Hey People! I am about to break 40 reviews! Have you read the Quote of the day? It is by Rosalie and it is a good one. Only 23 more days until Eclipse. I got an invite from Barnes & Noble for a midnight party because of the whole pre-ordering Eclipse thing. I called 4 of my friends and said, "Guess what we're doing at midnight Aug. 6th? They were like, "Uh what?" "Going to an Eclipse party that's what!" So, I am a just a little excited. I'll probably stay 10 minutes, just long enough to buy my book and then say, "See ya, I am going to read my book!"

Thank you to all who straightenend me out about the whole Edward's b-day thing. I changed it as soon as I got the correct info. I have a hard time navigating the Lexicon site. I wish I had one of you here to help me. I can't seem to get anywhere on it.

Okay . . . are we ready to meet Sarah Dutton?

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The address I got from the phone book took me about twenty minutes out of the city. The taxi stopped in front of a house that was small, but well cared for. There were flowers planted out front and a wind chime on the front porch. There were two white wicker chairs to the left of the front door. It reminded me a lot of my Gram's house.

I took a deep breath. I knocked softly and a small elderly woman answered the door. There was a screen door that was still shut. She looked at me expectantly. "Hello, Mrs. Dutton, I am Isabella Swan." She smiled and let me in.

"Please," she said, "Call me Sarah." She was very small. She walked hunched over and she seemed quite feeble, but out of her eyes I could sense that she was excited to see me.

The door opened into her living room which was decorated in an older fashion. There was an antique lamp on a table by the front door with a large crocheted doily under it. I could hear a grandfather clock ticking loudly next to the table. She directed me to a large couch. In the room was another couch and a piano. There were many pictures of family on the walls and tables.

"Thank you so much for seeing me on such short notice," I said.

"I am very pleased to speak to you about my family." She replied. She then took a seat on the couch across from me.

I decided to jump right in. "Sarah," I began, "Are you related to the Masens?"

"I was related to Annabelle, but not to the Masens," she answered matter of factly.

She could see my confused expression and she smiled reassuringly.

"Perhaps I better start at the beginning," she smiled.

Her eyes got a far away look in them. She was picturing images that I couldn't see. I got out my notebook. I had to make this look official. I should be taking notes.

"My mother was Ruth Bahn. She was a German immigrant that came to America with her parents when she was 16. Life was very hard for them. My mother worked very hard doing odd jobs just to help the family buy food. One of the families she worked for was the Masens." My ears perked up at the name.

"When my mother was 19, she met a handsome young man with whom she fell madly in love. She was very naïve and innocent. The man promised marriage and she gave her heart to him. My mother became pregnant. When she told this young man the news, he left and she never saw him again."

Sarah shook her head and put her hand up to the side of her face. "My mother was beside her self with grief and desperation. She had nowhere to turn. Her father had all but disowned her when he found out." Sarah shifted a little in her seat. She groaned against her old bones and muscles, then she continued her story.

"Luckily, my mother had become very close to Elizabeth Masen," Sarah smiled. "To my mother, she was such a fascinating person."

I leaned forward in my chair. "What did your mother say about Elizabeth?" I came across much too anxious.

Sarah continued. "Well, first of all, Elizabeth Masen was a very accomplished pianist." I sucked in air and Sarah stared at me. "Please continue," I said.

"She was well educated and had traveled quite extensively. She would talk about places my mother had never heard of. She was also involved in many political matters, which was quite scandalous for that time." I smiled at that. She went on.

"I believe what my mother loved best about Elizabeth was her loving nature. She worshipped her husband, and absolutely adored her young son." When Sarah mentioned Edward, I tried very hard not to show emotion. I was afraid she was getting suspicious.

"Her son was named Edward Jr. wasn't it?" I asked.

"Yes, it was." For the first time Sarah's voice showed sadness. "My mother would tend little Edward on occasion for Elizabeth. Apparently, Elizabeth had tried for quite awhile to have a child, and finally she had Edward."

