The Hole In Her Heart by Mick
Well, Lola and I are back. This is going to be another sweet little story. It'll be a little sad, but not for long. Lots of happy times are included too and there's nothing too angsty, more like intense drama. Oh, and there is a happily ever after. A few things before we begin...
Stephenie Meyer owns all these wonderful characters. I promise she will get them all back, slightly worse for wear, at the end of my story.
Just a little bit of drama at the beginning, nothing too scary this chapter. A little bit of background and a little bit of good times..Oh, and we get to meet more Cullens.
Chapter 2 – Where's My Sunshine?
Bella was in a trance. All she could do was stand by the window and stare out. Occasionally she shifted position, rocking slowly back and forth, to try to comfort herself. As she continually stared through the glass, she irrationally hoped to get a glimpse of an answer to her nagging question of 'where did I go wrong'.
She stood with her arms folded in front of her, missing the rounded belly that used to be beneath; the very one that had once held her daughter while protecting her. She gazed out at the snow covered window ledge and sighed deeply, trying to gather more strength from somewhere but not really so sure she had any more left. She felt physically incapable of giving anything else. Mentally, she was no better. Her mind wasn't on the beautiful Chicago skyline with the huge flakes drifting in the orange glow of the streetlights outside. Her mind was with her daughter. Here, in this hospital, where she could very well lose her forever, again.
She couldn't stop the fleeting thoughts of the possibility of having to say goodbye, again. Of never having her beautiful daughter with her or ever seeing her grow up. Never being able to sing to her or feel her squirm in her arms. She glanced toward the cold steel crib placed in the center of the room blinking away the tears as she switched points of view.
She thought of her daughter Tansy, and how must she be feeling. Could the infant even feel yet? Judging from how loud her screams were when they poked at her, Bella knew she could feel pain. But she had to wonder if her daughter ever felt the love that she tried to pour into her on a daily basis through her thoughts, her touches, her songs, even her sweet murmurings and her breast milk. Bella did it all with love, and she did it happily.
She wondered if her daughter knew and understood just how much she truly loved her. At three months old, she didn't yet realize what it was like to have the sun on her face, all warm and golden. Of soft rain drops lightly dancing on her skin. Of huge Chicago size snowflakes melting on the tip of her warm tongue. Would she ever get a real chance at life? To really live? To know a world even existed beyond hospitals, tubes and pain – so much pain. In her short life, that was all Bella was really sure Tansy ever knew. Of course, Bella hoped that Tansy knew how much she loved her. But was that love enough?
She had to love Tansy enough for two people now, since Jacob left her. Them. He had left them. Her only consolation was that he had left their daughter with her. He left her feeling emptier than she had ever felt before but it didn't compare to how he had left Tansy. Bella didn't care that Jacob forgot their wedding vows. For better, for worse, in sickness and in health, obviously those words meant nothing to him.
Bella could recall every detail of their wedding and subsequent vows; she went over them frequently in her mind. She didn't remember saying for better or until-we-have-a-sick-child-and-then-you-can-leave. She took her mind off herself and thought of Jacob, and about how he had left his daughter. She herself couldn't imagine what it would be like. To walk away from this little girl they had created together. Sure, she and Charlie weren't so close, but he always let her know in little ways that he loved her. No more so than when he willed her his little house in the suburbs.
All while growing up she had envisioned what it would be like for her if Charlie and Renee had stayed married. She would come running home from school and they would both be there waiting for her. Loving and encouraging her. Instead, she had to deal with Renee, her constant badmouthing of Charlie and keeping Bella away from him as much as possible.
She had always dreamed of more for her own daughter. Even early on in her pregnancy, she had wanted the king and queen raising a princess theme for Tansy's life. She had her king and they were expecting their princess. Now, the irony wasn't lost on Bella that she had lost her king and her princess was sick. She had cried when she explained this to Alice and then laughed while Alice explained that Charlie's house would be their castle.
