Chapter 26 - Esme to the rescue

Bella

While we were working on the Gray Ghost, my father had tracked down an old electric piano keyboard and set it up in the kid's room to help keep them occupied.

I was thankful for it after my long night of crying.

Masen had kept himself busy until almost until eleven o'clock this morning, when I finally woke on my own. I slinked off into the shower and then came out and made lunch for everyone.

My dad watched excitedly, as I diced up some chicken breasts and sautéed them in olive oil with some herbs, vegetables, and whole grain pasta. He was happy to know boneless skinless chicken breast could actually taste good when served right. Sue was great, but her cooking prowess certainly was not what he married her for.

Masen filled me in on his progress on the piano playing and Charlie beamed, proud that he had helped his grandson with learning something new. Masen had already mastered basic scales and music reading. He was truly his father's child.

Masen was anxious to get back to work on the Gray Ghost now that I was up. I was so glad everyone was helping me keep him busy.

I was walking into the garage, following the kids and not paying attention, when I hit a patch of grease. It wouldn't have been a big deal if I was a normal human being, but I wasn't known as a klutz for nothing.

Both of my kids walked over the grease patch without flinching. I, on the other hand, slipped and fell down, catching my arm on a piece of sharp metal.

Elizabeth turned to Masen upset. "See, this is what happens when you don't clean up!" she shouted flapping her arms.

I ended up laughing through the pain.

Jacob helped me up and suggested we get it cleaned out and stitched up by a doctor. I wanted to disagree, but the amount of blood gushing from my arm made me reconsider.

We walked into the relatively quiet ER and it made me appreciate life in a small town just a little more. Jacob sat down with the kids in the waiting room and I handed Masen an anatomy book that I brought in from the car, so he had something to look up what part of my arm was hurt.

That boy just wanted to know everything.

A nurse called me back and did most of the cleaning on the cut. I felt silly sitting there with a big black grease stain on my butt and side, but she was nice and didn't say anything.

When I was somewhat cleaned up, she left me in the exam room, telling me the doctor would be in shortly. The quiet room made me sleepy, so I lay back on the exam table and closed my eyes.

"Bella Swan, as I live and breathe, is that really you?" a smooth voice asked. I opened my eyes and couldn't help but smile back at Edward's father.

"Hello, Dr. Cullen, it's really me. I'm here visiting my father."

"Wonderful! That's just wonderful!" he said smiling brightly.

I half wondered if he was on something.

"Let's see what we have here. Oh yeah, that's a nasty cut," he agreed as he examined my arm. "It looks like it'll need stitches."

I sighed. "That's what I thought."

He glanced at my hand. "No ring?"

I laughed a little to myself. "No, no ring, and no prospects for one, either."

He smiled widely at me again and started to clean the cut a little more thoroughly. "So, tell me, Bella, are you out of school for the summer?"

"Sort of, I'm not in school, but I teach," I shrugged and he smiled widely again, pleased with the answer.

"What do you teach?"

"Kindergarten, I'm working my way up to high school English, hopefully. I'd really like to teach a reading class, too." I wondered if he would mind me asking about Edward. "Is Edward home from school?"

He smiled at me as if he knew something but wasn't telling. "No, Edward hasn't been in school for years."

As his words registered, I felt like my head would explode. Not in school? Not in school! Why the hell did I leave if he wasn't going to bother with school? He was supposed to go to school! He was supposed to be a doctor and help people! I left so he could live out his dream!

"Bella, calm down." I suddenly realized I was shouting my thoughts at Dr. Cullen. "Edward is a doctor; he just finished school extremely early."

I calmed my breathing and Dr. Cullen smiled at me. "I'm sure he would love to hear from you if you have time during your visit."

"I don't know, Dr. Cullen. I don't want to disrupt his life." I shuttered thinking of him and that woman at the bar. "He probably moved on a long time ago."

"I think he would surprise you," he said cheerily.

Just as Dr. Cullen had finished saying Edward would surprise me, he did. Edward popped his head in the door, looked right at me, and then slammed it shut.

I jumped at the noise and held back my tears.

"I'm sorry, Bella. Edward hasn't been himself lately."

"It's fine, Dr. Cullen. I understand why he's upset with me. I just up and disappeared on him."

"Just let me talk to him, Bella. You'll see; he really isn't upset with you."

I was about to disagree, but he cut me off.

"Here's a prescription for some antibiotics. They're fairly strong ones, so eat lots of yogurt to avoid stomach problems afterwards. I want to make sure that cut doesn't get infected. It was pretty nasty."

I took the paper from him and thanked him.

Jacob filled the prescription for me, apologizing again for me getting hurt. I just rolled my eyes and told him to shut up. It wasn't his fault I fell.

Edward

When I got home from the bar, I called my father and let him know about what had happened and the disappointed look Bella had given me.

When I told him that I had been out with Jessica, he said he would be disappointed, too, if he was my hallucination.

We both knew I could do better than Jessica.

He asked me when the last time I looked for Bella was. I was ashamed to admit it was less than a month ago. I still had no idea where Bella or her mother were, but I kept looking. He told me to take a sleeping pill and come by the hospital when I woke up.

