Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of Stephenie Meyer. This is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended.
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Chapter 8
Isabella woke with something warm below her and something tickling her back. "You have to wake up baby. Esme will come calling soon." She nestled her head deeper into what she now knew was his chest.
"Five more minutes," she mumbled.
He sat up, bringing her with him. "Come on, get up." She unwound herself from his arms stretching and yawning delicately. He placed a chaste kiss on her lips and patted her bottom gently. "Go get ready."
She rolled over on her back and looked up at him. "I just want to lie here with you," she pouted. She snuggled into his side as he chuckled. "You're so warm, and you smell nice."
"As much as I want to spend the morning in bed with you," he said. "You really have to get up."
"Fine." she pouted. "But you're mine tomorrow. I love snuggling with you."
Isabella stumbled her way to the bathroom sleepily rubbing her eyes. She made a quick work of maneuvering out of her clothes and hopping into the shower. As she reached for the body wash and began to lather it onto her skin, she thought of her mother. She wanted to know if she was okay and if she missed her.
'Maybe I'll call her later,' she thought. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the bathroom door open.
"Edward," she called. "Is that you?" 'Of course it's him,' she thought. 'Who else would it be?'
"Yeah baby," he answered. "I'm just brushing my teeth."
"Okay." Isabella felt nervous. Though he couldn't see her, she covered herself. She was naked, after all. "It's just a bit strange."
"Why," he asked with a mouth full of toothpaste. "If it's because you're naked then you had better get over it. You do remember that we agreed on marriage right?"
"I know that," she said with her arms still wrapped around her body.
"I'm pretty sure married people see each other naked among other things. I intend to act like a truly married person." He spat in the sink. "If you can't handle it then…"
"Oh no, it's not that," Isabella said quickly. "It will just take some getting used to. I've never shared a bathroom."
"It's okay, baby," he said as he rinsed off his tooth brush. "I understand."
After Isabella finished showering and dressing for the day she made her way downstairs and was met with an excited Esme and a tired looking Alice.
"Morning sweetheart," Esme beamed from her spot on her stool at the island. "Sit down and grab something to eat. We're going to have a long day."
"Morning," Isabella replied sweetly. She looked worriedly at Alice who was leaning on the counter, clutching a mug and holding her head up with one hand.
"Hey, Alice." Alice smiled softly and nodded in Isabella's direction. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Alice answered. "I just didn't sleep well and my head hurts."
"Alright," Isabella said, beginning to butter a bagel.
"Where is Carlisle and Edward," she asked looking around the room as if she missed them before.
"In Edward's office having their "man" chat," Alice said, doing air quotes and rolling her eyes.
"You're not going to eat anything honey," Esme asked Alice. She shook her head holding up the mug. "Sweetie you need to eat."
"I'm not hungry," Alice mumbled.
"You shouldn't take them on an empty stomach," Esme said in a worried. "Have some fruit at least. My nutritionist told me that smaller, frequent meals help. I don't want anything to happen to you."
Isabella observed their exchange with some confusion. She had no idea what was going on but there was something off about Alice. She wanted to know what it was but refrained from asking, out of fear that she would embarrass the girl. Alice did not seem too keen to talk.
Once they were finished with breakfast, the ladies situated themselves in Esme's Mercedes SUV.
"We're going to have to go over to some neighboring places to get some proper shopping done later," Esme said. "We have to stop in town for now though, to see what the people are like."
They pulled up into the parking lot of a little store not far from where they came. "Ooh a locally ran store," Esme enthused. "Let's go meet some locals, girls!"
Isabella and Alice followed behind a bouncing Esme as they made their way into the store. "It's so quaint looking," Esme gushed.
There was an elderly man sitting behind the counter and upon seeing them he got up to approach them. "Hey there," he called out to them. His dark eyes shined with happiness. "How are you ladies doing today?"
"Hello there," said Esme. "My son and his fiancé just moved here so we were just looking around town."
"Who's the lucky lady?"
"Oh, this is Isabella," Esme said pulling Isabella and thrusting her in front of the man, while Alice began perusing the aisles.
"She's a pretty young thing," he said looking her over. "Don't let anyone take advantage of that. There are horrible people in this world."
"Of course, no one will be taking any kind of advantage," Esme declared. "My son is the perfect person for her. They're getting married this Saturday."
"Oh, very good." The door dinged signaling someone's approach and the old man looked up to see the newcomer. "Here comes the love of my life," he said with a grin. "Rosalie, come meet the nice people!"
Isabella turned to see whom the woman was and was shocked when she locked eyes with Mrs. McCarty. "Mrs. McCarty," she gasped.
"It's good to see you again dear," she said smiling warmly at Isabella.
"You've met before," Esme asked looking between them.
"Yes, she brought us a pie," Isabella explained.
"I was just coming to bring a few more," Rosalie said gesturing to the box of pies she was holding. "There's more in the car Em."
"Rosie's pies are kinda famous around here," he explained. "Everyone loves them. They're the best."
"In that case we'll buy a few," declared Esme.
"I'll just go on out to the car and get the rest of those pies," he said stepping around Isabella and Esme and making his way out the door. He seemed friendly enough to Isabella. Maybe Edward was overreacting about Mrs. McCarty. They really seemed to be a decent couple.
"What do you guys do around here for fun?" Alice asked, rejoining them. Isabella noticed that she seemed a little bored. Her eyes seemed dead and her face held no emotion.
"This is a very quiet place, but it's great for family life," Mrs. McCarty explained. "We usually have days out at Artisans' Park. There is a planning commission that meets the first Monday of every month at the Town Hall. You could join if you're interested."