Alice's support aside, Bella still couldn't fathom walking away from her daughter. How could anyone leave their child? Especially a sick child? But leave he did and Bella could only wonder if he ever looked back at the wife and child he had deserted. He hadn't answered any of her calls. Not even to find out how Tansy was doing. Did he even care, really? Once they found out how sick she was, that was the end of his perfect little dream. No white picket fence with the two point five kids out in front.
Bella blinked, pulling her sweater closer around her to fight off the chill from being so close to the window. She knew she was going to be here all night but she didn't know any other way to get through. This was her life now, for better, or worse. She turned from the window and walked toward the phone that was positioned on the table out of the way. There was only one person left to call.
"It's Bella." She breathed heavily into the phone. As she took a steadying breath, her next words came out in a rush but she knew that she wouldn't need to explain to the person at the other end of the line. "I'm at the hospital again. Can you come?"
"I'm there." Alice said simply, and Bella heard the click immediately afterward. Bella never knew that she was not the only individual in Chicagoland that was crying over her current situation.
While she was lovingly patting her daughter's soft wisps of hair and comforted her as much as she could, she was clueless that across town on the city's far north side, Esme Cullen sat in her perfectly arranged parlor crying in her husband's arms as she told him of Isabella Black's fight.
"Carlisle, it's just horrific. The way she treated Isabella Black! I'm so disappointed in Victoria that I told her I will no longer be doing anymore collaborative work with her and that I would never recommend her shop to anyone else." Esme cried into her husband's shoulder.
"Esme." Carlisle chided his wife gently as he wrapped her in his arms. "You were always so sensitive. What happened today? Wait; is this the same Isabella that I met at the Labor Day party?" Carlisle briefly looked down at his wife's tear stained face as he remembered Esme telling him a few months ago about a co-worker who had recently gave birth.
"Yes." Esme nodded her head then reached for another tissue from the box on the end table. "It turns out that her daughter is very ill. Bella's had to take so much time off, more than her maternity leave allows, I'm afraid. I've talked to her friend Alice, the woman with black hair that you met that day?" At Carlisle's affirmation that he did indeed remember Alice, Esme continued.
"She still works at the shop but she confided in me that she's leaving. She's recently moved in with Isabella to help her out. Neither one has any family. With all the sick time that Isabella has had to use, Victoria has given her no choice but to leave. She'll at least have some compensation, but it's nowhere near enough. According to Alice, Isabella's daughter needs to be on medication because she can't survive the surgery yet. She was very careful about what she said to me, she doesn't want Victoria to know yet but she's leaving the shop to follow Isabella into freelancing and that way she can help her out more." Esme leaned further into Carlisle for more comfort.
"What about her husband, the baby's father? Grandparents maybe? Surely there is someone." Carlisle rubbed his wife's back gently.
"No, I don't think so. Her father passed away and she's not very close with her mother. When I talked to her at the Labor Day party, she mentioned that her mother is less than thrilled about being a grandmother. And from what the rumor mill is saying at work her husband left her once he found out the baby was sick – actually that's not a rumor, Alice confirmed it for me." Esme shuddered and cried softly in her husband's arms.
"Sweetheart, I can feel those gears turning in your mind. What is it you want to do? You know you will have your hands full once Emmett and Rose arrive with the twins." Carlisle pulled his wife away to hold her within arms so he could stare at her beautiful face.
"I know Carlisle. I need to take care of my own family first. Once Emmett and Rose are settled with Ethan and Emily I am going to start looking into having Isabella re-do one of the bedrooms upstairs into a children's room. She can do amazing things with paint. I just need your support in this. It's something I do feel strongly about Carlisle. You'll help?" Esme posed it as more of a plea, but she knew her husband well enough that she wasn't afraid he would turn her down. She knew she would have his full support.
"Esme, just don't ask for something I am not capable of giving you, and you will have everything you ever wanted." He kissed his wife deeply as they snuggled before the fire.
By the time April rolled around, Bella had her crazy days scheduled down to a science. Alice was a trooper, chipping in at all the right times. She had no problem moving in with Bella and taking over the small house that her father had left her and Jacob. Alice immediately assumed the role of guard dog and more than once Bella had told her to calm down. Alice would just remind her that she was doing nothing less than her husband would do. This stunning revelation came with fits of laughter as the women compared Bella's absentee husband to a dog.
