If this writer could be summed up by one word, it would be prolific! Story after story, he keeps surprising us with his plot twists and characters. Tonight he's agreed to share the first chapter of his new story, Chasing Bella, exclusively here on the Fandom Choice Awards.
Be sure to swing by his profile on Tricky Raven for updates.
Pairing:
Bella/Jake
Genre:Angst/Romance/Adventure
Rating: M
Summary: At
18 Bella ran from La Push with her father and her unborn child to start a new
life. Now a 37 year old widow and mother of two, a reminder of her past shows
up and informs her that vampires once again have her in their sites. Bella
sends Charlie and her two children to the one place she feels they can be
protected and runs. After learning his heritage however, her son CJ decides her
safety will not be left to vampires. CJ, his sister and Jake hit the road to
find Bella and bring her home no matter how far they have to go.
Beta:
None
Chasing Bella: Chapter 1
A/N We start with the Cullens never coming back and Jacob
killing Victoria. No newborn army. This chapter is long but it sets the
background for the story.
Chapter 1
I really did not want to see her. I had to talk to Jacob. I
wasn’t sure what I would say. No, I did know. It had to be said. No matter what,
he deserved to know. He had a right to know. Of course I would pick a time when
she was here. Three weeks. It has been three weeks since he looked into her
eyes and she is already here when he isn’t. Why else would she open his door as
if she owned he place? I suppose she had a key.
“Can I help you Bella?”
“You know who I am here to see Tricia.”
“He isn’t here. Why are you?”
“I can come here whenever the hell I want. Back off.” I was
in no mood. I had been devastated since Jacob imprinted. I had beat myself up
for being stupid enough to fall in love with him, knowing this could happen. I
had cursed his name for lying to me and doing the one thing he always swore he
wouldn’t. I have been frightened. I have been confused, depressed. But now I
wanted one thing. I wanted to give him this information because he deserved to
know it. Then I would be gone.
“Come inside Bella. We need to talk.” She walked away
leaving me at the door. I followed slowly, wondering if she planned to kill me.
I’ve had better try to kill me. I doubted she would get far.
“Have a se…”
“I don’t need you to offer me a seat. This isn’t your
fucking house.” I reminded her.
“Fair point. Please?”
I sat cautiously hoping Jake may return while I was here.
She sat down across from me.
“Bella, three weeks ago I planned to be going to college in
the Fall. I looked at Jacob at the grocery store when he bumped into me and my
world has literally been turned upside down. In the past three weeks I have found
out that werewolves exist, vampires exist and I am apparently mystically bound
to a guy I don’t know. Despite not knowing him the idea of going to UCLA and
being away from him causes me physical pain. I am not happy about this
situation any more than you are. Yesterday I decided I was going to make the
best of it. I really don’t have a fucking choice. Apparently imprints are
supposed to be a perfect match. I don’t see it yet. I doubt he does either.
Because despite this pull to each other, I know he still loves you and I will
always be the one who kept you from him. He will always be the one who kept me
from leaving this damn Reservation. But you, you have a chance to get the hell
away from here. Why haven’t you taken it? I know everything that happened. Why
do you want to stay here?”
“This is my home.” I answered her.
“This is a Quileute Reservation. You aren’t Quileute. Forks
has been your home for only two years. In two years you have been abandoned and
stalked by vampires, hurt very badly by one, nearly killed by the redhead. I
understand if Jacob hadn’t been nearby and she hadn’t been so focused on being
close to you that you would be dead and the redhead would still be sucking
blood. You have gotten lucky so many times. How much more are you going to push
your luck?”
“I…” I really didn’t know.
“Nothing is tying you here. You are 19 and haven’t gone to
college. You still live with your Dad. I get that you love Jacob. I do and I am
sorry. Believe me I did not set out to take him from you and I would give him
back if I could. But I can’t. But you have a choice. You are not tied down
here. He is just a guy Bella! Run! Have a normal life without all this horror
floating around!”
I took a moment to let her words sink in. She seemed
genuine. I believe I would always hate her but at this moment ironically she
was the only woman I could talk to. The only other woman not crazy about having
her choices taken from her.
