Thank you to Catharticone and RandomSugarRush for their contribution and support!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight Saga Characters-they belong to Stephanie Meyer. The rest of this story is mine. :)
*Note- I want to say thanks to the anonymous reviewers who I can not respond to: thank you! I appreciate hearing from you.
*NEW ILLUSTRATION ALERT: There were a few requests for some drawings and I had some time yesterday when I was sitting outside in the sunshine. I can't write on a laptop in the sun, after all... Don't think I be slackin'! ;) So if you would like to check them out the links are on my profile page and they can be viewed on DeviantArt. Thank you, Twilightlover1518 for her request to have Dr Shelley Beytell illustrated and Anonymous Reviewer with No Name, I drew Rosalie and Emmett's ice cream shop kiss from chapter 15 too. I won't always be able to draw requests, so if you have one that is great, but please don't be hurt if I can't get to it. :)
Thorns
Chapter Twenty-One
What have I done?
I could hardly see straight as I waited in the lobby as Dr Beytell took Carlisle back to do what I had asked of her.
I had turned myself in finally. This was it! Carlisle would tell Esme and then they would both call Clara and I would have to leave soon — maybe even today. I would never see the Cullens again — I would never see Emmett again.
I was shaking so hard that it didn't feel like I was shaking at all. My teeth wanted to click together, but I clenched them tightly so they couldn't. Bella was absorbed in her book, thank goodness. I still felt the urge to get up and run away and hide. I had nowhere to go, though. I didn't have any money, either, and all my things were at the cabin. I was stuck!
Why was I so stupid to tell her everything?
I shouldn't have told her to tell him… he wouldn't believe me. I had said too much. He would think I was just making this up for attention.
Did she trick me? I had told her everything so willingly, I felt like maybe I had not thought it all through well enough.
No… I wanted to tell her.
Why did I want to tell her again? She could lie to him. She could tell him that I was crazy and a liar and that I needed more help than they could give me. That is what I had been told before.
Vera had broken my heart. I was sure the Cullens would do the same. I tried to prepare for it now…
My mind was on overdrive, and I kept running the conversation I had just had with Dr Beytell over and over in my mind to make sure I had told it right. I had struggled to tell her the first bit — about my mother... she seemed to know it was hard for me. She helped me by asking more questions and all I had to do was tell her. And I did! I told her everything!
It had felt surprisingly nice as I told her the truth. The truth was painful, but it was the good kind of pain. The kind that made you hurt so badly that you can't breathe, but then when it passes — for that moment right after — it is like you have something worth living for again. And your mind can play tricks on you when you feel hope again.
I wanted Dr Beytell to tell Carlisle for me. I was not sure what my reasoning was anymore. I guess I had thought it was better to tell Dr Beytell and have her tell him for me. I was too scared to tell him or Esme myself. I would never have been able to, and it would have come out all wrong — it would have come out in angry screams for sure.
But it was easy to tell Dr Beytell. She was just some stranger and it wasn't as scary to tell her about my past because I didn't care about her at all. I didn't care if she thought I was lying or if she thought I was disgusting or if she hated me. It was safe to tell her… she had told me that it would be confidential. That is when I knew that I had the option of taking away that confidentiality.
I told her to tell Carlisle for me because I was a coward. I needed the Cullens to know what I had done so they could kick me out sooner, rather than later. I was getting too close to them — to Emmett especially. It was not a good thing. I didn't want to be with them any longer. It would hurt too much later when my time was up.
I needed to be sure that the hope I had felt when I told Dr Beytell wasn't merely an illusion. I didn't deserve the Cullens. I would be stupid to think they were unlike the others. This would prove it!
Yes… I had made the right choice. Carlisle would not want me around his perfect children anymore, and he would call Clara and tell her it was not working out, I was not good enough for them, and that she would have to make other arrangements for me for the remainder of the summer.
I nodded as I came to grips with this.
"Rosalie?" Bella called my name. I jumped a bit; there was no way to pretend that I had not just been startled. Bella looked at me with hesitant concern. "Are... you okay? You look... a bit... green."
"I'm fine," I told her, hugging the ache in my chest. My teeth hurt too from biting down so hard on them. "What's it to you, anyway?"
"I — I was just asking. I wanted to make sure you were okay," she told me. "I'm trying to be your friend."
"We're not friends," I replied. It was a lot harder to choke out than I had presumed it would be to say. I had sounded so mean saying those words for some reason. No one — no girl my own age especially — had ever wanted to be my friend before.
