Chapter 71: The Forks Book Club

Forks, Washington

As the credits began to roll, Sue picked up the remote from the table and shut off the TV and DVD player, leaving the room momentarily in silence. Due to recent events—namely her stepdaughter Bella's actions in Los Angeles—her book club had decided to switch things up a bit, making it a movie night to watch Wonder Woman instead. Angela had suggested the change, believing that watching a superhero movie would spark a lively discussion, as the world had been gripped by a real-life superhero craze ever since Bella had revealed herself, taking on the mantle of Starshield.

Sue remembered all too well the day it had happened. She'd been dropping off a meal for Billy, a regular visit now that he'd been slowing down noticeably in recent years. While she was putting it in the freezer, she'd heard Jake yelling for her from the living room, his voice urgent. Her heart had leapt to her throat, fearing the worst—that something had happened to Billy. But when she'd hurried into the room, she'd found both men completely fixated on the television.

As she settled onto the couch next to Jake, her eyes had widened at the sight on the screen. In that instant, as she'd watched Bella reveal herself to the world, Sue had felt something shift irrevocably. She'd known her opinion of Bella, and of what she was, would be forever altered—though she still had to bite back a chuckle whenever she heard the name Starshield said out loud.

Sue looked around at the women gathered on the couch and loveseat, each settling back with varied, reflective expressions after the film's final scene. "Alright, everyone—initial impressions?" she prompted, offering an encouraging smile. Hosting the group at her house this week gave her a sense of ownership over the discussion, and she was eager to get things started.

"I'll go first," she offered, leaning back into Charlie's recliner and tucking a leg beneath her. "I have to say, I actually enjoyed the movie." She paused, a slight smile crossing her face. "Much more than I expected. I mean, I'm not usually a fan of these big Marvel movies," she admitted with a small shrug, "but the story really pulled me in. And it was refreshing to see a strong, powerful woman at the center of the action—and not just shoved to the side as some sort of eye candy."

Angela smiled to herself, hearing her ex-husband's voice echoing in her mind, urging her to correct Sue's little faux pas—Wonder Woman wasn't Marvel; it was DC. She could practically hear him insisting on how sacrilegious the mix-up was, which only made her smile widen as she shook her head slightly. But she held her tongue, knowing that nitpicking little details like that wasn't what tonight was about.

"I really enjoyed it too," she admitted with a grin. "When I told my son Jason we were going to be watching Wonder Woman tonight, he gave me this look—like it's the first cool thing I've ever done in my life." She rolled her eyes, her smile widening. "The attitude on him sometimes. I don't remember acting that way when I was a teenager, but maybe it's just a guy thing."

She looked around the room, catching the knowing looks of agreement on everyone's faces. "Anyway, I'll definitely show the movie to my daughter in a few years, once she's old enough. I mean, it's great to see a positive female character like that for young girls. And let's be honest—even if she wasn't strictly a 'sex object,' Gal Gadot was still sexy as hell."

"Oh, I bet you found her sexy," Beth Stanley muttered under her breath, though not quite low enough, since everyone still heard her. Beth was the only one in the group who hadn't fully accepted Angela's coming out five years ago. They'd all been surprised when Angela had left her husband of ten years, Ben, for her physical therapist, whom she'd met during rehab for a broken arm.

Angela, not in the mood to take the bait from Beth today, shot back smoothly, "You know what. I sure did. In fact, I might even get Gwen her own Wonder Woman outfit for our own... private fun time!"

That brought a genuine laugh from Heather Crabtree, who leaned forward, amused. "You go, Angela!" She gave Angela a quick wink, pleased to see her friend happy and comfortable. "I personally loved the movie. Geordie and I actually saw it when it came out in theaters, and I think I enjoyed it even more the second time around." She turned to Emily, eyebrows raised. "What about you, Em?"

Emily offered a smile. "I really liked the movie. It was exciting, and who wouldn't root for Wonder Woman?" She paused, her gaze thoughtful. "But the one thing that bothered me was how they felt the need to make that evil scientist cover up her deformity. It's like they were saying she had to hide who she was."

The women around her nodded, a silent understanding passing between them. Not one of them had ever questioned or criticized the scars on Emily's own face.

