Lost Loves of Meadow Lane
Chapter 29
Edward July 3, 1911
With the excitement of summer came the beginning of a future.
"Edward," Elizabeth called to her son. "Edward, come here!" Elizabeth said exuberantly as she rushed into the house, the local paper tucked under her arm. She was met at the door by a wide-eyed girl and a young man standing behind her. She had just returned from town and the sailors of Gulfport were excited for a day off; celebrations had already begun.
"Mother, what is all the excitement about?" he said as he flew up the three steps into the house behind her. Elizabeth turned to him smiling. Edward hadn't seen that smile in a long time. The closest she had come to having a smile that big and genuine was the day he returned with Bella and Riley from the logging camp.
"It's over," she said rushing to him for a hug.
"What is over?"
Elizabeth opened the paper. Edward noticed the front page still reported about the race riots, which were the main topic of conversation in Mississippi before his mother flipped to page three.
In small print, as if it was inconsequential news, the headline read, "Local Businessman, found dead" in large, bold print. The article was brief and to the point, reporting that Mr. James Witherdale, who not only was under suspicion of civil crimes against negros but was also a suspect in the disappearance of his wife, Mrs. Isabella Witherdale. It continued that his wife, part owner of JW imports, was believed to have met with a deadly fate as she had not been seen or heard from since January. Authorities believe that the death of James Witherdale appeared to be a suicide, though they have not ruled out homicide. His long-time housekeeper, Victoria Smith, was wanted for questioning. If anyone has any information on her whereabouts, they're asked to please notify authorities.
Bella shook her head in disbelief before looking to Edward. Her heart pounded hard in her chest. Was this their chance at a future? Had she really been set free? Had she lived here for over two years? Tears pricked at the edges of her eyes as Edward reached around her and pulled her into his arms.
"This means you're not married anymore..." Edward said. He was right. She was a free woman. Free to love whom she wanted and more importantly, marry whom she wanted.
With the news of James death, Independence Day held a new meaning for all.
2011
"... I'm not hiding that I'm a convicted felon. It's just not something I talk about. I'm sorry you heard that kind of news from someone other than me," Jasper explained. "I didn't want you, or anyone else, judging me based on one bad decision," Jasper continued as his eyes moved from Alice to Emmett, and back to Alice. He was desperate for her to understand what he was going through.
"I didn't think-" Alice started before her brother cut her off.
"Okay, so I might have jumped to some conclusions. But now that you are explaining, what I want to know is why you need a skirt to come to your rescue?" Emmett asked, looking at Rosalie. Something wasn't adding up, and he wanted answers-real answers.
"Skirt! Did you just call me a skirt?" Rosalie asked indignantly as she rose slightly from her seat. "How dare you-"
"How dare I? I'm not the one telling half-truths." Emmett knew from the minute he riled Rosalie up that she was the weak link in the chain, so he pushed and called her out. If he could get her mad enough, she'd break and he would know the whole truth-every dirty detail. "I'm not the one that got drunk and got behind the wheel of a vehicle. I'm not the one that nearly killed someone. Your loser boyfriend here, Jasper Whitlock, is. Give me one good reason to believe he's changed, for Alice's sake. Oh, your Honor, I'm so sorry," he continued his rant closing his fists and rubbing his eyes. "I don't know any other way to deal with my boo-hoo life. I'm a coward, a drunk-". By the time Emmett's rant was cut off everyone was standing. Alice and Jasper were trying to break into the conversation before emotions got the best of everyone.
"Emmett," Alice shrieked.
"Rose," Jasper warned, but it was too late.
"I'm the one that was driving the fucking car," Rose screamed. When she realized what she'd said, her expression changed from anger to horror. Her hands clasped over her mouth to keep from spewing more of the truth. She'd lived with the guilt for too long. On some level, it felt good, to tell the truth, but the consequences could be devastating. Rose wanted to slap Emmett and his stupid dimples that appeared at the edges of his smile. The twinkle in his eyes, because he had won, made her want to scratch his eyes out.
Jasper pulled her into a hug before the shock of the conversation wore off, and whispered comforting words in her ear. "It's okay, Rose. That's what good cops do. They find your weak spot and break you down. Don't say anything else. Let me think for a minute. . . we'll figure this out."
"This is what I should have done two years ago," she whispered back. "I never should have let you take the blame. It's my fault..."
"Excuse me," Alice broke into the conversation. The panic that filled her voice forced everyone to look at her. "Where are the children?" she asked looking past the entryway into the living room.
Rosalie and Jasper moved first, rushing into the living room frantically looking around before Jasper headed to the front door and Rosalie rushed up the stairs. Alice and Emmett were quickly on their heels. Emmett came to an abrupt halt before plowing into Jasper's back.
"Trev..." Jasper said with a much calmer voice than he thought he was able to muster. "Why are you and Sierra on the porch?" He knelt in front of the children sitting on the edge of the porch in a protective stance, ready to catch either if needed.
"Mamma was getting loud. We brought Sierra out here so she wouldn't be scared," Trevor said before reaching out to his Uncle for a hug. Before Jasper could settle Trev on his hip and collect Sierra, Emmett had already claimed the little girl.
After returning inside and announcing to a much-relieved Rosalie and Alice, the four agreed to table the conversation about criminal records, who did what, and anything else that would cause tempers to flare. But Emmett warned everyone that this particular topic was not finished. Emmett and Alice looked at each other with raised brows after shrieking a horrified 'no' at Rosalie's suggestion for her and Jasper to leave.
"Why don't we take the children into the backyard and let them play for a while," Alice suggested. "I would really like you both to stay." Warily, Jasper and Rose succumbed to Alice's charm, but not before she guaranteed Emmett would behave. Jasper snickered watching her bully the man standing next to him without so much as a word. Now who's the coward? he thought to himself. He had to admit to himself, though, that Alice could be kind of scary. Not in the, 'I'm going to kill you' way, but in a way, that would make your heart hurt for a long time.
Rose and Alice sat in the swing watching the kids run around while Emmett brought out some chairs for Jasper and himself. Alice was already chatting away at Rose.
"Back there, behind the tree's, just to the side of that rock, is a family plot. I guess it would be Jasper's great-grandfather?" Alice asked already knowing the answer but wanting to direct the conversation until the tension between them was gone. Jasper nodded and smiled. Alice was good and he liked the change in conversation.
"He's the one that built the housed, too," Jasper added. "It's kind of what brought Alice and me together. She found his letters and was sharing them with me while I was reading my great-grandmother's letters to her."
"Speaking of which, I have one last letter you haven't read yet," Alice announced with a mischievous grin. She bounced from the swing and into the house.
One last letter... say it isn't true! It's not, not that I remember. There are at least 13 more chapters if I can get them edited and have one of my Wonderful beta's to touch it with their magic wands and lift it to posting fitness.
Independence day? Skirts? Cowards? This group is batshit crazy!
Don't foret the 3 R's of Fanfiction
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Classes have started again but I will work hard to finish this story before another year goes by.