"We have to try to get along," she reasoned softly. "We share a room and-"
"Well, you won't have to worry about me much longer! You can have your room back very soon I am guessing!"
Bella made a face. "Huh? What are you talking about?"
Before I could say anything more there was a sound of a door clicking open and both Bella and I looked to the hallway. I felt sick again. My head pounded with tension as I stood up. My legs were just barely able to keep my body upright as Carlisle came walking toward me.
He walked so briskly and his face was hard to read — like stone. He almost appeared to be angry. He didn't stop walking — he was coming right at me! I couldn't move my legs to run if I wanted to. I braced myself and closed my eyes... and there was an impact that nearly knocked me over and expelled the oxygen from my lungs.
Had he just hit me?
"Oh, Rosalie," he whispered. "I am so sorry." His voice was different somehow. It was not just pity I heard. I was not sure what he meant.
Was he apologizing because they couldn't keep me any longer?
I felt my legs turn to jelly. My body shook as dry, empty sobs broke loose. I wondered why I had not crashed to the floor yet, but I opened my eyes and found that Carlisle was holding me up. He was hugging me so firmly that there was nowhere for me to go and no way to get free.
"Thank you for telling us, Rose. You're safe now. You're safe now…" He kept saying that. "You're safe now."
What did he mean? How was I ever going to be safe? He didn't know where I was going to end up, did he? Had they already called Clara? Oh no… Clara had warned me she would run out of homes for me! Was I going to a group home? Or worse... to juvenile detention for all the horrible things I had done?
I couldn't feel my extremities anymore and I wondered if he was squeezing me so tightly on purpose — as punishment. Then he reached down with his hand and there was a jingling sound. I felt something brush my thigh…
"No! No, please don't!" I reacted without thought. I dug my fingers into his arms and tried to pull away from him. I began to fall, but hands held me up and suddenly I was seated again. Dr Beytell had her arm around me and she was speaking, but I could not hear her over my heavy breathing and the thumping sound inside my ears. Carlisle was kneeling in front of me and I watched his hand reach back and pass something to Bella. I could hardly make out what he was saying to her.
"Go now… the car... will be… soon…" Bella gave me a sad glance over her shoulder as she left the building.
What was going on? Where was Bella going? He had sent her away to tell me the bad news, hadn't he? Oh, Lord, they were coming to get me now, weren't they?
I wouldn't even have time to say goodbye to…
"…Em." His named hummed from my lips — I doubt it was coherent to anyone except me. Now he would only remember the last time we spoke — when I told him I didn't want to see him anymore. I called him an asshole and I pretended I didn't care. He would never know how happy he had made me. I suppose it was better that way… better for him.
"Sweetie," Carlisle said. I couldn't bear to look at him so I watched the light flickering on the wall because of the overhead fan that was swirling slowly above us. "Try to relax and take a few slow breaths."
It was too hard to breathe. I heard Dr Beytell for the first time as she pressed something damp to the back of my neck. "It is all over now, Rosalie. You don't have to be scared to tell the truth anymore. He knows…"
I turned to look at her. She smiled and nodded. "You did the right thing, Rosalie. I know you were scared about how he would react, but look…" she told me, her eyes moving to Carlisle. "…He is not upset with you."
"No. I'm not upset with you at all, darling," he told me. His hands took my face and he leaned in.
"I'm sorry," I squeaked. I didn't know who I was anymore. I never apologized for anything — I didn't know why I was starting now. But… it has just slipped out. The tears were unstoppable and they burned my cool cheeks as they ran down my face.
Carlisle shook his head and came closer. I tensed, but there was no pain. I felt a gentle pressure on my hairline around my temple and then he backed off again. What was that? Had he just kissed me? I could not see straight.
"You have nothing to be sorry for Rosalie. Not for anything that happened to you, honey."
I wanted to ask him how much longer I had, but every time I thought of leaving a new sob would break from inside me and more tears would fall.
Two hands rubbed my back and two hands held me up for quite some time as I tried to catch my breath.
After a few tedious minutes went ticking by at a snail's pace, I began to calm down. I think I was just too tired to cry anymore — but I was grateful to find a steadier pattern for breathing again. Carlisle kept telling me to try and relax, that everything would be okay, but I don't think he understood how terrible living with strangers was. I couldn't relax knowing I would have to start over again. He didn't understand!
