So hey, remember when I said Wednesday? Didn't you know I meant Thursday? Silly goose!
Funny story, yesterday I outlined the next TWENTY chapters. This story's gonna be going for a while longer guys! I'm going to try and condense them a bit, but they're already kind of dense. Don't worry, the pace is speeding up a bit. Twenty will literally take us up to Rosalie! But Christ, it's weird to think this'll go to about 150k words. That hurts to think of. Thanks for sticking with me!
"It hurts just to think of how long it will be for you until we are all together again. And it's weird to think that it would be better if you don't miss me. Try not to miss me? Sorry, stupid thing to say. I know I could never stop myself missing you.. No pressure!" - Alice
Bella stood at the sideboard in their lesser used drawing room. The various unassuming drawers held her most treasured possessions; the words and photographs of the family she left behind. The Cullen boys knew what they could and couldn't look at, Carlisle had made a point of installing locks and giving Bella the only key.
Although, there was only so much she could keep in for so long. Jasper and Peter knew everything, except of course for Alice and Charlotte - of them they knew very little. Alice was simply her sister, Charlotte was just a passing comment she accidentally made twenty years ago and immediately brushed off.
This letter in particular had always been a favourite of hers. She couldn't imagine any possible reality where her mother's words wouldn't make her feel loved. Lord, she missed her. She missed gardening with her, and listening to her stories, and her hugs, and her kindness, and everything. She missed anything.
She would have her back soon. But for now, she would stand by the sideboard and quietly read her words again.
My dear darling girl,
I can't imagine the hardships you must be facing, it is terrifying to think of. You are so brave, although of course I have always known that. I have always known of your kindness too. You didn't have to do all this, but you did anyway. Never forget, that no matter what happens, that soul inside of you is kind and beautiful. You are good, Bella. Good to your core.
Before I get carried away with how proud I am of my youngest daughter, I will give you the information you need.
I come from a small town in Ohio, called Fairview. It was a quiet little place, fairly self sufficient and out of the way of travellers. I spent my childhood running and playing in the fields and orchards, much to my mother's annoyance! My father owned a construction company, it had been in the family for generations. He liked to say we built the whole town, and he wasn't wholly exaggerating. He was a good provider, we were quite comfortable.
As you know, I met Carlisle when I fell from a tree and broke my leg. He was working in Columbus, but covered for Dr Harrison when the poor man fell ill. He died four years later, it was awfully sad. The day I fell from the tree was May 5th, 1911. I have always treasured my memory of Carlisle as a human - it was a large part of why I took to becoming a vampire so easily, I already knew he was a good man.
I tell you this because it is my first request. I know you will have changed many things, which makes it incredibly unlikely that Carlisle will be exactly where he was originally, but perhaps it could be somewhat engineered? I know it is a lot to ask. Please know, even if you can't do this, I still love you. Never ever doubt that.
I'm afraid I don't have much guidance for the rest. I always wanted to be a school teacher, but in such a small town there weren't many job opportunities; plus, my parents took it as a matter of pride that their daughters would never need to work. It disappointed them a great deal that I had to settle for Dr Evenson, no man ever caught my eye. In a way that was Carlisle's fault. I was just sixteen when we first met. I knew nothing of love. But he was so kind and gentle and handsome, I couldn't help but decide that one day I would marry a man just like him. I might have considered it a miracle if he came back, and I have no doubt that if my mother knew a young handsome doctor was in town I would be dressed up and paraded in front of him at every opportunity. Perhaps you could use that to your advantage? My mother was always very predictable.
I often think of how much she would have loved you. She enjoyed sweet, clever girls. Girls who could sit and have an interesting conversation for hours, not needing to jump up and do things at all times, and not causing trouble and arguments all the time that need mediating. In short, I have a feeling that of all my children, she would like you and Jasper best. I must confess I'm quite excited at the thought of you two meeting her.
That is, of course, if you do manage to break Jasper out of the wars. That is incredibly worrying by the way, sweetheart. Please be careful, I can't bear the thought of-
So absorbed in her letter, she didn't notice the man standing behind her until strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her into his lap on the nearby sofa.
Jasper laughed at her squeal and pinched at her sides until she laughed too.
"You came over all melancholy! You really must stop readin' such sad things."
"It's not just sad!" She protested, weaving the letter away from his prying fingers. "It's a happy kind of sad."
"Esme's letter again?" He exclaimed as he got a peak at the handwriting. "My days, Bells. The amount of times ya read that thing, she must be some master novelist."
"No." She slumped against him and enjoyed the warmth in his cold embrace. "I just can't wait to see her again. And I'm so excited for you to meet her."
He laughed and languorously ran his hand up through her wild hair. "Do you think she'll like me?"
She grinned into the curve of his neck. "I think she'll love you."
Afterall, I do.