Chapter 4: Picking Up the Pieces
"Never Think" belongs to Rob Pattinson and selective owners. Other music titles belong to their rightful owners. Everything from the Twilight universe, incl. Midnight Sun, belongs to Stephenie and/or Summit. Please no sue.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Bella's pov
The sight of Angela, when she came in the house, had unnerved me. She reminded me of me, during my zombie period. Gradually, as she spilled the beans to me, she unwound, and then she started to ask questions about my life, about Renesmee.
Angela and I talked about how I liked parenthood for an hour. I got out Renesmee's baby album, the one created for public consumption, painstakingly photo-shopped by Esme and Alice to show parents who resembled us, but were not us. Renesmee had her own private copies of the originals, with Edward and me instead of the fake parents.
apologized for not letting Angela in on the news. I said there was another, more distant relative who had fought us for custody, and that by the time we had gone through a court custody battle, all I wanted to do was go home with the 3 year old and forget about the process. And I was ill at the time.
Then the subject turned to the one I feared, the one I'd never personally had to make up answers for before. Angela was too perceptive. It was one of my first big tests, promoting our fictional account of my 'illness'. It made me uncomfortable to lie to someone so trusting.
"Bella, I know your dad told me that you got a really bad bug in South America, but I'm afraid that's hard to believe. Frankly, you look just like Edward now, and I am guessing that you caught it from him. Why do you have to lie about it?"
I looked down at the floor, panicking. Then I decided the best thing to do would be to pull a Carlisle and combine some truthful elements of the story with some creative fiction. I squared my shoulders and looked into the eyes of my best human friend.
"How did you know?"
"Come on, Bella. The Cullens all look alike. Gorgeous, but unhealthy, if you know what I mean."
"Well, it's true that Carlisle adopted the three kids because they all had the same condition that he does. And you're right, I did get it from Edward. But we don't want that to get around, okay? People tend to panic, and think they are in danger of catching it, and it's not true. It can only be contracted through intercourse."
"You knew."
"Yes, I knew from the first time we went out, the day we came across each other in Port Angeles and I stood you and Jess up for dinner. He didn't want any false pretences. He was already head over heels for me, and he just couldn't stay away, but you know Edward. He wasn't going to lie."
"But he always said he was not sexually active until he met you. So how did he catch it?"
"We're assuming his mother had it, and that she was one of the lucky few who does not go sterile, and that she passed the virus to him and his brother when they were born." Angela looked very sorry and shocked.
"Carlisle adopted Alice, Em and Edward because they all have the condition. And the spouses caught it, too. There's an extra incentive to be faithful and stay married. Nobody wants to do this to anybody else.
"The virus does a lot of damage, but once it has run its course, the body doesn't get any worse. There is damage to the circulatory system, the skin, the digestive system, and the eyes, and most people become sterile. All of the Cullens are sterile, including me. Also, we can only eat a very limited variety of foods. We are unable to tolerate just about everything.
"The illness is a sore point with the family, even though getting Edward was more than enough compensation for me, for changing. But yes, they are very secretive about it. They are afraid that people would shun them. Look at Carlisle, he would be finished at the hospital, and as you can see none of the locals are afflicted. Only a few hundred people on the planet have this, and consequently there's not much incentive to cure it."
"But Bella, you have given up so much to be with Edward." Ang shook her head, overwhelmed.
"Why do you suppose he left me that time? I would do the same thing again in a heartbeat, Ang. I was never the kind of person who is addicted to food, in fact I probably eat more meals, more often now than I used to. And as for kids, we can adopt if we want any more. We have Renesmee.
"I love Edward, and he loves me. I think he loves me even more now than he did before I changed, and the upside is, he has accepted himself. We're both content and our life together is fulfilling. I got everything I wanted in one day." I turned my head as I heard my Ferrari pull into the garage.
"Edward's home," I said happily.
"Already? From Vancouver?"
"Oh, yeah. I told you he drives like a maniac, didn't I?" Just then, my other half came in. He marched over and deposited the keys in the drawer, then came over to sit with me, giving me a kiss.
"How's Ben? Still alive?" I asked.
"Barely. It's all I could do not to obliterate him for being such a skunk. Oh, don't look so worried, Ang. I'm just joshing. I didn't hit him. When he opened up to me, I decided to grant him a reprieve."
"So what's the excuse?" Bella was suddenly serious.
"No excuse, just a whole lot of faulty logic. The boy is hurting bad, but he's afraid to commit. I gave him a couple of things to think about, but he needs a little time to let them rattle around in his head. He hasn't exactly been behaving himself, either, but he wants you back. Whether you take him will be up to you. I would give him a couple of days, tops, to show up and beg. He's cracking."
