Midday Clouds - The Charlie Swan Story

Chapter 6 (Twilight 6/11)

I knew it was my job to stay up to date with the serious stuff that was going on in the bigger cities of this state, but, just the same, I knew Forks was far enough away from it all to keep things nice and quiet, just as it had always been.

When I pulled up to the house after work, the fleeting memory of Renee was interrupted by a pleasant sight: Billy and Jake were out front being greeted by Bells, who had evidently come outside to meet them on the driveway. She might have been a little quiet these past few days, but I couldn't help but feel pride in my daughter, coming out into the rain to meet an old, wheelchair-using friend.

"Billy!" I called, jumping out of the car with a six pack of Rainier in hand. Bells ran inside, seemingly to get out of the rain. I couldn't blame her; it was coming down pretty hard.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't see you behind the wheel, Jake," I said, greeting Jake. The boy's handshake was getting even stronger.

"We get permits early on the rez," Jacob said, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Sure you do."

"I have to get around somehow," Billy noted. Jake and I helped get him out of the car and into his wheelchair. It was heartbreaking to see the tall, powerful man lose the use of his legs, but I knew he was still more capable than most of the folks out here in Forks, chair and all.

"This is a surprise," I said loud enough for Bells to hear from inside.

"It's been too long," Billy gave me a wink. "I hope it's not a bad time."

"No, it's great. I hope you can stay for the game."

Jake grinned. "I think that's the plan - our TV broke last week."

Billy looked at his son with a knowing smile. "And, of course, Jacob was anxious to see Bella again."

"Are you hungry?" Bells asked from inside, and I beamed with pride at the hospitality of my daughter, here in my own home.

"Naw, we ate just before we came," Jacob answered.

"How about you, Charlie?" she asked, rushing into the kitchen.

"Sure," I said, sensing that she seemed eager to cook something up. I instinctively sat back into my usual indentation on the coach and Billy pulled up beside me.

"Charlie..." he said in a quiet, but serious, voice. "We need to talk."

I merely looked over at him, an eyebrow raised, as the kids chatted in the kitchen not 20 feet away.

"Now, I know this is something of a sore spot between us, but I'm just telling you this as a father to another father -- Bella was hanging around a boy just before we arrived..."

I grinned, the face of Mike Newton coming to my head. "Shit Billy, why would that be a sore spot? I figured Bella'd be eyed up by half the boys in the town, I mean just look at the way Jake-"

"Charlie," Billy cut me off, the wrinkles of his face deepened by his concerned expression. "It was one of the Cullen boys. That Edward."

"Oh," was all I could say back, the sounds of the kids' conversation and the play-by-play commentary from the TV a steady thrum in the background as my mind whirled. That pale boy. He'd been at the hospital that day. I never thought anything of it, but maybe... And then the memories of Billy and I's feud over the Cullens -- Carlisle, specifically -- flooded the forefront of my thoughts. I looked over at my oldest friend, and he seemed genuinely concerned.

"Well, shit, Billy. Look, I appreciate the heads up on this one, but I am not going to get into this with you again. That hatchet's been well and buried. Let's just have some beer and watch the game, hey?"