Chapter 10 Bonus Scene

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Chapter 10 Bonus Scene

"He's pushing for answers, isn't he?" Gideon questioned as he approached Seth.

Seth gave a mighty sigh, one that rumbled through the air and said, "Yes. I knew it was only a matter of time."

Gideon could not help but chuckle at his young friend's obvious discomfort at addressing those unpleasant topics.

An angel's work was often difficult, especially in circumstances like these where their presence was known while the human was still alive. Gideon was positive that Edward hadn't quite realized just how incredibly lucky he was to be granted the time he had been in order to make things right with Isabella and the rest of his loved ones and friends.

It was an opportunity very few were ever given.

Seth flitted around, huffing as he went. Edward Cullen was the most maddening human, more so than he ever was himself, he thought with a scowl. He had to be because Seth was sure he'd never been as worked up over another assignment as he was over this one.

"Damn human," Seth muttered though with his kind's extraordinary hearing it came as no shock when Gideon cleared his throat at him.

Seth turned and looked at his mentor and gave a sheepish smile. Gideon's ice blue eyes twinkled in response and then he said, "My friend, you must be patient with him. So far, Edward has done better than any of us could have anticipated. None of this has been easy for him and honestly, Seth, you have done wonders with him already. It's time for him to find out, as unpleasant as it's liable to be."

He knew it was, as unwelcome as the realization was. Edward was about to have face some startling revelations and Seth wasn't sure anything could prepare either one of them for what happened when the time came.

"I only hope I can make him understand," Seth said in an anguished voice.

Gideon smiled encouragingly at his prodigy. "I have no doubt you can and will, Seth. Now how about we check in on the magnificent Gianna and Charlie and Renée?"

"Née!" Charlie Swan hollered as he barreled through the kitchen door of their comfortably middle class home in Wheaton.

"Honey, I'm right here. Stop that yelling," Renée Swan admonished her husband, though it was done with a loving smile, as she entered the kitchen to greet her adored husband.

Charlie shrugged off his gun holster and set it on the table and then swept his wife up in his arms, kissing her soundly on the lips, complete with a loud smack. "How's my girl today?" he asked as he swatted her playfully on the bottom when she walked to check the food in the oven.

"Which one, dear? You have three, though we all know who your favorite is," Renée teased him.

Charlie chuckled heartily at that, especially because he couldn't disagree. He took the beer his wife offered him and took a long, delicious drink. "Well, I meant you, fiore," he answered her, smiling so big the corners of his eyes crinkled.

"Charles Swan, I swear," Renée giggled.

Lord, she loved her husband. More today than she did when she married him all those years ago, she was lucky to say.

Gianna Santoro walked into the kitchen, loving seeing her daughter and son-in-law so happy. It made her miss her Angelo, but she'd missed him every day since he'd passed away.

"Ah, and there's my other girl," Charlie said as he made a move toward his mother-in-law.

Charlie didn't differentiate between mother and mother-in-law because he loved Gianna as much as he'd ever loved his own mother. More in fact as the years had gone by. Gianna Santoro was unlike any woman he'd ever met. Feisty, strong, stubborn as hell, but with a heart of gold so pure the only one who could hold a candle to her was his Isabella.

Then again his baby girl was leaps and bounds above anyone else as far as he was concerned.

"Mama," Charlie said as he kissed her on the cheek, like he did every day.

"You had a good day?" she questioned in the thick Italian accent she still had even after being in America all this time.

"Yes, ma'am. I only had to arrest three bad guys today; I didn't even get to shoot any of them," Charlie said with a wink.

They'd played this game for as long as he could remember. Gianna loved to hear about his day, but worried for him until he came home.

Renée pulled the roasted chicken and potatoes and vegetables from the oven and transferred the food to the large platter waiting on the counter. Charlie grabbed the bowl of salad and Gianna, the basket of bread and they all took their seats at the table.

As they did every night, Charlie said grace, and as he also did, he asked for God's blessings for Isabella and Edward. When Charlie finished, Renée served everyone their food and they began to eat.

"So, how's my baby girl?" Charlie asked after he wiped his mouth on his napkin.

Renée didn't answer right away, instead she took a few moments to think quickly back over her lunch with her daughter. There was something different about her, though she couldn't articulate what it was. Isabella's entire demeanor was different. She was relaxed, though she checked her phone almost obsessively throughout their lunch, something she never did. Her smile was as beautiful as ever, but there was more behind it. When she asked about Edward and his trip out of town, Renée was sure she'd never seen her smile so brightly or her eyes dance with excitement the way they did as she talked about him.

Not even after playing a soccer match had she ever seen Isabella exude such happiness.

She looked at her husband and smiled at him, loving the way he was so invested in their daughter's life. There wasn't a day that passed that Charlie didn't mention Isabella with pride or a brilliant smile to go along with it.

"She's just fine, honey. I mentioned having her and Edward over for dinner for her birthday in the next week or so. She seemed more excited than usual, even though she'll be turning thirty. I have a feeling Edward has something to do with that, though," she said as she looked from Charlie to her mother.

Charlie let out a groan at the thought of his baby girl turning thirty. Not that he or Renée were old, not in the least. Hell, he had just turned fifty-five and Renée wouldn't be fifty-three until November. Though if you asked him, his wife could easily pass for someone at least ten years younger, as evidenced by the way his deputies acted whenever she stopped by the station.

He ate it up, honestly. He loved his wife, madly, and had no problem whatsoever when she was appreciated by others, as long as it was done respectfully of course.

Now, ogling of his beloved daughter was another matter altogether.

"Well, he'd better damn well keep a smile on her face or else he'll have to deal with me," Charlie said with a hmph.

"Charles Swan!" Gianna chided him, though she knew her son-in-law was blowing smoke, well, for the most part.

"Yes, I know, Mama. Isabella loves him," he said with a sigh.

"And you can be assured he loves her back. That man was lost until our girl found him, and don't you forget it," Gianna said sharply and then flashed him a quick wink to ease the sting of her words.

Gianna had always known how much Edward had needed her granddaughter. Knew it from the very beginning.

"Don't you worry, honey. Judging from the smile on her face today, I'd say Edward has done something right," Renée said and then stood to help her mother clear the dishes.

"Well, if they're as happy as we are, fiore," Charlie said as he grabbed his wife and pulled her on his lap, "then I couldn't ask for more."

The two heavenly beings smiled at one another. It always brought both of them great joy to watch the Swans together. Love like theirs didn't come along everyday.

"Seth, my young friend. That should give you hope, if nothing else does. Isabella has learned from the best how to give and to love and be happy. Things will work out, you'll see," Gideon said before they parted ways.

"I sure hope so," Seth muttered quietly before preparing to return to his two humans.

Things were going to be changing and soon.

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