Chapter 59

BPOV

I watched as Edward and Jacob made their way outside while Paul went to the refrigerator and Seth brought the subject of the club back up. “I don’t understand why you get to go and I don’t.”

Glaring at him I tried to make it as clear as possible, “I’m not taking my little brother to a club, besides you have to be twenty-one.”

“When I’m twenty-one will you take me then?” his request was met with a harsh, “No!” as Paul walked out the door.

“Why not?” Seth beseeched in a whiney voice as Leah grew smug, “Yeah why not Bella? What’s so bad about it?” I glared at her in complete disbelief.

How dare she do this to me?

Ignoring both of their questions I lashed back at Leah, “What exactly did I do? You have been telling me for over a year to go get a life. To get a man so that I wouldn’t be alone; I found one who I love and loves me back, can’t you be happy for me?”

“Right Bella, I said a man, not a monster.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” My yelling was broken up by the door opening and Emily coming into the house.

“Hi. What’s going on?” it wasn’t asked in a prying manner, Emily was trying to defuse the situation. But I was too angry, “Ask Leah, she seems to have a problem with my choice of men”

“Gee, do you think…” she spit the words at me then added the insult, “especially with your record of choosing so damn great!”

I didn’t get to answer because Seth, who for some reason was still standing there, came to my defense. “I like Edward,” while Emily added, “I only met him for a minute, but he seems nice.”

Leah didn’t give me a chance to reply before she blurted out in a spiteful tone, “Ask her where she met him.”

“I met him where you told me to go, with your husband!” the words came out of my mouth through clinched teeth.

“You met Edward at New Moon?” My eyes went to Seth as I wondered aloud, “Why are you still here?”

“Why shouldn’t he be here?” Leah asked and then added, “You have nothing to be ashamed of.”

“Your right, I have nothing to be ashamed of. Jacob escorted me to New Moon, at the bequest of my dear sister and I met Edward there - big fucking deal. I met a great guy…”

“You met someone who two days later you were naked on the couch with!” Leah yelled at me. “And less than a week later you’re in his fucking torture chamber!” she calmed down then became sarcastic, “Oh excuse me, I forgot, it’s a playroom.”

“Edward has a playroom?” Seth’s question pushed me over the edge and I yelled at him, “Why the fuck are you still here?!” while Leah yell at him, “Get the fuck out!”

As we were yelling at Seth the door opened again to a very intense bellow, “Ladies!”

Sue yelled at us the same way she has always done, while putting the casserole on the table. Taking a few breaths I calmed down slightly while Sue chastised us for our behavior and Emily moved to close the door. “This is not the way we behave. I didn’t raise you to be talking to each other with such foul language.”

“I’m sorry,” I said to Sue then looked to Leah, “But when I choose to get naked with someone or join him in the playroom it is my business. And if it bothers you so damn much why did you pressure me into going to the club in the first place?”

Leah huffed and rolled her eyes, “Because I was sick and tired of hearing you talk about it all the time. I thought that you would go there, see the horrific things that go on, and you would run the other way,” she flung her arm out in an exaggerated motion as she continued

“But ohhh..noooo…not Bella. She doesn’t run away from dangerous situations. No…she has to head right into it. You would think she would have learned from the last time!”

“I really resent the fact that you assume to put Edward in the same category as James. Or that you believe that Edward is dangerous or violent with me, because he’s not; if anything he is very tender and caring at all times,” I wanted to tell them all how loving and attentive Edward is but Leah interrupted my thoughts

“And how am I suppose to know that Bella? I asked to see it…you wouldn’t even show the playroom to me,” Leah’s voice was softer but the venom in her tone was still there, spiking my anger once again.

“That’s what this is about? Because I wouldn’t show it to you…why would you want to see the playroom? It has nothing to do with you,” I couldn’t figure out why that mattered to her so much.

“It has everything to do with me!” Leah screamed, “Don’t you get it?! I can’t do it again!” there were tears in her eyes as she yelled.

“Do what?” I screamed, as Sue was trying to insert herself into the argument, “Ladies please,” but Leah clinched her fist to her chest as tears came down her face making me cry too. “Jesus Christ Bella…It’s so fucking unfair and selfish of you to force me to do it again!”

“Do what?!” I yelled as tears ran down my face

“Don’t you get it? God Bella, are you so fucking dense?” tears were falling down her face as she screamed at me in a high pitch howl, “I can’t walk into a room…and find you strapped to a table…half dead! I can’t do it again! Don’t make me do it!”

I felt my chest crush in on itself as my body shook from the pain of all that we had been through. I lived through the nightmare of what James did to me, but those who love me lived through it too. I carry scares, both physical and emotional, but I forgot that they do too. My body wretched in a deep sob as my arms encased my sister. We clung to each other while we cried, in the understanding of the hell we both lived through and never want to go through again.

“Ok…” Sue’s gentle voice spoke against my ear as I felt her hand ran down the length of my hair in a soothing motherly manor. “Seth, I thought you had to go to Tracy’s?”

“I do,” his voice was quiet.

“Then go, so you can be back in hour to eat and get ready.” Sue sniffled and then spoke to us, “You two go into the bedroom and finish this, I don’t want to hear anymore yelling. I have to let the men in so I can get them fed and Charlie doesn’t need to hear this stuff.”

