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Disclaimer: I don't anything! I'm just playing in Stephenie Meyer's sandbox for a while

Last chapter:

It wasn't until I was finished and almost to the back porch when I saw something lyin' on the boards of the porch.

It couldn't have been there when I had come out; I would have stepped right on it.

I looked down at the item. A perfect white daisy and tied around it was a blue satin ribbon.

Edward's words came back to me then. "It will be obvious."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*BS&CB*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Over the next week, I found daisies laid out in the places that I did the most work. One in the garden, placed by the garden beans. Another by the soapbox at the stream. There was one hangin' on the cloths line out back and one laid on the sill of my bedroom window. It seemed every time I turned around I was finding another flower. By weeks end, I had at least a dozen pressed into my bible.

It wasn't until I found the last one, hidden amongst the flowers in the flowerbed, that he did more then just leave a flower. The blue satin ribbon was tied around the stem like normal, but this time wrapped around the stem, under the ribbon, was a piece of paper.

I went to tear it off, but then realized that I was out in the open. So I quickly scanned the surroundings. Pa and Ben were still in the field, and thankfully, Abby was busy hangin' the clothes out to dry.

I quickly yanked the ribbon off and unfurled the paper. For being such an outlaw, Edward had very nice hand writin'.

Bella,

I would like to finish that conversation that we were havin'. If you could find a way to meet with me, I would be much obliged. If you can, please leave me a note by the soapbox on your creek. I will check it often. Let me know when and where you can meet.

Love,

Edward

My heart was beatin' fast at his words. He wanted to meet.

He wanted to meet!

It really set in then that he truly wanted to meet with me somewhere private. We had never been alone together for the most part; I don't consider that ride into town as alone. Anyone could have come across us at any moment.

I don't know how long I sat there lost in thought. I pondered the good and bad of meetin' with him. Part of me wanted to write him immediately, telling him to meet me anywhere. However, thankfully cooler heads prevailed. I realized that the only way I could meet with him was to lie to my Pa. Something that I had never really done before. Oh, sure I've fibbed to him about small things. But nothing of this magnitude.

Even if I could find it in me to lie, how would I convince Pa to let me go off on my own anyways? It's not as if I can just rush out the door and go anywhere I want. I would need to think of a plan.

Where could I possibly go that Pa wouldn't question it?

And the perfect spot came to mind.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*BS&CB*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

That afternoon, before Pa and Ben came back from the fields, I wrote out a small note to Edward telling him when and where to meet me the following day. I made sure to include that if I don't show up it's because my Pa wouldn't let me go.

After makin' sure it was in a secure and safe place by the soapbox, I ran inside to make sure supper was perfect. I wanted to butter Pa up good, so I made one of the nicer roasts, with baked potatoes and a nice garden salad. For dessert, I even made a nice applesauce.

I waited until Pa had made it half through his plate before clearing' my throat slightly.

"Isabella is there something you want to say?" he asked while cutting his meat apart.

"Actually, there is something I wanted to ask."

"Well get on with it child. My meats waitin'," he said. I knew he wasn't irritated; his eyes had that certain twinkle they get when he's being funny.

I shifted uncomfortably in my chair, not knowing how to ask this without it being obvious that I was lyin'.

"With the way you're shiftin' about, I am guessin' that this question has to do with young Mr. Newton," he said with a heavy sigh. His eyes had lost the twinkle.

"No!" I about shouted. "I mean, no it has nothing to do with Michael. I was hopin' that you would let me go to the cemetery tomorrow and put some fresh flowers on mama's grave."

It was the best plan I could think of.

His eyes narrowed slightly and I'm sure that he knew I was fibbin'. He stared at me for a moment, takin' in my face. I figured that any minute I was done for. But then he surprised me.

"I guess that would be okay. As long as you finish your morning chores before you go."

"I will get everything finished before I go. Thank you," I said given him a smile.

"I want to go with Bella," Abby broke into our conversation. "I want to help put flowers on mama's grave."

I had to suppress the feelin' of panic that swelled in my chest. I knew that this had been goin' too easy. This was God's way of punishin' me for fibbin' to Pa. There was no way out of goin' tomorrow and I couldn't bring Abby with Edward showin' up.

"Hmmm," Pa murmured. "Normally, I'd say yes to that Abby. But sometimes a girl needs a little alone time with their thoughts and their mama."

Abby huffed and slumped down into her chair, but thankfully didn't say another word.

I sent an appreciative look towards Pa. He didn't mean to save my hide, but he did.

"You're growin' into a fine young girl, Isabella. But I know how confusin' this all must be without your mama around. Maybe I should have married again, so you could've had someone to talk to."

I realized then why he was banning Abby from comin' with me. He thought I wanted to talk to mama's grave. Guilt sliced through me then like a knife. My actions were makin' Pa second guess the way he had raised us and the choices that he had made.

"No, Pa," I blurted out. "You are a wonderful father. I have never been in want of another woman around. Besides, if I really needed someone to talk to, I could always go to Mary Alice's mama."

