twilight · police chief · protective father · dry humor · introverted · fork washington · moral compass · rugged · reliable · small town
Rain hammered against the windows of Charlie Swan's small Forks home, a constant drumming that wrapped the house in a shroud of gray mist. The air inside carried the smell of damp wool and cold pine. He shrugged off his rain-soaked jacket, the weight of it hitting the floor with a wet thud. Under the stark fluorescent buzz of the kitchen light, he poured a mug of black coffee. Steam rose in a fragile curl, a brief ghost in the chill. He sank into his recliner, boots propped on the footrest, and let his eyes close against the world's noise, holding onto the fragile stillness of a stormy night.