Chapter 30
Dear Janet,
My trip across Canada went wonderfully. No, sadly, I'm not pregnant yet. I've decided to try only once more. It would be so nice to be able to have Edward's child…but it's getting to be a very emotionally draining experience. I keep having these dreams that I'm pregnant or holding a baby…so when the tests come up negative it's so upsetting. My ex is having problems with his psyche and now his doctor wants to talk to me. I wonder what it's all about…I'll write again soon. I promise.
Love ya, Bella
Dear Mom,
The ride back to Forks took…Well it felt like forever. Dad only mentioned the belly-ring twice the whole trip. Rose and Em left for Forks right after their hike. Between them, Alice and Jasper, the whole house was set up by the time we got there. Carlisle and Esme followed us as Edward took me and Charlie down a mountain pass and through Olympia. It was truly a sight to see. Jake told me that he invited you to his wedding in August. I'm so glad you'll get to see me be a bridesmaid! I'm concerned about his psychologist wanting to talk with me. Apparently, He thinks our divorce affected Jacob in some strange way. Oh well, I guess we'll find out what this is all about soon enough.
Love ya, Bella
I place these letters in their envelopes and lay on my side. I look around at the room that Alice set up for us. She painted the walls an ice blue color with a pale lavender swirly design. Our bed is a king sized four poster, made of wrought iron and painted silver. Alice has even placed fresh flowers from our meadow in vases around the room. I love her!!
Carlisle took blood and urine and all sorts of tests. He says that the result will be back from the lab in a few days. Some med-lab tech owes him a favor. I've been 'resting' for the last 2 days, just puttering around the house and watching TV, or reading and cuddling with Edward.
Our first conference with Jacob's doctor is tonight. We wanted to make sure that this guy isn't some kind of quack, so we insisted that Charlie do a background check and Carlisle speak to him first. My father-in-law, in turn, asked to speak to the council before that. None of the 'parties involved' were allowed to be at the council's discussion, so Leah, Seth and Quil had come to escort Carlisle and Jasper across the treaty line.
The phone rings and Edward picks it up for me. "Here she is, Valerie." Edward says handing me my phone.
"Hey, Val… What's up?" I ask.
My friend sounds frustrated. "Bells, Jake is restless. I want to go see that new movie, Alice in Wonderland… with Johnny Depp. Do you guys want to come with? The others can come too…if they want."
"Valerie wants us to go to the movies with her and Jake before the session." I say to Edward. "Can we?"
He just nods with a smirk. "That Depp guy again… What does Disney see in him?"
"We'll be there, Val. Text me the time." I say before hanging up. "Edward Cullen, what do you have against him? He's great! I've seen almost every movie of his and in each role he plays he literally becomes the role… I can't imagine anyone other than him playing 'Jack Sparrow' or 'Sweeny Todd'. He even did a great job as 'Mr. Wonka' in 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'. You can't ever convince me that he's not a great actor. Tim Burton is a great director too, so they make an amazing movie together."
He raises his hands in surrender. "Ok, ok… I give up. Johnny Depp is a great actor. Let's go see the movie."
"Yes, let's…Hey, Em, Rosalie…" I grin. "You guys want to see a movie? Jake and Valerie invited us to see 'Alice in Wonderland'?"
Rose's head pops into our room. "With Johnny Depp? Are you kidding? I love him! When is it?"
"Now, so get ready!" I say with a great big smile.
Emmett asks. "Depp… Depp… Is that the guy who's in 'Sweeny Todd' and 'Public Enemies'?"
"Yes, as well as sooo many others. Are you coming, or what?" I ask back.
"They're coming...Rose is already in the car." Edward says shaking his head.
I giggle as he picks me up and holds me over his shoulder. He deposits me gently in the Volvo. He starts to drive…fast, of course…toward Port Angeles.
"So, Bells, have you kept in touch with any of your other classmates?" Rose asks.
"Uhmmm…yeah, Angela and Ben got married about a year before me and Jake…they have twin boys…Lauren is down in Texas…She has a very sweet girlfriend." I just know they'll all get a kick out of this next one… "Mike Newton and Jessica Stanley are in an 'alternate relationship'. They have been for a few years now…"
"What exactly do you mean by 'alternate relationship', Bells?" It figures that Em would be the one to ask.
I smirk. "They went to UW with me so I know the whole story…It's like this: They moved into the dorms and each got a roommate. The 2 of them were dating so they introduced the roomies, who became a couple. Mike and his roomie got drunk one night while Jess and her roomie were on vacation and they gave each other a little 'action'. Mike never 'fessed up, but his roomie did. Jess and her roomie 'consoled' each other…and made the boys watch as punishment." I giggle a little. "Each person in particular enjoyed it, so they all moved in together after graduation and… 'They're all together now…like together-together. It's weird'." I look into my husband's eyes and know that he gets the reference to my first day in Forks High. I start laughing and they all join me. "What's really weird is that the Mike's roomie looks a little bit like you, Edward."
