Chapter Text
january 17th, 2005.
the airport is cold, and bella feels goosebumps rising on her arms. most of her wardrobe had been donated, completely ill-suited for the chill forks brought. not to mention the near-constant rain. renée had insisted she wear one last arizona outfit, so there she was, freezing her ass off in dark denim cutoffs and her favorite baby-blue babydoll top. charlie was already waiting by the front with a change of clothes for her.
“these might be a little big on ya’, bells, but they should keep you warm. I'll hold your bag.”
what a lifesaver. she gives him a quick hug before rushing off with the clothes. they were a little big, but so incredibly warm that she wonders if he had just got them out of the dryer before coming to pick her up. she recognizes it as one of leah’s sweat-sets. soft, but not overly fluffy. they were a deep, muted purple, it looks good against her sun-tanned skin. she’d have to ask leah where she got them. finger-combing a few knots out of her hair, she leaves the bathroom to join charlie.
“thanks, dad. these are leah’s right? i’ll have to call and thank her later.”
charlie smiles, kissing her forehead before leading her into the even colder outside air. he puts her carry-on in the back of his patrol car as she slips into the front. charlie grabs her a fuzzy-throw blanket after he starts the car, she doesn't recognize it.
“it’s a welcome back gift from billy and jacob, even though they just saw ya’ at christmas.” he deadpans. bella doesn’t bother hiding her giggle. she clicks on their seat-warmers, and wraps the blanket around her. she didn’t get much sleep on the flight, entirely too cold in her outfit to rest.
“i’ll call to thank them when we get home, is it cool if i nap?” bella asks, chocolate brown eyes already being covered with heavy lids. she vaguely makes out his chuckle before she falls asleep.
the house is decorated for winter, and it’s so beautiful. there is a pumpkin on each side of the dark green stairs, and the overhang has a beautiful garland with twinkling fairy lights intertwined. a sweet snowman blow mold is planted by the side door, as if a festive guide. bella kind of adores it. part of her feels a little sick that this is the first time she’s seen her father’s house in january, the way he decorates is exactly how she’s wanted to for as long as she can remember. there was never much time, or want, to decorate when she lived with renée. especially when she was preoccupied working a part time to make sure they didn’t have to move, again.
charlie leads her inside, carrying her bags again. she could carry them, of course, but she likes when her dad acts like- well, a dad. the living room is warm, and it smells like winter. maybe a simmer pot, or something? she inhales deeply.
“it’s a simmer pot, ya like it, bells?” charlie asks, as he puts her carry-on gently on the couch, swinging the throw over the back of the couch.
“what’s in it?” it comes out a bit garbled while she yawns, but he seems to understand. he chuckles, fond as all get-out, and ruffles her already messy hair. he is completely undeterred by her pout, but maybe that’s because she smiles after only a few seconds. it’s so warm, she loves him.
“it’s ah.. what was it again,” he scratches his head, and she lets out a giggle. “oh! i remember now. an apple, orange, rosemary, some cinnamon sticks, cloves, and vanilla extract. i’m gonna start on dinner, why don’t you go unpack?” he kisses her forehead again, and wanders off to the kitchen, clicking on the radio attached to the underside of a cabinet. linkin park starts playing quietly, and the only thing bella can feel is contentment.
