Ch.27
"Monday." I groaned as I pulled my red tank top over my head.
"Just 2 more weeks and it's summer vacation." Edward said. He was laying across our bed tossing a tennis ball in the air and catching it.
"I was thinking of going to Forks. Renesmee has been asking about everyone, especially Jacob." I tugged my jeans on, and threw a black camisole on. "Plus Sue has been bugging me to help with the wedding."
"That sounds like a good idea." Edward agreed.
Renesmee skipped through the doorway, and jumped on the bed bouncing around Edward. "Forks! Jakey, Grandpa, Sue, Seth, Emily, Billy…" She sang out everyone's name that she knew. Edward sat up, and yanked her down across his lap tickling her sides. She squealed, and wiggled under his tough. I stood watching them, and laughed.
"Can we bring Alyssa?" Renesmee asked after she caught her breath. She was now curled up in Edwards arms.
"We'll have to ask her grandma." I said, and clapped my hands together. "Ok, we got to go."
Edward stood with Renesmee still in his arms, and moved her so she was sitting on his shoulders. He ducked out the door, and we headed across the street.
School went by much easier since Zack seemed to back off. He always saved his conversations for math, but kept them casual. As soon as the bell would ring he walked right past me at my locker. I couldn't figure out if it was because of Emmett, Jasper, or Edward always meeting me. Or if it was because he finally got the fact that I was taken. Either way I didn't care.
After school Renesmee bounced around the kitchen as Esme talked on the phone. "Did she say yes? Huh? Grandma!" Renesmee tugged on Esme's shirt.
"They didn't even answer the phone yet sweetheart."
"What's taking so long?"
"Relax honey. Go bug your uncle's, and I'll come get you-." Esme put the phone back to her ear, "Hi this is Nessie's mom." I shifted in the chair as I listened to the phone conversation. Renesmee skipped passed me calling out for Jasper and Emmett.
"May I ask to whom I'm speaking to?" There was a pause, and Esme nodded. "Ahh yes, hello April. Is Alyssa's grandmother available? My family and I are going on a little trip, and Ness would love to have Alyssa accompany us." Esme's face became serious as she slumped into the chair across from me. "I understand. I was under the impression that you were the babysitter, and she was under the guardianship of her grandmother."
I strained to hear the other end of the conversation, but I just heard low mumbling sounds. I watched the pain on Esme's face twist and turn as she listened for what seemed like hours.
"Yes, I see, well thank you very much. I'll be in touch as the time comes closer." Esme glared up at me wide eyed. "Yes, you too. Bye now.
"What was that all about?" I asked as soon as she hung up the phone.
"Well, April is not her babysitter. She's caring for Alyssa's grandmother. She's a friend of the family. Turns out her grandmother has cancer, and they're not sure how much longer she has left."
"Poor little girl. She lost her parents, and now her grandma." I felt bad for her.
"No. Poor little girl isn't the right word. Bella, April told me what happened to her parents." Esme put her head on the table, and it looked as if she was crying.
I got up to walk over to her, and knelt down next to her chair. "What happened to them?"
"They were shopping downtown one night about 2 years ago… Bella, they were victims of the 'gang killings'."
"Victoria." We both whispered at the same time.
"No!" I stood up clamping my hands to my mouth. Esme stood up, and took me in her arms. "Because of me." I whispered into her shoulder.
"Don't say that."
I pushed away from her, "Why not?! It's true! Esme that innocent little girl lost both her parents because a vampire was after me!!" I was gasping for unnecessary air.
I didn't realize when everyone piled into the kitchen obviously listening in on our conversation.
"Bella, it was something that none of us could control." Carlisle said rubbing my back. "Relax, dear." He pleaded kissing the back of my hair.
I felt a hand on my arm, and it pulled me out of Esme's arms. Edward wrapped his arms around me as I continued crying tearlessly.
"Why is mommy so sad?" Renesmee asked clung to Emmett's back. Her hair was windblown from them playing outside.
"Nothing you need to worry about baby." Edward's voice was soft, and it calmed me.
"Alyssa?" She asked looking at Esme.
"She has permission to come with us." Esme smiled when Renesmee clapped her hands cheering.
Later that night I laid in Edwards arms. I was trailing designs with my fingers up and down his chest. "I feel like I killed them."
"Shh…" Edward held me tighter. "You did nothing wrong. It wasn't them that we…" he sighed, "Stop thinking about it. It was a long time ago. Surely Alyssa got over it. She seems like a happy little girl."
"I just wish there was something I could do to make it better."
"Your letting her become good friends with our daughter. I think that's plenty." Edward assured me.
"Was that the vision Alice had?"
"No, that wasn't it. We didn't know that till Esme got off the phone." Edward lifted my face to meet his and kissed me softly. I was still tense in his arms, and he moved his lips over to my ear, and hummed my lullaby to me. I relaxed, and shut my eyes listening.
The next day was a warm sunny day, and I was extremely thankful that I didn't have to go to school. "Hunting trip?" Edward asked when I walked back inside with Esme from putting Renesmee on the bus. We hung up our jackets, and put our hats away.