Beth couldn't keep quiet any longer. "I don't know what all of you were watching, but I thought the movie was downright blasphemous. It promoted false gods—Zeus, Ares, and the rest of that lot. Utter nonsense. You can't tell me their goal wasn't to corrupt our youth into believing in all that mumbo jumbo. And that whole part about Wonder Woman being half-god or something? It made a complete mockery of our real history and our one true Creator."

Angela sighed, exchanging a look with Heather. She'd had enough theological debates with Beth to know there was just no reasoning with her on things like this. "Mrs. Stanley," she said, keeping her tone calm, "it's just a superhero movie. It's not meant to reflect real life or change people's beliefs. It's pure fiction—nothing more."

Heather, always one to embrace the unorthodox, leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. "Oh, come on, Beth, don't be like that! That movie was incredible! And honestly, with everything that's been happening lately, I couldn't help but picture Starshield stepping right into Wonder Woman's shoes throughout the entire film. And honestly, I didn't see the movie playing out any differently."

Her voice picked up momentum, as she gestured animatedly. "We don't even know the full extent of what Starshield can do, let alone how she got her powers! Just think of the possibilities! Wonder Woman might be fictional, sure, but wouldn't it be fun to imagine who would win if she and Starshield ever faced off?" She paused, her gaze unfocusing, as though she were watching the clash between Wonder Woman and Starshield play out in her mind. Then, a spark of inspiration lit her eyes, pulling her back into the moment. "Ooh! Wonder Woman was the daughter of Zeus, right? So what if—" she leaned forward, lowering her voice dramatically—"Starshield is actually the daughter of God! Maybe he sent her down here to help us… or maybe she's here against his wishes. I mean, she did seem to have a little rebellious streak going on when she was talking to the press."

Beth gasped, looking thoroughly scandalized. "Heather! How could you say such a thing? God only has one child, and his name is Jesus! If anyone's coming down to fly around saving people, it's going to be him!"

Sue hadn't expected the conversation to heat up so quickly. It wasn't unusual for Heather, who often had some pretty "out there" ideas, to butt heads with Beth during their weekly discussions, but tonight's debate seemed to be firing up especially fast. Heather reminded Sue a lot of her husband, Geordie, Charlie's top deputy, who shared her open-minded, almost whimsical approach to the world. Together, they were an ideal match and always great company when she and Charlie invited them over for dinner, a tradition Charlie liked to keep at least once a month.

Sue's attention returned to the spirited exchange between Beth and Heather, and she couldn't help but feel slightly amused at the idea of anyone seeing Bella as some sort of divine figure—the daughter of God, no less. The notion was so far-fetched, but it was clear that Heather was genuinely thrilled by it, while Beth looked about ready to explode.

Glancing over, she noticed Emily's wide-eyed expression as she listened intently, caught somewhere between fascination and disbelief at the two women's increasingly animated sparring.

Emily Uley glanced over at Sue with a small, knowing smile. Both of them were well aware of the tightrope they had to walk in this conversation. Being privy to the truth about Starshield made them hesitant to say too much; the last thing they wanted was to accidentally let something slip. But when Heather's enthusiastic speech came to a close, and Beth looked primed to fire off another retort, Emily decided to step in.

"Well, I don't think Starshield is the daughter of God or anything like that," she said gently, her voice steady. "But she did save all those people, and that's not something I can ignore. My youngest, Grace, has become her biggest fan—I swear, she hasn't taken off that Starshield mask we got her for weeks now, except when she's sleeping." Emily laughed softly, her gaze drifting to the room as she spoke. "She even tried wearing it to school, and let's just say her teachers put an end to that real quick. But every day, she's asking Sam and me if Starshield has shown up again, and lately, she's been getting anxious, worried that maybe she's gone."

Emily's smile faded slightly, a hint of concern in her eyes. "I wish there was something I could do to reassure her, to tell her that Starshield isn't gone forever, but I can't. And I think… I think Starshield has made a lot of people question things, about the world and what they believe. It's like she's opened a door no one expected, and now we're all standing on the edge, wondering what's on the other side."

Beth huffed, crossing her arms tightly. "That's if she's even real. Our pastor at the Church of Everlasting Salvation says it's all a big government hoax—a flashy setup with actors and special effects, like the movie we just watched. He says Starshield is nothing more than an actress, and the government invented her as a way to control us."

