The Foundling ~ Epilogue

Carlisle and Esme walked together in the early morning hours enjoying the freedom of being together again. As they sat on a cement bench in front of the family mausoleum, church bells began to toll to let the plantation and townsfolk know of Carlisle Cullen's death.

It was done.

Carlisle sighed contentedly and drew his wife close. "I will be by your side for eternity, my love," he said against her hair.

She smiled, resting her head on his shoulder. "I was unsure this day would ever come. I'm relieved to have you here with me, Carlisle."

He kissed her forehead. "As am I, my dearest, as am I."

They sat entangled, clinging to each other as the rising sun burned off the morning chill.

Esme pointed out the couple walking hand in hand in the meadow overlooking the pecan grove.

"We're going to be all right now, aren't we, Carlisle?" Esme whispered.

"Yes, my dear. All is as it should be. I know you feel some culpability in the girl's fate." Carlisle squeezed his wife closer to his side as she began to shake. "Don't, my love. This is as the Lord intended, I am sure."

"I spoke with her," Esme confessed.

Carlisle smiled. "Yes, she told me."

She turned in his arms to face him. "I needed to know that she was not going to regret leaving that life behind. After watching her dance with James, I had to know if she was forming an attachment."

Carlisle kissed her hand. "You're a good soul, my wife. Of course, it was right to make sure her path was clear—and you were satisfied?"

She smiled sheepishly. "I told her my son was a wonderful dancer and then went and whispered in Cope's ear to have Bella take a tray to you."

"Oh my devious vixen," Carlisle said with a twinkle in his eye.

Esme laughed and finished with a sigh, "I was unsure of your plan for the girl, but I see now it was right."

Carlisle gave her a squeeze. "We tried to make sure it was her decision—and fate's. I held her to a promise to dance, but she chose the second dance and the walk with our son."

"… and the kiss," Esme whispered.

Carlisle smiled against her temple. "… and the kiss," he agreed.

They sat quietly, lost in their thoughts.

"The well …?" Esme asked as she ran one of his coat buttons between her fingers.

Carlisle sighed and sat up straighter to look into his wife's eyes. "Edward refused to take her. He wanted her to have a choice, and he needed for fate to decide the rest. He showed her where he would be waiting, knowing it would be well past midnight and she would not see him until she crossed over. Knowing that she had chosen Edward, was it the Lord's will for her to be with Edward—with us? Passing the old well on the path to the garden was …" he shrugged, "a test of fate, I suppose, and solved that dilemma for our son." Carlisle shrugged again and looked toward the couple kissing under the oaks.

"But not you," Esme whispered.

He slowly turned his gaze toward his love and swallowed before answering. "I know what it means to love deeply and to be denied that presence, Esme. I would not wish that for a girl as sweet as that one. So no I have no reservation in helping with her happiness," he finished setting his jaw.

Esme leaned in to kiss his tense jaw, feeling his cheek lift in a grin against her lips.

"I love you, Carlisle Cullen," she sighed as a wagon on the road below caught her eye.

~o0o~

Edward and Bella stood hand in hand on the hillside overlooking the pecan grove. The rattle of a flatbed wagon caught their attention as it made its way toward the barnyard behind Mrs. Cope's kitchen. Bella's eyes rested lovingly on Ol' Charlie as he slumped over the reins, talking to the mules as he made his way to retrieve their girl.

Bella's heart seized in her chest. "Charlie, Renny—I will be missed!"

Strong arms wrapped firmly around her, bearing her up as she grieved for the ones who would grieve deeply for her. After a time Edward's smooth baritone whispered in her hair, "You will be remembered, love. That is the most any of us can hope for."

She let his love hold and comfort her as she watched Charlie dismount and wrap his reins around the post before stretching his back and taking his hat off brushing his hair back from his forehead before replacing it.

The familiarity of the man's movements brought a wistful smile to Bella's lips. Seeing her tender expression, Edward whispered, "He has Miss Renny, love. She'll comfort him. They'll have each other."

She squeezed his arm belted around her waist as a sob shook her small frame.

"It grieves me to think I've brought this sorrow upon you, my love," he paused as she began to shake her head against his chest. Edward smiled sadly into her hair and continued, "But I am so glad you chose to be with me." Edward turned her in his arms to face him and lifted her chin to bring her tearful eyes to meet his. "Let me take you away from this, Bella," he whispered.

Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. "No, I have a need to see this through," she said as she watched a concerned Mrs. Cope meet Charlie on the kitchen porch.

Edward nodded and led her to a covered bench near the front walk and sat resolutely next to her. Holding her hand, they witnessed Old Sam find the shattered cover of the old well and send out the alarm. Esme and Carlisle soon joined them. Standing behind the new couple, they rested their hands on Bella's and Edward's shoulders in support as people converged on the scene from all directions.