Leah and I separated as Sue kissed our foreheads before pushing us into the bedroom. Sitting in the middle of the bed I laid down with my head on the pillow while Leah lay next to me. It was quiet for a moment while I just stared up at the ceiling.

“I’m sorry,” we both said at the same time but I started with the explanation. “I didn’t mean to make it seem like I’m not there for you.”

She kind of groaned then rolled on her side sticking a pillow under the fullness of her belly. “I just miss you Bella. I know that you have someone in your life now and I’m happy for you I really am. But I’m so worried.”

“Don’t worry,” I reassured her but then figured I should tell her why. “Edward would never do anything to hurt me.”

“How do you know that? You’ve only know him for a month.”

I took a deep breath and turned to face her. “He loves me, he understands me and more than that, he makes me understand myself. I know that I’m the most important thing to him, and right now he’s probably freaking out wondering if I’m ok.”

“I’ve seen how much he cares for you,” I looked at Leah questionably but didn’t need to ask for clarification. “It was the last time you were supposed to come for dinner, but something happened and you left the Center. I guess his mom called him and he went right to you. Then he called me to say you were sleeping so you wouldn’t be able to come over.”

That was the day I told Edward what James had done to me in my kitchen.

“I got to your house as soon as I could Bella; you were sleeping and Edward was distraught holding those horrible pictures, he didn’t even want to look at them.” Leah sniffled and from outside the door Sue spoke loud enough for us to hear.

“And their staying in there until they can be nice to each other” we snickered at her words, because that was always the way she made us talk out our disagreements.

“Anyway,” she smiled sadly and then sniffled before going on, “I went to you and I checked all over your body looking for bruises.” I glowered at her in confusion. “In my mind I remember how with James you would avoid seeing me because of the bruises and I thought that’s what you were doing. Skipping Tuesday night dinners, making excuses why you couldn’t go to yoga with me so you could hide the bruises.”

“There are no bruises Leah.”

“Ever?”

I shook my head at her, “Never…I’ve had a few rope marks, but Edward takes care of them and they are gone in the morning.”

She sighed again laying her head down on her arm, “I don’t want to know that, and your right I don’t really want to see the playroom…I just don’t get it. How you can let him hurt you after James…?”

“Edward doesn’t hurt me, how can I make you see that it’s so different Leah. I cringed away from James touch but I lean into Edward’s. I feel whole with him, he makes me feel loved and accepted and strong…so very strong. There’s never fear…” she cut off my explanation.

“And there are no lasting bruises?” this seemed to astonish her.

“Nothing,” I lay back on the pillow while continuing, “my vag is kind of tender the next day,” I looked at Leah and smiled. “But that’s just a pleasant reminder”

“My vag is tender too,” Leah’s eyes met mine, “…and it’s purple…”

That shocked me, “What?” she nodded then preceded to explain, “…like an eggplant” I knew it wasn’t nice but I couldn’t help the giggle that came out, she snickered too and then added, “And it’s constantly dripping stuff.”

“Gross!” I laughed as Leah hit me with a pillow while she laughed out, “It’s not funny!”

I stopped laughing and then wondered, “Is that why you don’t want to have sex?”

“I just don’t feel sexy. Jake says he don’t care he even bought me this sleeky, sexy, frilly thing. But my boobs, my back, my legs, they all hurt and I always feel like I’m going to pee myself, how can that be desirable?”

I listened to what Leah was saying wondering if the lingerie was what Jake had Alice make. I suppose if I had all that stuff going on I wouldn’t feel sexy either and I could see how that would be hard to deal with. I didn’t have any advice for her and part of me felt bad about that because I was the advice queen. But another part of me wanted to tell her to suck it up and deal, that she should be glad that she had the capability to have babies.

However that was my own private regret so I gave her the best I could, “It will be over soon then you can get back to normal.” As I said the words something else came to my mind, “What about the Lamaze Classes?”

“Do you still want to go?”

Was she kidding?

“Try and stop me.”

“What if they are on Wednesday nights?” she questioned.

I shrugged, “Then they are on Wednesday, Edward will understand changing things for a few weeks, especially for something that’s so important.”

“Is it important?” she asked softly as tears rolled over her cheeks causing me to cry with her.

“Of course it’s important. You’re my sister …I love you.”

“I love you too,” we hugged as best we could with Leah’s belly letting her go a thought occurred to me “Why didn’t you answer my phone calls?”

“I just didn’t want to hear any more excuses Bella. I couldn’t listen to you pretending to be happy…”

Pretending?

“I’m not pretending anything Leah” my voice grew a little louder before I calmed down. She had to know.

“I am happy…deliriously happy. I couldn’t have found a better man to be with, he’s warm and kind and treats me with respect. Edward is always lovingly attentive to me sometimes so much that I feel like it’s all a dream and I wonder when I’m going to wake up…” the tears were back and I wiped them away with my hand mumbling “He’s all I ever hoped for and more then I deserve…”

“Don’t you say that! God Bella if anyone deserves to be happy…” Leah didn’t finish her sentence but I knew what she meant.