Angela sighed, her patience visibly fraying. "Mrs. Stanley, how can you believe that? You've spoken to Jessica, haven't you? I certainly have." She leaned forward, her voice threaded with exasperation. "Jessica works in Los Angeles, just a few blocks from where it all happened! She's been to the site herself, laying flowers like so many others." Angela shook her head, steadying her tone. "They're planning a memorial in the park in front of where the building stood to honor the fifty-one people who lost their lives, and they're placing a statue of Starshield beside it to commemorate her heroism that day. After everything she did, people want to remember the courage it took to save all those lives. This isn't some conspiracy," she finished, her gaze resting on Beth, hoping a bit of reason might finally take hold.

Emily hadn't heard about the statue and found herself wondering how Bella would feel about having her likeness immortalized in stone or bronze. She'd only met Bella once, at Sue and Charlie's wedding, and while she had struck her as genuinely nice and down-to-earth, Emily hadn't been able to shake the subtle tension of knowing she was speaking to a real vampire. Sam had told her so many horror stories, filled with unimaginable violence, that it had been hard not to feel a thread of fear toward Bella. But now, she thought if she ever had the chance to meet Bella again, she wouldn't be quite as intimidated.

Angela glanced at Beth, catching the skeptical look on her face, and shook her head slightly, grateful Jessica hadn't turned out like her mom. She remembered when she and Jess were close in high school; back then, Beth had been so different—less rigid, more open. Angela had even thought of her as the "cool mom" compared to her own. Over the years, though, Beth had grown deeply religious, eventually leaving her father's ministry to join an ultra-strict online congregation that only held services over the internet. Angela knew she wouldn't be able to sway Beth's opinion, but perhaps the others would appreciate hearing the story Jess had shared.

"Jessica also told me about a friend of hers who worked in that building and was actually saved by Starshield." She paused, glancing at Sue, Heather, and Emily to pull them into the story. "Jess told me her friend had been on the ninth floor when the explosion hit. In seconds, the elevators and lights went out, and the whole building started swaying. People tried to escape down the stairwells, but the fire was already raging on the lower floors."

Angela leaned in, lowering her voice as she recounted the details. "Jessica said her friend watched in horror as the entire face of the building—windows, walls, everything—suddenly ripped away, like it just detached and began crumbling before her eyes. In that moment, she thought it was over; she was certain the building was about to collapse. But just as she braced herself for the end to come, she felt something pull her straight out into the open air."

Heather's eyes widened as Angela continued. "Her friend thought she was falling at first, absolutely terrified. But then, she realized she was floating downward, kinda like Mary Poppins but without the umbrella. She described feeling something around her midsection, holding her steady—she couldn't see it, but it was there, guiding her safely to the ground." Angela smiled a little, picturing the scene. "She wishes she'd had the presence of mind to examine it, figure out what was holding her. But at the time, she'd been too scared to do anything but hang on and pray."

"The hand of God!" Heather said reverently, her eyes practically glowing.

Sue shifted uncomfortably at the look on Heather's face. She was certain Bella would never want anyone worshiping her, and if that kind of talk started catching on, Bella would likely do everything she could to shut it down. Clearing her throat, Sue said, "Charlie and I have watched several news programs that interviewed survivors, and they all reported the same thing. Charlie has some pretty strong beliefs when it comes to Starshield. He says it doesn't matter where she came from or who she is; she saved those people, and that's all that matters to him. To him, she's just a hero."

Sue gave Heather a gentle but firm look. "And no, he definitely doesn't believe Starshield is the daughter of God, so maybe it's best not to spread ideas like that around. I have a feeling that, one day, Starshield herself will reveal more about who she is and what she can do. When she does, I'd bet anything it'll have some type of scientific explanation, and it will have nothing to do with the divine."

Beth raised another point, one she thought really drove home her view that the whole thing was just a scam. "If Starshield's real, then why hasn't she come out to capitalize on all the attention? I mean, entrepreneurs all over the world are raking it in with Starshield merchandise on the internet, but none of it's officially licensed by her. She didn't even bother to trademark the name! If she's really out there, she's missing out on millions. I read somewhere that studios want to make a movie, but they're holding off because no one can get in touch with her, and they're too scared of getting sued if they use her likeness without permission."