I smiled at that. It was one more way that Edward was a miracle.

Sarah continued. "My mother always said Edward was such a handsome and healthy child." She paused as she remembered back wistfully and then she said, "I thought the world of him too."

I stared at her with my mouth open. "You knew Edward?" I gasped.

"Yes, I did," she continued. "I still think of him often. I will never forget him. Edward was born in 1901 and I was born in 1910. He was nine years older than I, but he was so kind to me. When my mother and I would visit, he would always sneak candy to me." Sarah actually giggled when she said that. "He never treated me like a little girl. He always hugged me as if I reminded him of . . . Oh my goodness," Sarah suddenly said, "I am getting ahead of my story."

I was so involved with what she was saying about Edward that I had forgotten all about Annie. I couldn't believe it! Here was someone who could tell me so much about Edward, and it seemed like he was just as wonderful back then.

"Please continue," I begged.

"Well," Sarah said, "My mother, Ruth, asked Elizabeth if when her baby was born, she would take the child and raise it as her own. Elizabeth was overjoyed. Her husband was also thrilled at the promise of another child.

"Elizabeth and Edward Sr. did not leave my mother to fend for herself. They moved her into a building close to where they lived and cared for her. It was the first real tenderness my mother had ever known."

"This child was Annabelle wasn't it?" I was beginning to put the pieces together.

"Yes, this was Annie," Sarah stated with a smile. "She was born in 1906 when Edward Jr. was five years old. My mother loved her, but she was overjoyed to see her daughter have such a loving family. This was something my mother was not able to give to her at that time. The father, Edward Sr., was especially taken with Annie. He carried her everywhere, showed her to everyone, and bought her the prettiest dresses."

Sarah continued talking, "The Masens made sure my mother could see Annie. My mother came to be like a dear aunt to her. It was a very happy time for all of them."

Sarah finished her thought, "My mother eventually met a very good man, my father, and they were married. I was their first child."

My heart was pounding. I could feel it in my ears. I swallowed hard and asked the question, "Sarah, in my records, it shows that Annie died. How did Annie die?"

Sarah sighed, "I was three years old. I have no memory of it. Edward and his friends were playing baseball in a vacant lot just outside their apartment. Annie was always tagging along. Usually, Edward included her in everything he did. They were extremely close. Edward treated her like his little princess.

On this particular day, however, he just wanted to play with the boys. Annie whined and put up a big fuss, but Edward still said no. He was a little harsh because he was embarrassed. The boys were teasing him, and saying that he should go play with her dolls." Sarah sighed hard and continued.

"Annie ran away crying. As she ran, she turned to yell something at Edward and she stumbled into the road at the exact moment a carriage pulled by four horses passed by. She was killed instantly. Edward saw the whole thing. She was only seven years old when she died."

I sucked in my breath. At first, I felt sick at the sad story about Annie, and then. . . relief. I knew it. I just knew Edward did not kill Annie.

All these years, he thought he had killed her.

Even as a little boy, he was putting too much on himself. In my dream he kept saying it was all his fault. It was just a horrible accident.

Sarah was staring at me. She was confused by my reaction to her story.

I came back to my senses. "That is so sad that Annie died that way," I said.

Sarah shook her head. "Her death changed many things. Edward felt so responsible for what happened. He held tremendous guilt and put the burden of what happened to Annie completely on himself. My mother told me that he had terrible nightmares after her death and didn't play with his friends or leave the house much at all for quite some time." Sarah shook her head and her eyes narrowed. "The worst part was what it did to Edward Sr. He couldn't handle Annie being gone, and he blamed his son for her death."

I thought about the terrible scene from my dream where I saw Edward's father beating him, and saying Edward had killed her.

"He was just a twelve year old boy," I whispered, without really meaning for Sarah to hear.

