Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot of the Twilight Saga are the property of Stephanie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. The storyline of Hope Springs is mine.
This story is rated M for a reason – you have been warned! There may be scenes of drug use, abuse, physical and sexual.
HOPE SPRINGS
Bella slept for some of the drive home and after Edward had fetched Roscoe, he and Bella scoffed down a couple of pieces of toast, while Roscoe ran around the backyard. They were showered and asleep in bed shortly after the sun went down.
Esme and Carlisle invited everyone to dinner a couple of nights later and announced at dinner that they were leaving for their vacation one week after school began, around the twentieth of August.
Edward would move into the main house with Bree and Roscoe, which would make it far less disruptive for the teenager as she settled into her sophomore year in high school.
Most of their holiday was fairly laid back with the first part of their holiday being spent travelling though Europe ala backpack style. Thereafter they were going to Thailand and onto Australia before they made their way to Hawaii.
Bella's nightmares began that same night.
CHAPTER 26 – Mama said there'll be days like this….
Bella spent much of her time with Esme, Carlisle and the rest of the family the following week before she headed back to school to complete the final summer course before the new semester began. She knew that they were leaving a week after the school year began, which happened to be just before Brianna's fifteen birthday and the thought of them not being in the main house saddened and frightened her.
Bella began to have nightmares a few days before she left for Johnson. At first she thought that it was just nerves or tension and she was able to wake herself up before she disturbed Edward.
After three days, she was reluctant to even go to sleep. Of course Edward noticed her avoidance tactics and he called her out on it. Rather than admit that she was having an issue with his parents leaving, Bella picked an argument and for the first time in a while, she slept at her apartment alone.
Except that she didn't sleep. Instead she sat in her window seat and stared outside. Truthfully, she was even too afraid to think of her dreams and what they could mean. Were they a premonition? Were they a warning?
Each dream began the same way.
She was in the meadow behind the main house. It was the night of her birthday party. At first everyone was there, laughing and joking. The balloons waved in the gentle breeze and Bella could hear the sound of the children playing.
Suddenly, it was quiet and when she looked around, everyone had disappeared. The night turned dark and foreboding as heavy clouds rolled over the moon.
In the distance she could hear Esme and Carlisle's voices, and Bella began to call for them, but the further into woods that she ran, the further away they seemed to be.
Again the scene changed and this time she was standing at a graveside, holding the folded flag. Instead of just one coffin, there were two…
Bella shook herself out of the dark memories and found that her cheeks were wet. She wiped her tears away and stood up, groaning as she unfolded her stiff body.
She was being silly!
Instead of trying to sleep, Bella decided to spring clean her small apartment and by the time that the sun began to rise, every ounce was sparkling clean. Bella had washed her bedding, vacuumed and dusted each room. Her bathroom had been cleaned and all of her closets had been cleaned as well. She had even packed out her warmer clothes to air so that when the cooler weather began, she would be ready.
After her umpteenth cup of coffee, Bella ate a quick breakfast of toast before she packed up her small car with her belongings.
As she closed the car door, she heard Edward drive up and park behind her. She didn't look up as he opened his door.
Roscoe jumped out of the truck bed and raced over to her. Bella knelt down and hugged him tightly.
"Sorry that I left you last night, boy. I just needed some time alone." She whispered into his fur.
Roscoe whined and licked her hand lovingly before he bounded around the side of the house.
Bella stood up slowly and turned to face Edward.
Edward had hardly slept at all the previous night.
For most of the week he knew that something was wrong with Bella. She whimpered in her sleep and a couple of times she had begun to cry before she would wake up gasping as if she had forgotten to breath and then he would hear her walking around downstairs for ages before she climbed back in beside him. He would feel her small body trembling as she curled up against him.
What pissed him off was that she wouldn't talk to him. Even his family had begun to see that something was wrong. The dark shadows under her eyes, the tears that didn't seem far away, the forlorn look that he would see in her eyes – all indicated that something was troubling her, but when he asked her, she would deny that anything was wrong.
The previous evening, they had had a quiet dinner and they were taking a walk around the common when Edward had decided to ask her what was worrying her.
He was shocked at her response.
Bella had turned on him and before he knew what was going on, she was screaming at him that he didn't understand her, that she needed space and he was crowding her and that she was going home!
Edward and Roscoe had watched with his jaw on his chest as Bella ran across the lawn towards his house. Three minutes later she came barreling out of his front door and she had jumped into her car and sped away without looking back.
Edward had cursed up a storm as he stalked back into his house, almost slamming the front door off the hinges.
After changing into his running clothes and taking Roscoe for a long run, until Roscoe lay down in protest and Edward walked the rest of the way home.
He phoned his father that night and asked him to check to see if Bella was home. Carlisle was as concerned as Esme at Bella's distant behavior but he urged Edward to have patience.
That night he played his piano for hours before he walked up to bed. He hated being home without her. The house that he had loved and had felt comfortable in for the past few years seemed empty and too big without Bella in it. He could see evidence of her all over.
A forgotten school book on the table in the sitting room; the potted bright Gerber daisies on the kitchen window ledge; her underwear in the hamper; her toothbrush in his bathroom; her sponge in the shower; the novel that she was reading on the table next to where she slept.
Now Edward walked slowly around his truck to stand in front of Bella as she stood up.
He bit back a curse at the darkened shadows beneath her eyes. Her face was pale with lack of sleep and he could see the distress and exhaustion etched into her face and eyes.
"Oh Bella! What is going on, Sweetheart?" he asked tenderly as he reached out slowly to cup her cheek.
Bella's eyes filled with tears as she allowed herself to lean into his touch for a moment.
