mine briefly searching for any signs of anger before returning to the road.
We both dropped the subject. I was truly not upset with him. How could he have prevented her from contacting him from an unknown number? I let this one roll off of my back. Edward was mine. He made that clear to me. I had bigger things to worry about.
Like seeing my Dad.
Like Edward meeting my Dad.
As we neared town, I began to recognize some of the blurred landmarks and buildings. My Dad was from Hartwell, a small town in Georgia consisting of 4,372 people. I had been born in Hartwell, along with Riley. We had visited several times in my youth, to see Grandma Swan. She had passed away two years before Riley. I couldn't see my Mom living in this tiny town. She was hard to tame, and I'd imagined she grew tired and bored with small-town life.
I guess that might be one reason I didn't grow up here.
We stopped at a red light, in the midst of main street surrounded by the historic shopfronts.
"There's the police station," I pointed out to Edward. I could picture Dad stopping by the coffee shop on the corner before going into work.
"These stores are so cool, my Mom would love them."
"Yes, I agree, she would love the architecture."
The GPS gave us a few more directions and suddenly we were parked outside my Dad's house. This had been the house my Dad had grown up in. A white modestly sized two story home, with white shutters and large windows. A small front porch greeted us with a brown wooden front door.
"Are you ready?" Edward asked.
"Are you ready?" I retorted. He simply gave me a lopsided smile.
"I'll grab the suitcases."
"I can help too," I rolled my eyes, knowing there were too many suitcases and bags for him to carry in one trip. The trunked popped open and we both grabbed the luggage, him pulling the two larger suitcases, one of mine, the other his. He also had a duffle bag slung over his shoulder, he swatted my hand gently as I tried to pick it up. That left me with the last duffle bag. I shot him one last reassuring smile before knocking three times on the door.
"Coming!" Dad called. I could hear the TV playing some kind of game. Soon, the door opened, revealing Charlie Swan.
His brown eyes twinkled and his mustache twitched as he grinned at me.
"Bella!" He pulled me into an awkward one-armed hug, due to the duffle bag on my shoulder. Dad was dressed casually in a short sleeve button down shirt and jeans.
"Hi, Dad," I smiled back.
"Come in, come in. Set the bags down and we can take care of them later." Dad took my duffle and set it inside the entryway.
"Hello, sir, my name is Edward Cullen," Edward began after he set down the luggage. He presented his hand to Dad.
Dad took it and gave it a good shake. "Nice to meet you, Edward. Thanks for making the pitstop so I could see Bella." Their first encounter seemed pretty pleasant. I watched my Dad closely as he took Edward in. My Dad's smile never faltered, making me relieved.
"Thank you for letting us stay with you, Chief Swan. I would never want Bella to miss an opportunity to her father."
Dad nodded and proceeded to the living room.
"Of course, Edward, you will be sleeping on the pull out bed down here. I hope it'll do." Dad said using his arm to present the couch. His voice had a slight edge to it, not leaving any room for discussion. Not that Edward would argue anyways, due to his rule of no sleepovers.
"Most definitely," Edward smiled and nodded.
"Can I get you two a drink or anything? A beer, Edward?"
"Sure, Chief Swan," I smirked inwardly at Edward's formal tone. I could tell from his ceremonious behavior he was nervous.
"Son, just call me Charlie. I'll get you that beer." he disappeared into the kitchen.
"See, I told you," I snorted, "he already likes you, Edward. Don't be nervous."
"Let's keep it that way," he smirked and kissed my temple. I pulled him down to sit on the couch with me.
Dad came back with two beers and a glass of water for me. He handed one to Edward who smiled in gratitude. Dad took his seat in his recliner.
"So, how did you two kids meet?" Dad asked, cracking open his beer can.
Edward and I looked at each other.
"Uh, Dad, don't freak out," he quirked a brow and put down his beer, "but at the beginning of the summer, I was celebrating with my friend Angela who had just gotten engaged at a bar in town. I needed to use the bathroom and I was cornered by a guy who began to force himself on me." His eyebrows shot up and his mouth formed a thin, hard line. "Edward defended me, and nothing happened. I'm fine."
"Let me stop you there, Bella," his mouth was in a deep frown, "You were assaulted and you didn't tell me?"
"I didn't want you to worry, Dad," my lips trembled and Edward took my hand. "I wanted to get over it."
"I wish you told me," he replied, running his hand through his dark locks which were now sprinkled with strands of gray.
"I'm sorry," Dad looked distraught. "Edward is actually my neighbor's son as well, so we began running into each other quite a lot."
