"I'm on it!" I announced.
I hung up the phone and ghosted to Edward's room. Bella answered the door after I had knocked.
"Yes, Carlisle?" she queried.
"Bella, I just wanted to let you know that have to go out for a while. I'll be back later," I responded.
She nodded. "Okay, but why? Is something wrong?"
I wanted to lie to her, but I couldn't for some odd reason. "Alice called to tell me that Edward and Esme found out about what happened. I have to calm Edward down before he loses control of himself."
Her jaw dropped in horror and dismay. "They did?! Then, take me with you! It might help if I go too. I can always manage to settle Edward down."
I shook me head. "No. Edward is terribly angry right now, and I have no idea of what he is going to do when I see him. If he lashes out at me, I don't want you to be in the line of fire. I don't want to run the risk of you getting hurt. I want you to stay here where you will be safe."
"But Carlisle...!" she protested.
I grasped her shoulders. "Bella, please do as I ask. I will feel better knowing that you are here."
She peered at me intently for several minutes, then nodded with reluctance. "All right. I'll stay. But what about Esme? Is she upset too?"
"Alice didn't mention if she was, so I have no idea."
I hugged her for a second and moved away. "I'll make sure to call you. Or if I am unable to, Alice will."
"Okay. Please be careful."
"I will certainly try to."
After saying this, I waved to her. Then I ghosted out of the mansion, heading in the direction of the Canadian border. When I reached it less than a half an hour later, I was confronted by a scene of utter chaos.
Emmett and Jasper were holding down Edward as he tried to fight them off. It was apparent from Jasper's expression that he was attempting to calm him down, but it was not working. Alice had been watching them along with Esme and Rosalie, but ran over to where I was standing.
"Carlisle, I'm glad you came just in time. I was afraid that Edward will overpower them. Please try to explain everything to him. He might hurt Jasper," she remarked in a pleading voice.
I nodded and made my way over to the struggling group.
Edward spotted me as I approached them. "YOU!" he bellowed, glaring at me with hatred. "YOU! YOU WERE PLANNING TO SEDUCE MY SOUL MATE! YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF BELLA, YOU SON OF A BITCH! LET ME GO!"
"No, Edward," I stated quietly. "I have no intention of seducing Bella, now or ever. I could never do that...Esme is my mate, and my wife. I love her with all of my heart and soul. I do not feel for Bella as I do Esme. I did not take advantage of her either. I will admit that I walked in on her while she was having a rather private moment. I knew that I should have left the room when I had, but I did not. However, trust me when I say that I had never laid a finger on her.
"What I had done as a result of staying there is entirely my fault. It was my fault for giving into my weakness. I do not blame you for being furious with me about this. I deserve your anger, and even your hatred. I am solely responsible for my actions, and I apologize for them and for what I did."
Edward growled. "Apologizing won't make it any better! I can't believe that you would do that to me, to Bella! What the hell were you thinking?!" he demanded in rage.
I peered at him morosely. "That was the problem, son. I was not thinking...not in the way I should have been," I implied.
"That was obvious! Emmett, Jasper, let me go!" he shouted.
"We will after you calm down," Jasper declared.
"Chill out, dude," Emmett added.
"Fuck that! I want to get him for what he did to Bella!"
Esme held up her hands in irritation. "That's it! I have had enough of this! Edward, calm down right now, do you hear me? I will not have you talking to your father in that manner!"
He shot her a mutinous gaze, but did as she told him. Emmett and Jasper released him, but watched him with cautious eyes.
When she was certain that he was not going to do anything, Esme focused her attention on me.
She sighed deeply. "I do not know what to say, Carlisle. I don't even know how I feel about this," she murmured after a while.
"I understand what you mean. I do not know what to say either...other than that I am extremely sorry for what I had done. I promise not to ever let it happen again. You have my word," I vowed.
Esme pursed her lips. "What made you do it?" she inquired in toneless voice.
For a moment, I gave no response. Then I whispered, "I have no clue, Esme. For reasons that I can't explain...I felt a strong attraction to Bella. I wanted her, without knowing why I did. I could not understand why, when it was so wrong to. But I meant what I said when I told Edward that I do not have feelings for her. I can't when I already love you more than anything."
"Do you still feel that attraction towards Bella?"
I opened my mouth to say no, but then I closed it. How could I say that when...perhaps I did? Lately, I had been unable to stop thinking about her. And half of the time, those thoughts weren't exactly innocent...
Suddenly, Edward growled. My head shot up as I noticed him lunge at me. Emmett and Jasper dashed forward and caught him.
Esme took in the scene with wide eyes, then gazed at me once more. Realization dawned in her expression. "I see," she mumbled half to herself.
And I could see that she did. Taking her hand, I said, "But it does not matter. What I feel for Bella does not mean anything. It will never change the fact that I love you, Esme. And I couldn't be attracted to her for very long, not when you are my soul mate."
"I love you too, Carlisle. But I do not know how I feel about your being attracted to Bella enough to touch yourself to her."
"I understand," I remarked in a low voice.
Closing her eyes, she bowed her head. She was obviously thinking this over. After she opened them, her face was quite calm. "Well...if your attraction for her ever grows stronger, then I will step aside. All I would ever want from you is to do what you think is right, and to follow your heart," she proclaimed.
"But Esme...you are my soul mate...I could never desert you in that manner...I love you..." I tried to reason with her.
"Mom, how could you say that when Bella is my soul mate...?!" Edward yelled in outrage.
Esme fixed him with a penetrating stare. "Then it would go down to how Bella feels at the moment, and what she wants. And if she does choose to act on her feelings with Carlisle...if she is also attracted to him, that is...then you will also have to let her follow her own path. No one can choose it for her, not even you. It will be hard, but if you love her, then you will have to let her go if that time ever comes. She will resent you if you try to hold her back."
Edward drooped, but I could see that he understood her.
Then Esme glanced at me. "I still do not know how I feel about this. I know that I should feel enraged, but...I don't know. I just need to come to terms with all of this. Perhaps we should have some time away from each other until I do."
I wanted to argue with her some more. But I knew that, for her sake, that it would have to be so. "All right, Esme. Take all of the time that you need, then. If, by any chance, you feel differently towards me, then I will understand that as well. And whatever you decide afterwards is your own choosing. I just want you to be happy, no matter what," I said.
She nodded and smiled a little. "Thank you for understanding, Carlisle. Well...I suppose that I will stay here for a bit before I go home. I'll see you later."
"Enjoy yourself, my dear."
Esme inclined her head and ran out of the clearing. Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper followed after her. Edward headed for the mansion.
I was left with Alice. We gazed each other for a couple of seconds until I stepped forward.
"What do you think that I should do?" I queried.
She was about to reply when her eyes became unfocused; she was clearly having a vision. After it was finished, she peered at me solemnly. "All I can say is this...do what you think is the right thing to do. Follow your heart. Everything will be worth it in the end."
And with that, she trailed after Esme and the others, leaving me to my jumbled thoughts.