Assumptions and Lies
Work on Friday was okay. I was careful to park my truck all the way behind the store rather than on the side where most employees usually parked. I really didn't want anyone seeking me out to inquire about my impending nuptials. I was being a real coward and about what, an engagement. I hang out with werewolves. I am going to marry a vampire and I've had several death threats against me very close to being carried out. Yet here I was, hiding from people who should want to congratulate me on my special occasion. I was beginning to see many advantages to eloping.
I was working the ten to five shift. Kevin said Mr. Newton had gone to Olympia to drop some things off at his accountants, but that I was to keep working on the inventory in the back. I rushed to the back relieved I would be out of the public eye. There was a note from Mike's dad. He said I was doing a great job and that he was happy that I would have it done before my last day. I glanced around at the shelves and noticed that all the boxes from the top shelves had been removed and placed on the floor. I looked back at the note and continued reading. It said I was not to lift any boxes that I should leave them on the floor and he would put them back up later when he got back. That would sure speed things up a bit.
Before I knew it the morning was gone and I was two hours into the afternoon. I heard Mike's voice coming from the front. He was conversing with Kevin about his hiking adventure with his Dad the day before. I knew eventually Mike would acknowledge my presence and I was right.
"Hey, Bella you back here?"
For a brief second I thought maybe if I didn't answer he would think I was not, but that would be too rude. "Yes, Mike. I'm back here." As I finished my statement I saw him round the shelves. I looked up and gave a weak smile. "How was yesterday with your Dad?" This I knew would be a safe topic.
"Surprisingly I had a really good time and I'm glad I went." He nodded with affirmation while he said this. "So how was your day yesterday?"
This question caught me off guard. Was he truly just trying to make conversation or was there a point to this line of questioning. I decided to play it coy. "Oh it was slow to medium around here. Kevin handled most the customers and I was able to finish all the counts for the items on the showroom floor; all in all a pretty productive day."
"Oh, that's good." He said as he forced a smile. He looked like this wasn't the answer he was expecting to here.
"Why, what do you think would happen around here?" I pushed to get him to his point.
"When Dad and I got home last night, well you know your invitation; you know to your wedding, well let's say you're becoming quite the topic of discussion. I really need to apologize up front for my mom."
"Why, hasn't she ever received a wedding invitation before?" I was getting irritated but tried to keep my cool. It was obvious that Mike was feeling really guilty about something and I need to give him a chance to get it off his chest or better yet fill me in so I could prepare for the onslaught.
"Yeah, sure of course, it's just that outside of school no one really knew how serious you and Edward were. You guys didn't really hang out with any of us outside of school or school functions. The Cullen's always were kind of mysterious and separate. I was never really sure what you saw in him. Remember that time, that first time you sat with him at lunch our junior year. That was the first time anyone, other than his brothers and sisters, ever sat with him. It kind of made you part of the mystery. Then a couple of weeks ago you had your graduation party at their house, and I have to admit that party was awesome. It will go down in history in this town. Everyone wanted to go and see what all the secrecy was about."
"Well what did everyone come up with?"
"Nothing, really, it was just a real cool party. But see the parents weren't there. They don't know, well that there really isn't anything to know. I'm not making sense am I?" I could tell that Mike was really trying hard to make his point and not hurt my feelings. I was just glad, no relieved, that he and all the other kids from my school felt that there was 'nothing to know' about the 'mysterious' Cullens.
"Okay, so what's the problem? Just say it Mike. I can take it." I tried to reassure him with my eyes, prodding him to spill the beans.
"Well my mom was on the phone with Jessica's mom, and she's a real gossip, I guess. Well they were coming up with all the possible crackpot reasons for two kids to get married right out of high school. She started pumping me for information. I kind of blew up at her. I told her that she should know better. You see she caught a lot of flak for marrying my Dad. She was right out of high school. He was like eight years older than her. I told her that you and Edward weren't like what they were assuming. I told her that if she didn't call Jessica's mom back and stop this gossip chain that I would not speak to her ever again. I don't think I have ever been so flippin' mad at her. She knew it too. I told her you were getting married because you guys just want to be together and that was it."
