12
CHRISTMAS VACATION
Soon we were on our way to Colorado and I was more nervous of actually seeing Renee than telling her about Aro.
Edward knew I was concerned and he massaged my neck and shoulders to ease my tension.
"Bella, Renee won't suspect anything different about you other than your accent; you'll be fine, we'll be there before them and you can dress in our room before they arrive, everyone will be watching and I know you can handle her just as you handle any human; we'll talk to her the first night and tell her about Aro, I'll know her thoughts after that and I'll tell you what they are, you'll have to explain your accent just as you did Charlie, are you ok about everything?" he asked.
"Yes Edward I'll be fine so long as you stay with me," I said.
I won't leave your side my love, you can rest assured," he said smiling at me and making me smile back.
"I love you Edward," I said with a look of longing and I snuggled closer to him.
We arrived at the lodge and Edward and Emma whisked me off to our room, Emma proceeded to unpack, her room could be accessed through another door in our room and she bustled back and forth between the two rooms.
Edward claimed me to himself and we were soon in bed making love as discretely as possible, of course she knew what we were doing but ignored us, and then she went to her room to get ready; leaving us alone.
Alice came in later as we were lying quietly together, she knew Edward was calming me down and didn't complain when she saw us.
"Did Emma leave you alone for a while?" she asked.
I nodded.
"Do you feel calm now and ready to face Renee?" she asked.
"Yes," I answered.
"Renee is here and already asking where you are, Esme is chatting with her but we told her you're resting with Edward and still need to rest a lot because of you're recuperation," Alice said, "Which is true," she added meaningfully. "Carlisle doesn't want to give you a sedative because it affects you too strongly but Jasper will calm you when you come down stairs."
"I feel calm now, Alice, Edward's making me feel relaxed," I said and Edward kissed me.
"Very well, you can stay here until dinner and then come down. Emma will come in when it's time to dress, it's a buffet style meal, so no one will notice how little we eat; I planned how to handle the food situation for the two weeks, all of us will take small plates of food, Emma will help you eat yours because I'm sure Renee will notice if you don't eat; Emma will fill up your plate as often as necessary to allay suspicion, I'll see you later," then she left and Edward made love to me again.
Emma came in later.
"Sorry to disturb you dears but it's time to get ready," she said smiling.
We showered and dressed, Emma fixed my hair and we went down stairs, I wore jeans and a turtle neck sweater with a thick chunky sweater over it, the sleeves even covered my hands. Renee rushed over and hugged me.
"Bella you look so pale," she said immediately.
"Mom I've been through a rough time and it made me sick," I said.
"What kind of an accent is that?" she asked, "What happened to your voice?"
"I just spent over a month in Italy to recuperate and I learned to read and speak Italian, I will be spending a lot of time there in the future," I said.
"Why Italy?" she asked.
Edward introduced me to a wonderful man there and he's teaching me many things including Italian," I said, "His name is Aro," I added smiling as I thought about his love for me.
Renee didn't miss that but didn't say anything.
"You didn't tell me you were going to Italy," she said accusingly.
"Mom I'm a big girl and a married woman, do I need to tell you everything? I did answer all your E-mails but I didn't think it important to inform you of everything," I said.
She looked at me strangely, knowing there was something I wasn't telling her.
"Did Edward go with you?" she asked.
"Yes Mom, Edward and Alice took me there," I said, "We went immediately after Jacob's wedding and I just returned a week ago. Carlisle spent some time there too," I added.
"Carlisle was there?" she was still suspicious.
"Yes Mom, Carlisle is my doctor and I was sick, he came to check on me but he also had other business to attend to," I hoped that would satisfy her but then she asked the question I'd hoped to avoid.
"Did Edward and Alice stay with you? I thought Edward had school," she said.
I decided to be truthful and Edward put his arm around me.