We were quiet for a few minutes before she sighed “I have to get to know Edward better, unlike you I’m not as trusting. I wanted to tell her that I had my own trust issues but that would be a lie when it came to Edward, I always felt safe with him. So I kept quiet while she added, “and I’ll try not to be a bitch anymore.”

“You can try…” I said with a smirk while she smiled then whined, “I really have to pee.”

Getting to my feet I held my hands out to help Leah off the bed, but we ended up in another hug where she whispered in my ear, “Please promise me you’ll be careful.”

I sniffled, “I will, I promise.”

Leah sighed as she stood back giving me strange look, “Jake says Edward does the dishes.”

She wasn’t asking but I answered anyway as we moved to the door, “yeah he does, and the laundry.”

Stopping with her hand on the door Leah turned to look at me, “UH…do you think he could train Jake to do that too?”

The seriousness of her face made me laugh, “With a whip?”

Leah laughed while opening the door, “I don’t care how he does it, just so it gets done.”

EPOV

The sound of her giggle was like music to my ears. It felt like forever since I’d walked out of the house leaving Bella to fight it out with her siblings. My heart was beating in my chest so hard I thought for sure it was audible to everyone in the kitchen.

After Paul’s botched attempt at an introduction, which I wanted to fucking punch him in the face for, Jacob took over defusing the situation with Charlie by punching Paul in the arm and calling him an ass. Charlie glanced between the two of them, scrunched his face, and then finally shook my hand, telling Paul to go home and stop being an instigator.

I suppose in the whole scheme of things Paul had done me a favor by breaking the tension because Charlie shook his head laughing. “That boy and his stories, I swear ever since he was young he was always talking nonsense trying to get my goat.”

A misty rain had started to fall but rather than move under the cover of the porch Charlie walked to the back of his car taking out a six pack and then rejoined us. “So tell me Edward how was the trip to Victoria?”

It was a way of making small talk as we tried to tune out the high pitched sounds that were coming from inside the house. “It was good Sir we…”

Charlie cut me off, “You go ahead and call me Charlie, everyone else does, hell my own daughter calls me that most of the time.”

I chuckled because I thought it was unusual myself; I had just begun to tell some of the things we had done when the door opened and Seth stepped outside. His face was crestfallen with bloodshot glassy eyes as if he was on the verge of tears.

I must not have been the only one to see it because Charlie stepped forward, “Everything ok in there?”

Seth looked between Jacob and me, blinking his eyes a few times, “Yeah, mom got everything settled.” The sullenness of his tone only fueled my anxiety, but Charlie didn’t seem to notice or he choose to overlook it. “She always does.”

Just as he spoke Sue came out on the porch pointed to her watch and told Seth ‘forty-five minutes,’ making him move quickly to get into his truck and drive away. She then announced that we should come into the house and get out of the rain. That was perfectly fine with me since I really wanted to see Bella to make sure she was alright.

Emily was by the oven pulling a tray out, Charlie gave her a quick hello and then asked where Leah and Bella were. The same question must have shown on my face too because Sue patted my arm telling me she alright before answering her husband.

“I sent them to their room to finish talking,” her voice grew a little louder and see seemed to direct it towards the bedroom, “And their staying in there until they can be nice to each other.”

Charlie gahuffed putting the rest of his six pack in the refrigerator, “What the sam-hill are they fighting about anyway?”

Emily looked to Sue who shrugged as if nothing happened, “They just needed to clear the air.”

Charlie rolled his eyes while he sat at the table. “Should have had all boys.”

“That’s a sexist thing to say,” Sue interjected motioning for me to sit down while Charlie answered, “It’s the truth.”

He then glanced in my direction as Jacob sat down next to me with two more beers. “Do you have siblings Edward?”

“Yes,” I told him twisting open the bottle, “a brother and a sister.”

Charlie nodded, “Then maybe you can understand, I know Jake does because he grew up with two sisters and now he has those two,” he pointed with his thumb in the direction of the bedroom. I wasn’t exactly sure how I liked him referencing Bella as being Jacob’s but I obviously didn’t say anything. However Sue did as walked behind him carrying a large mixing bowl

“What is that supposed to mean, and you better choose your words properly.” Jake laughed at the warning, while I smiled as Charlie seemed to think over his answer.

“All I’m saying is that when you have two boys and they fight, they punch each other and get it over with. Girls…” he rolled his eyes, “…they hold it inside and fuss about until they are ready to scratch each other’s eyes out. Then they scream and yell until they are both crying only to end up hugging.” I chuckled at his explanation as he went on, “They should just be like boys, not hold that stuff in and get the whole damn thing out in the open.”

“Is that what you think?” Emily asked while wiping her hands on a dish towel.

“That’s the way it is.” Charlie announced, “You ask any man that has to deal with more than one female at a time and he’ll tell you, one is hard enough. When you have two especially in the same household and around the same ages, he has to be a saint to put up with all the crap. That’s my shirt, she took my record and don’t even get me started on the moodiness from monthly stuff!”

I couldn’t help but laugh with everyone else at his little rant as Sue stood behind him staring wide eyed while she sighed loudly shaking her head. Charlie chuckled along with us before taking a drink from his can then glanced at Emily, “Are you staying for dinner?”

