Waxing Crescent (Alice Cullen x Bella Swan)

Chapter 21 - Cookout Gone Awry

Charlie - dishtowel slung over his shoulder - had his cuffs rolled all the way up his forearms, his hands submerged beneath soapy water as he scrubbed at a particularly stubborn spot on cast-iron. 

He lifted the skillet up to a critical eye before shoving it mercilessly back under the bubbles.

"Dad, don't you think that's a little too much dish soap?" I tried not to stare, or backseat 'dishwash', but I found myself standing over his shoulder anyway. It was honestly anxiety-inducing seeing him attempt anything remotely domestic.

"Bella, I've been cleaning dishes since you were in diapers. I think I know what I'm doing," He grumbled, gesturing for me to go away with a shrug of his shoulders.

I took a hesitant step back and leaned up against the opposite counter.

"Then why does the sink look like it's one candle away from becoming a relaxing bubble bath?"

Charlie snorted, giving me a sidelong glance, "What? You gonna' jump on in, are you now? Go run a bath upstairs if you're getting funny ideas, missy."

"I just don't get why you're doing the dishes all of a sudden," I huffed, "I know I didn't leave any grime or marks on anything last night. Our glasses are always spotless."

"I'm not cleaning up because you do a bad job," Charlie exhaled heavily, "Actually, I'm doing these dishes 'cause you do a great job. With your birthday coming up, it's gotten me thinking. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me, kid. I don't want you thinking I take you for granted. Having you back home has really meant a lot to me."

"Oh," I stalled, my mouth immediately going dry, "That's... Thanks, Dad."

Charlie gave a responding grunt, his head seeming to hang a conspicuously lower over the sink as he continued washing dishes.

"I never thought you took me for granted, just so you know," I croaked, coughing to get the crick out of my throat, "I do the stuff I do, not because I think you won't do them, but because I'm grateful to be here. It's a way for me to show you that all of this means a lot to me, too."

"I suppose you are going to spend your birthday with Alice?" He changed the subject abruptly.

He lifted his head, his eyes shifting from me and then to the plate in his hand.

"Some of it, yeah. I was hoping to spend a lot of it with you, as well, though."

The silence was awkward, but even with his back turned to me I was sure there was a smile hiding underneath his bushy moustache. 

"Great. What do you want to do? I won't say the diner because I don't gotta' be a genius to know you're probably sick of that place by now," He placed some dishes on the rack to dry before starting on a coffee cup. 

"No, I like the diner!" I nodded a little too quickly, "I'm starting to crave their burgers weekly, I swear."

"Really?" He slopped some water as he turned half his body around to give me a disbelieving once over. 

"Yes, I mean it! It's the best place in town," I nodded again, smiling as convincingly as I could muster.

It seemed easier to go along with whatever best suited Charlie. In all honesty, there wasn't much I wanted to do on my birthday. As long as it didn't involve a lot of needless fanfare, I was happy... Much to my friends' disappointment. 

Tyler and Ben had been up for going to a superhero movie, and had tried to get the gang together to celebrate with me. It wasn't my scene, so, naturally, I fought tooth and nail to get out of it.