Chapter 69 – Keeping Close
Edward
With all the craziness happening in our lives, the fun and excitement of being newlyweds had been pushed to the back burner, unfortunately. My new wife was a goddess, though, and I would wait for as long as it took to be able to properly enjoy her. Last night had been a taste of what I craved, but I knew Bella's heart hadn't been as into it as we both had wanted and needed. I just hoped the whole Dubois investigation wrapped up soon and released Bella's mind of the worry she was carrying with her through everything.
As I was signing in for my shift the next morning, I ran into Carlisle in the office. "How's Bella?" he asked. He knew the whole story now, and I could tell he was as concerned as the rest of us about her.
"She's holding her own, but for how much longer I'm not sure, Carlisle. This whole thing has her in turmoil, and she keeps blaming herself for what happened. She didn't do a damn thing to anyone, so I'm not sure how she can hold herself responsible for any of it. It's frustrating me to no end that she's so adamant about it all. How can I convince her that she's not at fault?" I sighed.
"You can't, Edward," he shook his head. "Something is going to have to happen that makes her see she isn't responsible. For Bella, emotions and feelings of empathy and responsibility run to the very core of her being. I can tell she's very spiritual and internalizes other people's problems, sometimes to her own detriment. It's what makes her so special, her ability to empathize so fully. But it also makes her vulnerable sometimes. Stay close to her, Edward. She's going to need all of us to get through this."
Emmett came in looking for Carlisle, and he pulled me into a hug, asking about Bella as well. Carlisle and I brought him up to speed on everything that had been going on.
"Damn, she has to know she didn't do any of this. I should warn you, Edward. The media has been all over this story. We've managed to keep her name out of anything, but they're relentless in their snooping. If they get wind of her involvement, they'll be after her like hounds on a rabbit. Keep her close."
I nodded, marveling at having just heard the same thing from Carlisle. They truly were father and son. "Have you heard anything else about Dubois?"
Emmett shifted a little and looked around to make sure no one was listening. "Yeah, actually. Word is already out that he may not have jumped on his own. Looks like he might've had some help going over. There was blood up on the bridge railing, and it looks like there might've been a struggle. The footprints were inconclusive, though, due to the snow and other foot traffic. But what the press doesn't know is that there were more of the red flower petals found on the bridge." My heart dropped into my gut. More petals…just like in the stairwell.
"There's other evidence I haven't heard back on yet, since they haven't gotten the forensics reports back so far, but there's speculation now that the deaths of Dubois and Dr. Stanley are related somehow. Keep this under your hats, though, it's not public knowledge yet."
This was the last thing Bella needed, more proof that any of this crazy mess was somehow related to her. I just hoped the press didn't figure out her connection to it all before whoever was responsible could be caught.
With the absence of Dr. Stanley in the hospital, the atmosphere had been somewhat subdued. Her birthday had been a couple of days after she had been murdered, and the surprise party the nurses had planned for her became a memorial. Her new boyfriend, Michael, had come and said a few words, and it about ripped me apart to hear him speak of his growing love for Dr. Stanley and how he had been certain she had been the one he would marry. They had even talked about having children and had picked names as a joke he had hoped would become a reality. The man looked completely broken now, and my heart went out to him. However, I was still glad it hadn't been Bella in Dr. Stanley's place. I might have been a heartless man for thinking that, but I wouldn't have wanted to trade places with him for anything.
I was alone in the Sanctuary after Dr. Stanley's memorial when Father Lebuteur found me sitting at the piano, staring off into space.
"You look troubled, my son. Is there anything you'd like to talk about? I know sharing a burden helps to lighten it considerably," Father Lebuteur offered kindly.
"Thank you, Father," I sighed, rubbing my eyes. I hadn't even realized there were tears leaking from the corners. "This whole thing has just been so hard on Bella, and I'm worried about her."
"I'm sure it has been. Bella has always been a special sort of person, one who pulls others to her without a thought. Even when we were children, she did that so effortlessly. Laurant was no exception, so I can see how she might feel responsible...even though she's not. She'll have to work through this on her own, Edward, so really, all you can do is support her and just be there. She'll find release from this burden soon enough."
I sat and chatted for a while with Father Lebuteur, sharing my fears and listening to his counsel. The poor man, for someone still so young, he seemed to have the heart of one who had been through decades of grief and sadness. I would suppose that, in some ways, he probably had. As a priest, he had likely seen and heard things regular people only saw in the media or read about. Those things had taken their toll on the man, and he looked aged beyond his years. I couldn't imagine carrying the burdens he did. It would likely kill me.
