Charlie was still uncomfortable with this change in residency. Forks had been his home for all of his life and had been the only place where he wanted to live. Even the house that he vacated in Forks had felt like a permanent fixture in his world; an old shoe that had shaped itself over time to fit comfortably about his foot. His new home in Port Angeles had yet to become equally as agreeable and he had his doubts that it ever would. He knew this discomfort was due, primarily to his work. In the beginning Charlie was nervous about his new job in Port Angeles. He often questioned in his mind if he possessed sufficient experience or skills to be the Sheriff of Clallam County. He was uncomfortable with the prospect of associating with high level city, county, and state officials on a regular basis. In Forks, nearly everyone he answered to or interacted with, in his capacity as Chief of Police, were either people he knew from his childhood or there's. This new position required that he learn to function outside of his comfort zone. Not quite two years into his newly elected position as Sheriff of Clallam County, Charlie Swan was still feeling a little out of his depth.
With regards to the discomfort Charlie was feeling with his new home, Renee was an attributing factor here. Within Charlie's mind, the house in Forks was solely and completely his and everyone there were living under his roof. The Cullen house, outside of Forks, never felt as if it belonged to him or Renee. They both felt as if they were housesitting for the Cullens and consciously avoided making any wholesale changes there. In Port Angeles, the house felt as if it belonged to Renee, or so it seemed to Charlie. What he did not know was that she was doing everything within her power to nurture this perception. Renee was not about to let Charlie turn this home into his new old shoe. This was a moniker she assigned Charlie's house in Forks towards the end of their first marriage.
From day one, Renee threw all of herself into the task of furnishing and decorating their new home. There was no location in the house where Charlie did not fear that he might inadvertently break some rule of behavior. He took to calling their house a display home that was only fit to be inhabited by mannequins. Renee ignored these remarks and continued to pester him about wiping his feet, or for not using a coaster and when it was not permissible to lounge about in one of the family rooms. Charlie lived in perpetual dread of disturbing one of Renee's meticulous arrangements.
Renee had never in the past been such a task master when it came to managing a home. She had been what some might call a maverick for much of her adult life. A small house with a comfortable and colorful décor was all she required, other than someone to share it with. This demeanor she was now exhibiting was the product of her new situation in life. The younger version of her-self would have given no thought to grand appearances. She had no ambitions beyond the minor social status she existed in and she reveled in the freedom that came with this standing. As the wife of Clallam County Sheriff, Charles Swan, she felt a need to extend herself beyond that world. She was happy for Charlie and proud to be his wife. Constructing a home to match his new station was an exciting adventure for her. This endeavor was secondary only to her desire to make the ideal home for her son, Phillip. Renee knew herself as the wife of the Sheriff of Clallam County, which meant, in her mind, advantages and opportunities for her son. She embraced her new life with enthusiasm. She had reconciled within herself to fit into this new society despite Charlie's hesitations. Where Charlie saw difficulties, Renee saw possibilities.
Out of all of the Swans, Phillip was the one member most contented with their new home. The plethora of children living about provided numerous new playmates for him and he wallowed in their acquaintances. At this time, he had just completed his kindergarten year of public school. He was a rambunctious child who was eager to play, as most children are at that age. His face shared a resemblance with his biological father. This was a feature Renee was happy to see. She took hope from this that he would grow up to be tall, athletic and handsome as was his father. He was not yet old enough to show an aptitude for sports. He did; however, show a great deal of interest in watching and attending sporting events with Charlie. His appearance was unspectacular, as one might expect of a five year old. He was, however, an attractive boy of normal height and weight for his age and he possessed a happy disposition. He was curious about everything and ravenous for the attentions of others, a typical child in all respects.
Where Phillip did differ from his friends was in his knowledge of the preternatural beings that inhabited the peninsula. His close association with Nessie, Bella, the Cullens and the Quileute shape-shifters made their secrets hard to keep from him. The family admonished him about telling what he knew. Phillip rarely complied with these instructions. Fortunately his remarks on the subject were generally taken as fanciful tales by adults and mature kids. Children his age were often quick to believe what he said and equally quick to forget it.
Nessie was a frequent visitor at the Swan residence when she was on the peninsula. The house outside of Forks remained her place of residence after the move by the Swans. The Cullens continued to use that location as their home base when they were on the peninsula and Nessie favored their company. She waited there eagerly for their visits and reveled in the stories of their adventures. Despite this affinity for her vampire relations, Nessie missed the close company of Charlie, Renee and Phillip. To make up for this loss, as best she could, she spent much of her weekends visiting with her relations in Port Angeles. Often she would come over simply to spend the day with Phillip. On the day after her sexual encounter with Jacob her only interest was to converse with Renee.
"You okay?"
Renee took note of Nessie's sullen demeanor as soon as she entered the house. She waited more than an hour for Nessie to broach the subject that was causing this condition. When this did not happen, Renee felt compelled to question her directly.
"I'm fine," Nessie defensively responded.
