Chapter Eight

Bella

At first Charlie didn't hear me, he'd already started to answer Carlisle and his voice was cold and a little annoyed.

"I find that hard to believe Dr Cullen. Bella is a very thoughtful person and she is very attached to your son Edward, too attached in my opinion but that's beside the point at the moment. I hope you aren't insinuating that she did something underhand to hurt him?"

"Esme and I were also under the impression that she was attached to Edward until her behaviour with regard to his foster brother came to light, that changed things substantially. Alice is distraught about the behaviour of a girl she considered her closest friend. Perhaps Chief Swan you don't know your daughter as well as you would if she'd lived with you all her life. Her behaviour might even have been very different. Sometimes living with a single parent does cause behavioural problems, in my professional experience that is."

Finally Charlie acknowledged that he'd heard me although I'd rather have heard more about the complaint over my behaviour first.

"Really? Well it sounds like she's just come in so lets ask her about last night shall we? Bella could you come in here a minute please."

"Coming Dad, I'm just putting the kettle on, would Dr Cullen like coffee?"

I heard Charlie ask Carlisle although I already knew the answer so I waited a little longer then carried two mugs of coffee through and handed one to Charlie before sitting in the vacant chair. I took a sip of my coffee looking at Carlisle's face and trying to work out what the problem was. He had always been so kind to me yet now he looked angry and his gold eyes glittered coldly. I leaned forward then.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. You wanted to ask me about something?"

"Go ahead Dr Cullen."

"If you wish Chief Swan but I have to tell you that it is serious enough that my son Edward and daughter Alice are ready to leave the area."

"You're thinking of leaving Forks because of something Bella did? Isn't that a little extreme?"

"You may think so Chief Swan but I care very much about the welfare of my children even though they are not my own flesh and blood and Bella's behaviour was extremely upsetting to both of them, not to mention both my wife and myself."

"Are you insinuating that I don't care about Bella's welfare Dr Cullen? Because if you are I warn you to be very careful."

"Not at all. We all bring our children up the best we can Chief Swan."

"Well I think it's about time you told me exactly what crime my daughter is being accused of."

I hadn't understood anything Carlisle was saying but I was determined that I soon would. From the little I'd heard it sounded like I was being accused of something serious enough to cause the Cullens to leave...but what?

Jasper

I drove a hundred miles before stopping because I knew if I'd stopped sooner I would have turned around and gone straight back and Alice told me that would be disastrous although she wouldn't explain further. When I finally parked up in a small rest area and took the envelope from my bag noting my clothes and personal things had been neatly packed below it the moon was shining. Was Bella looking at the same moon and also wondering what had happened?

I opened the envelope and unfolded the letter inside recognising Alice's neat hand writing and feeling a strange pang of loss.

"Don't feel bad Jazz, this is how it was always meant to be and I'll be fine. I know you don't understand what's happened so let me explain. I saw in the future that your actions would steal your heart from me. By saving Bella in the ballet studio the way you did you tied yourself to her. Bella Swan is your real mate, not me. Unfortunately certain things have to happen before she realises this and you can't be there for her. She will find you when the time is right but until then you will just have to be patient. The truth is that your venom not only tied you to her but also started a slow process within her body. Bella is becoming a vampire, but not the way we did. Hers will be a gradual and kinder transformation so you see she doesn't need you to protect her any longer. By the time she realises something very important is happening to her she will already be looking for you.

In the meantime I want you to go to this address and make yourself at home. It's a small farm I bought some years ago in secret. There are three horses already stabled for you and a stable hand who just needs paying off, the money for that is in the other envelope at the bottom of the bag. I know looking after them will keep you occupied for now. There is also a check account with half all our money in it, that's only fair and as you know I can soon get more. Its going to be a while and I know with every month you will be suffering more but please Jazz don't be tempted to go looking for her. The way I have set it up you will both be safe and she will understand what you mean to her. Be patient my love and you will get your just rewards in the end. Love Alice."

PS Don't forget to hunt.

I smiled at the post script although the last line of the letter seemed strangely worded to my eyes. I had forgotten all about hunting my thoughts were so jumbled at the moment. Of course I trusted Alice. She was right, Alice always was, but how had she managed to organise all this knowing she was going to lose me to another? Played the part of Bella's best friend knowing one day that same girl would take me from her? How long did I have to wait? Her guarantee that Bella would be safe reassured me but I suddenly yearned to be with her, to see for myself. Waiting was hard and would only get harder the longer we were apart. I sat in the car for an hour before I could force myself to turn the engine back on and drive further from my mate. This was going to be the hardest thing I had ever done but I consoled myself with the thought that Alice wouldn't let me suffer any more than she had to, or more than I could bear.