Charlie dropped to his knees beside the old well with his hatless head bowed. His utter defeat caused Bella to look away with a need to give the strong, proud man privacy.

Mrs. Cope wailed into her apron as her words tormented her mind.

"I'd wish for her to stay if it was best for her."

Why had she spoken such thoughts out loud? Now this poor child had met this awful fate.

Old Sam wrapped his arm around her broad shoulders, and she endeavored to still herself.

Esme came up behind her and reached out wishing she could truly touch her but was gratified when her friend straightened under her hovering hand, and Esme tenderly whispered, "It is best for her to stay—here—with us."

When Mrs. Cope had gathered herself, she demanded that the girl be brought up immediately, sending men scurrying to do her bidding. She stood imperiously as the men got a looped rope around the body and hoisted it slowly out of the deep pit.

Charlie pushed forward to be the first to touch her as they swung the body to rest on the ground. Bella looked on wrapped in Edward's arms and safe with her new family.

At some point, Mr. James had arrived on the scene. He had been awoken in the predawn hours by his man servant with the announcement of his uncle's peaceful passing. Numb, he had passed the morning bracing to step into his beloved mentor's very large and well-worn shoes. He had sent a servant to ring the chapel bells and had given the servants their head to arrange for the deceased.

Now to hear that sweet Miss Swan was gone too—his heart wrenched with sorrow.

Carlisle watched his nephew struggle with his composer as all else focused on the tragedy playing out in the center of the crowd. His one regret was leaving young James to manage alone. He wished he could have prepared him better, maybe left him with a foreman who knew the workings of this grand place and could help him grow into his position.

Carlisle's attention shifted to Molly running to Mrs. Cope after she fetched a quilt. They laid the girl's old form out on it, trying in vain to straighten clothes. Molly held the cold hand briefly before falling into the arms of Young Sam and Mrs. Cope brushed back mud-caked hair placing a kiss on the cold brow before dropping the quilt over the face. Hefting herself up, she swallowed thickly and gave Charlie a nod.

Bella's voice wavered as she whispered, "Flowers would be nice for a send-off."

Charlie placed his hat firmly on his head and with the help of Old Sam carried his girl to the wagon.

"Jessica, fetch a bouquet of flowers." James' voice broke through the crowd casting a stillness over them until Jessica ran forward with wilting flowers left over from the Harvest Ball and laid them on the wrapped form in the buckboard bed. She stepped back on shaky legs and felt Michael's hand on her elbow and leaned into his side.

"Thank you, James," Bella said shyly.

James forced his hands into his front pockets and bowed his head, but the four bystanders witnessed the smile that played on his lips.

Carlisle looked from Bella to his nephew. "Well I'll be damned," he murmured as a smile spread across his face. Bella had a connection with James much as Esme with Shelly Cope or Edward with himself. He felt relieved and grateful that perhaps he would have a way to help his young nephew after all.

Bella stood as Charlie began to shake the men's hands and give nods of thanks. She took a step toward him as he climbed into the bench seat of the wagon. With a tip of his hat to Mrs. Cope, he clucked and began the long trek back to break the news to his poor Renny.

It was Esme that came to stand beside Bella. She ran her hand down the young girl's arm. "Go say your goodbyes, Bella dear," she whispered.

~o0o~

Out of sight of the big house, Charlie let bitter tears fall for his heart's daughter. What was he going to tell his Renny?

He had no words.

He knew—he told Renny no good could come from this. The bitterness of being right made his stomach lurch.

As he came around the bend of the drive, the mules slowed at the sight of a limb fallen across the road. He halted the wagon and ran angry hands over his damp face.

Hopping down, it felt good to have something to lay his hands to, and he began the process of moving the large branch from the path with vigor.

Sweating with the exertion, he removed his hat, and as he pushed his hair back from his forehead, he froze when he felt a kiss brush his cheek as the wind whispered, "And my love to Renny."

His face crumpled. "Tell me you'll be all right, Bella Girl," he sobbed. He felt a familiar hand brush his shoulders as the wind picked up swirling leaves around him. He looked up to see a sweet, translucent silhouette framed in the sunlight filtering through the old live oaks. She smiled brightly and blew him a kiss before fading.

He stood in the road for some time as the cool breeze dried his tears. With a last sniff, he snatched his hat off the ground and placed it square on his head. He climbed into the buckboard and taking up the reins; he clucked at the mules. The wagon lurched forward, its clatter disturbing the stillness.

Charlie smacked the reins and didn't look back.

There was no need.

He could tell his Renny their girl had gotten past that setback to find her happiness and was the better for it.

The End