Ben
Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to SM.
A/N-thank you for the kind reviews! My muse apologises for the late update! This chapter has far too much of Sparkles in it, be prepared…😉
Chapter Twenty-Contact
Carlisle had no idea of the storm heading his way. He was in his study at home, sitting behind his large ornate desk. He had just had a very unsatisfying conversation with Edward. Apparently, Edward had gone against his advice and involved Jenks, of all people, in the search for Ben's mother. Now the unsavoury lawyer had found a lead, and Edward had gone off to meet with the odious little man to find out more. Carlisle was already having problems getting Esme to come home, now this was only going to give her another excuse to stay away. The whole thing was getting utterly ridiculous and out of control.
He was just sorting through some of his old medical textbooks when the door to his study flew open and Esme appeared, followed closely by Rosalie. A smile lit up Carlisle's face when he first laid eyes on his wife, but it soon disappeared when confronted with her sour expression.
"Esme?" He greeted her cautiously. "This is a lovely surprise. I was just thinking about calling you."
"If you had I wouldn't have answered." Esme replied harshly.
Carlisle's hair gleamed gold in the bright light hanging from the ceiling as he looked up at Esme in dismay. He had never heard her talk like this before-she was acting so cold, so unfeeling toward him. Her hostile attitude wounded him deeply.
"Why are you acting like this, my darling?" He stood up gracefully and walked around the oaken desk with his hands stretched out towards her.
"Don't try and sweet talk me, Carlisle." Esme continued cuttingly.
Carlisle paused, dropping his arms back to his sides. He glanced uneasily at Rosalie. The beautiful blonde was sporting the same hardened expression as his wife. "What is going on here?"
"That's what you need to tell us." Rosalie demanded before Esme could respond. "We came here to talk to Edward and Jasper but they seem to have vanished into thin air. Where are they?"
"I don't like your tone, Rosalie." Carlisle chided her. "I would appreciate it if you spoke to me with a little more respect."
"Oh, save it, Carlisle." Esme interrupted rudely. A flash of annoyance crossed her heart-shaped face as she regarded her husband coolly. "We know what Edward and Jasper have been up to, and the fact that you are being so defensive means that you do, too. Where are they?"
Carlisle's brows drew down as he locked stares with his wife. He was trying hard to reconcile that the glowering woman in front of him was really his sweet and loving Esme. She was certainly wearing her face, and wearing her clothes, but there was a boldness about her, an inner confidence that had been missing before. He cast his mind back to the first time they had met. Esme had only been a teenager at the time, there had been a frisson of mutual attraction between them, when he had treated her for a broken leg after she had fallen out of a tree. It was until 1921 that their paths crossed again. He had been called to the bedside of a dying woman. He remembered how shocked he had been to find it was Esme. She had suffered severe injuries from a failed suicide attempt spurred by the loss of a child.
Remembering her as the ever-so-happy young girl he met before and unable to believe that someone as vivacious and beautiful as she would meet such a cruel fate, he changed her into a vampire to save her life. He then explained to Esme about what he had done to save her. To his surprise, she was not upset by his decision; she, too, remembered their first meeting, and had always considered Carlisle her ideal of a gentleman. They soon fell in love and married.
"Are you even listening to me, Carlisle?" Esme snapped impatiently.
Carlisle's frown deepened. "What has happened to you, Esme?" He asked. "You've changed so much I hardly recognise you as the sweet, compassionate woman I married. It feels like a chasm has opened up between us, and try as I might, I cannot close it. I have tried so hard to accommodate you. I have been patient, honouring your request for space, giving you all the time, you need to realise your mistakes- "
"My mistakes?" Esme was disbelieving.
"Did you really just say that?" Rosalie added in disgust. "We're wasting our time here, Esme."
"I can see that." Esme agreed, her tone bleeding disappointment. "I could ask the same question of you, Carlisle." She threw back at him. "Where is the kind, compassionate man that I married? I don't know you anymore."
Carlisle's dark eyes were calm and thoughtful as he answered. "I am the same as I have always been, Esme." He said quietly. "My enhanced abilities allow me to do so much good in the world. When I save someone, who would otherwise have been lost, it's pleasant knowing that, thanks to what I can do, some peoples lives are better. I make them better. I saved you. I made you better. And you, Rosalie." His gaze travelled to the majestic blonde standing next to Esme. "I did the same for you."
"You never made Esme better!" Rosalie sneered. "She was already perfect. And as for me…"
Esme put a calming hand on Rosalie's arm. "Don't waste your time arguing with him. He is a stubborn fool whose inflated feelings of personal ability, privilege and infallibility, have made him so superior, that he feels immune to criticism."
"Just like Edward." Rosalie fumed. "You're right. We're wasting our time here." She strode angrily out of Carlisle's study with Esme following swiftly in her wake.
When they were gone, Carlisle, still reeling from the heated confrontation with his wife, placed a call to Edward. "Have you met with Jenks yet?" He demanded as soon as his son picked up.