With a muffled cry, Edward pulled her into his arms. Instead of fighting him, as he had thought that she would, Bella fisted his T-shirt in her hands as she buried her head against him.
He felt her body tremble and his arms tightened.
Edward held her as Bella struggled to get herself under control, but the more she tried, the more she could feel the sobs of anguish building up inside her until Edward's hand ghosted down her head and she felt his lips pressing down on her head.
A loud sobbing cry broke loose and it seemed that once the dam had broken, there was nothing that Bella could do to stop it.
Racking sobs roused Esme as she was out in her vegetable garden, picking fresh greens to go into a salad for the roast lunch that she was preparing.
She dropped her basket and ran around the house only to find Edward sitting on the dirt driveway hold an inconsolable and babbling Bella.
Esme met Edward's worried gaze over the top of Bella's head.
Nothing that she said was making any sense and Edward could only make out snippets of her words.
"…going to die! It's my fault… all alone again… leave me…."
"Get dad and Jasper." Was all he said and Esme didn't hesitate. She flew into the house, calling urgently for Carlisle as she dialed Jasper's number.
Alice answered and Esme didn't even greet her before she told Alice to get Jasper over to the house immediately.
"Is it Bella?"
Esme's heart hammered as she answered softly, "Yes. Tell him to hurry."
Esme quickly explained the situation to Carlisle who had been working in his office.
Carlisle walked outside and assessed the situation. Both he and Jasper had been waiting for something like this to happen.
Bella had been tense and distant ever since he and Esme had returned from Boston. At first Esme had wondered if Bella had been angry that they had gone away without her, but Carlisle had quickly nixed that idea. Bella's behavior reminded him of when she had first come to stay on their property.
She would keep herself apart from them, but would look on their bantering and conversations with longing.
Jasper had brought it up a few mornings before and he had told Carlisle that he thought that it had to do with the abandonment issues that Bella was harboring.
"Bring her inside, son." Carlisle told Edward.
Edward whispered nonscense words of assurance as he lifted Bella into his arms and carried her through his parent's house to his father's office. Bella's fingers were white as she held him even tighter as if she was afraid that he was going to leave. He sat down on the old sofa in the corner with Bella on his lap and heard Jasper's footsteps in the hallway.
Jasper walked into the room a few minutes later, carrying a bottle of water and a cup of tea.
Carlisle closed the office door quietly and the two men took the arm chairs facing the sofa. Edward rubbed Bella's back gently.
Finally the tears that had drenched his shirt stopped and Edward felt Bella's finger relax slightly.
He brushed her sweaty hair off her face that was red and puffy from crying. Her eyes were almost swollen shut. He took the box of tissues that Carlisle had given him and handed her a few.
"Bella, Love, will you talk to us and tell us what's going on?" He asked quietly.
Bella stiffened momentarily before Jasper spoke up, "Bella; you are safe here. You know that. Nothing can hurt you here, Honey. It's just Carlisle, Edward and I and we just want to help you to work out what is upsetting you so much. Please can you talk to us?"
Bella lifted her head with a sigh and blew her nose before she slowly looked around. Her eyes settled on Edward's and he was sad to see them fill with tears again.
"Hush, love. No more tears, okay? I love you. We love you and there is nothing that you could ever tell us that will change that. Do you understand, Love?" Edward brushed a thumb under her eye and he caught a lone tear.
She looked over at Jasper and he smiled at her before he held out the bottle of water which she drank from thirstily before she put it onto the table.
Next she slipped off Edward's lap, but kept one of his hands clasped tightly between her hands.
"I'm," she cleared her throat that was sore from crying, "I'm sorry for causing all this drama."
Carlisle shook his head, "No apology is necessary Bells. This is what family is for; we are here in the good times and the bad."
Bella nodded but said nothing until she realized that they were waiting for her to talk.
"I, um, I've been having nightmares…" she whispered so quietly that Carlisle and Jasper had to lean forward to hear her.
Bella noticed that no one seemed surprised and she wondered if she had been as stealth as she had hoped.
"Are your nightmares always the same?" Jasper prodded quietly.
Bella nodded.
"Are they about the baby?" After Bella's miscarriage she had some bad dreams surrounding the baby and that terrible night.
Bella shook her head. No.
Edward opened his mouth but closed it when Jasper shook his head at Edward slightly. His eyes spoke to Edward plainly.
Let me lead this.
Edward nodded back and he sat back as Jasper began to narrow the reasons for Bella's meltdown.
"Are the nightmares about Charlie? Or Renee?"
Jasper caught Bella's hesitation before she answered, "I don't think so." She whispered.
There was a moment's silence as Jasper waited and it wasn't long before Bella looked across at him sadly, "I think that it was about… um, Essie and Doc." She almost chocked on their names as she glanced apologetically at Carlisle.
Bella didn't know what she was expecting, but none of the men said anything or showed any reaction other than to nod in encouragement.
Bella sighed and she picked up the cooling tea and took a sip before she began to tell them, haltingly at first about what she remembered of her dream.
She had to stop several times before she finished talking to wipe her fresh tears or to take a sip of water or tea to gather her thoughts.
Finally she sat back, her hands were sweaty as she held Edward's hand almost like a shield over her chest and she kept her eyes on Jasper, almost afraid to look at Edward or his father.
"I'm just worried that something's going to happen to you."
Jasper's next reaction startled her. He looked over at Carlisle and smiled before he looked back at her, "Would you like to speak in private or do you want Carlisle and Edward to stay?"
Bella bit her lip, "Can they stay? Is it b-bad?" she asked. Edward winced as her nails dug into his skin.
Carlisle noticed and smirked at him.
Asshole.
Jasper chuckled for the first time and Bella felt herself sag with relief.
