A/N: Ok, I got you all a 'Surprise' today...wrote so much I had to divide it into two chapters...Need not worry...going to post them both...
They will be EPOV in the first one...Lots going on here...that's why so much written...it's definitely getting tense between these two...
NOW...I owe the BIGGEST thanks to my beta for these two chapters, Arc Morpheus...she has been absolutely wonderful...I wrote a mess & she worked her magic...she is my wifey, after all...mwah !
All copyrights are still SM...Dang it...
So, what do you say we get on with the chapter...Hold on to your knickers, panties, whatever your wearing...unless your going 'commando'...hehehehe
CHAPTER 9
TRIP HOME, DISCOVERING PICS, SESSION OF THERAPY
TWO LIVES, TWO HEARTS,
JOINED TOGETHER,
UNITED FOREVER IN LOVE
~UNKNOWN~
~EPOV~
Finally, a very much earned vacation. I am so tired, and a break to anywhere would be greatly enjoyed, but I think it is time for me to go home. My parents' would want me to use it to get away from all the madness...to the peace and quiet it has to offer. I miss them so much, and yet I still can not come to terms with their being taken from me through such a senseless accident which shouldn't have happened. But, how was the poor man in the other car suppose to know he would have a heart attack and end up taking two innocent peoples' lives, along with his own. It was all to much to take...still to much to take, to even think about at all. After six years it's time to go home and hopefully it won't hold to many bad memories of their loss. That's why I've not wanted to come back...until now. It's almost as if they are calling me to come home.
It will be a good place to get some peace and quiet and hopefully some well earned rest. I've had it maintained all this time...hopefully it won't need too much done to it for our stay. I can also call in the caretakers my parents' used while they were alive. They have been keeping the inside of the house clean and in working order. It will be good to see them again.
Upon arriving at the Nashville Airport we are escorted to a gate leading to the airfield. We're led up to a private jet, as we start to get out of our vehicles Emmett comes up to us.
"Well, I have managed to arrange through a buddy of mine to take you to Seattle. Nick, can you arrange for your company to have some of your people with transportation waiting at the other end?" Emmett asks.
Nick looks at Emmett with a kind of surprised expression, "Yes, I'll give them a call before we leave so they can sort all the details out and meet us as soon as we land. Emmett, I don't know what to say except thank you "
"Hey, that's what we do...help each other when we're needed. It's not a problem, man," Emmett says with a shrug.
"Emmett, I would like to offer you a job working strictly for me...not through Nick's company. Just strictly for me. I'll provide you with a good salary, help you get relocated out here, and even find you a place to live, together with anything else you would need. You just don't know how much this means to me, and I'm very impressed how you got this done so quickly. A man like you...I'd be totally stupid not to snap up ," I say sounding a little anxious.
"Well Edward, I would be more than glad to accept your offer, except I got Rose out here and I really don't want to leave her," Emmett said hesitantly.
Edward sounding very determined, "Emmett, tell Rose I will even invest and get her another garage, or whatever it is she does. I'd be like her silent partner. Make sure she has everything she needs...that's just how much I really want you to come to work for me. But, I do truly understand, so you go talk to her, and tell her the offer to ...help her franchise." Edward starts laughing.
Emmett just stands there shaking his head and tells Edward he will talk to Rose about everything he has proposed, and let him know.
"Emmett, it has been an honor to have you taking care of my ass, and I really hope you will give my offer some serious consideration. Just call me, and let me know something as soon as you can, alright, and call me no matter what hour of the day or night as soon as you have any info on Bella, ok?" Edward says sounding disappointed.
Emmett says he will call him as soon as possible, and they all start to board the jet. Finally airborne, I start to relax, I'm finally going home...I just wish I had Bella with me. Damn it, I hate this feeling of leaving her, but at least I got some information about her to tide me over. I know her name, and I know where she lives...that's more than I had when I came out here. All I had were dreams, but now I know she's real...thank God. For a bit there I thought I was going crazy...but she is real, and more beautiful than I ever imagined. Oh Bella, why do you fight at us being together...let me love you...as I feel I have so many times before. But, why is it that I feel that way...as if she has been in my life...forever.
