The Way It Is

He wasn't the one he had hoped his daughter would fall in love with.

x.x.x

He opened the door, and the smile on the boy's face slipped a little. The kid had probably been hoping Bella would be the one to open the door, and the two could go off on their own without Charlie sticking his nose in.

The fact that he squashed their plans gave Charlie a kind of satisfaction. "Ah, hi, Chief Swan," Paul greeted hesitantly, shoving his hands into his jean pockets. Looking at Paul, Charlie never failed to see the nine-year-old boy crying over his dead mother. "Come in," he said, stepping back to allow Paul into the house.

"Is Bella—?"

"Still drying her hair," Charlie clarified, shutting the door. "Why don't you have a seat?" He nodded at the couch. To his credit, Paul didn't look nearly as terrified as he had hoped.

Charlie sat down across from Paul. It was quiet. "So," Charlie said. "You're dating my daughter."

"I am," Paul replied simply. He didn't avoid Charlie's gaze. Charlie almost wished he would — that would make him easier to dislike. Why did his daughter chose Paul Lahote? Why couldn't his daughter have dated Jacob Black?

Charlie loved that boy. He was the sort of boy he had always imagined Bella with. Sweet and smart, without a sordid history and with absolute adoration shining in his face every time he looked at Bella. If Charlie had to part with his daughter, to let her fall in love with some kid, he would rather it be one like Jacob.

But he had known Bella thought of him as a brother and nothing more.

The hair dryer turned off. "What will you two be doing tonight?" Charlie asked.

"Dinner and a movie," Paul answered. "The usual."

"Mmm," Charlie nodded. He let his eyes grow steely, trying to transfer the knowledge that he owned many guns and it would be impossible for anyone to find the body. "And should I expect my only daughter back tonight?"

"Ask her."

Charlie wasn't sure if he liked that answer. It was honest, if nothing else. He still hadn't decided when Bella walked into the room, buttoning a cardigan over some dress he had never seen her wear before and saying, "Hey, Dad, Paul should be here soon. Be nice, okay?"

"I'm always nice," Charlie replied. "Right, Paul?"

Bella's head snapped up, her eyes bouncing from her father to Paul and back again. Paul had stood. "How long have you been here?" Bella asked.

"Not long," Paul assured.

She looked at Charlie. "I'll be out late. Don't wait up." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek swiftly before following Paul to the door. Charlie didn't say anything. He was going to wait up, though. When the door shut behind them, he pressed his face to the glass, pushing aside the blinds. Bella's hand had slipped into Paul's as they walked to his car.

Bella laughed at something.

They were swallowed into the darkness. Charlie sighed.

He had meant to wait up. But he must have dozed off after the Mariners game ended, because he found himself jerking awake on the couch when the front door opened. His eyes went wide when he saw Paul carrying his daughter piggyback. Her face was flushed as she giggled into his neck, and the look of adoration Charlie remembered on Jacob's face was nothing compared to the look on Paul's at that moment.

Bella looked happy. He couldn't deny her that. They passed him by without realizing it and disappeared upstairs into Bella's room. A minute later, Paul reappeared. He noticed Charlie this time and paused. "Give me one reason," Charlie said, standing. He might as well get this over with. "Give me one reason why I should be okay with a delinquent dating my daughter."

"I love her." He didn't hesitate.

"If my daughter is happy, then so am I," Charlie finally said, letting his stance soften. "Join us for dinner next week."

"Yeah," Paul nodded. "Okay." He turned to leave, and Charlie didn't stop him.

She could do worse than Paul, he knew that much.