Mail Order Bride
A/N Hey there! Next chappie is up and ready to go! Only 3 left now. Wow, its been quite the journey for these two, hasn't it? Well, it ain't over yet! Hold on to your hats, people…
Disclaimer: Not mine. We all know who's it is! I just play with the characters.
Chapter 23
Another month passed. Bella had been teaching Nessie how to crotchet. Nessie proved to be a quick study, and had successfully made several scarves. The weather was starting to turn even colder, so staying in was becoming more common. Several people were coming down with early colds. Edward was stuck more and more often at his office, as several assistants had taken ill. At night, he came home later and later. Bella barely saw Edward anymore.
Bella was still leery of Edward. She had seen a side of him that she had never seen before, and now Bella wasn't sure how to be around him. When Edward was home, he went out of his way to show her how sorry he still was about the James incident. He brought her flowers and chocolates. He brought her books and new crocheting supplies. To Bella, he gave her everything but the one thing she desperately wanted.
On a particularly cold day toward the middle of December, Edward was visiting Kate. Kate was unusually quiet compared to her usual bubbly personality. Edward had tried and failed several times to draw her into a long conversation. Kate was continually fidgety and jumpy. Edward could finally take no more.
"What is the matter? You have barely said a handful of words since I got here," he said, peering at her intently.
Kate had been warring internally with herself. After what had happened with James and Bella, she had thought strongly about breaking the promise she had made to Tanya so long ago. His assault on Bella proved that James was unstable and capable of anything. Her biggest fear was how Edward would react, though. Realizing that Edward was still watching her, waiting on her answer, Kate instead evaded and asked her own.
"How are you feeling? You are looking a bit pale. Haven't caught those dreadful colds that everyone is coming down with, have you?" she asked him, hoping it would distract him. It didn't.
"No, I'm fine. Not a cough or a sniffle to be had. You're avoiding my question, Katie. Why?" Edward said. Kate sighed.
"I wanted to…ask about the night of the party. You were quite…enraged when you left. And poor Bella… I had a difficult time holding her back when you were fighting with James."
Edward had the grace to look embarrassed while Kate prattled on about the scene he'd made at her party. Truth be told it had been the talk of the town for some weeks after. With the holiday season, all the gossip had died down, but he did still hear the occasional mention of it. He was also sure that more than one woman had muttered caveman under their breath while in his presence.
"About that," Edward started, cutting her off. "I'm sorry my behavior was rash, and I wasn't thinking. I hope my actions haven't caused you too much trouble, and if there's anything that I can do..."
It was here that Kate cut him off. "No, no, no. That's not at all what I was getting at. The guests found it quite entertaining. Half of them thought it had been staged and want to know when we're having another party, but I digress." Kate's demeanor became unsure again. "I was actually want to ask about Bella. She seems like such a fragile little thing and everything happened so quickly... I wanted to call on her after the party, but I didn't want to intrude. I thought, perhaps to invite her over for tea one day soon. Do you think she would like that?"
"Bella is… still unsettled, I think." His tone was grave as his eyes became distant. "An afternoon with you might do her some good."
"Unsettled?" Kate inquired again, completely ignoring Edwards' permission to have Bella over. He didn't seem to be paying much attention as he answered.
"Yes, she's been fine, I guess. She's great with Nessie, teaching her everything a young girl needs to know. When she sleeps though… lately she's been restless and difficult to console."
"You mean, like nightmares?" Kate was very concerned now. Edward nodded.
"She cries out in her sleep and strikes out at the air. More than once, I've had to physically restrain her. She wakes in a cold sweat, and grabs on to me, barely allowing me to breath. I fear that what happened with James has traumatized her greatly. I fear my actions may have made it worst."
Kate wrestled with herself. She had promised Tanya, but James had now also assaulted Bella. If Edward had not gone looking for Bella when he had…
"Edward, there's something I need to tell you. Something that should have been told to you a long time ago," Kate said, her tone allowing no argument. Edward sat up straighter, and watched Kate closely. "Bella isn't the first woman that James assaulted."
Edward was dumbfounded. "What do you mean?"
Kate took a deep breath. "He assaulted Tanya, too." Edward leaped up from his chair. It fell backward with a clatter. Neither noticed. Edward was breathing hard, his heart pounding in his ears.
"When? When did this happen?" Edward seethed, his breath hissing through his teeth.
"Before I tell you anything, just know that I never wanted to keep it from you. Tanya begged me not to tell you. I only agreed because she was my sister, and I loved her."
"Fine, fine. I don't blame you. Now, tell me…."
"A week before your wedding, Tanya came running into the house, scratched up and crying…."