“I am tied down though.” I finally admitted to her.
“No you…Oh God. You mean?”
“I mean.” I said quietly.
“You weren’t on the pill?”
“Yeah. I was. Something to think about.” I warned her.
“Holy shit.”
“Yep.” I agreed.
We sat in silence for a few minutes. It may have been an
hour. When a conversation turns as surreal as this time ceases to matter.
“So what are you going to do?” she finally asked.
“About what? I can’t do anything.”
“So you haven’t considered…”
“No!” I told her quickly, my temper flaring.
She threw up her hands.
“I was just asking, it wasn’t a suggestion. I, uh, I guess
that is why you are here today? To tell Jake?”
“Yeah.”
We sat in silence for a while longer.
“You shouldn’t.” she finally told me.
“Excuse me? I shouldn’t tell Jake? You don’t think he has a
right to know? You don’t think my child has a right to know who their father
is?”
“I…if you tell him, he will never let you go. Your son or
daughter will grow up tied to this place. Bella think about it. This will tear
Jake apart. What are you going to do? Stay here forever? In this place? Never
give your child any kind of life. Let him or her grow up watching his father
tied to another woman and never being able to tell him or her why? Plus these
elders will watch your kid like a hawk. They will never let the child leave,
especially if it is a boy. He would be required to stay like all these children
of the bloodline are.
But he wouldn’t be an equal. He would be like that Embry
kid. A half breed. You know how he feels Bella. You know it! Try to have a
romantic relationship Bella. See how Jake reacts to that. He may be my imprint
but he loves you. He can’t leave me and he can’t have you, but how do you think
he is going to take seeing another man around his child?”
I…I really hadn’t thought about it.
“So you are going to live alone? Being a single mom? Stuck
here? What are you going to do? Work at the grocery store Bella? There is
nothing here! Why do you think I want to go to Los Angeles? I am stuck here!
You don’t have to be.”
“I…”
“It’s not money. Jake doesn’t have a dime. He will never be
able to help you financially. Not enough to warrant giving up your life and
staying here.”
“But I…”
“You what?”
“I love him.” I whispered.
“So don’t tear him or yourself apart. Run Bella. Get out of
here. Just run. Give yourself and your kid a shot at a better life. Give me a
chance. I didn’t ask for this. I am going to make the best of it but damn it!”
Despite my unreasonable hatred for this woman, I could see
where she was coming from. But he had a right…
She was right. Everything she said. Jake would never…and
if…oh my God what am I going to do?
“I…need to leave.” Before I vomited.
“Bella please…just think about it. Run. Give your kid and
yourself a chance that Jake will never have. That I will never have. Just run
Bella.”
I walked quickly to the door and ran to my truck.
By the time my ancient truck, forever a reminder of Jake,
had made it home I had made my decision. As much as I hated it, she was right.
Was it wrong not to tell Jake? Yes it was. Sometimes wrong things had to be
done for the greater good. That is what I would tell myself.
Tricia was right. It was best for everybody.
Why did it feel so wrong? Why was I so angry?
I walked into my room with the intention of packing. My eyes
caught the dream catcher over my pillow. Over the bed I conceived the child
inside me right now.
I blacked out. When my sight returned I was being held by
someone. Someone had their arms wrapped around me and I was screaming. All I
felt was extreme anger. The fuzziness cleared up from my eyes and I took in my
room.
It was destroyed. Shelves on the ground, my mirror crushed.
It appeared I tried to throw my rocking chair out my window. My sheets were
torn. My pillows destroyed. Books and clothes lay all over the floor.
I was sitting on the floor shaking. I couldn’t get my
breathing under control and whoever was holding me wouldn’t let me go.
“Let me fucking go! Now!”
“Bella calm down! Stop it! Calm down now!”
That was Charlie’s voice. What was he doing?
“Let me go!”
“No! You were about to catch your bed on fire! Calm the fuck
down now!”
He squeezed me tighter. My breathing slowed down.