"No, Bells it's not bad. All that your mind is telling you is that you are afraid of Esme and Carlisle being away for so long. You feel safe knowing that they are here at home, waiting for you, if you will and now that they are leaving, you are having separation anxiety. If you break down your dream into separate scenes, you will realize that there is nothing sinister about them. If anything, they are a warning to your mind that you are worried about something that you need to talk about and deal with. Remember; dreams are just an outpouring of what's going on in your subconscious – which you are not dealing with too well or that is making you anxious. Dreams are an outward pouring of what's going on in your heart."
Jasper sat back and let his words sink in.
Carlisle got up quietly and came to sit on the other side of Bella. He put his arms around her and hugged her firmly.
Bella rested her head on his shoulder as she felt tears leak from her closed and sore eyes.
"I'm sorry…" she muttered.
Carlisle only held her tighter, "We could not love you more if Esme had given birth to you Bella. I cannot promise that nothing will happen to either of us, but I will promise you this; you will always be a Cullen and you will always be a part of this family and I will do everything in my power to bring Mom home safely to you."
Bella swallowed a sob as Carlisle put a voice to her deepest and darkest fears.
Once she had calmed down again, Jasper immediately gave her some 'homework' to do and he made her promise to call either himself or Edward or his parents if her dream reoccurred – no matter time of the night it was.
Carlisle had slipped out of the room and he quickly explained to Esme that they would not be going to the morning service at church.
When his office door opened, Esme was ready; she opened her arms to Bella as she walked into the kitchen and hugged her quietly before she sent Edward and Bella home so that Bella could get some sleep before she left for school.
As Bella lay on her bed, securely wrapped in Edward's arms, she tried to apologize for ruining their day but Edward was quick to brush her apologies to one side.
"Never apologize for being honest, love. I just wish that you had spoken up before, because then you would have had some rest. Sleep now, sweet love." He kissed her forehead and Bella fell asleep.
She ended up sleeping for almost the entire day and with very little coaxing, she phoned Mrs. B to tell her that she would go directly from Hope Springs to class the next morning.
=====HS=====
Bella was pleased that the course that she was taking for the following ten days was based off campus in Montpelier. Bella was sad that she was not going to be going home as this particular course had both Saturday and Sunday classes in order to finish on time.
Before she left, Esme had come over with freshly baked muffins and a travel mug filled with fragrant coffee. She had kissed a sleeping Edward and left just after six.
Bella felt calm and well rested as she drove towards Montpelier with her music blaring. Her course was being held at the Montpelier Wellness Centre. The subject was Educational Psychology and it was a subject that really interested her.
Bella followed the directions on her GPS and soon she pulled up at the large brick building. She was early and so she sat in her car, sipping her coffee and scrolling through the messages on her phone:
Break a leg, Sister! Love Em
Don't listen to him, Bells – enjoy your day and call me later. Xoxo Rose & kids
Don't work too hard this week, love Mom and Dad
I missed you this morning, Love. I love you – have a good day and I will talk to you later. E xx
Have an awesome day, Bells! We miss you like crazy, Honey. Love us (the best looking Cullen's!) – if you still don't get it – Alice, Jasper and the kids
Bella chuckled even as she blinked away the tears that were threatening to fall. She loved her family! Even if they were crazy, Bella thought with a smile.
Bella spent a few minutes reading through her homework and the course content before she skimmed over the first few chapters of her text book, until a tap at her window startled her.
A young woman perhaps a little older than Bella stood at her window. Bella rolled the window down, "Hey there, are you taking the Ed Psych. course?" She asked.
Bella nodded. The woman was pretty with short blonde hair cut in a bob. She had hazel eyes that sparkled with life.
"Oh! That's great! Me too! I mean I'm in that class as well. I'm Candice." The blonde chirped and Bella thanked Mrs. B again for her coffee jolt.
Bella smiled as she opened her car door and made sure that she locked her car carefully before she turned and smiled at the other girl, "I'm Bella."
Candice smiled, "It's nice to meet you Bella. Where are you from?"
"Um, I live here in Vermont in a small town about two hours south of here." Bella said as they began to walk towards the building.
"Really? You don't sound like you are from Vermont. I'm from Louisiana myself. I just couldn't wait to come here for the summer. Where do you go to school?"
"Well, I'm originally from Arizona but, um, I'm at Johnson State College here in Vermont." Bella said.
Candice wrinkled her nose, "You don't like moving too far from home, do ya? Now I couldn't wait to get as far away from my home town as possible, I go to Florida State. What year are you in?"
Bella smiled at the speed that Candice changed the topics of conversation, she reminded Bella of Bree in a way.
"Um, yeah, I'm going into my sophomore year and you?"
Candice waved her hand as she laughed, "Well, I was undecided until a few months ago and I only declared my major and applied to the Teachers program and so I'm really behind and I had to take a crock load of courses this summer and I'm still short on credits! What about you?"
They found the small room where the course was being held and they greeted the lecturer before they found seats near the front of the class. Bella didn't care what anyone thought of her. She found it least distracting when she sat in the front row or as close to it as possible. She concentrated better and she had found that if she concentrated in class, her memory seemed to retain most of the material and studying only reinforced what she remembered. Edward had commented more than once about her amazing memory and he had even suggested that she had a photographic memory.
Bella put her bag on the desk and turned to answer the easy going Candice, "I'm trying to get ahead on credits. I want to go home to my family as soon as possible and even though I see them every weekend; it's just not the same thing."
Candice sighed, "You sound like you are in love, girl."
Bella could feel herself blush, "I am. My boyfriend is at home waiting for me as well and I hate being apart from him." Bella confessed with a roll of her eyes.
Candice grinned, "Wow, you have it so bad…" she said and then she was interrupted as the lecturer called everyone to order.
