It's Time
Chapter 6
Disclaimer: All things Twilight belong solely to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.
Like Molly Ringwald in the movie Sixteen Candles, I stood at the full-length mirror that hung on the back of my closet door scrutinizing my body. And just like her character, Samantha, my sixteenth birthday didn't yield any miraculous changes.
"Are you looking at your chest?"
The voice from the dark end of the room nearly caused me to jump out of my skin.
"Alice! How many times have I told you? They're called boobs or ta-tas. You can even refer to them as hooters if you want, but never a chest! A chest is something a pirate uses to store his treasure." I paused dramatically to roll my eyes at her before adding, "And why must you always sneak up on me? "
"Because life would be boring if I were predictable." Flopping down on my bed, her voice bubbled with laughter. "Happy birthday Bella! So, how does it feel to be sixteen?"
"You should already know; you've been sixteen for five months." I pointed out, tossing a sock at her head.
Ali's birthday had been in May, and her party was quite an affair. The soiree was held in the ballroom at Farmington Gardens. All two hundred and twelve students and thirty-three faculty members from Miss Porter's School were invited.
The theme of the party was 'A Night in Paris.' An army of servers dressed in white offered an assortment of French pastries and appetizers. The invitations resembled passports, and instead of a traditional cake, macarons in every hue of the rainbow formed a whimsical, confectionary Eiffel Tower.
A formal dinner of Chicken Provencal was presented at tables adorned with roses, candles, and vintage china. Guests then danced underneath the soft glow of the pearl draped chandeliers that hung throughout the room.
Alice's grandparents, Gianna and Alec, had flown in from Italy for the celebration. Gianna was originally from Rome, and when Alec retired, they had moved back there to care for her ailing mother.
I immediately became enamored with them both. Gianna was a complete bookworm telling me she felt most at ease in her library. We shared a fondness for many of the same authors, and she introduced me to a few I didn't know. When I showed her my books and the letter from Douglas Riley, she let out a squeal of delight that rivaled one that only Alice could make.
Despite his intimidating presence, Alec was easily one of the kindest men that I had ever met. He stood over six feet and had the athletic build of a man half his age. Quick to laugh at a joke, he was easily amused and never stopped smiling.
Our week was packed with humor and joy. Gianna showed Alice and me how to make authentic biscotti, and Alec taught us how to play poker.
By the end of their visit, I was calling them Nonno and Nonna.
It didn't even occur to me until a week after they left that Nonno Cullen had probably retired from the mafia. I couldn't picture the genial couple I had grown to adore being mixed up in such a shady business.
But then again, I couldn't see Eleazar and Carmen doing so either.
To the chagrin of Alice, and a few of my classmates, my birthday party was a low-key event. My only requests were a pistachio cake from my favorite local bakery and Carmen's baked ziti.
"So, presents or cake first?"
As Carmen awaited my response, I glanced briefly at the pile of gifts. It was a natural choice as I imagined the taste of the pistachio torte with its raspberry mousse filling. My mouth watered at the thought of the vanilla meringue buttercream.
"Ca …"
"Presents! Right, Bella?" Alice chimed, handing me a gift bag. "This one is from Nonna and Nonno!"
Accepting that the decision had been made for me, I took the bag from her. The dessert could wait.
Gianna and Alec had called earlier that morning. They felt horrible for missing my special day, but could not leave Italy because Gianna's mother was recovering from pneumonia.
Reaching inside, I pulled out a copy of Pride and Prejudice. Tears stung my eyes. It was Nonna's personal copy. Her most cherished book, the one her parents had given to her on her own sweet sixteen. My fingers lightly traced the title on the cover.
Why would she give it to me?
As if she could read my mind, Carmen covered my hand with hers. "She loves you, Bella. We all do."
After wiping away the moisture from my eyes, I finished opening all the presents until the only one remained — a flat square box wrapped in robin's egg blue.
"Holy Fuck! It's something from Tiffany's!"
"Mary Alice Cullen! Please tell me you didn't just say what I think you said!" Eleazar barked from across the table.
"I'm sorry, Father. It won't happen again." Alice mumbled, lowering her chin unable to meet his gaze.
Astonished that the girl who had difficulty saying words like 'boobs' just dropped the f-bomb in front of her parents, I almost forgot about the lavish gift that lingered in my hand.
