I do not own the Twilight universe.

Chapter 25

To help save face, Edward wrote to his mother and made an odd request. He asked her to have Bella absent from his next visit home. He had made a fool of himself with her and was sure that she had promptly told everyone. It would be easier to deal with the humiliation without her present.

Bella had to be reassured that her position was not in jeopardy but that a vacation was earned and hers for the taking. Bella had no where to go, she could have gone back to the orphanage but did not want to stretch their resources by having to take care of her as well. Bella was afraid that Edward wanted nothing to do with her any more. She was afraid that she had so offended him that he could not stand to be in her company.

Bella thought of the poor, beleaguered man a little too often. He really was beautiful to look at, gentle and kind with the girls. He would probably make someone a good husband one day. She refused to recognize the pang in her heart when she pictured him with a wife.

She stayed at the farm, a little at a loss as how to spend her time. She sewed more clothing for the growing girls, furiously cleaned all the nooks and crannies, and read herself to sleep.

Bella found she had no more tasks to occupy her time. She walked over to Rosalie's farm and all but begged to be put to task. Rosalie laughed at the juxtaposition of the situation and put Bella to work. Together they accomplished many tasks and had a good time chatting while they worked. Although she missed her girls fiercely, at the end of the week she understood why a break was necessary. She felt refreshed and alive. She could only hope that there would not be too many of them.

Edward was shocked to find that his mother and father seemed to have no knowledge of the folly he committed. For they were not the type that would hold their tongues. Perhaps Bella had not said anything to either of them. This idea confused him even more. Was she so embarrassed that she could not confide in them? Was she angry with him for putting her in a position where she felt she could not talk to them?

Or had she been so disgusted with his proposal that she lacked the words to talk about it?

The more Edward thought, the more he had to think. He had spent two months at sea wondering about this girl and what she had told him. Could he find love? Did he want to?

This girl had turned his life on it's end. He hadn't been looking for love when he was ensnared by Carmen. He hadn't thought of having children at all. However, now that he did have children, it only made sense to have a wife. Children need a mother, don't they? He tried to envision a wife for himself but all that kept coming to mind was Bella.

She invaded his thoughts, waking and asleep. He missed her. He thought that not seeing her this visit would be helpful for his ego but this was not the case.

Perhaps she was right about needing time, but Edward did not think she was right about her marital suitability. She was too lovely not to be married one day. There would be a man that would sweep her off her feet. A good man to earn her hand.

But the idea of her with another man rankled at his senses.

Was she right, though? Did he only propose out of guilt or a sense of obligation. If he were to take away the circumstances of their meeting, would he still want to marry this girl?

This was what Edward had to think about. Deep down in his soul, was Bella the woman he was destined to love. Also, why did she think herself unworthy of marriage.

Edward wondered if possibly it was a concern of status that had partially waylaid his proposal. Did she think that because she was of a lower class marriage was impossible for her. He didn't care about social status and knew his parents did not as well.

Maybe he could take some time and woo her. Romance her to the point where she wouldn't refuse his proposal a second time.

Edward needed a plan. He needed to get to know Bella for who she was, not for what she had done for him. He needed to learn everything he could about her in the short amounts of time they had together.

He started to kick himself for asking his mother to keep her away.

AN: Thank you for reading.