"Thanks Mike, I'm sorry for causing trouble between you and…"
"No, Bella. It's not like that. She should know better, she knows you. You're like one of the most responsible kids I know. Sometimes I think you act like you should be older, like you have so much life experience under your belt. Maybe that's why you never seemed as interested in me as I was in you?" Mike asked. At least I thought it was a question almost posed as a statement. Then he continued blurting out before I could respond. "You don't have to answer that. It really is obvious to me at least, how much you care about him and I see how similar you two are, really I do. I just want you to know that I am happy for you and hope you guys are happy for the long haul." He smiled "Well I better get back up front and do my job before my Dad hears I'm slacking."
He started to turn to walk back to the front and I said "Mike, wait." He stopped and looked my way still with a smile on his face. He was always so optimistic or maybe just deluded. "I've always considered you one of my best friends, and your loyalty just proves I was right. What you did for me and for Edward means a lot. Thank you."
"Sure, that's what friends are for." He said this with such satisfaction that I felt a weight lifted from inside. I could see that my friendship with Mike was now solid and just that, a friendship.
When my term at Newton's Outfitters was over I made a hasty escape behind the building and to my truck. As I drove through town I concentrated earnestly on the road before me and tried desperately to ignore any passerby that I encountered. I was hoping to hit the light at the right time so I wouldn't have to stop, but that was not my luck. As I sat there waiting my turn I saw the Stanley vehicle enter the intersection. My heart began to race and I wasn't quite sure if it was panic or rage. Then I noticed the driver waving at me as he passed by. It was Mr. Stanley. I forced a smile and did a two finger wave keeping my hand securely gripped on the steering wheel. What did it really matter what other people thought. What mattered was between Edward and me. No other
human was really privy to the big picture. The wedding was just the tip of the iceberg in my opinion. I decided to set the concerns of others aside for now and just continue my day as I always would and look forward to a day of shopping tomorrow. It would be okay, I wasn't sure, but I gotten the impression that Angela's mom was pretty open minded and not really a person who participated in hearsay.
Charlie was on the phone when I got home. I waved to him then went into the kitchen to start hamburger patties frying in a pan and put fries on a cookie sheet to bake in the oven. I overheard him talking about fishing conditions and then about some sport statistics he heard on a TV show. I wasn't paying real close attention until I heard him mention Jacob.
"So how's Jacob getting around?" I knew when he said this that the person on the other end was Billy, Jacob's Dad. "That's really nice, she invited him up to recuperate there. The girls don't get back much do they?" I could tell I would have to be cautious because I wasn't sure of what story Billy was concocting on the other end of the receiver. "Yeah well a couple of weeks and a change of scenery could do him some good. Well if you need anything Billy just give me a call otherwise I will see you Sunday morning for fishing services." He hung up the phone chuckling at his own joke.
Charlie came into the room sniffing the air and smiling. "Hey, Bells how was work? Injury free I hope."
"Very funny Dad, Mr. Newton childproofed my job today. He put all the boxes on the floor for me with instructions of no lifting." I said making air quotes with my fingers.
"That was a good plan. So why didn't you tell me Jacob went to spend a couple of weeks with Rachel up at Washington State?"
"Oh, I just assumed Billy had already told you, sorry." I gave a feeble smile knowing full well that Jacob was not with Rachel. That because of me he was out wolfing it, brooding and stewing over the pain that I had caused.
"So tomorrow you're going with Angela and her mom?" I was thankful to Charlie for the change in topic.
"Yes, shopping in Olympia. It should be a lot of fun." I really wasn't in a chatty mood. I tried to look occupied fixing a plate for Charlie and then one for myself. I sat at my place at the table and tried to keep my mouth occupied with food so that he wouldn't keep trying to make idle conversation. The phone rang and it was Angela confirming that I still wanted to go with them. I assured her that I was really stoked about going. The plan was that they would pick me up around 8 a.m. because it takes around 3 hours to get there. We could shop for about 4 or 5 hours and then be back home about 6 or 7. All in all, I figure it couldn't be too bad because there would be no one from Forks there to ogle at me with their preconceived ideas.
