Chapter 54

My heart is racing. I can barely hear anything over the roar. Tanya squeezes my hand to assure me that everything is okay. Carlisle walks over to Esme and tells her to take a seat. No one is moving and I'm bracing myself for the outburst that is sure to happen.

"Esme, I was just told something that I thought was impossible." He starts. "I have for a long time, struggled to reconcile that what happened wasn't true. The last ninety-four years I spent many days trying to tell myself that it didn't happened and that the nurse didn't make a horrible mistake. But I was just informed that it did happen, and I am finally able to put that worry to rest."

"Carlisle, what are you trying to say?" she asked, worry lacing her voice.

"I wasn't there for your delivery and was called in after you delivered the baby. I was at the docks in Ashland, helping to tend to a couple of lumber men who had a mishap down by the water, when a nurse rushed up to me to come see Dr. Watson immediately. Once I made sure that there were no serious injuries, I followed the nurse to the lodge." He stops and swallows.

"I stopped in front of the lodge and saw Edward, along with Alice, Tanya, Jamie and Abby disappearing. I thought I was seeing things and it wasn't until today that it was, in fact, them."

"Why were you all there?" She asked.

"We were following up on a story that was told to us today by Jamie's Great-Grandfather." Edward replied.

"What story was that?" She whispered.

"That a mistake happened with his birth." Alice answered.

"What are you all saying?" Esme demanded.

"That Henry Michael Owens is your son." Edward whispered.

No one moved or breathed. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep the sobs from bursting through. Esme didn't move or breath. Carlisle kneels in front of her and cups her cheek with his hand, murmuring to her. In a blur, she leaves the house with Carlisle behind her. I let out a breath that I didn't know that I was holding.

"I'm going to get some fresh air." Jamie muttered before leaving too.

I make my way to the stairs to wash my face off. Tanya is right behind me.

Hours later, Esme nor Carlisle have returned. Jamie passed out on the couch. Rosalie followed him out and spent some time with him and, probably, tried to calm him down. It's not every day that you were with your great-great-grandmother and didn't realize it. Alice told me that Rosalie took it upon herself to look out for him. I'm at the kitchen island with the binder that Jasper, Edward, and Emmett translated, reading through it with a notebook, taking notes. Tanya is next to me with the second one doing the same. Alice is on the third stool going through Josie's journal, reading through it. I don't think I can look through that one for a while.

Bella and Edward are on the other side grilling up some steaks. I'm impressed by Bella's cooking abilities. Edward, on the other hand.

"I didn't do much cooking." He said a bit defensively.

"He cooked for me only a few times." Bella countered.

I chuckled and started reading again.

This man, Johan, was from Hungary in the mountains in the north called the North Hungarian Mountains. He was a shoemaker in a small village called Putnok. It lies near the Slovakia border. I had to google it. Cute little town.

He talks of his life and how he met my mom. Rumors were spreading about a witch roaming the mountains. He was out cutting lumber for his family when he came across her. She talked to him for a while and that he would be sailing to the New World and start a new life there. On the way, someone would appear, who looked different than anyone he has ever seen. She would be accompanied by another woman, so beautiful, that he would think she is an angel.

I stop there. Did my mom know that Tanya was my mate?

"Probably." Edward replied to my unspoken question.

"I wonder how." I asked.

"How what, Love?" Tanya asked.

"How mom my knew that you would be my mate." I answered.

"I met her once, over five hundred years ago. She told me that I would meet you on a ship. She never specified what ship. She said that it wouldn't be for many years before we would be together, but that I would get glimpses of you."

I sit there listening and wonder if my mom knew that all the Cullen's would become vampires and if she had a hand in them being turned.

"We did discuss that shortly after we met you. I know your mom wanted the best for you and went to great lengths to acquire that. We all want that for you, Abby." Edward said.

I nod, "I guess she screwed that up." I said referring to the family she put me with.

Going back to my reading, I'm reading but not really paying attention.

"Wait!" Alice stated.

We all look at her.

She grabs Tanya's notepad and scans it before she takes mine.

"I think you're right, Alice." Edward states.

"What?" Tanya and I asked.

"All three take about the mountains they love. Johan lived near the Hungarian Mountains. Ivan lived near the Urals and Josiah lived near the Rocky Mountains."

"So, you're saying that my mom is imprisoned in a mountain?" I asked.

"Possibly." Alice answered.

"Well, I'm glad we narrowed it down then." I retorted.

"We'll figure this out, Abby." Alice said, trying to reassure me.

It's not working. Tanya rubs my leg. I inhale and let out a long breath. Still staring at the binder. Next thing, the binder is gone, and a plate of food is sitting in front of me. I flinch at the quickness.

"Sorry." Was Bella's only reply. "Do you want steak sauce?"

