Chapter Fourteen
Jasper
Meg found it hard to sleep that night. She was overtired and excited at the thought of having hot chocolate and cookies with real reindeer while I was busy worrying about my next meeting with Bella, especially as she would see Megan immediately and probably realize who she was. I just hoped she would give me time to explain my motives before losing her cool and trying to knock my head off yet again. The last thing I wanted Megan to see was her mom attacking me or me having to defend myself. Maybe the zoo hadn't been such a good idea after all but it was too late to change things now.
As a result of her interrupted sleep, Megan was in a difficult mood the next morning, refusing to eat her breakfast and then being awkward about what to wear. I was beginning to wish I'd helped her to sleep although it was against my better judgement.
"Baby you can't wear that shirt, it's way too thin. It's still snowing and you were cold yesterday. Remember?"
"I've got my thick jacket."
"I know but I packed your red sweater, the one with the polar bear on the front. Put that on, please."
She made a face but when I told her that it was the sweater or we weren't going anywhere she made a face but got dressed. I even persuaded her to have some cereal and toast from room service after pointing out that we would need to leave for home after the zoo and wouldn't be stopping to eat until later.
She looked out
Jk the window anxiously studying the snow that was falling more thickly as we exited the elevator into the reception area.
"Will we get home, poppa? What will Santa do if we don't?"
"Don't worry. We'll get home if I have to carry you."
The concierge smiled at my words but Meg just nodded. He might think I was joking but she knew better. Whatever happened today I would ensure we would be home before midnight, in time to put up Meg's stocking and leave out milk and cookies for Santa and some chopped carrot for Rudolph and his friends. I just didn't know if we would be going alone or if it was the only Christmas Megan and I would ever spend together with her old enough to understand the wonder of the season.
I parked at the zoo looking around for any sign of Bella but seeing nothing. I wondered if she would be waiting inside and admit to being relieved when there was no sign of her. Meg was so excited and eager to see the reindeer and I was about to go inside with her, I'd leave Bella's ticket for her at the entrance when I heard a voice calling Meg's name.
We turned to see Mary standing there smiling broadly. Meg ran up and gave her a hug as the woman explained over her head in a quiet voice.
"Our mutual friend thought you might find a companion for Megan handy while you speak to the person you came here to meet."
I nodded, trust Darius to think ahead. It would be far better for Bella and me to have any confrontation out of sight and sound of our little girl.
"Thank you. Perhaps you could take Meg to see the reindeer. I'll catch up with you soon little one. Here, take my ticket."
Mary shook her head and held up her own ticket, "You might need both of yours. Come on Megan, you can tell me which reindeer is which. Do you remember all their names?"
Megan gave me a kiss and took Mary's hand reciting the reindeer names she had learned in a song,
"Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen…."
Her voice faded into the chatter of the other visitors as I recognized Bella walking towards me. Her face was calm and her expression neutral but I could feel the anger and frustration that bubbled beneath that placid exterior.
I took her arm and guided her over to a sheltered spot where a bench stood unoccupied in the cold and although she tensed and tried to pull free she didn't say anything until we were alone.
"Take your hand off me before I rip it off and ram it down your throat."
I dropped my hand at her hissed warning but ignored her anger.
"Thank you for coming Bella. I'm sorry we parted on such bad terms yesterday. I wasn't sure you'd come. Especially alone."
"Yes, you were. But you knew I needed answers and just who was I going to bring with me?"
I nodded, glad she hadn't thought of bringing Edward along.
Pausing for a few minutes to gather my thoughts and take the biggest step I had ever made I ploughed on slowly.
"As I told you yesterday, I was the one who took your baby because I knew if I didn't then Jake would and I didn't trust him. I didn't trust anyone."
"Yeah, I know that feeling. So, what did you do with the body? Where did you bury my baby? I have a right to know and I guess that is why you contacted me."
"It's complicated, Bella. Telling you the whole story will put others in a bad light."
"Others? And you think I give a damn about that? I just want to lay some flowers on my baby's grave. To tell it how sorry I was that I couldn't protect it though I tried. Can you understand that?"
"Yes. I can but I can't tell you what you're asking me because you're asking the wrong questions. You believed what you were told."
She was frowning now.
"What? What the hell are you talking about? Who lied to me? Are you saying Edward lied?"
"I'm saying that Edward was either careless or he deliberately lied to you about your daughter."
She hissed clutching herself as if my words had caused her physical pain.
"My daughter? I had a little girl? Was she… was she perfect? Edward wouldn't tell me and I always thought he couldn't tell or he didn't want to examine the body too closely."
