Thank God for Jacob Black. 

That was the only thing I could think as I watched my daughter and my best friend's son eating together. 

I remembered the Bella of a few months ago – deathly pale, expressionless, almost dead-looking – and compared it to the Bella today. Her skin had color in it now. Her eyes had sparkle. She actually laughed. The only thing that still bothered me was the screams…

Jacob shoved a huge bite of pasta in his mouth, and I shook my head. How did he eat so much and not burst? Bella almost choked on her own mouthful, trying to prevent her laughter. She looked so… healthy.

Now that Jacob was a regular part of our lives, my little house was so warm and cozy-feeling. Jacob belonged here. And he was so much better for Bella than that Edward Cullen. I clenched my teeth as I thought his name.

"All right, you two," I grinned, pushing up from the table. "I'm headed to the TV."

"We'll be there in a sec, Charlie," Jacob called, and Bella giggled again. That was another change. Bella didn't mind doing anything, as long as it was with Jacob. 

I flopped on the couch, listening to the sounds of teenage flirting coming from the kitchen. "Oh, my God!" I heard Bella shriek. "I'm going to kill you!"

Jacob came running out into the front room, jumping into an armchair and acting totally relaxed, as if he'd been there the whole time. 

Bella walked slowly after him, a death glare on her face, the front of her shirt sopping wet. Oh. He should have known better. Bella had always hated getting wet.

I noticed happily that her shirt was light blue. She hadn't worn a blue shirt in months. It had taken me a while to figure out why. Then I knew: it must have been his favorite color on her. He'd ruined her life in all aspects. She hadn't even been able to wear some of her clothes, for God's sake!

Jacob pretended to ignore her, instead calling loudly to me, "Yo, Charlie, what're we watching tonight?"