Rosalie
I dial Charlie's home phone number as we speed out of town. Emmett is driving with a special type of vengeance meant only for Nessie. The phone rings twice and then the soft voice of Sue greets from the other side.
"Hi Sue. It's Rosalie. Can I please speak with Charlie?"
"Yeah, he's right here," she replies. I hear the phone being shuffled around before Charlie's deep voice says, "Yes. Hello.
"Hi Charlie. This is Rosalie. Nessie has run away from home. Have you talked to her?"
"Ran away? He responds sounding a little more than shocked. "She called me and said that y'all gave her permission to come visit. But she should be here in a few minutes."
"Oh Thank God," I sigh as if I had no idea she would be there. "Emmett and I are on our way."
"She can stay for the weekend if that would be easier for you," Charlie suggests. I think about this for a second, but realize that Bella and Edward would rather her be punished for her actions—not rewarded.
"That's very kind of you Charlie, but it's probably better we take her home. Emmett and I should be there is later this morning."
He sighs in defeat and says, "Sure. See you soon." I hang up without a response. This is the call I don't want to make.
"You want me to do the talking Babe?" Emmett asks from the driver's seat. He really is a sweet husband.
"No. I can handle it. So who should I call? Bella? Or Edward?"
"I would go with Bella. You know how Edward gets. Bella will probably be at least a little more rational."
"You're right." I dial Bella's number quickly and this time it is answered on the first ring.
"Rosalie! Are you on your way?"
"Yeah. Emmett and I are about three and a half hours from Forks if there is no traffic. We will get her and bring her home as soon as we can."
"I'm coming home," Bella says with a sigh of both relieve and anxiety.
"Are Jacob and Edward?"
"No, just me. It's time someone tells Renesmee what is going on. She isn't gonna let us lie to her anymore."
"You're right. So should I let her spend some time with her Grandpa before bringing her back?" I ask, now wanting Nessie to have a little bit of fun before she learns about how much her existence has complicated all our lives. She won't be able to help but blame herself. Sometimes I wonder if that girl knows exactly how much we all love her.
"I'll be back late tonight. We can talk tomorrow morning. So as long as she is back at some point today, that's fine."
"Alright," I reply. "Oh and Bella, we are all really sorry."
"I know. And as much as I wish I could blame it on your lack of attention, I know it could have happened with us around too. She's a smart girl."
"She takes after her mom with that."
"Thanks Rose. But I have to go. I will see you later."
"Bye Bella," I say before ending the call.
"That went better than I thought it would," Emmett chuckles. Relieved, I lean back and enjoy the scenery with my husband.
Nessie
I pull up outside of Grandpa's house at 5:34 A.M. Luckily, both Charlie and Sue are early-birds. I don't feel too guilty calling at 5 when I know they will be awake. Grandpa opens the front door and jogs out into the rain to meet me at the car. When I step out, he stops dead in his tracks. Last time he saw me, I looked about ten.
"Wow, Nessie. What happened to my little girl?" he mocks as he pulls me into a tight hug. The heat coming off his cool skin catches me a little off guard. I push back the burning in my throat and kiss him on his cheek.
"Hi Grandpa. I've missed you."
"So much that you decided to run away from home and lie to me?" he asks, now stern.
Changing the subject, I say, "So what's for breakfast. I'm starving."
He chuckles a little and leads me in the door. Sue stands near the stove cooking up some eggs. She turns and waves to me with a genuine smile. Sometimes she looks so much like Leah. "Hey Sue. It's nice to see you," I say with a polite grin.
"You can put your stuff in Bella's old room. It might be a little dusty. I haven't gone and straightened up in awhile." I turn to walk away and Charlie adds, "Oh and Nessie, take your time. When you come back down here we need to talk about your little jail break."
I continue my walk of shame up the stairs without turning back to see the disappointment in his eyes. I open my mom's old door and step in slowly. It has been years since I have been in this room. Everything is exactly as I remember. I pick up her old pillow and sniff it. I can smell some of my mom's human scent lingering.
This smell, though I have no actual memory of it, always brings me home. When I told Grandpa Carlisle how it always smells familiar to me, he said it is probably because I spent a month is my mom's womb getting to know the smell. He said that it will always be a familiar scent to me because it is what I associate with mother.
I don't know if all that is true, but I like to pretend that he is right. All I know for sure is that I wish I could know my mom before the change. I know she is most likely the same person now as she was then, but the curiosity still lingers. Was she like me? Did she like to fall asleep listening to her favorite songs? Did she enjoy spending time with her family? I've never found the nerve to ask her these questions. I don't know why.
I sit down on her old bed and wonder how much time I have before someone arrives to get me. I better get over to the reservation soon or else I will miss my chance. As much as I don't want to suffer through a lecture from Charlie, I know that the sooner I face this, the sooner I see Jake.
I jog down the stairs and take a seat at the table. "So how have you been Nessie?" Sue asks as she places my breakfast in front of me.
"I'm doing great. I started school."
"Leah mentioned that. How are you doing?"
"Great. I'm way ahead all my classmates so it's pretty easy. And I have this friend named Lizzie. She's awesome." I take a huge piece of egg and stuff it in my mouth. I am really hungry. "How have you been?" I ask in between bites.
"I've been doing really well. Thanks for asking. We've missed you."
"I miss you guys a lot too. Have you gone down to the reservation to see Jacob yet?" I pose subtly.
"Jacob?" she responds confused. "Jacob isn't here Nessie."
Suddenly my stomach is reeling and rejecting these eggs that tasted great a few seconds ago. It all makes sense now. They did lie to me. Jacob is probably wherever my parents are. They have been lying. It breaks my heart.
Charlie comes in from the living room with coffee is his hands. "So did you even want to see us? Or did you come just to see Jacob?"
"I wanted to see you too. But I was hoping to see Jacob as well," I admit.
"Well Nessie. You should have called. You would have saved yourself a lot of trouble. Jacob is out with Leah and Seth. They went on a vacation."
Evidently Seth and Leah are willing to lie to their family too. This is ridiculous. Wherever they are, they are most likely in danger if Jake brought his pack. I can't tell if I'm more angry or nervous.
"So who is coming to get me?" I ask in hopes of distracting myself from my realizations.
"Emmett and Rosalie," Charlie answers. "They will probably be here around nine. What do you want to do until then? I think you have had enough punishment by knowing you came all this way for nothing."
"To be honest Grandpa, I am tired. Can I just go sleep?"
"Yeah. Go ahead. I'd be tired too if I drove all night."
"Thanks," I remark as I push my chair out and get up. I really am tired. But this also gives me time to cry. Mom's old bed is warm and soft. The tears come, but sleep arrives as a relief soon after.
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