Chapter Twelve

Carlisle

We had been surprised when Alice did no more than say hello before dragging Jasper away but assumed it was because she had missed him so much. I didn't blame her because I don't think I could have coped with being away from Esme for so long. Edward was acting strangely too, he seemed nervous but excited too and I assumed he had found himself a new girlfriend or hobby, both, strangely enough, seemed to have the same effect on my son but he wasn't willing to say anything until we reached the hotel and when Esme asked which room Jasper and Alice were staying in and where Rose and Emmett were he suddenly looked extremely guilty.

"They aren't here. Alice needed to talk privately to Jasper so she booked into another hotel and Rose and Emmett decided not to stay, they've gone on to Switzerland early I think. There's a note for you at reception but I needed to speak to you before you read it."

Once in our suite, Esme rounded on Edward,

"Right, what is going on Edward and don't go around the houses, give it to me straight. There's something seriously wrong and I want to know what it is."

Now he looked embarrassed, an expression usually alien to him and one which therefore concerned me.

"Well, Edward, you heard Esme, explain please."

"This is difficult for me so please let me finish before you say anything."

He moved to the window and peered out as he continued to speak.

"As you know Alice has been helping me get over Bella's rejection and she's been wonderful. We...we never wanted this to happen, it wasn't planned or anything, in fact, it was as much a shock to us as it will be to you I'm sure. Neither of us can understand why we didn't see or feel it earlier but we didn't, not until we were alone together in Portland."

Esme sagged and put a hand to her mouth looking horrified,

"Oh, no!"

And Edward turned frowning at her,

"Like I said it wasn't planned Esme but you should know as well as anyone how it just happens.'"

Then he turned his attention to me,

"Alice and I have fallen in love, we recognized each other as our mates, that's why we didn't go back to Forks. She's telling Jasper now and I hope he can take it like a man and let her go."

I stared at him aghast,

"You and Alice have been intimate all this time and you didn't think you should tell him? Edward, Jasper has been waiting for Alice to return all this while, missing her and longing to see her again while she was tucked up in bed with you? How could you do that to him?"

Now Edward looked angry and defensive,

"It wasn't deliberate, we didn't want to hurt anyone, it just happened."

"I'm well aware of how the mating pull works Edward and that you had no control over it but to let it go on for so long without telling Jasper? That is unforgivable, I take it Rose and Emmett found out and that's why they left? I can't say I blame them, after all, they are both very fond of Jasper."

" I think they were both extremely judgmental if you must know, they made Alice feel like we had done something underhand and disgusting which is grossly unfair."

I stared at him, could he really be so blind?

"Well, I wouldn't blame Jasper if he told Alice exactly what he thought about both of you. He's too much of a gentleman to strike her but I'm sure he will feel like it, however, I'm not so sure you will get off so lightly young man."

I guess he must have half expected our reactions because he just nodded resigned now.

"I was worried how he might react but Alice told me I shouldn't, that he would never strike a woman, especially one he had feelings for."

"Let's just hope he doesn't decide to take it all out on you instead. then"

Esme's words in such a cold tone had Edward worried, especially as she said it as if wishing he would and I knew how she felt, neither of us handled treachery or betrayal well and Edward and Alice were guilty of both in our eyes.

Edward realizing he would get no sympathy but still hoping I think that we might soften in our attitudes went out for a walk to give us time to think about what he had told us and Esme rang Jasper's cell phone straight away but it went to voicemail and I knew she was very worried about him.

"Should I try Alice? I don't want Jasper to think we are taking her side if he's still with her."

"I think the best thing would be to leave it for now but we must decide on our reaction to such shocking news."

Esme sat down on the couch and shook her head,

"Carlisle, I know how fond you are of Edward but I cannot countenance what he and Alice have done to Jasper. It's not the fact they recognized what they meant to each other like he said they had no control over that, it's the fact they have been living together for two months and left poor Jasper in the dark waiting at home for Alice to return."

"I agree, so what do we do? If we tell them that they must leave the family we lose them, possibly forever."

She looked up at me with pain in her eyes but determination too.

"And if we don't then we lose Rose and Emmett, they've made their feelings very clear already by leaving before we even arrived and we turn our back on Jasper."

I sighed and dropped down beside her,

"I know my dear, it's hard all round but they've left us little choice. I think they must be made to understand that it is their betrayal of Jasper we find repugnant and that they must give us all time to forgive that but I won't cut them off completely."

"I didn't expect you would, but you're right, we need time to come to terms with their actions and to give Jasper our support during a very trying time for him."

"Good, well we agree, so as soon as Edward returns we can tell him. I wonder if Alice will be visiting soon and what Jasper will do."

"Nothing rash I hope Carlisle, he's such an emotionally fragile soul in many ways, this is going to break him in two, he adored Alice."

"I think Jasper might just surprise us all Esme, he may be emotional but he's also strong and he's a survivor, he'll get over it. I'm more concerned how he might react in the meantime."

I was wondering what Rosalie had said to Edward and Alice, she would have been scandalized, marriage was sacred in her eyes despite her own tragic past. I guess I was slightly surprised that Edward wasn't sporting some newly healed wounds but perhaps she had left before she felt unable to resist the urge to lash out. Both she and Emmett would be seething and worried for Jasper's sake and I seriously doubted either of them would forgive Edward and Alice in a hurry if ever.

I had just decided to go down to reception and retrieve Rose's letter from reception when we heard a knock on the door and Esme flew to open it hoping I think that it would be Jasper but instead it was Alice who received a very icy reception from her.

"Oh, it's you! Where's Jasper?"

Alice looked extremely uncomfortable and very stressed,

"I don't know, he walked out on me after we spoke. I suppose Edward has filled you in on all the details?"

