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Chapter Twenty-Four

Carlisle

"No, it's sagging in the middle," Bella said. "Pull it a little tighter."

I obeyed, stretching the string of white lights, and then, when she'd given her seal of approval, I tacked them in place.

"Perfect," she said. "Thank you."

I climbed down from the ladder and went to stand beside her to see the result of our efforts. The Christmas lights had been strung across the walls, and they hung from the porch eaves. The effect was pretty, very seasonal, and Bella was obviously pleased.

My family and I never usually made so much effort for Christmas on the house's exterior. Rosalie and Esme always insisted on a big tree in the living room, and it was a family affair to decorate it while Edward played carols on the piano. It was a tradition I enjoyed, and it did give me a small pang to think that it was happening without me this year, but being with Bella outweighed the regret.

"What are you thinking?" Bella asked, giving my arm a brief squeeze that made my unbeating heart feel like it was skipping.

"I was thinking about my usual Christmases," I said, careful to keep my tone light.

She nodded. "You're going to need to leave to see them soon, right? I didn't ask. What do you usually do for Christmas?"

"It's quite traditional," I said. "Without the feast, obviously. But, no, I won't be going to Vermont. I have taken shifts at the hospital so other doctors can spend time with their families. And I was hoping I could spend some time with you?" I framed it as a question.

Bella beamed. "You know you're always welcome, Carlisle. I'm guessing you'll want to skip dinner, which is kinda necessary since Sofia is coming over, and she'll find it a bit odd if you just sit and watch us eat. But you can come over when you're not working." She gave me an interested look. "I'm going to Divine Service at the Weber church on Christmas Eve. Is that something you want to do?"

"You're Lutheran?" I asked, surprised by the news. She was a Calvinist in her life before.

"Not exactly. I'm everything really. I go to all kinds of churches." She gave me a small smile. "I tend to try something new with each new life. I believe there's one God that listens to all prayers from all churches, so I don't feel like I'm cheating."

"I don't think you are at all," I said. "I have the self-same belief. I've not been to a service since my father preached on my last human day of life. I have visited churches, but I never stayed for the service. It felt…" I frowned. "I'm not sure. I just never have."

"Do you want to come with me?"

"I truly would," I said. "It would be something new for me after so long, and it would be nice to share it with you."

"Great," she said. "It starts at eleven, so I'll have dinner with Sofia and then spend the evening with her before we go. Are you going to be free for the evening, too?"

"I will. I am working the early shift Christmas eve and a double on Christmas day. I can come to you after dinner."

"Perfect. I'm sure you'll know when we've done eating. Come over whenever."

"I will," I said.

My hand reached for her and then dropped. She gave me a small smile and then took my hand and cupped it in her own. "It's okay, Carlisle," she said. "You don't have to be on guard all the time."

"I don't want to overwhelm you," I admitted. "I know it's not the same for you as it is for me. For me, you are… everything, but for you…"

"I know it must be hard for you, but you can relax. You're never going to offend me with affection."

I relaxed and stroked her palm. "Thank you, Bella."

She gave a small shiver and said, "Okay, I have obviously gone soft with Arizona winters because I'm freezing. I'm going inside to get warm. Do you want to come?"

"I wish I could," I said fervently. "But I have to get to work." I gave her hand a brief squeeze, wishing I could say farewell with a kiss but not feeling it was quite time for that, and said, "I will be home tomorrow when you get back from work, so feel free to visit."

"I will," she said brightly. "See you tomorrow."

She released my hand and went to her porch with a spring in her step. I watched reluctantly as she carried in the ladder and the door closed behind her, then I went back to my own house to change for work, already counting the hours until I could be with her again.

Bella

I set the turkey down in the middle of the table and said, "Here you go!"

Sofia looked from the platter to me and said, "Pavo Trufado de Navidad! You're giving me a Spanish Christmas! How did you know?"

