Clearcall - Embry Call

Days

It didn't take long for Bella's presence in the Swan house to become normal. Three days, in fact. Madelaine and Charlie were so quiet that Bella fit in comfortably with their individual routines. Bella was eager to take over grocery shopping, which the youngest Swan was happy to give up. Madelaine found it easy to get distracted and she often lost the shopping list Charlie scrawled down.

Bella's cooking was a blessing too. Madelaine watched, half awed, as her sister wrapped potatoes in foil and set them in the oven to bake. At least marinading steak was a familiar concept.

Charlie came home quarter past six. He called out a greeting as he toed off his boots and hung up his gun belt with the same meticulous care he'd taken when Madelaine was a just a sticky fingered child.

While they sat down to eat, Madelaine looked out the window as her father and Bella talked.

"—classes with a girl name Jessica. I sat with her friends at lunch," Bella said between small bites. "And there's this boy, Mike, who's really friendly. Everybody seems really nice."

Charlie nodded. "That must be Mike Newton. Nice kid—nice family. His dad owns the sporting goods just outside of town. Makes a good living off the backpackers who come through here."

"Do you know the Cullen family?" Bella asked hesitantly.

"Dr. Cullen's family? Sure. Dr. Cullen's a great man."

"They... the kids... are a little different." Bella swallowed. "They don't seem to fit in at school."

Madelaine wasn't surprised by Charlie's cross look but Bella was.

"People in this town," He muttered, shaking his head. "Dr. Cullen is a brilliant surgeon who could work just about anywhere in the world. And make ten times what he gets in Forks," Charlie continued, getting louder. "He's an asset to the community and all those kids are polite. I had my doubts when they first arrived; that many adopted teenagers are bound to have problems, but I haven't seen a damn thing. That's more than I can say for some of the kids whose family has been here for generations! Just because they're newcomers, people like to talk."

Bella glanced at Madelaine, who smiled and shrugged.

"They seemed nice enough to me. I just noticed that they keep to themselves. They're all very attractive," Bella spoke after some thought.

Charlie laughed and the tension melted. "You should meet the doctor. It's a good thing he's a happily married man. I think the nurse's must have a tough time concentrating around him."

They finished their meal and cleared the dishes. Madelaine went to Bella's side.

"You shouldn't listen to everything people say," She said, dipping a plate into hot water.

"I know."

"Especially Jessica." Madelaine smiled at Bella's frown. "Jessica has a crush on Edward."

"How do you know that?"

"She isn't subtle. He turned her down. She sulked for a week. The Cullens aren't bad people and they're not nearly as 'weird' as people like to say."

"Have you talked to them?"

She shrugged. "Alice talks to me sometimes."

Bella hummed.

"Edward too." Madelaine said, only to see Bella glance at her quickly. "He's a bit shy, but he helped me with a music assignment. Look, the Cullens are rich, beautiful, smart, and a little eccentric. Of course people are going to gossip. Small towns are notorious for rumours and envy, you know. Anyway," She dried her hands with a damp towel. "Their lives can't be perfect; they're all adopted... What happened to their real families?"