I don't own Twilight.
Edward~
My Dad said some really beautiful things in the letter but mostly I was still taken a back. I paced my room trying to make sense of it all night but I couldn't wrap my head around it. I repeated the facts again in my head. One- my Father had an affair. According to his letter he loved Cindy Brandon and my Mother. He loved them both but could only have one. He chose Mom. Two-the by product of his affair was Alice. Mary Alice Brandon who I had known since the first day of kindergarten. And three-the people had known about this my entire life and kept me in the dark.
I decided as the sun came up the best thing to do was to take all of it to Carlisle. He would know what to do and how to do it. I would have to confront my mother but before that I had to decide whether or not to tell Alice. I goggled Cindy Brandon to see if I could find any claims to outstanding child support or anything linking her to my father. The only thing I found was her obituary. She moved to Florida a few years ago and was killed in a car accident. Hit by a drunk driver. Alice had lost her mother and a father she didn't know she had within the space of three years. Growing up it never seemed odd to me that Alice didn't have a father. Her mother simply said her father divorced her before she was born. Alice never knew anything different so I guess it never occurred to her to care. She wasn't the type to get angry or hold a grudge against the man her mother said had left them. I had to wonder if this would change the way Alice viewed her life. Would it change her as a person to find out she had been screwed out of having a relationship with her Dad? I gathered all the papers up and went down to the car in the same clothes I had worn the day before. I climbed behind the wheel and drove to Carlisle's office.
He wasn't there yet which gave me a moment to lay my head back and think. The simple answer was yes, I had to tell Alice. Its a good given right to know where you come from. It may even help down the road if some where in her bloodline, out bloodline, she finds out she has a genetic disease or something. Bottom line, she had a right to know no matter what my reasons for telling her but how do I tell her? How do you tell a person whom you love like family that they are your family? This would effect more than just she and I. She was related to Lilly now as well. No longer Aunt Alice by title, she was Aunt Alice by blood. Carlisles Mercedes pulled into the spot next to my car. I waited for him to cut the engine and then climbed out of my car.
"Edward! My boy! It's early. Is everything alright?" his face held a look of concern and then when I handed him my father's will he looked alarmed.
"Where did you get this?" he asked me in a hushed tone. He looked around for anyone who may see us. It was to early for the hussel and bustle of morning traffic on main street.
"It was in the box along with some other interesting things. Can we please go inside?" I asked him. He walked ahead of me quickly and unlocked the door.
Carlisle sat head in his hands and poured over the will once again. We had been at this for over two hours and we still weren't through it all.
"The will is iron clad. He's provided for you, Mary Alice Brandon and Lilly Swan." he told me.
"Provided for?" I questioned. Money didn't matter to me but I knew for sure it would matter to Bella and Alice.
"Lilly gets a college education, a very very generous education and a trust fund when she turns thirty. He's left express wishes the amount not be disclosed. He has requested his life insurance, totaling over 1.2 million dollars be split equally between the three of you." I sat in front of him eyes wide, my body numb.
"The three of us?" I said in shock.
"Your Mother, Alice and you. The three of you will be splitting 1.2 million dollars."
"I can't believe this. I have a sister. Did you know about this?" I asked him. Carlisle shook his head, "I found out they were having an affair. I always thought they ended it and Cindy had gotten pregnant by her husband. We all thought he was a rotten bastard when he left. What kind of man does that? Leaves his pregnant wife. Elizabeth demanded he fire Cindy which no one contested seeing as how they were having an affair. These make sense now." he opened his center desk drawer and pulled out a paper clipped bundle of what looked like canceled checks.
"Where did you get these?" I pulled the clip off and quickly thumbed through them. They were all made out to Cindy Brandon. It looked to be around eighteen years worth of canceled checks.
"Your Mother never came to clean out the office so I did it for her. I was trying to be helpful. I couldn't figure out why he had been giving Cindy money for so long but now it makes sense."
"It was child support." I muttered. Carlisle nodded.,
"Are you going to tell her?" he asked me. I sighed, "I think she has a right to know. Don't you?" He folded his hands and laid them in his lap, "I think his last wish was for the two of you to know." I couldn't argue with that logic. I asked Carlisle to excuse me for a moment and stepped out to his outer office. My hand shook while I dialed the number to Alice's store.
