Chapter 14

Hey again! Are you proud of me? I'm proud of me! Three chapters in a week!

I'd be lying if I said I knew where this story was going, and had it all planned out, but I'm getting there! Please review!

Previously…

….But now wasn't the time for chasing. Their thoughts were sly and I know without a doubt that this wasn't the last I would see of them. Now was the time for rest, the silence before the storm.

And all we could do was wait.

Bella POV

It had been a week since the run-in with the vampires. When Edward had finally returned, I was so relieved; as a result of the worry, I had bitten my finger-nails painfully short, and now had a bloody cut in my mouth from where I had chewed at my cheek. But I didn't have time to smother his face in kisses as I wanted to – immediately Carlisle had called a family meeting, where they spent three whole days (and nights) discussing safety precautions for me and Charlie and attack strategies for the inevitable fight with Jessica and the other female.

I was unbelievably upset when Edward broke the news about Jessica. I knew that Mike had been a stalker, and slightly psycho, but I never thought that he had it in him to mutilate his own girlfriend. When the Cullen's had… disposed of Mike, I had felt horrified and slightly sickened, but those emotions were now replaced with a burning hatred and anger towards the twisted boy, and I was grateful to Edward for taking care of that particular problem. My Edward…. Our relationship had started so quickly, and I knew from the first time I met him that he was the One. He was sweet and thoughtful, but was still masculine and his body was perfectly sculpted. And since then vampire attack, he wouldn't let me out of his sight. It would have been endearing, had it not been so irritating. His protective attitude towards me was quickly getting dull. He would jump a mile at the smallest of squeaks, and at night when the wind rustled the leaves in the forest, I could feel his body twitching and jerking at every sound.

I was sat next to a whining Emmett on the sofa in the lounge; he had lost four games of Halo in a row, and he wasn't very happy about it. Without warning, he dived on me, ripping the controller out of my hands and then his hands were jabbing at my sides. I screamed with laughter and he found my weakest spot behind my neck and progressed to tickle me with vigour. Jasper and Alice watched with amusement, Rosalie gave a pointed glare and turned her nose up in the opposite direction. It wasn't until Edward gave a warning growl when I gasped for air that Emmett finally freed me from the iron cage of his arms.

"Oh Eddie, you had to spoil the fun, didn't you!" Emmett winked at me cheekily as I swatted at his arm and Edward growled loudly at the nickname.

"Bella, is your mother called Renee?" Edward asked me casually as I flung myself back onto the sofa, throwing the X-Box controller towards Jasper.

"Yes…. Why?" I cocked my head to one side, curious as to where this conversation was headed. I thought that Edward already knew my mothers name.

"…Do you know the piano in the school music room?"
I grinned. "Of course I do! It was me who persuaded the music department to get it! This lovely old lady got in touch with school and offered to donate the piano."
"Oh!" Edward nodded in sudden understanding, and breezed out of the room with a vacant expression, leaving me even more confused than usual. Alice's eyes clouded over and then followed Edward out of the room, giving me an odd look on the way. Jasper came to sit opposite me, frowning slightly. I asked him what all of that was about.

"I don't know… I felt a sudden realisation from him, followed by determination. From Alice, I got the same, although more confusion. Whatever it is, I'm sure that they'll let us know when they're ready." I nodded in agreement, but my head was reeling. What was going on?

Edward POV

Dearest Bella Swan. I am so sorry that we never met. My name is Lady White, and I am your true Grandmother. Renee is not you biological mother. I am terribly sorry for you to find out like this. I doubt that I have many months left in me, so in my will, I am leaving you my whole estate and half of my fortune. I love you lots, and I ask you do not hold it against you real mother for leaving; she had no choice. This piano has brought me joy and solace over so many years, as I hope it will you. Yours always, Lady Marie White.

I had been thinking about the message on the piano at school for a while. It was one of those thoughts that no matter how much you tried to figure it out, it just wouldn't fit, like a jigsaw piece in the wrong box. The names fit – Bella Swan, Renee…. I just needed solid evidence. So when Bella confirmed that Renee was indeed her 'mother', I was determined to find out what was going on. First I would go to the newspaper publishers. If a wealthy old lady had just died, there was sure to be an obituary in the paper. Once I had all the names, and dates, it shouldn't be too hard to find out if the message was true – if Renee truly wasn't Bella's biological mother.

Wait for me! A voice pushed itself into my head. I instantly recognised it as Alice. I sighed, eager to discover what secrets were in store. As soon as I saw Alice's slight frame skip gracefully out of the house, I carried on walking to my car. As I turned on the engine and prepared to set off, Alice slipped into the passenger seat.

"Go to the 'Forks Today' office first." I didn't answer, but did as she said. In her mind I could clearly see her vision of us entering the building, and finding the obituary of Lady White. I knew I could just leave it at that, and carry on with my investigation, but I wanted to see it for myself, in person.

We easily gained entry to the building, with a little flirting and charm from Alice. We found the way to the room where the all the birth announcements and obituaries from the last two centuries were kept – the ancestry department kept them for reference. I turned to the 'W' section, of the obituaries, whilst Alice headed to the birth section. Opening up the first drawer I came to, I was overcome with the scent of old paper…. And of Bella. I flicked to the 'Wh' section and hesitated as my fingers grasped the new paper which was headed 'White, Lady Georgina'. I pulled out the clean grey-ish paper which shone in comparison to the old yellowing pages that were pressed up against it.

We are devastated to announce the death of Lady Georgina White, a wonderfully kind
and generous woman. She was much-loved by all, and she will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

All friends and family members are welcome to attend a celebration of her life,
which shall take part on Friday 16th August 2011. Lady White requested that formal dress should be worn, although she asked that no-one wore black clothing.

There were no dates on the obituary, so it was impossible to see how old Lady White had been when she died. The funeral, or celebration of life as they called it, was tomorrow. I wondered what I would tell Bella. Sweet, lovely Bella. It would destroy her to know that her Grandmother had died without her getting to know her. But it still remained to find out if Renee shared the same blood.

"Edward… I think you should see this…" Alice's voice sounded strangely detached.

I walked over to see what she had found. Her mind was blank, so I couldn't guess at what it was. In her hand was a birth certificate, for Lady Georgina White.

The year was 1784.

Oh. That definitely confused things.

So, what did you think? Sorry if it was a bit of a mish-mash of a chapter :P
If anyone has any suggestions for the future of this story, please let me know! Please review!

Jessie Maude