I needed another distraction.

I quickly turned over the key still hanging from my ignition. I needed something soothing and distracting. A little Chopin might just do the trick.

I clicked the appropriate button, anxiously waiting as the CD player whirred to life. I laid my head back again and tried to concentrate on the notes. In the distance, I could hear with perfect clarity the one reliable sound that I could have isolated even if I were miles away. Her heartbeat, again. Thump-Thump…Thump-Thump…Thump-Thump…

Steady, constant, beautiful, magnificent…reliable. Chopin’s finest compositions could not compare…nothing could…

Rustle…thump-thump…

“I don’t know why, you read the news, Dad. It only ticks you off.”

I’ll tell you what ticks me off…all that man power and no one to help those people….you’re damn right it ticks me off…this is…

“This is why everyone wants to live in a small town! It is just… Ridiculous!”

Oh, Charlie. If you only knew the depths of ridiculousness, I mused. Your daughter’s one hundred and eight year old vampire boyfriend is waiting outside your house dreading a confession that could possibly indicate that she is secretly in love with her post-pubescent werewolf friend…

I chuckled at my liberal cynicism.

“What have the big cities done wrong now?” Bella asked.

It did not sound like genuine inquiry in her voice. Was she mocking him? Did she know he was stalling? Did she know he was somehow preparing this dinner to set the tone for some proposition? What was she thinking? Perhaps I have underestimated her again, it certainly would not be the first, or last time I would probably make such a mistake.

“Seattle’s making a run for murder capital of the country. Five unsolved homicides in the last two weeks. Can you imagine living like that?” Charlie asked.

I truly anticipated the answer to his question. I wanted to take her to Alaska or New Hampshire. In premature excitement, my head spun a little at the thought of Bella attending Dartmouth with me. In my wildest dreams, I’d entertained the thought that she would come with me and become my wife. I hoped to show her that, in time, a semi-normal life was possible for us. Of course, New Hampshire was beautiful and I was certain that she would enjoy it, but I knew we would not be near a big city…