Mechanics and Mistletoe Teaser

After sitting with Renee as she showed me baby pictures of Bella for an hour, the woman in question came into the living room. She sat down and snuggled close to me, her hand finding mine and twining our fingers together. She was quiet, listening to her mother tell me about Bella’s penchant for falling on a flat surface prior to puberty. There were so many pictures of her in casts, sporting bruises and scrapes and she laughed through all of it. As the pictures changed from adorable photos of her as a child, I saw her as a gangly pre-pubescent girl to a teenaged girl, looking very similar to the woman who was snuggled to my side. The only difference in the teenager to the woman now, was the eyes. My Bella as a teenager was free, fun and lively. Now?  She was more reserved, guarded and life has taken its toll on her.

When Renee started showing me pictures from Bella’s college years, Charlie called us to the dinner table. It was a large table, filled with more food than I’d seen in months. It a smelled delicious and my stomach snarled angrily. Bella chuckled, tugging me to the chair next to her and pouring us both a glass of wine. I didn’t drink it because of the pain medication I was taking for my injuries, but I did dig into the food: prime rib, creamed spinach, cheesy potatoes, green bean casserole and a small ham. Renee kept piling more food onto my plate, harping that I was too thin, which was true. But, food wasn’t high on the list of priorities in my world. I ate what I could, but was stuffed. Bella got up after we finished eating and she began clearing the plates. I went to help. “Nonsense, Edward. You’re a guest,” Renee said, stopping me with a motherly glare. “Why don’t you have a nightcap with Charlie in the living room? I’ll help Bella.”

“Don’t push it too hard, Rennie,” Charlie said, twisting his wedding band.

“I’m feeling good, Charlie,” she retorted. “Today was a good day. I want to spend time with my baby girl and dish about her handsome boyfriend.”

“Mom!” Bella gasped.

“What? Edward’s a sweetie and those eyes,” Renee giggled, following Bella into the kitchen.

“My wife, she’s never been one to hold back,” Charlie chuckled anxiously. “She’s clearly taken with you and my daughter adores you.”

“The feeling is mutual, sir,” I said.

“Come on, Edward. You can’t be comfortable. You’ve been shifting in that chair for the past half hour,” Charlie said, getting up and leading me back to the living room. He stoked the fire, adding some more logs. “Do you want something to drink? Scotch? Bourbon?”

“I’m on some pretty hefty pain killers for my ribs,” I answered. “Water or a soda would be great.”

“I’m sorry. I’m an idiot,” he grumbled. “Proof of your injuries is plain as day on your jaw and … Coke or Pepsi?”

“Whatever is fine, sir,” I shrugged, settling back onto the comfy, overstuffed couch. I tugged at the sweater and frowned, seeing the quality of the fabric. Bella had spent too much money on me, but it’s not like I had much of a choice when it came to the situation. My garage was still a crime scene. Emmett went there earlier today and said that it had been dusted and pictures were taken. In addition to the damage to the building, all of the petty cash had been taken from the safe, which had been torn to shreds by whoever attacked me. Charlie walked back, handing me glass filled with soda. “Thank you, Mr. Swan.”

“Call me Charlie,” he said, sitting down across from me with a glass of scotch. “How are you feeling, son?”

“I’m sore, but I’ll be okay,” I said, sipping my drink. “They were trying to prove a point, which they obviously didn’t do since I’m here.”

“I’m glad you are here,” he whispered, his voice quiet. I arched a brow. “I see something in my little girl that I haven’t seen in a long time. A genuine, happy smile. Yes, she’s grieving the impending loss of her mother, but she’s happy with you. I know she was lonely in Chicago, working herself to an early grave. She got that ambition and work ethic from me, but she has her mother’s heart, all goodness and kindness wrapped up in a feisty brunette shell.”

I snickered, groaning as my ribs pressed against my bindings. “Ouch.”

“Sorry, Edward,” Charlie said, smirking as he held up his drink. “I’ll try to refrain from making you laugh.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve actually laughed, Charlie,” I shrugged. “I kind of turned off my emotions after my dad died. I didn’t have the luxury of falling apart.”