Stolen Dreams
Disclaimer: Still don't own Twilight. But no stealing this, okay? It's not nice.
A/N: So far, the response to this story has been great! Thank you all for you support. I love hearing your theories. Keep 'em coming! Thank you to Jenny Cullen for betaing this. She's an absolute gem and I flove her. Branson101 has set up a discussion forum over on the Twilighted threads as well for anyone that wants to discuss. Come hang out!
Chapter 3
"Are you sure you don't want to go?" I asked for the third time.
"Yeah, you go ahead." He stared intently at the laptop screen in front of him. "I'm going to be a while."
I kissed him quickly and headed out the door to meet Rosalie in the lobby. The night before, we'd agreed to meet up at nine to get some exercise. The weather was supposed to clear, and sure enough, sunlight filtered through the clouds.
"What took you so long, woman?" Rosalie teased, bouncing on the balls of her feet near the front door.
I shrugged. "Edward usually does five miles in the morning. I thought he might want to come with us, but he's working already."
We took off through town, running a track she seemed to know well. The town wasn't too large, so it took us past the flower shop, the bank, the police station, and the diner. I'd missed the small town feeling Forks provided. People greeted each other in the street and knew each other by name. I'd loved this place once upon a time.
"Did you hear that Gerandy finally retired last month?" Rose asked as we looped past his old offices.
"He had to be, what, eighty?" I wished he'd retired years before.
Rosalie laughed. "Seventy-three, I think. The hospital found his replacement, and he fought them tooth and nail. It was a huge deal. Gerandy threatened to stay on, even though his hands shook like crazy, and the hospital told him if he didn't agree, they'd fire him and hire Dr. Cullen anyway."
"What was his deal?" That didn't sound like the grandfatherly man I'd gotten to know.
"No idea. He said that Dr. Cullen wouldn't stay and that it was a waste. He's got a wife and kid, and Gerandy claimed that Mrs. Cullen wouldn't want to live in such a small town and that they'd just leave in a couple of years."
"Is she happy here?" I asked.
"No idea. They had to stay in LA until the kid finished the school year. Dr. Cullen moved in about a month ago, but the other two just got in like two days ago," Rose reported. "You'd be surprised how much people talk while they're waiting for an oil change."
Rose and I stopped near the park, panting and leaning over. I could barely catch my breath. Around us, kids played on the old Little League fields and on the swing set nearby. A black Mercedes sped by us and pulled to a stop by the curb.
"Speak of the devil," Rose said quietly, pointing to the car idling at the corner. "That's Dr. Cullen's car."
A young boy, pre-teen, got out of the car and grabbed a ball bag from the back seat. My breath caught in my throat, and I froze.
"Hey, Ry, don't leave the field until your mom gets here," Dr. Cullen hollered from the window as the kid walked toward the baseball field. "She shouldn't be more than about thirty minutes."
"Yeah, Dad, I got it," he answered, waving and jogging away.
The car pulled away, but I still couldn't move. Tears pricked at my eyes, and I fumbled for my phone.
"Pick up, pick up, pick up," I mouthed into the receiver.
Edward's voicemail picked up. It was just as well, as I couldn't speak loud enough to leave a message anyway.
"Bella. Bella!" Rose yelled, shaking my shoulders. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
I shook my head frantically, unable to tear my eyes away from the baseball fields. I couldn't see the kid anymore, but I knew he was out there somewhere. "Rose, g-get my dad," I managed to stutter out.
She didn't ask any more questions, and I saw her feet take off in my peripheral vision. When my vision started to tunnel, I tore my eyes away and settled my head between my knees. Was this like my dreams, me seeing a child and making him into Ryan in my mind? Had I completely lost touch with reality? I didn't think so, but did crazy people ever think they were nuts?
"Bells, what happened?" Dad asked, breathing heavily as he ran up and knelt in front of me. "Are you okay?"
"No, Dad, I'm not. I saw Ryan." It was all I could make come out of my mouth.
I looked up in time to see a flicker of pain cross his face. Whether it was the mention of his lost grandchild or for my sanity, I couldn't tell.
"Baby, Ryan's gone," he said gently.
"No, Dad," I insisted. "He got out of that car!"
He looked over to Rose for help, but the expression on her face wasn't pity or concern. I could practically see the wheels turning in her head.
"Bella, why don't the three of us walk over there, and you can point Ry out to your dad?" she suggested.
"You're encouraging this?" he asked incredulously.
Rose laid a hand on his arm. "I'm merely suggesting that we walk over to the baseball field and take a look at Dr. Cullen's kid. He just dropped him off and called him Ry. I didn't get a good look at him, but I think maybe it caught Bella off guard."
We hadn't ever talked about the death of my son, but at this moment, I was extremely grateful for her and her compassion. The problem was that I knew, deep down, the boy I'd seen was my son—the son that had died in childbirth ten years before.
Charlie helped me to my feet, and we moved slowly over to the fence. My feet were dragging. What if I saw him again and realized he wasn't my Ryan? Would I be able to handle it? Maybe I should just check myself into the psychiatric hospital now.
"Hey, Chief," the coach called. "Is everything okay?"
