Chapter 9 – Overheard
"Robert?" The café manager came over, "Yea?" My eyes were locked on them, "Who are they?" Robert followed my gazed, "Oh, that's Dr. Cullen and his son-in-law. The doc does lectures twice a week and he's a doctor in town." My eyes watched as they walked further away. "How was this lecture, Carlisle?" Their conversation was fading from my ears. Robert chuckled, "You should know the doc and his son are married." I looked at him, "I gotta go." "Bella, you still have another hour." I groaned and looked him in the eyes, "I need …to go." "Good night." In the night air, I could pick up their scents; seawater and rising bread. Moving quietly, I followed their trail. The scent trail led into Wing Hall. I could hear their distinct footsteps going to second floor. Looking at the front of the building, there were several pillars. Looking around, there was no one outside the building. Listening closely, I heard no one was close enough to see me. "My class is pretty interesting. Discussing ethical is always a tricky topic. The views vary from person to person." A light switch clicked and a door closed. Scaling one of the pillars, I ran across the roof until I found an unlocked window. Slipping in, I listened for their voices through the floor until I found them.
"I'm glad Esme recommended coming here. It is so different from the other places we've been. My lecture was interesting. It is just amazing on how medicine has come so far." Jasper chuckled, "I would imagine. I remember reading that doctors would hit their patients so hard in the head, making a hole in their skulls, so evil spirits could escape the body." Carlisle laughed, "It's called 'trial and error,' Jasper." "Yea, a very big error. It is a wonder humans have grown in number as they did." There was a brief silence, "It is so good to see you laughing. You hardly laugh at home." "Carlisle." Another silence, "Oh yes. I'm sorry." "Don't be. It's my fault he's like that in the first place." "No, it's not. Things will get better. He just got home. He has to get adjusted." "I don't think he will. Were I in his position, I don't think I ever could." Carlisle sighed, "Neither could I." They were both silent for a long moment. One of them sighed, "It's hard seeing him like this. I hardly recognized him when Alice and I found him. Carlisle, he was hidden in a crawl space above a restaurant." "I hate seeing my son like this. If only….?" Some wheels from a chair squeaked, "Carlisle, if Alice did that, it could make things worse. He would be angry with her. He made her promise, even when she didn't want to." There was a muffled sound of palms clasping together, "I know. Sometimes I think about Alice doing it, so I can know if she is all right? Alice said she was seeing glimpses at first. The way she described Bella. Her face stained with tears, alone in her room."
My eyes widened. It shouldn't surprise me that Carlisle would be worried about me, but it did. "I know, Carlisle." Something slammed, "If only I had more control." There was a brief chuckle, "I understand, but please don't break my desk." "Sorry." "Jasper, she knew the risks and she was willing to take them. It was Edward who made the decision." "Because of me." My eyes were fixed on the window as I listened to their conversation. "Things will not go back to the way they were before. I have to admit, our family felt more complete since he met Bella." "I got that, too. Edward was never so happy before. Before her, he was just content." Carlisle sighed. "And things cannot go back to the way before they met. Once you've known love, it's hard to go back." There was more silence, "That's true. I don't know what I would have done if I lost Esme." There was movement in the office. There was a clacking, a rhythm on a hard surface, "I just wish I knew what I could do to help my son?" "There's nothing you can do. He has to do it himself." "You're right. Edward needs to make the decision to go back to her." My mouth fell open, then quickly, I clamped my hand over my mouth, before a sound could escape. "In the time he met her, Edward has shown so much restraint. More than I thought any one person could have. Her blood was intoxicating to him and he endured it every day just to be with her. He dealt with all the impure thoughts about Bella from their teenager peers." There was a short laugh, "The protective thoughts from her father. And, when her blood was exposed, he held himself back from draining her. And, worse of all, looking her in the eye and lie to her. To tell her, according to him, the most blasphemous thing he has ever said, 'Bella, I don't want you to come with me.' For him to stand there and watch all the pain on her face and he wouldn't…. couldn't do anything to comfort her, because he thought it was best for her, that is the greatest control of all."
My teeth slammed together, trying to dispel a sound. "I could never say that to Alice. I'm too selfish. Edward thought she would be safer without us in her life, but I still worry about her. Alice has been looking for Victoria, but she's getting nothing." "At least the wolves are there. They can keep the town and Bella safe. Edward always said Bella needed looking after. They knew she was close to us, so they may keep a closer eye on her." Something was moved in the room, "That's a small consolation. But for Edward, I don't think he'll ever recover. He told me that he was surprising that she believed him so easily. And to be honest, so am I. The love I felt from them was so strong. How could she believe he could just stop loving her like that? She knew that when something as strong as love comes for our kind, it's permanent. Edward still loves her beyond all reason." Carlisle sighed, "I know. I'm happy to have Edward home, but it feels incomplete. When he arrived at Tanya's house after we left, he wasn't the same person. She wanted to be one of us. If she had asked, I would have changed her myself." There was a movement of fabric, "We better get going." "You're right. Alice wants to fit us for out tuxes for the benefit."
There was a rustling of paper, closing of several books, the knock of book covers on shelves, a light switch clicking and a door closing into place. Their footsteps faded as they descended the stairs. They were loud again, on the asphalt outside the building. My body was locked in its position on the floor. My back was ramrod straight against the wall. My mind was buzzing. Jasper blamed himself, Alice promised not to look, Carlisle was worried and Edward….. Edward still…. He still loved me. Edward still loves me. Edward loves me! Carlisle would have done it. All I had to do was ask. My eyes closed and a single tear fell from my eye. My fingers brushed at the surprising moisture from my eye. I looked at my damp fingertips and more tears came. I'm crying. I can cry. I couldn't fight the smile that grew across my lips. I was crying, they were here and so was he. My breathing was erratic from joy. The joy that was erupting out of me needed to be focused. I only focused on one thing; running. It had begun to rain while I sat on the floor, but I didn't care. I was running so fast, the trees passed me in a blur. My mind was so open, thinking about what I heard. They were here and so was he. He was just as miserable and depressed as I was.
He still loves me and I still love him. Edward and I still loved each other. I stopped dead in my tracks. The rain saturated my hair. Wait, we were still in love and I was running. "What am I doing?" My voice rang through an octave. He was here and I was here and we loved each other. I didn't know where they lived. But that could be easily solved. I ran back to campus and went straight for the administrative offices. The only people in the building were the cleaning crew. Sneaking through a window, I turned on a computer. I was searching for Carlisle's address. I had to find Edward. We were apart too long. I was unsuccessful in getting the information I needed. The computer was encrypted. Opening the window, I jumped down to the ground. Putting my hood up, I walked around campus by myself. It was getting late, but that wasn't a concern. I could protect myself easily. My smile never left my lips. But soon, it began to fade. How could he leave me alone to the mercy of Victoria? Alice was looking for her, but she never found her. If he was there, then Laurent wouldn't have tried to kill me.
I dwelled on the deadly message Laurent gave me about Victoria. My mind was brought back to the present when my eyes fell on a golden flyer. It advertised a charity event at the Clinton House. It advertised that a few select students at the top of their class would be invited. Alice was getting their tuxedos ready and she needed them home. Also, this was a charity event. Carlisle was the one who loved to give back. It fit perfectly. Alice loves any reason to dress people up. Carlisle has a kind and giving nature and he would want to make a large donation to the charity and it was a formal event. My smile returned. I had to get invited to this event and I knew how to do it.
