Midday Clouds - The Charlie Swan Story

Chapter 26 (New Moon 15/30)

"To tell you the truth, I'm a little worried about Harry, Charlie," Billy said. We were both sitting on the front porch of his house. Harry was inside with Sue and their kids, Leah and Seth, and we were taking a quick moment before calling Jacob and Bells from the garage.

"What do you mean, Bill?"

"Oh, you know, he's just gotten slower. I see him clutching at his chest sometimes when he thinks no one is looking. Even today, when you two were roughing each other up a bit, I could see in his eyes that look of worry — like he couldn't catch his breath or something."

A shiver of cold ran through me at the worry that I'd someone hurt Harry in a way he wasn't willing to express.

"Damn, I didn't realize. Well, I'm sure he's alright. Just needs to slow down a bit — God knows we all do. I'll take him to the river sometime soon, fishing always brought him peace."

"You do that, Charlie. I'll talk to Sue, see if she can get him to go to the doctor's a bit more. These bodies," he said, motioning to his own wheelchair-bound legs, "they can't take everything we throw at them these days. It's a pity."

"Well it's a good thing we've become so much more wise than the days of our youth, back when we could withstand our own stupidity, hey? Speaking of youth... Bella!" I shouted, letting the kids knows to head over to the house.

"Coming!" I heard back in my daughter's now-familiar voice.

She and Jacob raced up the lawn to us at the porch, and I couldn't help but notice that their hands were clasped together. I hadn't thought that anything romantic might be happening between Bells and Jacob, what with him being two years younger, but I realized I wouldn't exactly be angry if it was.

"Hey, dad," the two kids said at the same time, which got all four of us laughing. It has always been a pleasure to see joy so easily expressed on Bella's face, ever since she was just a baby, but it was especially nice to see after such a tough few months.

"Billy invited us for dinner," I explained.

"My super secret recipe for spaghetti. Handed down for generations," Billy said.

Jacob snorted. "I don't think Ragu's actually been around that long."

Given that there were far too many people to fit in the Black's small kitchen, Harry and I took it upon ourselves — with help from the boys, I noticed — to carry chairs out to the yard, given that we had a brief respite from the usual rain. Billy lit a fire, and I made plans with Harry to get onto the river for some fishing the next weekend, as I'd told Billy I would.

Sue, who I assumed had been speaking with Billy, even mentioned that Harry should have a bit more of the salad, "It's good for your cholesterol, sweetie," but to no avail. Knowing Sue, it would be a battle she was willing to fight on the daily if it meant keeping her husband healthy. That's just the kind of woman that she is.

I also couldn't help but notice that Bella had what seemed to be a genuine smile on her face for the entire night, sitting beside Jacob, joking around with Seth and Leah. It was unfortunate that the rain had to ruin the party, but on the drive back home afterwards she told me that she had had "a pretty great day."

"You think you'll visit again anytime soon?" I asked.

"Tomorrow after school," she admitted. "I'll take homework, don't worry."

"You be sure to do that," I said with a smile.

Hell, she could spend all the time she wanted over at Billy's, if it made her this happy. 

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