For all the things that had gone horribly wrong for Bella during the past year, there were a few bright spots and she had to remind herself of them daily. Her daughter's birth was first and foremost in her mind.
It didn't matter that she had so many health problems. Bella loved her daughter unconditionally. The magnitude of the situation she was in aside, the miracle of Tansy's birth and those first blissful moments afterward still had Bella counting her blessing that she was a mom, a mother. She was someone's mommy! Someone depended on her to kiss away the owies and wipe up the tears. Bella also knew that even with Jacob abandoning her, a small part of her would be forever grateful to him for giving her this beautiful creature.
A much larger part of Bella would eternally be grateful for Alice. Her little friend had stuck by her side while she dated and married Jacob. Giving her honest opinion of him only once when they first started dating, and then realizing that Bella was in love she held her tongue and supported her. All negative thoughts Alice had about Jacob remained trapped inside her own head as she watched Bella's relationship with Jacob progress and grow. She stuck by her friend's side through it all. Even after Jacob left his wife and child, Alice was right there helping Bella pick up the pieces not only of her own shattered life, but that of her daughter's as well.
Support and helping hands had also come from unlikely sources as well. Charlie's neighbor's embraced Bella and her frail daughter. They chipped in to help fix up the house, take care of the lawn and snow when necessary. Every so often, Bella would open the door to find someone there with a container filled with food for her and Alice along with a small gift for the baby.
Bella always invited them inside and more often than not they would come in and visit. They would start out talking about Tansy and how she was doing, eventually the conversation would turn to more ordinary things such as the weather, and if Bella felt like she could manage to take on a small side job painting something nearby. She recognized these small friendships and their value as she became well known on her own, without Victoria's help. These little jobs allowed her to create her own work schedule while still allowing her care for her daughter.
Even Jacob's friends helped out. They never talked about Jacob, if they had seen him or not Bella didn't know. She knew someone had to be in contact with them in order for them to even know of Tansy's medical predicament. It was mostly Quil and Embry who had stepped up to offer help.
They brought small gifts for the baby and did odd jobs around the house, basically chipping in where ever needed. Bella could never bring herself to ask about Jake, and they never offered her the information. They just always seemed to know when the gate was ready to fall from its hinges, when the lattice on the porch needed to be replaced, or if the gutters were clogged. She was grateful for their support and while it was no substitute for having her husband by her side, it did free up her time and subsequently left her with a little more money in her pocket.
When Tansy was just shy of six months old, Bella received a call from Esme Cullen. She was shocked at first to hear from her. She hadn't realized that Esme knew of her predicament or that she had even left Victoria's company. Alice had let it slip awhile back that she spoke to Esme, letting her know that Tansy was sick, but didn't launch into much detail.
She enjoyed catching up with her on the phone, learning that she had finally become a grandmother. Her grandchildren, Ethan and Emily, at three months old, kept her busy and filled her house with noise and laughter. The only thing missing from her house now was a nursery for them and she insisted that Bella be the one to paint it. Bella knew there was no way she would tell the woman no. A couple of days later, having found a trusted neighbor to watch her own daughter, Bella was driving with Alice to Esme Cullen's house see if the project was something that she could take on.
"Bella, relax, Tansy will be fine with Christine and Diana. It's only a lunch date. What's the worst that could happen?" Alice chirped as she continued to drive toward the Cullen's house.
"You really don't want me to answer that do you?" Bella didn't need to say the word, she and Alice both knew the worst was death. What she finally realized was that her daughter's death could come whether she was there or not. Death was not choosy about time and always picked the worst possible moment. As if there was ever a good time to die. "I know Alice. But if, there's always the 'if' factor that won't let me relax completely. We're only staying a couple of hours. Lunch, and then home, you promised." Bella's voice sounded almost panicked as she looked out the window.
She desperately wanted to bring her daughter with, but needed to limit her exposure to outside germs and try to keep her as healthy as possible, per doctor's orders. There were also very few people that she could depend on to babysit, as Tansy needed special attention that not just any high school kid could provide. As much as she was looking forward to seeing Esme Cullen and possibly working with her again, she was too keyed up about her daughter to enjoy the small window of free time.
