We start off right where 20 left off!
"I could have, but I knew I could never love her and love is something I wanted."
"Why could you never love her?" Aro asks less harshly.
"She was too independent. She's a career woman and she would have never agreed to live our lifestyle," Edward says.
"If she would have been agreeable?"
"I would have requested," Edward says as tears slip down my face.
"What if I told you she was?" Aro says.
"It wouldn't matter now. I've fallen in love with my wife and I'm very excited for the birth of my child," he says as I wipe my tears away.
"Very well, this visit was mainly for us to see Raymond, but since you all have found each other it made sense to speak with all of you," Father says. "This is your daughter?"
"It is," Ray says as Marcus and Aro stare at Alice.
"And she is ready? I find her to be very rude," Marcus say matter a factly.
"Its a beautiful day out, ladies," Aro says with a head nod. Edward helps me stand and the three of us head out to the porch.
"I'm so confused," I admit once we are on the porch. Alice sits down and burst into tears. Alison is quick to go to her, but it takes me a minute to sit on the stairs.
"This is so stupid," Alice says with a sniffle.
"You have free will. You don't have to do this," Alison says as she rubs her back.
"And never see you or Dad again?" she asks as the tears roll down her face. "I'll get over it. This, those men, it's all stupid."
"I'm so confused," I say as Alice chuckles. "Were you and Ray brought up in the community?"
"Ray was and he requested for me to join many years ago. We were approved, but they didn't find me worthy at the time. They said I was too strong headed. They were right, I was and then we had Alice out of wedlock. Ray stayed employed by them as a PI of sorts and they said once they found him faithful he would be allowed to come back. He has proven himself, and I have been found worthy, so we will be married," Alison tells me as I nod.
"Will you have to do the year away?" I ask.
"No, because I have lived in the outside world my whole life, there is no need. Same goes for Alice. It will suit her better to go and stay," Alison says as I nod.
"It's going to be so hard. It took everything I had not to open my mouth in there," Alice says as I chuckle.
"I understand, but I'm kind of happy. I was so sad knowing I was never going to be able to see you once I left here," I say as she smiles.
"You'll help me?"
"Yeah, I'll help you," I tell her as I hug her. "The women all stick together and help each other. I remember when my mom was sick, our neighbor came over and helped clean and cook. It's like an unwritten rule of the wives."
"That's cool. I'm not good at cleaning," Alice admits.
"You'll get there, I promise. What about classes?" I ask.
"She will live with us until she's done. She won't be allowed to see Jasper until the wedding once we all return," Alison says as I nod.
"Do those men butt into your life often?" Alice asks.
"Not that I have ever seen. They don't usually talk to the women either," I tell her as she nods.
We sit on the front steps for what seems like hours. When the front door opens, none of the men look happy at all. Alice helps me up and I take notice that Father Marcus watches closely. The baby kicks Alice's hand and we giggle.
"She's always kicking me," Alice says as we laugh some more.
"Edward, may I speak with your wife privately?" Father asks as the blood drains from my face.
"Yes, Father that would be fine," Edward says as I plead with my eyes to him.
"Very well, Isabella, will you walk with me please?" Father Marcus says. I nod my head as I swallow the bile that is rising up my throat. I've never had a true one on one conversation with him. He offers me his arm and I take it till we are down the steps. "May I speak blunt with you?"
"Of course Father," I say as we walk away.
"I do not do this often for the fact that a woman's opinion doesn't really matter to me," he says as I take a deep breath.
"I understand," I say glancing up to his face.
"I've always been very fond of your parents and your father can read a person very easily," he tells me as I chuckle. I couldn't agree more. "I guess I'm hoping maybe you have acquired that talent as well. Edward and Raymond have both told me that you and Alice have become close, yes?"
"That's correct, Sir," I tell him as we stop at the end of his car. I glance up to see Edward watching us.
"Okay then, I'm going to ask a question and I want your complete honesty when you answer," he says as I look him in the face and nod in agreement. "Will Alice be a good addition to our community?"
"I think so," I say taking a deep breath.
"Will she cause trouble?"
"May I be a little blunt with you, Father?"
"You may, Child, as long as you stay respectful," he says as I give him a smile.
"She is going to mess up... probably a lot, but I wholeheartedly believe that she deserves a chance. I'm willing to help her learn and I know my mother would step up as well. She is scared and I think that is understandable. I have never liked seeing families get taken apart for whatever reason," I say taking a big breath. "I don't know if anyone has told you, and I know a woman working is frowned upon, but Alice is an amazing photographer. That is something the community doesn't have and I think it would be something everyone would be interested in, if you allowed, Father."
"We don't have anything like that do we?" he asks as I smile at him. "So you truly believe that she deserves a chance, but do you think, if that chance is given, she will succeed?"
"I do, Father," I say as he gives me a smile.
"Very well, thank you for speaking with me and I'll keep the picture thing in mind," he says as I smile brightly.
"Thank you, Father, have a safe trip back home," I say as he smiles at me again.
"We will see you and your family soon. You may go," he says dismissing me. As I walk back to the house, Aro moves around me giving me a head nod. When I get to the porch, Edward puts his hand around my waist and we watch them drive away.
"How stressful," I say taking a deep breath.
"I would like to speak with you in our room," Edward says as we head back inside. "Ray, would you mind ordering the pizza so we can have a better evening?"
"Yup, I can do that," Ray says.
"We will just be a minute," Edward informs everyone as I head for our bedroom. As soon as the bedroom door closes, Edward pulls me into his chest and hugs me tight. "I love you," he says into the back of my head.
"I love you, too. Are you okay?"
"I almost lost you and it scared me so badly," he says as my eyes fill with tears. "I'm so sorry for messing up."
"It all worked out. We are going to be okay," I tell him as I reach up to kiss his lips. "I didn't mean to talk out of turn, I'm sorry."
"Any other time I would be so angry with you, but it helped us. Aro said he saw the fear in your eyes when a divorce was mentioned. He saw that we were truly bonded," he says as I take a deep breath. "What did Marcus want? When he asked to talk to you, I thought I was going to be sick."
"Oh, I know, I felt the same way," I tell him as I chuckle. "He asked me about Alice and what I thought."
"Really?!"
"Yeah, can you believe that?" I ask as I sit on the bed, my feet are hurting. "I just gave him my honest opinion and I told him how great she is at taking pictures and how that would benefit the community."
"You're the smartest woman ever," he says kissing me all over my face. "You are an amazing person Mrs. Cullen."
"You're not so bad yourself, Mr. Cullen," I tell him as he kisses me soundly. I was shocked when he deepened the kiss slipping his tongue into my mouth. I pull him to me more and we kiss longer.
"Mmm... we don't have time for this. If we keep going we are never going to leave this room," he says making me laugh.
When we are done with our kissing, we rejoin the group and the mood is lighter. Everyone seems okay. We all hangout for hours eating pizza and watching The Big Bang Theory. The only people missing are my parents, but I know I will see them again very soon.
Look! Not a cliffy! Sorry for the late post. I think I have taken too much on at one time, but things seem to be wrapping up. I have one more chapter of this story ready to go and I hope to work this week on chapter 23. As of now I have no clue how many chapter I have left.
If you are looking for something new to read, check out If I Die Young by weekittyandjessandtat. Also, starting Wednesday, a new story called Mismatched Love will be posted. Weekitty and I are writing this story for teamalltwilight's birthday! Go put weeandjess on alert so know the when we update!