My face was bright red by the time I was finished talkin'. Some from embarrassment but mostly from my guilt. But I couldn't find it in me to back out of my plans. I needed to see Edward as much as I needed to breathe. And that scared me more then I wanted to admit.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*BS&CB*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The next day found me flutterin' around the house in a frenzy. I found myself dustin' things I had already dusted and sweepin' the same spot for a quarter of an hour. It finally took Abby lookin' at me funny, when I pulled a second ham out of the icebox, that I knew I was givin' myself away.

So I quickly sent her out to the garden to pull weeds and I dropped myself into a chair to give myself a moment to collect my thoughts.

That really didn't help me none.

So I threw myself into makin' supper. I wanted to put everything on to cook so that I wouldn't have to rush about once I returned to the house. After everything was set, I realized I had finished my chores in record time.

With so much time to spare, I decided to check on Abby. She was just where she was supposed to be, pulling weeds among the radishes.

"Why you actin' so funny sissy?" she asked once she spotted me standin' there.

"What do you mean?"

"You're just actin' funny." She didn't really clarify herself but I didn't really need her to. I knew I was actin' off, but I didn't know how to fix it.

"I've just got a lot of things on my mind, Abby girl. You'll understand when you're older."

"Is it about that boy that likes you?" she asked, her sweet face covered in dirt from the ground. She was constantly wiping her fingers on her cheeks, brushin' off the sweat that would build up there from the heat. She looked so innocent sitting there in her little grey work dress, not a care in the world. Her life was this farm and her family, it made my heart ache in a funny way to think that was just me a few mere weeks ago.

Meetin' Edward had dumped my whole world over. He caused my balance to shift and I was lookin' at everything through a new perspective.

"Michael has a little to do with it." and that wasn't a lie. He wasn't the reason for my behavior but he did factor into my thoughts.

"Do all girls act this way when they're in love?" she asked wiping her dirty fingers on her cheek again. Leavin' a fresh streak of dirt.

"I don't know, sweetie. I'm not in love," I said with a smile. That was a fib, but I wasn't gonna admit to feelins' for Michael that I didn't have.

"Benny thinks you are," she said with a giggle.

"Well Benny doesn't have a lick of sense in his head, so we shouldn't care what he thinks," I teased.

Abby giggled fiercely then. She loved teasin' Ben, so this was great fun for her.

"Well, I'm gonna go change."

I was still wearin' a plain work dress; I wanted to put something nicer on. So with careful consideration, I choose a pale blue shift dress I had. It was nice but not so nice that Pa would wonder why I was dressed up. I plaited my hair carefully and then placed one of my nicer bonnets on my head. I had made sure already to scrub my hands and face, I didn't want to chance to havin' any dirt from cleanin' on my face.

I walked back out to check on Abby, she was still happily weedin' away. I knew that the garden would keep her busy until I got back. Thankfully, Pa was workin' in a section of the field that he could keep an eye on her. I knew that he did that on purpose, he worried about her wanderin' off.

Where I was standin', I could clearly see the soapbox. I had a panicked thought then, what if Edward hadn't got my note. I would be sittin' in that cemetery thinking he had stood me up.

I quickly stepped off the porch and made my way towards the soapbox. Squatting down by it, careful not to muss my dress, I swept the weeds aside.

The note was gone and in its place was another daisy. He knew I would check. The thought that he would make sure I knew it was him that had taken the note and not someone else made my heart beat a little faster. I couldn't stop the grin that came across my face.

That grin stayed in place as I made my way to the flower garden to pick some fresh flowers. My mama had always liked pansy and daffodils. I made sure to grab a bouquet worth before I walked over to where Ben had hitched Toby to the wagon.

I situated myself quickly in the seat, but the sight of a carriage parked in front of the house stopped me from pullin' out. I knew that carriage and I felt my stomach seize with panic.

That seemed to by emotion of choice today.

I hopped quickly off the wagon bench and made my way around the side of the house. I found Michael Newton waitin' at the front door and I had to stomp down the overwhelmin' irritation I had at his intrusion.

"Hello, Michael," I called out in a strained voice.

"Oh! Isabella, I wasn't expectin' you from that direction," he said turnin' towards me.

"Well I was just getting ready to head to the cemetery," I explained. "I was goin' to visit my mama."

"Of course," he said with a sad smile. "Would you like me to accompany you?"

My smile faltered for a moment then. I didn't want him anywhere near me, even if I wasn't goin' to meet Edward in secret.

"I don't think my Pa would be okay with that."

"But he's okay with you goin' alone?" he asked boldly.

I had to fight everything I had not to snap at him. How dare he question my Pa.

"I can take care of myself. Plus, this is something I need to do alone."

His expression changed then, I could tell that he was backing down. "Of course. I was hopin' to spend sometime with you this afternoon, but I now see that this is a bad time. I will come again in a few days."

He bowed briefly in my direction before stepping off the porch and making his way to his carriage. I waited until he was on his way down the road before I turned back to my own wagon. I wasn't takin' the chance of him following me.

With a quick slap of the reins, I was on my way to the cemetery and Edward.

I know, I know….sorry for leaving it there. But if I didn't it would have caused an even worse cliffhanger and I know you don't want that….. Come on you agree. J So now let me know what y'all think! I'm dying to hear your thoughts!

XO-

Symphiann