"I didn't think you were interested." Edward said warily.
"Edward!" Carlisle growled impatiently.
"I'm with Jenks now." Edward revealed. "And its good news."
"He's found the boy's mother?" Carlisle's voice went up an octave in surprise.
"No, she's still proving very elusive." Edward explained. "But he has managed to track down her husband."
"The stepfather?"
"Yes." Edward continued eagerly. "The birth certificate that was left with the boy was a forgery, although a very good one. Jenks had to do a lot of digging to find the real one. It turns out the boy's real name is Benjamin Harrison. His mother wasn't Faith Sampson, but Faith Somerton. The woman goes by many aliases and has a charge sheet that would make your eyes water. Benjamin isn't her only child, she also has another son, Luka."
"My god!" Carlisle was incredulous.
"She married a man called Fred Harrison not long after the boy was born. An official adoption order was lodged for both Benjamin and Luka not long after the marriage in the state of Michigan. They were able to prove that both fathers-including Charlie Swan-had no contact with either child, had made no child support payments or hadn't exercised parental rights for either child during their lifetime. As a consequence of this, Fred Harrison was allowed to formally adopt both of the boys under abandonment laws, and is now the legal guardian of both of them. His name has legally been entered on their birth certificates as the father, meaning he has full parental rights over both of them."
Carlisle took a moment to process this information. "Has Jenks made an attempt to contact the stepfather?" He asked eventually. "Is the other boy still living with him?"
"Jenks didn't contact him. He was waiting for my permission." Edward told him. "I was about to do that when you called."
"You must proceed with caution, Edward." Carlisle advised. "We could open a whole can of worms we were not prepared for. We have no idea why the mother decided to take off and leave Ben with Charlie Swan after all this time…and there is the other boy's welfare to be considered."
"Of course, I'll be careful." Edward promised. "But you have to admire the stepfather, Carlisle. He selflessly took on the care of these two boys, just like you took on all of us and made us into a family." His voice softened at the end, making Carlisle smile. "I'm going to start making enquiries now. Jasper is with me so I've got help."
"Jasper is with you?" Carlisle was surprised that Alice's mate was involved, but then he was their point of contact with Jenks.
"Yes. I'll call you when I have more information."
"Okay. Just be careful." Carlisle cautioned him again.
"I will. Goodbye, Carlisle." Edward said, ending the call.
Carlisle was thoughtful as he settled back down in the plush leather armchair behind his desk. He was wondering whether to call Esme back and fill her in on what Edward had told him. It would certainly put him in her good books, and it would probably ease her mind knowing that the child she had become so fixated on had a loving stepfather who cared for him once upon a time. He felt Edward was right, this man must love the two boys deeply if he had gone to all the trouble of adopting them. The mother sounded very troublesome, and her criminal history did her no favours. She was obviously gifted at bending the law to her benefit. He wondered what had led her to flee and leave her youngest child on the doorstep of a complete stranger. It was a heartless and cruel thing to do. Maybe she did it to punish the stepfather, the poor man must be going out of his mind with worry.
Carlisle reached for his phone to call his wife, but then paused. He recalled the harsh way she had spoken to him. How deeply her words had injured his pride. He leaned back in his chair and templed his fingers together. No, he decided, he would let Esme stew for a while. It was what she deserved. He would wait for the outcome of Edward's visit with the stepfather before talking to her.
Jacob's hands slid over Bella's thighs and hips to her waist. He slipped them under her shirt so he could touch her skin.
"Mmmm…your hands are so warm." Bella murmured.
He smiled, squeezing his hands, massaging her back as she leaned away from him. She was so tiny his hands could almost circle her waist. Her breathing became heavy and a flush crept over her face.
"That feels so good." She gasped.
Bella's cell went off, startling them both. Bella looked at Jacob in alarm as she tried to steady her breathing enough to answer it. "Hello."
For a few seconds nobody responded. "Hello." She said again nervously.
This time she was answered with a faint whimper. Bella pressed the phone harder against her ear as she reached for Jacob's hand. "Luka?" She continued softly. "Luka is that you?"
There was no response again, but she could hear the sound of someone breathing. Desperately she tried again.
"Luka, my name is Bella. Bella Swan. I'm Ben's sister. I know he's your brother. That makes you my family, too. I know what you risked to bring him to us. You were so brave. But you deserve to be looked after as well. I promise you can trust me. We've all been so worried about you. Please tell me where you are." She pleaded.
"Is…is Ben…?"
"Ben is thriving, Luka." Bella said quickly. "But he's missing his big brother. Please let me help you."
"I'm so cold." Luka whispered. "I'm afraid. I c…can't go back. D…don't send me back."
"I swear on my life I will do everything to protect you. You have nothing to be afraid of. Let me help you, Luka. Tell me where you are." Bella replied earnestly.
Luka's breath hitched as he tried to contain a sob, then haltingly, he finally told Bella where to find him.
A/N-thanks for reading!
