Chapter 24: Flipping Out Works Up an Appetite (Mixed POV's)
Renesmee's POV:
Aunt Alice and Aunt Rose muffled their words in the main room. I was too busy self-loathing to care to listen. I heard a knock at the room door and more whispering and then Dad's name in the midst of the conversation. I froze in the now cooling bath water to hear what they were saying about him. Something was wrong.
I flew out of the tub grabbing a large bath towel and wrapping it loosely under my arms. I ripped the bathroom door open with excessive speed and stopped inches from the gorgeous red head. With a sheepish smile, I stood wet and dripping in front of him as his eyes grazed slowly down to my toes and back up again. He smiled wittingly before turning away.
"What are you doing?" Aunt Rose said pushing me back into the bathroom. I noticed Aunt Alice talking on her cell in the corner.
"What's going on, Rose?" I demanded grabbing at her wrist.
Edward's POV:
The sirens were nearing. Carlisle and I sat together on the steps as blood dripped from my shirt and hands. My cell phone rang every few minutes, but I didn't feel like talking. By the tenth ring, I handled my phone to Carlisle so he could deal with her.
"Yes, Alice? What is it?" he said agitated. Carlisle nodded before looking at me. "He's fine. We'll be there shortly." Carlisle reassured.
Taebhu stood waiting with the remainder of the girls until the police could arrive, which was soon. I could now see the flashing lights in the distance as it reflected off the taller buildings. Carlisle tapped my shoulder as he thanked Tae for all his help.
Smoke and flames blazed from the roof as we sped away. I didn't care about the growing onlookers from the neighboring buildings and ghetto below. We'd be long gone before anyone had the chance to find us.
"Charlie took two injured girls to the hospital right away. The others are back at the hotel." Carlisle said as we weaved through the streets. I wasn't used to sitting in the passenger seat. I slumped down in the seat closing my eyes for just a moment.
The ride was fairly quiet. I could hear Carlisle turn his head to check on me several times. He was still concerned and rightfully so. I felt like a child who had disobeyed his parents and waited for the perfect moment to beg for forgiveness. I opened my eyes staring blankly at the road ahead of us. I couldn't bear looking at him for my own shame. I didn't have the willpower to stop his thoughts from intruding my unrelenting mind. He was concerned for both Nessie and me. We pulled into the hotel's parking garage and found a dark corner to park.
He'll never make it through the hotel lobby looking like that, he thought. I glanced down at my blood stained clothing. I felt the thickening blood in my hair and teeth. I reached up pulling a chunk of bloody tissue from my auburn hair tossing it onto the concrete lot. Carlisle went for clothing while I waited by the car. My phone rang again. I didn't want anyone to know anything was wrong so I adjusted my voice and accepted the unwanted call.
"Yes love?" I asked, expecting Bella.
"Dad?" it was my sweet angel. Her voice was so soft and innocent.
"Renesmee, dear. I'm on my way right now. I had to take care of something. Please forgive me for not being there sooner." I said despairingly.
"I just had to hear your voice. I miss you so much. I'm sorry, Dad, for what I did." she said desperately.
There wasn't a thing on earth she could do wrong. I shook my head pinching the bridge of my nose as I paced.
"Nessie, you don't need to apologize, honey. All that matters is that you're safe." I said.
I listened to the voices of my family in the background and then Carlisle rush into the room. Nessie questioned him about my absence. In my hundred years, I had never appreciated and loved my family as I did in this moment.
"Grandpa's here, where are you?" she wondered.
"I'm coming soon, I promise. There's one more thing I have to do. Don't worry, okay. Tell your mother not to worry." I couldn't contain a strong voice a second longer. I closed the cell phone and slipped it into my back pocket. I just needed some peace and quiet alone.
Carlisle gave me a fresh set of clothes and I headed to the pool area. I remembered it had a bathroom with showers. It was the middle of the night and the area was dark and deserted. I jumped the high metal fence that kept the humans out.
The shower was cold, but the time alone was more urgent. I braced my hands against the concrete walls letting the water hit my face and forehead.
Carlisle's POV:
It was a joyous celebration when Edward and I finally made it back to the room. Renesmee clung to Edward like they had been apart for weeks. Bella stood by his side quietly with a feign smile. She recognized his broken spirit immediately. This had changed him and I could only hope it was not permanent. The police had custody of the eighteen girls we found, including the two in stable condition at the hospital. Charlie lied saying he never found his granddaughter. They'd assume she was already sold. This would be huge news in the media and we had to be careful to stay out of it.
