Pretty sure Twilight does not belong to me, but let me check my purse.
Chapter 38
Bella read the note that was delivered instead of the visit from Edward. Esme had given little information but she had said was rather dire. Edward abandoned and ill far from home was an image that haunted Bella's dreams.
She tried her hardest to soldier on and raise Katie and Beth. Until she had convincing and incontrovertible evidence to the contrary, she would have to believe that he was well. Her heart depended on believing him to be well.
With very little news from afar the months passed slowly. Rosalie came out from her mourning and was a frequent visitor. Emmett graced Bella's door in a very regular fashion. He confided in her that he would be asking for Rosalie's hand soon. He just had to save for a ring.
Rosalie was in negotiations to sell the family farm. There weren't many looking for farm land right now so she had very few offers. The fields were not in the best shape, he brother had been a poor farmer and had let things go, not quite to the point of the fields being fallow, but very close to it. The house was in perfect shape from Rosalie's tending and her main selling point.
The girls now had a vocabulary of twenty-five words. Some were said with perfect diction but most were only recognizable to those who loved the girls. They were little sponges trying new words out almost as soon as they heard them. They're voices were identical therefore Bella had a difficult time discerning which child was calling to her.
The one word they conquered that made Bella upset was Papa. Not because of the word itself but because they used it to mean every man they met. She had no way of enforcing the real meaning of the word to them, there were no drawings or pictures of Edward in the house. Emmett was very embarrassed the first time they called him Papa, but with a little coaching, they decided that Em-Papa would suffice.
Emmett had taken over escorting the ladies on their trips to town for supplies. The shy clerk at the store still smiled at Bella. She was very polite with him but did not want to give him hope.
Her hope still rested on Edward. His last visit had been cathartic and she resolved that if he were to ask again, whatever the reason be, she would marry him. She hoped that he had gained a true affection for her, not the obligation she perceived before.
If he did not ask she would be content to stay and care for him for as long as she was wanted. To stay near him, Katie and Beth would be enough for the rest of her life. She would need nothing else.
The girls second birthday passed with as much fanfare as Bella, Emmett and Mrs. Cope could muster. They had received a note from Esme detailing Edward's recovery and her regrets for having to stay away on such a momentous occasion. She had sent a few small parcels for the girls but gave no information as to when they would be home.
Everyone was relieved that Edward was on the mend and would be home some time in the future. He would never have to return to sea and would be able to stay with his daughters.
A few days after the twin's birthday Rosalie stopped coming by for her usual visit. She would not answer the door when Em came to call. Both Em and Bella were very concerned about her behaviour. Emmett had finally purchased a ring suitable enough for Rosalie and was waiting to ask her to marry him.
After a fortnight of no response from Rosalie, Bella bundled the girls in their carriage and walked to Rosalie's farm. She was determined to get answers.
It took much knocking and banging on Rosalie's door but finally it was Katie crying that drove Rosalie to open it and let them in. She looked a fright like she hadn't slept for days. Bella put Katie in Rosalie's arms and marched to the kitchen to make tea.
Rosalie told Bella a story in between fits of tears and sips of tea. She received a letter from a bank, not in their town, but further away. A letter stating that her brother had, without her knowledge, mortgaged the farm and now the lien was due. Unless she sold the farm quickly everything would be taken from her. If she were to marry Emmett the bank would go after him for the remainder. She had too much pride to let Emmett pay for her brother's mistakes.
It took Bella a very long time to comfort and console Rosalie. It took even longer to convince her that staying away from Emmett was a grievous error. Bella took her leave only when Rosalie swore she would explain everything to Em.
Emmett was sitting on the back porch of the farm house when Bella and the girls returned. He was so excited to hear that Rosalie would see him that he almost made off with the post he had for Bella.
AN: Just take a deep breath, everything should be fine, I have extra Gravol if you are getting nauseous.