Whenever I tried to find my voice to ask him what was going to happen now, no words would follow.
"Perhaps you would like some cool water to sip on?" Dr Beytell whispered. "I will be back in just a moment." Then she got up and left a cool patch on my left side where she had been sitting next to me.
"Rosalie…" Carlisle's voice summoned me. I brought my eyes up to meet his. This must be it. He looked very serious, yet for some reason he appeared to have been crying too — or maybe he was just read from the sun burn. "I want you to know that what you have told Dr Beytell and me is confidential and between us. When we get home… it is up to you whether you want to tell the others or not. I would assume you would like to keep it from the kids, is that correct?"
"I… uh…" My voice cracked. It wasn't that I didn't understand the question; I just didn't know my answer. Home? I had not thought about telling the others at all.
"Here you go, Rosalie." Dr Beytell had returned with a cone shaped cup of water and held it out for me. "This might make you feel a bit better." I took it from her and her hand hovered around mine until I put it to my lips and managed to take a few swallows of the crisp liquid. It did feel nice as it cleansed my dry mouth and throat.
"Thanks," I managed to say. There were still a bit of water left in the cup, so she held it for me.
"You're welcome."
"Did you want Dr Beytell to have the same talk with Esme?" Carlisle asked me. My confusion must have been obvious. "Or if you would like to tell her yourself… I can help you."
I shook my head — which wasn't my answer.
"No? You don't want to tell her?"
"I… I don't…"
"If you are not ready, that is okay too, Rosalie," Dr Beytell. "You have made a lot of progress already by telling me and Carlisle. It may feel strange to have someone know so much about you, because you are used to keeping this secret… but this is going to help Carlisle and Esme take better care of you now that they know why you have been so afraid."
"I'm n-not af-raid," I stuttered, giving her a hard look. Her expression was difficult to read, but she didn't falter.
"Good," she said. "You don't have to be afraid anymore."
"That's right. And you should not feel ashamed for what happened to you, Rose. Never! None of it was your fault. You were just a little girl. Do you understand?" Carlisle demanded. His eyes were such light blue they almost looked like crystal. My chin quivered and I felt a chill run through me. "It was not your fault, sweetheart. You need to know that."
I nodded. I knew it was not my fault… It wasn't my fault, right? I found the strength to inhale and exhale slowly without interruption.
"Good, Rosalie," Dr Beytell cooed. "That's good."
"Are you feeling well enough to go back home now, hon?" Carlisle asked me. I stared at him, wondering what he was talking about. "Or if you want to stay here for a while I can get Bella to come back inside…"
"Wh-" I couldn't finish the sentence. I frowned and looked down. So… I was going back to the cabin with them?
"Bella has the car cooled down now. If you want to go home and lie down for a bit, have a rest — that might help, dear." Carlisle sounded sincere.
"Back to th-the cabin?" I needed to be sure I was hearing him properly.
He nodded and smiled, just barely, and patted my hand that he was holding with his other.
"I can… stay?"
His eyes narrowed and his part lips pressed together. "Of course… w-where else w-would you be going?"
I shrugged weakly, not sure if I should feel embarrassment or not, but he looked slightly hurt maybe?
"Of course you are staying with us! Nothing has changed, Rose," he assured me.
"I just thought…" No, I couldn't tell him... I didn't want to give him any ideas.
"We care about you, Rosalie. You are a part of our family and nothing — absolutely nothing — will change the fact that we care about you and want only the best for you."
Before I could think of words to reply, he wrapped his arms around me again and I practically fell off my seat. I wasn't scared of his touch this time — which was new for me — I was just unsure how to respond. My arms stuck out at my sides awkwardly needing something to hold onto. "Please say you want to come home to us?" he implored. "We all want you to stay. I would not lie to you, honey."
I couldn't answer. It was pathetic, I know. I felt ashamed for not telling him that I really did want to go home. The word was such a nice one — almost as comforting as the name, Emmett.
Maybe I would get another chance to have a family?
Finally, Carlisle released me and kissed my forehead again, this time right in the very center, between my eyes. His touch was not the same as Royce's… there was no burn. Carlisle's kiss was soft and innocent, because he meant well by it — like the hug. This time I was not afraid he would hurt me. I was only concerned about what his kiss stood for. I wish it would have comforted me like he probably intended it to.
I wasn't cured yet, I guess.
The next few moments were deafeningly quiet. Perhaps Carlisle was reconsidering what to do with me since I had not hugged him back or said anything when he had tried to console me.