The early wakeup call was a good excuse to retire to my room, under the pretense of getting plenty of sleep for a full day of shopping. At 7 o'clock I was essentially ready for bed and it was still light outside. I was really tired though not having had a good restful night's sleep in I don't know how long. The odds for tonight were not looking good for that. I laid face down on my bed and listened to the leaves on the tree outside my window, rustle and swish in the breeze. I tried closing my eyes and picturing a nighttime beach with the moon in full glory perched high in the sky reflecting the white light like a beckoning road upon the glistening ocean water. I tried to imagine the feeling of my feet on the wet sand and the tide washing up over them causing the tiny granules to fill in between my toes. This was good I told myself I just needed to relax. I continued to
visualize my feet being caressed by the waters and tried to imagine the waters pulling my tensions out through my feet. Then I looked up the moonlit beached and saw a single set of footprints heading away from me. The stride between steps was enormous and the indention of each step was deep. This was made by someone definitely running away. I looked off in the distance at a hill above the tree line and he was there. His reddish coat was not vibrant and his posture defeated. He mournfully bayed at the moon and all my guilt and despair rushed back to me.
My alarm went off at 6:30 and I slammed my hand down to discontinue the beeping din. I hadn't meant to fall asleep. I always waited for Edward to stay with me when he was not away hunting. I rose up on my elbows and hastily searched my room for him. I turned my head to the rocker he often sat in and my hair fell into my face blocking my view.
"Good morning, how are you feeling?" it was his velvet croon. The sound I hoped to hear every morning for the rest of my life.
I sighed in relief and felt the panic recede from my chest. "Fine, I'm sorry I fell asleep. I didn't think I was that tired when I laid down last night, but I guess I was wrong." It was blatantly obvious I was wrong. I awoke lying in the exact same position I remembered being in the previous night when I was experimenting with my relaxation exercise. I sat up on the side of my bed facing him.
He was sitting in the chair with his elbows on the arms and his hands folded together before his face with two fingers forming a point, like the steeple I remembered from a childhood rhyme. I saw a slight smile grow on his face and his eyes exuded calmness and I was sure happiness. He rose and glided forward to sit beside me. "Bella, you should never apologize for what comes naturally. You needed some sleep and you got some. I must admit though, when I came to you last night and saw you sleeping so sound, I almost thought you had hit yourself in the head and knocked yourself out. Upon further inspection I realized your body's demands had just conquered your futile resistance. I've never seen you sleep so still. Not quiet though, you still mumbled off and on." His last recollection made him chuckle.
"Great." was the only reply I had. I stood up gathering my things to go to the bathroom and get ready for my day.
"And what time are you leaving with Angela?" he asked.
"They are picking me up at 8 and we should be back around 6 or 7 this evening. Why is something wrong?" It had become habit with me to pessimistically suspect ulterior motives to Edward's line of questioning anytime we were going to be apart and especially if there was a distance involved.
"No, of course not, I will just be missing you." He smiled and leaned back onto my bed making himself comfortable. His reply seemed sincere but I had learned that Edward was a master of manipulation of the spoken word. Plus the way he sometimes dazzled me would often distract my attention and I was sure I was missing some of the finer nuances of lie detection. Yet, I could never resist those special things he said to me that warmed my heart to its core and automatically made me smile.
After freshening up and dressing, I came back into my room to find him, like always, in the same position I had left him in. He was turning a small silver object around and around in the palm of his hand. Once he saw my focus land on it he rose from my bed extending his hand to me with its offering. "This is for you. Now you won't have to borrow Alice's."
"Thank you but it's not necessary, that was just a onetime thing."
"Bella, for me, you'll only be just a phone call away if I need you." He took my hand and lightly placed the phone in it closing my fingers around it.
"You need me, for what?" I was the one who needed him. There would be no happiness, no unsurpassable love without him. I could exist without him but it would not be living. I knew what it was to be with him and I was never going to give that up.
"I always need you. You complete me." He said stepping right up before me and caressing the side of my face with back of his hand. Reflexively I tilted my head into his touch and closed my eyes. I felt his fingers from his other hand trace the edge of my lips. I couldn't see it but I could sense him lean in because the smell of his breath wove its way into my head and I was filling up with his aroma. My hands found his waist and moved around to his back. His lips, solid and sure, met mine and I couldn't help but let a high pitched sighed sneak out. I raised myself up on to my toes as he straightened up to break the kiss. Someday I would get the kiss that would last as long as I wanted it to.
"I should go. Have fun and I will see you later." He said kissing me on the forehead before he leapt from my bedroom window.
Angela and her Mom showed up right at 8 as planned. I had plenty of time to grab a bite to eat and find the suggested summer reading list for college bound students Mr. Berty had given all the seniors before finals. I was sure there would be some books on the list that I would have interest in reading. I double checked my purse before exiting the house. I had my wallet, the cell phone, the book list and my mace. The later I learned was better to have on hand than to be sorry later.
