I wouldn't mind owning the rights to Twilight but I don't.
Chapter 39
With Alice in tow, the Cullen's boarded a ship to take them back home. Alice was game for a new adventure and had packed all her worldly possessions. She and Esme had spent several days in the local marketplace purchasing many gifts for those at home. An entire trunk was dedicated to the different fabrics they had bought to keep the girls in high fashion for several years.
Included in the fabric trunk were yards and yards of white lace and silk to make one of the finest wedding dress ever known. Hundreds of tiny seed pearls were stashed within the folded fabric.
Esme had taken to Alice like a mother. Much like Bella, Alice's mother died when she was young and she had been raised by her father and step-mother. Alice's step-mother was not a loving and caring maternal example who chose to ignore her step-daughter rather than torture her as Bella's had done.
Alice's need to prattle on to get attention was a polar opposite to Bella's silence. Although Bella had progressed a great deal and was holding conversations, Alice initiated different topics and juggled conversations like a magician. Her flitting from topic to topic, interspersing with words from many different languages was a source of great entertainment for Carlisle.
It was a much more pleasurable crossing than the one before.
Bella was rather amused with Emmett's antics. His running to his wagon and then running back with a few letters in his hand, grinning like a mad man the entire time.
She put the letters in her pinafore pocket determined to read them later when she had time.
She settled the girls to their supper and pulled out the first letter. It was from Angela. This was not the first time she had heard from her. Angela's letters were always full of news, stories of her new life and her students. She had met a local pastor and had agreed to courting with him. He was a very gentle man who understood the pain Angela held for her lost husband and son.
He had asked for her hand and she had accepted. Angela was to be wed in a few months time. Bella was overjoyed with the news from her friend. She wished she could do more than send a congratulatory letter. Perhaps next time she was in town she could gather the supplies to make a wedding quilt to send. She folded the letter and continued with her evening routine.
With the girls fed and bathed she sat in the rocking chair and read one of the stories from the book Edward had given her. It was a lovely fairytale of magic and love and although the girls did not understand the words, they enjoyed the cadence of Bella's voice and quickly fell into slumber.
Bella settled herself in the kitchen by the fire with her remaining letters and a cup of tea. One letter was from Edward, the other from Mother Superior. She was surprised because neither of them had ever written to her before. The letters were both very long and filled with disturbing news. Both letters shocked her and made her cry, one more than the other.
She read and reread both letters late into the night. This was a startling turn of events that would change the course of Bella entire life. Everything was about to change.
Bella had a difficult decision to make. She weighed her options and decided on the best course of action. Speed was of the essence. She only had a few days to make her arrangements.
Bella secured the house for the night, silently saying good-bye to what had become her home. After checking on the girls, she located her old carpet bag and packed her belongings. She only packed what she had come with, her serviceable dresses and her mother's music box. She would have to arrange the shipment of her remaining possessions
She had stolen into Edward's room and borrowed one of his valises to pack some clothes for the girls. As soon as she was able she would take them to Mrs. Cope to look after until the Cullen's made their return.
She knew that if she waited at the end of the drive one of the local farmers would give her a lift into town and possibly all the way to the Cullen's mansion. From there she would be able to make her other plans.
AN: Bye-bye Bella