One Year Later (May 15, 1919):
Being a single parent is incredibly difficult, especially when you're barely an adult yourself.
It's even more difficult when rumors started to fly around about you and the reasons why you were left alone with said child.
None of the rumors were even remotely close to the truth. Not even close, especially when it comes from insipid, venomous, classless women who I grew up with. Women who climb their way up society.
None of that mattered to me, though, nothing did anymore, only Gracie Mae.
Gracie was almost a year old now. Looking each day a bit more like her father, with a small speck of my sister in her as well. Growing a little bit more each and every day. Her eyes had turned the same deep shade her father and grandmother's eyes were, a mesmerizing deep greenish-blue hue that all the Masens' had when they were alive.
It surprised me how intelligent she was. Even at a few months old, she always held the curious gleam in her eyes.
Now, even as she grew closer to a year of age, she chose to explore, and babble her way around the house, causing Chessy and I to smile as we took turns watching her.
Following the death of Lucia, I chose to move into Lucy and Matthew's small home, as opposed to my parents' larger house down the road. As a way to honor her memory.
It was just a little after noon, that two soldiers arrived to inform me that Matthew had, indeed, died in the battlefield. Handing me his dog-tags, along with a picture of Lucy and the letter that was found on his person, and along with a folded flag.
As I read the letter, I realized it would've killed Lucy to read these promises. Promises that would never flourish because they had both died within months of one another.
One died fighting for our country and the other of a broken heart.
I thanked the two soldiers tearfully, and offered them a meal before they headed back to the base, which they declined.
Gracie had chosen that moment to crawl over to me, quickly attempting to stand up before plopping down on her small behind, clapping happily at her new achievement, throwing me a chubby little smile before raising her arms at me to signal me to pick her.
I had just closed the door behind the soldiers when I heard another knock on the door.
I felt as if I had been bathed in ice-cold water, as my eyes landed on the familiar person that stood in the terrace with his back towards me.
I'd know that hair color anywhere. The gasp that escapes through my lips causes him to turn in surprise, before a tiny smile lights up his face.
"Isabella? Isabella Swan?" He asks.
I almost don't believe that he is standing a few feet away from me. "Edward Masen?" I gasped, as I felt Gracie hid her face in my neck.
I bounce her on my hip, as she hugs me tighter than before.
"It is you." He says, pulling me into a hug. Shocking me.
I hugged him back before stepping back, to allow him to step inside the house. "Come in. Come in." I say, as Gracie lifts her head up to peek through my hair before hiding her face in my neck again.
He pulls off his hat before stepping through the door and into the house.
"When did you get back? Are you hungry? Gracie and I were just about to eat..." I asked as I led him through the house and into the kitchen that's connected to the dining room.
"I got back just after just a few days before Christmas actually…" he whispered, as he sat down at the table.
I nodded, silently sitting Gracie down in her chair. "It's ok, baby, I'm just going to get your food." I cooed, as she looked up at me, wide-eyed, clutching at the air for me.
I smile reassuringly down at her before walking to the kitchen.
"So, what have you been doing all this time?" He asked, quietly, as he stared at Gracie curiously.
I cleared my throat, uncomfortably, as I served some pea soup, Chessy had made the day before, before she left to visit her family in her hometown.
"Staying occupied…." I say evasively, as I grab the bowl of rolls and place them in the middle of the table, before turning around and grabbing the bowls of soup for the three of us.
I'm about to sit down but realize I've forgotten the iced tea, and head back to get it.
Quickly placing a bowl in front of Edward, and Gracie's and mine next to each other before sitting down.
"How have you honestly been?" He finally asks me, staring at me intently.
I grab a small roll ripping it into small pieces before dipping it into the soup, and handing it to Gracie, before I could answer. "Adjusting." I replied, stoically.
"Is she yours?" He asked, quietly, his eyes fixed on Gracie.
I felt a knot form in my throat as I stared down at my beautiful saving grace. My Gracie Mae.
"She is. I've had her since Lucy died, twenty minutes after she was born…" I softly say, as Gracie gives me a toothy smile.
I heard as he let out a small gasp in surprise. "Oh...I'm sorry." He softly says, reaching for my hand. "You shouldn't have had to go through that by yourself." He whispered.
"I wasn't by myself. I had Carlisle and Esme, along with Chessy, and my Gracie…" I say, tearfully, trying to pull my hand out from his grasp.
"Isabella, it's alright to mourn their deaths. It's painful when you lose a loved one. I can't imagine losing all of my family in such a short span of time." He says, softly.
I stared at him, in shock. Did he really not know what had happened to our entire families?
"Edward...have-have you gone to see your parents yet?" I asked, carefully.
"No. I came here as soon as I was released from the hospital. I was wounded badly and have been recovering since December of last year in a hospital upstate. I tried to reach out to everyone, sent dozens of letters, and even sent a few telegrams, I received no reply to any of them. I just figured they were still irritated at me for it ignoring their orders..." He explains, disappointed.
I notice the hurt expression etched on his face as he stares down at the bowl of soup. Which almost pains me to have to tell him the truth of why he never truly received an actual response from his parents.
"Edward, your parents…? They passed away during the second wave of the pandemic…a few weeks after you and your brother left for the war…" I whispered, clutching his hand in mine.
I stare at him, silently watching as he registered the meaning of my words. I feel as my heart breaks for him, as he realizes the truth. Pain, and disbelief, prominent on his features.
"My parents...are gone?" He asked, slowly, his voice no more than a whisper.
I nod, tearfully, as I watch his face crumple in agony.
"Why didn't anyone tell me anything?" He asked.
"We sent a telegram. We received no response. I was left to plan my parents and yours' burials, alone. I'm sorry if I didn't try again but how do you deal with so much death in such a short span of time?" I ask, emotionally.
He looked up at me, in pain.
"Shortly after their deaths, we were informed of the news that your brother was missing in action… " I say, looking down at Gracie. My only beckon of hope.
"It nearly killed my sister after we found out. Do you have any idea of what it feels like to watch someone slowly fade away before your eyes? Helpless. Lucy died just twenty minutes after Gracie was born. She didn't even have the strength to hold her own daughter before she died." I whispered, as tears began to fall down my face.
"I'm— I'm terribly sorry for your loss…" he whispered, brokenly.
"I'm sorry too. Not only for the loss of my family but yours as well." I say, softly, stiring my cold soup.
I watched him bob his head up and down, in response, before speaking again, "Our fathers left a will, the firm and the houses are ours. Since they weren't entirely sure of what happened to you or Matthew, Lucy and I became the sole heirs of the inheritance… Sadly, after my sister's death, Gracie and I became the sole heirs. We can go fix that when you're up for it, I'm sure you're tired after all your travel at this moment…" I whispered, watching his face.
"Yes, I think that would be the best for all of us." He whispered, pushing his bowl away after mindlessly stirring it for a few moments.
He left shortly after that. Promising to come back the next day, and celebrate Gracie's first birthday with me.
Only after I placed Gracie in her bed that night did a horrible thought suddenly had occurred to me. Edward would go to an empty home after all this time.
Oh dear, I hoped he would be alright.
Author's note:
You can ask questions, but be nice about it.
Some of your questions will be anwered in the chapter after the next...
Enjoy.