For the next half hour, Kate told Edward everything that had happened that day. The longer he listened, the more angry he got. By the time Kate got to the part about James' attempted rape on Tanya, Edward wanted blood. Specifically, James Hunterson's blood!
"She loved you so much, she didn't want you to ever know. She felt that you would hate her, or look at her differently if you ever learned any of this," Kate said, finishing her tale. Edward was livid. He knew then that James had deliberately targeted Bella. He had wanted to make Edward think that Bella was unfaithful, but why?
"Why would he target Bella? Why?" Edward wondered out loud.
"He loved Tanya, but she loved you. Bella is your wife now. It's you. He is trying to hurt you. By attacking the women who love you…" Kate reasoned. "Tanya was right not to tell you. After what happened with Bella…"
"Well, it won't happen to anyone else! I'm taking Bella to the police and we are filing a report against him," Edward said, conviction strong in his voice. Kate held up a hand.
"Is that wise? You know how influential his family is. Do you really want to go against them?"
Edward stared at Kate as if he had never seen her before. "Are you serious? Not only did he accost Bella, but he did it to Tanya, as well. Lord knows how many other women he has done this too. This has to end, now!"
"Edward, think about this in a practical manner. Bella must be the one to tell the Police what occurred. They may not listen to her. Are you prepared for that?" Kate asked. Edward nodded.
"They will listen to Bella. This animal will be stopped!" Edward vowed.
Kate shook her head. He loves her so much. Why is he letting my sister's ghost haunt him still? "James will fight back. You and I both know it."
"Let him. He will not win!" Edward said, the conviction so strong in his voice, that Kate knew he was right. James wouldn't win this time. Bella and Tanya would both be avenged. Too bad others weren't so lucky….
"Edward, tell me something. I want total honesty now. If you had known all those years ago what had happened to Tanya, what would you have done?" Kate asked.
Without hesitation, Edward replied, "I'd have murdered him!"
"Because he tried to take what was yours?" Kate pressed.
"Yes."
"If that is the case, then why did you respond in the negative when it was Bella? You saw it with your own eyes and yet you still blamed her. Why? Why is she so different from Tanya?" Kate asked, knowing the answer she would receive.
"Because I love Tanya. Always have, always will."
Kate looked Edward in the eye. "Then, you need to set that little girl free. Before her heart is completely shattered forever."
Edward ran his fingers roughly through his hair. "I can't do that, Kate. I can't!"
"Why? You obviously don't love her. You just admitted to me that you are still in love with my sister. Bella is here. She's alive! And, she loves you. But, if you can't let go of my sister, then you will lose Bella. It's time, Edward. Let go of the past. It's the only way you'll ever have a real future with Bella. A woman's heart can only bear so much sorrow and pain. Eventually, the heart shatters, and nothing can put it back together again."
"Kate, I…." Edward started, but Kate cut him off.
"NO! I speak from experience. Bella loves you! I know what it feels like to love someone who is in love with someone else. I would never wish that feeling on anyone. But, I have a feeling, Bella feels it every day! Because you can't let go of my SISTER!" Kate screeched at him.
"Kate, I want to love Bella. I do! She is so sweet and gentle. She is a wonderful mother to Nessie. She is exactly what Nessie needs to grow into a young woman."
"Then, let go of Tanya! You have so many memories and a beautiful daughter. Now, it's time to make new memories, with Bella. It's time to have more children. Don't push Bella away. If you do, one day you may open your eyes and realize she is gone. What will you do then?"
Edward pondered on this. "I need to deal with James first. Then, Bella and I will talk. Really talk."
"Then you should not waste any more time here with me. Go take care of that treacherous snake."
Edward stood up, and kissed Kate gently on the cheek. "I'll see you next week. Hopefully, that scum will be incarcerated!" With that, Edward grabbed his coat and hat, and raced out the door.
Kate sat as before, but rubbed her hand over the spot Edward had just kissed. She stared pensively ahead. Oh, yes. She had meant what she had said to Edward. She knew all too well what it was like to be in love with a man who did not return that love. That was one secret she would take to her grave.
"Oh my love…" Kate whispered to the empty room. "Don't break Bella's heart, the way mine was….."
As Edward had expected, the Police didn't readily believe Bella. James was an upstanding citizen, had never had any trouble with the law, etc, etc. Edward made Bella repeat her story over and over again. It never changed and the police finally listened. Edward then told them about Tanya's attack and about the history that he shared with James.
Finally, after a couple of hours, the Police took both Edward and Bella's statements, and promised to talk to Kate, as she had been a witness after the fact. They also said that James would be brought in for questioning. The only thing Edward asked for was that Bella and Tanya's names be anonymous.