"Have you heard from Jacob yet?" Alice seemed apprehensive to bring up the subject of Bella's husband to her but needed to take Bella's mind off her daughter.
"Not yet, but I am still hopeful that he'll come to his senses. I know he doesn't love me anymore. Honestly, at this point, the feeling is mutual. But he needs to take some responsibility for Tansy if he wants any part in her life at all. The longer he waits, the harder it's going to be for both of them." Bella rubbed her forehead, a sign that she was getting stressed.
"Well, it's his loss if he doesn't. And I'll be there for you Bella. I'll help with Tansy. Plus we have Diana and Christine, you know they adore her. Your work schedule is a lot smoother now too, you can make and choose your own projects and work them around Tansy's care. Aside from that, we have your ancestral home, so there's a roof over our heads. We have everything we need to give Tansy the life we never had." Alice looked pleased with herself after her little speech, Bella could tell how desperately her friend loved her daughter. She smiled thinking of just how much of good a friend Alice was to her.
"Okay, calling Charlie's old house my 'ancestral home' is a joke. I spent like four summers there tops and as many weekends as Renee and his schedules allowed. I loved him and I know he loved me. I don't blame him for letting Renee leave. I wouldn't wish her on anyone. Of course, I didn't think we were a package deal and that I would be cut out of his life along with her. I just want something better for Tansy. If I had any clue what Jacob was really like, this would have never happened. I can't believe I fell for him and all his lies. For better or worse my ass! I'm thinking of getting that tattooed on my backside." Bella joked vehemently.
"Now that I'd like to see. I'm sorry Bella. I shouldn't have brought up the subject. Let's talk about something else. Have you seen some of the new fabrics that are out for this summer?" Alice and Bella fell into a comfortable discussion about recent trends in decorating and fashion for the rest of the trip to Cullen House.
At the last turn, Bella sat up straighter and pointed. "Alice, turn right at the next break in the trees. Be careful. She said if you blink you'll miss it." Bella said quickly.
"Bella, aren't you excited at all?" Alice took in her friend's casual tone as she slowed her car's speed down to almost a crawl, ignoring the honking behind her. "I mean, this is Esme Cullen's house, the interior designer. And she wants you to design something in it! I know you've worked with her in the past, but this is her personal home. I can't wait to see it." Alice was practically bouncing in the driver's seat as she signaled to turn.
"Actually, I've worked with her enough to know that there is nothing behind the hype. Esme is as genuine as they come. Her husband is a dream, well, you saw him last year at the party. She just gushes over her family. I think she's looking forward to this as much as we are. She mentioned her daughter-in-law Rose before. I guess one of her sons just moved his family back here and her daughter-in-law doesn't know anyone. Who knows Alice; this may be the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Bella sat back with a sigh as she continued to watch for a break in the trees.
Just then, Bella received a text from Esme flipping her phone open to answer. "Hang on Alice; this is a text from Esme. She said to 'turn right at the teddy bear'? Teddy Bear?" Bella looked up from her phone and threw Alice a questioning glance. "That can't be right. Do you think she's been drinking?" Bella's voice was full of concern and she frowned as she looked back down to re-read her phone.
Alice laughed loudly. "No Bella, take a look up ahead."
"Holy crow!" Bella shouted as she squinted up ahead seeing a giant of a man step into the road. "Alice, stop!"
As Alice slowed her Porsche to the side of the road, she let out a small squeak. "Do you think it's even human?"
Bella looked at the man standing on the side of the road with his hands on his hips. He was smiling, all dimples and boyish. He was huge! She glanced back at Alice nervously, afraid to take her eyes off the giant that had stepped from the trees. The man was now making a circular motion with his hands as he stepped up to the car.
"I think he wants us to unroll the window. Do you think it's safe?" Bella asked apprehensively.