"Edward," Dad began gruffly, "thank you for being there for my Bella if something were to happen—"
"Which nothing did," I interrupted.
"Just, thanks."
"I did what I needed to do, sir." He squeezed my hand.
"Well," I said standing up, "Anybody hungry? I know I am."
"I don't have much in the fridge, Bella, we can order something in."
"Nonsense," I waved dismissively, "I'll find something."
"I think I have some fish in the freezer, let me show you," Dad said eyes never leaving mine.
"Great," I responded nervously.
"Feel free to change the channel, Edward." Dad stood up and followed me into the kitchen.
"Dad, I'm sorry I didn't mention what happened," I said once we were out of Edward's earshot.
"Please just tell me things like that, Bella."
"I wasn't thinking."
"I'm just glad Edward was there to stop anything worse from happening. Did you go to the police?" His voice slipped into cop mode.
"Yes, I went to the police. Actually, about that...so the guy was arrested eventually but he actually is missing now."
"He broke out of jail?"
"Apparently there was an accident when he was being transported to Clear Lake. The driver and guards were killed. He was nowhere to be found."
"Shit, Bella," He said, forehead wrinkled with worry.
His cursing caught me off guard. "I'm fine. Edward has been helping me through this, there has been no sign of the guy around Clear Lake anyways. Edward's almost brother-in-law is an officer in Clear Lake. They are keeping a watchful eye for him."
"That only makes me feel a little better."
"It's okay, Dad." I rested my hand on his shoulder.
Reuniting with my Dad felt very normal, despite my earlier thoughts. His mannerisms and demeanor were the same from when I was little. In some ways, I could see how he still thought of me as that little girl, being ripped away from him.
"I'd like to talk to you about some things, but it can wait until later. I know it has been a long drive." He said, rubbing his neck with his hand.
"Yes, we have a lot to talk about." I murmured.
"Well, here's that fish," he said, opening the freezer and pulling out a wrapped package. "I caught it just the other weekend. Still fresh."
"Thanks, Dad."
"Are you sure you don't want to order pizza or anything?"
"Yes, I would like to cook for you. I know you don't have a lot of home-cooked meals." I smiled, eyeing his stomach.
"Hey, I am as healthy as a horse," he grinned, patting his belly. I rolled my eyes. "I'm really glad you're here, Bella-Bean." He ruffled my hair with crinkles at the corners of his eyes.
"Me too." I wrapped my arms around him, which took him by surprise. He gingerly patted my back and placed a kiss onto my hair. I felt like his little girl again.
After that moment I had with my father, he returned to the living room with Edward and I began to dig through the fridge and cabinets, attempting to salvage something to create a meal. In the pantry, I managed to find rice and began to scrummage through the fridge for anything green, but coming up short. Rice and fish it is then.
As I seasoned the fish from the sad amount of seasonings and spices Dad owned, I slipped the filets in the oven and started on the rice. I quieted my actions in order to hear the conversation from the living room.
"So, Bella tells me you're a doctor?"
"Almost, I am in my first year of residency."
"And you chose Clear Lake of all places?"
"My parents decided to move there, my mother grew up there and wanted to return. My dad wanted to open a new practice, especially since Clear Lake needed one."
"Huh, and your siblings all live in Clear Lake too?"
"Yes, sir. My brother Emmett and his wife own and manage an auto repair shop. My sister Alice works at the bridal shop in town and her fiance is a police officer."
"What kind of doctor are you going to be?"
"A family practitioner, I'll see patients from infancy all the way to the elderly. Mostly in preventative care and dealing with chronic illnesses."
There was a brief silence.
"So, you and Bella have been together for how long?"
I took a deep breath as Dad continued his scrutinizing questions.
"Four or so months, but it feels like so much more." I smiled. "I definitely mean that in a good way," he stuttered, "she and I know each other so well now. She truly completed the missing piece in my life. You've raised an amazing girl, Charlie."
I could feel my cheeks growing warm while my heart leaped joyfully in my chest. It meant so much to me Edward and Dad were getting along so well. I could hear my heart beat fast while I awaited Dad's response.
"She sure is something else."
"I would have loved to have met Riley as well. From what Bella speaks of him, he was such a unique guy. She speaks of him often and her love for him radiates from her."
Dad cleared his throat. "He was something else too. Riley looked out for her. She had him wrapped around her little finger. Most boys his age would want nothing to do with his kid sister. He was different. Riley loved to spend time with his Bella. And she admired him so much. She would look up to him as if he hung the stars just for her." I heard the creak of the recliner and some footsteps. I immediately began to look busy in case Dad came into the kitchen, but I heard him sit down again.