"Sounds nice," said Esme. "Peaceful small town life. I love it!"
"That's all the pies," Mr. McCarty said coming into the store holding more pies. He went over to the display and placed down the box. "I'll stack these later."
"I'm Emmett by the way. Emmett McCarty," he held out his hand to Isabella and he shook enthusiastically when she took it.
"It's nice to meet you Emmett," Esme said shaking his hand as well. "I'm Esme Cullen and that's my daughter Alice."
Once they were finished with their introductions they purchased their pies and were on their way once again. Isabella was starting to feel more confident that she would like her new life. Everyone had been so supportive and she had never received more attention in her life, but her mind still drifted back to her mother.
"I think I should call my mother," Isabella said as they left Town Hall. They had met the mayor along with a few other townspeople. Isabella sat in the front passenger seat while Alice was a fidgety mess, sprawled out in the back, playing with her phone.
"Are you sure you can handle it after what she did," Esme said sympathetically.
'After what she did?' Esme's statement confused her.
"What do you mean," Isabella asked.
"I know it hurts sweetie, but denial won't help. What she did was wrong especially her way of solving it," Esme said gently.
"O-kay." Isabella's eyes widened. "I just wanted to see how she was doing."
"Maybe it's best that you do. We don't want her doing anything drastic without your knowledge," she agreed, while Isabella fished out her cell phone.
She dialed the familiar number with trembling hands and waited impatiently as the phone rang. Her mother picked up just before it went to voice mail.
"What do you want," she snarled.
"Mom I was just-"
"Isabella, I can't do this anymore. What do you want from me," Renée's voice sounded distracted. There was loud laughing in the background. "Go BABY!" Renée yelled loudly into the receiver.
"Mom, I want us to be-"
"I have to go," Renée said cutting her off, "John is winning!" With that, she hung up the phone and went back to having fun with her boyfriend.
"I love you too," Isabella said softly, pretending that Renée was still there, to hide her hurt. "That sounds great. Tell them hi for me." She fought to hold back her tears. She refused to cry.
"She's getting help," Esme asked.
"Yeah," Isabella answered, not bothering to ask what the question meant. "Lots of it."
After a tiring day of exploring Crestone, they drove back to Edward and Isabella's mansion in the hills. Once they pulled in the unloaded the car they made their way inside to find the men, Esme and Alice in front and Isabella trailing behind.
"Back so soon," Carlisle asked walking up behind them. Isabella jumped at his close proximity and turned to face him. In his hand, Carlisle held a shotgun. She audibly gasped.
Noticing her reaction, he looked down at the gun. "Edward and I did a little hunting earlier." He gestured for her to proceed into the house.
"I didn't know Edward hunted," she said, Carlisle's presence behind her making her nervous.
"I imagine so," he said simply, taking off in the direction of the stairs as she joined Esme and Alice in the kitchen.
-I-
Later that evening they all sat down together for dinner. Esme had prepared an elaborate meal and they spoke animatedly of their day together.
"We met so much people," Esme prattled as she scooped some food on to her plate.
"Oh," Edward said with a strange look on his face. "Locals?"
"Yes, we met the mayor, a few town folks," Esme listed off happily. "Ooh, and Mrs. McCarty and her husband. We got some dessert from them." Edward had been holding Isabella's hand under the table and his grip tightened causing her the wince.
Isabella looked questioningly at him. "What's wrong?" His grip loosened slightly.
"Can I speak to you alone for a moment Isabella?" His face gave nothing away. He calmly rose from his seat and led the way upstairs to his office. Once inside, he turned on her. Edward's face was burning with rage as he looked at her. Isabella cringed at the look he was giving her. 'Why would he be angry about that,' she thought. 'I know he said not too but still.'
"It seems to me that there isn't enough trust in this relationship," he snarled. "Maybe you should just go back to Renée." He took a threatening step towards her and she backed into the wall.
"I can't go back and you know it," she cried. "She will never forgive me." Her face contorted. "She doesn't w-w-ant m-me."
"She doesn't deserve you," he said roughly taking her face in his hands. "I love you. I care for you. Why don't you trust me?"
"I do trust you," she cried. "I do feel that you care."
"Then listen to me," he whispered. "I don't trust that woman."
"Your mother didn't have a problem with her," she pointed out between sobs. "I'm sure she's harmless."
He kissed each of her eyelids. "My mother is unstable. She trusts everybody." He dropped his hand from her face, pulling her into an embrace.
"What do you mean by unstable?" Esme seemed perfectly fine to Isabella. She was a little over animated at times but she seemed perfectly normal.
He sighed, "I'll explain later."
"Isabella, you must understand that you are going to be my wife and wives listen to husbands. I know you have never witnessed such a thing but that's how marriages work."
"Really," she asked incredulously. That didn't sound very appealing.
"Of course," he assured her. "Why do you think my parents lasted so long together? I want to take care of you. If we are going to be together, I get to be in charge. It's only fair."
"You're probably right. You have more experience with life and people." Isabella wanted him to calm down and agreeing seemed like the way to go. Besides that she believed he was probably smarter anyway.
"I am right," he said. "Don't worry."
"We should probably head back down. Everyone's probably wondering what happened," she suggested.
"Before we go, I want you to promise that you will stay away from her," he said imploringly.
She furrowed her brows and looked carefully at him and sighed, "Fine. I will."
"Promise me," he repeated.
"I promise."
Mrs. McCarty has returned! I know some of you thought it would have been Renée.
Special thanks to those of you who has been recommending this on Facebook.
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