His | Mine | Ours

Chapter 89

Its early in the morning.

I stare at ceiling at with tired eyes.

I finally understand why Chief Swan looks so exhausted.

Bella had just finished one of her screaming episodes.

It takes a few minutes for Chief Swan to calm her down. He waits for her to go back to sleep before going back to his room.

The house would go quiet again until her next episode.

An exhausting cycle indeed.

Unable to go back to sleep, I continue to stare into space. 

I only close my eyes when Chief Swan comes downstairs later in the day.

I hear him in the kitchen before he finally comes to living room to check on me.

"Liz." he calls out.

I don't answer, pretending to sleep.

I hear him walk away and go back into the kitchen.

He returns a few minutes later and sets something on the floor.

"Liz." he calls out again.

I slowly open my eyes as if I were just waking up.

"Good morning." he greets kind of awkwardly.

"Morning." I greet back.

"Sorry to wake, ya." I scratches the back of his head. "I just wanted to give you your present."

"Present?" I say, confused.

"Yep." he picks something off the floor and sits it on the coffee table.

I slowly sit up and grab my glasses.

I see the table more clearly and the wrapped package sitting on it.

"Sue cooked for Christmas, so I planned to go over to the Clearwater's place." Charlie says. "It'd be nice to open presents with them. Not saying that you have to or anything, I just-"

"Okay." I tell him. "I'll open it with them."

Charlie gives me an awkward smile and shyly looks away.

"Alright." he says. "I'm going to get Bella up."

His expression turns a little sad before he quickly recovers.

"Go ahead and get dressed." he says, walking away. "I'm not sure if we'll be the only company."

I nod and watch him leave.

I look back at the package on the table and sigh.

I guess I have to go shopping soon.

I get up and stretch.

After folding my blanket, I grab that and the pillow and take upstairs to the hallway closet. I go to Bella's room and find her still lying in bed. She looks fast asleep with her back facing me.

I go to where I kept my duffle bag and open it. I grab some clothes and make my way to the hallway bathroom.

I take a shower and take care of my hygiene before getting dressed.