Attempting to reduce the tension in the room Carmen said, "go ahead, passerotta, I'm eager to see what it is as well. Eli must have gotten this one all on his own." She peered over at her husband; an eyebrow arched in doubt.
Rubbing the back of his neck, Eleazar evaded his wife's inquiry. "Open it, sweetheart."
Removing the paper, I lifted the lid and discovered a silver cuff bracelet. It was adorned with a crystal embellished infinity symbol.
"It's lovely, Eleazar. Thank you so much." I slipped it on and turned to show Alice. "The diamonds are gorgeous." Ali marveled.
"D-diamonds? I thought they were crystals?"
"Silly, Bella. The only kind of crystal sold at Tiffany's is glassware."
Diamonds? In the words of Alice, 'Holy… Fuck!'
I blinked out of my daze and noticed Carmen was standing next to Eleazar, and they were having what appeared to be an in-depth discussion. Their muted whispers carried across the room.
"I just wanted to help. He's trying, okay?"
"Really, Eli?" Carmen shook her head in displeasure.
My thumb skimmed over the cold metal that encircled my wrist. Stumbling backward, I leaned against the wall. It was from him.
"Happy birthday, Bella. Make a wish."
Squeezing my eyes shut, I stretched over the three-tiered cake that was ablaze with sixteen fuchsia candles. I hesitated only a moment before deciding on a wish.
I wanted to know the truth.
-IT-
As I dragged my size six feet down the stairs, my stomach pitched and rolled. I had waited until Alice was asleep before coming to speak with Carmen and Eleazar. While waiting, I reviewed the list of questions I wanted to ask.
The day after receiving the Riley package, I reflected on the past three years of my life. Beginning with the Easter Sunday when I first learned about the Cullen Family, I jotted down everything I knew and everything that remained a mystery.
As I analyzed what ended up looking like pieces of an intricate puzzle, I became overcome with humiliation.
How had I so easily forgotten about Charlie's warnings? And more importantly, how had I so readily accepted and even come to love these people?
I felt like a fool.
Was I suffering from some sort of Stockholm Syndrome? It was true. The Cullens filled the longing for family and acceptance I had so desperately craved since Grandma Marie's passing.
Had they exploited that need? Had they seen me as an easy mark?
But part of me, and if I was honest, the biggest part hoped beyond hope that the Cullens were indeed the people I had come to know and love.
Because at this point, I didn't want a life that didn't include Eleazar, Carmen, and Alice.
Carmen and Eleazar were in the great room watching a movie. She was stretched across the sofa with her feet propped on top of his lap.
"Isabella." Carmen sat up, putting her feet on the floor before looking at me intently. "I thought you were upstairs. Is everything okay?"
"Yes … I m-mean no."
"What's wrong? Didn't you have a good birthday? Do you wish you had a bigger party like Alice's? It's not too late to have one. I don't want you to have any regrets. You only have a sweet sixteen once in your life."
"Oh no, that's not it at all. My birthday was pretty much perfect. Really. It was everything I wanted and more."
They smiled relieved that I had enjoyed my day, but their eyes held a questioning gaze.
Taking a calming breath, I clasped my trembling hands in front of me. "I want to know the truth."
"The truth? I'm not sure what you mean, passerotta?" A worried frown flitted across Carmen's face.
"I know who your family is. I've always known. My father told me before I came to Ms. Porter's."
Pacing in front of them, every sordid detail from that Easter Sunday so long ago poured from my mouth. I spoke about the crimes Charlie told me the Cullens had committed, the mugshots I had seen, and the luncheon I had attended at Orso's.
I stopped, facing them. "So you see, I know."
Eleazar exhaled before running his hand through his hair.
Before I lost my courage, I continued. "What I don't understand though, is what does this have to do with me? At first, I was convinced you were going to hurt me or something to get back at Charlie. But, it's been three years so you would have done it by now, right?" I hesitated before adding softly, "Are you planning to hurt me?"
Upon hearing my inquiry, Carmen winced as if I had struck her across the face. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she rose from the sofa and enfolded me within her arms. Holding me tighter than she ever had before, she cried, "No, Isabella. Never. I would rather die myself than see you suffer. I love you. We both do. Please believe me. Believe us."
She drew back and gently grasped my chin with her hand so I could look directly into her eyes. "I know we owe you some explanations, and we may not have always been completely forthcoming, but Isabella, I promise we would never harm one sweet, hair on your head. I also swear our love for you has always been real."