“No. In fact I have to get going. Sam asked me to relay a message. He wants to let you know that with Bella here, he was going to put on a few extra patrols. He’s not expecting any trouble but he doesn’t want to take the chance.”

Charlie chewed on the side of his lip while nodding his head, and then quickly shifted his eyes to me before going back to Emily, “Tell him alright. I don’t expect anyone is fool enough to cause trouble but stranger things have happened.”

Jacob huffed next to me in disgust while I processed what was being said. I knew what they were talking about, adding extra patrols just in case James decided to show up. The thought that came to my mind was: is this something that normally happens when Bella is here? Do they always take extra precautions to ensure her safety?

Emily left with a goodbye adding it was nice to meet me, just as I heard the door open from the bedroom. From the sound of their giggling I could only guess that Bella and Leah had worked out their differences. That sound brought a sense of relief to me for several reasons.

I hate when Bella is upset, everything within me screams to see to her happiness. I also knew that she loved Leah, after all the failed phone calls and passed up activities, it was clear that Bella missed her sister deeply. The most important reason was that I wanted Bella to relax so she could enjoy the weekend. That would have been impossible had the tension not been disbanded.

Leah went into the bathroom while Bella came around the corner into the kitchen. Our eyes met immediately as a warm smile engulfed her face. It was clear she had been crying and it took everything I had in me to remain in the chair and not run to comfort her. Sue looked up as she started putting food on the table and then went over to hug Bella just as I wanted to. Bella nodded at whatever Sue was saying then let her go so she could say hello to her father.

“Hi daddy,” Bella said wrapping her arms around him from the back before leaning down to kiss his cheek.

Charlie’s hand gripped her forearm then patted it in a fatherly manner. “Hi’ah Bells. How are you?”

“I’m good…” Bella gazed at me while adding, “…I guess you got to met Edward?”

“Yes, no thanks to you. Paul introduced us.”

Bella glared at Jacob mouthing ‘Paul.’

Jacob held his hands up in surrender, “You don’t want to know.”

Bella’s eyes shifted to me and I winked at her while Charlie chuckled, “That boy is always trying to get me riled up.” Bella let go of her father giving him a chance to take another drink from the can, “besides you two girls are old enough now to stop fighting.”

“Leah started it,” Bella announced while her sister was coming out of the bathroom announcing, “I did not!” Charlie glanced across the table at us with a knowing grin, “See…boys.”

Dinner was simple but good with brazed chicken, red beans and rice, coleslaw, and a salad. Everyone at the table watched Bella mix her rice and slaw together cutting the chicken into small pieces to add into the blend. Charlie laughed shaking his head, “If the sight of that don’t scare Edward away, I don’t think anything will.”

My hand squeezed her knee as she looked to me with a blush on her face while Sue told Charlie to let her alone at least she was eating. That comment made me wonder if her eating habits had always been unhealthy, or if the mere fact of where Bella was made her too anxious to eat. At that moment with everyone around her, Bella seemed relaxed.

The tasks that I was going to have her do would be part of my plan at keeping her that way. It would require me to keep a constant watch, judging her anxiety level. Something told me that her task might be tricky at times, but if it works she just might leave Forks feeling better about coming back. The problem was I needed to get her alone so she could receive my instructions. It didn’t appear like that was going to be happening until we actually went to bed. That was alright, I would bid my time knowing that the main task had more to do with the next day than anything else.

The rest of the meal was typical normal family time. There was an ease to the relationship between them. Charlie was a basic man with simple tastes who I could tell loved his family very much. I received the customary questions about my life, where I worked, where I grew up, and my relationship with my parents and siblings. Leah wondered why I didn’t finish with medical training and Sue commented that my decision to withdraw from that vocation must have been a shock to my parents.

When I agreed with her assessment Sue made sure to tell me that she found no fault with my decision because everyone should do what makes them happy. Her words were directed to me but her eyes rested upon Bella. I’m not exactly sure what was said during the earlier altercation, however it became clear to me that Sue was more aware of our personal relationship than she was letting on.

Charlie was much more interested in how we met, finding it shocking that Bella would be at a bar. “I went with Jake dad.”

That piece of information seemed to placate him but I suppose the cop must have kicked in because he wondered, “Why didn’t you go along Leah?”

She scoffed, “What was I going to do there, I can’t drink…”

“It just doesn’t make much sense,” he mused, “Bella was never one to go out like that.”

I spoke up in her defense, “I’m glad she did and then the next day we ran into each other in the pub…”

“Another bar?” Charlie questioned giving Bella suspicious eyes.

“It’s not a bar Charlie, it’s a pub. Carol and I go there for dinner sometimes and Edward came in to eat with his father.”

Charlie shook his head, “I don’t like it, next thing you know you’ll be coming home with things hanging out of your face and tattoos all over your body.”

Jacob started choking and while Leah patted his back all I could do was sit there waiting to see what Bella was going to say. Fortunately it was at that moment Seth came back home, putting an end to the awkward situation. Sue stood giving her son a chair to sit down as she got a plate full of warm food out of the oven while Charlie went outside saying he’d be right back.