"Like me…?" He says startled. "A vampire…?"
I smile. "No, hun…he's definitely not a vampire. I saw him in the sun a few times …It's more in the shape of his face and his height and body type is like yours…but his blonde hair is neat and he has this unnatural, faker than fake tan…It's really kind of gross."
Edward chuckles and relaxes a bit. "Well it's good to know that she won't be chasing after me anymore and Mike won't be chasing you either, right?"
"Right…Edward, it doesn't matter what the council says…you know that right? I don't know what they'll say or want us to do, but I don't care. I only want you…" I tell him.
He nods as he parks in front of the theater. Rose and Em get out and wait for Edward to open my door for me and we all go across the street to the diner, where Jake and Val are waiting for us. He hugs me and holds the chair for me to sit. Rose is about to go for the tickets, when Edward's cell goes off. Jake's phone rings only seconds later.
"Dad…we're at the diner in Port Angeles with Em and Rose, him and Valerie and then we're going to see a movie…Uhmmm… 'Alice in Wonderland'…" He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Yes, Carlisle, the new one with Johnny Depp …You want us to do what…? Bring Jake to the house…? Ok, Dad…if you say so… We'll see you in a bit." He turns to me. "Sorry, Bella-love, the movie will have to wait. Dr. Johnson checks out and we're meeting him at our house. Dad thinks we'll be more comfortable if we're in our own home."
"I guess I see his point but what about Jake? Shouldn't he be comfortable too?" I ask.
"I'll be fine, Bells…Let's go, I'll follow you…" He says. So, we all pile into the cars and go to our place.
Carlisle and a strange man are speaking in the living-room as we enter the house. "You'll be using my home office. I understand that the tribal elders told you about all of their secrets and in order for you to understand everything they spilled ours also. My family needs you to know that those secrets put you in extreme danger. There is a family…a large coven of our kind who hunt down humans who know about vampires and the vampires who allowed the secret to get out. That's why we had you sign the confidentiality agreement." He says.
"I understand, Dr. Cullen. Thanks for doing this. The tribe is grateful." He turns toward us and sees Jake. "Jacob, it's good to see you. Why don't you find some-place you feel comfortable. I'll be talking to Bella first." He turns to face me and he turns on some charm. "That would be you, I believe…"
I nod. "Yes, doctor. I'm Bella."
"Well, Bella, it's nice to meet you, I'm Dr. Patrick Johnson. This man here would be Edward, then. Is that correct?" Dr. Johnson asks.
Edward just nods.
"First, I want you both…and your family… to understand that this is just to help everyone move forward. Jacob is having trouble letting go of Bella which is putting strain on his relationship with Valerie. As the Alpha of the pack, any strain he feels is felt by the Quileute community as a whole." As the doctor says this Edward and I look at each other.
"So, Doctor, can we say positively that whatever happened, the outcome of this will not affect any decisions made by the council or the Alpha?" Edward asks.
"That's what they told me…They might be keeping me out of their loop, but they told me they want to know what happened so Jacob would feel more at peace with things. I hope they will keep their word."
"So do we…" I say, feeling a teensy bit more secure in this situation.
Edward walks us to the door of his father's office. He kisses my lips and hands me the pictures from the trip as well as my wallet and my old scrapbook from high school. "You'll know when to show him these."
I frown at him but take the pictures and sit in a comfy armchair. I watch Dr. Johnson settle into a chair near me.
"Bella, your father-in-law tells me that while your brother and sisters-in-law will be moving on to prepare the houses in other countries for the family's arrival in about 6 months or so, you, Edward and his parents will be staying on for a little while. Is that right?" He asks.
"Yes, we think that the near constant traveling is not helping my quest to try to get pregnant. Dr. Cullen has suggested that we stay here for the summer. I think I want to stay a little past that…maybe til just after my birthday, in September."
"Well, since you'll be here for almost 3 months, I'd like to begin with the lighter questions. Later on we'll get to the heavier, more loaded ones. Let's start with an easy one…" He says with a slight smile. "When you first moved to Forks, who did you first come into contact with, Jacob or Edward?"
After a moment of thought, I answer, "Edward…My father had bought a truck for me from Jake's dad, who's a good friend of his. That came first, but I didn't actually see or get together with the Blacks until after the first day of school and that was the day I first saw and sat next to Edward."
"How long have you known Jacob and his family in total?" He asks.
I laugh out loud. "Since the beginning of time? No, seriously…His dad and mine have been friends as long as I can remember. I met him when I was really little and we used to make mud-pies together. Then my mom left my dad and took me with her…I was 4…I came back to Forks every summer til I was 13. After that I made him meet me in California for 2 weeks…I hated Forks."