"Sounds good to me." Esme smiled.
"Lets do it!" Emmett added.
"I'm not going." The thought of killing anything right now made me feel uneasy.
"Love, you have to eat something." Edward said rubbing the dark circles under my eyes. "It's been quite a while since the last time you hunted."
I pushed his hand away. "I don't feel like eating."
"Then come for the fresh air. I don't want you sitting here alone." I didn't seem to have a choice being that Edward was dragging me out the back door. The others followed behind.
"I really don't-" I was about to protest, but Edward grabbed me and threw me onto his back. He held me tight as he ran. "I can run just as fast as you, you do know that right?"
"I know, but I just wanted to make sure you weren't going to cut out on me. Plus this brings back some memories." He smiled turning his head to look at me out of the corner of his eye.
I kissed his neck, and held on tighter. I did enjoy being on his back as he ran. I almost felt human again, without the motion sickness.
"Please Bella." Edward pleaded with me. I sat at the base of a large tree watching everyone drinking their pray dry.
"I don't want to." I hugged my knees to my chest. Edward disappeared into the trees behind me, and came back with a elk. I stared at the elk half dead in his arms.
"I don't want your leftovers." I said shaking my head.
"I just bit him so I could bring it back to you." He dropped it in front of me. "Now drink." He stared into my eyes. "For me?" He asked smiling my favorite smile.
I rolled my eyes, and moved so I was on my knees. I bent over the twitching animal, and sunk my teeth into his neck.
When I was done I wiped my mouth clean, and leaned back against the tree. "Happy?" I asked licking my lips.
"Very, thank you." He said bending down to kiss me.
"It's almost time to get Ness off the bus." Esme informed us as she walked up behind us.
We headed back home. This time I ran alongside Edward, hand in hand.
The thought of Alice's vision was driving me insane. I stood up pacing the living room floor. I noticed everyone's eyes were on me. "Bella, is something wrong?" Carlisle asked standing up, and stepping in front of me to stop me.
"Alice's vision. What was it? I know it was about Alyssa." I lowered my voice when I noticed Renesmee watching me.
"It's not a matter we need to dis-"
"Don't give me that crap Carlisle! Does something happen to her?" I asked. Then turned my attention to Alice. "Why are you keeping this from me?"
"From all of us." Rosalie stood to stand next to me. I didn't realize nobody else knew what the vision was besides Carlisle, Esme, and Alice.
"We don't need to discuss it now. We have a few things we need to take care of before." Alice looked from Rosalie to me.
"Nice Alice." I turned to walk away, but she grabbed my arm.
"Don't be mad at me! I don't want to say. Not till things get cleared up. I don't want to get someone's hopes up." I just rolled my eyes, and turned to walk out of the living room.
"Bella wait!" Alice called after me. I heard her ask permission from Carlisle. When he agreed Alice called me back into the living room.
"Esme, why don't you take Renesmee hunting." Carlisle suggested. Esme nodded and took Renesmee's hand.
"But I want to stay! What's going on?" Renesmee asked Esme.
"Grandpa just has to talk to everyone for a minute."
"I never get to stay for the good stuff." Renesmee pouted.
"When your older you can sit in with us."
"Everyone always says that." Renesmee said as Esme shut the door behind them.
"So?" I asked turning back to look at Alice.
"Sit." Carlisle told me pointing to the empty spot between Rosalie and Edward. I slumped down into the couch all of us silent as Alice and Carlisle exchanged glances.
"Ok, well as you all know, Alyssa's grandmother is not doing so good at the moment. I've worked on her a few times in the hospital, and I honestly don't think she's going to make it another week or so. Alice's vision showed her growing up with us. As in Esme and I being her real foster parents, but that's not what we want. We cant raise a human girl in a house full of vampires."
"Why not? We have Renesmee, and Alyssa is here all the time." Rosalie pointed out.
"Well, we thought about that, and I made some phone calls. When her grandmother passes she will most likely end up in a foster home." Carlisle paused looking at all of our faces. "With some thinking, I have decided we owe it to her. Esme and I will play out as her foster parents for now, but," He paused again looking only at Rosalie. I heard her suck in a sharp breath. "We would like you and Emmett to raise her."
"Carlisle!" Rosalie gasped smiling widely.
"We will have to move again once the paper work is finalized. When it is We will start over. Papers will be drawn up for the two of you," Carlisle pointed to Emmett and Rosalie. "to be Alyssa's official foster parents."
"I think it's a great idea!" I shouted standing up and hugging Rosalie.
Rosalie looked at Emmett, and he kissed her, "I like it." He said smiling at her.
"Really?" Her eyes were wide.
"If that's what you want, and more importantly if that's what Alyssa wants." Emmett said kissing her lips once more.
"That's what I want!" Rosalie's voice cracked.
"Ok then. I'll get things straightened out. As for now we go along as if nothing's changed." Carlisle said, and we all agreed.