Angela couldn't sit by and let Beth's cynicism go unchecked. "Maybe she didn't do it for fame or fortune, Beth. Maybe the only thing she really cared about was saving those people's lives. She even mentioned she'd saved lives before, but none of us ever heard about it. She didn't want the attention then, and I doubt she does now. If I had to guess, she only 'came out,' so to speak, because she didn't have a choice. I can relate to that."

Sue wanted to join in, but finding the right words to defend Bella was difficult. She hated what Bella was and everything it implied, yet she couldn't deny that Bella wasn't the monster she'd once believed. Her stepdaughter didn't fit the image Sue had of vampires; Bella's actions defied the dark myths she had grown up with. Many in the tribe who were in the know felt similarly conflicted. How could they hold on to their old fears when the entire world seemed to have fallen in love with a vampire? Of course, they didn't know the whole truth, but even considering how Bella fed, Sue knew, deep down, that she was a good person.

"I agree with Angela," she said thoughtfully. "For all we know, Starshield might be just a regular woman, maybe even overwhelmed by all this fame. If any of us were in her shoes, we might be just as freaked out, unsure of how to handle it."

Heather nodded, her eyes lighting up. "That's a really good point," she said, leaning forward with a spark of curiosity. "But then it makes you wonder—how did she get those powers, right? Imagine what it'd be like to fly or be invincible. She was running through flames like it was nothing! And she looked so young, maybe early twenties, so she would've been a teenager when Wonder Woman came out. Can you picture her going to the theater with her friends to watch it?" Heather laughed, shaking her head. "It's a little freaky if you think about it… Starshield, just sitting there with a soda and popcorn, getting inspired by Wonder Woman on the big screen, just like we were!"

Emily smiled, thinking about all the crazy theories her girls had come up with. "My older daughter is completely convinced that Starshield's an alien. She and her friends just watched some show called V, and now she's absolutely certain Starshield's some sort of reptile wearing a human bodysuit." She chuckled, amused by the irony that she knew Starshield's real identity and what she truly was. She couldn't help but wonder how Hope would react if she ever learned the truth. Thankfully, her girls hadn't shown any signs of shifting, and she was grateful for that. She'd seen firsthand how challenging it was for Leah, and both she and Sam were hoping to keep their daughters as far away from the supernatural world as possible.

Angela grinned, raising a brow. "If she's wearing a human bodysuit, then why would she need to add a face mask? You'd think one layer of disguise would be enough!"

Emily laughed, shaking her head. "Don't ask me! It's Hope's crazy theory," she said with a smile. "Anyway, Starshield said she didn't get her abilities until later in life, so that's probably why we never heard any stories about a flying baby in the news."

Sue was just about to chime in with her thoughts when the phone beside her chair rang, interrupting the moment. She reached over, picked up the handset, and pressed the talk button, a slight smile forming as she answered. "Swan residence."

"Hi, Sue. It's Bella." Bella's voice sounded through the receiver, clear and unmistakable.

Sue's eyes went wide, momentarily stunned by the timing. Right in the middle of a lively debate about her stepdaughter's alter ego, and who else but Starshield herself calls. She managed to keep her voice steady, though it lifted just a bit at the end. "Hi, Bella. How are you?"

As Sue spoke, Emily's head shot up, her eyes wide with surprise. Across from her, Beth leaned in toward Angela, whispering that it was Charlie's daughter. Angela whispered back, intrigued, "I've never met Chief Swan's daughter… she's about my age, isn't she?"

On the line, Bella continued, "Sorry, it sounds like you have company. I didn't mean to interrupt. Is my dad there?"

Sue caught herself, remembering Bella's vampire hearing. She shook her head slightly, as if Bella could see her. "Sorry, he's not; he's over at Billy's, watching the Seahawks game with the guys."

Heather, deep in thought during the pause, suddenly blurted out, "I still think Starshield's got to be related to God somehow. Or maybe she's, like, a fallen angel? How else do you explain her powers?"

Sue winced, closing her eyes briefly as Bella's startled voice came through the phone, loud and clear. "What the hell is happening at your house, Sue? Who was that?"

Sue exhaled, then took a quick breath before answering. "I'm hosting our weekly book club meeting," she explained, glancing around the room. "With everything going on lately, we decided to switch things up and watch Wonder Woman. We're talking about how the movie feels different now that Starshield is in the news. Everyone's got their own theory on where she came from and what she's here to do." She could hear Bella's quiet laughter trickling through the line.