Slowly I drift off to sleep, and there she is with a smile on her face, and those brown eyes looking at me and I feel as if I can see right down into her soul...and all the love.
About thirty minutes before we are to land in Seattle, Nick wakes me up and tells me we are almost there, and that they have transportation waiting on us to go to Forks straight from the airport.
"Thanks Nick, for doing all this for me. I just needed the break, or they were just about to break me. Uh, have you taken care of the bill for us being brought out here?" I say as I am stretching and trying to get awake.
"Yes, I took care of it, so we'll be ready to leave as soon as we land," Nick answers reassuringly.
I gather my stuff up, and see I had put the journal out next to me while I slept. So, I pick it up, hold it close to me just , I wish it was her I was holding. I reach for my bag, tucking it inside carefully and go towards the front to one of the seats and prepare to land.
Upon landing, I thank the pilot personally for the relaxing flight and bringing us home, I walk out to the vehicle they have waiting for us. I glance down to see what time it is, and decide it is not to late to call the caretakers of the house. I pull out my cell phone and call them, and with much enthusiasm they welcome me home and tell me everything is ready at the house. That they will bring groceries in the morning around seven o'clock. I assure them that will be fine,and that there is only going to be three, maybe four of us at the house. I tell them good night and I look forward to seeing them both in the morning.
As we pull into the drive up to the house I begin to feel apprehensive about even going inside, but I gather my scattered thoughts, take a deep breath and just know my parents' would be glad I was coming home, at last. So I close my eyes, take another deep breath as we pull up to a stop in front of the house.
Everything is going to be alright...I really am home.
Nick goes about unlocking the house and disarming the security system, as everyone else goes about getting our bags out of the car. I can only stand there and stare up at the house, imagining my parents' being home greeting us all. But, I am alone is this venture. So, with a deep breath I step into the house and it feels good to be here, bringing back a lot of memories...lots' of happy times. Nick looks at me questionably,
"Edward, are you alright?"
"Sure, I just need a little bit of time, maybe walk around and get the feel of the house, check the grounds, and see if there is anything here to eat. Someone may have to make a run to a restaurant, or grocery store to kind of hold us over until tomorrow. The caretakers said they would be bringing groceries over about seven in the morning. Please, go ahead and take your stuff up to your rooms," I answer reassuringly.
As they take off for in search of the bedrooms upstairs, I take a slow walk through the downstairs. They have definitely been taking care of everything. It all looks as if someone had been living here the whole time. As I walk into the living room, I glance around and see they have wood piled up for the fireplace, fresh flowers...and then my eyes settle on a grouping of family pictures. I pick up one of my parents where they were on their 20th wedding anniversary, both of them smiling and looking at each other with love just radiating from their eyes to each other. They were very fortunate to have found each other, and had so much love and time together.
I continued to look over the pictures, recognizing a lot of family members and some friends of the family...many Christmases, birthdays'...any excuse for taking pictures. There must be boxes full of them somewhere in this house. Got to remember to ask Elle if she has any idea where they might be stored. Smiling, I can remember Elle and Henry ...her cooking, which was always wonderful and filling the house with such wonderful aromas. Henry, working out in the yard, and taking care of the automobiles...I wonder if they are still all out there in the garages and in running order. Something else I need to check out tomorrow.
God, I am suddenly very tired, but I just want to see everything grabbing hold of any memories...even making some of my own...with Bella in this house turning it into a home. I feel as if I should never have left and came here. I should have stayed and went to Knoxville...tried to talk to her and try to make her see it would be so much better for us to try to figure this out together.
Suddenly I feeling of tiredness returns with a vengeance, all I can think of is going to bed, but I need to make sure they go get something to eat for us, at least. Then, I am crashing.I hear the guys coming back downstairs, and holler to let them know where I 'm at. Then I ask Nick if they noticed anything open that we might grab us a bite to eat, and he said there was a diner in town that was open, and I kind of laughed.