"Really," Renee challenged with a look of disbelief.
Renee was well aware of the signs of depression in Nessie. She had watched her go through the last half of her senior year of high school in perpetual doldrums. The sight of Nessie following her around as she washed, ironed and folded the house linens and clothes told her that there was something on her mind.
"I'm having some issues with Jacob," Nessie confessed somberly.
Renee made no reply. She knew that Nessie would say what she wanted to say in her own time. While showing only a passing interest in the conversation she continued to fold clothes recently removed from the drier. It was eleven o'clock on a Sunday morning. The sky was overcast with clouds, but the day was bright by Olympic Peninsula standards. Phillip was fixed in front of the television in the family room. A Disney DVD was being played there for his amusement. Renee and Nessie were situated at the opposite end of the room.
"We see things differently," Nessie continued after a long pause.
"That's usually the case," Renee casually spoke back.
"He wants things I can't give him," Nessie asserted.
"Did you tell him that?"
"No, not in so many words," Nessie dejectedly responded. "He told me, he loves me," she reported a second later in an amazed tone.
"We already knew that," Renee countered mildly aghast.
"But he shouldn't have said it," Nessie insisted.
"Why?"
"He just shouldn't say things like that," Nessie answered in a confused voice.
"Oh," Renee reacted a second later and then returned to her ironing.
Nessie knew from this response that Renee had surmised the situation but was withholding her opinion on the subject. This stoic front was the last thing she wanted. The female members of the family were her primary resource for consultation and feedback. She confided most with Bella. This was in part because she was her mother and their relationship as such was close. The main reason; however, was because of their commonality. Nessie had caught up with Bella in maturity and was closer to her in real-time age. It was only Bella's absence from the
peninsula that drew her to Renee.
"When he says things like that, he puts me on the spot, don't you think?"
Nessie framed her question in a way that she hoped would coax Renee out of her silence.
"I suppose," Renee tossed out halfheartedly. She knew this was not the response that Nessie wanted, but she was reluctant to take a position in this situation between her and Jacob. She knew that Nessie simply wanted to sound out her thoughts and she was happy to let her do so at her expense.
"I didn't imprint on him," Nessie quickly qualified. So I shouldn't be expected to have the same feelings."
"But you do love him?" Renee queried more than stated with a confused tone.
"Yeah, I do love him," Nessie retorted defensively. "Just, not in that way."
Renee had her own reasons for being skeptical of that answer, but she chose not to call Nessie on it. She had her own concerns regarding Nessie's future. The last thing she wanted to do was try to steer her in a direction she thought she should go. Renee felt this was a decision Nessie needed to make on her own.
"I do love him," Nessie continued to declare to herself. "It's just that I want more for myself."
"What does that mean?" Renee queried quizzically.
"I'm not a shape-shifter," Nessie insisted.
"Is he asking you to be one?"
"He's asking me to tie my future to his."
"I see."
"No, you don't see," Nessie implored in a near pleading tone. "I don't know what I am. I don't know where I fit in and I'm afraid Jacob is asking me to give away my life before I've had a chance to live it. Tell me what you think I should do, Grandmother."
Renee took a moment to ponder the question before answering.
"You'll have to come to that answer on your own."
Nessie detected the finality in Renee's voice and knew that she would get no more answer than that. After giving some thought to her words, she concluded that her life was her own and that she was not going to let anyone prepackage her future for her. She then asserted in her mind that this was the decision she would live by and then turned her attention to Phillip. She spent the rest of her visit playing with him.
Despite this deliberation, Nessie spent the remainder of the summer reinforcing this resolution in her thoughts. She avoided any one on one encounters with Jacob. He responded to this by repeatedly pushing for a return to the subject of their relationship in every private conversation he could steal from her. She, in turn, blandly discarded these inquiries and stoically endured his displeasure with this. She convinced herself that this was for the best and with each passing day became ever more determined to be hard and unyielding with Jacob regarding this matter.
In the coming fall, Nessie returned to Berkley relieved to be out of Jacob's proximity. She jumped back into her social life there with a determination to free herself from the guilt she was feeling over him. To her frustration the effect of this effort worked to the opposite. With each party she attended or date she went on, the activity invariably produced thoughts of Jacob. She soon discovered that the only cure for these meanderings was study and threw herself into her academics with a renewed ferocity. By the end of the fall semester, Nessie was sporting "A's" in every subject she undertook.
3- Xmas Dinner
A four wheeled drive silver Chevy Suburban carefully rolled out from beneath the white cloak of winter snow that had engulfed the forest about the home of the Cullens. The landscape was all but smothered in the white flakes of crystallized ice. Parts of trunks and limbs of trees peaked through this blanket of white where winter had failed to mask them. The large bay windows and small areas of the sides of the house were the only segments of the building that peaked out between the thick layer of snow lying across its roof and the large piles heaped about its base. With the lights inside the house turned off, the structure was nearly shrouded from view. The sky above was a placid ceiling of whites and grays. The air was still and frigid. It had snowed the night before and much of that morning. The midday sun abated the downpour, but the coming evening sky showed promise of more snow to come.
