Chapter Seventeen
Bella
I was having so much fun. I hadn't been looking forward to Christmas with Patrick's family because the season didn't mean the same to them as it did to me. The guys just wanted to eat, drink and discuss all the deals they had done that year. They couldn't even leave business alone for one day. Of course, the alternative was to sit with Magda and listen to her tedious stories about her friends' indiscretions. I had never met anyone who gossiped as spitefully about people she called friends.
Here, it was as if I had been transported back in time to when the festive season meant just that, being cheerful and celebrating being among family and friends. They just wanted to enjoy themselves and the financial side of it meant nothing. They sat together playing cards and everyone cheated outrageously, then Emmett vanished only to reappear with a guitar which he handed to Jasper and a mouth organ for himself.
"OK, we're taking requests. Bella, choose a song."
What I didn't realize was that although they would play the music, we were expected to sing. I felt very self-conscious at first but it soon became clear that no one cared how good or bad you were. And much to my relief, Carlisle was even more tone-deaf than me!
Seeing my laughter he grinned, "It's the one thing becoming a vampire didn't help me with I'm afraid."
No alcohol was involved but the songs got sillier and sillier until everyone was rolling around laughing. I had never heard Grandma got run over by a reindeer before so I couldn't judge how much improvisation was involved but my ribs were hurting by the time Emmett finished.
Next, he insisted that he and Jasper sing Santa got lost in Texas with Emmett taking the part of Santa. When Jasper started to sing I remembered the soft Southern drawl he had exaggerated when dressed up for the Halloween party. He did make the most beautiful sound.
This was a side of the family I had never seen before. When I visited with Edward he would whisk me up to his room or play the piano for me. They had somehow never seemed like a real family except for the time I joined them to play baseball. I had thought it was an unusual event but it seemed they truly were a family, not just a collection of friends pretending to be.
"Right. Snowball fight. Pick sides. Bella, you can be the referee."
I frowned looking outside.
"Did I miss something? Emmett, there's no snow out there."
Emmett grinned, "Use your imagination, Bella. We don't let a little detail like that stop us from having fun."
"So, you're going to use imaginary snowballs?"
I wasn't sure how I was supposed to referee that!
"Where's the fun in that? No, come on Jazz. let's get the guns."
Rose giggled when she saw the alarmed look on my face, "It's OK, Bella. Emmett's got a collection of those guns that fire foam bullets and he's adapted them slightly to fire the foam soaking wet. They use paint, white paint."
"Right. Of course, I should have realized. Silly me."
Carlisle withdrew, "I'll keep Bella company. That leaves Esme to partner with Jasper. Time limit, one hour, and no leaving the grounds."
As Jasper followed Emmett out checking the mechanism of his gun he leaned down and kissed my cheek, "Wish me luck."
"Go get 'em, cowboy."
Emmett snorted, "No chance. Take a good long look at pretty boy there. Next time you see him he's gonna be dripping white."
As they disappeared outside I turned to Carlisle, "Are Christmases always like this?"
He nodded, "Pretty much. In fact, most times are like this. We were on our best behavior when you used to visit. Edward didn't want to frighten you off."
"I think it's wonderful."
"Hold that thought. You might not feel the same way by New Year. I remember one year Emmett and Jasper were playing tag with those electronic vests, they'd modified them so they screamed with every hit. The noise was deafening and then Jasper ambushed Emmett and they fell into the Christmas tree."
"Whoops!"
"That's something of an understatement. Emmett had the brain wave to light said tree with real candles. They almost burned the house down. Poor Esme has a lot to put up with. It's a good thing she loves the mayhem almost as much as the others do."
"It must be like having a preschool in your home."
"Actually I like to see them let off steam. You have to remember none of them had a real childhood. Emmett lived in a poor family and worked from the time he was old enough to lift a bucket of chicken feed. Jasper's early life was much the same but then he joined the Confederate army. Neither had what you would consider a childhood. Even Rosalie was never allowed to be a child, always a young woman who would be used to aid her father's climb to success. Their lives were pretty bleak when you think about it."