I wondered why he had chosen not to call Esme yet — why he thought I should tell her myself. Didn't he know that I couldn't do that? It would be like Vera all over again! No, this was not over… not until Esme knew the truth too.
I was determined to tell Esme as soon as possible so she could make the final decision. I had come this far — I didn't want to hide from Esme and drag this out any longer. If I was to stay with the Cullens, Esme was the one I had to convince. She would need to know how seductive I could be — all those men I had led on — and she would need to know that I loved her son.
Would she try to protect him from me? Like Vera had done to protect Henry from me? I needed to know Esme was as forgiving as her husband.
I struggled to stand up on my own, but heavy hands were all over me and in my way. Carlisle stood too and didn't let me fall when my body swayed. Dr Beytell said something to him about rest and some more water when we got back to the cabin. I began to get impatient just standing there so looked to the door expectantly.
"Are you ready to go home now?" he asked me again.
"Yes," I said. I was ready to confess to Esme too.
The ride back to the lake was pretty quiet. Bella didn't say anything at all. I appreciated that. I think she knew that there was nothing she could say that could help the situation. Silence was better...
Carlisle made a few small comments on the air conditioning to make sure I was not too cool and he would occasionally look over at me and smile — I think. His hand stroked my arm a few times, causing me to tense, but I was coming to the conclusion he was just a sappy guy and I didn't have to worry about him hurting me. Well, not with Bella or any of the others around, as least. He was a pretty decent father from that I had seen. However, I had no basis for comparison so I probably wasn't the right person to make this assessment.
I only said one thing in the car. I don't know why I felt the need to say it out loud, but it slipped out. "I need to tell Esme."
"Of course, sweetie. That's fine." Carlisle was going to agree with anything I wanted, it seemed. He continued to watch me with a concerned expression the whole ride back. I hoped he was not changing his mind about calling Clara. He had grown silent by the end of the journey, too.
It was the sound of the engine and minor vibration of the motor cutting out that told me we have arrived at the cabin. Bella was the first out, though she was considerate enough not to hurry away from me right away. I am sure she was just dying to go tell Edward about my freak-out.
"Are you ready to go inside?" Carlisle asked me. I had not realized I was just staring at the front door.
His question made me a bit angry. Of course I was not ready to go face them — to face Esme. I had no choice... that was the reality. I had to get this off my chest.
I opened the car door and I shoved the thick metal away from me with what little strength I had left. I was pathetically weak. Carlisle was out of the driver's side and at my door to help in flash — I would have missed him moving if I had blinked. He was that fast!
I didn't mean to pause at the door, but I had no idea what I was in for. Plus, I must have cried my makeup off and probably looked like a drowned rat now. My face felt pinched and itchy from crying, my eyes were sore. My hair was all fluffy and untamed as I quickly smoothed it and tucked it behind my ears — I was a mess.
Carlisle hovered by my side, one hand under my elbow and the other was waiting on the door handle. He watched me for instructions. He whispered, "If you want to go lie down and rest for a while... I can make sure you are not disturbed. And for tonight only, if you would like to skip dinner with the family I am sure Esme would not mind making a tray up for you and you may eat in your room. Esme or I, or perhaps if you want to spend some more time with Bella-"
"No." I didn't want to spend time with any of them. Only Emmett, but it was still a secret that we were more than friends and I couldn't let them know that, too. They'd really think I was a whore! "I just want to get this all over with — I want Esme to know so it will be over."
"One step at a time, dear," he told me. "You have had a rough day. Are you sure you don't want to lie down for a bit?"
I shook my head, making it pound slightly and I am sure he noticed my wince.
"How about you go clean up? Bella will help you if you would like..."
I shook my head again. It was like an etchasketch — the movement cleared my thoughts and left the view a bit fuzzy.
"You're exhausted, sweetheart. At least go to your room and rest. I will bring you some water and perhaps something to eat. When you are feeling a bit steadier you, Esme, and I will talk. How does that sound for a plan?"
I closed my eyes briefly and struggled to think. It was a better plan than anything I could come up with. I agreed. When I motioned forward, he pushed the handle of the door down all the way until the door clicked open and he ushered me in to the warmly lit home.
I don't know what I expected, but to guess — for starters — I thought Alice would be shouting high pitched annoyances my way the moment I walked in. Or Edward should have been plucking away at his guitar with Bella sitting nearby 'pretending' to read. Jasper might have been catapulting toys across the room with a spoon... And Emmett might have been wearing his giant baseball glove, trying to catch said objects in flight.