What the fuck was I doing?
I shook my head. I needed to think.
I took several deep breaths. Charlie’s grip lessened.
“Dad?”
“Yeah Bella?”
“What happened?” I thought I knew but I wasn’t sure. Maybe a
vampire attacked…
“You went bat shit crazy baby girl.”
Oh. Yeah I was afraid of that.
“Sorry. I uh…I’ll fix everything.”
He pulled me closer against his chest.
“No I think I will just call a construction crew. This may
be a bit out of your skill set Bells. I’m guessing you were in La Push?”
“Yeah.”
“So…didn’t go well I take it?”
I don’t know why but I laughed. It struck me as funny. I
realized Charlie was laughing as well.
“Dad I have to leave.”
“No you don’t. I can fix the window. Now if you had actually
caught your bed on fire? Yeah you may have needed to stay at a hotel for a few
days. Or jail.”
I tried to laugh but apparently I was laughed out.
“I’ll leave tomorrow. Thank you for everything you have done
for me. I love you. I better start cleaning this up.”
“You aren’t going a damn place. What the hell is going on?
Why did Jake suddenly break up with you? No forget that. What the hell has been
going on since you came here kid?”
“Dad you wouldn’t believe me. Trust me. I need to get away
from this area. I need to go somewhere. Anywhere. I just have to get away.” I
moved towards my closet, trying to regain my equilibrium. Charlie stopped me
with a hand on my shoulder.
“You are the most level headed teenager I have ever known,
regardless of whether you are my kid or not Bella. I want to know what has made
you have two near psychotic breakdowns since you have been here. I want to know
why everything was great with Jake and then it was over. That kid chased you
for a year and then dumped you. I want to know why the hell you hated Forks so
much you felt the need to leave in the middle of the night in your beat up old
truck. I want to know why after Edward found you injured, you begged me in the
hospital to return here. I want to know why there is a scar on your wrist that
looks like a bite mark, which had nothing to do with you falling through a
window. I want to know why even though you were found in Phoenix your truck
wasn’t there. I don’t buy for one minute that Dr. Cullen had it delivered to
Forks before I could get there. No damn way. Why would he worry about that?
Because your truck never made it to Phoenix, did it? No Bella, you aren’t going
anywhere until you tell me exactly what has been going on around here since you
arrived.”
“Dad you would never believe me. You would have me
committed. I’m sorry…”
“Try me. I promise not to call the guys in the white coats.
Just try me.”
I took a deep breath. Fuck it. Worst he could do was have me
placed in the nut house. Judging by what I just did maybe that’s not a bad
thing.
“The Cullen’s are vampires. Jake and his friends turn into
giant werewolves to defend people from vampires. The first time I left Forks
was because a sadistic vampire was hunting me and I had to run to protect you
so he would chase me. I was attacked by him because I thought he had Renee. I
snuck off from the Cullen’s. They saved me but not until after I had been hurt.
The vampire had a girlfriend who tried to kill me. Jake killed her. Wolves have
this thing called imprinting. It means they can look at a girl and be instantly
bound to her. Nothing can be done about it. Jake promised me it would never
happen to him. It did. It happened. That’s why we broke up.”
Charlie said nothing.
“That’s it in a nutshell. So what do you have to say about
that?”
Charlie looked me in the eyes and I saw something that
shocked me to the core. His eyes were glistening.
“I would say we are going to go downstairs. I am going to
grab a beer. Then we are going to sit together on the couch and you are going
to tell me everything.”
So I did. Almost.
After two hours he asked me what I had been hoping to avoid.
“If this imprinting is so powerful why did you go see Jake
today?”
“Because…” I was hoping to visit Charlie at Christmas and
surprise him with a one year old child. This could be bad.
“Yeah?”
Fuck it. I already tried to burn down his house.
“I’ve been on the pill since I have been here Dad. But
apparently it doesn’t work with…”
“Big fucking wolves right?”
“Yeah.”
We sat in silence. Charlie drained two beers and then he
spoke.
“So what? You just plan to go to Florida? Raise the baby?