Bella reached over touching Seth’s hand, “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”

The look he gave Bella was filled with an emotion I couldn’t comprehend, “It wasn’t the yelling Bella I just feel so damn…”

“Presents!” Charlie declared coming back in the door carrying a large wrapped gift while Bella continued to stare at her brother like they shared some secret pain.

“You’re giving him presents already; the little shit doesn’t even have his diploma yet”

Charlie had the reply to Jacob’s comment ready in a form of a question to his wife, “Aren’t we having cake?”

“Yes, banana,” Sue answered with a smile as Seth hissed out, “Sweet!” and Charlie looked to Jacob as if it was a forgone conclusion. “Cake time means presents.”

Seth sat back in his chair holding his hands out with wiggling fingers, “Come on, lay them on me.”

Sue put the cake down in the middle of table setting the dessert plates next to it while Charlie told Seth to open the gift. The kitchen seemed to become a flurry of movement with everyone scattering at the same time while Leah told Seth to wait. A minute later Bella was sitting down next to me holding out an envelope, Leah was focusing a camera on her brother and Sue was dishing out pieces of cake onto the little plates.

Accepting mine with a thank you I shrewdly pushed a plate towards Bella who lifted my wrist to glance at the time. Unsure of her reasoning I was taken aback when she leaned over to kiss my cheek then whispered in my ear, “Thank you Master.”

The unexpected gesture momentarily stunned me to the point where I needed to take a deep breath before answering her as quietly as I could, “You’re welcome my pet.”

The blush on her face was deepened by Charlie clearing his throat. We hadn’t done anything wrong but still I didn’t want it to appear that we were being disrespectful. Turning my attention back to the wrapped box on the table I glanced at Charlie. He was watching Bella with a thoughtful gaze and a small smile that made me wonder what he was thinking.

Seth tore into the gift and was more than happy with a new Television and Blue Ray. Bella handed over the card she had which contained a gift card for Huelit Packer telling him that there was enough on there for a basic model. He was even happier when Jacob gave him another saying that now he could upgrade. Sue presented him with a small unwrapped box that once he opened a wave of emotion caught in both their eyes.

“Dad’s tribal ring,” Seth declared looking to his mother who nodded, “It belongs to you…” she touched his face with motherly warmth “…he would be very proud of you.”

Seth put the ring on his finger looking at it for a few seconds before hugging his mother who patted his back. It was an emotional moment shared between a mother and her son. Sue straightened up wiping a stray tear from her face but the pride remained “You better go get ready or you’ll miss graduation and have to give all this back.”

“No way” Seth turned thanking everyone for the gifts then moved to go into the bedroom looking at his hand while he went.

Everyone moved to get the kitchen cleaned up and once the table was cleared off, Sue told us to relax while she finished the dishes. Seth came back into the room holding a deep purple cap and gown. He walked by Bella who stopped him, running the material from the gown through her fingers.

“Nice color, is that…” she glanced at Leah, “…eggplant?”

“Bitch!” Leah giggled throwing a napkin at Bella who was laughing while Charlie chastised “Hey…hey...hey,” and Sue spoke with irritation, “Leah!”

“She’s making fun of me,” Leah whined while her mother didn’t seem to fall for the excuse “How is she making fun of you?”

My arm was wrapped around Bella’s shoulder with her forehead resting against the side of my chest while she laughed her ass off with Leah joining her. I had absolutely no idea what was so funny but apparently Jacob must have because he was shaking his head smirking. Feeling like I was missing the joke my attention turned to Charlie. He was watching Bella with a keen eye and a look of pure joy on his face. His eyes met mine briefly before he smiled then added a nod as if in approval.

“What’s so funny?” I wanted to know but Leah swiftly stood up glaring at Bella and huffed, “Nothing! I swear to god…if you say one word!”

Bella’s laughter was ending as she raised her to pledge, “ I won’t,” while Seth shook his head muttering, “you two are messed up,” and Jacob looked at me smirking, “welcome to my world.”

Sue shuffled Seth out the door telling everyone that we had to leave soon. Bella excused herself to change while I waited in the kitchen with everyone else. They were all talking about the plans for the next day but my attention was torn between the conversation and the longing I had to be alone with Bella.

However I had to squelch that feeling because although Charlie seemed to approve of me, I didn’t think he would appreciate me being in the room while Bella was changing. I was fairly sure that he knew we were intimate but that didn’t mean he wanted it thrown in his face.

Bella came out dressed casually in black jeans and a white silk shirt that cris-crossed against her breasts. The sight of her made my dick stir especially when she opened the door calling Seth, who came into the house soaking wet and she bent over- sticking her butt out- to admonish him.

“Oh…where have you been?”

Sue said something about putting Seth on the back porch and Jacob was talking about someone named Bessie. I should have been paying more attention to the dog; however all I could think about was us naked and what we would be doing later. The thought process was not helping the situation in my pants so I tried to focus on what was going on rather than Bella’s round bottom.

A bottom I wanted so desperately to rub, lick, and spank

Shaking my head slightly in an attempt to clear it, Bella asked if I would get Seth’s bed out of our room. Once he was safely tucked away with a bowl of food and water, we left for the graduation ceremony. Jacob had invited us to ride along with them; however it was Bella who insisted that we take my car. She didn’t even wait for me to shut my door to start talking.

