Chapter 22—It's Family
How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.
George Washington Carver
Bella's POV
With Edward sitting next to me, I finally had the courage and strength to see what was in the box Maggie sent me. I knew my mother's favorite crystal vase was in it, but I hadn't pulled anything else out.
Taking a deep breath, I pulled out the vase and set it to the side, not wanting to unwrap it again. I still couldn't shake the nightmare I had last month. Next, I took out a bound rectangle, and after removing the bubble wrap, I revealed my parents' grimoire. A smile spread across my face, and I wasn't afraid to go through the rest of the box. Nestled near the bottom was my chest of magical supplies, and I realized what I had to do when I saw it.
"Edward, I need to consecrate my parents' graves. I don't care if it has already been done. I have to do it for me, so I can say goodbye."
He took hold of my hands. "Can you wait until Samhain?" he asked.
"I guess. Why?"
Raising a hand, he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "That's when the veil between worlds is open. Plus, I've planned a trip to Forks that week."
I opened and closed my mouth a couple of times, not wanting to believe it. "Really?"
Edward chuckled. "Yes. I have some supplies for a ceremony I found in one of my books, but I could get anything you need," he said, motioning to the book I still held.
I smiled at him, loving him all the more.
~~ L. C. ~~
Generations of McCullough penmanship greeted me when I opened the grimoire later that evening in my room. A tear slipped down my cheek when my mother and father's familiar handwriting stained page after page of the book. Even my tentative script was represented in it. I fondly remembered the day I had penned my first spell; it was shortly after my eighth birthday. My father had found me in the air—floating—as I meditated. He had calmly called out to me, and as I opened my eyes, I had settled back down on my bed.
The look on Dad's face scared me, but he had been quick to sooth my fear.
"Bells," he said, sitting next to me. "Your mother and I have always known you would have magical powers and have been preparing you for the day when you would receive them." He paused, sighing. "But to have them gifted to you at such a young age is… rare."
"She's displaying powers?" Mom exclaimed from the doorway, dropping a basket of clothes as her hands went to her chest.
"Yes, dear. I found her levitating," Dad responded.
"Oh, no! No, no, no." Mom started crying, collapsing to her knees.
I didn't know what was going on or why Mom was weeping. "Did I do something wrong?" I asked.
"No, Bells. This is just… unexpected, but in no way your fault," Dad said.
Things at home changed. Mom and Dad agreed that I needed to be trained in the Wiccan ways. It was grueling; I loved learning, but there were times that I was frustrated when I couldn't get a spell to work.
Wiping away my tears, I continued flipping through the book, searching for anything about blessing a grave. Three hours later, I shut the volume, having found nothing but a brief and concise passage about blessing a deceased ancestor: visit the cemetery; nothing else is needed.
I was in a meditative state when Edward knocked on my door at midnight.
Come in, I said with my thoughts. Our telepathic communication was a godsend at times, especially when he was at work.
Edward's POV
James had been willing to talk to Emmett and me, and I had yet to wrap my mind around the conversation.
"I recognized Bella the moment she walked through the door," James said. "I didn't mean to scare her."
I was dubious of his sincerity. "Why did you continue to approach her when you knew she was frightened?"
His gazed drifted to the floor. "I—I don't know."
"What's your relationship with Jacob Black?" Emmett interrupted.
"I ran with him in high school," James answered. "He was a bad ass, and I looked up to him. So did my brother. When I got pinned for a crime I didn't have any involvement in, I cut ties with them both."
"What?" I asked.
"The murder of Bella's parents," he said and swallowed deeply. "I wasn't even in Forks that night."
My eyes went wide, and I took a step toward him. If it wasn't for Emmett's restraining hand, I would have wrapped my hands around James' throat.
"Where were you that night?" Emmett asked, his hand still preventing me from moving another step.
"Seattle. Only Malcolm McCullough believed me and helped me beat the rap. I don't know how, but I was cleared of the charges, and my record was sealed two months later when I turned eighteen."
I was still seething.
"Who do you think killed them?" Emmett asked.
"My brother and Jacob," James answered without hesitation. "I can't prove it, though." He paused a moment. "Jacob will do whatever it takes to have Bella."
"Like?" I asked.
"Kill you."
"Why does he want her?" Emmett questioned.
I didn't think James was going to answer, but what he said sent foreboding chills through me.
"Jacob wants her powers," he whispered. "I don't know what he means, and he wouldn't elaborate."