"What about your childhood, Carlisle? What was that like?"
He smiled, "Well, I never had what you would call a normal life either My father was a very religious man, very strict. I don't think he ever forgave me for the fact that he lost his beloved wife bringing me into the world. Life was hard in London when I was growing up. Hunger, poverty and disease were all prevalent. When he wasn't preaching we ministered to the poor or hunted supernatural beings. Vampires and werewolves."
"So you knew about vampires before you became one?"
"Oh yes, the devil's spawn as my father called them. If he had found me when I'd been bitten he would have killed me with his own two hands."
"I'd never really thought about any of you like that. Edward never talked much about the past. He told me how he became a vampire and just a little about the others."
"Edward doesn't like to talk about it, our human lives I mean. His own was quite privileged. His father was dead but his mother came from money. Unfortunately, the Spanish flu took no regard for wealth. The rich died along with the poor."
While I digested all this he insisted on making me hot chocolate which was surprisingly good.
"Thank you, Bella. Esme left instructions on how to make it. I have to admit I don't think I've seen a kitchen in our house used before. Except for the time you came to dinner in Forks."
I smiled, "I remember. Rose broke that salad bowel when I said I'd already eaten."
The hour went by so quickly and I was called on to go to the back door and judge the winner. Esme explained, "I am not having anyone dripping paint in the house."
Looking at them I was amazed there wasn't more paint. Either they were really bad shots or very good at the game. I made them spin around to check thoroughly and counted the hits.
"Come on Bella. It's pretty obvious we trashed Jazz and Esme."
I pretended to think about it before announcing that the winners were…."Jasper and Esme."
There was uproar, loud protests from Rose and Emmett who insisted that I was biased, "It's a fix. I demand a rematch."
Carlisle held up his hands, "Enough. Rematch tomorrow. For now, get yourselves changed. Remember I promised the children's ward at the hospital that I would visit with Santa before he had to leave on his sleigh. Emmett, don't forget the outfit and yes before you start you will wear that elf outfit Rose. Esme spent a lot of time making it for you. Any arguments and I will confiscate the guns."
As they filed inside both Rose and Emmett made faces at his back but I knew it was all show for my behalf. Carlisle had already told me of the hospital visit and how Emmett loved playing Santa for the children.
The house seemed so big and quiet after they left, with just Jasper and I still here.
He had showered and changed into a t-shirt and sweat pants. I'd never seen him dressed so casually before. When he was with Alice he was always in designer clothes and I wondered what she would have said if she could have seen him now.
We sat together on the couch by the log fire and watched the flames leap up and throw strange shadows around the room. It felt cozy and relaxing.
"You didn't have to stay behind just for me, Jasper. I would have been fine."
"Really? May I remind you that the last time I left you alone you had a fight with a truck and lost? Besides, I'm not doing it just for you."
"Oh? Well, whatever the reason, I'm glad that you did."
He slipped an arm around my shoulders and I shivered in delight, "I think you know why I stayed behind, Bella."
I swallowed nervously, "Maybe. Could it be that you wanted us to be alone?"
He sighed and I leaned my head on his shoulder, "I've wanted that for a very long time. Do you have any idea how I feel about you?"
I nodded feeling the flush of heat rise in my cheeks, "I'm hopeful."
He chuckled, "Hopeful? Well, I guess that's a start."
His lips brushed my hair and I tipped my head up to gaze into his face, "Should I be?"
His eyes were suddenly dark but I knew it wasn't thirst that was responsible, "Well, let's see shall we?"
Our first kiss was so sweet that I never wanted it to end. Luckily it wasn't the only one and soon we were wrapped in each other's arms, the world outside forgotten.
That Christmas Eve wasn't long enough as we lay together on the rug in front of the fire absorbed in each other. As we kissed and caressed I felt my desire rising and struggled to keep control of my body which ached for more.