"Text Esme back and ask her if there is a hospital of some sort nearby. Maybe he's escaped from somewhere. Although I don't know of any hospitals like that in this area of Chicago." Alice said, trying not to make eye contact with the thing standing just outside her window. "Bella? I am starting to get really nervous. I need to go to the bathroom."
"Hold on Alice." Bella snapped a quick picture on her cellular phone. "I'm going to text Esme back."
"Esme, does this belong to you?" Bella fired off the text as quickly as her shaking fingers would allow.
"Just sit tight Alice. Cross your legs or something." A moment later Bella received a text back.
"LMAO, this is Rose, the owner of that thing outside your window. U 2 R 2 fun. He's harmless." Bella read the text out loud to Alice.
Alice and Bella watched the man pull out a cellular phone from the pocket of his track suit. Alice cracked her window so they could hear what he was saying.
"But mom, I swear I didn't do anything. I am just standing out here. I haven't even talked to them yet. Because they won't unroll the window!" Alice and Bella started to snicker as they realized that it must be Esme on the phone with the man. Alice opened her window the rest of the way as he sighed and hung up. He glanced at them again with his hands on his hips and his head tilted to the same side as his baseball hat.
"Right. I am very sorry to have scared you ladies. I'm Emmett Cullen. I am Carlisle and Esme Cullen's youngest son. I was sent to guide you to the house. Esme was afraid you might miss the turnoff." The man sighed before continuing. "Look, I'm sorry, but I didn't think you would scare so easily otherwise I would have sent my brother or my father. Just follow me up the drive alright?" He broke into a jog before either Bella or Alice could reply.
"I guess it's safe to follow him. At least we know Esme's family has a sense of humor." Bella sighed as she put her cellular phone back into her pocket.
"A very twisted sense of humor. I can't believe Esme Cullen gave birth to that!" Alice snarled just loud enough for Bella to hear.
Bella looked over at her friend. Alice could usually take a joke better than this. She must really have to use the bathroom, Bella thought as she stared out the window at the beautiful scenery leading up to Cullen House, as it was known in Chicago's society.
"Okay, this was totally worth the drive up here and being scared fuckless by this guy." Alice said as she looked up at the house that loomed above them. She pulled into a spot on the circular drive behind a huge red Jeep. "There's Esme!" Alice shouted the words as she undid her seatbelt grabbing for the door handle.
Sure enough, when Bella looked away from the greenery, she could see Esme Cullen standing on the massive front porch with her hands on her hips looking very stern. Her son was starting to approach her looking appropriately ashamed. As Bella opened her door, she could hear Esme giving her son a talking to.
"What were you thinking? I said to be careful and guide them in, not scare the bejesus out of them so that they never want to come here again. You better hope that they want to stay now. I swear Emmett; I don't know how Rose puts up with you sometimes!"
"Aww, Ma, my Rosie loves me just the way I am. She wouldn't change a thing about me." Emmett was all dimples and boyish again as he stood before his mother with his hands on his hips. "I apologized. I had no idea they were skittish or else I would have sent Jazz or dad."
"Skittish!" Alice yelled launching at Emmett. "I'll give you skittish Emmett Cullen!" Alice rushed up to the man and just because she came up to his elbows she didn't back down. "Do you know what it is like to drive all the way up here just two women and come across someone like yourself in the middle of the woods? I agree with your mother, what were you thinking Emmett?" Alice made herself so familiar that everyone was taken aback. Emmett took a cautious step back away from the pixie.
"Wow, you're um, yeah, um, you're uh, right. Yeah, that's it, you're right." Emmett said as he rubbed the back of his neck while stepping even farther away from Alice.
"Who's afraid now Em?" A tall blonde woman stepped carefully onto the porch holding a squirming infant up against her chest under a blanket in one arm and a cell phone in the other as she bumped the front door open with her hip. "I was feeding Ethan when I heard the yelling start. I just had to come out and see who was giving you a talking to. You must be Alice and Bella. Which is which?" Rose looked from one to the other.
Alice stepped forward, glaring at Emmett out of the corner of her eye. Emmett took another step back. "I'm Alice. I'm sorry for scaring your husband, but he scared Bella." Alice casually waved her hand at Bella, causing her to snap her head up and pay attention at the sound of her name.