If Esme was present, she might be trying to settle Alice or Jasper down... but if she was really tired, she would be in the kitchen, preparing dinner with a smile on her face that meant she had half given up and she was just happy to be in the same room with all of her chaotic brats!
That is what the Cullen family was like. I had come to expect this from them after a month living with them. They were the like The Brady Bunch, except not so perky after all. Well... Alice was pretty fuckin' perky. In the mornings it took all my will power not to slug her one!
Anyway... what was strange now, as Carlisle led me inside, was how still it was in the large, open room. I think he felt it too. It was not normal.
Were they avoiding me now? My heart crushed into my rib cage. Where were they?
"Well?" Carlisle repeated. "Does that sound okay to you... to go have a rest in your room for a bit?"
I nodded absent-mindedly. I could still hear them, they were near — outside in the yard, or maybe some were up in the loft... but they were being so quiet. It was eerie.
Carlisle gently encouraged me to the bedroom and once we were inside, he left me to freshen up. He also wanted me to lie down if I could. I knew what he was getting at — I felt like I had been awake for days without sleep. But I needed to talk to Esme. It would not be safe to close my eyes — I could not rest — until I knew for sure that she would not send me away.
However, it appeared she was just as eager to speak to me too...
"Rosalie, darling... how was -?" she asked coming at me with her arms spread wide as I entered the bedroom. "What happened? Is everything alright?" Her tone had shifted as she got a closer look at me. She pulled me toward her and cradled my head to her chest. As awkward as the position was, the feeling of closeness was not completely unbearable. I wished she would stop being so nice to me, though. She had no idea who I really was.
"Rosalie has something she would like to discuss with you, honey," Carlisle helped me explain. "But she needs to have a seat, drink some water, and take it easy... it has been a long day."
"Of course! Of course, it has," Esme agreed, releasing the tight caress she had on me. She hauled me over to my bed and sat down with me at her side. She cupped my hands in hers. "Whatever it is you want to talk to me about, my darling, we will work it out. Don't you worry — we are here to help you."
I could feel burning behind my eyelids, but I must have run dry because no tears followed. Carlisle had left briefly and returned with a tall glass of water and he encouraged me to drink as much as I could — slowly.
After a couple of minutes, I had finished off the water. I felt uncomfortably full, but I was starting to lose my nerve so I shoved the water glass back at Carlisle determined to spit it all out as fast as I could...
Esme's face was what did it — she looked positively fretful and that brought the water and other stomach contents rising back up. I covered my mouth and ran to out of the room, both of them following closely behind me. I nearly didn't make it, but as soon as I reached the toilet, my time was up. I must have vomited a litre of water and bile before I stopped gagging. It hurt my stomach to use so much force, but it was involuntary and didn't stop until everything I had consumed today had expelled itself.
"Oh, sweetie," Esme cooed, her hands holding back my hair.
Carlisle was literally holding me up from completely face planting into the toilet. It was so humiliating. "That's it, Rose... just relax and take some slow breaths," he suggested, his hand rubbing my back slowly up and down between my shoulder blades and then along my spine. It did help to soothe the nausea. "Good girl."
Esme tied my hair up, out of the way, with an elastic band. I heard the tap running for a few seconds before she knelt down beside me with a damp cloth, wiping my face. I felt like an infant, but I was too weak to refuse her. I closed my eyes and wished I was dead.
Even with my eyes closed, I felt like I was spinning. It was a terrible feeling. However, it only lasted a couple of seconds before a comfortable, still darkness set in...
"Rosalie?" Carlisle's voice was urgent through my foggy mind. "Can you hear me, darling?" I felt some pressure against my throat.
"What is it? Is she alright, Carlisle? Is she having a reaction the vaccine? She feels warm."
I cracked my eyes open to peek at her. Why did she look like she had seen a ghost? I was fine! I hadn't even told her the bad news yet...
Actually, I felt a lot better now than I had since we left the doctor's office — like I had rebooted or something. I was groggy, but not feeling sick at all anymore. I was sort of dopey too, which was a pleasant, carefree feeling for a change.
Esme smiled a concerned smile at me as she cupped my cheek with her hand. Carlisle leaned in closer and touched my cheek too. His face was thoughtful — professional — and confident. He said in a calm voice, "She's going to be just fine." He gave me a smile. "I think the worst is over, sweetheart. I want you to try a bit more water, though, okay? You can sip it slowly."