"Bella," Eleazar's voice was gruff with emotion. "Would you give us a chance to explain?" He gestured toward the sofa.
I nodded and sat next to Carmen.
"As you already know, Carlisle Cullen is my brother. It was a few days after Easter Sunday three years ago when I received a call from him. He asked me to move my family to Farmington and enroll Alice at Miss Porter's School. He needed someone he trusted to keep his new figlia protected."
My eyebrows knitted together. "Figlia?" "It means daughter."
"I-I don't understand."
"I know, sweetheart. Let me go on and try to clarify. You spoke about attending lunch with my brother's family, but do you happen to recall his son, Edward?"
"Edward?" A quiver pulsed through my veins. Green eyes. He had eyes the color of fresh-cut grass. "He was there. I remember thinking he was a celebrity." My face heated as a hot blush settled across my cheeks. Did I just say that aloud?
Carmen sighed. "Yes, my nephew is certainly easy on the eyes. I can see where you may have thought that when you first met. Did you talk with him or have any other type of interaction?"
"I spilled wine all over his table. That was about it." I mumbled. Three years later, it was still mortifying.
Eleazar and Carmen both chuckled.
"So you didn't talk at all?" Carmen inquired again.
"No, I don't remember very much about the lunch. We didn't stay very long. My father got upset while we were there and we left before it was over."
"Bella, I'm going to tell you something about my family that may be difficult for you to believe or understand, but I assure you that it is the absolute truth." Eleazar divulged as he sat down next to me on the sofa. "When a Cullen man touches the hand of the woman he is destined to be with, it is as if his soul recognizes its other half. As soon as their hands meet, their entire future flashes before his eyes.
Eight generations of men in my family have experienced this. When Nonno Cullen told me about it, I was skeptical, but then it happened to me." He gave Carmen a tender glance. "I met Carmen when I was in college. We had a few classes together during our freshman year. Of course, I always thought she was beautiful, but we never went on a date or anything. I wouldn't even say we were close friends. It was during our second year of school when things changed. I accidentally bumped into her as she came out of a door. Her books fell to the ground, and we both reached down to pick them up. Our hands met, and I knew. I was instantly inundated with flashes of a future with Carmen. I saw us dating, our wedding, our first home, Alice, and I even saw you."
"Me?"
"Yes, and I had been confused about that part of the vision for years. I saw two daughters. And when we only had Alice, I thought I must have misunderstood what I had seen."
"Oh, Eli! Why didn't you ever tell me?" Carmen murmured.
"I didn't want to upset you, love. It had bothered me for so long. I didn't want you to be burdened too."
Not wanting to interrupt, I tried to be patient, but I was still so confused. "I'm sorry, but I still don't understand."
"You see Bella," Eleazar held my hand before continuing, "you are Edward's soulmate."
"W-What? But, you said you have to touch hands to know! We didn't even talk, so exactly when would we have held hands? It can't be true." I thought back to that day. Trying to recall exactly what had happened.
"Sweetheart, you must have. It only takes the briefest of touches for him to know." Carmen pointed out.
My memory traveled back to the day at Orso's. Tripping. The wine. Sitting across from Edward. Charlie getting angry.
"I'm sorry. I just don't remember."
Eleazar gave my hand a short squeeze. "It's okay. You were young and as you said, your time together was so short."
"So Edward could be mistaken, right?" I suggested. He had to be. This was insane.
"No, Edward is certain that you are meant to be together. And that, Bella, is why we were asked to keep you safe."
AN:
To everyone reading, thank you. I really cannot say it enough.
The conversation between Bella, Carmen, and Eleazar will continue in Chapter 7. Will Bella remember touching Edward's hand during dessert?
Special thanks to my beta, SunFlowerFran. This lady is ah-mazing. Not only does she beta more stories than I can count, but she is also the most prominent advocate/supporter/cheerleader for new writers.
Gabby 1017 - I love you! I honestly wouldn't be attempting to write this without you. Thank you for taking a chance on me.
AllTheWayIntoTwilight - thank you for helping me find the right words for Bella's boobs. Be prepared to discuss Edward's body parts next. ;) Start making a list.
Finally, thank you to Rob for all of the new gorgeous pictures. The man rocks a blue suit like nobody's business.