Bella snapped her head up. "Scared me? You were the one not making eye contact with him Alice. Esme, I'm so sorry. This has started out on such a wrong foot." Bella tried to explain as Esme held a hand up to rub her forehead. Just then two more figures stepped around from the side of the house. One was holding another infant.
"Someone scaring you big guy?" The taller, younger blond stepped up and whacked Emmett on the shoulder.
"Knock it off Jazz." Emmett shrugged away his brother's arm in irritation.
"Girls this isn't starting out right at all. I wanted to introduce you properly but Emmett took care of that. Alice, Bella, you remember my husband Dr. Carlisle Cullen, you met him at last year's Labor Day party? And these are our children Jasper and Emmett. This is Emmett's wife Rosalie and their children Ethan and Emily. Everyone, this is Isabella Black and Alice Brandon. They are going to hopefully help me out with redecorating some of Cullen House. Although after meeting you all like this, they may very well turn it down."
Carlisle leaned forward, holding out the hand not cradling the infant. "Ladies it's nice to see you again. Sorry about all the confusion. Um, Rosalie, I think we may need to swap out babies. Emily is getting mighty fussy." He started handing over the baby to Rosalie who sighed.
"Emmett, Ethan isn't done yet, I better go hide. This could get messy. Sorry girls, normally I don't mind feeding them in public, but if I have to do both at the same time, it's not a pretty sight and definitely not meant for public exhibition." Rosalie turned to go back into the house. "Emmett, bring your daughter upstairs. Mom, please don't start lunch without me. I'm really looking forward to some company."
Carlisle handed Emmett the fussy infant. "C'mere princess, let's go get some lunch." Emmett said eagerly, too eagerly. After earning a scowl from his wife Emmett quickly corrected himself. "I mean lunch for her, not me. Aww Rosie, you know it is a pretty sight and the public would just love it if you would…" His voice trailed off as he followed after her like a puppy.
Carlisle gestured to the swing for Esme to sit down. She gratefully accepted. Alice and Bella followed suit, settling on the wicker couch. Jasper sat on the hammock sideways. His legs were too long to let it swing freely so he rocked it from side to side.
"Never a dull moment with those four around." Jasper gave Alice a small smile; she returned it with a huge grin. Alice never went for subtle, ever.
"Well, at least I apologized to him for scaring him. I really am sorry Esme. Did you see the picture Bella took? Wouldn't you have been scared too?" Alice managed to sound indignant as she looked over at Carlisle and Esme in the swing.
"It's quite alright Alice; they get it from Carlisle's side of the family." Esme patted her husband's knee.
"Guilty I'm afraid. Emmett takes after my father completely. Now, Jasper and Edward may be tall, but at least they aren't built like Emmett. Still, at least we got in there somewhere, Jasper has my hair and Edward has yours." He looked lovingly at his wife.
"True, too bad we have no idea where those green eyes of Edward's came from, or those dimples of Emmett's." Esme looked over at Jasper. "Well, Carlisle, at least we know right where we stand with our Jasper."
"Come on Ma, you're going to make me blush!" Jasper rolled his eyes.
"Don't worry about it Jazz, is it okay to call you that? At least you know where your genes are from. I was adopted, so I have no idea where my shortness comes from." Alice's attempt to comfort Jasper didn't go unnoticed by Bella.
"I think the proper term nowadays is 'vertically challenged'" Bella said.
"Vertically challenged?" Alice snorted. "Whoever came up with that obviously wasn't short. I have been called short by someone every day of my life, including twice this morning when I put gas in my car." She sniffed.
"But you're not short Alice, you're just p..." Jasper didn't even get the word out.
"Say the words 'pixie, pint sized or puny' Jasper and I swear I'll break both your kneecaps." Alice looked at him through narrowed slits.
"I was going to say portable." Jasper blushed as he looked at Alice and smiled when Bella mumbled 'good save' to him. "So, Alice, you mentioned that Bella took a picture with her phone? I'd love to see it." Jasper leaned forward in the hammock.
