Secrets and Lies
I didn't know much about Emily but I could see how well she handled herself with children. The girls loved that she was playing at there level and laughing with her when I sneaked out. I didn't want them to think I had left them behind, but I didn't want to run into Edward with them either. I would have to wait until I was more relaxed for the confrontation I would get from him and even his family. I hated the fact that Jasper saw the similarities right away. I couldn't believe I was thinking the whole drive to the hospital. I pulled into an empty spot, slammed the door and strolled into the entrance to the hospital.
The lone receptionist behind the counter was familiar to me. Oh my god I thought it was Jessica Stanley. I totally disliked her back in high school because she was always trying to get Edward in bed with her. I wonder who she's with now a days or if se is living all alone.
"Hello welcome to Forks General. How may I help you?" she asks as I walk up to the desk.
"I'm here to see Charlie Swan," I say without meeting her eyes.
"He's on the third floor room number 31," she replies as I am staring to walk off.
"Thanks," I mutter.
"You shouldn't be so happy," an all too familiar voice replies from behind me. So I turn around as I push the elevator key.
"Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes, Mr. Billy Black," I snap as I enter the elevator with him following close behind me in his wheelchair.
"Too bad Sam found you. I was hoping he'd only bring those two bright girls and leave their snappy, grumpy, bitter mom in New York," he says in a playful banter. Even though I hope he didn't mean all that it still hurt to hear him say those things about me.
"Thanks for sending him," I quietly reply as the doors open.
"Your dad's going to be happy you came. He's been asking for you since he woke up last week. He even begged Dr. Cullen to find you," he said as he rolled past my dad's room. I knew he'd want to see me. Why did I leave him all alone to begin with? I hated that he wanted me here sooner and I was fighting everyone from coming here. As I walk into his room I am not surprised to see all of the flowers, cards and even balloons all wishing for him to get better soon.
"Bells, honey is that really you," he whispers quietly. I walk up to him and give him a big hug and kiss on the forehead.
"Yeah, dad it's me," I reply sitting down in the awkward hospital chair. We spend the next hour talking about the twins, work, my flight and how long I was going to stay. He wanted to know if this was just a part-time situation or if I was going to stay for some time and let the girls mingle with people.
"I'm sure you know Edward is my doctor," he asked.
"I do know that. I actually bumped into Jasper Hale on the flight here and he told me that Edward and you were really close," I barely utter out.
"Please don't be like that. He was awfully torn up when you left. I mean Bella you two were almost inseparable for two long years and then you decide to leave in the middle of the night. We all were torn up," he mutters.
"I know. I already apologized for just up and leaving, but you have no clue what went on between the two of us and I will not let you lecture me on it. I have lived five years from my home. I allowed myself to be driven from the one place my heart felt safe. I was miserable as well. Please just let me work out my problems with Edward without you meddling into them," I quietly say as I look out the window.
"I'm sorry sweetie. I know how hard it was for you. You are a grown woman and should be ale to handle this. I have faith you'll do the right thing," he whispers ending the conversation.
"I'll try to bring Carlie and Emmalin the next time I come to visit. I just didn't want to run into Edward with them the first day," I calmly state.
"Edward is at lunch right now. He won't be in on Sunday," he says as he pauses.
"That's right Jasper said Esme still has her Sunday family dinners," I said with a small smile. He only nodded his head. I quietly said good-bye and kissed him again before walking past Billy as he rolled into the room to visit.
I felt horrible driving back to Charlie's house for being so mean to my dad. I knew he liked Edward when we became friends, but it was always unsettling how close they were when it came to me. It had been a long day and I was still trying to digest everything when I pulled in next to Sam's car in the driveway. I got out of the Audi and could see Sam, Emily and the twins emerging from the forest behind my dad's house. It was funny watching them like they were a real family. I always wanted Carlie and Emmalin to have a dad, but I didn't like dating and after Edward I found it hard to picture myself with another man. The moment Carlie saw me she took off running from them to me.