What?”
“No! I’m not going to Florida. I…I don’t know where I am
planning on going. I figured I would drive someplace no one knows me…”
“I’ll be damned! That is not going to happen. You have too
much ahead of you. What do you want to do? Be a waitress your whole life?”
“I need a job Dad. I need to find a new place. Somewhere no
one knows me. I need a new start…I…don’t know what to do.”
“You are right. We do need a new start. Damn that fucking
Billy Black. He could have shown me what Uley could do. Maybe I wouldn’t have
believed you but I would have believed seeing a big fucking wolf with my own
eyes. He could have proven to me what Cullen was. And Jake…did you tell him?”
“No. His…imprint convinced me not to. Said it would tear him
apart…”
“Fuck him. He told you this wouldn’t happen. Stupid bastard
had no right going after you.”
“It’s not his fault Dad. So you think I should tell him?”
“Nope. Hell no. Fuck him. You aren’t going anywhere yet
either. Give me a month. I was contacted by an old friend last week. There is a
job. Huntsville Texas is looking for a new police chief. It would actually be a
step up from Forks. Hell dam near anything would. I’m going to take the job and
put in my notice. Then we are leaving Washington and never looking back.”
I must have misunderstood him.
“What do you mean Dad? Forks is all you have ever known. I’m
not going to take you from your home.”
“You are my daughter. That child and getting you through
college are my main priorities right now. We leave in a month. Stay in, and
stay away from those fucking dogs. He lied to you. He doesn’t deserve to know.
Fucking bastard.”
“Dad I can’t let you do…”
“Not asking Bella. You got no way of making it on your own
kid. I wouldn’t let you even if you did. I was never there for you growing up.
I let you live a nightmare since you have been here. Now you need to be
responsible. For your child. For my grandchild. You need me and I am going to
be there. So we are leaving together. Keep it quiet. Don’t tell anyone. I will
let the mayor know and ask him not to announce it. Bill can take over as
interim chief. We are getting out of here Bella. Now why don’t I get some fish
frying and you start going through the wreckage upstairs and sorting the things
you want to take, okay?”
I took it all in. Maybe there was hope after all. But…he
would do this for me? I couldn’t stop fresh tears from streaming down my face.
“I love you Dad.”
“I know sweetie. I love you too. Now let’s get busy. We need
to hook that ancient internet modem up and start looking for houses to rent or
buy. Probably rent at first. We are going to need three bedrooms so we can
start there. It’s going to be okay Bella. I’m going to take care of the two of
you.”
4 years later
Charlie POV
I couldn’t hold back the tears in my eyes. I didn’t want to.
My baby girl was walking across the stage at Sam Houston State University with
a degree in Education. She had already accepted a position at Huntsville High
school teaching English.
CJ stood on his chair in the Coliseum clapping his little
hands off next to me. Bella smiled and waved to us from the floor.
I couldn’t believe at times we pulled it off. Our escape
from Forks four years earlier went off without a hitch. Nobody expected us to
leave until we were gone. Billy called my phone several times until I called
the cell phone company and had it cut off. I picked a new one up in Huntsville.
Fuck him.
Huntsville was perfect for us. It was perfect for me. It
allowed Bella a new start away from the reminders of her past, except the one
reminder we both loved dearly. She named him Charles Jacob Swan. I wasn’t happy
about her using Jacob’s name but it was what she wanted. After everything she
went through I couldn’t deny her. We called him CJ to avoid confusion when
Bella yelled at one of us.
I thought of those nights she cried herself to sleep with me
sitting next to her. The times I came home from work late and found her feeding
CJ and studying. The absolute exhaustion she went through. She stuck it out
though. Graduated with honors. Took full loads every semester to graduate in
four years despite taking a semester off to have CJ.
Bella had not spoken to anyone from La Push or Forks since
we left. I suppose with me being Chief of Police here it would have been easy
to find us but no one ever tried. I was glad. We had a life here. She told me
if CJ ever asked about his father she would tell him the truth about who he was
at least. If he wanted to meet him she would let him. It would be his decision.
