Chapter Nine

Alice

I was so uptight the closer it got to meeting the others that I even found myself snapping at Edward but like the sweetie he was he just held me tight and promised me everything was going to be OK.

"Why is it that I can't see how this is going to go? My gift was working fine until we went to Forks and you ran into Bella. Ever since then it's been really unreliable."

"We know she had some kind of effect on my gift too Alice, don't worry about it, you said yourself it's not reliable, it never shows what you really want to know, you didn't see Bella coming and you didn't see her dumping me did you?"

I shook my head,

"No, but I did have an uneasy feeling, that's why I advised you not to get too involved with her and to keep her out of the the family. It probably would have been better if you hadn't let on what we are either... but…."

I added this hastily as I saw him frown, Edward was still pretty sensitive where the topic of Bella Swan was concerned, hurt male ego I suspected.

"You had little choice, I understand that, especially as the two of you seemed to be getting on so well so quickly."

He groaned,

"Not that old topic again Alice, I've told you over and over, nothing happened between Bella and me. She was so young and naive, I couldn't take advantage of her like that."

I wasn't letting him off the hook that easily.

"But you wanted to."

"No, she wanted to, I was more interested in keeping my thirst under control."

I sighed and lay my head on his naked chest looking down the length of our entwined bodies and thinking what a good fit we were.

When he finally stretched and slid out from under me I groaned,

"Do we have to? Already?"

"Unless you want Rosalie and Emmett knocking on our hotel room door in about…."

He picked up his watch, a Rolex he was particularly proud of because Carlisle had bought it for him, one of the first ever manufactured.

"One hour and thirty minutes and we have to freshen up and drive to the airport to collect them."

"But that means in one hour and thirty minutes we have to explain to them what's happened and I'm really not sure how they'll take the news. I'm nervous and I hate it."

I pouted knowing it would make him smile.

"I know but hopefully in about ten days, we'll be on our way to Milan, free to be together and without a care in the world. You were the one who wanted to do it this way may I remind you."

I jumped up grabbing him around the waist,

"I know and at the time it felt like the right thing to do but now….well, I guess I'm getting nervous."

"It's just stage fright, you've rehearsed what you are going to say so often I could make your speech for you."

I slapped his nude rump as he squeezed out of my grip and disappeared into the bathroom. He was right of course, I had been practicing what to say to the others and to Jasper. I knew it was going to upset them and hurt him whatever way I put it and I wanted to let him down as gently as I could but as Edward pointed out,

"Alice, he's going to know what we've been up to in Portland all these weeks so sugar coating it isn't really going to make much difference now, is it?"

I went to my bag and pulled out the large manilla envelope that was poking out of the top, inside were the divorce papers. I'd pulled a few strings and with a little help from our pet lawyer Jenks and my friend Darius I'd managed to fast track the petition, as of next week Jasper and I would no longer be man and wife. I could tell that Jenks thought I was doing the right thing but then he was terrified of Jasper while Darius said nothing, he and I had an understanding, I would let him know if I ever saw Caius leave Volterra and he would do me small favors and keep his mouth shut.

When Edward finished in the shower I took his place, sharing was usually fun but we tended to get carried away and right now I needed a clear head and a clear, well less murky conscience. I dressed as soberly as I could to reflect my mood although Edward hated to see me in dark colors.

"You look like you're going to a funeral, Alice."

"Well, I am in a way, the death of my marriage and our place in the Cullen family anyway it makes me feel more in control. Are you ready?"

He looked gorgeous as always and I couldn't resist running my fingers through his thick bronze hair and kissing him for luck.

"Let's get this over with shall we?"

He offered me his hand and we walked out together into the nightlife of London, Carlisle's hometown.

The flight was late, of course, it was, anything to make me more nervous and then when it landed there was a delay in disembarking and another at customs so it was three hours before we recognized Emmett standing a head and shoulders above the other passengers and then I saw Rose.

"She doesn't look happy. I wonder what's up?"

"It's just your nerves, calm down Alice, look on this as a dress rehearsal for the real thing on Saturday."

Edward squeezed my shoulder to calm me as the other two came over smiling and we exchanged hugs and kisses,

We went back to the car still talking so I heard all the gossip from Emmett including the fact that Angela Webber was now going out with Mike Newton and that Esme had decided to store most of the furniture and start afresh in the next home which meant months of renovations and dust as she insisted on using local craftsmen instead of Emmett's muscle and my delicate touches. In a way I was glad, it meant I wouldn't have to sort through the stuff I wanted to keep, it could all stay in storage until Edward and I were settled.

I suddenly realized that Rose was staring at me,

"Earth to Alice, I said where do you think Esme will suggest next? Boston? Chicago? Denver?"

I shrugged,

"Who knows, Anyway, where are you two off to when you wave goodbye to us? Somewhere exotic?"

"After Switzerland? I'm not sure, we just thought it would be nice to have some privacy for a while. After all, Esme and Carlisle have you two and Jazz and he'll be much happier when he sees you, Alice."

Edward and I exchanged a glance, we had initially planned that he would tell the others while I was off with Jazz but with the change of plans…..

Edward cleared his throat,

"Look, we have something to tell you but I need you to promise that you'll keep it to yourselves for a few days, you'll understand why when you hear."