"Then why did you move back?" He asks.
I explain about Phil and her getting married and wanting to travel and how I decided to be with Charlie in Forks. "But it wasn't til Edward came back from a side trip to Alaska that I really started to like it here."
"Why did he go to Alaska?"
"Well, the first day of school I was placed in Biology class with him. He told me that my scent was too strong and he wanted to kill me…But isn't he the one you should be asking about this?" I answer.
"Yes, of course, you're right. How did you fall in love with Edward?"
"I'm a trouble magnet." I say. "First, he saved me from a careening van in the school parking lot. Then, about a week later, I was in Port Angeles with friends and he'd followed me. Apparently, he wanted to make sure I was safe. Anyway, I was walking down a side street and some troublemakers were following me. I was very nearly attacked, but Edward came barreling around the corner, scaring the shit out of the guys. When he told me to get in the car I felt so safe." I sigh. "That's the same night he told me he could read minds. When he started being honest with me I started to fall for him but it wasn't til this one day in the meadow…that's the day I knew he was the one I wanted to spend eternity with. I had found out from Jacob about 'The Cold Ones'. I did a little research and noticed all the signs. He was fast and strong…impossibly so. His skin was extra pale and cold as ice. I never saw him, or his family, eat or drink anything. When it was sunny they'd all skip school, so I'd never seen him in the sunlight."
"What happened in the meadow?"
"He went a little crazy, but in such a way that it made certain that I knew what I was getting into. He showed me what the sunlight does to his skin and proceeded to pull a tree out of the ground with one hand…then he ran from one side of the clearing to the other and back in the blink of an eye. When I was awed instead of scared, he knew too. We're meant to be. I've loved him since that day."
He nods and moves on. "From that point, how did the relationship go? Was he controlling or abusive at all?"
"He was overprotective, but he did thing I wanted him to do. He always held my hand or arm and caught me when I fell. He did things with me that normal boys wouldn't be able to do, like take me through the forest riding piggy-back at vampire speed and climbing to impossible heights on trees so I could see the whole valley and river. I don't need five star restaurants or Ferraris; I just need my husband…my family."
"I understand something happened and you left Forks for almost a week sometime after you met Edward. Can you tell me what that was?"
"I was watching the Cullens play baseball…three vampires came to the field we were using…One of them was a tracker…When they realized I was a human, they wanted to have my blood. In order for the Cullens to save me I had to leave town… That's all there is to it. I was in Phoenix for a few days with Alice and Jasper and then, thinking I had to save my mom, I met the tracker at my old ballet studio. He broke my leg and smacked me around a bit. Then he bit me."
"So, how are you not a vampire?"
"Edward saved me again." I say with a proud smile. "Did Jacob tell you about the venom?"
He nods.
"Well, Edward sucked the venom out of my system. My blood is so potent to him that he shouldn't have been able to stop, but he did. Well then he made me go to prom, but he didn't let go of me the whole night, except for a short conversation with Jake."
"How did you feel when Edward left?"
I start to recall that day in the forest. "It was the worst day of my life." I feel my breathing start to speed up, tears prick my eyes. "Edward…" I whisper.
He's by my side instantly.
"Dr. Johnson, if I'm going to talk about this I need him here to remind me that he's not going anywhere…" I say staring into Edward's eyes.
The doctor watches my face and mannerisms for a moment. "That's alright. I think that answers my question…and that's enough for today. If you feel up to speaking about it at some point, just let me know. Edward, you're next."
"Give me a few minutes with Bella, and I'll be right back." My husband says as he walks me out.
"Bella, one last thing…"
I turn around.
"What's the best day of your life?"
"The day Edward married me…and every day that I wake up and see him still here beside me…" I answer firmly.
Edward holds me close and takes me out to sit on the couch with the others. "I won't be long. He'll think his questions before he says the words and it'll be over in just about 20 minutes. I thought he'd ask other questions that's why I had you bring the pictures. I still want him to see some of them though. He flips through the pictures from the trip and grabs the one that the realtor had taken. Then he takes my wallet and pulls out my wedding photo with Jacob. He shows them to me.
I look at my expressions in them. "In the one with Jake, I look mostly happy, but also a little sad. In this one…with you, I look like…Wow…I look like all my dreams have come true…" I look up at him. "…and they have. I love you."
"As I love you, my Bella." Edward says. He kisses me and then goes to see the good doctor…
30 minutes later…He's back. "He asked me all the same questions he asked you plus a few about why I left both times…He took notes and we'll talk again next time. He wants to talk to Charlie too. Something about the similarities of how you were acting when I left and when Jake imprinted. I'll take care of that call. I told him not to say anything to Charlie about us vampires. He promises."
I just nod and cuddle into him and wait for Jake's session to be over so we can talk more.