"Oh yes, and very sordid they are too Alice, how could you treat Jasper like that? Surely he had a right to know what was happening straight away yet you left him dangling in limbo for weeks. I will never forgive you for that, we're terribly shocked and annoyed with you both."

She nodded refusing to meet Esme's eye,

"I know and I think I've just made matters worse."

I gestured for her to be seated and took my place opposite her even more concerned now.

"What do you mean Alice? What have you said to Jasper?"

"I told him the truth, that Edward and I recognized each other as our mate and that we are going to get married. I already had the divorce petition drawn up naming me as the guilty party and gave him a copy. I never blamed him for anything."

"How very big of you to take the blame and how convenient to have set the ball rolling for the divorce, you don't waste much time do you, Alice?"

Esme was fuming and I admit to feeling a certain distaste myself for the haste in which she had worked but I sensed there was more so I just nodded,

"And how did he react?"

"He was shocked and angry, he felt betrayed too but I think that was more because….."

I'd never known Alice to be lost for words or as embarrassed as she now appeared and wondered just what she had done to make her so ashamed.

"Go on Alice, it was because of what?"

She got up and walked to the window staring out into the night not willing to meet our gaze as she continued,

"Because I got carried away and nearly slept with him before I gave him the divorce papers and told him everything."

She turned to face us seeing shock and horror as we both stared at her in disbelief,

"You did what?"

Esme's voice was full of disgust and I really think she might have slapped Alice if I hadn't taken her hand in mine,

"How could you? I'm amazed you're still in one piece, I'd have ripped your lying tongue out and burned it before taking the rest of you apart and sending it to Edward in a parcel."

I squeezed Esme's hand to halt her tirade and watched as Alice rubbed her cheek as if she could feel the slap she had so narrowly avoided, her eyes full of venom like tears. Feeling I had to say something to break the terrible silence I spoke,

"What on earth possessed you to do such a thing?"

She shook her head,

"I don't know, he just looked so pleased to see me and I couldn't help remembering all the good times we had, it just kind of happened. I know it shouldn't, that it made things worse and I tried to explain but I don't think he really…...well….."

Esme cursed, words I wasn't even aware she knew and pulling free of my grip she went out slamming the door behind her watched by a now terrified looking Alice.

"Everyone hates me Carlisle, Rose, and Emmett, Jasper, Esme…..I even hate myself for hurting Jazz. What am I going to do? How do I explain it all to Edward?"

I took a deep breath,

"I think you should find him, pack up, and get as far away from the family as you can until tempers cool and forgiveness comes with the passage of time."

"You hate me too don't you Carlisle?"

"Actually it's worse than that Alice, I'm very disappointed in both of you and right now I don't think I can continue to be connected to either of you in any way."

As if on cue Edward came in looking puzzled, he must have passed Esme outside, and went to Alice putting an arm protectively around her shoulders,

"What's going on? I hope you haven't been giving Alice a hard time, I told you it was no one's fault and if you're worried about Jasper then don't be, he's capable of looking after himself although from what I can read in your thoughts it seems he has all the allies and we have only enemies left."

I had clouded my thoughts as soon as he appeared and it seems Esme's were so confused that he hadn't read about Alice's behavior which was just as well. It was for her to tell him the truth not us and I knew he would have to be told sooner or later or he would read the guilt in Alice's thoughts.

Edward looked at me as if waiting for me to explain the situation but I kept silent and Alice shook her head her tone now tinged with bitterness.

"It's no good Edward, we aren't wanted, apparently we broke some sacred law by falling in love. Come on, we should go."

He gave me one final glance then, as it registered that Alice was right, he nodded his head and walked to the door still holding her close.

"I'm sorry Carlisle, I know I've disappointed you, let you down after all you did for me and I'm truly sorry but I had hoped you might be a little more understanding."

Alice stopped him at the door and turned to me with wide pleading eyes,

"Look after Jazz, he deserves to be happy and I really hope that one day he will find his mate and the life he truly deserves. If I could see his future, know he would be as happy as Edward makes me, it would be some consolation but I can't and perhaps that's my burden to bear. Goodbye."

She waited as if I might make some movement towards her or speak but when I didn't she nodded, turned back, and they left.

I waited standing on the balcony for Esme to return but it was a very long time before I heard her open the door. She came out to join me, taking my hand in hers and staring out over the city of my birth, a city I had left so long ago that had suffered so much yet still stood proudly and wondered if I would be as resilient.

"I went to Alice's hotel hoping to find Jasper still there but he'd checked out. All his things were still there, he left with nothing, even the divorce papers were laying ripped and scattered on the floor. Do you think we'll see him again, Carlisle? I'm so worried about him."

I turned and pulled her into a comforting embrace,

"Jasper is much stronger than you think, he'll probably be staggered by this at first but then he'll do what he has always done, pick himself up and start over again. I don't know if we'll see him again, at least in the short term but I have no doubt that he'll get in touch, he knows how much we care about him and he won't leave you worrying for long."

"But what do we do now? All our plans are in pieces."

"We carry on Esme, the others will be in touch too. They know how to find us and they will when they're ready but for now it's just you and me. I know I promised you a family but…."

She put a finger to my lips to silence me smiling,

"You gave me a family Carlisle and sometimes this is what happens to families but I'm certain we'll find each other again eventually."

Esme was right, sometimes even the closest of families had their crisis and grew stronger, as a result, it just took time and with Esme beside me, I could wait just as she would although somehow I doubted that we would ever be as strong as we had been. Perhaps, however, we would be wiser and more thoughtful of each other, it was all I could ask for but in the meantime, perhaps I would visit my father's old church which was miraculously still standing after all these centuries and pray for a little strength to see us through this crisis.