Disclaimer: Once again I don't own any of the characters from the series. Also I haven't been using a beta so all errors are mine. Well if you haven't already guessed, I'm currently planning on a "By Candlelight" prequel starring Carlisle and Esme! I will definitely let you know when I start posting that story if you aren't already following me as the author versus following this story. Just so you know I'll be working on posting a few more chapters of "Candlelight." I intended to post about once a month, but I lagged badly on this. This is just me playing catch up, but eventually I won't be posting so frequently. I appreciate feedback as long as I don't get flames or name calling.

Chapter 6 – Family Secrets

Rosalie was humming with excitement. She was pleased that she would find some time away from the world of rich, New York society. While she had some sympathetic comments about Royce, it was no longer a palatable subject for her. Her parents returned a few days ago when she told them what happened at New Moon.

Daisy Linfield Hale smiled at the news. "What a wonderful coincidence to have met them!"

Rosalie couldn't help but smile as she remembered the surprising ease she felt from talking to complete strangers. As far back as she could remember she instinctively kept herself distant from people. After all, her family's wealth often attracted the attention of people who wanted to gain favors with the Hales. But that Sunday night, some sort of magic happened where the group of strangers she found herself sitting with quickly became her new friends.

"It was great. I think I'll really like Bella and Alice. It turns out that Bella inherited the Anderson family house from Marie. She said there are some empty bedrooms to spare in the house. So I found a new place to live in. Bella's only asking for $750 a month. It's not too bad considering I'm getting my own bedroom and access to a large house. The rent money is going to paying utilities on the house, real estate taxes, and household expenses like the groceries, etc. And well us three girls are going to share in the household chores. It's going to be great!" Rosalie said with genuine joy.

Mr. Hale frowned slightly. "Are you sure you're up to all that? You've barely done any chores other than organizing things in your room. After all, Josefina and Mrs. Waters have been doing the housekeeping and cooking since you were a baby,"

Rosalie huffed. "Just because I haven't done those things my whole doesn't mean I can't learn! Besides, if Bella and Alice can do things like that, why can't I? I refuse to be some Real Housewife when I get married."

Mrs. Hale then frowned slightly. "I wish I knew about Aunt Marie's death. I haven't seen her so many years," she said with a sigh.

Rosalie frowned slightly at her parents. Rosalie had never given it much thought, but her mother must have known more about the Anderson family than she ever let on. Her father was very silent and grave about the whole thing. For some reason, her father didn't approve of the Andersons and she was determined to find out. "Why don't I know about any of these relatives before now?"

Jonathan Hale looked uncomfortable. "Your grandmother never really approved of me."

Rosalie couldn't picture the same woman she knew as a child being disapproving of her father. Admittedly, she never saw them talk to one another except in group conversation, but that didn't quite equate in her mind to any mutual discomfort they had with each other. "Why do I get a suspicion that it's the other way around?" she said quietly her parents almost didn't hear her.

Daisy's eyes widened, while Jonathan's face reddened at the subtle accusation.

Rosalie stared at her parents and continued. "After talking to Bella and Alice, I realized there's a part of my family that has been a total mystery to me. I don't understand why it's been a secret after all this time, especially since it seems to be something wonderful."

Daisy could barely speak as she considered what to say next. "That was never… that was never what we wanted to happen. It's just that your grandmother was always a strong willed woman and she was determined to live her own way. She didn't approve of your father when we were dating."

Rosalie frowned. "Why would she disapprove of him?" Rosalie knew her father wasn't perfect, but he was always a gentleman and honorable.

Jonathan cleared his throat. "Your grandmother was suspicious because of the fact I come from a well-to-do family. It's a bit ironic that my parents admired your mother, while your middle class grandmother was snobbish about me."

"That doesn't make any sense," Rosalie shook her head as she tried to process all this.

Jonathan sighed. "Rosalie, sometimes people feel a certain way about something and you'll never fully understand why. Whatever reasons Lillian had, she took with her to the grave." Whatever was going on clearly was distressing him, thinking about some long held feelings. He promptly stood up and left the room.

Daisy sighed. "Rosalie, you've upset your father."

Rosalie glared at the door that her father went through. "I just don't like secrets kept from me. I don't understand why this is a big deal."

Daisy slowly stood up and walked to Rosalie. "Rosalie, everyone has their secrets. Sometimes they get revealed later on and sometimes… sometimes… they are just secrets for a reason." Daisy left her daughter to her own thoughts.

It seemed to Rosalie that her parents were hiding something from her. Perhaps she wouldn't think about it now, but it wasn't going to be something swept under the rug. Rosalie only had herself to blame for never asking questions more. Perhaps being cheated on and disillusioned by Royce and the dreams of a perfect, upper crust life was the best thing for her after all.