"Momma," she called as she ran into me almost pushing me over.
"Carlie, baby did you enjoy yourself this afternoon with Ms. Emily," I ask as Emmalin walks up to us trailed behind by Sam and Emily.
"Bella they were just wonderful. I have never seen such well mannered or well behaved children as your two," Emily said as she ruffled up their hair. I smiled knowing that they were always well behaved.
"Thank you, for a moment there I thought they might forget their manners and run amuck once I left. Yet I am glad that they did behave," I say as I pick up Carlie and Emmalin grabs my free hand. We all walk back to the house as I silver Volvo speeds by the house. Once we get inside Emmalin walks into the kitchen as I follow with Carlie. I sit her on the counter and grab two waters out of the fridge and give each of the girls one.
"Momma, how is Grandpa Charlie doing," Emmalin asks as she reaches for my arm.
"He hoped to see his favorite two monkeys, but settled on seeing his only daughter," I say as Emily waves good-bye and leaves with Sam. I notice she left her number on the fridge in case I needed it.
I fixed an early dinner for us and then got the girls ready for bed. I had made up my old bed but I felt like I needed to be closer to my dad so I put fresh linens on his bed and put the girls down in it. Emmalin went to sleep fast probably from all the events of the day, but Carlie didn't fall asleep until well after nine thirty. I slipped out of bed and called the office in New York to let my boss know I got in safely and to do some business. Before I knew it I was calling an all too familiar phone number.
"Hello," came a woman's voice.
"Hello. I was wondering if Mrs. Cullen was in," I quickly asked.
"This is Mrs. Cullen," the voice replied.
"Oh, Esme I'm so sorry," I start as I let the tears fall freely.
"No, this is Rosalie Cullen," she says.
"Please forgive me I thought this was her number," I mumble.
"It is. She's in the kitchen. Let me take the phone to her," she replies softly.
"Hello," says the familiar voice of my second mother.
"Oh, Esme I'm so glad to hear your voice. I've made a mistake out of things" I begin to cry harder now.
"Bella, oh sweetie, it's going to be alright. Are you at Charlie's?" she questions as if I'd be somewhere else.
"Yes," was all I could mutter.
"I'll be there in fifteen minutes," she replies and hangs up. I decide to go fix a pot of hot water and get out the cups and sit them on the coffee table in the living room. It felt like an eternity waiting for her. Then I heard the sound of a car drive up the driveway and doors close. Esme wasn't alone. I felt fear creep up into my stomach. There was a soft knock on the front door and I got up to answer it. I wasn't surprised to see Rosalie and Alice with her. They all engulfed me with hugs and kisses as we made our way into the small living room.
"I'm so glad you came home," Esme restates giving my knee a tight squeeze.
"I am too," I say smiling.
"I can't believe you just disappeared five years ago. You didn't even say good-bye," Alice speaks up. I felt ashamed for the way that I had left.
"I know I left things a mess for all of us," I whisper quietly. We talked about everything in our families except for the twins and Edward. I wasn't quite ready to tell them, but it seemed fate was working against me on that one.
"Momma," Carlie calls as she enters the room with huge eyes as she takes in the three women that she knows but ha only seen in pictures.
"Carlie, you should be in bed," I whisper as she joins us in the living room. My eyes move around the three women as they look at her. They were now speechless from the sight of this little girl.
"Momma, they're the ladies from the picture…," I cut her off before she could say anything more.
"Carlie, this is Esme Cullen and her two daughters Rosalie Cullen and Alice Hale," I say as I motion to the women in front of us.
"Your daughter is beautiful," Rosalie says breaking the awkward silence.
"Are they the women the man on the plane was talking about?" Carlie questions.
"Yes, Alice is Mr. Jasper's wife," I simply state.
"That explains why Jasper was acting strange when I went to pick him up. I couldn't figure out for the life of me why he wanted to rush out of the airport when we usually take our time and get coffee," Alice said with a small pout.
