9

As soon as they pulled up in front of the huge mansion, Bella realized she was nervous. She didn't understand why. It wasn't as if she was Edward's real girlfriend, or cared about these people. She told herself it was just the wealth that intimidated her. As they approached the house, Edward had also become quieter, while Alice grew more enthusiastic.

"My mom remarried Sir Henry a few years ago. It's her third husband, and it's no love match. My poor dad didn't stand a chance," Edward whispered just before entering the house. "So you have no reason to care about what she says. And don't forget our agreement."

Bella barely registered all the information before being let in by a butler – seriously? – And after a few moments, she was introduced to Madam Elizabeth Carlson.

"How do you do," the lady murmured.

"Pleasure," Bella replied. Glancing at the lady in front of her, she couldn't see Edward except for the green-hazel eyes that stood out like a cat's. Waiting for their prey. In light of what Edward had told her, she wondered how it had been growing up in such a family. It must have been claustrophobic, although the house seemed huge. Maybe that is why Edward was so discreet about his private life. He didn't want people to judge. He had not made his money from scratch, he was born into it. Would that diminish his achievements? Bella wasn't sure, as there must have been pressure on him growing up… She was woken from her reverie by Mrs. Carlson's booming voice:

"I see that since we saw each other last, you've got an addition," she said it as if she was talking of a stray cat.

Bella instantly disliked her.

"I'm sure you learned about Isabella from the tabloids you love so much," Edward smiled back.

Mrs. Carlson made a grimace.

"I 'm just surprised… All the time you are so discreet, and then all of a sudden I find out you're engaged… from a newspaper no less!"

"Well, not everyone can cherish matrimony as you do," Edward pushed back. The cutting edge of the comeback made Bella realized that this was a normal interaction between them. It made her uncomfortable. She wanted to meet his parents, not become a pawn in their sparring match.

"You have a lovely house," Bella chipped in.

They both turned towards her.

"Yes, indeed, it is one of my husband's residences… We usually go to the South of France in the summer."

"Oh, have you met Alice there?"

Mrs. Carlson then turned towards the little girl as if she had just remembered her: "Oh, sweetie, I'm sorry we didn't meet, I don't think we were there at the same time… You were in Paris for a little while, right?"

Alice just smiled, and Edward intervened: "Alice would you like us to go check on your pony?" And next thing she knew, Bella was left alone with Edward's mom. She hadn't expected this. If anything, she should be the one going out while Edward and Alice were spending some time with their family.

Mrs. Carlson sighed and poured her a drink: "I suppose I deserved it."

Bella couldn't deny that.

"I guess this is my punishment since I haven't even tried to understand him. He will never forgive me for abandoning him and his father and not making an effort to stay in that god-forsaken little town with any perspective. And also using him as a ping-pong ball between his father and me…" This came as a slap to Bella, who only now realized the dynamics of the family.

"Oh, I see by the look on your face he didn't feel the need to fill you in on his life. I guess it is fair enough, why mention a mother who gave birth to him, only to disappear from his life for the better part of it. When I saw Edward next, he was already a well-achieved man, father of one. I didn't know my son, and I doubt I ever will," there was sorrow in her voice, but also finality.

"But there is still time to know your granddaughter," Bella cut back on the self-pity. The lady replied with an even look:

"I suppose so, but it doesn't matter. It's his job now. He enjoys the responsibility. I guess it's his way of giving back for all the messes he got himself into. He also has a habit of picking up strays."

Rich or not, Bella didn't need to listen to this. "Actually, it was Edward who arranged the engagement. I think he needs someone more…maternal in his life." She stood up to leave, mumbling, "And it is never too late to try and know your son."

Edward looked up towards the window where he left Bella and his mom. It was a bold move, but he thought he took his chances well. Bella would find out more about him from a direct source, without actually revealing too much. His mom didn't know him at all.

"Daddy, why are you always mad at Grandma?" Alice turned around worriedly. The question took him by surprise. He didn't realize a six-year-old could pick on details so well, although maybe he should learn to pretend better. No, pretending wouldn't work with Alice. They were too much attuned to each other:

"We have an old grudge I would say, and we are both too proud to bury it."

"A bulge?"

"No, sweetie, it's a misunderstanding. Your Grandma and I don't always see things the same way."

"Like you and… Mommy?"

Edward turned around a bit concerned. How much did Alice remember from her first years? It was hard to say with her, in the beginning, she was just so quiet, and then in time, she didn't speak of it.

"Not really… Your Mommy had to leave us, it is not exactly the same thing."

"Do you miss her?"

Edward fidgeted a little. How could he explain the situation?

"I don't think about it often. I value our relationship and am happy to have you as my daughter," he smiled warmly. "Do you miss Mommy?"

"Yes, sometimes."

"But you like Bella? And Jessica is treating you nicely?"

