93

The hour they have allotted us isn't nearly enough time. The party is wonderful and filled with friends and family, but there's a somber tone, knowing that Bella is leaving for an unknown amount of time and that we have to stay here.

Luckily, she won't be going alone. Renee and Charlie don't want her to be by herself during the investigation. I'm glad she'll have her parents, but I still wish I could be there for her.

Bella steals the girls away for a few minutes to say her goodbyes, and they return with wet eyes and sad faces despite the celebration going on around them. Jasper and Ben are quick to lead them away so Bella and I can have some privacy.

"I don't want you to go," I mutter into her hair.

"I know. But the sooner I go, the sooner we can put this whole mess behind us." She pulls back to look me in the eye. "No matter what happens, I'll be here for the custody hearing."

I frown. "That's two weeks from now, Bella. How long do you think you'll be gone?"

Bella shrugs. "I'm not sure. This has never happened before."

Two officers approach us. "I'm sorry, but we really should be going."

Bella squeezes me extra hard. "I love you."

"I love you too."

I follow them out the backdoor where an SUV is sitting idle and watch the love of my life climb inside. She stops the door from closing and pokes her head back out.

"It'll all work out, Edward. I want you to take care of my girls and yourself. I'll talk to you soon."

I swallow the lump in my throat and nod. "Take care of my heart, Bella."

She offers me a sad smile and closes the door. Watching the car disappear into the night hurts. I can't breathe, and the farther she drives away, the more my heart is breaking.

Charlie finds me standing in the alley, staring off into space. "Angela is looking for you, and Esme wanted me to tell you it's almost time to cut the cake," he says. "You should get in there before they send out a search party."

"Thanks, Charlie," I croak.

He claps me on the back and shakes my shoulder. "Bella hasn't done anything wrong, son. Neither of you have. They'll ask their questions and realize that ex of yours is full of it. She'll be back home before you know it."

I argue that a human's and a vampire's sense of time are vastly different, but Charlie just drags me inside. "Bella asked us to stay and get pictures with the cake, so after that, we'll be heading out."

As soon as the girls see me, they pounce. "She's gone," Angela whispers.

I nod.

"This is so unfair," Alice grumbles.

"Hey." I put on my best smile. "She's going to be pissed if she finds out we spent the rest of your party pouting over things we have no control over. Let's go eat some cake, dance for a while, and then you can open your presents."

After the cake is cut and they've opened their presents, we say our goodbyes to Renee and Charlie.

Alice and Angela make out like bandits but ask to save the gifts from Bella and me until she returns home.

"Unless it's like a puppy or something that will die if we don't open it," Angela says as she shakes a bigger box with her name on it.

"No, we can wait. I think Bella will like that."