Chapter Twenty Five
"Who the fuck is this bastard?" Carlisle yelled.
"Rose didn't know his last name; just that he knew Victoria and is name is Royce." Bella explained calmly from across his desk.
After hearing what his youngest daughter had told his girlfriend, Carlisle tried to be calm. His first emotions were shock and anger. He didn't understand why something so horrific had happened to Bella and now to his young daughter? All he could think of was there were a lot of sick son of bitches out in the world.
Once he was calm, he called Felix. He knew he was handling Bella's case and now he wanted him to deal with Rose. After fifteen minutes, he slammed down the phone, looked at Bella and explained what they had discussed.
"We need to talk to Victoria. We don't have a last name and therefore we can't get to him at the moment. Felix has her numbers to try and will contact her, then us. Felix is going to file papers to make me have sole custody. She is not going back to Victoria's house again ever." He growled.
He stood up and looked out the window. He turned around and kicked the trash can, knocking it over before punching the wall. He sat back down and placed his head in his hands.
Bella had remained quiet and let him go through the motions. After a few moments had come and gone, she walked behind him and placed her arms around him. He turned around in his chair and pulled her into his lap. He held her close and cried in the crook of her neck.
Once he had settled down, Bella wiped his tears as he gained his composure; he looked at the woman on his lap. "I should get back to patients."
"Like hell you are." Bella snapped back.
"Bella, please, just spend the afternoon with Rose and we'll all talk more when I get home. I don't want to argue."
"Good, because I don't feel like arguing. Carlisle, your daughter is scared to death and thinks that she is trouble because an animal touched her and hit her. I can be there but she really needs her father now. She needs you," Bella tried to reason.
He shook his head. "We are totally booked today, I can't just leave."
"You just can't leave your daughter either. Go. Home. To. Her." Bella slowly stated. She saw him shake his head and attempt to talk back. "You know, you did so much for me when I was going through my hell. You were in Boston every chance you had. You gave up your time with your daughter to help my father. You were running things here by yourself. You were completely selfless, which is one of the reasons I love you. Right now you are being a selfish bastard because you don't know how to deal with your own feelings." Carlisle looked at her with a look of anger. It didn't stop Bella, she just continued with her rant.
"Your daughter was-was" she took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she let the word escape her mouth. "possibly was molested. I know what you are doing. You don't think you can handle it. You don't think you can talk to her, well guess what? This isn't about you. It's about your daughter and what she needs and what she wants. She may be growing up but she's still a baby in the scheme of things, she's your baby. Go and act like a father. Hold her and tell her that you love her and that she is safe and she isn't in trouble."
Carlisle was silent. Bella went to get his jacket and handed it to him. She was now quiet and spoke in a whisper. "Go, she's with Emmett up front. You might as well know that I'm not leaving until you have left with your daughter. I'm going to talk to my dad. I'll stay here if I have to and fill in for you myself. Just go, and just be with her. I'll bring home dinner, just spend time with her. She needs you."
Carlisle silently looked at Bella and nodded slowly. No one had ever spoken to him in the tone that Bella had. He had no idea how to respond to the woman in front of him. He kissed her cheek. Without much emotion he asked, "I'll see you later at home?"
Bella nodded. "Yes, I'll see you at home." She watched him walk out of his office. She sat in his chair and cried. She kept crying until a gently knock on the door brought her out of her thoughts.
"Isabella? Is everything okay?" He asked her.
She wiped her eyes and looked up. "No dad, everything isn't all right."
Bella stayed until just after six. As promised, she took on Carlisle's patient load. She was amazed that Charlie had agreed. He was actually thankful for her help. He thanked her several times throughout the day. On her way out, Charlie told Bella that he wouldn't have made it through the day without her help.
After stopping to at the supermarket to collect things for dinner, Bella pulled into the driveway. She got out of the car and the scene she saw melted her heart. Rose was smiling and chasing Carlisle through the gated backyard. After watching for a few moments, Bella gathered the cloth bag and placed it over her shoulder as she walked around to the gate.
"Belly! Come play with us!" Rose yelled to her as she ran into Bella.
"I will, after dinner, all right? I promise." Bella said kissing the child's check.
"What are we having?" Carlisle asked as he caught up. Once he met Bella he gave her a kiss on her cheek.
"Cheeseburgers and French fries," Bella smiled as she saw Rose jumping up and down. "And for desert strawberry shortcake!"
"Really? Those are all my favorite foods!" Rose said as she hugged Bella.
Bella hurried inside. She was putting the French fries into the oven when she felt arms around her waist. He gave her a simple kiss on her cheek. "Rose is in the bathroom and I wanted to talk to you briefly. Thanks for putting me in my place earlier. I didn't know what to do. Thank you for being there."
