Where the Streets Have No Name
Chapter 34
After the drama at the dinner table, the elders quickly called it a night. The Morenos didn't have far to go since the restaurant was located at their hotel. Edward dropped Carmen off at his place then drove his parents to their hotel.
No one said anything during the drive, though the mood was grim.
"Walk with me, son," Carlisle said once Esme kissed them both goodnight and excused herself to retire for the night.
They found a relatively secluded spot in the hotel lobby by the glass paned wall. Carlisle chose a comfortable looking sofa and Edward followed suit.
"Carmen mentioned that you two are planning to settle here. Does that mean you are turning down your residency with Lenox Hill?" his father asked in a surprisingly neutral voice.
"Yes, I'm afraid so. Carmen doesn't want to move that close to New Jersey, and after meeting her mother, I think I understand a little better why she doesn't want to move.
"I can't... I shouldn't leave her here alone. So..." he trailed off, hoping his father would see the merit behind the momentous decision.
Carlisle simply nodded his head, choosing to refrain from voicing his thoughts about what he truly felt about his son's reasoning.
"Carmen seems like a... nice young woman," Carlisle remarked after a while. "And yes, I've also noticed how interesting her family is." His assertion was heavy with meaning that he would rather not commit to words; he did not approve.
Edward shrugged. He didn't see the point in refuting an argument that hadn't been posited aloud.
"Have you set a date yet? For the wedding I mean," Carlisle asked.
"Uh... sort of, yes. Carmen found a church that has an opening in two weeks," Edward answered. "Can you stay till then?" he asked.
"Your mother probably can, but I'll have to go back, delegate a few cases and come back. I'm sure Alice will be there too."
They sat in silence for a minute.
"Do you love her?" Carlisle asked the question that the Cullens had been skirting ever since Edward informed them of his plans to marry Carmen.
Edward furrowed his brow and contemplated lying.
He decided it would be pointless as well.
"It doesn't matter. We are having a baby," he said finally.
"Edward, surely you realize that in this day and age, one doesn't have to resort to marriage to raise a child together," Carlisle said incredulously.
"I know. But... but Carmen has religious issues. She won't agree to having a baby outside of wedlock. So..." Edward let the meaning of his words hang in the air between them. "Besides, I don't hate her. There's a very good chance we'll come to... care about each other in the future..." he added as an afterthought.
"And if we try and fail, if things don't work out, we can always part ways later and share custody; amicably," Edward reasoned.
"You are seriously planning a divorce two weeks before the wedding? Do you realize how wrong that is? Also, are you sure these 'religious issues' that are compelling her to a marriage neither of you are ready for won't be there to prevent a divorce? What will you do then? Stay trapped in a loveless marriage for the rest of your life?"
Thank you Lulabelle98, HeidiJoVT, and Dinx.