I jumped into the back seat of the minivan with Angela and told Mrs. Webber how grateful I was for letting me tag along on their day of shopping. "Any time dear." was her reply and then she gave a pointed glance to Angela. Angela just looked back at her almost like she was panicked. "Oh for heaven's sake Angela, Bella I'm sorry, Angela seems to think it's rude for me to ask, I'm sure it's probably very exciting for you."
Okay I was sure this had something to do with my engagement but I was still a little confused. So I replied as best I could without sounding like a total idiot "Yes, it is exciting."
"Mom says it's expected for friends to ask to see the ring." Angela was embarrassed, but if that was all this was about, no problem. I quickly held my left hand out between the seats. They both ogled at the ring on my finger.
"Well that boy has some taste." was Mrs. Weber's response.
"It was his mother's." I said this with pride. I felt a realization of family swelling within me. I may never have had the chance to meet Elizabeth but I knew from looking at this ring that the beauty of it held a special place in her heart just as her son had. Now I had the ring. It truly is beautiful and her son holds that same spot in my heart.
"Oh wow, that's really sweet and special. You guys are going to be so happy."
"Thank you Angela." I smiled at my friend, my best human girlfriend. She was the one that understood me from the start. Maybe because in some ways we had a lot in common, neither one of us liked to be the center of attention. We are also very loyal to our friends.
The nearly three hour drive went relatively quickly. Mrs. Weber listened to an audio book through an ear piece and Angela and I watched a movie on a portable DVD player. Of course there
was conversation about college and I had to make up answers for some of the questions. The discussion about the wedding was short when I explained it was going to be a very small affair and that I had let Alice be my wedding planner. Angela knew how much Alice liked to plan events. "You're having a small affair planned by Alice?" the sarcasm was very evident in her statement.
"I hold the veto. I am the bride." I said laughing but I had a minor jolt at the fact that I just referred to myself as the bride. It had taken me quite some time to get used to the word fiancée and now I would have to quickly get used to bride and groom.
When we arrived in Olympia Mrs. Weber knew right where to go. We went to a few department stores making purchases of clothing and Angela got a new pair of tennis shoes for all the walking she would be doing on campus.
For a late lunch we picked up sandwiches from Charley's Grilled Sub and took them to a local park to enjoy our lunch in the sun. Angela was explaining to her mom how easy it could be to order her laptop for school online rather than using valuable shopping time today. As they talked I watched the people stroll by on the sidewalks in the park. It was fun to people watch, as long as none of them were watching me. I had a sudden sense of just that. The hair on the back of my neck was standing on end. I tried to inconspicuously glance around but I saw nothing out of the ordinary. Turning back to face Angela I noticed off in the distance, over her shoulder, a couple of robed figures walking down the shaded part of the street towards a produce market. I craned my neck to get a better look.
"What are you looking at Bella?" Angela asked, turning around in her seat to get a better look in that direction.
"Do you see those guys in the robes walking over there? Who wears robes?" I said trying to disguise my alarm and increasing anxiety. In my mind I was picturing an ominous pair from my past, Felix and Demetri of the Volturi.
"Those are the monks from Saint Martin's Abbey. They come here from Lacey. There is a University there and the grounds are absolutely beautiful." Mrs. Weber explained nonchalantly.
I took a second look and rationalized that these men were not as daunting as the ones from my memories. These men were of modest size and carried a modest posture. Then I saw one of them lower his hood, something a vampire would never do in the presence of such a bright sunny day. I sighed with relief and then felt internal embarrassment that I had let my paranoia get the best of me. Still I couldn't help myself from continually scanning my surroundings
After lunch we went to a shopping center that had both a department store and major retail bookstore. I persuaded Angela and her mom to go ahead without me to the department store. Mrs. Weber said they wouldn't be long and would be to the bookstore soon. I assured her I would be fine and that I usually end up spending more time than I expected to among literary works. She gave me a chuckle of understanding and we parted ways. What I really needed was some alone time to get my head back in the right place.
When I walked through the doors I was inundated by a smell that, until that moment, I hadn't realized how much I missed new books. Rows and rows of them that you could lose yourself in or maybe hide in. No, I told myself, you're being ridiculous. What you saw were the monks from Saint Martin's, not the Volturi. Alice would know if Aro were planning something; unless, like a time before, she was watching too many different subjects. She had once complained to Edward that when she tried to do too much that things could get missed or misinterpreted.