Before he made that decision I would be letting him know
about his father though. That was for damn sure. Bella refused to hate Jake. I
knew she still loved him. I sure as hell didn’t. He hurt my child.
I never had a problem believing Bella. I knew there were a
lot of strange happenings going on. I knew it revolved around the Cullens. I
had no idea what all it involved. It was a miracle she didn’t have a complete
breakdown.
What pissed me off is Jake knew imprinting could have
happened. He knew it and still went after her. He was selfish. The worse that
would happen to him is he was wrong and he got a soul mate. Bella took the hit.
He apparently didn’t care. Billy knew it could happen. He let it go on. He also
knew my daughter was in mortal danger and never told me. Keep her away from the
Cullen’s Charlie. Why Billy? They are bad news Charlie.
How about they are fucking vampires and I have a guy who can
turn into a big wolf to fight them. Wanna see? Sure Billy I would enjoy seeing
that. That may have made a difference.
Regardless we were here and we were happy. CJ was a good
kid. He was a great kid. This spring I would be coaching his first tee ball
team. Bella wanted to wait until he was 5 but I reminded her that Grandpa
handled the sports. He needed the head start.
After the ceremony I met her outside. She ran into my arms
and I held her. Renee of course couldn’t make it. I don’t know why I was
surprised. She never made anything. I was the one in the delivery room with
Bella, perhaps the most amazing and disturbing moment of my life. I stood by
her head but seeing CJ all bloody and gooey…but I was her Lamaze coach and she
wanted a natural birth for some damn reason so I was there. Renee couldn’t make
the flight down for the birth. She did make his first birthday. That was the
last time we saw her. She called occasionally but that was it.
“Thank you so much Daddy. For everything.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I would do anything in the
world for you and my little partner here. You know that.”
And I meant it. Including keeping Jacob fucking Black and
Billy from ever finding out about CJ. Why? Because fuck them.
2 years later.
Bella POV
I didn’t know why I was here. This club wasn’t as overrun
with college students as the others but it didn’t matter. It was Friday night
and I had no desire to travel two hours with Charlie and CJ to watch Huntsville
High play a football game. I should have just stayed home. I really didn’t know
what I hoped to accomplish.
I wasn’t the problem. I was 25 and in great shape. More
confident than I ever have been in my life. I loved my job and I loved my
family. Maybe that was it. I was good with that.
Wasn’t I?
I had zero dates in College. I didn’t have time. Between a
baby and school my life was packed. I didn’t even have that much time to think
about…him even though CJ looked so much like him. After I started working I
thought maybe I would try dating. Some fellow teachers set me up with some
really nice guys. Nice guys who thanked me for a wonderful time as soon as they
found out I had a kid. I don’t suppose I could blame them. Who wants a ready
made family right? So I started hitting clubs on nights Charlie had plans with
CJ which was often. I think it was Charlie’s way of encouraging me to get out.
He was worried about me being alone the rest of my life. He didn’t say it but
he hinted it. I hinted back that as long as I had him and CJ I was happy.
I was so lost in these thoughts staring at my drink that his
voice scared the hell out of me.
“Mind if I have a seat?”
I looked him over and liked what I saw. Around 6 foot tall,
lean, muscular arms. His cowboy hat was doing a poor job of hiding that dark
red hair on his head. He had beautiful green eyes and a gorgeous grin on his
face.
“It’s a public bar. You can sit anywhere.” I said in my best
casual voice, trying to hide my surprise that he would want to sit next to me.
Of course why not? I was hot. I think I was hot. My friends told me I was. He
didn’t know about the barely noticeable but there stretch marks and the most
important man in my life out with his grandfather tonight.
“I appreciate it darlin. Name is Rick. Rick Gaines.
Everybody calls me Red.”
“Not hard to see why. I’m Bella. Bella Swan. Everybody calls
me Bella.”
“Pleasure Bella. I been watchin you stare at that drink way
past the ice melted twenty minutes ago. Thought you might not mind some
company.”
I shrugged my shoulders, not getting my hopes up.