"No Mom, Edward and Alice left me with Aro because Edward had school and Alice returned to Jasper, I've been taking home study courses and I continued them there, Carlisle spent many years in Italy before coming to the USA, he trusted Aro to take good care of me and I'm fine. Edward and I missed each other very much and I'm very happy to be back with him, will you please stop giving me the third degree and lets enjoy our vacation," I was exasperated by now.
"I missed you Bella and you could have recuperated with me," she said.
"Mom could you teach me Italian? Aro wanted to see me, he had heard a lot about me and I told you I'm going back and forth to Italy in the near future, I'll be going back straight from here after our vacation and Edward and I may end up living there for a while."
She would have continued but Esme took her attention away from me, while Edward took my attention away from her, we moved over near Emma and she squeezed my hand.
"You did well Bella," she whispered.
Charlie came over to us; he'd been conversing with Alice.
"Was Renee giving you a hard time?" he asked.
"Yes Dad as usual," we laughed.
"Alice tells me you benefited greatly from your trip to Italy," he said.
"Yes Dad and in many ways," I said, "Renee could never have taught me all I learned from Aro."
Edward smiled at me knowingly.
That night Edward and I went to Renee's room as we had planned and caused her to dream, I told her Aro loved me and we slept together because I loved him too, I conjured a picture of him in her mind and I told her Aro and I planned to live as man and wife when I was in Italy but I mostly would be with Edward. I told her Edward and I still loved each other and he was aware of my relationship with Aro and he approved, Edward was in her dream to confirm my intentions; we kissed each other in her dream and then left.
In the morning Renee looked at me strangely just as Aro had predicted and I nodded to her and smiled, Edward kissed me then I looked at Renee and she nodded her head at me, giving me her approval.
The rest of our vacation passed without incident. Renee learned that Emma was my personal attendant, sent to me by Aro to help take care of me and she was my constant companion; Renee was impressed, Renee was also impressed when Edward and I played a duet on the piano there and when we spoke Italian together; she was amazed at my dancing abilities and how fast I was able to ski with very little instruction.
"I can't believe how much you've changed," she said, "You've become quite a lady and seem more beautiful and confident than you ever were; this marriage to Edward and obviously Aro's attention has made a huge difference, Phil and I are impressed."
I smiled my dazzling smile at her and gave her a big hug.
Edward and I spent all our time together, we were never apart; it was like we were stuck like glue. Nights were the best when we were alone, I longed to be back at our home again, just the two of us, and of course Emma.
"I want to go home with you so much," I told him, "away from everyone else,"
"We'll be together as soon as you return from your visit with Aro, love," Edward said, I sighed because I wanted it to happen sooner.
On Christmas Day we had our gift exchange and Renee couldn't believe I bought her a gift besides the vacation, everyone enjoyed themselves but soon it was time to leave and more importantly it was time for me to leave Edward again.
"Edward I can't stand to leave you again so soon," I said.
"It's only for the weekend and I'll be gone hunting anyway, I'll come and pick you all at the airport on Monday and don't forget Alice and Rosalie will be there too." His eyes were black and I knew he was right.
"I probably won't see them much because Aro won't let me out of his sight," I sighed.
"Are you sad at the thought of being with him?" Edward asked.
"No I don't mind being with him, I like his attention to me, but I'll miss you so much and even Aro's love making won't change that," I said.
"Do you enjoy his love making?" Edward asked, concerned.
"His love making pleases me and yes I enjoy it very much, but I enjoy yours better because it's you, my very wonderful husband. He kissed me.
"Aro needs you now so make him happy and the time will soon pass, don't forget to E-mail Renee when you get there," he said.
"I'm so relieved she knows about Aro and me but I still love you more," I said.
He laughed, "Come home to me soon love, I'll see you Monday." Then he was gone.
Emma took me down to Alice and Rosalie. Our bags had been packed and some went home with the guys while the rest went with us, we had already said goodbye to my parents and soon we were on the plane back to Volterra and Aro.