"Here is a picture of them. Bella was three, Riley had just turned ten. Just look at how he is looking at her. He was so mature, at every age and especially after Bella was born."
"Wow," Edward responded quietly, almost too soft for me to hear. "Thanks for sharing this."
"Oh, I have plenty more. But we will have to wait 'till Bella gets back so I can embarrass her some." Dad chuckled.
"I'd love that," Edward responded, I could hear the grin on his face. I shook my head silently, already feeling the embarrassment.
"I'll have to pull them out later when Bella is with us so I can embarrass her." Edward laughed in response. "How's that fish coming along, Bella?" Dad called to me.
"Good!" I replied. The rice was just about done and the fish had just a few more minutes in the oven.
I rejoined the men in the living room after stirring the rice once more.
"Your kitchen is so bare, Dad. How do you survive?" I returned to my place on the couch next to Edward.
"You know I can't cook. I eat a lot of sandwiches."
"Watch a show or Youtube. You can learn anything on Youtube."
"Sometimes I can barely work the TV, Bella. How would I be able to work Youtube?"
"I'll show you, Dad," I rolled my eyes. Edward silently chuckled beside me.
Just then, the oven beeped, letting us know the fish was ready.
"Lunch is ready," I said, getting up.
"Let me help you," Edward said, following me into the kitchen.
"Tired of being grilled by my father?" I asked him quietly, poking his side.
"Nope. He can ask me as many questions as he likes, as long as he likes me."
"Trust me, Edward, you would know if he didn't like you," I said, thinking about Dad's first meeting with Paul. That did not go so well...I should've seen that as a sign…
I plated the fish and rice as Edward set out utensils and napkins on the kitchen table.
"Ready, Dad." He casually strolled around the corner, observing Edward. Next, he sat down, sitting at the head of the table. I carried over the plates while Edward took a seat as well.
"Here you go," I smiled and slipped into my seat.
Lunch passed filled with more questions for Edward and I. I asked my own questions of Dad, trying to turn some of the attention on him. I updated him on the happenings at the studio, which it was refreshing to tell him without a scowl like my mother would have had on her face. He was genuinely interested. He told a couple of stories of when I was little, triggering a blushing episode.
Once we were finished, Edward offered to do the dishes, claiming I had done all of the cooking so it was the least he could do. This earned a smile from my Dad. He clapped Edward on the shoulder while leading me outside to the backyard. The weather was hot, especially around this time in the afternoon. The weather didn't very much from Clear Lake. We sat on the covered porch on a set of wicker furniture with the overhead ceiling fan on, keeping us cool.
"I've really missed you, Bella-Bean," Dad said, ruffling my hair as I took a seat.
"Me too, Dad," I said honestly.
"So, what happened with your Mom? She told me bits and pieces, begging me to talk to you for her. But you know your mother, she's over the top and dramatizes situations."
"I...I woke up, Dad. I realized how she was trying to control my life in the direction she wanted. I began to understand she's selfish and she stifled me, especially while I was growing up. My eyes opened, and I realized I had a lot of missed opportunities because of her reign."
"That's something I wanted to talk about, Bella. There's something you should know—"
Edward walked outside, the screen door shutting noisily behind him. Dad quieted.
"Edward, do you think you could go to the grocery store for me? Pick up some things for dinner and breakfast and lunch for tomorrow?" I asked. He nodded in understanding.
"I'd be happy to, Bella."
"Thanks, let me make a quick list." I darted inside to jot some things down. Edward followed me inside.
"You're going to speak with your father?"
"Yes. Thank you for doing this."
"I understand you two need some privacy. I'll see you soon." He gave me a quick kiss and headed to the front door.
"Love you," I called out to him. He turned around and flashed a crooked grin.
"Love you too."
I poured two glasses of water before heading back outside. I sat cross-legged on the cushioned chair. Dad looked as if he suddenly grew older, as if he had a weight on his shoulder.
"I don't really know where to begin, Bella, so I'll start where I think it would be best."
I nodded.
"Renee would kill me for telling you my truth, but you deserve to hear."
"What is it?" I asked nervously.
"When your mother and I divorced, it was very hard on me. You were only eleven. I know those three years between the accident and the divorce were hard for you. It was difficult for all of us. Renee kept drifting away from me, she changed. I loved her, I wanted to make it work. But Riley's death," his voice cracked, "broke us. I tried to fix our relationship, but she had already made up her mind. She wanted to leave.
