Chapter Eight – Dancing in the Light

Bella

I immediately felt a sense of peace as the room warmed. When I opened my eyes, I found Hayley dancing gracefully toward me. She was smiling tentatively and curls framed her cheeks. She no longer wore the simple blue and grey outfit she'd had on. Instead, she twirled happily in a short white dress, tulle peeking out from under the skirt.

"You look like a ballerina, sweetie," I said softly, watching as she spun on a tiny foot encased in pink ballet slippers.

"She'd been taking dance classes since she was three," Edward whispered, his grip on my hand firm. I heard the combination of awe and anguish in his voice.

"She was so beautiful on stage," Carlisle said, a look of longing etched across his features.

When I'd first met Dr. Cullen, I had lost my footing in the parking lot of a restaurant outside of town. He'd immediately known that I was different. As he patched up my broken ankle in the emergency room, an older man in the room adjacent to mine had died of a heart attack.

I'd tried discreetly to help him cross over, but I'd met resistance when I realized that he only spoke Spanish.

I was rusty at best, so I'd asked Carlisle if he knew what "camino de la luz" meant. He had looked confused for a moment, and he even asked if I had bumped my head. After he'd given me the translation, "road of light," I had known it was the kindly man's path home. I had smiled brightly at Dr. Cullen and once again asked him to translate something to Spanish. "It's the path you must take. Your wife is waiting for you there."

Of course, when I'd said the translation to thin air, in Dr. Cullen's eyes I'd given myself away. I had been lucky that he hadn't had me committed. He'd believed in me. Since our first encounter, I had been to his hospital a few times. Each time, he provided me with the upmost care, and he even worked on me quickly. He knew that I had to be uncomfortable in an environment with so many emerging spirits.

Then there had been the time that my father had taken me to his hospital. I had entered a state of shock when Jacob had first made his presence known after his death. I really had frightened my father, so he'd rushed me to the one doctor who'd be discreet. Between my father and Carlisle, they had managed to pull me out of my little world.

Edward brought me out of my thoughts as he rose to his feet. "Oh, baby girl," he said softly. "If only I could dance with you one last time." His words were both heartfelt and filled so much longing. He shifted his feet and walked over to the stereo in the adjacent wall unit.

I looked curiously at Edward's parents, finding them gazing worriedly at him. I caught Carlisle's eye, and he gave me a small smile. "From what we know, Edward hasn't listened to music since her disappearance," he said in a low whisper. I nodded in understanding, Hayley confirming that Edward refused to listen to music or watch television. They were constant reminders of her.

"Dance with my daddy, Bella," Hayley said sweetly, for my ears only. I shook my head, not because I didn't want to, but because I was afraid of what Edward would say. "I want to see him dance. Please."

Before I could answer Hayley, the familiar tune of "Claire de Lune" surrounded us. Edward turned from the stereo and gave me a small smile.

"Dance with me, angel," he whispered, holding out his hand. As if I had little will of my own, my hand was in his. His smile grew as he gave me a short bow. I blushed, causing him to laugh, but I managed to curtsy.

Before he could take me in his arms, I felt Hayley's hand on the middle of back. "Wait," I said. Edward looked confused but placed his hand around my waist.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked, concerned. I felt the middle of my back shoot forward, causing my back to straighten.

"Oh, it's nothing, really," I grumbled as my face flamed. "Hayley's just correcting my posture."

Edward and his parents laughed, and I could see something different in Edward's eyes. "Of course she is."

Hayley giggled, giving me a sweet apology. Once my posture was to her specifications, Edward and I were dancing. Hayley swirled around us, waving her hands gracefully as she twirled.

"Chin up," Hayley said. Edward smiled, as if he'd heard her. I shook my head, ignoring her. I was a bad dancer, and I was trying not to step on Edward's toes.

Edward leaned down close enough to whisper in my ear. "Chin up, angel." I blushed, looking up at his sweet expression. He smiled as he led us around his living room. I noticed Esme sigh happily, as if she were seeing her son for the first time. Carlisle's eyes glistened with tears as he pulled his wife closer to his side.