"Thanks for talking to him, Edward. It means so much to me. You guys are the best." Angela blinked back tears. Edward leaned forward to take both her hands in his own.
"Friend, I have a confession to make. When Bella first came to Forks, she had trouble fitting in. Even before I first spoke to her, I'd be constantly paying attention to how she was treated. You were always kind to Bella. I started to wish that I could do something to thank you, and you never seemed to want anything material. So, I watched. And I saw you watch him. So I knew.
"He shared a class with me and Em, so I set him up to overhear me say I was going to ask you out, even though I was interested in Bella at the time. Ben took the bait and asked you to the prom."
"You never told me about this!" I laughed.
"No, I was scared to. But I have never regretted setting Ang up, since Ben turned out to be such a nice guy. But some guys fall to bits when they move out of their parents' houses, and that is what happened to Ben. Too much freedom, too little preparation. So, even though I am fond of him, I did not hesitate to tell him that he is an ass and he should come crawling back on his knees."
Angela took her hands back, and covered her face, and sobbed. I got up and put my arms around her, rocking her on the couch.
"Now, my dears, we were supposed to go to La Push for a bonfire tonight, and get our kid from Charlie. How 'bout we all go together, and have a nice evening, and then Ang can come back here and stay in my old room while we go home to the cottage? I'll be glad to sleep away from the main house, in our own digs, after being away so long. Would you like that, Ang? We don't have to go to La Push if you don't want to."
Angela nodded blearily, still sobbing into her hands. "Thank you, Edward. I knew I would feel better if I could just spend time with you two. Thanks for playing big brother."
"I'd say 'anytime', but the dumb ape had better never do anything to hurt you again, or I will clean his clock."
We instilled Ang in Edward's old room, which was pretty empty now except for the wrought iron bed. Then I got Angela to wash her face and we got in the Volvo and drove to La Push.
By the time we arrived, there was already a good sized group around the fire pit. The wolf pack and their families, plus Charlie. Renesmee started to flit over, noticed Angela, and walked instead. Everyone greeted Angela warmly.
Jake told a couple of short, creepy stories and Renesmee said they were dumb, rolling her eyes. Charlie told her to behave herself and not to talk to adults that way.
Soon, the Cullen siblings showed up, and joined the circle, being sure to sit out of the wind where their scent would not bother the werewolves, not to mention avoiding coming into contact with any sparks. Not only had Jasper and Em brought their guitars, they brought one for Edward, too. He took it, and the three of them did a super-fast rendition of The Devil went Down to Georgia. Then, they played an old Dueling Banjo song that I could remember hearing once on tv when I was very little. Some folk songs ensued, then Edward was asked to sing, as usual. He eyed me, and crooned,
Just never think
Less in your heart
What's in our home
It's all I want
You'll learn to hate me
And still call me baby
Oh Lord
Just call me by my name
And save your soul
Save your soul
Before you're too far gone
Before nothing can be done
And shall I win
Shall I win
I ain't got no fight in me
Left for this whole damn world
I tell you hold off
You choose to hold on
It's the one thing that I've known
Once I put my coat on
And I know it's all wrong
She's standing outside holding me
She's saying oh please
I'm in love
I'm in love
Girl save your soul
Go on save your soul
Before you're too far gone
And before nothing can be done
Without me you got it all
So hold on (repeat 6X)
It was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard, and also the saddest, since this was the message he had tried to instill in me during the first three years of our courtship.
Everybody seemed to hold onto their loved ones just a little harder after that, and Ang looked forlorn. Edward looked up at her suddenly, appraising her mood.
"Well, everyone, I think it's time for me to get my baby girl home to bed. And Renesmee, too."
"Edward!" I protested. "Not in front of Charlie!"
"Oh, Daddy, I don't want to go yet. Can't we stay just a bit longer?" Spoiled brat whiny baby vampire-human hybrid.
"I could keep her here for a bit, and bring her home for you," Jake offered.
"Can you keep her for an hour?" Edward hinted meaningfully.
"Sure, sure. No big. We're good, right Ness?" Jake grinned and lifted Nessie onto his knee.
"Of course. Thank you Daddy. Thank you Jake."
"Ang, we can take you back to Carlisle's now, if you'd like." Edward locked his guitar in its case and kissed Nessie on top of her head.
Angela nodded and stood up. I kissed Nessie, Jake, Sue and Charlie, and we walked back to the Volvo. It looked like I had some couple time to look forward to this evening.