“I’m really sorry about leaving you alone with my dad.”

Looking at her while starting the engine I tried to make her realize that I understood, “You had to get things settled with Leah. Besides I wasn’t alone …

Bella rolled her eyes, “I could only imagine what Paul said.”

I laughed while following Jacob off the property. “I was just worried about you, but I’m glad that you two talked.”

I waited to see if Bella would enlighten me as to what exactly happened, it took a moment and then she sighed before telling me about Leah’s concern for her. As I listened it would have been easy to become angry with her sister for thinking that I could injure Bella. Leah was placing me in the same category as an abusive husband, who was loathed and feared. However her worries are understandable and they come from nothing other than love for Bella and how could I fault anyone for that.

While we continued to drive to the other side of the reservation, Bella became emotional as she told me of Leah’s memory of having to find her battered and bruised. It was then that I realized what would have made Seth as upset as he was. The anger, resentment, and terror that Bella lived through was horrible and has irrevocably affected her life. Those same emotions would also have the identical impact on all the people who loved her. The sheer helplessness of seeing it happen, knowing the devastation that the abuse is causing yet having no recourse to stop it, must have been madding.

Charlie’s watchful eye was completely understandable; Bella was his daughter, his only child and he was a policeman who was unable to keep her safe. I could only imagine the guilt and trepidation that must have caused him, so it was completely reasonable that I would have to prove myself honorable. I was just glad that he was willing to give me the benefit of the doubt until he could attest to my trustworthiness or prove it false.

There was no way that was going to happen

The school was located in an open area that housed three different buildings. Bella pointed out that one was elementary level, one was secondary level and the building we were going into was a combined gymnasium and cafeteria for both.

Pulling up next to Jacob I got out to open Bella’s door, stealing a quick kiss in the misty rain before shutting it and heading inside. Several people came up to say hello as we walked to our seats beside Charlie. Bella introduced me to at least fifteen different people most of which were parents or grandparents of the graduating class that consisted of twelve. Personally, as an educator I didn’t understand why the school system was separated from Forks. Bella explained that because it was on an Indian reservation the school stood as its own entity. It was a like a private school that allowed for instruction in tribal customs and language along with state requirements. I surmised that it was the same as the catholic school that my parents sent us to during our primary years.

Because the class was so small each graduate was allowed time to make a small speech, thanking their families, telling what their future plans were and reminiscing. It was very personal and much different from any other ceremony I had ever attended. After each student was awarded their diploma everyone stood saying a prayer in their native language, the headmaster said something else and the caps went into the air.

Bella looked at me with a smile, “There you go; you’re one of the few HO-quaht that gets to see this.”

“Did you just call me a Ho?”

She laughed, “HO-quaht, it means white man.”

“Is she teaching you words?” Jacob asked while we stood waiting for Seth. I told him the few words that I knew, and he nodded then promised to teach me better ones. I was wondering how I could get him to tell me how to say basic commands when Emily approached us with a man, who Bella hugged then introduced to me as Sam.

Sam was large with a build that reminded me of Emmett, muscular with sharp features and eyes that seemed wise beyond his years. After shaking hands he asked what I thought of Forks so far.
I was just starting to tell him that I didn’t get to see much of the town, only the diner, when a male voice called from behind us.

“Sweet cheeks!”

At the name Bella groaned while Jacob and Leah laughed.

This person walked up to our group and I didn’t need to be introduced to know who he was - Emery Sterla. However, after both he and his wife hugged Bella I was more than happy to shake his hand, and couldn’t wait to tell Emmett. It’s not that I would call myself star-struck, however it’s not every day that you get to personally meet a star Running Back, so when you do, you definitely rub that shit in.

They were all talking about getting together for a few hours after the festivities were over. That was fine with me, everyone seemed friendly enough and welcoming. They were just finalizing the plans to meet over at Sam and Emily’s when Sue called us to have pictures taken. As we walked away Emery called out to Bella, “Oh by the way sweet cheeks, I took care of you.”

“Yeah,” the curiosity I was feeling from Bella’s excitement was over shadowed by the irritation at the name he calls her.

Why the fuck is he calling my woman sweet cheeks?

I figured it had to be an innocent reason but I still didn’t like it one bit. Emery nodded telling her he would catch up with her sometime tomorrow. Sue wanted Leah to take pictures of everyone in various groupings, even including me in a few shots. They were just finishing up when a tall, thin, young girl came over; she was tentative in her approach until Seth grabbed her by the waist pulling her in for a kiss. I thought it was safe to assume that she was Tracy.

Bella was standing in front of me leaning her upper body against my chest. My arm snaked around her waist holding her to me while we talked to Jacob as Leah took the last few pictures of Seth and his girl. When she was done, Leah came over joining our conversation about the absence of Jacob’s father from the ceremony. I knew that Bella held him in high regard and was looking forward to meeting him.

Leah stood by her husband rolling her eyes, “At least the toe-Tah has her clothes on.”

“Don’t call her that, she’s just a young girl,” Bella chided and then asked under her breath, “was she completely naked?”

Leah leaned closer turning her head towards Bella so she wouldn’t be overheard, “Let’s just say that apparently our little brother is rather good at using his tongue to click the mouse.”