She turned around to face him and smiled softly. She placed her arms around his neck and returned his kiss. "Please know that you aren't in this alone. You are never alone. We are in this together now. You made my problems your problems. Now I'm making yours mine. Sometimes you have to give me a kick back to reality. Today I just figured you needed one too. I talked to my dad too. He sends his apologizes and kind of knows what you are going through. He said call him if you need to talk. He also said don't worry about going back to work until you are ready. There are some doctors from the surrounding area he can call to help him."
Carlisle smiled as he placed his lips on her forehead. "My Isabella, the miracle worker."
"I'm far from that. All I did was what I thought was right. Now, please start the grill so I can put the burgers on." She said as she unwrapped his arms from around her and playfully pushed him with her hip.
After dinner was finished, Bella made good with her word. She joined Rose and Carlisle outside. They were running around. She also enjoined swinging next to Rose on the swing set while Carlisle pushed both of them.
As the evening began to wind down, Rose loved using the sidewalk chalk to draw on the driveway with. As she sat with the two, Bella couldn't help but start to think about her life. From an outsider, it looked like they were a normal happy family. On the inside of course it was much different.
Bella thought about her own turmoil. For the first time since she found out she was pregnant, she placed her hand on her stomach. Carlisle took notice of this and smiled at her. Bella thought about everything she had been through with Mike. It was hell, literally, however, there was Rose. She didn't understand what Royce did to her and the long term effects it might have on her.
She thought about how Rose's childhood had been stolen from her. No matter how many happy memories she had as a child, memories of Royce would hunt her. Tainted thoughts would always surround her memories. She wondered in the future if it would affect her ability to love and trust a man, or anyone for that matter.
She stared at Carlisle as he helped Rose draw a picture. He didn't think anyone would be worse than Mike. Mike was a wild animal that deserved to be in the wild and eaten by another wild beast. This Royce guy, however, was a rapid animal that deserved to be put down. As he looked up at his daughter, who now was coloring with Bella; he wondered how a grown man could ever do that to a child. Carlisle knew he wasn't a saint in the past and he definitely wasn't kind to women all the time, however, he never hurt a child in the way that Royce had.
Rose colored with a smile on her face. She watched as Bella crawled over and tried to help Carlisle draw an animal that no one could identify. Rose laughed and felt good. She loved how both of them played with her and always showed that they loved her. Her mommy didn't always play with her. Rose knew she had a good daddy who would never hurt her. She also had her Belly.
Rose realized that she felt better after talking to Bella. She knew that Bella had to tell her dad, but only at the police station did she and Carlisle talk about the events. Rose thought she was pretty special because after talking to the police, Carlisle took her out for ice cream. It was her second one of the day! She also knew between her father and her Belly she was safe and loved.
She wasn't sure how Bella fit into their family, but she was glad that she did. She liked thinking that Bella was her mom, even though she knew she wasn't. She loved Victoria but sometimes she was angry and she never played with her like her father and her Belly would. Bella acted like how Rose thought a mom should act. Bella never yelled at her and always sang with Rose, even if she wasn't a good singer. Bella let Rose put on her lip gloss on the days she wore make up. She wondered how things would change once the baby came. Until then, she thought she was going to have fun with her Belly.
As the timer to the driveway lights lit them, Carlisle burst the girls' bubbles. "I think it's time for bed. It's getting dark outside."
"Can I take a bath?" Rose asked as she picked up the chalk and placed it back into the bucket where it belonged.
Carlisle smiled as they all walked back to the garage to put away her chalk. "I think that would be okay."
Rose was skipping into the garage. She stopped to see both her father and Bella waiting for her. She continued to skip over to the both of them and grabbed each of their hands to hold. She was in the middle of them and she smiled.
"Do you want a regular bath or a bubble bath Princess Rosalie?" Bella asked as she lightly squeezed Rose's hand.
"I'm a princess so of course I want a bubble bath!" She laughed.
Once inside, Rose took off her shoes at the designated spot. She left them and began to skip a head of them.
With Rose leading the way, the three of them began to walk up the stair case. Carlisle grabbed Bella's hand and followed Rose up the stairs.
"Daddy, can I use your tub?" Rose turned around to ask. She was referring to the Jacuzzi tub.
"Of course you can. I'll grab your bubble bath from your bathroom." Carlisle said as he walked towards one end of the hall while Bella and Rose walked the other. Bella began to run the bath water and helped Rose into the tub. When Carlisle walked in, the girls were laughing. He was adding the bubble when he looked up and saw the marks on Rose's body. He stared and then hurried out of the room.
Bella finished bathing Rose and they laughed together. They sang, "You are my Sunshine" and then got out of the tub.
"Do you think you and daddy can stay with me and read to me?" Rose asked as Bella brushed her long blonde hair.
"I think we can do that. Here, you brush your hair and I'll go find daddy." Bella said with a smile.
She walked back into their bedroom, he wasn't there. She walked down into the kitchen and he wasn't there. Finally, she followed his angry voice into the office.
"I don't give a damn, Felix, you are wrong," she heard Carlisle yell into the phone. "You must have dialed the number wrong. She is at a conference in California. Why would her phone be disconnected? She needs her phone for work."