Bella was happy to arrive home. It was quite an experience taking over her grandmother's small restaurant. It was called Marie's Café and wasn't far from the house she now lived in. It wasn't a large place, but comfortably fit up to forty patrons at one time. It really felt like you were going to someone's home for a meal the way it was decorated. The food really was from her Gran Marie's recipe book with some recipes that apparently came from other family members and friends.

Angela Weber is the same age as Bella and already a manager at the Café. She practically grew up at the Café as her mother used to be a waitress and worked the manager until a few years ago. Once Gran Marie started getting weaker and needed to take it easy, Mrs. Weber took over the financial aspects of the business while Angela took over the everyday duties and even some of the cooking when the current head chef was on vacation.

Bella decided to take over the kitchen duties as she felt more comfortable making food than serving it. When she was younger, she debated on whether to pursue cooking or writing. Her parents would have been proud to have her become the next J.K. Rowling or owning her own restaurant, but she felt quite drawn to putting the proverbial pen to paper. In the end she found there would be too much expectation to succeed in the restaurant food chain before she could own her own place. Ironically she wound up owning a restaurant and writing on the side now that her grandmother was gone.

She spent time studying the menu and recognized at least half the items as things her grandmother had taught her over the years. Bella had made quite a few of those things for her father when she spent a few years living with him in Washington State. The poor man was hopeless in the kitchen and couldn't be trusted with doing more than boiling water for instant coffee and toast. Even making toast could be dicey. The other menu items were easily found in Marie's cookbook and Bella had fun spending a week making them at home so she'd get the feel of cooking them. Mrs. Cope, the chef, was happy to teach Bella the little tricks she and Marie had developed over the years to make the food the quality it was known for.

Angela invited her over to the apartment she shared with her boyfriend Ben. He was hosting a poker party with a bunch of his friends. Angela joked about how Bella would probably meet her Mr. Right at the poker party if she came along. Bella blushed at that, but agreed if only to help Angela feed all those guys. It was hardly fair to make her do the cooking by herself, but Angela reassured her that pizza, chips and pretzels would help her have less food to cook. Still Bella wanted to help out her new friend.

Bella quickly changed out of her work clothes and went to the kitchen. She checked her answering machine as she pulled out the ingredients she'd need for dinner. She usually spent Sunday cooking the more time consuming dishes and put them in the freezer for a homemade "frozen dinner" in case she had to stay late at work. The other quick dinner option was the dried pastas and canned soups in her pantry. Bella was tired and decided to do her pasta and soup short cut. She pulled out a box of rotini and a can of beef and vegetable soup. She made chopped up some more vegetables for a small salad while the water for the pasta was boiling. To her relief, it was Friday so she had a nice long weekend to enjoy. Rosalie and Alice were coming over tomorrow to check out the house and get a feel for the bedrooms they would eventually occupy. Rosalie was ready to move as soon as she made the necessary arrangements and packing done. Alice still had a lease on the apartment she shared with Jessica.

"If I had the money, I'd just pay for my share of the lease and just moved in with you. I think this is really my opportunity to follow my dream," Alice had said to Bella over the phone the other night. Bella reassured Alice that whenever Alice was able, there would be a room waiting for her.

All this reminiscing lately made Bella realized that she forgot about Gran's letter. The envelope was practically staring at her on her vanity when she was searching for a hair tie earlier that morning. It was one of the many documents Jasper gave her just a few weeks ago.

After hurrying upstairs to grab the letter, Bella sat at the kitchen table and unsealed the envelope. She could see there were several sheets and Bella quickly determined which pages were the actual letter and which were extra sheets of yet unknown information. Bella opened up the letter that consisted of one sheet.

Dear Bella,

I have alas left you and the world behind if you are reading this letter. There are many things that I regret never telling you, but they were done for the best. Life is full of burdens that shouldn't be placed on your shoulders, but things don't work out the way you want. There are many items in this house that you must be careful of. It is important that some of our family heirlooms not be seen by anyone else except family. I have some things in trucks down in the basement that have been specially locked. Hopefully Jasper has given you the key along with the paperwork.

Bella had to pause as she read that opening paragraph. She had thought it was odd that there was a key among the items Jasper gave her. At least now she knew what they were for, but there were apparently more secrets that Marie had been keeping. What could it all mean? Bella wondered. She decided that the only way she could find the answers to this was to continue reading.