I noticed Jacob wasn't present, but didn't dare mention it. Edward glimpsed in my direction at the thought. The first few hours was peaceful. We laughed and talked ignoring the events of the last few days. Edward was still very quiet, even Rose couldn't stop glancing at him in concern. Esme and I made our plans to head home the next day. Usually Edward and I would work together, but I knew he was in no condition right now. Jasper would look at me as if sending me an important message, but I didn't understand except that he was concerned about Edward. We all were.
"No, we can't go yet." Renesmee begged as I announced our flight plans. "Let's all go to the village tomorrow. Their having a celebration feast, we promised we'd be there." She turned to Bella, "I want you to see the village. I want to see the village, one more time."
Edward slipped out the door while everyone gave their own opinion on the matter. The door snapped shut quietly behind him, but in the presence of vampires, we all noticed. The room became deathly still as we all turned to the closed door.
"Dad?" Nessie whispered.
"He'll be back soon. No worries." Alice reassured.
I followed Edward's scent down the back stairs and out the side door. A small brick path led to a beautiful garden in the back. The path was lit on either side by small dim lights. Rose had selected a beautiful hotel, the most expensive of course, to suit her taste.
I spotted Edward down the path where it split into four directions. In the center was a large, narrow tree lined with white lights. The small bulbs were strong enough to cast a shadow on half his body while the other half glowed faintly from the lights. He leaned motionless against the tree. I didn't need to be Jasper to sense his over regret.
"Edward." I whispered stopping a few feet behind him to give him adequate space. "Ness is asking for you." I said.
"I was no better than the men I killed." he said despondently. "I'm sorry I attacked you, Carlisle. I've disgraced the family. I've disgraced you." he said turning to face me. His eyes furrowed in pain and I wanted to reach out and hold him, but he was so inundated with grief.
"You have not disgraced anyone, Edward." I reassured. I stepped forward reaching my hand out to him, but he withdrew.
"If forgiveness is what you need, then I forgive you, but it's not necessary. You know I could never be angry with you. I understand what happened and would do the same if in the same situation." I sighed hoping he would believe me.
"She's changed." he said pacing with his eyes lowered to the ground. " I should have never let her come here and now she has to pay the price." he said angrily.
"We will deal with things as they come. You can't continue to torture yourself over something you had no control over. You can't keep her in Forks forever." I said.
"Watch me try." he smiled half-hearted.
I knew he meant it, but didn't want to. It was good to see him smile regardless. His eyes were black and the concern still lingered in his subtle expressions, but I could see him attempting to be rational.
Edwards POV:
She was asking for me. I saw her standing at the end of the path watching and listening to Carlisle and I. She was a young woman now, no longer my little angel. She had grown too fast. I could hear her thoughts and she was afraid I was angry with her, but that was far from the truth. I waved her to come to me and within a second she was in my arms, nestled under my chin, and squeezing me tightly.
"I could never be angry with you, Nessie. I will love you until the day I no longer exist." I said kissing her forehead and cheek.
It was almost comical, but Bella then appeared at the end of the path. Nessie looked just like mother, breathtaking.
"Dad, are you sure you could never be mad at me?" she asked.
I pulled back curiously wondering why such an unusual way of asking. My fatherly instincts told me she was up to something already.
"Never." I said slowly with hesitation. I would probably regret that. Bella made her way down the path at a humans pace. With both of my girls by my side, I felt home again. Nessie placed one hand on my face showing me Bella and I in the garden at home. It was a sunny day several weeks ago. We horse played around in the garden not getting much done in the way of gardening. Then she took me back to the meadow, our favorite place. It was the day she was upset with Jacob. I still can't believe I defended that mutt. She smiled thankful for my generosity. Then we were back in the garden again. Bella and I sat on the bench facing the water fountain. My arm was wrapped securely around her shoulder as I hummed her a lullaby. I didn't realize we had an audience as I leaned in for a long kiss. That was exactly what I needed to see.
I kissed Bella after leaning into Nessie's ear and thanking her for sharing her memories. I noticed the rest of the family gathering now at the end of the path
"I'm hungry." Emmett bellowed. We all laughed and it felt good.
"I know a great place to hunt." Rose said quickly.
"For the love of all that's holy." I said rolling of my eyes.