I agreed with a short nod.
"I will go get a few bottles of water from the fridge. Cold is better, right, Hon?" Esme asked. Carlisle must have replied, but I didn't hear it. Esme was gone and Carlisle was left holding me, propped up on his knees.
"Do you still feel sick to your stomach, sweetie?"
I shook my head. "No. I feel better now," I told him honestly.
He seemed very pleased with that. "I'm glad. I am going to help you sit up for a bit and I want you to let me know immediately if you feel lightheaded or unsteady. I think you will be more comfortable in your bed, so I would like to move you there as soon as you think you are ready."
I let him guide me up and when I reassured him I didn't feel sick or dizzy at all, he lifted me up and helped me walk back to my room. Esme joined us there and she took over with her coddling ways. She brought me more pillows than I needed and extra blankets, water bottles, every kind of juice she had in the fridge, and even offered to drive to the store for anything I thought I might need or want.
She sure was not making this easy for me. Carlisle seemed to sense I was overwhelmed again and he found a very subtle, kind way of getting Esme to back off a little. She smiled at me once more as she left to go make me some toast for dinner if I was feeling up to eating. Carlisle told her that some bland toast would be fine.
I was rather hungry. My stomach felt too empty now.
"I would like it if you could get some rest, Rose," Carlisle said softly to me after Esme had gone. "I'm fairly positive you will be feeling better once the water and some toast settle in your stomach... then I want you to sleep for a bit."
"But... what about Esme?" I asked. My eyes teared slightly. "I can't... I don't know how to-" I didn't even know how to say what I wanted to Carlisle. How was I going to explain my past to Esme? It was hopeless! I was hopeless.
"Shhh," Carlisle hushed me, sitting down next to me on the bed. His hand hovered over mine until I noticed he was doing this and then he cautiously lowered it. I fought the griping urge to pull back from him. It was habit more than anything else. "You don't have to tell her now if you are not feeling up to it."
"I don't want her to find out later and-" I began to explain. "I mean... she needs to know now!" I was pleading. I could not sleep knowing that it could be my last sleep at the Cullen's. Or, could hope for more time with them — with Em?
I needed help and I could not believe Carlisle was going to make me ask him...
"Can you..." I started, looking at the door. "Can you tell her?"
"I can," Carlisle replied lightly. "If that is what you would like from me. I will do whatever you ask, dear."
I nodded eagerly. "Just tell her all of it... so she can decide if I can stay or not!" I had not meant it to come out so needy sounding. Carlisle was good at keeping a fairly neutral face — probably because he had to deliver bad news a lot in his career — so I was not sure if his gentle stare was a good sign or not.
His hand stroked my hand and he bowed his head. "I will tell her, Rose — everything you shared with Dr Beytell and me today — but you are not going anywhere," he said. "Not if Esme or I have anything to say about it."
"That's right..." Esme's voice startled me. I guess she had been by the door and had overheard our conversation. She hurried over and sat down next to Carlisle. "We were going to wait to discuss this with you at a more appropriate time, but..."
My heart began to pound against my rib cage as if it wanted to escape — but there was no hiding this time. I had to face this — no matter what it was they had to say to me. I was surprisingly calm… I had a different idea of what was to happen next. It was a most positive alternative and I couldn't believe I was allowing myself to consider it before they had even offered it to me. But I would say yes. Oh, please, let me say yes!
I knew this was one of those moments that I would remember forever. Esme and Carlisle shared an approving glance and I began to feel something I had not felt in so long, maybe ever… It was hope.
To Be Continued…
I don't need to spell it out, do I? Who knew this was coming? Come on, be honest. Was Esme's reaction everything you thought it would be? I mean...she has not had the whole story, but she doesn't need to know to love Rose and have her join their family. That's how love works! Will Rose accept it? ;)
Reminder if you don't read ANs at the top: New Illustrations for Thorns are up at my DeviantArt gallery for those who are interested.
Thank you for reading and reviewing!
*Next update will be August 9th (2 weeks). Thank you for your patience in waiting for updates. I have a lot of writing to catch up on, but it is all in the works. Previews are available via review response. I will try to make it a good, long one since you have to wait two weeks. xoxo
Coming up in Chapter 22- Esme starts to suspect something going on between Rosalie and Emmett, but she has her hands full when Alice has another one of her 'nightmares'!