“I could use some company.”
“Good. So tell me about yourself Bella Swan.”
“I uh…I’m a teacher at Huntsville High.”
“Now that is fascinating. I was never one for school but if
I had a teacher as hot as you I would have definitely paid more attention. What
is it you teach?”
“Junior and Senior level English and composition.”
“Composition? Like writing?”
I had to laugh a bit. “Yeah. Like writing.”
“That is great. Do you write yourself?”
“No. I just criticize teenagers writing I suppose.” I
admitted.
“Or you could say you make it better. I’m writer myself. I
would love to have a professional look at my stuff sometime.”
“You write?” I asked, failing to hide the surprise in my
voice.
“Well it’s more of a hobby but I write poems occasionally
when the muse strikes.”
“Wow. So what do you do for a living?”
“I’m a bull rider on the circuit. I also have a ranch just
past the State Park road where I run a bull riding school among other things.
Little cattle, a few horses, that sort of thing.”
And it was time to leave. I had met these types. Huntsville
was full of rodeo cowboys. They had no trouble committing to a relationship.
For a night.
“Well it was nice meeting you Red. I have to get home…”
“Why? We were just getting to know each other.” He looked so
disappointed. I suppose I did owe him an explanation.
“Look you seem like a nice guy. Nothing personal but I’m not
interested in a one night stand. I can’t afford it as appealing as it sounds.
Like I said, nothing personal, but I’ve seen your kind before.”
“Darlin I promise you ain’t seen nothing like me yet.”
He said it with such intensity in his voice it caused me to
pause. No. I need to get away. Time to pull out the escape card.
“Look just let me take you to a movie tomorrow. It can even
be a matinee. Give me a chance.” He tried.
“Would it change anything if I told you I had a kid at home?
A 6 year old boy?”
“Yeah it would. I was gonna take you to one of those scary
movies so you could curl into me when you got frightened. Instead I think one
of those super fancy Disney cartoons is playin. I bet he would like that. If he
is 6 he probably ain’t ready for ghosts and goblins and that sort of shit. Uh I
won’t say shit around him either. Promise.”
I couldn’t believe he just said that. I slowly sat back down
on my barstool.
“I guess I could stay a bit longer after all Red.”
“Good. I was afraid I was gonna have to rope ya there for a
bit. Would have been awkward to explain to Chief Swan.”
“You know my Dad?” I asked, surprised.
“I saw you in here a few weeks ago. Spent thirty minutes
workin up the courage to come and talk to you. I’m a bit shy, believe it or
not. You left right before I was gonna make my move. I asked around, hopin I
could find something about you. Lilly told me a bit. Mostly that your Dad was
the top cop and you’re a hard nut to crack. So tomorrow a movie?”
“Yeah. Tomorrow. Right now you can buy me a drink. My ice
seems to have melted. By the way, how old are you?”
“Uh thirty two.”
“How long have you been thirty two?”
“About 6 months. That sound all right?”
“It sounds perfect.”
2 years later
Charlie POV
I got to sit in the waiting room this time. CJ was nervous.
He kept pacing. An 8 year old pacing was making me nervous. Bella and Red dated
for six months. They were married for a year before she announced to me that
she was pregnant. Everybody was happy. It was all I ever wanted when I left
Forks behind. I wanted my daughter happy. Red loved her fiercely and took care
of her and CJ. Now our family was
growing. CJ would have a little sister.
Problem was she decided to come two months early.
“She gonna be okay Grandpa? She isn’t going to be missing anything
cause she came out to soon right?”
“She will be fine CJ. Have a seat. You are making me
nervous.”
“How come Dad ain’t come out yet? He was supposed to let us
know what was goin on.”
“He is probably busy CJ. He will be out as soon as
possible.”
CJ asked Bella about his father when Red started coming
around. Bella told him his name was Jacob Black and he lived in La Push,
Washington. She asked him if he wanted to meet him. CJ said he wanted to sleep
on it. When he got up the next morning I had a talk with him man to little man.
When Bella woke he told her he didn’t want to meet Jacob Black.
