Chapter 25

"Dammit, Carlisle, that doesn't make any sense!"

"What other choice do I have? There's a good chance they'll be hurt or even killed."

I don't mean to eavesdrop. When I wake up around midnight and step out of my room to get some water, I hear the four adults talking in the living room. They sound frustrated and upset.

I decide to skip the drink and climb back into bed, but then I realize the subject of their discussion.

Mr. Masen.

I take a quick step back and slide down against the wall to sit on the floor. It's dark upstairs, so I'm able to see through the railing and watch what's going on below without them noticing me.

Rosalie's sitting on the couch beside Emmett, and she's worked up about something. "There's got to be a better solution than packing up and moving to another city!" she exclaims, her arms flailing around as she speaks. "What about your house, your business, your family?"

Carlisle winces. "It wouldn't be forever. Just until he's caught."

"It very well could be forever," she retorts. "And even if it's not that long, what are you going to do about the business?" She turns to Jasper, who's in an armchair to her right. "Can you believe he's okay with screwing you and Cee over like that?"

"He's not screwing us over. We'll manage if we have to. I understand why he wants to go." The blond-haired man gives his older brother a sympathetic look. "He cares about them."

"So do I, but he's not being realistic. How's he going to fund this little expedition, exactly?"

"I'm not exactly poor," Carlisle huffs. "I have money in the bank."

"Which will last you, what, nine months…a year, maybe? No income, a mortgage here, plus rent wherever you end up, all the living expenses…the money's going to run out faster than you think."

"I'll make it work—get another job if I have to. It's worth it to make sure they're safe."

"That she's safe, you mean."

"Rose—" Emmett warns.

"No, he needs to think about what's going on here. He's throwing himself in the situation—turning his entire life upside down—for an ultra-religious married woman who refuses to divorce her abusive husband. I don't know what kind of fairy tale he's got in his head, but there's no way this can have a happy ending."

"I don't care," Carlisle says quietly, meeting his sister's flashing eyes. "I love her. That's good enough for me."

Rosalie lets out a sort of groaning scream sound and flings herself back against the couch cushions. Wearing a concerned expression, Emmett leans in close and says something to her that I can't hear. Eventually, she nods, puts a hand on her abdomen, and takes a deep breath.

"Look, I'm sorry," she tells Carlisle, her voice low. "I shouldn't have gone off like that, it's just…I'm already worried about how dangerous this situation is, and if you move someplace where we won't be able to get to you right away...and if something happens, and…oh God, what if something does happen…"

I'm surprised when she hides her face in Emmett's shoulder and starts sniffling. She's never seemed like the waterworks type to me. But Jasper looks as though he knows what's going on.

"Are you…pregnant?" he asks carefully.

Emmett gives Jasper a wary half-grin and puts an arm around his wife. "Yeah, she is."

Jasper nods as a smile stretches across his face, but Carlisle just appears stunned.

"Wow, congrats, Rose. How far along are you?"

She wipes her eyes on Emmett's sleeve and faces her bothers. "Um, just over sixteen weeks."

"Sixteen—?" Carlisle gasps, his eyes dropping to the flowing fabric covering her stomach. "When were you going to tell us? What were you waiting for?"

"Well, um, you know how a lot of people want to get through the first trimester before saying anything…and then I got busy with that state trial…" Rosalie's gaze drops to her lap as she begins fiddling with the hem of her blouse. "I wasn't trying to shut you out, but I…well…"

"You were worried we'd be upset because of our own situations," Jasper finishes. He moves to kneel down on the floor in front of her and puts a hand on her knee. "That was really nice of you, sis, but completely not necessary. I'm thrilled for you guys, and I know Cynthia will be, too. The fact that we can't have kids of our own just means we'll have extra time to spoil yours."

"Thanks, Jas," she says, leaning forward to meet him in a hug as the tears start up again.

When Jasper gets up to congratulate Emmett, Carlisle takes the place in front of Rosalie.

"Ditto the spoiling part," he says to her with a sincere smile. "I know how much you've always wanted kids, and I'm really happy that I get to be an uncle. It's the only important thing. I don't want you to spend another second worrying about me."

"Yeah, but—"

"I'm serious: not another second. It happened years ago, and I'm over it."

"Really?"

Carlisle's pause is a beat too long. "Yes, really."

Rosalie wears a skeptical look that gets swept away in the careful but enthusiastic hug that he gives her.

They all start talking baby stuff, but I'm stuck in my head trying to process everything I just heard. Carlisle moving away, giving up his business, loving Esme. Rosalie's pregnancy, Jasper and Cynthia's inability to have kids, some sort of issue in Carlisle's past. It makes my head spin and my stomach feel sick.

I'm really worried about Carlisle's plan to leave the city. Is he moving right away? What does that mean for me? Can I go with him, or will I have to stay here?

It seems I'm not the only one with those types of questions. I'm pulled from my thoughts when I hear my name.

"…do about Bella?"

It's Jasper, and he's looking at Carlisle.

"I don't know," he sighs. "I'm going to see if Renee will come with me to the police tomorrow when I take in the snake. I'll need to stop by DCF and give them an update, too. Renee's drug test is in two weeks, and if she passes, she'll get custody back."

"I don't like the idea of Bella going back to that woman," Rosalie states. "She can't be trusted. And wouldn't it make more sense, safety-wise, if Bella stayed away from her house? There's got to be some way we can keep her with us."