A week later, the newspaper headline read, "James Hunterson arrested on two charges of attempted rape. Trial pending." In smaller letters underneath, it read, "The two women involved wish for their identities to remain anonymous."
Edward put down the paper, and pulled Bella into his lap. She landed with a grunt. Before she could chastise him, he kissed her soundly. Pulling back, he said, "We got him, my Bella! We got him!"
Bella was about to reply, when Edward started coughing harshly. Bella was immediately concerned. "Are you alright?" she asked, panic etched into her features. She reached for his forehead, but he waved her off.
"Yes, yes. I'm fine. It's just that damn cold that has been going around. Garrett was coughing pretty bad last week. I probably caught it from him. I'm fine, my Bella. Truly. Don't fuss."
But, over the next few days, Edward's coughing worsened. He started running a fever, and suffered from violent chills. He tried to hide it from Bella, but she was too observant. Finally, she told him, "We are going to see Dr. Laurent. Today!"
Rather than argue, Edward allowed Bella to bundle him up and hurry him out the door. They decided to walk, since the doctor's office was only around the next block. Bella kept a firm grip on Edward, and he simply concentrated on the street in front of him.
As they passed a familiar side street, Edward happened to glance up and caught a flash of bright red hair. He groaned inwardly, and tried to steer Bella the other way. A female voice stopped him, though.
"Edward? It is you!" she exclaimed. Bella looked up at Edward with confusion. Who was this woman? Edward shook his head at her unasked question. By then, Victoria had made her way up to them. "My, my, my! You look absolutely terrible, sugar."
"Victoria…how have you been?" Edward asked politely. Victoria shrugged, her breasts raising slightly out of her camisole and corset. Bella's eyes widened. She had never seen a painted lady before. It was then that Victoria noticed Bella.
"Well, well, well sugar. This must be the Mrs. Bella, right?" she asked politely. Bella was struck silent. Dumbly, she nodded her head. Victoria sized her up and down. She looked at Edward, a wide smile on her face. "She's a beauty. No wonder you were in such a rush to get back home. Is everything better now?" Victoria asked, unaware that Bella had stopped listening.
Bella felt light headed. Her heart pounded and she stared at Edward as if she had never seen him before. Victoria's words played back in her head. "No wonder you were in such a rush to get back home." Suddenly, Bella felt ill. She pulled away from Edward sharply. He stared down at her, shame on his face.
"Excuse me," she said to Victoria. "I'm suddenly not feeling well." Without looking at Edward, she raced back to their house, tears of humiliation coursing down her cheeks. She heard Edward shouting her name, but she just kept running. She stared down at the sidewalk, wishing she had never answered that ad!
She heard running footsteps behind her, but Bella refused to look up. She knew it was Edward, but she honestly didn't care anymore.
"Bella? Bella, are you alright? Are you ill?" he asked once he got equal with her. Bella ignored him and kept walking. Once they made it back home, Bella marched into the house, Edward following behind. He closed the door, and Bella rounded on him, fury on her face.
"When?" she screeched. Edward stepped back, and held up his hands.
"Bella, it isn't what it seems. Nothing happened," he told her.
"When?" she repeated, practically growling the word. Edward sighed.
"The night of Kate's party. I was angry, and I went to the bar." Bella's eyes widened.
"You mean…after you left here?" she asked. Edwards' chin dropped.
"Yes…" he whispered. Suddenly, his head was jerked to the side, his cheek stinging smartly. It took him a second to realize what had happened. Bella slapped me…
Bella stood there, anger and hurt coursing through her body. "Bastard!" she hissed.
"Nothing happened!" Edward tried again, but Bella was beyond listening.
"Was she good in bed? Huh? You can fuck a whore, but not your own wife? Bella exclaimed, humiliation loosening her tongue. "I trusted you. You said, "Give me time to mourn," and "Someday I can give you the love that you need." But, that was all lies, wasn't it? You never wanted me here. You never wanted to replace Tanya! You made a fool of me! Making me wait for something that was never going to happen! You treated me like garbage, and I stayed! I stayed because I fell in love with you! Foolishly, I hoped that one day you would feel the same. I can't believe how wrong I was!"
During Bella's speech, Edward had started feeling lightheaded and dizzy. He gripped a chair, trying to remain upright, as the room started to spin.
"Bella…" he said weakly, but Bella was far too angry to notice.
"And Nessie? What about her? What will you tell her? Are you ready to break her heart?"
"Bella…" he tried again. His whole body was starting to shake, and he could feel sweat breaking out on his forehead.
"Why did I stay here? WHY?" she exclaimed.
"Bella…" Edward tried to say, but instead, he felt himself falling to the floor. The last thing he heard was Bella's startled, "Edward?!"
A/N There it is. The end of another chapter. What did you all think? Review please!