Bella found the course to be as stimulating as she had hoped for and the time flew by. Thankfully the boarding house began to fill up again during the week, and Bella left early in the mornings and returned to eat dinner in her room after the dinner hour and so she was saved from seeing Mark at all.
Bella spent the last week before school began taking stock of both Esme and Alice's shops and marking down items for the end of summer 'sidewalk' sale that was due to take place that weekend. Each store owner set out trestle tables outside their stores where they sold their wares. The small festival coincided with voting a new mayor in, and Edward was thrilled when his announcement to not run again was met with very few protests.
The voting went as planned and Carlisle Cullen became the new Mayor of Hope Springs. That evening there was a large pot luck dinner and picnic on Dorset common and Bella sat on the blankets with the women as the men and the children participated in a game of 'own rules baseball'.
Jasper, Emmett, Edward and Brianna had gone camping and Bella was glad to be kept busy by all of the activity in town. She had dinner with Esme and Carlisle before Alice, Rosalie and the children arrived on her door to take her 'camping' in the woods behind the house.
Everything was fine until it began to rain and one by one the adults and children made their way back to the main house.
The next morning Carlisle and Esme took photographs of the women and children sleeping on their sitting room floor.
They were teased unmercifully by the guys and Bree when they arrived home that afternoon and they made plans to go camping in a group over the Labor Day weekend.
Edward teased Bella that night as she lay warm and satisfied in his arms and he admitted to her that her idea of the brothers spending time with their young sister had paid off because they were closer than ever. Bella had noticed how affectionate Bree had been with her brothers during dinner. Instead of sulking at their constant ribbing, she had sassed them back and when she went to bed, she had hugged each one with genuine affection.
"I love our large family, but I will admit that it was good to bond with my siblings after so long." Edward's voice rumbled as they lay in the dark.
Bella pressed a kiss to the middle of his chest before she leaned her chin on her hands that were flat on his chest, "You are very lucky to have each other."
Edward ran his fingers through her hair as he smiled down at her, "I'm lucky to have you." He said before he pulled her closer and his lips found hers.
Before long Edward was poised above Bella once more, his eyes almost black with desire, "I want to bury myself deep inside you."
Bella tilted her hips as she wrapped her legs around his waist and her heels dug into his buttocks as she growled, "Do it then!"
Edward's hands gripped her hips as he undulated into her waiting wet heat.
"Oh my God! Edward!" Bella shouted as she felt every inch of his cock as he set an almost punishing pace. He would withdraw almost all of the way, so that his piercing teased her hot channel before he pumped his leaking dick back into her relentlessly until his balls slapped against her butt cheeks.
"Fuck, Bella! You are so damn tight. Fuck, baby, move your hips, that's it! Hold it just like… agh!"
Several minutes later Bella felt herself begin to tremble as she felt the spring that had being tightening inside her snap back and she screamed as her orgasm ripped through her. The tightening of her walls milked Edward until he followed closely behind her.
Esme and Carlisle were leaving during the following week and so it was with a sad heart that Bella walked into their kitchen the next afternoon to say goodbye.
School was starting up again and Bella didn't think that she would be able to come home before they left.
Bella had spent time over the preceding days talking over her feelings and fears with Esme, Carlisle, Edward and Jasper.
She understood her fears better and she could see how irrational her fear was, but that did not stop her heart from pounding erratically as she hugged Esme first and then Carlisle.
The three of them stood in the middle of the kitchen as Carlisle made sure that Bella had the latest hard copies of their itinerary, as well as the details of their accommodation and flight bookings, including phone numbers.
Jasper had suggested that just as they were leaving all of their information for the rest of the children, they should do the same so that Bella would feel as if she had some sort of control and power over the situation.
"We will phone you often okay? And we are going to send you postcards and we will Skype every Sunday. We love you, Bella." Esme said quietly.
Bella tried to be strong as she kissed them one last time, but she almost ran from the house, and stood gasping for breath next to her car until she felt a hand on her back.
"Slow, deep breathes, Bella." Edward put a paper bag into her shaky hand.
"There we go, remember to breathe slowly and hold it – aaand breathe out. Good girl, again, sweetheart." He kept one hand around her, resting on her stomach as he stood close behind her so that she could feel his chest moving in and out against her back.
A few moments later and Bella was breathing calmly once more.
Edward brushed his lips against the side of her face, "Better?"
Bella took a shaky breath and nodded. She turned around to face him, "Thank you, Baby. I kind of lost it there for a minute, but I'm okay now." She said as he carefully searched her face.
"Are you sure?"
Bella nodded, "Yep, I need to get a grip on reality. They aren't leaving forever. It's only for a few months. It's not like when you left, you know?" Edward frowned. He hated being reminded about what a dick he had been and he couldn't believe that he had run away from this girl that had captured his heart.
"Hey," he said softly as he held her in his arms, "I was the asshole. I should never have left you the way that I did and I thank God everyday that you forgave me. I will never do that to you again, and neither will my parents. Esme and Carlisle don't make promises that they don't keep love. Remember that they gave you the keys to the house? They would never have done that if they didn't trust you just like they trust the rest of us."
Edward laughed, "They probably trust you a lot more than they trust Em, Jas or I!"
Bella laughed before she kissed Edward sweetly and promised to call him when she got to the boarding house.
Edward stood in the driveway and watched as Bella drove down the tree lined dirt road. When he couldn't see her any longer he turned only to find his parents standing behind him.
Esme looked concerned, "Is she alright?"
