Chapter 19—Listen to the Beatles

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.

Robert Frost

Bella's POV

As the Beatles said, "Life goes on." For me, my life had been on autopilot since the night I was kidnapped and my parents were murdered. I hadn't been living but rather merely surviving from day to day. There was no other way for me to have ade it long enough for Edward to have found me. And as I sat next to him, a thought struck me:

I'm finally starting to feel happy again.

It was a bit strange given everything that I have been through, but it was surprisingly true. It struck me as Edward and I followed then passed his mom on the way to where she and Carlisle lived. "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" came on the radio as we made our way to his parent's house. Stranger yet, tears spilled, but I wasn't sad, rather … happy. Edward even noticed, and without saying a word, he reached up to change the station. I batted his hand away before he pressed a single button.

"Then why are you crying?" he asked.

"I like the song," I said. "And they're happy tears." Reaching across the center console, I touched Edward's thigh. "Have I thanked you for rescuing me?"

We were idling at a stoplight, and Edward turned to look at me. A crooked smile was in place as he took hold of my hand. "Who says you didn't rescue me, too?" he quipped.

I giggled, accepting his brief kiss on my lips right before the light changed. "Seriously, Edward, thank you," I said after a moment.

He raised our joined hands to his lips, placing another kiss on my knuckles. "It was an honor," he remarked, kissing them again before lowering my hand to rest on the gearshift with his. "So, you like the Beatles?"

"Yes. Their music was inspiring back when it was written and still is today."

"I'll agree that their great, but I'm not sure about their songs holding the same weight today as they did back then. There are so many artists out there with inspirational music now that it's hard for me to decide which speaks to me more." He chuckled when the next song started playing. "This one, for instance, has just made it on my list of favorites," he said.

I never saw you coming

And I'll never be the same

I didn't recognize the song. "Name?" I asked.

"'State of Grace' by Taylor Swift," Edward answered.

I continued to listen, and I had to admit it was inspirational. "I still think the Beatles are better, but she's pretty good."

Edward released my hand, turning the car into a neighborhood. I gulped. Every house we passed was huge, but nothing like Edward's, and their lawns were immaculate, from what I could see of them. "Where are we?" I asked.

"Bellevue. Our home is a fifteen-minute drive from here — well, in heavy traffic. About five in light."

I nodded. "Is it also in Bellevue?"

"No. We live in Medina."

"So, what am I in for?"

His hand was again holding mine, and he gave it a squeeze. "You have nothing to worry about. My parents love you," he said.

I wasn't sure if that was true or not. "That's not what I mean. Do they have servants?"

He laughed. "No, love, I don't even have servants. Before you say anything, I don't consider Ms. Cope a servant. She's more of a … hmm … how should I put this? A friend who helps me cook and clean. And my parents are simple, down-to-earth people who just happen to have more money than they know what to do with."

I had actually come to that conclusion on my own. It had been several years since I had been around anyone wealthy. And my past experience had led me to believe that many looked down their noses at those in different social circumstances than themselves. It was nice to know that the Cullens were not like that. "I realized that when I first met them, and they didn't judge me."

Edward's POV

My heart swelled when Bella said that. "They do always say, 'It's not the wealth that makes the man, but rather the way he treats those around him.' I've taken that to heart." I glanced over at her.

A beautiful smile was gracing her face. "It shows. You're so giving and caring. Not many would step in and help the way you have me."

Her words were spoken softly, but the sincerity in them made me love her even more. "You should know that Emmett told me not to get involved when he read your note, but it was already too late. From the moment you whispered for me to leave you alone, I knew you were in some sort of trouble. In my mind, it was as if it were a foregone conclusion that I would help you in any way I could."

"And you never imagined we were meant for each other," she said.

We were sitting outside my parents' house, waiting for Mom to get home. The lights were on so I knew Dad was inside, but what she said stopped my hand going to the latch. It wasn't the words themselves that gave me pause, but the underlying meaning. I remained silent. What in the world is she saying?

She blew out a breath. "I care deeply about you, Edward. It's a little frightening the way I feel, and I've never felt so affected by another."

I shifted to face her and noticed that she had done the same. "I feel the same way, Bella. For me, it's like before I met you I didn't know how to …" How to what? Love? I couldn't say that. "… breathe," I said, lamely.

She closed her eyes, a small smile appearing. "That's exactly how I feel. like I can breathe."

I closed the short distance and brushed my mouth against hers. "I can't believe I found you," I whispered before pulling away. It was as close as I could get to telling her I loved her without actually saying the words.

Mom was standing on the front walk by the time I got out.

"Problem?" she asked.

"No," I replied, helping Bella out of the car. "We were just finishing a conversation."

Mom shook her head. I had a feeling she saw us kiss, but I didn't care.

Bella's POV

My eyes went wide when I saw the exterior of Esme's home. It wasn't what I was expecting. Edward had said they had more money than they could spend in a lifetime, but this didn't scream wealth like Edward's house. The house I was standing in front of was large, but not over the top. Simple and quaint came to mind.

