Endlessly ▸ Jasper Hale [4]

XII

TWELVE; LIKE OLD TIMES

Though Charlie said he was going to leave twenty minutes ago, he still hadn't. Not that Cassadee was complaining, she loved spending time with her father. However, for the first time in her life, she was jealous of how much time he was spending with Bella. It was a weird feeling, and she didn't like it one bit. She kept telling herself that Charlie was giving her sister all the attention because he thought Bella was essentially on her death bed.

She kept her distance from her sister and father, giving them time to catch up. Cassadee couldn't help but wonder if Bella felt she same as her whenever she was spending time with Charlie, she definitely didn't make it obvious if she did. But at the same time, Cassadee had a feeling that the two didn't need to bond the same way that she did with their father. Bella and Charlie were so much alike in ways that Cassadee wasn't like him. Those two could just watch television in the same room without speaking at all and they consider it bonding.

Cassadee decided to stay close to be sure that nothing bad happened. She didn't have a bad feeling, she knew Bella could control herself, especially around someone she loved. However, it was in everyone's best interest to stay close in case Bella did slip up. Aside from Jasper, who always expected the worst, everyone knew that with Renesmee in her arms, Bella would do everything in her power not to screw up.

While Jasper stood by the entry, ready to restrain Bella at any moment, Cassadee sat at the table with Eden sleeping soundly in her arms, snuggling into her side every so often. Emmett and Jacob were also sitting at the table, playing Uno with Cassadee while the rest of the Cullen clan were in other areas of the house.

"Dude, how many draw four cards do you have?" Jacob almost shouted at Emmett. Despite how angry the werewolf was getting, he picked up the cards from the deck.

"I wonder how many relationships this game has ruined."

"Probably not as many as Monopoly."

Cassadee put a card down before looking at Jacob. "Didn't I get in a fight with Rachel over Monopoly?"

Jacob snorted, "you mean the time you got mad because she won? Yeah, it was last year."

"I'll have you know I was the undefeated champ until then."

"We know." Jasper said, "you've told us several times."

"Because I'm still bitter."

Jasper was by his wife's side in a second when her father and sister got up from the couch. He kept his attention on them, but figured Charlie seeing him standing near the doorway for no apparent reason would creep him out.

"We probably shouldn't tell your mom about any of this." Charlie suggested, walking toward the kitchen. The woman was odd, but she didn't handle weird as well as Charlie and the twins. Plus there was a good chance she would think everyone was crazy and try to make the twins move back home with her.

Bella nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I don't want to freak her out. It's better to protect her."

"I would have tried to protect you, too, if I'd known how. I have a feeling I won't be able to protect you now." Charlie sighed, looking at his daughters, both of which had their daughters in their arms. "Just promise me that you will take care of each other."

"We always have." Bella pointed out, giving Charlie a sincere smile.

"And we always will." Cassadee finished, "but at least Bella can actually take care of herself now."

"I could take care of myself before." Bella defended, clearly taking offense to the statement.

There was a long pause among the family before Edward finally spoke up. "Of course you could."