Edward nodded, "She is getting better, Mom. You know that she has to work through this so that she doesn't fall apart every time one of us goes away or every time she leaves for school. Jasper said that it's the only way that Bella is going to realize that not everyone in her life is going to abandon her. I know that it's hard, Mom, but…"
Esme glared at him and rolled her eyes, "You don't know anything Edward! That girl needs us…"
Edward looked at his father for help, "That's ridiculous Mom," he said with exasperation, "Bella needs to realize that she can cope with you leaving! That's what Bella needs!" His voice rose at the end and he saw Carlisle cock an eyebrow in silent warning.
Esme glared at him for a moment and his voice softened, "Sorry, I know that you are worried about her, but our girl is strong. We are all going to be fine, Mom, I promise."
Esme nodded and she tried to hide the tears that gathered in her eyes, "If you need us, do you promise to call?"
Carlisle smiled as he put an arm around Esme. She had always been a strong and vibrant woman, and she ran the farm with an iron fist. It was very rarely that she showed her vulnerability to anyone except him.
Edward leaned down and kissed his mother's cheek, "I promise, Mom. You and Dad deserve this time together. You have both worked hard all your lives and you have given us more than enough; so now it's your time." He whispered.
Esme nodded, "Thank you, Sweetheart. I needed to hear that!" She looked sadly down the now deserted driveway before she turned and put an arm around Carlisle's waist and one around Edward and she turned towards the house, "Who is up for some delicious Victoria Apple and Fudge pound cake with fresh Ginger Beer?"
Edward met Carlisle's amused gaze over Esme's head as they both groaned and Edward sniggered, "You know, Esme, there is a weight limit on the plane…"
He yelped as Esme swatted his ass and ran into the house ahead of them.
Carlisle tightened his arm on her small shoulders as he pressed his lips to her temple, "I love you, my Darling." He murmured quietly.
"I love you," she answered before she pulled away from him and she shouted at Emmett to take his fingers out of the fudge sauce that she had made to go over the children's homemade ice-cream.
=====HS=====
Things became frantic in the Cullen house, with Brianna starting her sophomore year of high school and Esme relinquishing control of the farm to her management team, the shop to Makenna and her house to Edward and Brianna.
Tempers became frayed and a few nights later, Carlisle was in his study as he hid away from the eruption on the first floor between Esme and Bree – again.
"YOU ARE RUINING MY LIFE! I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY RILEY CAN'T COME OVER TO STUDY WITH ME IN THE AFTERNOONS! I AM NOT A BABY!"
Slam!
Carlisle winced as he heard Bree burst into noisy tears.
Seconds later he heard the sound of Esme as she stormed out of their room, across the first floor landing and then there was the sound of a door being banged open so hard that it hit the opposite wall.
He put his head into his hands and groaned.
"BRIANNA CULLEN! I PROMISE YOU THAT I WILL GROUND YOUR SKINNY ASS FOR THE NEXT FIFTY YEARS IF YOU SHOUT AT ME AGAIN! YOU KEEP THIS UP AND I WILL STOP YOU FROM SEEING THAT BOY EVER AGAIN!"
Carlisle decided that it was time to intervene as this was going downhill fast.
He took the stairs two at a time just in time to see his wife race past him, cursing like a sailor and the next thing he heard was their bathroom door slamming shut and the locking of the door.
He raked his hands through his hair and walked towards Bree's room. Bree glared at him with hot tears streaming down her face, "She hates me! I don't know why you ever had me, if she hates me so much! Sh-she t-t-took myyy phone! And I HATE HER!" she screamed before her door slammed and he heard the lock turn.
Carlisle walked into their suite to see clothes lying around in piles. He thought back to how this latest argument had begun:
Esme had been busy packing when Bree had informed her mother that she and Riley had been teamed up to do a science project together and that they were going to work together over the coming weeks at the Cullen house as it was quieter.
Esme had refused and to top it off, she had phoned Riley's mother and insisted that Bree and Riley be supervised with they were together.
That's when Carlisle had tried to intervene, and that was his first mistake. Both women turned as one to glare at him after he uttered the fateful words, "Simmer down, ladies…"
Esme was faster, "Simmer down? SIMMER DOWN? Oh it will be just fine when we come home to a grandchild, won't it? Then you can tell me to 'simmer down'!"
Carlisle felt as if his head was going to explode, "What?"
Bree glared at her mother and then her father, "Are you going through 'menopause' mom? Because I think that you have lost your ever loving MIND! Seriously? Seriously! Just because you were fast and lose, does not mean that I am the same!"
"Brianna!" Carlisle knew that he was losing control of the situation.
"GO TO YOUR ROOM!"
"NO! I didn't do anything wrong!"
"Fine! I'll go to my room!"
"I'm going to follow you!"
"Brianna, I promise you, I will take you out!" Esme growled and he swore that she snapped her teeth together in warning as Brianna scoffed at her and she was hot on her mother's heels with a loud, "What-ever! I'm sooo glad that you won't be here for my party!"
"That is IF you even have a party!"
"OH MY GOSH! I HATE YOU SO MUCH!"
It was at that point that Carlisle had escaped to his study.
He pulled his mind back to the matter in hand and spent the better part of the next hour trying to coax first Esme and then Bree out come out and talk to him, but neither would budge.
Eventually he threw his hands up in dismay and drove to Alistair's pub to have dinner, which Esme had not yet cooked and hopefully a stiff drink, which he desperately needed.
Alistair took one look at the doctor's bedraggled and defeated appearance and he waved him to a table in the back garden, where Edward was drinking a beer and reading a magazine.
"Hey Edward, this man looks like he could use some 'man-time'." Alistair said as he pulled out a chair for Carlisle.
"Hey Dad – shit! You look terrible, what's the matter?" Edward asked as he took in his father's unusually wrinkled shirt, his hair that stuck out in every direction and the old, faded, 'house-only' jeans that he was wearing. Carlisle would never normally leave home looking anything but neat and tidy.