"I don't know what he saw or what he did before I saw him outside the house with a bundle."
"Why were you there? You'd left."
"I know but something drew me back and I was just in time to see him leave a bundle outside by the garage doors. Then he went back inside to you."
"Outside? By the garage door? He left our baby's body outside in the cold and dark all alone? He never told me that but then I guess he didn't think it mattered. He never wanted her anyway. None of you did."
"And we were wrong. I acknowledge it and I've done all I could to make up for our stupidity."
"Really? How? Do you tend to my daughter's grave? Lay flowers? Are you going to tell me where I can do the same?"
"I can't tell you that because when I found her, your daughter was still alive Bella."
This time she did stagger and sat down heavily shaking her head in disbelief.
"Don't you dare lie to me, Jasper. Don't you think I would have known if my baby survived? Are you trying to tell me that Edward abandoned our baby outside in the night while she was still alive? No. Even he wouldn't be that callous. You're lying."
"Am I? I don't know if Edward was so screwed up that he didn't realize she was still alive or he just wanted to get rid of her. It's why I've kept silent all this time, Bella. I don't trust Edward and you were dying and then a newborn and as such a threat to her."
Her eyes opened even wider as the import of my words hit her.
"Wait a minute. Are you saying she survived? That you've kept her survival a secret all this time? No. You're lying, you have to be."
At that moment I heard the sound of running feet and Meg appeared clutching a stuffed reindeer to her chest.
"Poppa, look what Mary bought me. I'm going to call him Comet like the falling star."
Bella's eyes opened wide as Meg hugged me and I swung her up into my arms.
"Is this proof enough for you?"
The next move was up to Bella. If she walked away now I would take Meg and disappear. If she acknowledged the little girl then we would stay and see what happened next.
Mary broke the silence with her quiet voice.
"I hope you didn't mind me buying Meg the toy Mr Whitlock? It was so cute. Well, I think it's time I was off. Merry Christmas Megan, Mr Whitlock. It's been a pleasure. Merry Christmas."
I thanked her and Meg peered shyly at Bella.
"Hello. Have you come to see the reindeer? I had hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies and I stroked the reindeer. They're really soft but a bit smelly. I hope Santa's reindeer have a bath before they take the sleigh tonight or all the toys will be really stinky."
I smiled at Meg then made the necessary introductions.
"Bella. This is Megan."
Bella swallowed then regained her composure.
"Hello, Megan."
"Meg, this is Bella."
Meg studied Bella intently for a moment then frowned, turning to me.
"Was Mary right? Did my wish come true, poppa?"
I turned to Bella and explained.
"Mary, the woman you just saw and who was looking after Meg yesterday told her that if you saw a falling star you should make a wish."
Meg took over, eager to finish the story.
"We made stars for poppa's card and one fell off the table so Mary said I should make a wish. I wished that I could see my mommy this Christmas."
The ball was firmly in Bella's court now, to announce herself or deny the connection, and I waited.
"Oh. A falling star? I've never seen one of those."
She was recovering but it was a huge shock for her and I stepped in.
"Why don't you join us for lunch before we leave? I promised to have Meg home in time for Santa tonight so we need to leave soon."
Bella smiled.
"I'd like that very much. Thank you."
Meg continued to hold my hand, her usual confidence seeming to desert her around Bella. I believed because she has felt something and still wasn't sure who Bella was.
In a nearby diner, Meg wanted to wash her hands and asked Bella if she would go with her and Bella didn't hesitate.
"Sure."
I watched as the two moved through the crowd and smiled as Meg's hand stole into Bella's where it had always belonged.
When they rejoined me a few minutes later it was clear that Bella had made her decision. She smiled at me looking a different woman now and as we ordered she put her hands on the table. I noticed she wasn't wearing the wedding ring that had adorned her finger when we entered the diner.
Once alone again Bella turned to her daughter.
"You asked me a question at the zoo. One I didn't answer at the time and I apologize for that. Believe me, I wished many times that we could meet. I don't know how much you know, I don't know much myself, so I guess it's up to your poppa to explain but yes. I am your mommy and I am so pleased to finally meet you. You are so beautiful."
Meg was beaming as she turned to me, her eyes sparkling with tears of joy.
"Shall I tell her poppa? I asked poppa to tell me the truth the other day and he told me how no one except you wanted me. That everyone thought I would kill you. That you all thought I was a monster but that he came back when I was born and saved me from the wolf. Can you see the scars on poppa's face? He got those protecting me instead of himself and he's got others too."
I waved that away, Bella didn't need to know about my scrape with Jacob Black.
"He said you'd been sick and that he didn't trust my daddy so he kept me with him but he promised me that we'd all be together again soon and now here you are."