I could hear that Hayley wanted something else, as memories of Edward at the piano were in her thoughts. "Edward," I breathed.

"Yes?" His eyes were still radiant as he led me through the song for the second time.

"Hayley wants to hear you play, but she's afraid to ask."

Edward sighed softly, nodding. He rested his forehead on top of my head before he placed a soft kiss on my cheek. He walked over to the stereo, turning it off.

"What should I play, baby?" he asked, his eyes darting around the room.

"My lullaby, Daddy," Hayley said softly.

Edward took my hand in his, and he led us out of the room. The next room was a more formal living area with a raised platform where a handsome white piano stood.

"Sit with me," Edward asked. I nodded, sitting beside him. I released his hand, but not before, he gave them both a small squeeze. He turned his attention to the set of ebony and ivory keys.

"He hadn't played for a long time, Bella," Hayley whispered, once again only for my ears. "Can you make sure he plays after I'm gone?"

I nodded, watching Edward close his eyes briefly. He took a few deep breaths and set his fingers atop the keys.

"For you, pumpkin," Edward whispered. He made this ridiculous gesture with his hands, a big smile on his face. Then he started playing…"Chopsticks."

Laughter and giggles filled my ears as Hayley quickly pointed to the keys I needed to press.

"Those," she said, still trying to contain her laughter.

I heard a soft gasp behind us, and I turned to see Edward's parents look around in awe. They could hear Hayley's sweet laughter. I returned my attention back to the piano, and we continued for a few minutes. As the last note hung in the air, Edward took my hand, kissing it lightly. He mouthed a "thank you," and placed my hand on my thigh.

"Here it goes," Edward said. I watched as his fingers danced over the keys, pulling the sweetest notes from not only his instrument but also his very soul.

I could hear the love and pure adoration for his daughter in every note. The room grew warmer and brighter as he continued.

"It's almost time," Hayley whispered. I'd known that this was coming, and I couldn't help the small sob that escaped me. I had come to love this little girl, who loved so freely and completely, in such a short amount of time.

The lullaby came to an end, the last note made my chest hurt and fill with warmth at the same time. Edward hung his head low, his shoulders shaking as tears fell from his eyes.

"All this time I begged to hear her voice," he said gravely, "I never once thought she'd need to hear me, too." I ran my hand over his shoulders and back, hoping to soothe him. "I never once in the last three years said that I loved her."

"She knew you did, Edward," I whispered.

He shook his head. "I should've said it every day, played every day… I would've, if I'd known she was there the whole time."

"She understood, Edward." Hayley looked worriedly at me as she placed her hands on his shoulder. She longed to comfort him, for him to feel her. It was really damn unfair.

"You whispered that you loved and missed me every night in your sleep, Daddy," she said softly.

Edward looked up at and turned toward Hayley. "I did?" he asked, his eyes level with Hayley's. God, how I wished he could see her.

"Every night," she whispered. "You even hummed my song, Daddy."

Edward sobbed, hunching forward, reaching blindly for something that he couldn't touch. "Hayley."

I wrapped my arms around his chest from behind, shaking my head. "Edward, you're upsetting her. Please." I watched as Hayley's appearance lost some vibrancy again. "You have to let her go." His hands clasped mine, trying to pull me closer.

"I can't hear her anymore," he whispered as defeat caused his shoulders to fall. I apologized, because I had no idea why he couldn't. Hayley was trying desperately to tell him that she was sorry and that she loved him.

"Hayley," I said softly, watching her still perched on the piano bench. "Tell me what you want to say to your grandmother and grandfather."

I felt Esme's hand on my shoulder. Carlisle clasped a hand on Edward's shoulder, rubbing him softly behind his neck.

"Tell Nana to please keep baking cookies," she started, pausing for me to repeat after her. "Tell her not to stop knitting that blanket because soon she'll have someone to give it to."

Esme gasped, tears running down her cheeks as Hayley continued. "Tell her I love her." I repeated her words, causing Esme to sob out the same words for Hayley to hear.

"Tell Poe Po that I loved when he twirled me around and took me out for our special breakfasts behind Nana's back."

