Chapter 4
It was a sunny day; so while the old women were talking and having tea, the people of Forkshire had lots of fun.
Rosalie took the chance to take a walk with Alec. Alec was in paradise! He was so used to the old people company, that Forkshire with their surplus of single young women was heaven for him. Sadly, the woman he fancied the most was unavailable. For him, to know that beautiful, intelligent and charming Rosalie was engaged to dumb, fat and pompous Royce was an infamy. Then you had little Isabella, who was as lovely as Rose and single. But Rosalie had a savoir faire, grace and poise...
He was delighted when Bella was late for their walk, late ha! like he didn't know that she really panned to visit Edward Masen. She was young enough to be dazzled by his adventures in Africa.
No, he preferred Rosalie. They talked about theater plays, music and books. It was so comfortable to talk to someone so educated.
They were so entranced in their discussion they almost crashed with a very tall man.
"Oh" Rosalie bright smile turned into a grimace.
"Why, Rosalie. It is so good to see you."
"Mr. McCarthy" she said with a nod.
"Aren't you going to introduce me?" The tall man insisted, while his eyes showed some desperation.
"Right, Alec this is Mr. Emmett McCarthy, he's the lawyer in our little town; Emmett this is Alec, my uncle's assistant." Both men shocked hands eying the other thoroughly.
"Now Emmett, we know you're a busy man, so we'll leave you to continue your way." And she took Alec's hand and led him through Forkshire's main street. Alec tried to ask about Mr. McCarthy but Rosalie guided him to the post office.
"Look, let me introduce you to Mrs. Cullen. I love her wicked sense of humor."
Alec looked to the woman Rose was talking about. A tall, beautiful ginger woman, probably in her thirties.
"Good afternoon Rosalie."
"Mrs. Cullen, let me introduce you to Alec, he's my uncle's assistant."
Alec took her soft hand and kissed her knuckles. Why the prettiest girls in this town were already taken?
"Perhaps you will join us in our walk? I'm showing Alec the town, now I'm taking him to the woods behind our house."
"Sure Rosalie, they also lead to my house. And please, call me Tanya."
Soon as they started to walk, Kate joined them.
"I'm so glad I've found you Mrs. Cullen; do you happen to see..."
"If you're asking about Alice, she left early in the morning and she never tells me about her plans, as I've already told you." Tanya answered annoyed by Kate "and about your other inquiry, he was working with my husband in the morning, I suppose he had plans because he said he won't be coming back for dinner." She said the last part smiling, she despised Kate, so when Edward asked her to keep his plans secret from Alice and Kate she immediately agree.
Alec, who was raised to be a gentleman always, asked Kate to join them in their walk, while she was looking for 'Alice'.
In the opposite part of town, deep in the woods, Bella and Edward were talking.
Bella had been so happy with him. Every day while he worked with Carlisle in his office, Bella helped her mother with the party arrangements and as soon as lunch was over, they ran to the woods for another date.
Bella was so enamored with him. He listened to her, asked for her opinion, and he also had the most interesting points of view. Currently, they were discussing the hunting in Africa. "But you can't deny it requires certain courage to stand near a lion and shoot."
"I don't know Bella; usually the hunter goes to hunt with a group of 10 or 12 natives. I don't think it's fair. The tribes in Rhodesia said you only had to kill in case of danger. The animals never forget, so if you kill, let say, a lioness, what would it be of her cubs? They'll grow to be aggressive toward humans and they'll attack at any chance, thus making the life of the tribes nearby dangerous. Meanwhile the hunter is already in another continent."
"So you say you're against the hunting trips?"
"I've seen my fair share of 'brave hunters' " he said it making quoting marks "who pass out at the presence of a little monkey; and then they force the natives to get them a piece, any piece."
"And the natives agree?"
"Sometimes." Her big doe eyes were looking at him with such adoration. "You have to understand, there in the wild, human life has a different value. Any animal has the same chance at survival as you. Sometimes is better let them go their way, and they'll respect yours." He said while he took a loose strand of her hair.
"Bella, you know how highly I regard our daily walks, right?"
"H'm"
"And how I cherish every one of your words or when you voice your opinion."
"H'm"
He took her chin up to make her look at him right in the eye.
"I know it's too soon but Bella I think, no, I know I love you."
"Oh Edward, I love you too."
He closed the distance between them and kissed her.
On the Cullen house someone held a very different discussion.
"Emmett you're finally here. Come into my study, we have too much to discuss."
Carlisle led Emmett discreetly through the house, he didn't want some servant hearing any of this conversation. "How does my divorce is going? I need it finished quite promptly."
"Carlisle, you know it may depend on your wife if she's hesitant..."
Carlisle laughed. "She'll be the first to sign it gladly. She hates me and already asked me for it."
"Well, if both of you agree, I don't see any problem."
"Given this new circumstances I want to change my will." "I think it's the most proper thing to do, but before you change it, consider what I told you yesterday. I'm out of this sham of engagement, and you can't force me to continue with it."
"But I can. I still had it in my power..."
"And I don't care anymore."
Emmett stood looking Carlisle straight into his eyes, knowing he was looking for a moment of weakness to trap him in again.
"Fine, I'll release you from the engagement, but first I want you to get me through the divorce quickly. I've already found someone else, but her family won't let me get close to her until the separation becomes official."
Emmett thought once more, that Carlisle was the most repulsive man he had ever met.
And then the door clicked. A tiny click sound. Someone heard their conversation.
Carlisle rushed to the door, but the hallway was empty.
"Damn it! I'm sure it was Esme, that woman can come to you quietly like a cat." Carlisle spat.
But Emmett deep down inside knew it was Alice.
Bella and Edward were too lost in their loving embrace to notice that someone was watching them.
This person look at them with a bit of envy, they seemed so in love. This person, a woman, had an awful and difficult life, should be bitter because of it. But seeing these two so invested in each other gave her hope. Maybe it wasn't too late, if only she could find the courage...
Edward heard the snap of a dry twig. Someone was close.
"Bella, darling, I think it would be better if we look for your sister. I want to stay in her good graces before I talk to your mother."
Bella smiled, if only Edward knew how Rosalie supported their relationship. Wait, she thought, he wants to talk to my mother! Maybe getting engaged wasn't so bad after all.
They walked back through the woods in time to find Rosalie and company before they got in the house.
Soon enough, they were seated joining the older ladies in their conversation.
Kate, frustrated because Edward was seated beside Bella, decided to ask him about his life in Africa with hopes to make a better impression on him.
"Edward, I think it must be so exciting to be so close to tigers."
"Tigers are from Asia." Bella interjected.
The whole room was quiet. Kate directed her murderous glare to Bella, so to avoid any inconvenience Renee intervened.
"I'm sure Edward has hundred of stories about lions, right Edward?"
"Of course, let me tell you about the time..."
After the last guest left, Didyme walked to Aro and gave him a slap with a book.
"I know you're awake, you didn't fool me."
"Anyone else noticed?"
"I think Lauren, maybe Emily and of course Mr. Edward noticed. I don't think they got offended"
"Good. Do you notice how that girl Kate envied my little girls? She may cause trouble in the future."
"It's not the women I'm worried about. Do you think Renee will agree to Mr. Edward marrying little Bella?"