"This is Alice Brandon." she said in her happy chirp of a voice.
"Hi Ali. It's Edward. I am going to Seattle later today to get some things for the house and I need your opinion." I was going to have to go to Seattle eventually to get basic things like pots, pans, furniture and today seemed like a good as time as any.
"Sure! Name the time and you can pick me up." Alice's voice beamed through the phone.
"How about noon?" I said.
"Perfect. I'll see you then." I walked back into the office still numb but hopeful that soon I wouldn't be handling this alone.
Alice talked non stop most of the way to Seattle. I tried to make conversation but it was hard. I was very distracted.
"Edward you are being weird." she informed me when we pulled up in front of the mall. I stopped dead in my tracks,
"What do you mean? I'm not being weird. I'm not being anything." I said defensively.
"You were way to quiet on the drive. Is everything okay?" she asked me. We walked towards Macy's. I stayed silent and opened the door for her.
"Is this about Bella?" she asked me.
"Um..." I was at a loss for words. I should of just spit it out but I didn't want her to have a panic attack in Macy's. Alice kept walking to home furnishings.
"I told her I wouldn't meddle." She said absently looking over a set of sheets. She sat them back on the shelf and kept moving. I walked helplessly behind her.
"Meddle in what?" I asked finally. Alice smiled, "Your relationship of course or lack of one from what Bella says. Can I ask you something?" she looked over some pillow cases and sat them back down.
"Sure." I said nervously. I shoved my hands in my pockets to hide the shaking.
"What is your issue? Could you make a move already? She rolled her eyes and smiled.
"I kissed her....she said I didn't want her. She thinks I just want her for Lilly." I added quietly.
"Dumbest thing I've ever heard but whatever. Bella is Bella. She's always gonna be Bella. Full of self doubt. She's so silly sometimes. What size is your bed?" she asked me. The rapid subject change threw me, "What?" I asked in confusion.
"What size is your bed?" Ali repeated. I shook myself to awareness and smiled, "I don't have one." I reminded her. Alice grinned, "I am furnishing your entire house today?" happiness dripped off of her like melting ice cream on a sunny day.
"Thats the idea." I pulled out my wallet and handed her my American express with no limit. She whistled and snapped her fingers to get a store associates attention.
"I hope you wore good shoes." she said her grin widening as a store worker came to help her. I simply stood back and watched my sister at work.
I was able to relax as the day went on. By dinner time my house was mostly furnished and I had furniture being delivered for every room. She even bought picture frames and some prints to put in them. She thought of things I would never dreamed of. She bought a fancy lotion pump for the master bathroom and when I asked why I couldn't just use lotion from the tube I thought she was going to slap me. After that I just stayed quiet. Somewhere over the ten thousand dollar mark my brain turned off and I lost count of what she spent. I insisted on taking her out to dinner as a way to say thank you for all her help. She never tired. She never ran out of energy. I had to laugh when she got angry at Target for not being open later. I assured her we would have a quick dinner and then be back to shopping. I had been eating all day. There wasn't much else to do at the mall when your money was being spent by someone who didn't need your input. I let her pick the place. She chose a little Italian restaurant not from the high way. I began to get nervous sitting across from her. It was quiet here. I could tell her but how? What should I say?
"You're thinking awful hard over there Masen, it's dinner not a math final. Just order some noodles and lets get back on the road." Alice ordered me.
"Decisions come easy to you don't they?" I smiled a little closing my menu. She shrugged,
"Most of the time. I think if you pay attention the right decision just presents it's self. Just gotta have faith." she smiled at me for a moment and closed her menu. Faith was something I had sorely been lacking for a while.
"Can I asked a loaded question?" Ali sat back in her chair and folded her arms. I took a sip of my water, "Uh huh." I mumbled.
"Why are you doing all of this?" her eyes narrowed.
"All of what?" I knew Alice was perceptive, almost psychic about some things but had I been so easy to read?
"the house and the shopping and the hanging around? I know you said it was so Bella would let you see Lilly but did Bella herself factor into the decision at all or was it just about the kid?"
I didn't like my motives being questioned but I understood why she was doing it. I was glad Bella had someone to watch out for her like Alice did.