They agreed but cautiously and Emmett's eyes widened more and more as Edward explained the situation while Rosalie's lips thinned into a scowl. I hadn't expected her to be happy, she liked Jasper, but I hadn't expected such overt hostility either.

"What's going on? You're a married woman Alice yet here you are shacking up with Edward while we're all feeling sorry for him, well not me I thought good riddance to Bella but that's not the point. What is it with people? Doesn't anyone take their marriage vows seriously anymore?"

Emmett grasped her hand and pulled her close,

"It's OK Rosie, so long as you and I are fine that's all that matters."

He kissed the top of her head then opened the car door.

"I think we'll make our own way to the hotel, Rosie needs some time to take all this in."

He slid out followed by Rose but as she left she swung around her eyes full of anger and sorrow.

"I hope you'll both be really happy together but don't expect us to be dancing at your wedding."

We sat stunned by her vehemence as she hurried away and then Edward raised an eyebrow,

"I think that went rather well, don't you?"

I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry, I hadn't expected such hostility from Rosalie, it was as if she was blaming us for something that was beyond our control.

"Do you think she meant that?"

He put an arm around me comfortingly,

"She'll come around, it was just a shock."

I wasn't so sure, even Emmett had looked horrified and he was usually so laid back it was a miracle he didn't fall over, still it had given me some idea of how Jasper might react, I was just sorry I couldn't be with Edward to give him some support when he explained the situation to Carlisle and Esme later but I would have my own problem to deal with.

Rosalie

I couldn't believe it, all this time we'd thought Alice was helping Edward get over losing Bella, giving him support, the two of them had been sleeping together and having a wonderful time and to cap it all I'd been giving Jasper a hard time for just talking to Bella. Who was the fool now?

"I can't believe it Rose, Edward and Alice? I mean, he was falling apart a few weeks ago because Bella gave him the elbow and now he and Alice are together, I mean like together!"

"I know, well I'm telling you, Emmett, if Esme and Carlisle even think about letting those two live with them I won't. I know how much you like being in a family Em but I couldn't bear to see those two together, it's…..disgusting, especially as they've been doing it behind Jasper's back AND she's already sorted out the divorce, how cold-hearted can you be?"

I wasn't sure how Emmett felt, he was a much softer soul than me so I was slightly surprised when he agreed.

"Yeah, I know, poor Jazz how's he gonna take that? I mean it's a real kick in pants. I don't think Carlisle and Esme are gonna be too pleased, you know how much they set store by openness and honesty."

I was so mad I couldn't find the words but one thing I did know, I would never speak to either of them again whatever anyone else decided.

We got a cab to the hotel and went up to our room to find Alice had arranged for a huge bouquet of flowers and tickets to a show. I picked up the envelope containing the tickets and snorted,

"No Sex please we're British, how apt."

Then I read the note,

"It will be good to be together again.

Love Alice

XX"

The sound it made as I ripped up the tickets made me feel a little better and seeing Emmett drop the bouquet from the balcony I felt even better still.

"I don't think I want to stay here Emmett. If I do I might slap Alice's head clean off her shoulders and castrate my dear brother."

"Yeah, I know what you mean but it's kinda funny how not long ago you were on Jaspers' tail for hanging around Bella."

I turned on him eyes blazing,

"That was not the same at all, he never laid a finger on her and I know she wouldn't have hurt Alice, they were friends, I was just being unreasonable, she brings the worst out in me, this…...this is different, it's a betrayal Em."

He pulled me into his arms and cuddled me.

"I know Rosie and I agree if you like we can leave Carlisle and Esme a note and leave, fly on to Switzerland straight away. They'll understand."

"Right now I don't really care whether they do or not. Yes, I think that would be for the best but poor Jazz, there won't be anyone for him to turn to."

"He probably won't want anyone Rosie, you know how he gets and if he does he'll go to the Whitlocks but we can ring him in a few days and check on him."

I nodded, that sounded like a good idea so I wrote a letter to the others and left it with hotel reception as we checked out and took a cab to the airport. I felt terrible knowing Carlisle and Esme would be walking into the same terrible situation in a couple of days time but I couldn't warn them, it would mean telling Jasper too and that was Alice's job, I just hoped he wouldn't be too devastated. The only thing we could do was to stay out of it until we heard from someone and knew the situation.

Edward

Alice was understandably upset when we got to the hotel to find that Rose and Emmett had already checked out and left no word of where they had gone.

"Do you think she'll contact Jasper?"

"No, she won't do that because she knows how hurt he'll be and I suspect she believes that's your job."

"She hates me, doesn't she? That's why they left like this. If only she understood that we didn't do it on purpose, we never wanted to hurt anyone."

"Rosalie is a difficult person, she'll come around it'll just take her time. You know how much Emmett loves you, he won't sever all connections, you just have to be patient. Now, we have tickets for the theater and then I'm going to take you up on the London Eye so smile my love."

She did her best but I knew deep down she was terribly hurt and I cursed Rose for being so thoughtless. I just hoped Esme and Carlisle would be more sympathetic, I would certainly do my best to explain things as clearly as I could so there were no misunderstandings. No one had acted out of malice or without thinking very carefully about the consequences but the mating pull could not be denied, it wasn't exactly our fault.