Chapter 2: Seventeen Years Later
Bella Swan was sitting in her father's library looking through the many books that were sitting on the shelves. She sat on the ladder there skimming through her favorite book with a smile. Brushing a strand of hair from her eyes, she looked up when the door opened. "Sweetheart, lunch is about ready," Renee informed. Nodding she put her book back into the shelf and climbed down the ladder, slipping on the second to last step and fell on the floor. "Bella! Are you alright?" Renee asked worriedly.
"I'm alright," Bella reassured her as the woman helped her up from the floor.
Smiling she left the library with her mother and went down the stairs to get the lunch that was prepared. "Your father is having some friends joining us for dinner tonight," Renee informed. Giving her mother a quizzical look as she poked at her food.
"Who is joining us?" She asked curiously.
"Thomas and Nancy Newton," Renee replied smiling.
Staring at her for a second before she carefully worded her question, "Will their son be coming with them?"
"Michael? Of course, the boy seems to have a sparkle in his eye when he's around you sweetheart," Renee commented.
"He is a good friend," Bella answered nodding.
Giving her daughter a quizzical look as she took a sip of her water. "We were hoping for more," she said suggestively. Shaking her head slowly as Bella swallowed her food.
"Do you mean as someone I would want to marry?" Bella asked.
"The boy has a good family, in line for his father's business, he could take care of you," Renee explained calmly.
"He can take care of me mom, but I don't love him," she answered quietly.
Renee was silent. "You know I wasn't in love with your father at firs when I married him either, but I grew to love him over the years. If you give Michael a chance you could fall for him," she suggested. Shaking her head again, Bella started stirring her food around on her plate.
"Mom, I don't love him and you can make me stay in the same room with him for the next thirty years and I won't love him," she answered.
Clearing her throat, she put her napkin on the table. "May I be excused mother?" She asked.
"You may," Renee answered.
Bella got up from the table and walked back up to her room.
When evening fell, Bella walked downstairs in her best clothes, a navy blue satin dress with white one inch heel shoes. "I believe you already know my daughter," she heard Charlie say as she walked down the stairs. Smiling, Michael walked over to her.
"Bella, lovely to see you again," he commented.
"As always Michael a pleasure to see you," she answered politely through clenched teeth.
"Please call me Mike," he insisted.
"Of course, Mike," she answered quietly.
The dinner went quietly, well for Bella. While the parents were making conversation, both Mike and Bella sat in silence. "You seem a little distracted this evening, are you alright?" Mike asked, breaking the silence between them.
"Yes, sorry I did not sleep well last night," she admitted.
Rubbing her throbbing temple, she was wishing the evening would end. "Michael, why don't you and Bella sit in the garden?" Nancy suggested smiling. Mike nodded before they got up from their seats, moving outside to the gardens.
Sitting down on the stone bench, Bella looked at the roses that were starting to bloom with a small smile. "You have a pretty smile, I wish I saw it more often," Mike commented. Blushing a little, she rubbed her hands together with a small sigh.
"This is all so absurd, to our parents planning our futures," she commented.
"Well, I believe we have our own choices in the situation," he answered.
Giving him a quizzical look, she bit her lower lip before asking, "What do you mean? My father asked your parents to come here."
"I asked your father if we could come here," he admitted.
Standing up, Bella crossed her arms over her chest. "You wanted to come here?" She asked in disbelief. Mike stood up as well, sighing.
"I believe I could make you happy Bella," he replied.
Feeling her heart sink, she closed her eyes. "Bella, I would like to make you happy. To give you all the dreams in the world," he told her quietly. Keeping her eyes closed, she swallowed hard. "I would like it if you would be with me," he added.
Bella's fist clenched. "I would like to sock you in the face for saying that to me," she thought. She cleared her throat and let out a deep breath.
"I will have to decline your offer Mike," she answered.
Letting out another breath, she bit her lower lip as they stood in the most awkward silence she ever had to endure.
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A week went by; her parents were extremely disappointed that she wouldn't give Mike a chance. Bella, however, didn't want to be with someone just because her parents felt it was right. She wanted to be with someone because she was in love with that person.
Walking through the city, the weather was warm, but she was used to it. Her father had moved them to Phoenix when she was a year old and they found it odd that even after living in Arizona for sixteen years, Bella was still as pale as she was when they moved from Ohio. Brushing a strand of hair from her eyes, Bella walked towards one of the markets to get some supplies that her mother had written down for the help. Instead of the help going out and getting the food, she wanted time out of the house so she took the list.
