Chapter Three
Bella's POV
Neither of us said anything at first. I knew I was being rude, not inviting my own son inside my house, but I was so utterly stunned to see him there I couldn't do much but stare.
"Brandon?" I asked. I would've thought it was a dream if it were possible for me to sleep.
"Hi, mommy," he says. "Can I come in, it's raining." I step back.
"Sure, sure, come in," I said, and he walked in, trailing water all over the floor. The twins were standing behind Edward, staring at him.
"Girls, this is Brandon," I said. They didn't move. It was strange, because normally they were never shy, even around complete strangers. Brandon stared at them.
"Who are they?" he asked, and both girls ducked behind Edward. I went and grabbed Luna's hand and pulled her forward and Racheal followed as a force of habit.
"His scent is funny," said Luna. Racheal leaned foreward as well, sniffing.
"Yeah, his scent is different," she said. Brandon frowned. I noticed it too, his scent was off somehow, like it wasn't entirely human.
I moved on anyways. "Luna, Racheal, this is your Uncle Brandon," I said, not wanting to get into how he was technically only half their uncle and they were half his nieces. They looked really confused then, and so did he. I sighed. It was going to be hard explaining everything I could to a nine-year-old and two three-year-olds. I walked Brandon over to the couch to the couch and sat him down.
"Bella?" said Edward. "I can hear Nessie's thoughts outside. She forgot something."
"Shoot," I mumble, just as the door opens.
"Mom I forgot my…" she starts, and then looks over at the couch. "What the heck?" She marched inside, grabbing her phone as she went. "Brandon? Is that you?" she asked, as the girls ran over to her.
"Hi," he says. "You must be the sister dad didn't say much about. He was very secretive about you guys."
I blink. "Wait, was?" He nods somberly.
"Yes, daddy died about a month ago," he says. "He had lung cancer, which is bad," he continues. I'm not sure what to feel. If I should feel remorse, because my once upon a time husband is dead, or if I should feel nothing, because I had amnesia when we were married. I settle for feeling bad for Brandon and figuring myself out later.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, dear," I say, giving him a hug. Nessie sinks down on the couch next to him.
"Chris is dead? Sorry, bud," she says, pulling Luna up onto her lap. "So, what have you been doing for the last six years?" she asks. We all stare at him.
He shrugs. "Not much. Living with Aunt Marie is pretty boring." I had forgotten completely about Chris's sister. She had been at our wedding and had come to visit shortly after Brandon was born, and both times had utterly disproved of me. I wondered why his aunt had sent him here.
"Why did your aunt send you here?" I ask him.
"Aunt Marie didn't really send me, I sent myself. Daddy left me a note saying that I should come here. I don't know why," he says, running his fingers through his sandy blonde hair. So Chris had left him a note saying to send him here. There was definitely something up with this kid, so Chirs had wanted him here, with me. The offness of his scent came back to me. The door opened and Jake stuck his head in.
"Ness, what are you-" he starts, then sees Brandon on the couch.
"Hi, Daddy," says Racheal, and runs over to him. Nessie gets up.
"We should probably go, girls," she says, putting Luna down. "Have fun with your uncle," she says, walking over to Jake. I hear her mumble "I'll explain in the car," and they leave again.
I stand up, and so does Brandon. "We should...probably get you a room," I say. Rose and Emmett had left a couple weeks ago, so he could have that room until they got back, and he should be gone by then. I show him upstairs. He walks around for a minute, admiring everything. "We'll probably feed the girls dinner in a bit, so you can eat with them," I say. The girls hated human food, but they were going to eat it while he was here. I would have to give them something to do it. He nods.
"Thanks, mom," he says, and I leave him be.
Luna stares at the food on her plate like I gave her a bottle of poison and said she had to drink it. Racheal seemed to get it, and was forcing the food down, but Luna was extremely stubborn and didn't understand the concept of cooperation. Brandon ate quietly, watching them. I hear the door open and shut, and know it would be Carlisle, coming back from work. Edward goes to the door to head him off. "Luna please, just eat it like your sister," I say. She glares at me, but takes a bite, making a face. Brandon looks up when Edward and Carlisle come in. Carlisle gave him a strange look, and I could tell he noticed the weird scent as well.
Later that night, I opened his door silently to check on him. Everyone had been bugging him for the last hour, like he was a new toy to play with, especially Luna and Racheal, who had never really experienced having anyone near their age to play with. Suddenly, I hear a strange rattling noise coming from the desk. I walk over and see that a pen on the desk is shaking. Brandon rolls over, muttering, "No, no, don't." The pen rattles harder and then starts to rise off the desk. I step back, speechless.
"Chris, who have you sent me?" I whisper, as Brandon relaxes and the pen drops to the ground with an ominous clunk.