I walked back to a section categorized as classic novels and tried to look engrossed. I grabbed a random book, opening it and pretended to peruse its contents while I sorted out my thoughts. I was sure Edward would never have let me go shopping three hours away if he suspected trouble. Yet, there was the time he manipulated the situation so that my dad allowed the two of us to fly to Florida to visit my mom for a few days. This he did because he suspected Victoria was running about Washington plotting my demise. Maybe he was hiding something from me, but he would never have let me go without one of them with me. I had to be totally off base.
I decided to table my analysis of my suspicions until I could confront Edward face to face. I closed the book I'd grabbed and glanced at the title, Dante's Divine Comedy, how ironic. The subject of heaven and hell and where your soul ends up after you die has been an often visited topic of conversation between Edward and me. I retrieved Mr. Berty's list and confirmed that this book was on the list. Who knows maybe it held some great revelation that I could use to vilify my belief that Edward had a soul and that his goodness made him worthy of ascending to the golden gates above.
I began to review the list for other books I would be interested in reading and took a step forward only to step on the cell phone that must have fallen out of my purse when I pulled out the reading list. I picked it up and anxiously checked it to see if maybe Alice had called to leave a warning because of a vision she might have had. There was a text message in my inbox. I couldn't get my fingers to open the phone fast enough. My heart was racing. I just knew I was right about my feeling. I finally got my fingers to press the right keys and my inbox revealed the message. All it said was Miss You, love Edward.
I had to laugh but not too loud as to draw attention to myself from other patrons of the store. I was not only paranoid but borderline delusional. Here I was on a beautiful sunny day shopping in a town that had an acceptable bookstore with good company and I had to create drama for myself. Maybe I should be in the self help section looking for some self analysis books.
By the time Mrs. Weber and Angela caught up with me, I had decided on two other books, Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman and The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.
"It looks like you had some luck." Mrs. Weber said looking at the titles in my hand. "Those are some challenging pieces. Were they suggested reading to prepare for college?"
"Yeah, Mr. Berty gave us a list and I figured it couldn't hurt." As I said this I saw Angela, who was standing behind her mom, roll her eyes.
"You see Angela; it never hurts to get a head start."
"Mom, I'm getting a science degree not arts. I hope to take the literature class for the non arts students. I could never get my head around most of that stuff."
I jumped in to throw Angela some help, "I've decided to minor in literature so I just wanted to get some books read to prepare myself." I smiled at Angela and mouthed sorry.
She smiled back and nodded mouthing it's okay.
Before we left the store I had added The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Mrs. Webber had picked up a couple of murder mystery books and Angela made a point of getting a book of poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, I'm sure just to appease her mother.
It was well after 3:30pm when we loaded up in the van to start our trek home. Once I was settled into my seat with no intentions of moving for a while, I felt the exhaustion set in. I could tell Angela was equally tired, as she was resting her head back with her eyes temporarily shut. Maybe a
nap would be in order on the ride home, but with my sleep talking and nightmare screams I thought better of that.
As Mrs. Weber put on her seatbelt, started the engine and began to back out, I glanced out the window and noticed in the far corner of the parking lot a robed figure. Another monk I told myself. They sure do get around. Then after further appraisal, I saw that this figure was tall and had very broad shoulders. The hood was up so no face could be seen and his arms were folded in front so no skin was exposed. Not really anything to necessarily be alarmed about. Then it hit me; thinking back to the monks I saw earlier today. The distinct attitude in his stance seemed out of character. But even more alarming was what he was leaning on. It was a very distinctive black Cadillac SUV that reflected the light from the sun, but the extreme tint of the windows would let none inside.
As our van left the lot turning away from his direction, I saw the figure turn opening the door to get into the car. I craned around in my seat to get a better look. Never was there any skin exposed or facial features. Inside the car was only blackness. Oh crap, I knew I was right, the Volturi were watching but from a distance for now.
I frantically grabbed for my purse and the sudden sound of my moves startled Angela to life. She gave me a puzzled look like maybe I was going to have some kind of attack in front of her.
I purposefully slowed my actions and pulled out my cell phone "I thought I heard my phone. It might be Edward. You know making plans for later."
Angela giggled "I bet he's waiting for you when we get back."