Bella sat on the edge of the desk and continued to listen to the man she loved yell at the old lawyer. The yelling continued for a few more moments and then he slammed down the phone. Bella got off of the desk and walked behind Carlisle and began to massage his shoulders. She broke the silence.
"Rose asked for both of us to read to her. She's waiting."
He nodded as he stood up. "I'm sorry about what happened up there, with running out of the bathroom. I couldn't look at her body and see them littered with all those bruises. I lost it at the police station too."
"You went to the police station?"
"Yea, but they couldn't do much. We have no last name all they could do was take photos and a description. When their photographer began to take picture I ran out of the room and threw up. I was told that was a normal reaction."
"I wish I could have been with you. Come on, let's go see her," Bella said holding his hand as they walked up the stairs.
They positioned themselves comfortably on Rose's queen size bed. Carlisle sat with his back against the wall. Rose curled into him as Bella sat next to her. Bella began to read a chapter from The Little Prince. When she finished the chapter, both father and daughter were fast asleep. She pulled up the purple and pink quilt from the bottom of the bed, tucked them in and gave them both kisses on the cheek. She shut off the light and walked out of the room.
She showered and got ready for bed. She had reread the same paragraph in Water for Elephants about sixteen times before her phone rang.
"Bells, how are?" Charlie asked quietly on the other line.
"I could be doing better. How about you?"
Charlie laughed. "I'm fine; don't worry about your old man." He paused and took in a deep breath. "I called of course to see how Carlisle and Rosalie are doing, but I also called to talk to you about something. Before you say anything Bells, let me just say this. I wanted to tell you that I am sorry. Believe it or not I think I might have over reacted when you told me how you and Carlisle got back together."
Bella smiled. "Dad, you changed the locks on the house."
"Was I too rash? Seriously Bella, if he makes you happy, then I am happy for you. He is a good man who has changed a lot in the past several years. If he really makes you happy then who the hell am I to stand in your way?"
Bella started playfully laughing. "All right, now I'm worried. Who are you and what have you done with my father?"
Laughing back, Charlie answered, "All right, I deserve that."
"What made you change your mind and come to your senses?"
"Well, your brother loves you very much and gave me an earful when I came home the day that you came to get some things. He's too pig headed, I can't imagine where he gets that from."
"Yea, I have no idea. Neither one of us are stubborn."
Charlie chuckled. "Right. I also saw and heard you talk to Carlisle in his office about Rose. He wanted to go back to work, which, by the way I wouldn't have let him do. He didn't want to face the subject-but you stuck it to him. You made him face his fear. You promised him you weren't leaving until he left with Rosalie. You stood toe to toe with him and you won."
"Dad, it really wasn't a win-loose situation."
"No, but you told him things he needed to hear. You were loving, comforting and you kicked his butt verbally at the same time. After hearing both of you arguing I am pretty sure you could take care of yourself in any situation with him." Charlie paused for a moment. He couldn't believe he was having this conversation with Bella. Honey, I saw the love that both of you have for each other. You were feeling his pain, weren't you?"
Bella took a breath and licked her lips. "Rose is a great kid dad. I love her so much. She didn't deserve what that bastard did to her. When she told me what happened to her, I thought I was going to be sick. I've lived some of it as an adult, but for a child to go through that, I can't fathom the thought."
"Honey, trust me when I tell you I've been there. You might be a grown woman, but to hear what you went through, I was physically sick. Hearing those things that were done to a child-"
Bella interjected. "Makes it worse?"
"Not worse, just different. I don't think either one of you had it worse."
"Most certainly she did. She's a child dad. She's almost five years old, barely older than a baby. She's so young. Her early memories will be tainted with memories of that animal. I am not sure how long this went on for. Rose was talking about lots of pictures being taken at different times.
"You know, so I will look back and see the year that I turned twenty eight as a crappy year. That's one year and it isn't going to be one of my first childhood memories that I will remember."
On the other end of the line Charlie nodded his head. "I think that's fair. Bella I am sorry I was wrong."
"Dad we said that all ready, please don't say it again. It's over and done with."
"All right. I just want to make sure that you know I love you kid."
A smile found its way to Bella's red lips. "I love you too dad."
"Will you please tell Carlisle that he can talk to me any time if he needs to?"
"I promise I will. He's sleeping right now."
"I also wanted to let you know sweetheart that after seeing how you sprang into action with all of the Rose stuff, I have no doubt in my mind you will make an incredible mom."
"That means a lot dad, thanks."
Silence filled the phone as Charlie spoke up again. Bella couldn't remember the last time he was this talkative. "Bells, there is one other thing." He paused for a moment and then asked, "I was wondering if you wanted to come back and work for your old man again?"
Bella laughed again. "Well, I don't know what is going to happen now, however, let me talk to Carlisle and I'll let you know soon?"
"That sounds good kiddo. Have a good night."