Carlisle managed to throw Edward a grimace before he ordered a single malt whisky with ice and a generous serving of Galway Pie and a garden salad.
Edward's eyebrows shot up into his hairline. There was only one thing that would drive Carlisle out of his home for a drink and dinner – his sister and mother.
"The girls fighting again?" he asked.
Carlisle shook his head, "I swear Son; those two are impossible! They get nasty as anything! At least with you boys there were no hidden agendas or 'emotional issues'." He ran his hand through his hair as he took a deep sip of his drink and leaned forward and lowered his voice, "I swear to God, I would rather deal with ten boys than two menstruating, emotionally charged women!"
Edward burst out laughing. It was not often that he saw the great man himself ruffled by anything, but to see Carlisle almost afraid to go home was hilarious! He was pleased that he had text his brothers and he smirked when he saw them walking out to the table.
Carlisle narrowed his eyes as Emmett clamped his hand down on his shoulder and he glared at Edward, "Little fucker; you told them didn't you?" he growled as Jasper sat down next to him and Emmett sat next to Edward.
Alistair wasn't far behind with a large jug of draft beer, more glasses and another whiskey for Carlisle.
He lowered his somewhat bushy eyebrows at the 'boys', "Now you boys don't give your old dad a hard time, you hear? He looks like he has his hands full with the two Cullen women up at the house!"
"How did you know?" Carlisle asked.
Alistair chuckled, "Carlisle, my friend, I have tended bar long enough to know the look and believe me," he looked over his shoulder and bent closer, "Mak gets a little, um, 'unreasonable' at certain times, so…" he yelped in terror as a small hand slid around his back.
"What are you guys whispering about?" Makenna said playfully.
She was rewarded with five matching looks of fear, guilt and embarrassment.
"Nothing! Nothing!" Alistair blustered, which only made Makenna more suspicious.
She stood back and crossed her arms over her ample breasts. Makenna found it amusing that while most men loved to check out her ass in her low riser jeans and her tits in her skimpy tank tops, the Cullen men didn't ever give her more than a cursory glance.
Carlisle sighed sadly, "You know, Makenna, you may just be who we need here to give me some insight into the madness that I just left behind."
Makenna smiled sympathetically before she turned to her husband, "Why don't you check on Carlisle's dinner order and bring some Stuffed Potato Skins and some Calamari Chips to the table? Everything's under control inside and we can just take our break now?"
Alistair nodded and Emmett hummed happily at the mention of his favorite appetizer. Makenna's Stuffed Potato Skins were legendary, as the insides were scooped out, mashed with sour cream and topped with bacon and cheese and topped with more sour cream. The Calamari Chips were exactly that – strips of calamari, seasoned and deep fried and tossed in salt and lemon juice to make the best French fry calamari strips around.
Makenna pulled off her half apron and sat down adjacent to Carlisle and everyone made small talk until Alistair returned with the huge serving of Alistair's mother's recipe of Galway Seafood Pie, which included scallops, muscles and crab cooked delicately and covered in amazing flaky pastry. The result was filling and mouthwatering without being heavy and Carlisle's mouth watered in anticipation.
Emmett rubbed his hands together as one of the servers helping Alistair put two enormous platters with the Potato Skins and the Calamari Chips on the table and he wasted no time in blowing on a potato skin and trying to eat it without burning his mouth.
Alistair set his and Makenna's dinner on the table with a large glass of water for Makenna and a soda water for himself.
The table was silent except to Carlisle's hums of appreciation and Emmett's sporadic comments of 'I need a second wife' and 'Rosie won't mind if I bring you home, honest!'
Halfway through his dinner, Carlisle began to tell his sorry story. He tried not to join in the laughter as he described the way Esme and Bree had ended up turning on him as they fought, but in the end it felt ever so good to have a good laugh, even if it was at his expense as he described scurrying out of the house as he had timidly asked what was for dinner and was met with a shriek of disbelief from Esme and an "You are thinking of food – now?" from Bree.
As the laughter died down, Carlisle wiped the tears of laughter from his eyes and looked around, "I tell you, I need to record that shriek for the next Halloween party! The children will never come back!"
Jasper straightened up and chuckled, "Well then, you probably are glad that you didn't hear Alice this past week when Brady decided to 'water' his mother's prize roses by peeing on them – in front of the Volturi wives who happened to stop by to look at a catalogue for some more over priced furniture from Rome."
"She phoned me a few minutes after they had left and I swear, the birds took flight! All I heard was … 'and come and fetch your son!' Needless to say, I was there in minutes, lights blazing. I walked in only to see him walking around the front yard with his cowboy hat, T-shirt, sneakers, holster, toy gun and his 'other toy gun' hanging out! He had ditched his shorts somewhere along the way. He was completely unfazed by his mother's rant and I had to take him down to the station with me for the rest of the day!"
Once the dishes were cleared and only Carlisle, Edward, Alistair and Makenna were nursing fragrant glass mugs of Irish coffee, Makenna leaned forward and smiled at Carlisle.
"You know, May-May and Bree are just acting out their fear at being apart for so long. They will get over it and everything will be fine. You'll see." She said with calm assurance.
Carlisle snorted, "I suppose this is my own fault for marrying a redheaded Irishwoman and having little red-headed Irish babies!"
Edward protested good naturedly, while Mac laughed aloud, "Tell me about it! You know that Alistair can blow the roof off when he loses his temper but he is all blow and bluster and then it's all over. I used to cower in terror when we first got married and you know that I ended up in your spare room more than once, but now I just let him rant and ignore him until he settles down. What's really funny is watching him argue with himself – that's a hoot!"
