Chapter 9. Decisions

Our house was situated not far from Seattle. Hidden in the forest, it was unnoticeable for unexpected guests. Our family lived in Seattle years ago, but I could bet the house was still here. We revisited the places where we have lived. Moreover, Esme loved to restore old buildings; our houses could endure for decades.

When Carlisle's shift was over, we went home directly. It was quiet in the forest, and, to be honest, I was waiting for this silence. I needed some time to think, to digest all news, to find the answers that haven't found yet.

I soon realized that I was wrong. It wasn'tquiet here anymore. I've noticed familiar mental voices before I saw the house's porch.

Esme. Jasper. Alice. Emmet. And Rosalie, who knew I would listen to her thoughts. She was transmitting them, irritating me.

I moaned. Jasper was fast. He phoned Rosalie and Emmet when I drove away.

'All of them are here', I said in a bitter voice. My hope to spend time in silence vanished into thin air.

Dad smiled.

'You should have expected something like that'.

'I hoped they' would give me a break', I answered. Carlisle laughed.

'Don't judge them. We're not humans. And patience...It's very difficult to remember this feeling'.

'This day will be endless.'

Carlisle laughed again.

'Welcome back to human life'.

Emmet waited us on the porch. He was in a very good mood. Something funny started again, he thought. Brother was bursting with excitement.

'You always know how to bring fun to our life', he said, smiling.

How long have they been in Europe? I frowned, counting months. My memory was perfect; it didn't take much time for me to get the result. We saw each other about a year ago, when I returned from India to see Carlisle and Esme. My visit was short, as usual, but I knew that Emmet and Rosalie planned a vacation. I remembered them arguing while they were choosing the right place to settle. In my opinion, it was useless. Rosalie always won the battles like that.

'Yeah. I'm trying my very best', I smiled back. It was easy to joke with Emmet.

When he became a part of our family, I accepted Emmet without question. He was simple, easy-going, very predictable, but very reliable at the same time. He didn't ask too many questions. It was easy to trust him, easy to relax in his presence. I was the only child when I was a human; I was glad to have a brother now.

But I couldn't say the same about Rosalie.

'Rose is eager to see you'.

Moron, I heard in my head.

'I've noticed,' I grimaced. Emmet laughed. His laugh could scare anyone within a radius of a few miles.

The rest of the family waited for us in the living room. Esme got up from a large sofa and rushed to Carlisle. The mixture of joy and happiness filled Mom's head. She was glad that Dad came home at last.

Esme touched the dark circles under Carlisle's eyes. She wished he would hunt. His suffering made her suffer too. Dad looked at Esme in disbelief, almost ordinary for him. I shook my head. Decades have passed, but Carlisle still couldn't convince himself of his happiness.

Alice kept watching the future. I caught the latest vision immediately. Sister saw the moment of Bella's awakening. That was good. I wished all news would be so positive.

I couldn't hide a smile.

Idiot, I heard again.

'I missed you too', I addressed my words to Rosalie. Sister was sitting it the large leather armchair, her back straightened up, the sun glittering on her skin.

I knew her behavior was a part of a plan. The plan I had guessed already. Rosalie wasn't so stable. She was furious.

I smiled. Rosalie had to remember about patience too.

She turned to me.

'I didn't expected you to be so stupid', she said. She's married!

Rosalie has already known the latest news. Of course. I glanced at Alice. Did she betray me again?

Alice met my eyes.

'I had to tell them', she said apologetically. Her voice sounded tired. Jasper sat beside Alice, squeezing her hand. I stared at him, trying to find something important inside of his mind. Jasper was a bit ashamed for making that call to Emmet and Rosalie. And he was hesitating. Jasper worried about Alice, but he was also waiting for new visions. Only possible future – good or bad – could make him act.

'Let's go to the dining room', said Carlisle. 'We have a lot to discuss.'

Esme came closer and hugged me.

'I told you everything's gonna be alright', she murmured quietly, only for me. I hugged her back, smiling. I was almost happy.

I preferred to sit closer to Carlisle and Mom, trying to avoid my quarrel with Rosalie… that was about to begin right now.

What are you doing? She's married! Sister cried again in her mind. Rosalie still played the role of a good daughter, hiding all fury inside of her mind. I hid a smile. I knew Carlisle had already noticed everything.

'Calm down. She's divorcing. And I don't break any rules,' I answered aloud. Emmet stopped smiling and glanced at me, then at Rosalie. He frowned, realizing that he had missed something. Emmet hated when we did that.

'It doesn't matter!' sister shouted. She lost her patience finally. Rose tossed her long blond hair.

'Bella's living her own life! She doesn't need you anymore while you're behaving like a child who has lost his toy!' Rosalie spit out words, disgusted. 'It's stupid, Edward! Grow up!'

She definitely wanted to make me angry. Okay.

'We all have the past. And we all make mistakes,' I answered, losing my temper too. 'Remind me… weren't you going to marry the guy who raped you with his drunk friends? You thought you were making the right choice before it happened.'

The fury was boiling inside of Rosalie's veins.

'We didn't speak about that!'

I made a naive look, irritating Rose even more.

'Oh, I just thought we spoke about our mistakes. It's a kind of game. I'm quite sure that you have big chances to win'.

Rosalie snarled.

'Enough. Calm down', said Mom, interrupting us.

Her voice was trembling, and I finally realized who made her feel like that. It was me. I reminded Esme about her past. Mom was almost crying, recalling her husband. First husband. Dead husband. I killed him many years ago. I sighed.

I was sorry about the words I had said.

Rosalie folded arms on her chest, breathing heavily.