Inside the trunks are your true legacy beyond the money and house I have left to you, my dear. Inside those trunks is the true inheritance I leave you because it is something that has been passed from generation to generation. It is now something for you, the current generation of the Anderson family. You must let no one know for it is family only.

Once you see the truth inside, you will understand what it all means.

Bella put the letter down and checked on the boiling water. She carefully poured salt and stirred until dissolved. She carefully poured the pasta into the pot and checked the time. She stirred the pasta before returning to the letter.

Our legacy is not easy, but it is a path that was handed from generation to generation. There was a temporary break in this legacy because your mother was not meant for it.

Bella considered this for a moment. Clearly her mother knew nothing of this or she would have been raised with this knowledge. Perhaps it was better off. Renee Higginbottam wasn't the most reliable person she knew and there was uncertainty as to whether Renee would have been able to handle whatever the responsibility is. It was highly unlikely that she could. Perhaps it was safer that she didn't know anything. She returned to read the few lines left in the letter.

Remember one last thing. Sisters aren't just from the same mother. Sisters share the same heart and the same blood.

Bella folded the letter back. She wasn't quite sure what to think at this point. She turned to preparing her dinner as she considered everything she had learned thus far. Considering that Alice and Rosalie were also girls in the Anderson family, this was something she could share with them. After all, Marie clearly said this was a family thing and not to be shared with anyone else. Bella was stirring the pasta in the beef and vegetable soup. It seems there would be a lot of more than just living arrangements and shares of expenses to discuss with them tomorrow.

Alice smiled as she glanced around her room. She was starting to pack up some of the items that she didn't need for the next few weeks. Fortunately Alice's share of the rent only covered another month so Alice could start clearing up her room. She was planning to visit the house tomorrow. She wanted to check out the house her Grammy grew up. Not to mention, she could start claiming one of the rooms along with Rosalie.

Jessica was going out with one of her other friends, Lauren Mallory, for drinks. Alice was pleased to have some time alone in the apartment. She decided that the best course of action would be to either get a cab or hire delivery people to ship the boxes to Bella's. She had to discuss that further with her new friend/cousin.

The phone began ringing and Alice hurried to pick it up. "Hello?" she asked cheerfully.

"Hi, it's me, Mary," a young woman's voice said.

Alice stiffened at that. There were only a few people that ever called her "Mary" or "Mary Alice" anymore. Alice cleared her throat before answering. "Yes, Cynthia?"

Cynthia was a few years younger and still in high school. Cynthia was rather disappointed that her sister left Mississippi and her behind. Despite that Cynthia found time to call her older sister and vice versa. It was rather odd that she chose this time to call.

"I wanted to let you know… that Dad is going to remarry in a few weeks," Cynthia said quietly.

Alice rolled her eyes at that bit of news. She wasn't really that surprised. Jesse Brandon wasn't a "Father of the year" type. Ever since she was a child, her father was often cold and barely hid his dislike towards her. Any affection he was capable of showing his children went straight to Cynthia.

"Let me guess, he's finally marrying that woman?" Alice said with a slight sneer.

Cynthia sighed. "Yes, he's marrying Michaela. They're marrying next month. Do you want to come back for the ceremony?"

"Are you asking me for your sake or did you actually convince our dear father to want me back?" Alice asked sardonically.

Cynthia sighed. She was often the one who had to act as the peacemaker in the troubled Brandon family. Even their mother couldn't help out. After all, Daphne Carter Brandon was the one who was emotionally abandoned in the marriage and her death a few years ago hardly made any difference.

"Believe it or not, Mary, Dad actually wants you to come home for the wedding. He wants you there with me," Cynthia explained.

Alice frowned at that. Jesse Brandon wouldn't want her around unless it was to his benefit. "Let me guess, he wants people to see that we're a happy family and I have no problem with him marrying some other woman."

That had to be it. Jesse Brandon had ambitions to be mayor of their town and not just one of the richest businessmen around. That was precisely the reason why he stayed married to her mother even though he cheated on her for a good ten years before she died from a car accident when she was in her early teens. Nothing would ruin his reputation than sex scandals and family estrangement.

"Even if you want nothing to do with dad or Michaela, couldn't you at least come back for four days? You've only been back here twice since you went to New York for FIT. And well, I don't want to deal with all this by myself!" Cynthia said desperately.

Alice sighed at that. "Fine, I'll go. I'll be polite and help out. I won't go out of my way to be nice to either of them."

"Of course, Mary. I'm not crazy enough to think you'll ever like either of them. That's all I can ask is for you to please come back," Cynthia said happily.

"Just send me the info and I'll take care of the tickets to go home," Alice said. Alice really had far too many things to think about these upcoming few weeks.