"Nick, I would have been surprised if you had said that it wasn't. They have pretty good food, if you and Ron or whoever feels like running down and get us something to hold us over until the morning. I just want a cheeseburger and fries, and a coke, my usual, and I suggest anything on their menu as it is really good."
Daniel and Ron decide to make the run, and Nick and I wander off into the kitchen where we go about grabbing plates and silverware all ready for when they get back. Nick and I sit at the breakfast bar, and nick ask apprehensively.
"Edward, are you sure you are alright with this? I know it's got to be hard coming here after what, almost seven years?"
I look at him with a solemn look,nodding, "Yes, it is hard, as I feel they are still here and I'm just waiting for them to come walking down the stairs and joining us in the kitchen, but I know it's not going to happen. I know they are gone, and being here now I realize I've just kind of accepted it. What else can I do."
They finally arrive back with the food, and after everyone getting separated and ready to eat...well, I must say, they surely were hungry, or the food must have really been good. After everyone has finished eating, it's almost like all at once we all lean back in our seats with a very content expression. After cleaning up the kitchen and loading the dishwasher, I tell them they are welcome to stay up...that there is a wide screen TV in the family room, or there is a game room right off that. I just tell them I am very tired and I'm calling it a night. As I descend the stairs, there are more family pictures...well, actually portraits that were painted of each of us and then the family as a whole, all the way to the top of the stairs.
I find my way to my bedroom, go into the bathroom, brush my teeth, and decide to just put on something comfortable and go straight to bed. As I pull the covers down and climb into bed, it's almost as if I can feel my mother coming in to tuck me into bed. Pulling the covers up tight I don't even have time to think of anything before I slip off into a deep sleep.
At some point during the night I am awakened by a light feathery touch upon my cheek, and as I open my eyes trying to focus on what it is...I see Bella lying beside me, touching my cheek with her fingertips and a slight look of 'awe' upon her face. I slowly reach out and take my fingertip and run it across her lips, then brush her cheek. We seem to stay frozen like this until I see a tear run down her cheek before landing on her pillow. I go to touch her again, and she is gone.
I lay there for a few minutes thinking about what just happened and the look on her face, and the gentle touches we were giving each other, and that one lone tear. This is breaking my heart...I just don't know how much more I can take without taking action of my own. But, I lay back and try to picture her face as I fall back to sleep.
Bright and early the next morning I take a quick shower, find me some clothes and start down the stairs to the kitchen where I can smell the wonderful aroma of coffee, and breakfast being cooked. Before I even have a good chance of rounding the corner Elle comes running up to me just grabbing me up into a big hug and saying enthusticatically,
"My Edward is home. It is so good to see you. How about some breakfast...anything you want. I did go ahead and make some of your favorites, but if you want anything else, just let me know. Oh, I am just so happy yo finally see you. I can hardly wait for Henry to get his butt in here. He is just not going to believe his eyes' how much you have changed. So handsome, and those darn pictures everywhere just don't do you any justice. Come on, sit down, let me get you something to eat. You sure look like you could use it...your entirely to skinny."
I just look at her with a big smile, and give her a hug back saying,
"Elle, you need to calm down. I'm not going anywhere for a while, and I know we got a lot of catching up to do. So, you go back to what ever you were doing and anything you cook will be just fine. Your cooking was always wonderful. Now, I've got to have a cup of that wonderful smelling coffee."
As I walk around to the cabinet to grab a cup the other guys' are looking at me shaking their heads and smiling, and laughing at me.
"What?" I ask with a smirk on my face.
Nick trying to stifle a laugh, "Edward, you'd think Elle might have missed you a little bit! Dang, I wish I could get a greeting like that when I finally got to go home."
Meanwhile, I take a look at Daniel and Ron, and they just burst out laughing.
"Now, I'll have you three clowns know Elle was like my second mom, so don't even go there or I'll show you how she can clean a kitchen out in a hurry. Isn't that right, Elle?" I say confidently.
"You got it, Edward. I'll show them how it's done proper," she says with a smirk on her face.