"Renee blindsided me with her conditions. She wanted full custody. We argued. The worst argument either of us had. She made threats and empty promises. I fought for you, Bella, I did. I didn't want to be without you." A tear slid down my cheek. "After I signed the papers, she promised I would get to see you. At first, I thought everything would work out, we would establish a new normal. She then stopped scheduling weekend visits and stopped answering my calls. I went several times to the apartment you two were in, but she never let me inside. Then she took you to Phoenix. At least she let me say goodbye...I called every day for six months. Begging her when she answered to speak with you. I wrote letters to you every week for three years. They were either returned or made it through somehow."
"I never received any letters," I whispered.
Dad's face twisted into a grimace. "That's what I thought. When she finally let you visit, you had already grown so much. You were fourteen, already a young woman. I thought you were mad at me, didn't want anything to do with me anymore. That's what Renee told me. She told me you never wanted to talk to me or you were too busy at the time."
"We spoke mainly on my birthdays," I murmured, shaking my head in disappointment. "I thought that was only when you would call."
"No, your Mom kept that from you. I had a feeling she was lying to me and now my suspicions are confirmed. But also I could never tell you how your mother acted. I knew by hurting her, I would hurt you as well. I never wanted to let you go, Isabella. You are the Little Dipper to my Big Dipper, and I will always love you because you're my little girl." His eyes watered and mustache twitched.
I stood up and ran into his lap, hugging him around the neck. I was overgrown for his lap and had been for a long time, but that didn't matter. He was telling me he fought for me. He didn't abandon me as I'd previously believed, what Mom made me believe. A huge pressure lifted from my chest, something I didn't know what was weighing me down. I couldn't believe Mom's actions.
"Mom manipulated me, Dad. She led me to believe you didn't care anymore. She wanted total control over my life, and she had it until only recently. She tore me away from you," the tears were now flowing freely as I kneeled in front of him. "She lied to me about her past, too. She knew Edward's mom, Dad. She lied to me about Aunt Irina. She didn't let me see her. When we moved to Phoenix, she removed the two most important people in my life. I don't know if I can forgive her."
"Bella, sweetie, I never realized how she truly treated you. I feel so guilty for not knowing."
"How could you have known, Dad?" I shook my head in anger, "She didn't even let you speak with me."
"I just wish I would've been more proactive, gone to the courts or something. I was bound though. I already agreed to the divorce settlements and my signature. I never should have let her win."
"She would have found a way to win," I muttered darkly.
"There's so much lost time. I missed so much."
"We have now, Dad. We now know the truth."
"I love you, Isabella, to the stars and back."
"I love you too, Dad."
I smiled through my tears.
"I'm really glad you met Edward, Dad. He's so important to me."
"I can tell." I wiped my eyes, trying to remove the tear stains while I returned to my seat. "That boy is enamored with you."
"I love him."
"I can tell," his smile was back.
"He's it for me. We've only known each other for four months, but I know he's it."
"I just want you to be happy. And careful."
"I'm incredibly happy, Dad."
"Good. Have you two thought about the future?"
"Like marriage?"
"Yes," he grumbled.
"A little bit. You know, I never gave much thought to the idea of marriage. I guess I didn't understand it. I didn't understand how someone could love another so much until I experienced it. I know I want to marry him, eventually."
"You grew up so fast, Bella-Bean. Marriage is important."
"I'm twenty-five, Dad. A lot of people my age are getting married or have already been married. My best friend Angela is having her wedding, well, replanning her wedding due to Hurricane Aro. Edward's older sister, another one of my best friends, is marrying her fiance in November...in two months. Wow, this summer has gone by very fast."
"Twenty-five is still young. You've just turned into such a beautiful young woman, it seems like overnight."
"I'm still that little girl, just smarter and more experienced," I laughed.
"Of course." He joined me in laughter. "He treats you well?" he said, suddenly serious again.
"Very well. I only have one other relationship to compare ours to, but it's like night and day. Paul didn't treat me well at all...meanwhile, Edward," I inwardly sighed, "he treats me better than I could have ever imagined someone could. He's like an anchor to me."
"I never did like that Paul...but Edward, he does seem completely different than him. I could tell just as he introduced himself."
"I'm glad you like him. He wanted to make a good impression with you. He was actually nervous about it, and it seems like he is never nervous about anything."
"Well, he certainly did make a good impression. And you can let him know I said that" he winked.
I heard clamor come from the kitchen. Edward must be back.
"I think he's back," I smiled, rising from my seat.
"Go ahead and go to him," he grinned back.
"Go," Aunt Irina smiled, "go to him,"
I remembered Aunt Irina's voice from my dream last night. I swore I could almost feel Aunt Irina's hand caress my cheek again. I smiled to myself and went inside to greet Edward.