"I asked him not to tell you. I wasn't sure if I was ready for the whole confrontation of my disappearing and all," I say as I stand up.
"He lied to me," she finally says as she sticks her bottom lip out forming a wider pout. I decide to ignore her.
"Carlie, say good-night, then go back upstairs and get back into bed with Emmalin," I say into her ear so they couldn't hear me and then I place a small kiss on her forehead. Then I watch as Carlie walks back up the stairs. I knew I would have to turn around at some point so I did.
"Is she the reason you left," Rosalie snaps.
"One of them," I whisper.
What do you mean 'one of them'?" she spats at me.
"Forget it. You wouldn't understand," I call back.
"I wouldn't understand. Try me you broke my brother's heart. You took his life away from him. You weren't around as he lost himself, as he went crazy because you ran away. We had t watch him fall apart – he was empty for a whole year before he just gave up on you and finally moved on. Oh yeah, I wouldn't understand Isabella Swan. I possible couldn't understand why you did it," she spat out lounging for me. I backed up and bumped into something small.
Our yelling had brought Emmalin and Carlie down. Both girls had tears in their eyes and were panicked at what was going on. I had never raised my voice before, nor yelled at some one in front of them for that matter. I heard Alice and Esme both gasp when they saw them. I stood up quickly and put myself between the Cullen's and my two little girls.
"I want you guys out of this house right now," I say trying to keep my voice steady.
"Bella," Alice starts. I just turn from her and point to the front door. Esme lets a few tears fall down her face as they walk out the door. I hear some of their muttering before they get into the car.
"They look just like Edward," Alice blurts out.
"Whatever," Rosalie spats.
"Rose, you could have been nicer. We don't know what went on with them back then. We could lose her once again before Edward even knows she's here," Esme calmly states.
I didn't hear anymore of their conversation because they were now in their car driving off. I panicked and began racing around gathering food and drinks all the while packing up the girls things. I couldn't stay in this house and let them tell Edward and him show up. No I had to get out of here before they had the chance to do that. I packed up most of our things and placed them in the trunk of the car and then got the girls in and drove to the nearby hotel. It was a block from the hospital and the grocery store. So I wouldn't have to drive anywhere thankfully.
The hotel manager quickly checked me in and gave me the rundown of the rules and regulations for the hotel. Then he helped me with my bags and the twins before going back into the front office. I was thankful the little room had a small kitchen setup. I placed our food on the counter and the drinks in the fridge. Then I gathered up my two girls and got into bed.
For the first time since I had them I cried myself to see wondering if I did the right thing all those years ago. I knew they heard me but they never once said anything. Eventually sleep took over and I slept. It was a Tuesday night when we checked in and for four days I kept the girls and myself holed up in a small and tiny hotel room out of fear.
Over the last four days I got several calls from Billy Black wondering where I disappeared to. My dad even called me trying to figure out why Billy couldn't find me. Then there were calls from Alice and Esme both wanting me to come over to visit. Esme even invited me to their Sunday family time, but for some reason I didn't feel like that was where I belonged anymore. I knew it was Sunday and thankfully I could go to see Charlie since Edward would be at his parents' house.
I felt childish and immature hiding and waiting for this all to just blow over knowing that it never would. It has been a while since we went out of the room and we needed some food so we quickly got dressed and walked outside into the breezy air. I walked behind the twins as they skipped in front of me to the grocery store. I laughed a couple of times as they linked their arms together and swung them in the air.
Once we entered the store I got a cart and went to the fresh fruits to get some oranges and bananas. Those were the girls' favorite. As we were heading down the bread isle someone's cart crashed into ours. As I looked up shocked my heart jumps as I look at the one person I have avoid with a passion for five years lip locking with the one person I hate the most. This was the last person in Forks I wanted to run into today of all days.
A/N: Okay this is the second chapter for today. I will try to post once a week, but only if I get several reviews. I want to hear if you like the story, hate it what ever you would like to say.-jaymelynn143