"I want them both. Is that wrong?" I asked her. The waiter came. Alice ordered for both of us. I sat silently and let her do it.
"It's not wrong sweetie. You have to remember though, Bella is still a woman. She needs you to make up for lost time. She needs to feel your love." it was sappy but true. I had failed Bella in that department and I needed to make it right.
"I will. I promise." I assured her. This pleased her and she went on to tell me about all the things she had bought. I just smiled and ate my dinner in silence.
My time was coming to a close. We shopped until the stores closed. Alice tried paying them to stay open later but they didn't bite. The trunk and back seat were full of items to small to be shipped. Alice was finally tired and for once quiet in the passenger seat beside me. The drive home seemed shorter than the drive there. I yawned into my fist. Alice yawned and then giggled.
"Thank you again for all your help. I couldn't of done all this by myself." I said quietly.
"Emmett would of helped you." she said with a laugh.
"I shudder to think how that would of turned out." I smiled. Alice laughed again. I turned down her street and parked in front of her house.
"I bought you a house warming gift." she handed me a small hallmark bag.
"You didn't have too." I said. Alice took off her seat belt and turned to face me. Inside the bag was a black picture frame with the words family printed in silver metal letters across the front. A lump rose In my throat.
"I know it's sappy but I was thinking when things finally work out for you and Bella you guys could put your first family photo in it." Alice pointed to the glass front. One hot tear fell against the glass.
"Edward are you okay?" she asked in concern.
"I have to tell you something and I don't know how you'll take it but you have to know. You just have to because I can't do this alone." I said fighting back a sob. I wasn't a crier usually but it was taking everything in me to not break down in front of her.
"Whatever it is we will handle it. I'll be right beside you." she assured me.
"Alice I've done so many terrible things. How could you just forgive me?" I leaned my head back against the seat and shut my eyes.
" I tried to hate you but I couldn't. You and Bella, Rose, Emmett, Jasper. You guys are my family. I could never stay mad at any of you." she whispered trying to calm me.
"what if we really were family?" I asked. She smiled,
"That would be nice, wouldn't it? this is good too." she gently rubbed my shoulder. I shook my head, "No. you and I. What if we really were family?" more tears ran down my cheeks in the dark of the car.
"Edward. What's going on? Your scaring me." Alice's face was drawn. She was probably terrified I had lost my mind. I pulled her letter and a copy of Dad's will from the visor above the drivers seat.
"I received some things after my Dad's death and by his account you're his daughter. My half sister." it felt good to say it out loud but I knew it sounded crazy.
"Edward, that's nuts. My dad left before I was born." she said flatly. I shook my head, "My Dad and your mom were in love. He got your mom pregnant the same time my mom was pregnant with me as far as I can figure. It's all in here I'm sure." I handed her the letter and the will. She unfolded the will and grimaced, "this has to be a mistake." she mumbled. "It's not a mistake but if you want proof we can get a blood test or something. I don't need one but if you do...." I trailed off when she started to cry.
"I don't understand what I'm reading." she whispered.
"Basically what it says is as his heir you inherit a third of his estate. You inherited a third of 1.2 million dollars. He left Lilly a college education and a trust fund."
"He knew?" Alice asked with wide eyes.
"Yeah he knew. He knew she was mine and he knew you were his." I watched as Alice bent over and sobbed. I laid my hand on her shoulder and squeezed.
"My mom never told me. Why didn't she tell me?" she asked between sobs.
"I don't know but we can work together and find out. We can get answers." I told her. She sat up and wiped her face, "I have to go. This is to much. I cant do this. My mom is dead and now your my brother and my dad is dead. It's to much. I'm sorry." she got out of the car quickly and ran to her door. I got out of the car and yelled, "Alice wait!" I slammed the car door shut and ran to the yard. She flew inside the house and slammed the door. I wiped my hands down my face and cursed. I ran up the steps and beat on the door with my fist. She didn't answer. All I could hear was the sound of her sobbing on the other side of the door. I sat on the top step of her porch with my head in my hands.
A/n- I hope this ending doesn't leave you hanging to much. I appreciate all the reviews and I can't wait t see how this chapter is received!