Chapter Thirty Seven

Esme

When Carlisle rang to say he had a medical emergency I wasn't overly surprised, it happened from time to time but when he rang again and said he wouldn't be home for a few days I became suspicious. He never stayed away just like that which meant that something was very wrong and when I questioned him he became very evasive. Edward was away for a few days so I packed a bag and drove to the hospital only to find he wasn't there and wouldn't be for several weeks, he'd taken some leave and I looked like a fool but not before his secretary had let slip he was at Memorial Medical Centre in Springfield. Now why would he be there? He didn't deal with brain injuries these days, he hadn't in a long long while and here he was suddenly becoming very mysterious and moving to a centre for brain injuries. I made my way back to the car and tried Rose but her phone went straight to voice mail as did Emmett's, did this emergency of Carlisle's have something to do with the help they were giving Jasper? Just what was going on? I phoned Alice but again voice mail, was the whole family in on this? Was I the only one with no idea what was going on? Determined to find out the truth I set of for Springfield determined to make Carlisle explain himself to me.

Carlisle

We were waking Bella up slowly after looking at her brain scans. To my relief I didn't see any permanent damage, or at least nothing that would prevent her making a full recovery. She might have problems with her memory but that should disappear with time. The only permanent damage might be to her coordination, if as I suspected she had damage to the cerebellum then her balance or equilibrium could be affected. We wouldn't know until she opened her eyes and reacted to her surroundings. I knew Jasper was in love with her, it hadn't taken much to work that out and for that reason alone I would have accepted his plea to look after her but I loved her too, as a daughter and if there was anything I could do to help her then I would willingly. Not telling Edward was going to be difficult unless I stayed away from the house and I wasn't sure how to stay away without telling Esme the truth which again meant Edward finding out so like the ostrich I buried my head in the sand and did nothing except move myself to Springfield with Bella. They had the best facilities for treating any problems she might have. Turning her was still a possibility but I preferred to get her approval if possible, I only turned those who were dying anyway, such as Rose or Esme, never a human who was still alive and continuing to live.

I guess I should have known Esme would track me down so seeing her sitting in the office the hospital had kindly provided for me wasn't exactly a shock, neither was the angry look on her face.

"Carlisle"

"Esme"

"Would you care to explain just what the hell is going on?"

"No, but it seems I have no choice. Come with me"

"Where?"

"You want to know what is going on?"

"Yes"

"Then come with me"

I took her to Bella's room and opened the door,

"Look for yourself"

She glanced at me puzzled then walked inside and I heard the gasp of recognition.

"Oh Bella,"

I joined her and there she was at Bella's bedside her hand on Bella's cheek,

"What happened to her and how did you get involved?"

"She had an accident and hit her head, there was bleeding inside the skull. Jasper asked for my help."

"Jasper? How did he know? Has he been seeing Bella all this time?"

"I don't know many details yet but I think they met again before Christmas."

"So where is he? She's why Jasper asked Emmett and Rose for their help isn't she? But why?"

"Again I don't know the details. All Jasper told me was that Bella has a daughter, a daughter who was taken by Social Services when Bella had her accident and as soon as he has the little girl he'll be back"

"What about her parents? Surely they should be notified."

"It seems Charlie is dead and I met Renee again at the hospital. She didn't make any better an impression than the last time we met. I think it was Renee who handed the child over to be fostered."

I could see that Esme didn't understand this, she would have taken the child straight away without a moments hesitation but Renee didn't seem at all interested.

"How could she? Do we know if Jasper has found the little girl yet?"

"No and from his tone of voice I decided it was better to leave him sort things out but the reason I didn't tell you anything was he asked me not to tell Edward."

"Why not?"

"I don't know Esme but he was most insistent and I said I wouldn't. If I told you Edward would read it in your thoughts, that's why I stayed away from the house, I didn't want him to find out from me."

"I know they didn't part without pain on both sides but surely he deserves to know Bella is ill. Is she married by the way? What about the child's father? Isn't he involved?"

"I have no idea Esme, I didn't ask questions, it didn't seem appropriate but I think he's dead too"

"Oh the poor girl, so much tragedy. Will she be OK?"

She looked at me and smiled weakly,

"I know, you have no idea."

I nodded and looked back at the girl in the bed.

"I think Jasper is in love with her."

"Well it doesn't take a crystal ball to work that out from the clues Carlisle. Well where are you staying?"

"I have a room in the staff building."

"Is it big enough for both of us?"

"I'm sure we'll make do my love. So you're staying?"

"Well if I go back then Edward will find out, besides I'd like to help, she has no one just now Carlisle and I'm sure she'll be scared and confused when she wakes up"

I should have known Esme would roll up her sleeves to help.

"What about Edward?"

"I'll tell him you and I are having a romantic holiday, spur of the moment. That should keep him off our backs until we find out just what is going on here"

I was relieved that Esme was happy with the idea of keeping Edward out of this for now. Nothing was clear except that something was wrong. Why was Jasper with Bella? Why had Rose and Emmett stayed once they knew it was Bella they were helping and what where they needed for? Bella had made it abundantly clear that she wanted no more to do with any of us and I couldn't see her backtracking on that just because she had a problem but something had changed. She had turned to Jasper and that didn't sit easy with the picture we had of her once Edward told us of her words. It was all something of a mystery and I couldn't wait to get some answers from someone.

As I knew she would Esme arranged for an easy chair to be brought in and there she made herself comfortable beside Bella and when I left to check on some more results she was busy telling Bella everything that had happened since we last saw her as if she could hear every word and who knew, stranger things had been known to happen. I knew Bella would be looked after well for every second she was in here, she had her surrogate mother at her side now, a much better replacement for the real thing and speaking of the real thing I knew I should ring Renee with the latest news, I had promised although she didn't seem to be particularly interested until she knew Bella was awake and how much the fall had affected her. I got the feeling she didn't want to be bothered with a daughter who might need care.