Alice stuck her hand out to Bella. "Give it Black." As Bella handed her cellular phone over to Alice, she stood up and walked over to where Jasper sat on the hammock. He stopped moving it long enough for her to hop into it. She almost made it too, at the last second Jasper stuck his arms out to catch her and pull her back farther into the hammock so she didn't land on the porch.
"Thank you. Just for that, I shall show you all that is your brother Emmett. Now, I have to ask you, would you make eye contact with this?" Alice held out Bella's phone to show him.
"Oh wow! No way, he's totally escaped from a hospital in this picture. I wouldn't have even slowed the car." Jasper laughed.
"I know right? That's exactly what I said. I told you Black." Alice and Jasper started laughing like they had know each other forever as Bella talked to Carlisle and Esme.
"Give it here for a second. Whatever the charges are for texting, I'll pay them for you. Edward has got to see his twin looking like this." Jasper took Bella's phone and punched in his middle brother's number. He added a quick line to it before pressing send. He then handed it back to Bella.
After a few more minutes of small talk, Bella's phone started to ring out Clair de Lune, she scrambled to answer it worried that it might be something to do with her daughter. "Um, you've got Clair de Lune as a ring tone?" Jasper directed the question at Bella. Carlisle and Esme glanced quickly at each other as Bella turned beet red.
"Yes, so?" Bella replied waspishly. "I happen to like my music off the pop charts thank you very much. Sorry Esme, this won't take long. Oh, wait, I think it's for you two. Who exactly are you two calling with my phone?" Bella asked as she handed it back to Jasper.
"Sorry, I had to send my brother Edward that picture of Emmett. It's priceless. I'll let him know it was me and I'll ring him back after I get my phone from the patio."
"Who are you and what are you doing with my brother?" The text read.
"Chill bro, it's Jazz. Mom's lunch date is here, where u at? U r missin everything." Jasper showed Alice the text as he pressed send. Bella shrugged and went back to her conversation with Carlisle and Esme.
"Sorry about that, but I never leave Tansy alone with a sitter and I'm pretty nervous. I will keep calls down to a minimum while we work though Esme, I promise." Bella said by way of explanation.
"Of course! How is she dear?" Esme asked with genuine concern.
"She's fine right now. I like her new cardiologist. Dr. Smith is so easygoing and very easy to talk to. I hated switching doctors but with insurance what else can you do? I was lucky enough to find someone who is so good with her." Bella felt relief even saying it.
"Bella, Esme told me about your daughter, not the specifics, she wouldn't betray your trust like that. But if you feel the need for someone to talk to, please don't hesitate to come to me for guidance. I'd be more than happy to help. If you are talking about Dr. Garrett Smith, you are very fortunate. He is good, although I don't know him personally; I have heard nothing but good things about him." Dr. Cullen looked fascinated as the medical talk ensued.
"That's a very kind offer. Thank you, Esme, for not making a big deal of it. Dr. Cullen, I may take you up on that. I'm sure I'll probably run into you at the hospital. Right now, I need to concentrate on some work." Bella said, hoping that she could steer the conversation away from herself and her daughter before the tears started to fall. She glanced over at Alice, whose face was full of concern, and nodded almost imperceptibly to let her friend know that she was ok.
"Maybe now would be a good time to call everyone to lunch? I'll go check on Rose. Carlisle, would you please show the girls to the patio?" Esme stood to go inside. "Bella? After lunch I'll give you the tour and show you what I had in mind." Carlisle opened the front door for his wife. "Jasper, I'm counting on you to make the girls feel welcome."
"Sure Mom, I'm on it." Jasper said without looking up from Bella's phone as he and Alice kept texting Edward and laughing.
"So, Bella, how would you like to join me on the patio?" Carlisle held out his arm for Bella to hold, realizing that Jasper and Alice were ignoring him.
"I'd love to. You and Esme have a beautiful home here. I hope someday you will come visit Alice and I at our place in the suburbs." Bella stepped forward to take Carlisle's arm as he led her to the patio alone while Jasper and Alice continued to entertain themselves on the front porch with Bella's phone.