Edward stood up with Carlisle, "Come on 'old man' let's drive you home." They paid the bill and Edward drove Carlisle back to the farm.
"How's Bella doing?"
"She's thrown herself into her schoolwork and is probably pushing herself again, but she hasn't had another nightmare and she even Skype's at night!"
"She's not coming home this weekend is she?"
Edward shook his head, "No. She wants to settle into her courses and get a head start on her homework, so she'll be back for Bree's party next weekend."
The two men sat in the car outside the dark house. After a moment Carlisle spoke again, "Edward, I just want to tell you how proud your mother and I are of you and the man that you have become. Take care of our girls while we are gone."
The men hugged and Edward felt his father kiss his forehead, "Thanks Dad that means a lot. I won't let you down."
Carlisle tiptoed into the house and took his jacket and shoes off in the mud room. As he walked past the sitting room he saw Esme curled up on the sofa. He walked over and saw the faint trace of tears on her cheek.
"Essie, come on Darling, it's bed time." He whispered as he picked her up bridal style.
Esme opened her eyes as she felt movement around her. Carlisle lowered her into the bed and her arms tightened around his neck, "I'm sorry that I am such a lunatic." She said.
Carlisle smiled, "You are my lunatic and I adore you – hey what's all this?" his gaze went from amused to concerned as he watched tears gather in Esme's green eyes.
"I'm going to miss them all so much. Are we doing the right thing?" she asked in a small voice.
Carlisle lay over her and brushed her tears off her cheeks with his thumbs, "We are all going to miss each other but it is the very best thing for you and me. We have given our children the very best of our lives for the past thirty-five years and now it is time that we begin to give the best of ourselves to each other, don't you think?"
Esme nodded slowly, "You are so damn smart. How I get so lucky?"
Carlisle slipped his finger underneath the thin strap of her satin nightgown, as his eyes grew dark, "We both got lucky. We found each other, remember and I love you more than I ever thought possible. You are a great mother, Baby, and you are an amazing woman. Are you ready to see the world with me and have nothing more to do than to make love to me every day for the next three months?"
Esme reached out and began to unbutton his shirt before she slipped her hands over his warm skin, "I am more than ready…"
=====HS=====
Bella shed a quick tear when Esme and Carlisle phoned to say goodbye, but otherwise she was really enjoying being back at school.
She loved being challenged by most of her new courses and the only black spot on the horizon was the fact that Mark Watson-Smythe was still hovering around her every chance that he got. Bella didn't give him much of a chance though and she was really pleased that the boarding house was fully booked and she had become friendly with most of the students. The house itself housed eight students, excluding Mark in the attic apartment. The basement apartment had been converted into a self-contained garden apartment for Mrs. B. She had three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a small kitchen, a sitting and dining room as well as her own private garden off her sitting room. The ground floor of the house held a common room/sitting room, a library/study, the large dining room that could seat at least twenty people and the large and airy kitchen.
During the week, some of the students gathered in the sitting room to watch sport or movies on the flat screen or they enjoyed a drink and a chat. Mrs. B. was quite relaxed about the students socializing, as long as there were no overnight guests and that all noise stopped by eleven at night.
At the end of the first full week of classes, Bella was invited to a party down the street, which she was about to turn down until she saw Mark staring at her with interest.
"Hmm, that sounds nice, thanks." She said to Dash.
Dash pushed his dark blue hair out of his face and nodded, "Cool – we can all go together, yeah?"
Bella stood up and gathered her bag, "Great, I'll see you at seven?"
Dash stood up as well, "Six; the gang wants to eat at that Indonesian restaurant first."
Bella waved a general goodbye to everyone as she and Dash walked outside.
"Um, Bella? What's the problem with Professor A-hole?"
Bella frowned, "What do you mean?"
Dash shook his head, "Let's walk and I'll tell you along the way." He said just as the front door opened and Mark walked outside.
Dash rolled his eyes and he took Bella's arm and they crossed the road.
Mark smirked at her as he walked past and he climbed into the cherry red sports car that he drove.
Bella shook her head as Mark took off amid a squeal of tires, "Idiot!"
Dash looked at her, "I'm not the only one that has noticed that you leave the room whenever he walks in to it. Or you only seem to eat with us if you sit as far from him as possible – is he harassing you?"
Bella sighed and shrugged, "Not really; I mean, he hasn't said anything but he just..." she looked at her feet and then up at Dash again, "he makes me feel uncomfortable. Or maybe the better phrase would be that he unnerves me. He just – watches me all the time and…"
"And he looks at you like you're something to eat!" Dash finished for her and they smiled at each other.
"Right! I, I hate it, but I'm not sure what to do about it. I mean I have told him twice that I will not tolerate any inappropriate behavior from him." She said as she adjusted her backpack.
"You've got some field work this semester, don't you?" Dash knew this because he had begun dating Bella's friend and classmate, Casey and he knew that Casey had just been accepted to a kindergarten in Burlington, where she was going to be working for two weeks.
"Yeah, I've applied to a school in my town and two others close by; One in Woodstock and one in Reading, the next town over. I'm just waiting to hear from them." As they got to the lecture hall where they could see Casey waiting for them Bella turned to Dash, "Listen, thanks for your concern, but please don't say anything about, well you know. I'm sure that it's nothing and I'm just being paranoid."
Dash hid his frown as he smiled and walked over to greet Casey with a kiss.
Bella walked inside and found her seat in the lecture room. Thankfully the classes that she was taking for her English Major were quite large and Bella felt safe amongst the many students.
Mark had not singled her out for any attention and he had kept his comments on her assignments professional for the most part, with only one or two personal comments tacked into the margin that Bella steadfastly ignored.
She called Edward before she went out that night and he was happy that she was going to be having some fun instead of studying all weekend.