Chills coursed through me again as I thought about what it could mean. Did Jacob know about Bella's magical powers? Was it even possible for him to gain them? I didn't have the answers, and neither did any of the books I consulted. Going to Malcolm was out of the question—well, at the moment, at least. Plus, I still hadn't told Bella about the conversation. I had just decided to tell her, leaving out the part about what Jacob wanted, when a dizzying wave of confusion hit me, nearly blinding me. Luckily, I was sitting when it hit; it didn't take me long to discover the source. A quick telepathic probe inside the house told me the wave came from Bella.
Switching off the television, I made my way down to her room. In the past month, she had gotten into the habit of closing the door, and tonight was no different. I knocked and didn't have to wait long for permission to enter.
Bella was sitting cross-legged in the center of the bed with her eyes closed. Only a beat went by before she opened them, and I saw the confusion in them.
"Are you okay?" I asked, sitting down and wrapping an arm around her.
"Not really. I found a single sentence on how to honor my parents." She showed me the page.
It was direct, but there was blank space underneath it. There could be something more hidden by magic. "Who wrote it?"
She studied the penmanship a moment, and her eyes went wide. "My father," she whispered in answer.
I hugged Bella close to my side and kissed her temple. "It's their wish, love. We need to respect it."
She rested her head against my shoulder. "I know, but I don't understand. Why would they just want me to visit and do nothing?"
That was a good question, and one I didn't have an answer for. I sighed, shaking my head. "It's late, love. I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted. Why don't you sleep with me tonight?" I suggested, knowing that she would most likely end up in my bed before morning anyway. It had been three weeks since I had woken with my arms wrapped around her, and I knew it was because she felt safe and no nightmares haunted her. Tonight, there was no telling if they would be held at bay, and I didn't want to add to them.
~~ L. C. ~~
I took a deep breath of the cool, crisp late-October air—typical Forks. It had been fifteen years ago that I left for college. I had been back once in all that time for a wedding. I had planned to come for my ten-year high school reunion, but a movie premiere in Cannes fell the same weekend. It was a tough choice to make, and Cannes won out. Mom and Dad frequently made the trip from Seattle to visit friends, and they had come down two days ago to ready the house. Bella and I followed, arriving late Monday afternoon. My siblings would join us on Wednesday.
Not long after Bella and I had arrived, I activated the wards buried on the property. Our safety was important.
"When will Malcolm arrive?" Dad asked when I joined him on the porch while Mom and Bella put away the groceries Bella and I had stopped for.
"Thursday morning," I answered, taking a seat in an old rocking chair. "And Bella doesn't know. I would like to keep it that way."
"I see. Why haven't you told her?"
Glancing over my shoulder and reading both Mom and Bella's minds to find out if they would be coming outside any time soon, I found that they were discussing the menu for dinner. "She's stressed enough with being here while Jacob is still out there somewhere. I don't want to add to it by telling her Malcolm will be joining us."
He nodded. "Understandable. I put Bella's bags in the room next to yours."
"I doubt she'll sleep there," I said, rubbing my neck. Dad did know that Bella was sleeping with me from time to time and the reason, but I hadn't shared with him or Mom, let alone Alice and Rosalie, my plans to ask Bella to be my wife, and I had sworn Emmett and Jasper to secrecy.
Again, he nodded. "Have the nightmares returned, then?"
I sighed, probing again before answering. "I'm not sure. Ever since she opened the box that contained some of her parents' belongings …" I trailed off, letting Dad come to his own conclusion.
"Memories are bothersome things," he said.
It was my turn to nod. "It's still good that a room is available if she wants some privacy," I remarked as Mom and Bella joined us.
I grabbed hold of Bella's hand, pulling her toward me, encouraging her with a smile to sit on my lap. She was a little uneasy about displaying affection around my family, but when Mom plopped down on Dad's lap, Bella relaxed and sat on mine.
Mom winked at me. If I didn't know better, I would think she knew I had something up my sleeve. It was still good that she helped me out.
"You two up to grilling?" Mom asked.
"Always," I answered at the same time as Dad.
~~ L. C. ~~
Thursday came all too fast, but waking up with my arms around Bella each morning hardened my resolve to propose to her. Like always, I was the first up, and instead of staying in bed, I got up and headed to the kitchen—breakfast in bed was in order. I had a feeling that Bella was going to be on an emotional rollercoaster ride, and anything I could do to prevent it from starting early would help.
I grinned as I walked through the living room. The whole house was decorated with carved pumpkins and gourds, skeletons, cobwebs, and other Halloween items. It was eerie yet comforting that my family embraced the holiday, especially Emmett—no surprise there. He was for any holiday that allowed him to unleash his childish side.