I just walk over and take a chair at the bar, shaking my head at the bunch of them, and drink my coffee. Finally the herd converges on the plates Elle has sat down loaded with everything imaginable for breakfast. Within the blink of an eye they are totally cleaned off. You might have thought we were just a little bit hungry. Elle says she will have dinner ready for us about six that evening, and no, she was not telling us what she had planned.
After breakfast the guys' head for the game room, and I corner Elle and ask her to sit down and have a cup of coffee with me.
"Elle, I was just looking at the family pictures sitting around last night, and was just wondering if there might be a bunch of them in storage some where," I ask inquisitively.
She gets a puzzled look on her face and finally says, "Sure sweetie, there are a bunch of them in boxes in the attic. Your mother was always taking pictures of everything and everyone at every kind of occasion. Why did you ask?"
"I'm not real sure,but I would like a chance to look through them if it's not a problem," I say.
"Sure sweetie. I'll get Henry..." she starts to say.
"No, if you'll just show me where they might be I'll get one of the guy's to help me, and just show me where would be the best place to take them. No sense in getting Henry to do it, when I can get one of those lazy oaf's to help me with it," I say reassuringly.
I grab Daniel and we follow Elle upstairs to the third floor to where there are stairs leading to the attic. We manage to get it open, and surprisingly it is rather clean...not a lot of dust, but Elle came prepared, and handed me a dust rag. Daniel and I managed to get the six boxes down the stairs, and Elle led me to a room that looked to be a small office. There's a rather large desk and chair, plus one wall covered with bookcases. It looks like it might have been a small office my mother might have used...for what, I have no idea.
Daniel and I sit the boxes down beside the desk, I take one of them and sit it beside my chair. I tell Daniel to go on back and join the others' as I'm going to stay and look through a couple of the boxes. Elle asked me if I would like for her to bring me something to drink while I was up here in this dusty mess, and I assured her I would be fine.
"I'm just going to go through maybe a box or two then I'll be down...promise,"I reassured her calmly. She just nodded and smiled at me then went on downstairs .
As soon as I opened the first box, I was immediately assaulted with pictures of my family, which flooded me with a mixture of strong feelings of love and warmth. But, I also felt there was something else in here in one of these boxes I was meant to find...so grabbing a pile of them I placed them on the desk, I started going through them slowly and thoughtfully...looking for anything really.
Halfway through the first box, I just got a feeling that this was not the box I needed to be spending my time on. I reached for the second box in the other stack. Something was drawing almost calling me to it, so I put the pictures from the first box back in their box, and grabbed the other one...and a wave of emotions seemed to take over my body and mind. It was as if I was fixing to find an answer to part of what was going on in my life and it was right here all along.
I began to pull a stack of the pictures and prints out and slowly made my way through them looking very closely at each one. There seemed to be a lot of older pictures in this box, dating way back, as I flipped them over I was noticing the dates on them, some seemed to have been taken in the early nineteen hundreds...possibly around the time of the Prohibition.
Then my body and mind froze as I gazed down at the picture that I was holding in my hand, it seemed that every last drop of air had rushed out of the room, even the dust around me seem to slow as I focused on the print in my shaking hands. There staring back at me in black and white were Bella and I, but I knew that wasn't possible, so I flipped over to the back side and read the names Anthony and Mauriel Masen, married June 1927.
But, looking closer there was a woman in the background...it was Bella...My mind began to rationalise what I was seeing with my eyes, bu my heart was telling me a different story.
But, there was no way this could be my Bella. This was taken over eighty years ago. No way, this couldn't be her, but the more I looked at the picture and then I notice Anthony.
Oh my God, what was going on here...he could be my double...and more just kept unfolding from the picture. I noticed his wedding band...it looked kinda like the one Bella was wearing.
I grabbed the picture and ran out of the room and down the stairs looking for Elle. Surely she had some idea of who...what...how...where...just some kind of answers about these pictures. I had to know everything about the people in this picture, before my mind completely shut down.
There seemed to be something more going on here than was humanly possible...something going on that was...what!