"No. Just ketchup, please." I replied.

Everyone stares at me.

"What? I don't like steak sauce." I said and shrugged.

Several hours has passed and still no sign of Esme and Carlisle. Jamie is still comprehending the fact that Esme is his great-great-grandmother. He hasn't said too much since we got back from seeing Esme's son. Edward told us that Jamie is wondering if the abuse from his great-great-grandfather had passed from generation to generation until his own father. It's always a possibility.

I'm still at the kitchen island with Tanya staring at the binder. Alice left an hour ago to hunt. That kind of surprised me since she hasn't left my side and only hunted when I was asleep. I haven't gone far in the binders. I'm so distracted by everything that has happened the last few days, I can't keep my mind focused.

Tanya has already finished the binder that I got from France and took over Alice's notes on Josiah's journal.

"Your brother has very neat handwriting." She stated as she flips through the journal.

"I know. It's better than mine." I replied back.

I have no idea where he got his neat writing, but I appreciated it. When he wrote me while he was on deployment, I was eager to see his letters and cherished them. He would talk about what he has witnessed and jokes he heard. I would laugh when he wrote those. Sighing, I flip the page without reading the previous page.

"I think we should stop for the night. You obviously are not into this." Tanya stated.

She stands and holds out her hand. I take it and follow her up the stairs. Once I changed and did my nightly ritual, I'm lying in bed. I know I'll have a hard time getting to sleep tonight. Everything that happened today. The looming visit of my aunt has me anxious about what she wants. Josiah and Will got their tenacity from her. She's relentless when she wants something and will go to great lengths to get it. She knew what we all were doing and grilled us until we told the truth. Nothing got past her. I'm betting that she already has an idea what I'm up to.

"Abigail, please tell me what you're thinking." Tanya whispers.

"My aunt, coming up here. Something tells me it's not gonna go too well." I whispered back.

"Please try not to worry too much. Alice told me that she just wants to know what you're up to. She's curious about us."

"That makes me worried too. If my mom told her what to expect and tells me something that I need to do, I'm not sure if I'll be able to handle it."

"Alice assured me that it's not going to happen."

I flop on my stomach and turn my head to look at Tanya.

"She didn't tell you what my aunt wanted?" I asked.

"No. But, I'm sure it's nothing too serious or she would have said something." Tanya replied, and started rubbing my back.

We laid that way for a while and I start to doze off when Tanya starts talking again.

"Abigail."

"Hmm." I replied.

"I think you should take a look at Josiah's journal."

"Why?"

"Because, he may have left clues that only you would know what they are." She replied, still rubbing my back.

"Knowing him, he probably put in there where to find my mom. Her exact place." I said.

It would be him that would do that. He knows that I'm not big on mysteries. If I'm reading a mystery novel, I would skip to the end to see who killed the person. I have no patience for those kinds of books. Except for Sherlock Holmes. He's my favorite fictional character.

The next morning came and I was jerked awake by way of the bed shaking. It literally jarred me awake.

"What?" I shouted.

"Good. You're awake." Alice replied as she walked into the closet and came out with clothes for me to put on.

"You're aunt, my grand-niece, will be here in a couple of hours.

"Was that you shaking the bed?" I asked, trying to wipe the sleep out of my eyes.

"Yes, silly. Hurry up. Carmen has breakfast ready."

I sit up and look at her. Where's Esme?

"So…"

"No. She's on her way back with Carlisle." She whispered.

I nod and get out of bed.

An hour later and I'm back at the kitchen island going through Josie's journal.

Tanya is next to me, rubbing circles on my thigh, causing me to squirm.

"Anything wrong, Love?" She asked.

"Yes. You're distracting me." I replied trying to move her hand away. It was no use.

"Am I?" She said, still rubbing my leg.

I stop what I was doing as I read a passage of the journal. I lean closer to see what I think is a clue.

"What is it?" Tanya asked, seeing my demeanor change.

"I think…" rereading the passage. I look up and stare at the window in front of the sink.

The passage is of Josie and I hiking along a trail by Helen Hunt Falls. We would come up with all kinds of stories as we walked. He did have a good imagination. I hear someone walk in but am too immersed with the memory.

"I think you're right, Abby." Edward said.

"What?" Tanya asked.

I hear more people walk in. I look back at the journal and see that he underlined a letter that is capitalized. Why would he do that? Reading on, I see that there are several more letters capitalized and underlined. This is the clue he was leaving me. Did he really know where my mom is?

Edward grabs the notepad and starts writing. I can't see what he's writing, but it doesn't take him long.

He lays the pad down in front of me and I read what is written.

GOLD CAMP ROAD, TUNNEL THREE

I stare at it and try to process what I'm reading.