Each wheel of the Chevy Suburban was wrapped in chains to help the driver negotiate the slippery road beneath them. Spewing a steady stream of condensation out its tailpipe as it went; the vehicle slowed to a stop in front of the house. The engine was promptly shut off and the vehicle's occupants; Charlie, Renee and Phillip, emerged from its interior bundled in heavy coats, hats, scarfs, gloves, mittens and boots. Charlie and Renee, with Phillip following behind, went to the back of the vehicle and removed from its rear compartment several packages wrapped in colorful patterned paper and ribbons. Phillip grabbed a small package for himself in an eager effort to be helpful. After reclosing the rear hatch, they began their trek towards the front door of the house. Phillip anxiously trotted ahead of his parents. As soon as they reached the landing at the top of the stairs, the front door swung open.
"Merry Christmas," Alice, Jasper, Carlisle and Esme shouted. Alice did so with a little more enthusiasm than the others.
Charlie and Renee were all smiles at the sight of them.
"Hi, Merry Christmas to you," Renee countered cheerfully.
"Merry Christmas," Charlie added an instant behind.
"Merry Christmas," Phillip screamed in unison with Charlie as he charged through the open doorway.
Esme snatched Phillip up into her arms. The small gift box spilled from his hands as she did. Alice deftly caught it before it could hit the floor.
"Come on in," Alice implored with a smile. She, Jasper, Carlisle and Esme moved back to give way to their entry.
Renee and Charlie stepped into the house in response to their lead, thumping snow from their shoes as they did. The front door was quickly closed behind them, shielding the vestibule from the cold artic air that was radiating through the opening. The room warmed to a comfortable temperature almost immediately. Let me take those into the living-room for you," Carlisle offered as he stepped over to Renee with his hands extended. Renee promptly surrendered her packages to him. Jasper made the same offer to Charlie and received the same result. Carlisle and Jasper then exited the vestibule with the packages in tow. Charlie and Renee shortly removed their heavy overcoats, scarfs and hats. Phillip did the same with the assistance of Esme. A minute later they were following Alice's lead into the interior of the home.
The living-room of the house was tidy and all was in its place. Three wood logs were ablaze in the fireplace affixed in the far wall opposite to the room's main entrance. The large ceiling to floor bay window that served as the connecting wall provided a picturesque view of the wintery world outside. Situated in the corner between the two was a large, elaborately ornate, Christmas tree. The large fir was nature made and stood all of eight feet high. Ornaments of varied colors, shapes and designs along with tinsel and candy-canes were strung liberally about it. Multicolored, flickering, Christmas tree lights illuminated this decoration in half a dozen colors. A two inch wide gold ribbon spiraled four revolutions up the tree. Adorning the top of it was a large silver star.
Carlisle and Jasper stood waiting in the room when Alice, Renee, Charlie, Phillip and Esme walked in. The sound of talking and laughter in the kitchen could clearly be heard from there. Emmett's guffaws boomed the loudest. Off and on, Nessie, Bella, Rosalie and Edward chorused his mirth with less vigor. The subject that was provoking this merriment was beyond Charlie's and Renee's hearing to discern. However; they both had no doubt that their collective association and the general mood of the day was the predominant inspiration behind it.
The smell of food cooking in the kitchen filled the living-room as it did much of the house. Renee and Charlie sniffed the air for clues about the dinner menu. Had they the olfactory of a vampire they would have been able to sort through the aromas of baked ham glazed with brown sugar; candied yams coated with a maple syrup sauce; scalloped potatoes mixed with parsley, chives, onions, bacon, and Swiss cheese; green beans topped with crushed wal
nuts; roasted asparagus sprinkled with lemon juice and parmesan cheese; zucchini sautéed with garlic, red onions and bacon; roasted prime rib seasoned with salt and black pepper; a cranberry-kumquat relish and a pecan pie. Without this ability the best they could discern was that the list of dishes was extensive. Phillip; quite to the opposite, had no interest in any of this. His attention instantly locked onto the large collection of elaborately wrapped gifts beneath the Christmas tree. He raced over and secured the largest package there between his grasp and gazed upon it with awe as he spoke.
"Is this mine? Can I open it, Momma?"
"Hold on," Renee quickly answered back as she raced over to her son and checked his actions. "We have to wait for the others."
Even as she said this, Bella and Nessie were leading the remainder of the family into the living-room.
"Oh, you found it," Bella called out to Phillip as she walked into the center of the room.
"Is it for me?" Phillip questioned back excitedly.
"Yes, it sure is," Bella Responded with a smile.
Bella stepped over to Charlie even as she spoke and gave him a hug.
"Hi Dad..."
"Hi Bells. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," Bella responded as she stepped back. "Merry Christmas, Mom," she spoke again as she turned towards her mother.
The Malevolent Vampire Page 2
