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EDWARD

Chapter Four: Dogs and Daughters

Sometimes I couldn't help but want to kill Rosalie for all the problems she caused us.

Like when we stood around the kitchen after she ran off. All because she didn't want Jacob coming with us after having spent six years living together. It was a dispute only someone as shallow as Rosalie could make.

Bella went to phone Charlie. I held her hand as she clutched the phone to her ear, whispering into the mouth piece. Charlie was good about the news, as I knew he would be.

'Well Bells, I can't say I'm surprised,' his voice was clearly audible. 'You can't stay here forever. You have to move on. In fact, your mother and I were starting to get a bit worried about you being here for so long. It's time for Renesmee to see more of the world.'

We didn't mention that Nessie had been to South America and Canada more times than she had had birthdays.

And speaking of birthdays…

Renesmee was turning seven. It should have been a happy occasion, but emotions were running high with everyone.

I knew Alice was now worried that Rosalie's disappearance would destroy her plans, but the knowledge seemed to drive her on rather than disappoint her. She seemed to think that the grandeur of the party itself would determine whether Rosalie showed her sorry face, and nothing anyone said seemed to make a difference.

Jacob was also in emotional limbo. The birthday marked the moment of truth for him, and he spent hours trying to come up with a way to tell Nessie about the imprint. He had no success – every idea he had, he turned down instantly. I felt sorry for him, but knew he'd hate me for trying to help. This was his moment.

Bella, however, didn't seem to be feeling the same. For days I felt there was something deeply amiss with her. While Nessie was out with Jacob and Seth, I brought up the subject.

'Are you worried?' We were sitting on the edge of our bed in our cottage, watching the sun set.

'About what?' She turned to me.

'The party.'

'No. I believed you when you told me Rose would be back.'

'But what about after the party?'

'Edward,' she leaned over to me. 'I don't know what you're talking about.'

'Jacob telling Nessie. After the party.'

'Oh.'

'Yes?'

She stood up, turning away from me. 'I don't know.'

I stood up too, and put my arms around her. 'Do you not want him to tell her? Would you rather it was us?' I nuzzled her neck.

She didn't respond. A bad sign. 'I think it's best that he tells her,' I continued softly.

She turned, her face inches from mine. 'I don't think,' she began slowly, 'I don't think I want her to know at all.'

I sighed. I had been afraid she would say this. 'Still?'

'Yes! Edward, why does she have to know?'

'Why don't you want her to know?' I asked.

She avoided the question. 'Nessie and Jacob are perfectly fine now. Telling her about the imprint could ruin everything we've built!'

'But not telling her is actually killing Jacob, or haven't you noticed?'

It was a tactless question. She crumpled instantly. I pulled her onto my lap. 'I'm sorry, love. I just meant that Jacob really needs to do this. It's been seven years. Don't you think it's time? Besides, she'll hate us if we don't tell her. She knows something is up.'

'Hmmmm.' She didn't look happy but I felt I'd won this round.

But there was still the unknown reason why she didn't want Nessie to know. Why was she keeping it from me? I was hurt, but knew better than to let it show. Bella had kept things from me before and it had been for a good reason. With just a week until the party, I decided she would tell me sooner or later.

I kissed her softly on the neck, and the conversation ended.

As for everyone else, Rosalie's tantrum had not done much. They mostly went on with their daily activities in the same way they always had. Esme was quieter than usual – she was particularly close to Emmett – but we were all fairly certain that they would be back before the party.

As the big day drew closer, Bella became more and more withdrawn. It began to affect us all, until we were all walking around – not talking, not smiling; except when Renesmee was around. It was as if someone had died. Only Alice remained cheerful; almost unnervingly so.

However, I only became suspicious the night before the party. I had gone out hunting, and Bella must have seized her opportunity because Alice caught her and Nessie in Carlisle's office, practically bumping into them as she ran in search for some last minute party supplies. She had been so frantic she hadn't heard them in there.

'Oh, sorry Bella! Nessie!' she said, gushing. Then she stopped because she noticed that neither of them was smiling. Something was obviously wrong. Bella mumbled some excuse (even as a vampire she has always been a terrible liar), and left the room. Whatever it was that Bella had wanted to speak to Nessie about, no one seemed to know.

'She was acting strange, Dad,' Nessie said later that evening. 'She told me she had something important to tell me, but then she wouldn't say what it was about. Daddy, please tell me what's going on,' she pleaded. 'First Aunty Rose and now Mom. Even Jacob is acting strangely. I'm worried. I feel like everything is happening because of me.'

It was the first time in six years that Bella had kept secrets from me, and I was worried too.

I hugged Nessie tightly. 'Your mother is just worried about Aunty Rose,' I said. 'There's nothing wrong.' I looked over her shoulder so she wouldn't catch my lies written across my face. 'There's absolutely nothing wrong.'

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