I had slept late, very late the next day.

My mom told me my dad was working a shift in the ER. It usually wasn't busy so I probably wouldn't have to wait long to visit with him.

When I walked in, my chest tightened.

Sitting there was the same little boy with the same little girl. He was reading her an anatomy book. I wanted to shout that I already was a doctor; he didn't have to push me to try that out, too.

Instead, I just rushed to the back of the ER.

There was only one door closed, so I knew my dad was in there with a patient. I was losing it and wanted to let him know I would be in his office. I opened the door and looked stunned face at his patient.

I slammed the door and ran to his office.

Now I was imagining other people were Bella. What if I approached someone and harassed them to love me because I thought they were Bella?

I had to get real help now.

I picked up my dad's office phone, trying to hold myself together.

"Mom, I need your help."

She came to pick me up from the back entrance because I didn't want to risk walking past those kids again. Could you avoid your hallucinations? I would have to ask about that.

My mother drove me to Paradise Falls Mental Institution. She wasn't happy about it, but I insisted and checked myself in.

I felt bad as she left in tears, but I had to get a grip on myself, and right now I needed help.

But more than anything, I needed my Bella.

Bella

After sitting around the shop for a while, Elizabeth and I both started feeling antsy. I asked Jacob if he could bring Masen home for me when he was done at the shop and he agreed. I went home and showered while Elizabeth played with the keyboard in the kid's room. My dad asked if I was okay and I just told him I was tired. I didn't want anyone to know I had seen Edward.

I curled up in a ball on my bed and cried myself to sleep.

I woke up to Masen poking me and Elizabeth patting me. "It's time for dinner, Mom."

I nodded and followed the pair into the kitchen.

They had set the table, and apparently Charlie had kept them busy with origami. It made me laugh to see the little boats and birds sitting on the plates.

"Nice," I said grinning widely. My kids always had a way of cheering me up. I held back a giggle as Charlie smiled proudly. I could tell Sue was holding back a laugh, too, as she brought the food to the table.

"Do you have any plans for this evening?" Sue asked.

"No, I don't think so. Maybe a movie night?" I asked the kids and they all nodded in agreement.

After dinner, I sent the kids to get ready for bed so we could have a movie night. I was surprised when Sue called me to the front door.

I stood stunned as I took in the woman who was Esme Cullen, I was sure of it. I had only met her a few times, but some people you just couldn't forget.

"Esme!" I said with a big smile and stepped onto the front porch. I saw Sue head down the hall after my kids and I knew I was free to talk to Esme.

"Bella, it's so good to see you. Carlisle said you were in town." She hugged me and it felt good.

When I stepped back, I noticed she looked like she was fighting tears and I wondered what was going on.

"Could we talk for a minute?" she asked motioning to the porch swing and I wondered if somehow she had found out about the kids. Was she upset with me and wanted to see them?

I sat down on the swing with her and she took my hand in hers. "First, let me apologize for Edward's behavior, he hasn't been himself lately."

"Yes, Carlisle said that, but he really does have every right to be upset with me."

"No, Bella, he isn't upset with you. You see, he thinks he's hallucinating when he sees you."

"What?"

"I know; it's really unbelievable, but true. You've been gone for so long; he didn't believe his eyes when he saw you. After your little run in at the ER, he checked himself into Paradise Falls Mental Institution. He thinks he's going insane."

"Oh, my goodness, Esme, I'm so sorry. I knew I shouldn't have come back."

"Nonsense, my dear, you have family here, you should visit, but I was wondering if you wouldn't mind coming with me and seeing him. You see, he doesn't believe me or my husband when we told him you were really here," she sniffled. "I was really upset when he checked in at that place, and he knows my husband will do anything to keep me happy, even trying to convince him to come home by saying you're actually here, but you're really here."

"I'm so sorry, Esme. I'll do whatever I can to help."

"Oh, thank you, Bella." She hugged me and then sat back, as if she remembered something. "Did you see him out at the bar with that hussy?"

I couldn't help but laugh as I nodded my head yes.

"Good, good, he really shouldn't be there then. He thought the therapist had made him snap when he told him to take a woman out for drinks. He was sure he had hallucinated seeing you there that night."

"No, I was there, and I saw the girl."

Esme wrinkled her nose at me. "Believe me, Bella, girl is too mild of a term for what Jessica is, and I promise you, Edward has absolutely no interest in her. He was only doing what his therapist told him."

I couldn't help but feel a little lighter as she spoke. Edward wasn't mad, just crazy. I shook my head at my thoughts.

"So, I know this is very last minute, but would you mind coming with me now?" she asked.

I glanced at the door. I would have to see if my dad and Sue would mind watching the twins.

"Just let me check something."

I opened the door, and my dad practically fell through. "Hey, Bella, are you going with Esme?"

"Yeah, if that's alright with you and Sue?" I sent a meaningful glance to the hallway where the kids were getting ready for bed still.

"We can handle movie night on our own," he answered with a smile. "Esme, good to see you again," he reached out and shook her hand. "I hope Edward gets to feeling better soon."

Esme beamed at me. "I think he'll be feeling better very soon."