Chapter Thirty Eight

Bella

We stayed at the hotel again that night and once more Jasper made love to me, very tenderly and with less urgency than last night, I think we were both less worried and less needy tonight or perhaps needy wasn't the right word but we took our time with each other. As I lay in his arms drifting in a sea of contentment he broke the silence,

"Can I ask you something Bella?"

"Of course"

I snuggled in closer,

"Are you worried that if you get too involved in our love-making that you might cause me to lose control?"

I swallowed, blushing,

"I really wish you hadn't asked me that question but here goes. It's the only time I ever want to talk about Edward while we are in bed OK?"

"Sure"

"He always made me feel that if I moved or was too involved he might hurt me or even kill me. That his natural hunting instinct would kick in, see me as prey I guess, so I always had to keep still and not respond too much. I guess it worries me a bit"

"But you trust me?"

"Of course, I love you and you love me"

"Well I think Edward was full of crap. I love you and nothing you did would turn me into the hunter, it couldn't happen. I might get a little more intense but I would never ever hurt you."

"So its OK if I pull you closer, hold you tighter, kiss you back more passionately?"

"God yes to all that Bella, I'll take everything you bless me with."

Jasper

I felt much better knowing why Bella had been acting a little constrained, at first I had put it down to her first sexual encounter, a fact that wasn't lost on me or the beast within, but I knew I had to find out for sure. Edward had been more than a fool, he'd been a downright ass hole! I accepted she had been his singer but to have her think she was in constant peril if she showed any real enthusiasm for him was pretty twisted, even for him. Not that I wasn't glad because it meant that everything Bella experienced would be new and fresh and all down to me, that filled me with pride and love. She didn't ask what I'd said to Renee and I didn't volunteer the information. If she asked I would tell her but it was her choice as was everything in my eyes. The flight home was uneventful and when we landed back in Seattle Charlie was waiting along with Esme.

"Do you think there's something wrong?"

"No Bella I think Charlie is just trying to get as much of you as he can before you become mine."

Hand in hand we went over to them and Esme gave us both a hug while Charlie put his arm around Bella and I dropped her hand reluctantly but smiled when I saw hers search for it again.

"Straight home?"

Bella looked at me,

"I think so, you have something to tell us don't you?"

"Yeah, so does Esme."

I could feel Bella's apprehension and sent her calming thoughts as we walked back to the car and drove to Forks. In the car we made do with small talk mainly about Alice's futile attempt to get Esme involved in more elaborate plans for the wedding. Seeing Bella's apprehension Esme laughed,

"Don't worry Bella, Charlie reined her in before she battered me into submission"

"You did dad?"

"Well yeah, Esme and Carlisle invited me over to the house so we could get better acquainted seeing as were going to be related soon"

"And Alice tried to enlist him on her side? Bad move, dad doesn't like a fuss any more than I do"

"Yes she soon found out, and although she said she'd seen the outcome I'm not so sure, I don't think Alice is seeing the future where it relates to you or Jasper very well any longer."

"Really? Why?"

"I don't know and she won't talk about it. She just walks off with Blake"

Charlie

I'd enlisted Esme's help to confront them about Renee after her long and loud phone call but at the same time I was watching her back with regards to Edward. I knew Bella would hit the roof about his plan to attend the wedding. Carlisle had sensibly arranged to be unavailable so it was down to us. Once in the house Esme went through to make a drink while Jasper and Bella sat together and I couldn't help laughing,

"Bella you look like a condemned prisoner waiting for the electric chair, calm down".

"I'll calm down when I know what's going on. If you and Esme are working as a team then I'm not going to like the conversation that's about to start."

Esme brought in coffee for Bella and myself then went to sit in the other arm-chair and waited for me to start.

"I had a phone call from Renee a few hours ago and she was spitting poisoned darts. What the hell happened down there?"

I looked at Bella but it was Jasper who explained and told me exactly what he had said in reply, it was obviously news to Bella because she looked as astonished as I felt.

"You gave it to her straight enough."

"I find it's the best way Charlie. I didn't like the way she treated Bella at Christmas and this was just the final straw."

"Well it certainly stirred up a hornets nest. She gave me my orders, keep you away from Bella as much as possible and refuse my blessing for the marriage. I did point out it would be none of my business in a few weeks but that didn't seem to register. She thought she and Phil were going to fly up here and take her back to Florida, away from my terrible influence. I'll skip the lecture about bad parenting, it got a little monotonous after a while. When I finally got through to her that there was nothing she could do she washed her hands of all three of us. She wont be coming to the wedding and she doesn't want to hear from you until you apologise and leave Jasper."

Bella

I was amazed but very grateful for Jasper's words to Renee, she wasn't the same woman who had brought me up, a little goofy and absent-minded but fun and very loving. Since she and Phil had married I felt the difference although not as stark as it was over Christmas when her attitude had really upset me.

"Well she can wait then. I don't apologize and neither does Jasper, and as for me leaving him she has more chance of winning the lottery!"

Jasper nodded,

"I agree with Bella. It would have been nice if she could have given us her blessing but were not going to grovel for it. Does it make any difference to the way you feel Charlie?"

"Jasper I gave up trying to change Bella's mind on anything a long time ago and I know you'll look after her so no, no difference. That's one problem out of the way, now for number two"

"Just a second Charlie. Bella, I know I'm not your mother and I don't want to tread on anyone's toes but I'd very much like it if you could think of me as your mum and if there's anything I can do to help you before the wedding or after please ask, I'd be more than happy."

"Thank you Esme. I appreciate that, and I already see you as a mother figure"

I didn't want to tell her that I didn't trust her any more than Renee after they had walked out of my life, we had enough enemies for now.