I laughed a bit but managed to say the words as Hayley's appearance brightened. "Also tell him not to forget to check on his patient named Marcus tomorrow morning," Hayley said softly. A warning, I was sure. Marcus wouldn't be with us for much longer. I had no idea how I knew, but I knew I was right. I told Carlisle what Hayley said, word for word. He quickly caught on and nodded sadly. She whispered her love for her grandfather one last time.

I told Carlisle and Esme that they could say their goodbyes, too. While they whispered their love for Hayley, Edward hardly moved.

"Bella," Edward whispered. I laid my cheek on his back and hummed. "I don't know if I can do this."

"It's not fair for her to stay here," I said softly, "To only as an observer and never as a participant."

"Where will she go after she's gone?"

I shook my head, because I didn't know. "I've never been allowed to see the light, so I don't know where," I answered. "The spirits I've helped before all said there is sense of hope, love, and peace when the way is lit for them to reach their destination. They see warmth in the light, and the call to reach it is undeniable."

"She'll be going to a better place," he said.

"I'd like to believe that it is," I whispered.

"Thank you." I nodded against his back, squeezing him around his chest. His fingers pried my fingers apart, and he laid one of my flattened hands over his heart. I hummed, slowing my breathing to match his. "Are you going after she's gone?" he asked softly.

"I'll go only after you tell me to."

He shook his head. "I don't think I'll ever ask you to leave."

"Okay," I answered simply, happy that he felt that way.

"Daddy?" Hayley said softly, standing in front of her father. I whispered in Edward's ear where Hayley was standing. His eyes once again leveled with Hayley's were, even if he couldn't see them.

"Hayley," Edward said. "I love you, baby. I promise to play your lullaby once a day."

"Thank you, Daddy. I'll love you forever." Hayley held up her ring finger, showing me a tiny gold band. I told Edward what I was seeing, and he laughed. "Remember when I married you in the backyard?"

I laughed because I guessed I wasn't the only one that had wanted to marry their dad when they were five.

"Of course I remember, baby girl," Edward said. "We had such a turn out. All the neighborhood kids came to see the prettiest girl get hitched. That day was one of the best days of my life, Hayley."

Memories flooded me my mind's eye as I watched Carlisle lead a tiny Hayley down an aisle made of white towels. Edward stood at the end with a big grin, in a full tuxedo. Several children attended, including Esme, who was wiping her eyes with a tissue.

"Do you remember how it was cloudy and you said, 'No one's going to rain on my day?'"

Edward nodded. He was able to hear her again. I quietly whispered to Carlisle and Esme the conversation.

"Do you remember what I said after you said that?" Hayley asked. Edward seemed to be confused and shook his head. "I told you that I wanted to dance in the light."

Edward sobbed and nodded. "You got your wish, baby girl. The sky opened up and shined down on us."

"Daddy," Hayley said. "I'm in that light, but this time it's so much brighter and feels so nice." Edward sobbed and whispered how much he wished he could see her in the light. "Close your eyes, Daddy, and use my words to see me dancing in the light."

I could feel Edward's heart rate increase as he took deep breaths. I could see his eyes close, his body immediately relaxing. "Goodbye, pumpkin. I love you." Hayley whispered her love and hopes for his future to him privately. His shoulders shook from the quiet sobs coursing through him, his eyes still closed to the images that his daughter had given him.

"Bella, thank you," Hayley said. "I love you."

"Love you, too, Hayley," I said with a smile. "I'll be here for him."

She smiled brightly. She leaned down and whispered in her father's ear – something I couldn't hear.

Edward turned in my arms, wrapping his own around me. His breath was in my ear, his grip firm but comforting. "When I close my eyes, I can see her dancing in the light among the flowers."

I felt Hayley's touch follow a tear down my cheek. "Goodbye, Bella." I watched as she walked around me to lay a gentle kiss on her father's cheek, briefly touch both of her grandparents' intertwined hands before she walked past the piano toward the far wall.

She turned toward her family and me with a bright smile and a wink. "Bella, here's a tiny peek at the light, something to help you keep your faith."

What I felt and saw as a beautiful warm light wrapped around Hayley – I had no words.