Bella gasped, “No?” then giggled, “that’s what you walked in on?” she questioned in surprise while I couldn’t help but look to Jacob for conformation, who was nodding as Bella added, “Oh she must have been mortified!”

“She was mortified? How about me?” Leah questioned in a hush tone before explaining, “That is not a mental picture I want to have embedded into my brain for the rest of my life,” while Jacob added, “I have to admit it was worse than walking in on you two.”

That admission made me chuckle as I remembered their faces when they burst into Bella’s house to find us on the floor. Glancing down at Bella I could see the blush forming on her and I couldn’t help but kiss her cheek before speaking against her ear, “At least my tongue wasn’t clicking your mouse.”

“Pity,” she murmured making me wonder, “Are you complaining?”

Her face turned towards me as she spoke against my lips, “Never,” before giving me a chaste kiss.

Straightening up, my vision went right to Charlie, he had a grin on his face but he wasn’t looking at me, his gaze was on Bella. He must have felt my stare because he glanced at me quickly then looked back to his wife, who was talking with an older woman.

Seth came over to tell us that he was going to a party and wouldn’t be home until late, we said our good-byes before walking out to the car. On the drive back to the house Bella was pointing out some of the houses where the people I met lived. It was a small reservation, only one mile square making me understand the closeness of the community. It also disconcerted me that so many people seemed to care about her welfare yet she was left out for the wolves and I wondered, as I often did, how that happened.

In my own mind the ideas that I had about abused women didn’t fit with her upbringing. How could someone who was so full of life and surrounded by obvious love fall prey to someone so devious? In the half day that I had been there no one had spoken of her ex-husband. He had been alluded to and through those little tidbits I got the feeling that he was unwelcome. But had it always been like that, and if it was, how did he get past all the safety nets that seemed to surround her? It just didn’t appear to fit what I was seeing making me wonder what pieces to the puzzle I was missing.

When we got back to the house Bella checked on Seth and since he was dry he was allowed back into the main area. I went into the bedroom to get a sweatshirt and just as I pulled it over my head Bella joined me, closing the door behind her. She stood rigid against the closed door biting into her bottom lip with her eyes focused to the floor. Although I wasn’t expecting it, I certainly recognized the stance.

My pet had come home for supper

“Isabella,” her eyes met mine as I signaled for her to come to me. Knowing that the walls were thin I kept my voice down while speaking, “tell me what’s on your mind.”

“Master, I,” raising one eyebrow I waited for her to correct herself, “this girl didn’t mean to make arrangements without asking your opinion first. If you would rather not go…”

“Did I do something to indicate that I didn’t?” wanting clarification why she would think that.

“No Sir, but your girl didn’t know if she usurped any of your plans.”

The sound of voices from in the hallway caused me to hold her chin to make sure that I had her full attention while I spoke firmly but in a quiet tone, “The only concrete plans I had for the weekend was to meet as many people who care about you as I can. So far, I have not been disappointed.”

I had thought that would ease her mind some, but not my Bella. Something flashed in her face that looked like …grief. I couldn’t begin to conceive what she was thinking and didn’t have the time to figure it out so I demanded.

“What?” when an answer wasn’t forthcoming I had no alternative but to issue a warning, “You have one minute to tell me what you are thinking or we will stay here and you won’t like the consequence of usurping my plans.”

“It’s just,” Bella stopped making me raise my eyes in irritation, and she sighed.

She fucking sighed

My jaw clenched while I let go of her chin as she started talking again, “you said that this girl was going to have tasks.”

“Yes, and she will.”

Bella’s eyes narrowed in confusion, “But you just said that you had no plans.”

“That is not what I said…” the words were harsher then I wanted them to be, “…my words were I have no concrete plans. This weekend is going to be tricky Isabella and believe me if I thought for one minute that it would be in your best interest, our usual would not be taking place at all.”

Watching Bella’s reaction to that statement I thought about what she said concerning the tasks, coming to the only concussion I could, “You want to know what the tasks entail.”

“Yes Sir,” she sounded hopeful, but I had already told her when she would be getting my instructions, then a thought occurred to me.

“Do you need to know because it is essential, or do you want to know simply out of curiosity?”

That was an important question, even though I already knew the answer. She was relaxed, focused, and jovial, without an air of tension in her body. Bella didn’t need to know to give her something solid to fall back on. Bella only wanted to know because she was impulsive. When again I didn’t get an immediate answer, my instincts lead me to forfeit her reply for mine.

“Patience…now hurry, your family and friends are waiting.” Not giving Bella a chance to reply I left the room.

Leah was putting things into a bag to take along. Bella came out a minute later with a sweat shirt on and her hair in a ponytail. Jacob handed me a flashlight off the top of the refrigerator and I took the bottle of wine Bella had put on the table and we left.

Sam and Emily lived two houses down with clear trails through the woods that separated the properties. Their home was still small like a cabin but much more modern, with large plate glass windows and a refurbished kitchen that contained stainless steel appliances and black granite counter tops. The kitchen smelled of olive oil and garlic and even though I wasn’t hungry my mouth watered.

