Chapter 3

With a serious expression of a decision being made, Edward was the one that answered my father’s question.  “Charlie, I think we should answer that question back at the house, if you don’t mind.”

Charlie stared at first my husband and then he turned to me.  Finally, he glanced at Nessie, who was watching the proceedings with an intensity that would have even belied a five-year-old, and be beyond impossible for an eight-month-old.  Slowly he nodded, and then looked over at Sue.  Softly he asked, “You know what’s going on, don’t you?”

She took his hand, which was sitting beside his forgotten dinner plate, and replied, “Yeah, Charlie, I do.  And Edward’s right, this can’t be a conversation held in public.”  Then she turned to us and added sadly, “I’m sorry, Bella, Edward.  I don’t know what’s gotten into her lately.  I thought after…well, you know…things were better.  But now…”  She shook her head and looked down at her plate.

Oddly it was Charlie who provided her comfort, though he clearly had no idea what he was comforting Sue for.  He wrapped his arm around her slight shoulders and pulled her to his chest.  It was strange seeing my father like that with a woman.  I was too little to remember my parents being married, but I had never seen him remotely intimate before.  I wasn’t even sure if he even dated.  I’m sure he did, but he hadn’t so much as mentioned going out with a woman the whole time I’d been in Forks. 

Softly, he murmured into her short black hair, “It’s okay, Suzie.  This is hard for Leah.  I get it.  We all miss Harry.”

Sue took a deep breath and looked up at him.  She smiled as she whispered back, “Thanks, for trying to understand, Charlie.  I love you.”

Charlie grinned back and winked as he said, “I love you, too.”  Then he shocked me when he leaned down and kissed her.  It was only a quick peck, but it was a jolt to me. 

My father was in love and getting married!

“Okay, enough of that,” Seth quipped.  “Some of us are still innocent.”

We all laughed at Seth’s attempt at humor, but a shadow had been cast over the evening.  After a moment, Charlie asked, “Are we all done then?  It doesn’t seem like any of us are hungry any longer.”