"Bella Swan, you have no idea how long I've wanted to be with you. It drove me crazy watching you with that idiot Patrick."
I thought about that, how difficult it must have been to see us together night after night and blushed furiously. Suddenly I wished I could unthink that!
"If I'd known you were there Patrick wouldn't have stood a chance."
"Then I wish I'd contacted you earlier. Am I forgiven?"
I kissed him again, this time allowing my lips to follow the line of his throat. His skin felt cool but not as cold as Edward's had and I wondered why. There was something about being in Jasper's arms. It felt as if this is where I'd always belonged.
"You know I'm never going to let you go, Bella. I will always be right here with you to love and cherish you."
"And keep me safe?"
"I can't promise that you'll be safe from me but yeah, I'll keep you safe from the rest of the world."
"That's good. I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be. Just promise me it will never end."
"How could it, Bella? I'm in love with you."
Those few words sealed my fate. "I love you too. I just wish I'd understood that sooner. I was a blind fool."
I stroked his cheek and ran my hands over his chest as he gasped and nuzzled my neck. Here I was alone, with a vampire's teeth grazing my throat yet I had never felt safer.
"Esme told me that the Christmas season was magical. She knew all the time but I refused to accept it. I kept thinking of all the things he could give you that I couldn't."
I put a finger to his lips, "It's not about things. It's about the person. I know that you care about me, that you will always care about me. That nothing will ever mean more to you. Just like I know that no one could ever come between us. You are my soul mate. Something I thought I would never find. The other half of me."
Even as I said it I knew it to be true. I would never have to wait around or come second to anyone or anything where Jasper was concerned. How could I ever doubt the man who had put aside four years of his life to keep me safe without asking anything in return? That was true devotion, something that Patrick could never understand. How close I had come to throwing my life away on him. It scared me to think about it. I owed Esme for my happiness, Jasper and I both did.
"Bella, I know what I'm asking of you and I believe that you understand too. Will you be mine? Would you stand at my side for the rest of your life?"
I looked into his eyes as I answered without hesitation, "If you'll have me then I would be proud to stand at your side for all eternity. I couldn't give myself to you knowing I would eventually grow old and die. If you mean what you are asking then it has to be for all time."
Ironically it was more or less the same thing I had told Edward only to discover that he didn't want me to join him in his world. I waited with bated breath for Jasper's answer.
"If that's what you want, then yes, but I won't rush into it. You and I are destined for each other. Let's just enjoy these first few weeks then yes. I'll marry you and turn you and feel blessed to do so."
I began to cry, it was exactly what I had wanted to hear.
As he wiped away my tears I whispered, "Did you just propose to me, Jasper Hale?"
"It's Whitlock, not Hale but yes, I guess I did in a way."
We kissed again and I found myself wanting him so badly that I knew he could feel it but he got up and pulled me to my feet, "The others will be back soon and there's something I want to do before they get home. Wait there, just a minute."
He was back before I could get my breath back and sank to one knee before me.
"Bella Swan, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
I nodded, crying again with happiness, "Yes, Jasper."
He smiled and pulled from his pocket a small black box. Opening it he removed a simple gold engraved band. It was obviously very old and I loved its simplicity.
"This is all I have for now. It was my mother's wedding ring. We can go and buy a new one as soon as the stores reopen."
I shook my head, "No. it's perfect."
As he slipped it on my finger I realized that it fitted perfectly. It must be a sign. I held out my hand to admire the band, and it looked as if it had always belonged there.
Standing up Jasper pulled me into his arms, "Merry Christmas, Bella."
As we kissed I heard the sound of the door opening, it was the others back. It was Christmas Day, a perfect Christmas.
Right. As this is a Christmas story it should stop here. I have been criticized in the past for similar stories going on well after Christmas to which I hold up my hands. However, I'll leave it up to you, my readers, if there is more you want to hear. Love Jules xx