Boy I hoped so and I also hoped my new shadow would fade away into the sunset. I opened my phone, no messages. I looked at Angela and shrugged my shoulders trying to look a little disappointed which really was not far from the truth. She nodded back with a shrug of empathy and rested her head back on the seat and closing her eyes.
I resolved myself to being the ultimate watchdog. Scanning the mirrors as discreetly as I could and glancing out windows like a first time sight seer. Mrs. Weber had returned to listening to her audio book and was intently watching the road, enjoying herself. I never saw the Cadillac again the whole way home.
When Mrs. Weber pulled up in front of my house, Angela turned off the DVD player for the second time. I couldn't even tell you what movie was playing. I graciously thanked them for inviting me and gathered the few sacks of purchases that I had conveniently shifted during the drive to reside beside me for a quick exit.
"Bella, honey, I'm so glad you came with us. I know you'll be busy now with plans for your big day. Congratulations and have fun with it, it will be so special." Mrs. Weber was always so nice. I think Angela thought maybe borderline sappy the way she rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, Bella I'll call you later or you call me if you need any help with anything." Angela added.
"Okay, thanks again" I replied waving as they drove away trying desperately to hide the panic rising with the thought of being alone right now. Charlie's cruiser was gone, which for this time of night was not really normal. I ran to the front door, frantically fumbling the key in the lock to gain entry. I pushed the door shut very deliberately and bolted it full well knowing this would not keep out a vampire. The light on the answering machine was blinking. I dropped my sacks at the bottom of the stairs and went to listen to the message. It was Charlie and he had to go work an accident where some minivan was following a semi too close. He said he would be back a soon as he could and not to worry about making him dinner.
When the message finished and the machine reset with a final click I stopped to listen. Through the silence I thought I could hear a muted ringing within my own head probably brought on by the rapid fire thoughts of impending doom. In realty there was nothing to hear. I went for my purse and grabbed the cell phone. I really wanted to call Alice but I knew that in that instant that Edward would know, so it would just be easier to talk to him.
I opened the phone to dial his number and it rang. The screen told me the call was from Edward's phone. "Hello, Edward?" my voice was a little shaky and I couldn't help myself from swallowing hard.
"Bella, Bella what's wrong?" He immediately picked up the tone of my answer.
"Nothing, I just got home. Charlie's working a wreck, it's just really quiet here and the phone spooked me."
"I'll be there in a few minutes." the call disconnected but I was sure I heard the acceleration of his engine before that.
I sat frozen to the chair in the kitchen, hearing the tick of the second hand on the wall clock. True to his word it was just minutes but they were very long minutes. I heard his car coming up the street. Before I could get to the door he was knocking. I'm sure he would have let himself in with the key that usually was on the ledge outside but it was clenched within my fingers.
I unlocked the bolt and the door opened. He stepped in and placed both his hands on the sides of my face peering into my eyes noticing evident panic and stress. "What is it?" was all he asked.
"I think I saw one of the Volturi today." I tried to say calmly like it was a common occurrence but my voice waned at the end.
"What makes you think this? What did you see?" He asked almost too fast for my ears to comprehend. His hands moved to my shoulders as he guided me back to the chair I had been sitting in. I hadn't noticed that at some point he had retrieved his cell phone and it was in his hand.
"I'm fine really. It was as we left to come back to Forks, as we left the parking lot. I saw someone in a cloak like the ones they wore in Italy. I think he was watching me. It was really bright out you know so I didn't see his face, his hood was up, and no skin showing."
"It was just one and just when you were leaving." I could tell his mind was racing for explanations of what I was detailing to him. "Were there any others around?"
"No, at lunch, when we were in the park, I kind of freaked when I saw some monks that Mrs. Weber said were from the Saint Martin's Monastery, but there hoods were down and most definitely monks, so it was just this one guy."
"What makes you think this guy was not another monk?" He asked this question but did not sound skeptical. He believed me, or at least believed that I was certain and was collecting facts.
"He was leaning against and then got into a very flashy black Cadillac with blackout tint on the windows. Not something I think many monks are accustomed to."
"How far away was he? Did they follow you out of the lot?" he asked as he opened his phone and dialed.
"Quite far away, maybe 50 yards or more, I didn't see them follow us and I watched all the way back but never saw that car again." While I answered I saw his lips moving. He was talking to someone on the other end.
"Come on Bella, let's go see Alice. She says Tonya has called." As he said this he scribbled a note in brilliantly forged script that read Dad I'm at Edward's, be back later. B.