Emmett shifts his body as if he's uncomfortable. "Yeah…about that. You all know I want to help her as much as anyone, but now that it looks like Masen or whoever has found out she's here, well…Rose and the baby are my number one priority. I have to make sure they're as safe as possible."

"And what exactly does that mean?" Rosalie says, her eyes narrowing as she turns to him.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think she should stay here after this. It's too risky."

"Are you kidding me? She needs us more than ever!"

"I understand that, but when it comes to our child, there's no way I'm going to let you—"

"Emmett Christopher McCarty," Rosalie growled, "you'd better be very careful what comes out of your mouth next."

The room is dead quiet as husband and wife stare at each other, Rosalie practically shooting fire from her eyes and Emmett looking like he's thinking hard and fast about what to say. I have almost zero relationship experience, but I even I know he screwed that one up.

Finally, he takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "Look, hon, we need to think about the worst-case scenario. Masen is a zealot who believes he's acting in the name of God. If he comes after Bella and you're standing in the way, it'll be nothing to him to hurt an innocent person. I can't let that happen."

"She's innocent, too!" Rosalie shrieks. "This isn't one of your old Special Ops missions with priority personnel and acceptable collateral damage."

"Rose—"

"No. Don't you even. I'm not going to sit here and listen to—"

"Stop, both of you," Jasper cuts in. "Bella will stay with us. No big deal."

Everyone looks at the youngest brother, who's wearing an unconcerned expression.

"Are you sure you sure?" Carlisle asks slowly, as if he's afraid he might jinx the words. "Cynthia's already splitting her time between the business, taking care of Esme, and watching Mary Alice...not to mention overseeing Edward's home schooling…"

"You were doing the same thing a few weeks ago. Are you saying my wife's less capable that you?" Jasper says with teasing smile.

"Of course not! But they're my responsibility, not yours. You all have already helped me so much. I don't want to ask—"

"You're not asking, I'm offering. Cee loves having company at home during the day. She absolutely adores little Merr, and Esme's become a good friend. Edward's pretty self-sufficient, and he does more than his share of the housework. Bella's the same way. It really won't be a problem. They're great kids, especially considering what they've been through."

"I know; it's pretty amazing," Carlisle asks, his voice full of emotion. "I can't even say how much I appreciate this, Jas. Thanks so much."

"Yeah, thank you," Rosalie says with a quick glare to the side for Emmett. "I'll call Cee and work out the details, but I'm in no hurry for her to leave."

"Come on, hon, that's not fair. I really like having Bella here, but what kind of husband and father would I be if I didn't put your safety first?"

"The kind who trusts my decisions and doesn't try to tell me what to do…"

They continue going back and forth, but I've heard enough. Tears are welling up in my eyes, and I want to bury myself under the covers before the crying begins. I shut the door quietly behind me once I'm back in the guest room and then climb into bed.

My mind knows this whole mess isn't my fault, but I can't help feeling like I'm screwing up people's lives, like I'm nothing but a burden. And even though I understand his thinking, it really hurt to hear Emmett say he didn't want me to stay in the house anymore.

As it is, I still haven't gotten over Edward's cold shoulder from dinner. After I spoke up about the significance of the "gift" Mr. Masen send me, the adults burst into frenzied discussion and basically forgot about us. I'd completely lost my appetite, and Edward didn't eat much either. We both sat silently and played with the food on our plates.

When Mary Alice started to fuss in her high chair, I jumped up to take care of her. I couldn't bear to see the dullness in his eyes when Edward looked at me, but not at me. It's a horrible feeling when he goes to a place inside his head where I don't exist.

I'm pretty sure no one else recognized Edward's behavior for what it was— a deeper, more serious issue than just a normal reaction of shock. I want him to snap out of it soon, but on the other hand, it might be a good thing if he's still like this during his first mental health session on Friday. Because of the Masens' lack of health insurance, it had taken a while for him to get an appointment through the state medical program.

Carlisle's been wanting me to see someone, too, but I always say I'm doing fine. For the most part, I feel like I'm dealing well enough. But despite that, I think Carlisle would send me anyway if I was really his kid.

Sometimes, I let myself wonder what it would be like if that was true. Especially now...

Maybe if I thought that I belonged somewhere, that someone truly loved me and wanted me, then I wouldn't be so sensitive about feeling rejected. I'm used to it from Mama, but tonight, the combination of Edward's actions, Emmett's words, and the atmosphere of danger is just too much for me to handle.

Quiet sobs take over my body and shake me to the core. I press my fists over my eyes as I try to block out the rapid churning of dark thoughts and rampant fear in my head. I'm so tired of worrying and trying to keep from falling part at the seams.

I'm tired of it all. I just want it to be over.

Some time later in the night, my shuddering sighs finally fade into regular breathing. I'm still buried under the covers when I hear the door to my room creak slowly open. At first, I have the crazy worry that it's Mr. Masen or one of his friends, but then Rosalie's voice wafts through the darkness.

"Hang in there, kiddo," she murmurs. "You're gonna make it through this."

I'm pretty sure she thinks I'm asleep, so I stay quiet and keep my breathing as even as possible. After a few seconds, she sighs heavily and closes the door. I wait until I hear water running in her bathroom and then pull the covers away from my face. The cooler air outside of my cocoon feels good on my tear-stained cheeks and puffy eyes. It's been a long, draining evening, and I'm exhausted, body and mind.

I repeat Rosalie's words to myself over and over until finally falling into a restless sleep.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

DCF – Department of Children and Families

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