"Exactly," Sarah said with much force. "Edward Sr. tore that beautiful family apart with his grief. He began to drink heavily, and treated his son terribly. Elizabeth and Edward Jr. grieved for Annie too, but the father was inconsolable. Edward Jr. never retaliated on any of the things his father did. He never got angry. He was patient and loving with his father no matter what was done to him."

Sarah met my gaze as she said, "It was Edward who eventually saved the family by bringing his father back to them. He had been missing for over a month and Edward found him."

I remembered the heartbreaking scene from my dream of Edward searching for someone in that dark and dirty alley. It was all making sense now. If it was possible, I loved Edward even more now than I did before.

I gathered my emotions and asked, "So, you grew up seeing them as a happy family once again?"

Sarah nodded. "Through Edward Jr. and Elizabeth's love, he finally pulled through his grief. He forgave his son completely."

"You were old enough to remember Edward now, weren't you?" I desperately wanted to know all she could tell me about him.

Sarah smiled. "Yes, it was as if Edward was my protector and brother. He would meet me every morning and carry me on his shoulders and walk me to school. He was always afraid something would happen to me, like Annie. He was always asking me to be careful and be safe." She sighed and said, "He was so handsome." Sarah looked out the window again, "I was completely taken by him." For a moment, she was lost in her thoughts. I wish I could have seen what she was picturing in her mind. She then turned to me and continued speaking.

"He was my best friend and he didn't seem to mind a little girl following him everywhere. He taught me how to play games and would read books to me. There were many girls his age who wanted his attention." She laughed and said, "I was so jealous of them!" Her voice grew softer as she said, "But, he never returned any of their affections. He told me that someday a girl would capture his heart, and he would never let her go." She closed her eyes and said, "I always hoped it would be me."

I stared at her. My mind was racing over everything I could tell her. She interrupted my thoughts with more of her story.

She wiped at her eyes and said, "He never seemed to mind me interrupting his studies. He was very smart and was planning on college."

Sarah turned her head and smiled at me through her tears. She leaned in as if she was telling me an important secret, "Besides my memories, Edward gave me one more thing that was even more lasting."

"What was that?" I just had to know.

Sarah smiled, "He taught me to play the piano."

My head jerked up and I stared at her. I choked out the words, "He taught you to play the piano?"

Sarah was still smiling. "Elizabeth taught him to play, but he had a talent all his own." Her face turned to the piano that I had seen in the room, "He taught me on that piano right there. It was his."

My breath came out of me as I turned to look at the piano. Without thinking I got up and slowly walked over and touched it. Tears began to spill down my cheeks. My hands ran softly over the keys. "Oh Edward," I whispered.

I was lost in my own thoughts when I realized Sarah was beside me.

She began to speak with emotion, "Edward was so sick, and they wouldn't let me see him. When he died, I cried for days. I was nine years old and my heart was broken." When she looked at me, I could see tears in her eyes as well.

Sarah continued speaking, "Unbeknownst to us, the Masens had named us their beneficiaries in their will. Everything went to us. To ease my grief, my mother gave me Edward's piano." She then reached out and touched the piano lovingly.

She looked up at me and said, "He taught me many songs, but would you like to hear my favorite? It was one that he wrote himself."

I was still so choked with emotion that I couldn't answer. I enthusiastically nodded my head.

As she was moving out the bench, and getting ready to sit down, she chuckled a bit and said, "Let's see if I can get my 96 year old hands moving."

Sarah began to play. The first few notes floated up to me and my hands came up to my mouth to stifle a cry.

Sarah was playing my lullaby.

I closed my eyes and listened to the music fill my heart. The tears were running unchecked down my face. I was so overcome I couldn't do anything but listen to the notes fill the room.

This was the music that had also been woven through my dream. I had forgotten, until just that moment.

As the last few notes drifted away, she turned to look at me. She must have been surprised to see me so emotional. She must have wondered how I could act that way for someone I'd never known.

I tried to cover for myself by saying, "That song was so beautiful. I've never heard anything like it." I reached out to touch the piano again and said, "And to hear it played on this particular piano has meant everything."