A few minutes after we got there another couple arrived, Bella hugged them both before introducing me to Quil and his fiancée Claire. The last two people to arrive were Paul and his wife Rachel who Jacob introduced to me since Bella was helping the women in the kitchen. Sam handed me a beer while Quil asked how graduation went.

Jacob shrugged, “Little shit graduated.”

“How many?” I knew what Quil meant but Sam answered, “twelve,” while Paul took a drink of his beer then said thoughtfully, “I think we had the biggest class, twenty-one?”

“You all graduated together?” I asked just trying to make conversation.

“Most of us,” Paul answered, “Sam is a few years older and Jake was a year behind, but everyone else. Quil, Claire, the twins, Emery, Jared, Leah, even Bella graduated that year, of course, she went to Forks,” he said it like that was a bad thing then added, “She only pretended to be one of us cool kids,” he chuckled then glanced behind him at the women in the kitchen who were mixing something in the blender.

“Leah and Bella made up,” Paul surmised.

“Don’t they always?” Jacob answered tipping back the bottle as Sam commented, “Emily said they had a nasty disagreement.”

“What were they arguing about now?” it was the first words Quil had spoken. Neither Jacob nor I answered, but Paul couldn’t keep his mouth shut.

“I didn’t hear the whole thing and Jake made me leave just as it was getting good. But it all started with Seth fucking Tracy on the couch.”

Jacob groaned while I glared at him, “Would you shut up! I still owe you for that crap you pulled with Charlie.” Paul laughed while Quil and Sam wondered what I was talking about. I listened while he told the story laughing at the appropriate parts, because looking back on the situation it was funny.

When he was done Paul smirked at me, “How did that work out for you?”

Asshole

I told them the ending of the story and by the time that was done the woman had all the food out and had joined us. We sat around laughing and talking while they were all telling stories about when they were younger. I learned that Leah use to coax Bella to sneak out at night through their bedroom window and one night while the boys were skinny dipping the girls took their clothes making them walk naked through the woods. That was in retaliation for scaring the girls when they were having a sleepover. It was all good clean childish play that sounded perfectly normal to me.

“Oh my word, remember when we got lost in that cave?” Quil brought up and it would have seemed like just another story to me except that Bella stiffened at my side. I tried to ignore it but as the story went on she became more rigid.

“That was not funny,” Leah inserted.

“It was fucking hilarious,” Paul chuckled while he talked.

“Dude, the funniest thing about that,” Quil spoke up, “was you crying like a bitch on Bella’s lap.”

“I was not crying,” the defensiveness of his tone told me he was lying.

“Bells was he crying?” she didn’t answer Jacob at first and my arm that was around her shoulder squeezed her tighter to me finally after taking a deep breath Bella nodded. “Yeah, remember you were drawing squiggly lines on my jeans with that black marker.” As she spoke her fingers moved along her thighs in demonstration.

“I might have been drawing but not cry…”

Bella suddenly looked up, “Yes, you were crying…” she was adamant about that fact as she stood quickly, “excuse me, I need a new drink.”

They all sat there bickering back and forth and my eyes followed Bella when I looked around the table Leah was watching her too. Excusing myself I made my way over to her running my hand down the length of her ponytail.

“Everything alright?” Bella nodded her head but wouldn’t turn to look at me. Wrapping my arms around her waist we stood with her back against my chest, “What’s the matter baby?”

I watched her in the reflection of the glass the blackened night making a perfect background to reproduce our images in the window. Her head was tilted down but I could see her nose crinkle as the tears fell over her cheeks. Using the back of my hand I gently wiped them away as her head moved to rest against my jaw while her hands gripped my other wrist holding on tightly.

“What happened?” Bella wasn’t in an all out crying fit but it was clear there was pain there that needed to come out. It took her a few moments while she seemed to run her nose along my skin taking in deep shuddering breaths before she could speak.

“It wasn’t a good night…I tried but I couldn’t get the marker off my leg…James hated…he hated when I came here…he never wanted me to come here.” She let out a humorless laugh as the words came out among the tears, “I was so stupid…I told him the truth, about the cave…Paul…the...marker.”

“Shhhh…” I wiped her face again while trying to ease her pain. “He didn’t want you here, because this is your support. These are the people who loved you and would have tried to keep you from him.”

Bella’s head nodded in agreement of my assessment. I still didn’t understand why she never told anyone, especially in the beginning or why they never saw any signs of what was happening. But hind sight is twenty-twenty and who’s to say I would have been any different than them. They were all just kids.

“Do I even want to know what he did to you?” I didn’t mean to speak the words out loud and I really didn’t want to hear her answer. “That was the first night … he beat me with the belt.”

Wiping her face one more time while our bodies swayed lightly I felt helpless because all I could do to ease her pain was clutch her to me. “Do you want to go back over to the house?”

“No…can you just hold me a minute?” the pressure on my wrist increased as she gripped tighter while I kissed the top of her head.

“That I can do.”

I couldn’t take the pain of the memories away or ease any of her past sufferings. While we stood there twenty feet away from all her friends it dawn on me why no one intervened. Rather than speak out she choose to separate herself from them, to be alone and suffer in silence. Whether that was from quilt, shame or stubbornness made no difference to me. I loved her more then I could ever imagine and if all Bella needed was for me to hold her. That’s what I will do.