"I googled," I lied. In truth, I knew as I had spent Christmases in Spain during my life. "It's okay, right? I got the truffles from the deli in Port Angeles."

"It's perfect," she said. "I have not had this since my last Christmas in Seville. My parents have gone native, so we have ham. But this… It's a glimpse of home, Bella." She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "Thank you so much."

I took the knife from the rack and began to carve.

Sofia watched and then wiped at her eyes. I was astonished to see she was crying.

"Sofia," I said softly. "What's wrong?"

She sniffed and smiled. "This is perfect, and it's been so long since I felt like this. I have been so lost since the accident. My thoughts drift, and I have been alone." She quickly amended. "I know you have been there for me when you could, but I have spent days at home recovering," she put sarcastic emphasis on the word, "and I've wondered if I'd ever get my life back. You know my mother wants me to go home to stay with her and my father, but she'll smother me; she won't be able to help herself."

I set down the knife and sat beside her, my hand taking hers and squeezing it. "You're doing so well, Sofia. The deficits are so slight now. Think of how far you've come."

When I had first seen her in the hospital the day after the accident, her memory had been affected, and she frequently lost track of the conversation the way she had immediately after the crash. I knew that there had been other issues that came after, trouble finding words in English—her second language—and muscle weakness, but she was doing amazingly well.

She could have easily died in that accident, and the damage from the bleed could have been much worse. In a way, she was amazingly lucky, but to her, the struggle was difficult and frustrating.

I had done what I could for her, but I'd been splitting my time between work and Carlisle, too, so perhaps I hadn't been there for her as much as I could. I would make that right now.

She wiped at her eyes and smiled again, a more genuine one. "I'm just complaining. I know how lucky I am, I really do. Now, are you going to feed me before the turkey gets cold, or do I need to scour your cupboards for snacks?"

I laughed. "No, I'll feed you." I stood again and carved the turkey.

As I did, I was thinking of the accident and what had happened after. I'd not seen any of the tribe since Sam, Jared, and Paul had given me their ominous warning, but that didn't trouble me. I knew now what they'd been unable to say, and I understood why they'd been concerned, especially after what happened with Edward. There was no bad feeling on my side, and I hoped on theirs. I would go back to see them sometime and see how things lie. Maybe I could reassure them a little more now that I knew the full story and was still sure I was safe.

That might set their minds at ease.

Carlisle

I could smell the remains of the meal they'd eaten when I arrived at Bella's, though the dishes had been done and the leftovers packed away. The sharp scent of wine had joined the smells of food, and there was a lavender candle burning in the living room, which made me smile as its heated scent joined Bella's own.

Bella directed me into the living room where Sofia was sitting on the armchair with her legs curled under her and a glass of red wine cradled in her hands.

"Carlisle, you remember Sofia," Bella said, gesturing me to sit and then settling beside me close enough that I could feel her warmth.

"I do. It's good to see you again," I said. "Especially in better health."

Sofia frowned for a moment and then said, "Of course. You were there, at the accident, too, weren't you? Bella told me."

"I was. I came to the hospital in the ambulance with you."

"Thank you," she said. "I think you're one of the people I owe my life to."

"I didn't do much. I just ensured you were stable and directed us to Port Angeles for the surgery I suspected you needed."

"Well, I still thank you," she said, a fervent look in her eyes.

"I was happy to help."

She smiled and relaxed. "Would you like some wine?" she asked, leaning forward and picking up the bottle from the table.

"I don't drink," I said. "But thank you. You're not drinking, Bella?" I had noticed she had a glass of water in front of her. She often ended her day with a glass of wine.

"I need to drive Sofia home," she said.

"I could do that," I offered. "You can have a drink, relax."

Bella glanced at Sofia, who nodded and said, "That works for me."

Bella drained her water and then held out her glass to be refilled by her friend.

"I'd like a chance to talk to Carlisle alone anyway," Sofia said, a strange quirk to her lips.