'It was rude', said Emmet, blaming me. 'You shouldn't have said that.'

'She started it first', I answered. I worried about Mom, not Rosalie. She shouldn't have made me angry.

'I didn't say anything!' Sister had no desire to admit her fault.

I rolled my eyes. Was she serious?

'Stop it', said Carlisle now. His voice was calm, but sounded louder than Esme's warning. Everybody focused attention on him. We all turned into children.

'I don't want to hear any arguing until the end of the conversation', he said, examining the table top. 'Moreover, we have a lot of questions to discuss'.

'I'm glad that Bella's alive', said Esme, holding Dad's hand. 'She's so lucky to have you'.

Mom was so proud of Carlisle.

'We need to discuss it too', Rosalie interfered suddenly.

I frowned. Discuss what? The fact that Carlisle saved Bella's life? I read her mind.

Maybe, it's time to finish her off, I read. It's time to end this story.

I clenched my fists.

'No!' I cried aloud. Emmet sighed again.

'The story is repeating, Edward. The girl endangers our lives, and you're incapable of solving the problem. Again!'

Everyone sighed, realizing what Rosalie meant. Alice gave sister a disapproval look.

'You won't kill her', I said, pronouncing every letter. 'I will not let you'.

Rosalie continued talking to me as if I was a little child, and she needed to explain something stupid to me.

'This is a unique chance. Bella's so weak. No one can guarantee her recovery. It's a perfect opportunity…'

'Bela'll start recovering soon. I can see that', said Alice. She was confident. And she was on my side, of course. Jasper frowned. He must regret making that phone call.

Rosalie shook her head. Her perfect hair waved.

'It's an ideal time to kill Bella. When do we have another chance to do it?' Rose looked at Dad, persuading him to listen to her. In her opinion, it was impossible to argue with me.

'I won't let anyone hurt her!' I repeated.

'It's not only your own business, Edward', answered Rosalie. 'We all are involved in the problem.'

She probably hoped that Jasper would take her side. I had to look into brother's thoughts again. He was distracted, examining Alice's face. Jasper still had no desire to interfere in the conversation. Not now, when the future was so misty. Jasper intended to kill Bella in the past. He wouldn't plan it now... I hoped.

'We have no right to make this decision', Carlisle answered. 'Bella's life is precious. You should remember about it, honey'.

Rosalie clenched her teeth. Dad mentioned Rosalie's weak point. Interesting. What if Rosalie was just jealous, not angry? She wished she had that choice too.

'Moreover, there was another variant to… help everyone,' added father in s strange tone. He looked away, ashamed to show his thoughts.

Alice sighed. I read the vision that pictured the course of Carlisle's thoughts. She must have seen it when I was driving to Seattle.

I could see Carlisle, desperate and disappointed, surrounded by colleagues in ER. He was staring at Bella. Carlisle wasn't sure he could save her.

The vision shifted. Dad and Bella were alone in the room. Bella's face was pale as a ghost. Was she dead? She seemed to be. Carlisle squeezed her hand and leaned down, as if to whisper something in her ear. I froze. I knew what it was going to be…

'Did you plan to turn Bella into vampire?!' I asked. Carlisle sighed. Everyone stared at me in shock.

That's what Dad was hiding from me there, in the hospital.

'It wasn't a serious plan', he explained. 'But her condition was bad, and I just thought…' Carlisle shrugged. 'Sorry. You can't live without her. That's all what I know'.

I shook my head, trying to delete that vision from my mind.

'It didn't come true, Edward', Alice said. Her voice was thin. She was tired, but she's found strength to calm me down.

'Don't worry. Bella isn't in danger anymore'.

'We need to decide another question,' Esme has noticed how disappointed I was. 'I think we should settle here for a while'.

Esme wasn't discussing it. She was confident about it. Esme has already planned to transport our belongings to Seattle. I wish I could be as optimistic as my Mom.

'No. It's out of question! It's dangerous', said Rosalie.

'I'll stay here', I said immediately.

'You can't! We don't look like humans. People'll notice everything!'

'Charlie's reaction to our look was good', Carlisle raised an objection. 'I think we have some time, until Bella recovers, at least'.

Alice moaned.

'I can't see anything while you're arguing like this! The future is too unstable!'

'What do you see? 'Jasper asked in a mild tone. 'Can anything happen if we stay?'

Alice concentrated. Her visions were blurred, half seen.

Finally we could see days passing by. Endless hospital corridors. Different people with surprised and embarrassed faces. I looked hard, searching for any possible trouble.

'Humans will be confused', Alice said after a long pause, 'but I don't see anything special. Not now. I think we can stay in Seattle.'

I breathed a sigh of relief. I won.

'Are you sure?' asked Jasper again. He wanted to be confident about his decision. Jasper was hesitating, but he wasn't able to go against Alice.

'Yes', she nodded.

Another vision appeared in Alice's head. Sister froze, watching it. I joined her.

Alice's answer created the stability that she needed so much. I could see myself, standing in the hospital room. Bella's room. I was smiling my best crooked smile she always liked. Bella's reaction was half hidden, but I managed to read something. What was that? Surprise? Shock? Definitely.

'You can speak with her very soon', Alice said. 'The vision is still unclear, but you won't have to wait for too long.'

I can speak with her again.

I smiled, repeating the vision again and again in my head. I was lost in thought, without paying attention to Rosalie's disapproval or Emmet's quiet laugh. I was happy. I couldn't ask for more.

I couldn't let myself think that anything could go wrong.


Attention! The chapter was updated on July 17, 2017. I corrected the mistakes that I found.