"So, you've lived with Jasper all this time?"
Meg nodded taking a mouthful of pasta and studying Bella.
"Is daddy coming?"
"No Megan. Daddy thinks you're dead. He thought you died when you were born and in all honesty, I'm not sure how he would feel to discover he'd been wrong."
Megan frowned, "You don't think daddy loved me. You think he lied to you. I know, I can sense it."
Seeing the confusion on Bella's face I hastened to explain.
"Meg is gifted just like you and Edward although we don't yet know the extent of her gifts."
"Then I guess there's no point in trying to protect you from the truth. I am so glad Jasper saved you. I just wish I had known sooner."
"Are you coming home with us, mommy? There's plenty of room and I'd love you to spend Christmas with us. Please, mommy."
Bella glanced at me unsure of herself and I nodded.
"Meg's right. We have plenty of room and I think it's about time you and Meg got to know each other better. Unless you have to go home and talk to Edward first that is. It's your choice whether you tell him about your daughter but please be careful. I still don't trust him."
"Neither do I, Jasper. I should talk to Edward but right now all I want to do is to take you up on your invitation. I'd love to spend Christmas with you both.
So, it was settled. Bella would be coming home with us. Things had gone far better than I expected and hoped they would continue in this vein. I would still be with Meg and she would be with her mother too.
"I just need to make a quick call first."
I nodded and Meg, after making Bella promise not to vanish again, allowed her out of sight as I handed her the truck keys so she could make her call in private.
Bella
I could never have imagined when I left the hotel room this morning that I would be reunited with my precious daughter. She was so beautiful, intelligent, and affectionate and much of that was down to the man who had risked his life to save her as an infant. I had been ready to feed him to the guardians and now I was arranging to spend Christmas with him and my daughter.
I didn't feel that I owed Edward anything but I knew if I didn't tell him something he would only hunt me down and I wanted him as far from our daughter as possible. He might think she was a wonderful creature now, a novelty, but I could never trust him again and I no longer loved him. There would be decisions to be made in the future but for now, I just wanted him off my back for a few days.
He answered his cell phone sounding angry and worried.
"Bella, what the hell is going on? Where have you been? Where are you?"
"I've left the car in secure parking for a few days. I need time to think and it's best I do it alone."
"What? Tell me where you are and I'll come to pick you up. It's Christmas Eve for God's sake. We're all worried about you."
"Well don't be. I'm OK. I'll call in a couple of days. Enjoy Christmas, it will be better without me anyhow."
"Bella don't you dare do this to me. I look like a fool, my wife wandering off and now refusing to come home. I've got gifts for you. The family is waiting for you. Now, where are you? This is ridiculous."
"Ridiculous? Maybe Edward."
Something occurred to me then.
"Edward I need answers. Tell me about our baby, everything you know and I mean everything."
"I've already told you everything I know."
"You haven't told me anything and that's driving me crazy."
"Look, I'm not having this conversation now, not on the phone like this. I'll pick you up and we can talk then."
"No. Now, or you'll never see me again. I mean it. Tell me."
He sighed and I could tell he was now furious.
"OK. What do you want to know?"
" What sex was our baby?"
"Male as far as I could tell."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that I was right all along. You insisted it was a child but I told you it was an abomination. It could never have survived had you given birth to it. Human vampire hybrids don't live, they... It was deformed. I didn't want to hurt you but you insist so I'm going to be blunt. It was a foul creature and death was the best outcome for it."
I felt numb. I had seen our child and knew Edward was lying. Not only that but he was being deliberately cruel. Lashing out at me because I had made him angry. It was the last straw but it had achieved what I set out to do.
"Very well. That's the truth?"
"Yes. And don't start on me about where the wolves took the thing to dispose of it because I don't know."
" I won't. You've told me all I needed to know. Goodbye Edward. We won't be seeing each other again."
There was a stunned pause before he exploded, screaming down the phone at me. Calling me an ungrateful bitch, crazy, out of my mind. I didn't wait to hear the rest, I just cut him off and switched off my phone taking the sim card out and dropping the instrument into a nearby trash container.
The car was still in the lot and I would leave it there. Either he would trace it using the tracker or it would get towed. I hoped for the latter and that they would hit him with a hefty fine. Its location wouldn't help him either. Hell, even I didn't know where I was going except it wasn't more than a few hours away or Jasper couldn't have got back in time for Santa.
I felt suddenly liberated, lighter than I had since I woke up as a vampire and happy. I could feel the weight of the world lifted from my shoulders and knew I could look forward at last with a smile on my lips.