she grabs her carry-on and goes upstairs, there is that same garland and lights on the railing. her room is the same as always, but it looks recently cleaned and aired out. her heart melts, eyes stinging, when she sees that same garland combo wrapped around her bed frame. it makes it look a bit like a fairy bed and she can’t stop the stray tear sliding down her sun-tanned cheek. she breathes deeply, and the stinging recedes. there are two boxes on the floor in front of her beloved bay window. all the things she kept from living with renée. she figures she’ll start with her clothes. the closet is small, so she just pulls everything out and lays it on her bed. she unpacks the first box, and she brings the top to her nose. it smells like her old perfume from phoenix- peaches crave vanilla if she remembers right. she has something else she plans to use here. she hangs all her tops up– pretty much only babydoll tops and band tees, though she does have a single long sleeve to wear tomorrow. next are her bottoms. three pairs of mid-rise jeans, a low rise pair with butterfly embroidery, and a few maxi skirts. she’s not usually a fan of feminine clothes, but something about them is comfortable without feeling restricting the same way miniskirts do. her shoes are simpler. she kicks off her beat up purple converse, and puts them on the closet floor. she moves the other pairs into the closet- a pair of black flats and some chunky mary janes for special occasions. the first box is done. she stretches, back popping pleasantly, and moves on to the next. it’s her books, toiletries, trinkets, and accessories. she stacks the books on her nightstand, it’s three she’s switching between right now. she puts her earrings, belly button jewelry, and nose studs into her nightstand– she’ll have to try and buy a dish for them. she hangs her purse on the closet door, and grabs the box. she only has two trinkets, a thrifted precious moments– she thinks it’s called to my deer friend, and a seashell from the beach. she had considered bringing her cactus but decided to leave it with renée as a parting gift.
her fluffy-socked feet padding to the bathroom. she wasn’t thrilled about sharing a bathroom with her dad but, thankfully, he kept it clean. she pulls her tampons and heating pad out, and puts them under the sink on the right. the left has extra toilet paper, towels, rags, and charlie’s razors. she puts her motrin, and perfume– vanilla craves sugar cookies, in the medicine cabinet. her lemon custard scented body wash, shampoo, and conditioner fit perfectly into the caddy. all that’s left now is her carry-on, but she doesn’t want to bother with that until after dinner.
bella shoves the too-small clothes into one of the empty boxes, and pads downstairs. she calls leah first. she answers on the 5th ring.
“clearwater residence, how can i help you?”
“hey leah, i was just calling to thank you for the outfit. I was freezing my ass off in the outfit renée had me in..” she hears leah snort, and she smiles.
“let me guess… a paper thin sundress?”
“worse, little jean cutoffs and a babydoll top…” bella says, and she feels a bit like a gossiping old woman. leah’s bark of laughter sends her into a fit of her own.
“oh! i have some clothes to give away too, do you think any of the girls on the rez would want them?” she twirls the cord around her finger.
“yeah, you can bring ‘em when you bring my clothes. i’ll expect a treat for my charity.” leah’s fake snooty voice rips out a laugh.
“yeah yeah, i’ll see if dad can take me tomorrow after school.” she hears leah giggle- like she knows something bella doesn’t, but she lets it go with a fond eye roll. they chat for a few more minutes, before leah gets off the phone for dinner. she’s excited to see her tomorrow, they’ve kept in touch via email but it’s not the same as sitting in the same room. she puts the lemon yellow phone back on the wall, sitting down at the dining room table. charlie is making grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup, it’s her favorite cold weather meal. the table is covered in a dark blue tablecloth, and centered on the end of the table– by the window– is an adorable winnie the pooh cookie jar. he’s a snowman holding a sign saying happy snow days and his jar of honey. charlie must like winnie the pooh, she smiles. maybe she can find something of pooh for his birthday. she jolts when a glass plate is sat down in front of her.
they eat in silence, but it’s comfortable and so warm. they wash their own dishes, and charlie lets her shower first. when she goes back to her room slipping into the pjs from her carry-on she sees a little space heater by the closet door. it’s such a basic gesture, but it has her eyes stinging again, she’ll get him back for this. she huffs, but smiles nonetheless. she plugs it in, and shuts her door for the night. it’s too late to call billy and jake tonight, so she might as well just say thanks in person tomorrow. all that’s left in her carry-on is her nokia, laptop, and their chargers. her eyes are already getting heavy, so she just worries about her laptop, she plugs it in and sits it down on her desk. finally, she can sleep. the blankets are pulled to her nose, and she’s dreaming by the time her head hits the pillows.