Chapter Twenty Nine
Bella
It turned out I needn't have worried, Esme was charming and Carlisle insisted on giving me a Christmas kiss, obviously there was a truce for the Season of Goodwill. We exchanged presents, a thick fluffy jumper from Carlisle and Esme along with a book token.
"We didn't know what you still had so you can choose your own books."
"Thank you Carlisle, Esme"
I opened Emmett's present with some trepidation but sighed in relief to find a small black teddy bear wearing a scarlet bow,
"I thought you might like some company in bed for now"
Rose glared at him and he said no more but I couldn't help a grin. Rose bought me some tops and a new pair of trainers for which I was grateful, having no clothes was a real pain. My presents seemed to go down well, a computer game for Emmett, a CD of her favourite group for Rose and a vase that Rose said Esme would die for between her and Carlisle. She seemed thrilled with it,
"Bella you shouldn't. You can't have much money after all that's happened to you but thank you so much. It will match the colour scheme in the lounge of our new house. You must visit Bella, now all the nastiness is over. We understood you were distraught dear."
I could have answered her but it being Christmas Day I bit my tongue. As I went to get my jacket for the trip to Church, Rose followed and handed me a small box,
"It's from Jasper. He knew he wouldn't be with you but he wanted you to know he was thinking of you. He said he'd try to ring sometime today if he could, but they didn't know where they would be."
I took it, tears in my eyes,
"I didn't leave anything for him"
"He knows that, he doesn't care as long as you are waiting for him"
"I will be"
I opened the box and nestled in tissue paper was a bracelet with a stone dangling from it."
I picked it up and Rose fastened it on for me,
"Its Jasper"
I touched the stone and smiled, trying to hold back the tears,
"I didn't think you'd want Esme there when you got it"
"You're right there. Thank you Rose. I guess I'd better get ready for our outing"
Rose's brow creased,
"Yes. Esme's really making an effort. Well I guess maybe she realized she was wrong about things"
"You think so?"
"No, not really, do you want me to come with you?"
"I'll be OK. I'd better show willing but we wont be long"
She watched us as we walked up the street Carlisle one side of me and Esme the other, I felt like a condemned man taking his last walk to the electric chair.
The church service was short and reminded me of the times when I was a little girl and Renee got one of her religious kicks, I'd been in most different type of church and at the end I lit a candle for Charlie.
"I'm fine dad and Jasper is keeping his promise to you" I whispered to myself as I turned to walk out and straight into Edward.
Groaning I realized I'd been set up and tried to move past him but he took my arm,
"Please Bella at least give me a few minutes on Christmas Day"
I scowled over at the Cullen's who smiled and walked out leaving me with their son.
"It seems I have no choice"
He ushered me out into the street where it had started to snow and walked in the opposite direction from Rose's place
"Where are we going Edward?"
"I have a place round the corner here for a few days, well its Alice's really but she's loaned it to me"
"How kind of her, does she know I'm here?"
"No, I arranged this when Esme told me she was spending Christmas here with Rose and Emmett, before we knew you were alive but it's worked out well."
"For you. I'd really like to go home Edward"
I tried to turn round but he took my arm more tightly,
"Please Bella, just a few minutes"
"Why Edward? I said all I had to say at the Airport and again at the house."
"Yes but you're free of him now and Rose's influence so I wanted to try again"
"Edward there's no point. I really want to go back, Rose and Emmett will miss me."
"No they wont. They'll think you're still with Esme and Carlisle. They're going for a walk and they'll pick you up in about an hour."
It was going to be a really long hour but I couldn't break free of Edwards grip so I was more or less frogmarched to his borrowed flat.
Once inside he let go of my arm and locked the door putting the key in his pocket.
"So I'm a prisoner?"
"No, I just wanted a chance to speak and you to listen"
I folded my arms
"I'm listening"
"Please Bella, don't be difficult. Come and sit down, please."
Edward
When Esme contacted me to say they could get me a meeting with Bella on Christmas Day I was over the moon. It had been a dismal month for me, finding out she was still alive but that she no longer thought she loved me. I blamed Jasper for that, he'd wheedled his way into her affections despite killing her father with his ridiculous plans. When I saw her in the church it took my breath away, she was so beautiful, as always, but she looked a little careworn, the experiences of the past months written in her eyes. I wanted to take her away from everything, show her how much I cared and make her life sweet and carefree but it was going to take work, persuasion and most of all time which I didn't have. When I asked her to sit down she rolled her eyes and bit her lip but she still looked sexy and beautiful to me and she did sit, albeit on the very edge of the chair.
"Bella, I know you hate me for leaving you and I admit it was a bad move on a lot of levels but I really thought I was doing the right thing. I should have known that if I saved you from the dangers in my world you would attract them in your own."
I smiled at her but she sat stony faced,
"Bella please listen to me. I love you, I never stopped loving you and I suffered every day we have been apart, I need you in my world, you make it complete, please give me another chance. Here, I bought you a Christmas present."
I held out the small black box until she reached out and took it from me.
"Open it"
She sighed heavily then took the lid off and looked inside before replacing it and offering the box back to me.
"I can't accept that Edward"
"Why? It wasn't expensive, it's not even new. It belonged to my Mother."
"Then it should stay in your family Edward. I'm not your family."
"But you will be Bella, when you understand how much I love you"
She stood up and walked to the door arms folded,
"This conversation is over Edward. Open this door now"
"Bella you must know how much I live you, how I missed you"
"Really Edward? You expect me to believe that after what you said in the woods? Open the door, now."
I held out a hand pleading with her but she just looked at the ground, so with great reluctance I took the key out of my pocket and unlocked the door.
"He's not right for you Bella"
"Who?"
"Jasper, he's not right for you. He'll just make you unhappy"
"Like you did? Then I'll be ready, won't I"
She pulled open the door and stepped into the corridor,
"Goodbye Edward I don't want to see you again"
"Bella"
She turned at the top of the stairs,
"Yes?"
"Merry Christmas"
I threw her the box but as she caught it she lost her balance and slipped down the stairs. I heard the crack as something broke before I reached her. She was laying part way down the flight of stairs bleeding from a nasty cut on her head and I stopped breathing, merely as a precaution.
"Are you OK?... Bella talk to me"