"Hey, John! Everything's fine. Just thought I'd check out this year's team before I headed home," he answered, his eyes scanning the players.
Unfortunately, they were all wearing baseball caps, and it was impossible to tell one kid I didn't know from another. We watched them field the ball for a few minutes, but Charlie was clearly getting antsy. I was like a live wire, and I think he was afraid I was going to do something crazy.
Just as he turned to walk away, John, the coach, called all the boys in for a water break, and several kids took off their hats to pour water over their heads. I knew the second Charlie's eyes found Dr. Cullen's boy, because he stopped and stared.
Rosalie followed his gaze and muttered under her breath. "Jesus Christ . . ."
"There's no way," Charlie mumbled. "It's not . . . how is this . . ." He turned to me, but it was almost like he couldn't see me.
"Dad, it's Ryan," I whispered, my tears now flowing freely and choking me.
The sound of my anguish snapped my dad from his shock, and Chief Swan took over. "I think we're going to need to pay Dr. Cullen a visit," he growled. He grabbed my arm and started pulling me across the field toward his cruiser.
Rosalie jogged behind us. "I'm going to run back to The Lodge and get Edward, Bella," she told me, her voice shaken but strong.
"Thanks," I mumbled as I buckled my seat belt.
Charlie was in a hurry; he didn't even wait for me to close my door before taking off.
The hospital was like an ant hill before the rain. Patients and staff swarmed through the hallways and in and out of exam rooms. The activity set me even more on edge, and I rubbed my bare shoulders reflexively. Charlie glanced around and walked us over to the information desk.
"Hey, Chief!" the perky lady at the information desk said when she set down the phone. "What can I do for you today?"
"Hey, Shelley. Is Dr. Cullen in? I need to speak with him," he said in his most stern Chief of Police voice.
I recognized it from the only time he'd ever used it on me—the night Edward and I had to tell him I was pregnant. I shivered at the memory.
"He is. Let me call up there before I send you up, in case he's with a patient. Is everything okay?" she asked, concerned.
"I just have a few questions for him," Charlie answered.
She didn't wait for more; she just picked up the phone and dialed. Seconds later, she nodded to my dad. "You can go on up. He's in Dr. Gerandy's old office."
My feet were leaden and my heart heavy as we trekked to the elevator and rode in silence up to the third floor where Dr. Cullen's office was. Not even the décor had changed since I'd last been here, and memories flooded my brain. This was the office where Dr. Gerandy had confirmed my pregnancy, where we'd discussed options, and Edward and I had told him resolutely that we were keeping our son, where he'd told me that Ryan's body had been cremated on accident. I wasn't sure I could face it.
Luckily for me, Dr. Cullen had redecorated his office. Shelves of books lined the back wall, and two comfortable, padded chairs sat opposite the large wooden desk, which was lined with pictures, presumably of his family. I didn't turn them to find out.
"Chief Swan, what a pleasant surprise," Dr. Cullen greeted. It was the same voice I'd heard shout from the car window. He was of average height, blond, and handsome. He didn't fit my mental picture of a nefarious schemer. "Please, have a seat. Is everything all right?"
Dad motioned for me to sit next to him, and I sat in a daze. "Well, I'm not sure, Dr. Cullen."
"Please, call me Carlisle," he invited, casting a curious glance in my direction.
"Carlisle. This is my daughter, Bella. She was out running near the park today and had quite a shock," he stated.
"Do you need me to take a look at her?" Dr. Cullen sounded confused, but he immediately moved to come to my aid if I needed him.
Dad grimaced. "No, actually, I'd like to ask you a few questions about your son."
"Ryan? What's wrong? Is he okay?" Dr. Cullen sounded panicked.
My heart practically broke when I heard my son's name fall from his lips.
"He was when we left the park," Dad said to ease his anxiety. "When was he born?"
"June third. He'll be ten this year. What's this about?"
Dad cleared his throat. He didn't have to look at me to know that tears were streaming down my face. "Where was he born?"
"I don't know. We adopted him when he was a few days old. Chief, why are you asking about my son?" Carlisle demanded.
"Because I don't think he's yours."
"This is nonsense!" Carlisle shouted. His calm demeanor had faded. I watched, detached, as he snatched up the receiver and dialed.
"Mae, I need you to get in the safe, get Ryan's adoption papers, and bring them down to my office. Yes, now. I'll tell you when you get here. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. No, don't do that. Just bring the papers down here. You, too." He replaced the handset and stared hard at Charlie. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter another word, his office door was yanked open.
"Bella? What happened? Are you okay?" Edward still had on the black t-shirt and camo pants he'd been wearing to work that morning.
I loved my father, I really did, but he wasn't one to offer comfort, as evidenced by the fact that I'd been sitting here crying for the last ten minutes. I threw myself into Edward's arms and started sobbing. "I saw him. Ryan . . . he didn't die. I knew it. He's here, and he's okay, and oh, God!"
Edward tensed as soon as Ryan's name passed my lips, but he didn't pull away. "Shh," he whispered. "You've got to calm down, angel. I don't understand. Are you hurt?"