As she gathered the food that was on the list, she was so wrapped in what was going on around her that she didn't notice the person turning the corner. She gasped when she walked into the person, falling to the floor. Her groceries were scattered all over the floor. "I am sorry are you alright?" the person asked holding their hand out for her. Looking up, the only thing Bella saw were a pair of emerald green eyes staring down at her.
"Yes, I'm alright," she replied as he helped her up from the floor.
He chuckled lightly as he gathered the food she had dropped. "First day on new feet?" He quipped lightly.
"I'm just so clumsy," she admitted, her face red.
The young man smiled softly. "I'm Edward, Edward Masen," he informed. Smiling, Bella held out her hand.
"Isabella Swan," she answered. "Just call me Bella please."
"Bella…lovely name," he complimented as he kissed the back of her hand.
"Thank you," she answered.
"May I walk you home Miss Swan?" He offered.
Giving him a quizzical look as she paid for her groceries. "That is a little forward don't you think?" She asked.
"Well I only have one bag, I believe you will need some help," he commented gesturing to the three bags that the woman was handing her.
Flushing a little, Bella bit her lower lip before answering, "That is very kind of you." Edward took an extra bag for her as they left the market.
While walking her home, the two of them walked in silence for awhile. "How long have you lived in Phoenix?" He asked curiously.
"About sixteen years," she replied.
Glancing up at him, she couldn't help but notice how handsome he was. "How long have you lived here?" she asked.
"I don't," he said chuckling.
Bella gave him a quizzical look. "My father had a meeting here with another company. He brought my mother and me with him. Actually, I'm here so I can learn how to take over the business some day," he explained.
"That sounds…exciting," she commented with a raise eyebrow.
Chuckling, Edward shook his head slowly. "Not really, but I need to learn some day," he replied.
"What business is it?" She asked.
"Masen Corp, it is a mechanics factory we build the parts that go into the automobiles," he replied.
"I've heard of it, it's a big company in Chicago mostly isn't it?" She asked.
"My father is trying to expand it," he replied.
Looking up, Bella couldn't help but feel disappointed that they had arrived at her house. "Well…this is where I live," she commented. The door opened and one of the help came out.
"Miss Swan your mother was looking everywhere for you!" The woman exclaimed.
Edward handed the woman the bags before looking at Bella. "I hope to see you again," he commented quietly. Nodding her head slowly, her brown eyes locking with his green eyes.
"I would like to see you again too," she answered.
Holding her petite hand between his larger hands, he kissed the back of her hand with a smile before leaving. Her heart was pounding against her chest as she watched him walk away before going inside to see what her mother needed.
Edward returned to the summer home his parents had bought when his cousin, Alice walked out of the house. Alice was Carlisle and Esme's only child, born nine months after Carlisle rescued Esme from Charles. The girl was just a little under a year younger than him and annoyed him as much as a younger sister would annoy their brother. "Hi Edward," she said beaming, her brown eyes twinkling.
"Hi Alice," he answered as he walked into the house.
Ever since Alice's love, Jasper, had gone to fight in the war, she was attached to Edward. Alice was jumping and down excitedly. "What?" He asked curiously.
"I got another letter from Jasper look," she said happily showing him the letter.
Edward chuckled lightly as he watched the smaller girl jump excitedly, but then suddenly stopped. "He also sent one to dad," she added.
"That is different," he agreed before going into the music room to find Carlisle sitting by the window. "Good afternoon uncle."
"Good afternoon Edward," Carlisle answered.
"Is everything alright?" Edward asked.
Nodding the older man sat up straighter. "Just a request from Jasper," he replied.
"Is it bad?" Edward asked.
"Just the fact that this man is asking to marry my daughter," Carlisle replied with a chuckle.
Edward gave him a quizzical look. "What would your answer be?" He asked curiously. Carlisle looked at the letter again.
"Well I know better than anyone how wrong it is to deny someone to marry the one they love," he pointed out.
Edward sat down at the piano as Carlisle got up to write back to Jasper. While he played his favorite piece 'Claire de Lune', Edward's mind started drifting to the brown eyed angel he had just met. A gentle smile appeared across his face as he drifted off into his daydreams.