Not long after that he asked Red if he could call him Dad.
Only time I ever saw Red with tears in his eyes when he thought no one was
looking.
Red laid off the rodeo circuit. He spent more time on the
ranch and eventually dedicated all his time there. He said he missed Bella too
bad when he went on the road and wanted to be there to coach CJ’s teams. As a
result his ranch grew. Everything was great.
Until her water broke two months early.
Red walked out wearing scrubs and looking exhausted three
hours later. He had a smile on his face though.
“Talk man!”
He laughed at me.
“You’re a grandpa again Chief. They are okay. Penny has to
be in an incubator and isn’t out of the woods but the doctor said it looks
good. Bella is good. Everything is good
Charlie.” Penelope was Red’s mother’s name who had passed on when he was 16. It
meant a lot to him that Bella wanted to name her daughter after his mother.
“She got everything right Dad? You counted?” CJ asked.
“Yep she got everything. I checked twice buddy. Give us an
hour and you can see your Momma okay? She is a bit wore out but she has been
askin for her little man.”
Eight years later
Bella POV
I heard the door open
up front. He was early. We always had dinner at 6. Maybe he got off early
today. I wasn’t rushing dinner. Since I had become principal my free time was
at a minimum and I liked to relax for at least thirty minutes after I got home.
CJ was still at football practice regardless. Between football and bull riding
that boy was going to give me premature grey hair.
“Dad?”
“Yeah.”
His voice sounded so strange.
“You’re early. Red went out hours ago to get feed. Something
must have held him up. He should have beat me home. Grab the remote and find
you something on TV. He should be back anytime. I was just about to call him.
Didn’t realize how long he had been gone.”
Dad walked into the kitchen. I looked at him and knew.
“No.”
“Bella…”
“Don’t you fucking say it. No Dad. No.”
Why were his eyes red? Nope. It didn’t. It couldn’t. No I
had to be strong. I understood. No big deal.
“How bad is he hurt?” I asked casually. I would go do the
paperwork at the hospital. Wasn’t the first time I had to pick him up from the
ER from some foolish stunt he pulled.
“Bella…”
“Just say it, Dad. What did he do? Drop a bag of feed on his
head? Get kicked by a horse?”
“Bella he was in a car accident. It looks like…it…somebody
crossed the line. They hit head on and…”
“And what Dad?” I whimpered already clutching my stomach.
“He didn’t make it Bella. He…”
I am not sure what Dad said after that. All I saw was
darkness. It felt good.
2 years later
BPOV
The great thing about being the Principal is instead of
watching your son walk across the stage I actually got to hand him his diploma.
I was so proud of him. He had been so strong for me and his sister the last two
years. I saw Charlie standing with tears in his eyes. Without him where would
my life be? Penny was next to him standing on a chair, her mane of fire red
hair setting her apart from the crowd. She basically idolized her big brother.
In her mind CJ could do no wrong and he returned the feelings. Despite this not
all of the tears in my eyes were happy. Red should have been here. He had so
much to do with this and it wasn’t fair.
I handed CJ his diploma and tried to be professional. I
offered my hand for him to shake and he lifted me up by my waist in a giant
hug.
“I miss him too Momma. I love you. Thank you for everything.”
He whispered in my ear. I was incapable of words if I planned to get through
the rest of this ceremony.
I kissed his cheek and he sat me down. Ten minutes later the
ceremony was over and I made my way to my family. CJ had Penny thrown over his
shoulder while Charlie stood by, proud as a peacock. He had retired last week
and sold his house, moving in with me at the ranch. As bad a hit as we had
taken we would survive. We always did. I decided I needed to make my way around
and greet some of the other parents.
I made a quick scan of the room.
My eyes went back to a spot at the end of the bleachers.
They weren’t there anymore.
Did I imagine it?
I hadn’t thought of them in years. There is no reason…
“Everything okay Bells?” Charlie asked quietly.
“No. I don’t think so. I could swear I just saw Jasper and
Alice Cullen standing not forty feet away Dad.”