Bella frowned. "Behave, Sofia."

She grinned. "Sure, I will."

Bella looked between us and then shrugged, evidently deciding I could handle myself against her friend. I could. I had already had one interaction with Sofia that could have been called uncomfortable, but I believed it came from a place of love for her friend, and anyone that loved Bella was valued by me.

"So, now Carlisle is here, we can start the movie," Bella said.

"What movie?" I asked.

Bella frowned. "It's Christmas, Carlisle. What else would we watch?"

I shrugged. All I knew of Christmas films was that Jasper and Emmett had an ongoing argument about whether Die Hard was a Christmas movie or not. From what I had seen of it, I came down on the side of not as I didn't think that amount of violence was particularly seasonal.

Bella picked up a DVD box from the table and said, "It's a Wonderful Life!" excitedly.

She got up and put it into the DVD player and then settled beside me again, a little closer this time so that our arms were pressed together. An introduction began, and I settled in to watch, enjoying what was evidently a human tradition that I'd missed before, or perhaps just a Bella tradition.

Whichever it was, I was going to enjoy sharing it with her.

Carlisle

I saw Sofia settled in her seat before I moved around the car and slid in beside her. She shifted more comfortably and said, "This might be the fanciest car I've ever ridden in."

"It is a smooth drive," I said awkwardly, unsure whether it was a compliment.

I hadn't picked the Mercedes; Rosalie had. I had no real interest in cars. I just liked something that drove me where I needed to be and that had tinted windows for the days I needed to be out in the sunlight.

I started the engine and pulled out of my drive. I knew Sofia lived on the north of town, past the school and hospital, so I directed us there, knowing she would give me directions when I needed.

"So…" she said lazily, a hint of a slur from the wine she'd drunk in her voice, "You and Bella, huh?"

I smiled, unable to help myself. "Yes, me and Bella."

"How long?"

"It's recent, still a young relationship that we're building. But I care about her very much."

"You love her," she stated.

I frowned. "How would you know that?"

She chuckled. "I see it in the way you look at her. It's intense. It's the same thing I saw when your children were together in my classes. You Cullens love hard and deep."

"We do," I agreed.

"What about your ex-wife? Did you love her hard and deep?" she narrowed her eyes.

I could have said my relationship with Esme was none of her business, as it really wasn't, but I knew her questions came from a place of concern for Bella, and so I answered honestly.

"I love Esme, and I always will, but I do not love her as my wife. We were only ever friends, really. We are both happier apart."

"You're far apart now, aren't you? Bella said they all moved to Vermont."

"They did."

"Is that because of you and Bella?"

"It's because it was the right thing for us all." I steered onto a turn off at her instruction and said, "I love Bella more than I have ever loved any woman in my life." I could have said anyone in my life, but she might judge against the love I had for my children, and there was no way she could understand the bond between a vampire and its mate, even if that mate was a human. "I will never hurt her. I could never hurt her without destroying myself."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "You really mean that."

"I do."

"But you've not known her long."

I sighed. "I feel I have always known Bella, always been waiting for her. I know she doesn't feel the same way for me, but I hope she will one day. I can be patient." When she remained silent, I went on. "I know you are worried for her, but trust me, I would rather die than make her unhappy for even a moment. I know that sounds like an exaggeration, something probably said a million times by a million lovers, but I mean it. In a way, Bella is my world."

She stared at me for a moment, and then a small smile curled her lips. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yes, okay. I believe you." She grinned. "I'll quit pushing you. You go back to concentrating on making Bella happy."

"That's all I want," I said. "Truly, I just want her to be happy."

And it was. Being with Bella as much as I was meant that I was blessed. I could hope for more one day, what I thought I saw building coming into fruition, but my focus would be making her happy.

That was what she deserved.

So… A little more fluff. The next chapter is another big one, though, so brace yourselves.

Until next time…

Simaril xxx