The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide (55 page)

T
he vast majority of the people living in and around the town of Forks, Washington, do not believe that either vampires or werewolves exist in reality. Bella’s family, her classmates, and other members of the community live their lives oblivious to the occasional hints of the supernatural world that surrounds them.

C
HARLIE
S
WAN

Charlie was born and raised in Forks, Washington, by his parents, Geoffrey and Helen Swan. Geoffrey and Helen were both in their mid-forties when Charlie was born; they had thought they were unable to have children, so Charlie was a huge—but very welcome—surprise. He remained an only child and stayed close to both his parents. Billy Black, Harry Clearwater, and Quil Ateara IV were his close friends since childhood. During his teenage years, Charlie always felt a little bit on the outside of this circle of friends. He attributed that distance to the fact that the others all belonged to the Quileute tribe and he did not. In reality, Billy, Harry, and Quil were caught up in the secret world they were forbidden to tell Charlie about, hoping that a vampire would come their way so they could all become superheroes.

“E
VENTUALLY WE MADE IT TO
C
HARLIE’S
. H
E STILL LIVED IN THE SMALL, TWO-BEDROOM HOUSE THAT HE’D BOUGHT WITH MY MOTHER IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THEIR MARRIAGE
.”

—
Bella (
Twilight
, Chapter 1)

As an adult, Charlie joined the Forks Police Department. He wanted to go to college, but his parents’ health began deteriorating at that time and he felt that he needed to stay close to home. His mother was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s and his father’s mobility was being curtailed by severe arthritis. Charlie did everything he could to help care for them.

Renée was impetuous and romantic by nature, and she loved the passionate whirlwind relationship. Charlie quickly proposed, and Renée accepted.

During Charlie’s first summer as a cop, he met Renée Higginbotham. She was driving up the Pacific Highway with a group of her girlfriends, and they stopped to camp at First Beach in La Push. Charlie was visiting Billy when he met Renée on the beach. There was an instant attraction between the two. They spent a few days together before her friends were ready to continue their journey. Renée promised to visit Charlie on the return trip. In her absence, Charlie realized just how much he had fallen for Renée. She returned as promised, and he convinced her to stay when her friends left. Renée was impetuous and romantic by nature, and she loved the passionate whirlwind relationship. Charlie quickly proposed, and Renée accepted. They were married at the courthouse in Port Angeles, Washington, just a few weeks later.

Charlie bought a small house down the street from his parents’ home. For a little while, he and Renée were deliriously happy. Charlie was even happier when he found out Renée was pregnant with their first child a few months later.

Charlie’s life took a downturn during Renée’s pregnancy. Both his parents’ conditions worsened. His father needed Charlie’s help with his mother every day. At the same time, depression began to take a major toll on Renée. She wanted Charlie to leave Forks with her and start over somewhere sunnier, but Charlie couldn’t do that. Renée had the baby, and her depression was only compounded by the postpartum hormones.

A few months after Bella was born, Renée decided she couldn’t live in Forks anymore. She left with Bella, leaving Charlie devastated. Charlie wanted to follow her, but he couldn’t leave his parents. He didn’t contest the divorce or the child support. All he asked for was time with Bella. He did not stop loving Renée.

Four years later, within six months of each other, Geoffrey and Helen Swan died. Charlie was alone, aside from his summer visits with Bella. He devoted himself to his job and worked his way up through the ranks to become the chief of police in Forks. He maintained his longtime friendship with Billy Black and Harry Clearwater, and the three friends spent a lot of their free time fishing together. Billy in particular
was a great support to Charlie during the difficult years following his divorce and the loss of his parents; they became even closer. Later, when Billy lost his wife, Sarah, to a car accident, Charlie was able to be there for Billy as Billy had been for him.

Charlie always felt awkward with Bella, and was never sure how to express his love for her.

Charlie always felt awkward with Bella, and was never sure how to express his love for her. He did recognize that Bella was much more like him than she was like Renée, despite her living with Renée year-round. He was truly thrilled when Bella decided to live with him for her last year and a half of high school.

R
ENÉE
H
IGGINBOTHAM
D
WYER

Renée was born in Downey, California. Her parents divorced when she was still a child, and she never had much contact with her father. Her mother, Marie, was a difficult, bitter woman, but hardworking and loyal. Renée had a very different personality: fun-loving and artistic, but flighty and inconstant. Renée did not do well in school, despite the fact that she tested well. During her teenage years she was never able to hold a job for long, though she always interviewed very well.

The first year after high school, Renée worked several temporary jobs, making enough money to move in with a
girlfriend who had space available in her small apartment. Renée couldn’t take living with her pessimistic mother any longer. The next summer, one of her girlfriends decided to take a month off and travel the length of the Pacific coast, camping along the way. This was exactly the kind of adventure that Renée loved. She went on the trip with a few other girls, having no idea where she would live when she got back, if her roommate rented the space to someone else.