Chapter Twenty Nine

Bella

Everyone was so kind to me when we reached the house and I was soon settled in Jasper's room with a hot drink. I felt at home here, safe and wanted. The Cullens were like family to me, accepting and warm, unlike my stepmother. I couldn't stay there any longer although I knew it would hurt Charlie. I would miss my dad but not the atmosphere or Sophie's cold cruelty and I knew if I stayed I would be forcing my dad to decide between us and that was unfair. I was an adult with my own life to lead difficult as that might be but at least now I had Jasper who loved me and wanted to take care of me.

Once we were alone he gestured for me to try to sleep but I was wide awake now and I could tell from his demeanour that he had something on his mind. For a moment I wondered if I had been wrong to put my trust so firmly in him but the doubt was short-lived as I gestured for him to join me on the recliner Esme had made up into a bed for me when I arrived. He carried with him a pad and pen and indicated he wanted to tell me something very important so I nodded and watched as he began to write, his body tense and his expression wary.

Bella,

You know that I love you and want to be in your life permanently and I know how you feel about me but I have to tell you the truth about myself. I cannot let you make such an important decision without all the facts so please bear with me as I tell you the terrible truth about my history. I can only hope that what you read will not have you running in fear and loathing from me. If you feel that you cannot stay after you have read what I am about to write I want you to know that I will respect your decision and I promise you will never be in any danger from me."

I tense, I already knew he was a vampire who had once lived on human blood so what else could there be? Surely anything else could only be secondary to that and he knew I understood and accepted that fact. Noticing his hand, the one holding the pen, shook slightly I took his other hand in mine and squeezed it comfortingly. He looked up at me and smiled but it never reached his eyes and then I was swept up in his narrative.

I read about his human life, the proud, courageous warrior and then his transformation at the hands of the Mexican woman Maria. For a second I felt a twinge of jealousy but as I read on that turned to a simmering anger. How could the bitch treat him so? A man she professed to love?

By the time he finished telling me his story it was light outside but I was trapped within the tale, the horror and pain of it, and continued to stare at the words for a long time. It wasn't until I felt him pulling his hand away that I came back to the present. He had mistaken my long silence for revulsion and of course he was right but the feelings of anger and contempt were not aimed at him but at her, Maria, his sire.

I found he had left my side and stood by the door, a look of such loss and pain on his face that I leaped up and went to him pulling him into my arms and kissing him hard to show I loved him and nothing had changed about that. Slowly his body relaxed into mine and he returned my kisses, my body tingling all over as I felt the need for him blossom into something deeper and more hungry. We stayed like this for some time and then there was a change in his demeanour and he pulled back to indicate to me that there was something more he wanted to say and wondering if there was anything left I didn't know about him, it seemed unlikely.

Sophie

I'd heard something in the early hours and peering out the bedroom window I saw Bella sneaking out with Jasper Hale and smiled. Did she really think he would want her full time? A good looking young man like that who could have his pick of females? Ones that were whole and unscarred mentally and physically? He might want her now, was probably sleeping with her on a regular basis but he would soon tire of the novelty. Still, it played into my hands, I didn't want the little bitch here causing a rift between Charlie and myself and ruining the comfortable life we had.

On the other hand, I wasn't willing to give her a clear run, she deserved to suffer for the hurtful things she had insinuated about me and the fact my own husband now looked at me uncomfortably. Oh no, I wasn't going to sit back and let her have it easy. Nor was I going to let Charlie off the hook so lightly, I was his wife and he should have taken my part not hers.

I waited until he had left for work knowing only too well he would probably skulk off to the Cullen house at the first opportunity he got then sat down and planned out my strategy. Nothing could be proved against me, Esme might think I was a little harsh on Bella but she also knew I had little experience with teenagers and would cut me some slack. I refused to lose her friendship and the status it gave me in town.

When I finally had my story straight I picked up the phone and dialled Esme's cell phone, she was the one I wanted to speak to, not one of the children or Carlisle and she answered almost immediately but I could feel the tension in her voice.

"Oh Esme, I'm so relieved I got through to you. Have you heard from Charlie yet? I take it Bella is with you?"

"Yes, Jasper bought her here earlier but we haven't seen Charlie yet. I think Carlisle went to speak to him at the station, just to let him know Bella is OK."

"Thank goodness, I was so worried. He was furious last night and I wanted to give you a heads up. He's not happy with Jasper and I have to say I don't really blame him."

"Jasper? Why?"

I hesitated as if unwilling to go on but then continued after a suitable pause.

"Well, Charlie feels Bella has changed since she became involved with Jasper. She is rebellious and agitated and that worries us both greatly because it has made the atmosphere here at home extremely unpleasant. Now I'm not saying Jasper has done anything deliberately although whisking her out of the house in the middle of the night isn't exactly the action of a responsible person. It might be better if you and Carlisle were to demonstrate you think Bella should sort out her problems with her family rather than just running away from them. After all, we are all Bella has now her mother is dead."

There was a long silence as Esme considered my words and I wondered if playing the family ticket would strike her as much as I had anticipated it would. She was very strong on family commitments even though her own family was such an artificial one.

"I see, I wasn't aware that Charlie felt that way. I understand that family is important, of course I do Sophie, but Bella was so terribly upset I could hardly send her away. I don't think Jasper is responsible for any problems you are having with Bella though, he would never turn her against her father."

"But he doesn't approve of me I take it? That's most unfair, he's judging me without knowing me or the difficulties of taking on another woman's child, especially a seriously disabled one who has always felt I was an intruder."

I waited for a response rapping my fingers on the table top admiring the new nail polish color I had applied only the day before and thinking about Bella's ragged and chewed nails. That girl had no dress sense and no style and while I could have helped her she made certain I would not by her attitude.

"I think it might be best if Charlie speaks to Bella here first Sophie but if he wants her to go home with him I certainly won't stand in his way. It's very difficult for all concerned and as the adults, it is down to us to make the first moves to solve any problems."

"Of course, and I am trying. I admit I lost my temper a little last night but not without provocation I might add. I just think it should be the family who sorts this out, this family, no offence intended of course."

"None taken. Oh, I think I can hear a car pulling up now. Let me see…."

So, my dear husband hadn't taken long to get over there!

"Yes, it's Charlie's cruiser."

"Please don't tell him what we have spoken about Esme, he would be very angry if he learned I had passed on his private thoughts about your son."

"I'll be diplomatic Sophie I promise."

I put the phone down satisfied that I had done all I could to upset Bella's little plans…... for now