Edward and I walked up the driveway with our fingers entwined. I didn't let go of his hand as I stepped through the front door. Like the exterior, the interior was warm and inviting. From what little I knew about Carlisle and Esme, this shouldn't have been a surprise, but it was. Again, I couldn't help comparing them to those who didn't hide the fact that they had money.

"Your father is out back, Edward. Why don't you go join him and see if he needs any help? I'm going to give Bella a little tour," Esme said.

Edward turned to me.

"Go," I said before he could say anything. "I'll be fine."

A crooked smile formed, and he leaned forward, giving me a little kiss. "I can be at your side in an instant if you need me. All you have to do is call for me in your mind," he whispered. He kissed me once more before heading in the direction of the backyard.

"My son really cares for you," Esme said.

"I care about him, too. Is it strange that we do? It seems all too fast for me."

Esme chuckled. "Edward asked me the same thing not too long ago. I'll tell you what your grandfather told him. Does it really matter in the long run? And Edward told you that Carlisle and I were engaged two months after we met."

I sighed and followed her. "What about the age difference?"

"If you two love each other, then it shouldn't matter what anyone else thinks." She turned to face me. "Half bath," she said, indicating the door we had stopped in front of. "It's always best to know where the bathroom is."

Love? I swallowed as I nodded. I was half listening to what she said. Did I love Edward?

We had entered the kitchen. Through the window, I could see Edward speaking with Carlisle. Both of them had their backs to the house.

"I decided that a uniform color scheme was best for our tastes," Esme said, drawing my attention back to her.

"I like it," I replied, taking in the golds, creams, reds, and browns that were in the kitchen. "I don't know if I could decorate a room, let alone a whole house."

"It's easier than you think," she remarked as she got out a head of lettuce, tomatoes, and other vegetables. "Could you get out the large bowl for me? It's in the cabinet on the right side of the microwave."

With her direction, the bowl was easy to locate. "Can I ask you something?" I asked.

"Anything," she replied as she started to chop the lettuce.

After taking a deep breath and looking out the window, I asked, "How do you know when you're in love?"

Esme set down the green, plastic knife down on the cutting board. "It's different for everyone. I can only tell you how I knew. Carlisle was in car accident. When I found out from a friend, I was a wreck and didn't know until later that it was minor. However, it was while I was waiting in the waiting room I realized that I couldn't imagine living without him in my life."

I thought about that, but it didn't help me answer my question.

"Let me show you something," she said, motioning for me to follow her.

We went into the family room. On the coffee table was a book which she picked up. She sat down on the couch and patted the cushion next to her. The book I saw was a photo album. Flipping to a picture, she passed the album to me.

"What do you see?"

It was Rosalie and Emmett. Emmett was behind Rosalie, who was looking over her shoulder and up at him. Pure adoration was evident on both their faces. "They look like they love each other."

Reaching over me, Esme turned several pages before pointing to a picture. "And in this one?"

I looked down. Jasper and Alice were gazing into each other's eyes, goofy grins on their faces. "The same thing."

Again, she flipped the pages. "Now this next one was taken by Alice at your birthday dinner. I just had to print it out and add it to the album," she said, indicating a picture of Edward and me dancing together.

I was speechless. The way we were transfixed on each other in the photo … it spoke louder than words.

"I think you have your answer."

Esme quietly left the room, leaving me staring at the image. Every little thing was starting to make sense. When I told both Edward and Esme about feeling uneasy around James, I had thought it was because Edward needed to know so he could protect me. But the longer I examined the photo, I realized that the real reason Edward was because I—I swallowed—I loved him and want to share my thoughts and feelings with him.

Edward found me still staring at the picture a little while later. "A heralding image, right?" he said from beside me.

I looked up and over at him. He was standing and peering down at the book on my lap. "Yeah," I answered.

His gaze turned to me, and his knuckles ghosted over my cheek. "Dinner is ready," he said, offering me his hand.

It was hard not taking his hand, but I couldn't risk blurting out my love for him when we were not alone. When I declared it, I wanted it to be just us. And I hoped I wasn't suffering from Florence Nightingale Syndrome; Edward was charged with my care, after all, and did rescue me.

~~ L.C. ~~

It was quiet when Edward and I entered the foyer of his house, Ms. Cope having long since gone home. The boxes the delivery men brought in remained where they had been left. I paid them little heed.

"Aren't you a little curious about what was delivered?" Edward asked.

"Yes, but there is something I want to tell you." I bit my lip trying to decide the best way to say what I needed to.

"Did you remember how you know James?"

I turned and saw he was busy going through a stack of envelopes. "No. Will you look at me, please?"

After setting down the mail, he faced me, leaning against the hall table with his ankles and arms crossed. "You have my undivided attention," he said with a smile.

I didn't want to analyze what that smile meant. That was the second time he smiled when I had something to tell him, the first having been while we were at Esme's office. Taking a deep breath, and without any preamble, I said, "I love you, Edward."

I didn't know he could move that fast, but the words were barely out before he was in front of me, cupping my face with both his hands, kissing me. "I love you, too, Isabella."