She seemed very appreciative that I would care that much.

"I have one more thing to show you," she said. On a side table she reached for a large envelope. "This is a picture of the Masen family. It was taken after Annie was born."

I anxiously opened it and saw a beautiful family picture. It was yellowed in the background and had faded somewhat, but all I could do was stare at the little five year old boy. He was standing next to his mother with his hand in her lap. I touched his face. Annie was in a lovely flowing dress and was held by her father. I recognized Edward Sr. as the man from my dream, and Elizabeth was just as beautiful.

Having looked at it for a time, I held it out to Sarah. She shook her head and said, "It's yours. It is actually a well-made copy."

"Thank you." I whispered. I couldn't imagine what it would mean for Edward to have this.

I had one more question. "Sarah, how come Annie did not show up on the records with the Masen family? Didn't they adopt her?"

Sarah nodded her head and said, "The reason you didn't see Annie on the records, was because my mother's parents would not allow it. They considered Annie their grandchild and threatened to take the baby and raise her themselves, so the Masens agreed, planning to legally adopt her at a later time. After she died, there was so much tumult with Edward Sr., that it was put off again. They were in the process of having her added to their records when they were all taken so quickly."

She sighed and in a dream like voice I heard her say, "Once, a few months after Edward passed away I looked out my window in the middle of the night and, I could swear I saw him there. I watched him for a time. He just stared at me." Sarah was far away, lost in her thoughts. "I ran down the stairs and when I got outside he was gone." She then waved her hand as if to wipe away the memory. "I suppose it was my wishful thinking that brought that vision to me," she laughed softly.

The grandfather clock chimed the hour. I could tell that Sarah was tiring. My time here was done. I called for a taxi. I hugged her and thanked her. I gave her my name and address in case she thought of anything else to tell me. I think I mentioned something about how this would be the best paper anyone had ever written.

As I stood there about to go, our eyes locked and I thought about she and I.

We were two people born 79 years apart who loved the same beautiful boy. What would she do if she knew that Edward had been alive all these years, frozen in time just as she remembered him?

She had no idea what she had given me, given Edward. I couldn't wait to let Edward know about this woman who hadn't forgotten him.

Before I got in the taxi, I turned and looked at the house one more time, and then I left.

When I got back to the hotel, I packed all my things and sat down at the laptop to find the fastest flight to Seattle. There was a flight leaving in 3 hours and I bought a ticket. I struggled with wondering if I should let Edward know I was coming back. The strong desire to hear his velvet voice won out. I picked up the phone and began to dial when I remembered that he would see the Chicago area code.

I e-mailed him not knowing if he would see it.

Edward, my love,

I am coming back. I will hopefully be home sometime tomorrow. I have figured out everything and I know exactly what I want. Ready or not, here I come. Close your eyes, and feel me hold you.

All my love,

Bella

Just before I walked out of the hotel room, I turned and paused. I didn't really think Elisabeth was in the room, but I said, "Elisabeth, thank you. I will take care of him and love him forever." Then I left.

I sat down to eat after checking in at the gate. My heart was pounding as I thought about seeing Edward again.

I wondered how he would react to everything I would tell him. I wanted his demons gone. I wanted his arms around me and to have him look into my eyes without holding back because of the monster he thought he was. I wanted us to start out lives from here on with happiness.

I checked my e-mail for like the fiftieth time, and there was nothing.

I went and sat at the gate. I was so restless. It was raining outside. I watched as it pelted against the large windows. I wanted the rain to wash away all these miles between me and Edward. I busied myself by typing up all the information I had received from Sarah while it was fresh in my head. I finished just as they started boarding the plane.

I was just shutting my laptop when I saw the alert saying I had a message. It simply said,

Bella, I will be here waiting.

Yours,

Edward

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What do you think? Did you like Sarah? Please tell me how think the story is going. It is so fun to hear what your opinion. See you tomorrow!