"Yes, I really like Bella… it's just that sometimes she seems distant… like she wants to leave."

"Well, let's make sure she feels welcome, so she stays on, okay? And darling, no matter what, we'll always have each other." He crouched down to hug Alice and only then noticed Bella waiting for them patiently, with a confused look on her face. How much did she hear?

"I… I need to go. Sorry, Alice, Edward, would it be possible for me to go ahead?" Bella said shyly.

Edward had rarely seen her so troubled, even on the day he took her from the police and started their arrangement. What did his mother tell her? He wanted to join her, but she insisted they stay longer and spend some more time with their family. Alice didn't say anything but looked at Edward with a knowing look.

In the end, Bella returned home by herself. She took out the birthday card she and Alice had made for Charlie and wrote "I love you, Dad" on it before mailing it. She laid down on the comfortable bed trying to imagine her father. The way he had always struggled to raise her well, the way he had always struggled with her. Although as a teen she was a shy little thing, she grew out to be quite the troublemaker. And yet, he stood by her till the end. Not even her mother had done that.

Now she tried to picture Edward. The 'bad boy' she had met the first night at the bar. The serious man he had seemed to be when going to work each day, Alice's father. She tried to put these images together till the picture was whole, but her head was spinning. She tried to lock into her mind the image of him and Alice hugging in the garden outside his mother's house. She had heard most of their conversation, and it made her sad. And scared. What were the expectations they had of her?

Suddenly, she got out of her bed and looked for her laptop. It had been so long… So long indeed since she had written anything more than a tab, a small note, a shopping list. When she had started studying Creative Writing, she was a dreamer, in love with the idea of love. By the time she finished, it was just so she could have a degree under her belt.

But she had lost all inspiration, all the dreams she previously imagined on paper. Now, for the first time in a long time, she wanted to start a story. And finish it. She started writing a story about a father and a daughter.

She had been locked in her room for hours, but Edward didn't dare interrupt. When she emerged, sleepily, tired, she seemed somewhat happy. Edward didn't ask what made her this way.

"I hope my mother was not too intrusive… I know she can be rude at times…" he started.

Bella looked at him as if she had just seen him.

"Oh, don't worry. Rudeness, or brutal honesty, don't bother me."

"You seemed a bit shaken when you left."

"Something caught me off guard, really. But mostly a memory, not anything your mom said. No need to worry, I didn't tell her anything about our arrangement."

"I don't think that would bother her too much, but it's for Alice's sake, I don't want her to catch on and be sad… My mom doesn't really know how to handle a kid."

"You seem to know a lot about your mom, considering you haven't actually lived together."

"Touché. I like the way you're practically defending her now… But you're right. I judge her too harshly sometimes."

Bella expected for Edward to elaborate, but he didn't say anything else.

They stood in silence for a minute until Bella started shyly.

"I was wondering… I don't have a shift, maybe tomorrow we can spend the day with Alice, at the zoo, or something. I don't even know what six-year-olds do these days."

So she had heard his conversation with Alice, Edward thought. But he accepted the olive branch kindly. Better snatch it till she changed her mind…

"Oh, and Edward?"

"Yes?"

"Nothing. I'll have an early night… Good night!"

She left quickly before she could make a fool of herself. For a moment, she wanted to tell him about the book she had just started writing. About the inspiration. But it felt wrong. He wasn't her friend, she was his captive. Lines had shifted after today, and she didn't like it at all.

Edward was left smiling to himself. Finally… the ice was beginning to crack. He remembered the look on her face, the moment her mask went down. He had known her physically, but never this raw. It was the first sign that his experiment was going well.

He didn't enjoy the afternoon he had to spend at his mother's. Although he was trying to ease the strained relationship he had with her, he still felt uncomfortable in her presence. However, if this was the price he had to pay to get a reaction out of Bella… it didn't seem like too much. He took his phone and checked the missed calls.

He had three from Carlisle who had probably heard about the engagement from the news. He deleted them. He couldn't deal with him today. Carlisle couldn't find out about the arrangement, at least not yet. He would surely not understand the way Edward was thinking, or approve of it. Good old strict Carlisle, always dependable, but far too set in his ways… He was barely getting over the disappointment Edward had been to him, he couldn't take him back to that place, especially in the middle of all this.

Edward just put all these thoughts aside and decided to plan for the upcoming activity with his girls.

A/N: So... I have some good and bad news.

Good news: this story is complete! Well, it is just a rough draft on my computer, but it gives me time to edit it more (work on my punctuation!) and I am also preparing an entry for the AoE contest, so please check out the competition once it opens!

Bad news (at least for the regular updates...): I am going on holiday between the 12-28 August, so I will not manage to post updates during that time, but... I am going to post three chapters next week (Mon, Wed, Fri) and the story should be completed by end September - not much longer to unveil our mysterious characters :) Till Monday then, have a great weekend!