Bree was busy putting their dinner onto their plates as Edward put his phone back into his pocket.
Bree had decided to have her birthday party the following weekend, so that Bella could be there as well and that night Riley was away at soccer camp and she and Edward were having a 'movie night'.
"What's Bells up to tonight?" Bree asked as she added a stack of French fries to the coleslaw and pork short ribs that they were having for dinner.
Edward picked up the two bottles of water that he taken out of the fridge and together they walked out to the back patio.
Roscoe lay down next to Bree knowing that out of the two, she was the most likely to feed him tidbits from her plate.
"She's going to a party with her group of friends."
Bree raised her eye brows, "Wow, Bella's going to a party? That's big – well, I'm glad that she's going to get a little of the 'college experience'."
"Yeah, she works so hard and I worry about her. I want her to have fun and experience the good things in life before we – well, you know, before she settles down in this one-horse town with boring me." Edward said and gave a dismissive laugh.
Bree shook her head, "You are so silly sometimes, Eddie! Have you ever thought that just maybe this 'one-horse'; sleepy town is just what Bella craves? She could have left a long time ago, days after she arrived or as soon as she had made some money from working in the shop but she didn't. She stayed, and I don't think that she only stayed because she had an old cot to sleep in, either. She fell in love with you; with us and with this town." She rolled her eyes and picked up a short rib, "You really don't see yourself clearly do you?"
Edward didn't say anything and they ate in silence for a few minutes. He put his knife and fork down and picked up his water.
"So; how did you get so damn smart?" he asked playfully.
Bree snorted, "Yeah, well, you'd think that after the three of you, I would either be a delinquent or the village idiot, wouldn't you?"
They laughed as Edward said that between him and Emmett they had those positions filled.
Bree's smiled dimmed, "I know that you feel as if you were the 'black sheep' and the rebel because you got your tats and those piercings," Bree wiggled her eyebrows and Edward blushed slightly and cursed Emmett and Jasper's big mouths, "but you are someone that I am very proud to call my brother, Edward. I know that I don't say that very often, but I really do know how blessed I am to have a family like ours. Mom and Dad are wonderful parents – they have so much love to give, you know?"
Edward nodded, "Even when you and mom are scaring dad out of the house?"
Bree giggled, "Oh my word! You should have seen how terrified he looked! He scurried downstairs like the hounds of hell were after him!"
Edward laughed and wagged a finger at her, "By all accounts; they were!"
Bree winked at him, "As I was saying, they are great and having you, Jazz and Emmy as my brothers is great. It doesn't even matter that you are all so much older than me," she bit her lip as her eyes twinkled, "hmm, old men, really… HEY! Edward, NOOOO!" She squealed as Edward leapt to his feet and pounced on her, tickling her on her sides as she squirmed and screamed for mercy.
"I'll give you old, missy!" He growled as he let out an evil laugh.
Roscoe sat up and stared at the people – he hoped that they didn't forget that he needed more treats.
By the time that they were finished, they were laying on the lawn in a heap. Bree giggled again as Edward's fingers ghosted over her arm and she brushed her long auburn hair from her face, her green eyes sparkling with happiness, "I love you, big brother and I think that you are the very best thing that has ever happened in Bella's life." She said softly.
Edward rolled over and sat up. He looked down at the woman/child. She was such a perfect mixture of Carlisle and Esme. She had Esme's heart-shaped face, auburn hair and green eyes and his father's chin and mouth. Edward's heart hurt a little at how quickly she was growing up.
He sighed and tapped her nose, "I love you too Squirt and if that Riley kid ever hurts you, well we both know how that will end!"
They stood up and brushed off their clothes before walking back inside with their dishes, with Roscoe training behind them, ever hopeful.
In the kitchen Edward cleaned their plates, making sure that he saved some scraps for the dog while Bree put everything away.
"So, we are having your birthday dinner at Alice's tomorrow night. Are you ready for that?"
"Sure; are you ready to have Sherri and Caitlyn sleeping over?"
Edward groaned and Bree punched his arm as they made their way into the sitting room to watch a movie.
"I have no problem having your friends sleep over as long as they don't run around in their underwear and you girls aren't up until all hours giggling."
Bree rolled her eyes, "Why on earth would we run around in our undies?"
"I know you, Squirt and you are like: 'oooh make yourself at home – no don't worry, that's just my brother, he won't care…" Edward said in a ridiculously high voice as he wiggled his hips and flapped his arms around.
Bree laughed, "Thank heavens you are not gay, Eddie, you would be the worst 'queen' around!"
As Edward was climbing into bed that night, his phone rang and he grinned when he saw Bella's photo flashing.
"Hey Love, how was the party?"
"It was okay. We went to dinner first and then to the party, or 'kegger' as it's called." Bella was sitting on her window seat staring out at the quiet street.
"Did you have fun?"
Bella sighed, "It was okay, I guess, but I missed being home with you. Does that make me a loser? Everyone said that I suck at having fun!"
Edward laughed and he imagined that she was pouting. When he asked if she was, she giggled.
"Maybe?"
"Well, I miss you too, my sweet girl. Don't worry, the week will go quickly and then you'll be home and we will have to deal with a million of Bree's friends and Emmett either playing 'bouncer' or acting like another fifteen year old!"
Bella yawned.
"Hmm, sorry, but I'm tired." She said.
"Get some sleep and I will speak to you tomorrow, love. I love you."
"I love you too."
Bella lay in bed and the last thought before she succumbed to sleep was that she could not wait for the coming week to fly by.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who is reviewing and reading my story. Remember if for any reason I am taken off FF, please come and find me on TWCS – my name there is 'peoplelikeus'.
Hugs till next time,
Michele