“You’re pretty crazy about him, kid…” he hesitated, “and I guess if it comes right down to it… he’s not that bad of a guy.” I knew he’d never say that to my face. “Although now, with this new accident…”

“Dad.”

“Sorry.” He continued cautiously, but extremely serious. “Anyway Bells, he really does love you and I guess that’s what matters.” She sighed, and he paused, contemplating a good way to present his next idea. “You’ve risked your life for him, Bella.” Mystification intersected her features.

“I see,” she said satisfied, and nodded. Her faced showed that she was being honest; she really did understand. It almost seemed like she knew that risking her life with me was her place in this life. That mindset of hers was crazy when she did know me, and now that I was close to a stranger to her it was ludicrous that she would feel that way. The thought made me irate.

“Would you like to know more about his family?” Charlie asked and she nodded in response. “Carlisle and Esme adopted all of the kids, as Esme can’t have children. All of their parents had gotten in horrible accidents, and the Cullen children were already family to them.” She let out a sad sound. “Emmett, the big one, he and Rosalie are married, and Jasper, the uh… sensitive one, he and Alice are together.”

“Alice, that’s the short one?” She asked. I laughed under my breath. I hope she knew never to say that to Alice’s face.

“Yeah, she’s my favorite,” Charlie chuckled. I could picture the wrinkles from his smile.

“And Rosalie, she’s the really beautiful one?”

“Yeah, but you’re cuter.” He pinched her cheek and she rolled her eyes. “So anyway, Rosalie and Jasper are fraternal twins,” he said, leaning back on the couch.

“And the rest?”

“They’re all siblings. That’s pretty much all I know.”

“Thanks, dad.” She smiled. The silence became awkward between them, and Bella’s stomach rumbled remarkably loud.

“What, they don’t feed you over there?” He mumbled something to himself, goaded, then trudged into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.

“What do you want to eat, Bella?”

“Um… I don’t know…” She seemed uneasy asking for food in her own house.