I shook my head against his solid chest. "No."
"Now, what's this about . . . Ryan?" His voice broke on the last word, and I was thankful that he was strong enough to hold us both together, even if that strength was tenuous.
"I've had this dream where I hear Ryan cry before I pass out, but maybe it wasn't a dream. Maybe it was real," I rambled.
"Hang on. Why didn't you tell me about this dream, baby?" Edward asked softly. He pulled back enough to look into my eyes and tug me from the room so we didn't have such a captive audience. I was sure they could still hear us, though.
"They all told me it was a coping mechanism. That it wasn't real. I didn't want you to think I was crazy, but oh God, Edward, I don't think he died," I whispered. The more I said it and thought it, the more real the idea became to me.
"Oh, Bella," he said, his voice thick. I couldn't tell if he believed me or was just trying to comfort me until he could lock me away somewhere for the criminally insane.
"Uh, Mr. . . ." I heard Dr. Cullen say tentatively. He must have motioned something that pissed Edward off, because Edward snapped.
"It's Major Masen."
"Major Masen," he said in a conciliatory tone that still had a slight edge to it. "Why don't you step in here and close the door. I'm sure this conversation would be better had in private."
Edward chest expanded against my cheek as he took in a huge breath and held it. It was something he often did when he was angry and trying to rein in his temper. I figured that it was better than throwing things like he used to. He prodded me forward and closed the door behind us, but he never let go. I was grateful, because I was sure that, at this moment, he was all that was holding me together.
He turned to face the desk, and I heard Dr. Cullen gasp. Edward paid him no attention, though. "Chief, it's good to see you, though I wish the circumstances were more pleasant," he said with his voice tightly controlled.
"Me, too, son. Why don't I get another chair in here so we can all sit and talk while we wait?" Charlie said, but Edward cut him off.
"No, I'd rather stand until I know what's going on here," Edward retorted.
I lifted my cheek and looked at my father. He always looked serious, but his face was unusually grave.
"Bella and Rosalie McCarty went running this morning over by the park around the time that Dr. Cullen dropped off his son for baseball practice. When Bella went into some sort of shock, Mrs. McCarty ran to the station to get me, just as I was leaving. I escorted the two ladies over to the field, as Bella was convinced that she'd seen Ryan. We watched the practice for a several minutes. As soon as Dr. Cullen's son took off his cap . . ." Charlie paused. "Edward, I've known you almost your entire life, and I've never seen a kid that looked more like you at that age than this boy. It was uncanny."
"As I explained to Chief Swan here, I'm sure this is all a huge misunderstanding. My wife, Esme, and I legally adopted Ryan when he was a baby. She's on her way with the papers," Dr. Cullen said, though he didn't seem as convinced as he had earlier that there was a mistake of some sort.
"I see," Edward said tightly. "Please excuse us for a moment." Edward steered us out the door and down another hallway. He let go of me for a second, only to pace a few feet away. His phone was at his ear before I'd even had a chance to see him dial it. "Jazz, I need to you to find everything you can on Carlisle and Esme Cullen. Everything. Yeah, it's urgent. Send it to my phone."
His gaze softened as he looked at me. "Are you okay?" he asked, taking my hands in his.
I thought about it before I answered, because I knew that he'd want the real answer and not for me to just tell him that I was fine. I wasn't, and we both knew it. "I'm numb. All of a sudden, everything I've lived with and believed for ten years could be wrong. Ryan's death changed everything for both of us; if he'd lived, our lives would have been very different. Now, to find out that maybe he did live and someone stole him from us, I don't know how to deal with that."
Edward ducked slightly to look directly into my eyes. "Do you really think it was him, Bella?"
"Edward, I'm his mother. I may not have raised him, but I would like to think I'd recognize him anywhere. It doesn't hurt that he looks exactly like you," I retorted, and then softened my stance. "But the other, more rational part of me keeps reminding me that I've been living with the death of my child for ten years and that maybe I'm seeing things were nothing exists. That's why I called you and had Rose get Charlie. I don't trust myself."
"I'm sorry I didn't answer," he murmured, pulling me closer again. "I was almost done and thought you were just calling about meeting for lunch or something."
"It's okay. Charlie saw him. He dragged us straight here."
Edward chuckled, but the sound was forced. "Let's get back in there," he urged, and we walked back to the room hand in hand.
Dr. Cullen immediately addressed me as soon as I walked in. "Mrs. Masen, I'm sorry that you have had to deal with this, but I assure you, my wife and I did not steal your son."
His tone set me on edge as much as his words. "First of all, it's Dr. Swan," I corrected. Dr. Cullen looked a little taken aback, but he didn't interrupt me. "And second, I've never seen you before, so I'm fairly certain that you didn't do anything. Something happened, though, the day that my son was born, and I intend to find out what it was."
Dun, dun, dun! What do you think happened that day? I feel like an evil scientist twisting my hands and grinning maniacally at the moment. Have a great week!
Oh, and if you haven't checked out Wrenfield Hall, you should. It's a wonderful, T rated story that brings Bella and Edward together in such a beautiful way. The epilogue was posted this week, so give Wannabe Charlotte some love.