After getting out the griddle, I whipped up the batter for pumpkin pancakes. Mom joined me as I was ladling out the first one into a ghost form.
"What's the plan for this evening?" Alice asked, coming in five minutes later, yawning.
"Handing out candy. We'll also visit the cemetery in the early afternoon," I answered.
"Didn't we go to one last year?" Rosalie asked.
I sighed. Rosalie had a great memory. "Yes." I held up my hand. "However, Bella wasn't at her parents' funeral and hasn't visited the graves," I said.
"And we have to go?" Alice exclaimed, throwing up her hands.
"I'm sure Bella would like the support," Mom said, throwing a dish towel on the counter. "Who knows? One day she might be a part of this family."
It took everything in my power not to react to that statement, but I failed miserably.
"Something wrong, Edward?" Emmett asked, snatching a piece of bacon from the pile.
I threw him a look. "No. Alice doesn't like the plans for today," I said, trying to deflect the attention away from me.
Alice wasn't fooled for a minute. "Oh no, don't even go there, Edward. I may not like the plans, but like Mom said, Bella is going to need support. It's going to be hard for her finally saying goodbye to her parents."
"Besides, bro, you're still do plan on proposing tonight, right?" Emmett asked.
"Really?" Alice and Rosalie said together.
"Thanks so much for keeping your big mouth shut," I said, scowling at Emmett.
Rosalie turned and glared at her husband. "You knew and didn't tell me."
He raised his hands. "He should have never told me. What he should have done was just told Jasper."
"Jasper knows!" Alice stormed out of the kitchen.
Hell! This wasn't going to blow over.
"Oops!" Emmett said, running after Alice, trying to cut her off.
I slumped against the counter.
"I'm surprised he lasted this long," Rosalie said, putting a hand on my shoulder. "And don't blame him for slipping. We all knew it was a matter of time. So, is there anything I can do to help?"
"Pick Malcolm up from the airport for me," I answered. "His flight should be in an hour. And take Emmett with you."
"Doesn't he have a security team?" Mom asked.
"Yes, but Malcolm fears they will get lost trying to find the house," I replied, picking up the tray I prepared for Bella and me.
Bella was sitting up, reading when I entered my bedroom. I knew she was apprehensive about visiting the graveyard, and no matter how I attempted to ease her mind, she worried still. Even Emmett and Jasper struggled in convincing her that they would keep her safe.
"I thought you would like a ghoulish breakfast," I said, placing the tray across her lap.
"Ghoulish? Looks more like friendly ghosts to me."
I laughed, settling next to her. "True," I remarked, stealing a kiss. "Let's see if I can make them a little gruesome." Picking up the syrup, I poured strawberry sauce over the top.
"Still not scary," she said, giggling.
Bella's POV
I slipped the black dress on over my head. It seemed a little silly to be wearing black to visit the graveyard, but in a way, I was mourning my parents' death for the first time. Jacob had robbed me of that. Stepping into black flats, I sighed. I really didn't want anyone but Edward with me. It was sweet that his family wanted to be there for me, though. As I descended the stairs, I heard Edward's familiar laugh.
"I don't see why that is funny, lad."
Grandfather? What was he doing here?
"If you knew Emmett, you'd understand why I'm laughing," Edward replied. "He loves to torment all of us, and I'm glad it was Jasper and not me he was pranking."
"Ha, ha," Jasper remarked, flatly. "You're not the one that got struck in the—"
Carlisle cleared his throat, motioning to where I stood listening. I had no clue how Jasper was going to finish that sentence but was grateful that Carlisle prevented the relating of whatever had happened.
"Lass, don't take this the wrong way, but you look dreadful," Grandfather said from where he sat. "What's with the black?"
I shrugged and thought, it seemed appropriate.
"And it is, love," Edward said while outwardly, he gave me a small, crooked smile.
He, too, was wearing mostly black—black slacks with a dark gray button-up and black tie. There was a black jacket on the arm of the chair he was sitting in. My heart started to flutter, and I had to turn away.
"What are you doing here?" I asked after giving Grandfather a kiss on the cheek.
"It has been some time since I placed flowers on their grave," he answered. "And you shouldn't have to do this alone."
"You're like a sister to us," Alice said from behind me.
She and Jasper were also dressed in black. Footsteps on the stairs had my eyes looking in that direction. The rest of the Cullens descended, and tears spilled over. I felt so loved and supported.