Chapter 5: Letter
Renesmee fell asleep on the couch, shortly after Jacob. I gave her a kiss and put a blanket over her body.
I found the letter on Jake's kitchen table. The envelope was addressed to Ms. Bella Cullen, with an Alaskan return address. Huh. Weird. I went by Isabella Swan nowadays. No one was permitted to call me Bella except Jacob and Charlie. If I had a received a letter addressed like this before today, I would have burst out crying, seeing the name Cullen right there in front of me. But I had strengthened myself and made a fool of my woes. I could get through a little name.
I carefully slid the envelope open and unfolded the letter. It read:
Dear Bella,
I hope it was alright for me to send this to La Push. I don't know where you are living now. How is Renesmee? I know it is terrible of me to ask about her, seeing that we left because of her, but she was such a beautiful baby.
Don't be upset, please, Bella, I beg of you!
At this I snorted. "Upset?! Just upset?!" But I continued reading.
None of us wanted to leave. It was simply the right thing to do at the time. Do forgive me. Forgive all of us.
We have been looking out for you, dear, we would never forget about you, We have been keeping track of Renesmee too, you know. We do love her. We would love her no matter what she was. She is still your, and Edward's, child. We love you too, Bella. All of us. Even him, if you can still believe that. He is wrecked about you and what happened. He can hardly bear it anymore.
Anyway, Bella, we all miss you an awful lot. And I miss talking to you, so does Alice! We really, really, really love you Bella. No matter what happens you will always be our sister and friend. You must keep this in mind, forever and always. Keep in touch.
Love,
Rose
I gasped out loud as I read the signature. My head pounded with emotion. What was she playing at? The Cullens had left for good. I had still been trying to recover, and I get this? I would have been set right off into depression again, if…If I hadn't decided that Edward was a no-good fucker who toyed with my heart and delighted in my misery.
What was I to do? Should I write back? Or…Or what? I thought about this for a millisecond or two. What was the worst that could happen? It wouldn't break my heart again, that's for sure. I was way over that bastard. And Rosalie had become such a dear friend to me while I was pregnant. It would be so nice to be able to communicate with her again.
I would do it. I would write a letter back to her. The hard part would be writing it.
Hmm…what could I say that wouldn't seem awkward or distressed? I chewed on my pen for a second like I had in the old days, then spit it out, hating the taste.
I decided to keep it polite and simple.
Dear Rose,
It is so great to hear from you again. Renesmee is doing wonderfully, thank you. She grows unbelievably fast, but she is still the same lovely Renesmee. I am reminded of Edward every time I see her face.
Thanks for the apology, but I am no longer down about Edward's absconding. I am, however, missing you, Alice, and the rest very, very much. I will not request to see you again as that may be too much to ask. I would like to keep in touch with you, though. I felt I had lost a best friend when you left.
I won't go into sentimentalities. Just let me know how the family is doing. Do NOT mention Edward and do NOT tell him we are in communication. I don't want to see or hear from him ever again.
Love,
Bella
That should do it. I sealed the envelope and addressed it to Rosalie Hale. Then I hurried outside to mail it. When I came back to Jake's house, he was awake and wondering where I was. He spotted me coming through the door.
"Hey, Bells, what were you up to while I was napping?" he asked cheerfully.
"Uh, nothing much," I lied while looking down to hide my guilty eyes.
"Did you find out who that letter was from?" he questioned me curiously.
I froze while thinking of a good response. Should I tell him? Or would he be outraged as this sudden communication between a Cullen and I?