Midday Clouds - The Charlie Swan Story

Chapter 8 (Twilight 8/11)

I made sure to wake up earlier than Bella so that I could reattach the battery cables on her truck. I felt bad for doing that last night, but I figured it would make an interesting dilemma for her if she actually had tried to take off somewhere in the night.

I drove to the station after that to start another day off that wasn't actually a day off. The forecast was calling for a storm to come that night, so, after checking in with dispatch -- and finding another missing persons report on my desk, this time from Port Angeles, just an hour away -- I drove around town to ensure that everyone was aware and ready for potential flooding. The town was used to rain, of course, but being so close to the exposed coast of the Pacific Ocean, and bordered by three rivers, floods were a constant worry in Forks. Most shop owners already had their sandbags hauled up from basements, ready to go if need be, but I helped old Mrs. Applegate haul hers up to protect the laundromat, as I did any time a storm was on its way.

I figured I had a few hours before it hit, and nothing gets the fish jumping like a coming storm, so I took off for the river for a few hours of fishing.

When I got home I put the day's catch in the garage freezer and headed into the house. Bella's truck was where it usually would be, and was cold to the touch.

"Hi there, kiddo!" I called to Bella as I entered the house. She was on the phone with someone.

"See ya, Jess," she said before hanging up the phone. "Hey, Dad. Where's the fish?"

"I put it out in the freezer."

"I'll go grab a few pieces before they freeze - Billy dropped off some of Harry Clearwater's fish fry this afternoon."

"He did? That's my favorite." God bless that Harry Clearwater.

I cleaned myself up while Bells got dinner ready. I felt less bad about letting her cook for us, seeing as I caught the food. It was a nice partnership we had, that, and Harry's famous fish fry made it taste all the better. I realized halfway through dinner that I was a little too focused on the food.

"What did you do with yourself today?" I asked, hoping to start a conversation.

"Well, this afternoon I just hung out around the house... And this morning I was over at the Cullens'."

I dropped my fork. After all my prodding over the past two days, now she was finally ready to talk about Edward? Easy as that?

"Dr. Cullen's place?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"What were you doing there?" I said, pretending to be oblivious.

"Well, I sort of have a date with Edward Cullen tonight, and he wanted to introduce me to his parents... Dad?"

I was shocked to hear that, while Bella had been keeping her relationship a complete secret from me, she had already met her boyfriend's parents. I was hurt, and confused, and honestly a little upset. My face must've shown it.

"Dad, are you all right?"

"You are going out with Edward Cullen?" I asked, wanting to finally hear it from her.

"I thought you liked the Cullens."

"He's too old for you," I noted. Now it was my turn to have some fun. It was only fair.

"We're both juniors," she said.

"Wait..." I paused, suppressing a chuckle. "Which one is Edwin?"

"Edward is the youngest, the one with the reddish brown hair."

"Oh, well, that's better, I guess. I don't like the look of that big one. I'm sure he's a nice boy and all, but he looks too... mature for you. Is this Edwin your boyfriend?"