***Stephanie Meyer owns all twilight material.***
It was almost sunset. Edward still was not back from visiting with his mother, Elizabeth. Jasper, Alice, and I sat in the living room staring blankly at the news flashing across the television. Jasper and Alice were in the love seat, while I sat on the larger couch by myself. Carlisle was in his study, while Esme mindlessly cleaned. Emmett and Rosalie were in their room doing God knows what.
Jasper and Alice stayed by my side the whole day: Alice because she knew how I felt with my foreshadowing, extra sense and Jasper because he helped me stay calm and collected. As we watched the flat screen, a "missing" news report began:
"Still missing: a fourteen year old girl. She was last seen on the outskirts of Sydney, last month. Her name is Renesmee Carter. If you see her or have information on where she could be found, please call 1-800-MISSING."
As the news anchor started describing Renesmee, a picture popped up onto the screen. Alice's breath caught slightly.
"That's her," she whispered.
"Who?" Jasper asked looking for more information.
"Carlisle?" Alice called out. Carlisle was in the living room within a second. Alice paused the news segment on the television, leaving the girl's picture for everyone to look at.
"What's wrong?" Carlisle asked concerned.
"That's the girl. The one in my vision," Alice explained.
We sat in front of the television screen studying her face for later references. Renesmee was beautiful. She had brown eyes, with wavy, reddish brown hair, just like Edward's. The picture portrayed Renesmee as a fun, loving teenage girl.
"This will help us later tonight," Carlisle informed us as he walked back into his study with Esme following. Alice kept the television paused on the girl. A few minutes later, Emmett and Rosalie walked downstairs and sat on the couch next to me.
"Who's that?" Emmett asked while nodding toward the flat screen.
"That's the girl who we're looking for tonight. She's been missing for a month, now," Jasper answered.
"Where is she from?" Rosalie asked with curiosity.
"Not sure. She last seen outside of Sydney," Alice replied. A few minutes passed as we sat in silence studying the Renesmee's picture. My ring tone for my cell phone broke the quietness.
"Hello," I said sweetly, knowing it was Edward.
"Hey, come meet me on the dock," Edward replied.
"Okay, see you there." I hung up and told everyone, "I'll be back. Edward wants me to meet up with him at the dock."
"Hurry back, it's almost night fall," Alice instructed me. I smiled reassuring her Edward and I would be back in time. I ran outside and made it to the dock in less than a minute. Edward, along with Elizabeth, was pulling up in the speedboat as I got there. I smiled at both of them as Edward jumped onto the dock and tied the boat up securely.
"Hey," I greeted.
"Hey," Edward replied as he got up and pecked me on the cheek. "My mother wanted to see you," he explained with a wink. Edward, then, hugged his mother goodbye and walked toward the house. I watched him as he entered the house and closed the front door.
"He's grown up to be quite a gentleman," Elizabeth said in an adoring voice as I looked at her.
"Indeed," I laughed. Edward was for more than a gentleman in my eyes. He was sweet, caring, loving, intelligent, and generous. Edward was everything and more than I ever wanted.
"I guess I can't say grown up, since he's hasn't changed physically."
We both laughed lightly at Elizabeth's comment. Then, her face turned serious.
"Bella, Edward's lucky to have found you. He needs someone as loving and caring as you are." Elizabeth paused as I smiled at the compliment.
"I think I'm the lucky one," I contradicted. She smiled then lowered her head while closing her eyes.
"Bella, I'm not coming back," Elizabeth explained.
I was stunned, shocked beyond belief. "What? Why not?"
She looked up to me and explained, "I don't belong here. Not with your way of life."
"But you do belong here, with your son," I began to shout with anger.
Elizabeth put her right hand on my shoulder and spoke calmly. "It doesn't matter. I wouldn't be able to live with myself, if I stayed and continued with my diet, while you all continued with yours."
I was getting angrier with each excuse being thrown at me. I now knew how Edward felt when he found out his mother was alive and chose not to have him in her live. I could now understand why Edward was angry with his mother for abandoning him.
"How can you say it doesn't matter? Edward should matter to you. He's your son, your son who you haven't seen in a century," I yelled.
"I'm sorry. Just promise me you will take care of him," Elizabeth said.
"Of course I will. I love him," I replied with an emphasis on the word "I".
"I know you do," she said as she leaned forward to give me a hug, but I pushed her back rejecting the gesture.
"I'm sorry," I said explaining my rejection toward her.
"It's alright," Elizabeth responded as she went to swim to the mainland. Before she swam off, Elizabeth turned to me and said, "Goodbye."
After a few moments, I could hear Edward walking up behind me. He put his arms around me from behind and kissed the top of my head. I turned around with guilt, "I'm sorry."
"Shh, you have nothing to be sorry for. As far as I'm considered, it's my mother's fault everything turned out the way it did," Edward replied.
"How can you be so calm about this now? Earlier, I was the one calming you, not the other way around."
"Because I realized something when I was with my mother earlier," Edward replied.
"What?"
"If she and I would have spent ours lives together, instead of me spending my life with Carlisle, I would have never met you."
I pulled Edward close to me, clinging on to him for dear life. His words struck me with awe. It had never crossed my mind that if Elizabeth had not let go of Edward, he and I would have never met. I could not imagine my life or the world without the man who would soon be my husband.
After a moment of silence, Edward chuckled. I looked at him questioningly. "So, I heard you have some 'extra senses'."
I rolled my eyes and laughed. "Yeah, who would have guessed?"
"Come on. Let's go find your intruder," Edward smiled as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder leading us back to the house.