"Well, I loved Wonder Woman," Bella's voice came warmly through the phone, with a hint of laughter. "I remember watching it in the theater, imagining myself in her place. Back then, of course, I had no idea I'd end up, you know, 'coming out' the way I did." She paused, as if considering her next words. "Listen, I'm in Seattle and was hoping to visit tomorrow—just for the day. Would that be okay? Is my dad free to take a little time off work?"

"Oh yes, that's fine, Bella," Sue replied warmly. "I know Charlie would love to see you. He misses you."

As she spoke, Sue couldn't help feeling relieved that Bella had thought to call ahead. If Bella had shown up unannounced during book club, Sue wasn't sure if Angela, Heather, or Beth would have been able to piece things together and realize that Bella was Starshield. Personally, Sue didn't think that small mask hid enough of Bella's face to keep people from recognizing her.

"Great. Here's the thing, Sue… I'm with someone," Bella said, a hint of uncertainty threading through her voice. "Is it alright if he comes too? I'd like to introduce him to my dad—and to you, of course."

Sue's heart skipped a beat. She glanced around at her guests, trying to figure out how to ask the question on her mind. "Ahh… Is he…?"

Bella cut in, her tone quick and reassuring. "I get what you're asking. Yes, he's like me, but I promise, he's a good man. There won't be any issues whatsoever."

Sue took a breath, trusting Bella. Her stepdaughter had proven herself more than trustworthy. "Alright, Bella. We look forward to seeing you both. Do you know what time you'll arrive? I'm sure Charlie could arrange to leave work early for a special occasion." She caught Heather's encouraging nod and a silent thumbs-up as Heather mouthed that Geordie could cover any issue that came up.

"How about a little after lunch?" Bella suggested.

Sue smiled. "That sounds perfect. We'll see you and your friend tomorrow, then. Bye, Bella." She could hardly wait to share the news with Charlie. Ever since the Starshield reveal and the trouble that followed, he'd been on edge, hoping Bella would visit.

"See you tomorrow, Sue," Bella said before the line clicked off.

Sue set the phone back in its cradle, her thoughts already turning to later that night when she'd have the chance to share the news with Charlie.

Beth, ever the eager purveyor of town gossip, leaned forward with a glint in her eye. "So, the elusive Bella Swan is finally gracing Forks with her presence again." Her tone turned sly. "I still think it's a shame she missed your wedding, Sue."

Sometimes, Sue found Beth's pointed remarks a bit much, but she kept her tone even. "She was overseas on business, Beth, as you know. It wasn't possible for her to make it back. But she calls regularly, even if she can't visit as often as we'd like."

Angela rose and crossed the room to the mantel, where a line of photos of Bella were displayed. Her gaze settled on a snapshot of Bella as a little girl, with big eyes and a shy smile. "She really was adorable." She glanced back at Sue, curiosity sparking in her expression. "So, is she married now? Any kids?"

Sue hesitated, not entirely comfortable discussing Bella with anyone outside the inner circle. Still, she couldn't avoid it entirely. "No kids or marriage just yet," she said carefully. "But… she did mention she's bringing a man with her, so who knows? Maybe her status will be changing soon."

Beth's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "Well, I'd certainly love to meet her," she said, leaning in a bit. "Any chance I could drop by for a quick hello before dinner? I could bring over my famous chocolate cake." She added slyly, "I'm sure Bella and her friend wouldn't be able to resist taking a big bite of anything I have to offer."

Hearing this, Emily burst into laughter, quickly covering her mouth with her hand. Sue shot her a mildly disapproving look before turning back to Beth with a polite smile, choosing her words carefully. "That's very thoughtful of you, Beth, but we'd like to keep it a small family affair. Charlie doesn't get to see his daughter often, and he'll be looking forward to spending some quality time with her. I'm sure you understand... with Jessica living so far away."

Beth's expression faltered slightly, but she nodded, her smile softening into one of understanding.

Thankfully, the topic of Bella tapered off, allowing them to ease back into discussing the movie. Before long, though, their conversation drifted back to Starshield—and the bits and pieces of gossip each of them had heard.

I'd love to hear what you all thought of this chapter! I know it was a bit different, but I thought it would be nice to catch up with some Twilight characters who otherwise wouldn't have had a place in this story.