Chapter Twelve

Jasper

"Not necessarily. She could have survived it but if she did Edward would have found a way to kill her. He wanted the child for himself, something he had total control over. Someone who was his to bring up the way he wanted, to worship him. Edward has a warped mind, he's always wanted to be the best, the strongest, the only one, and he's lost that position in the family but he could have it with a child of his own."

"Sick bastard. So you found a way of getting her out from under his thumb. You made sure that case with Bella's things was on that plane and the book."

"Yes. I hadn't seen her leave the book at the apartment and luckily you didn't say anything when you heard. That was a tense moment."

"So now what?"

"Well Bella can't go back or be seen by anyone Edward will meet so I thought you could keep her safe. If you can get her to your friends for a while and explain everything then maybe you could live abroad or something, even change her yourself, she wouldn't be of any use to Edward then."

"Has it occurred to you that she may not feel the same way about me Alice?"

"Sometimes Jazz you can be really dense, of course she does, she just isn't sure yet, that's why you need time."

Bella stepped back and wiped her tear-stained face with her hand then put it out for the phone.

"I think you missed another small item"

"No I don't think so"

I glanced at Bella and handed her the phone,

"Alice?"

"Oh Bella."

"Yes oh Bella. You could have told me the truth, you could have explained instead of scaring me half to death and don't try palming me off on your mate it's not fair."

"Bella, I couldn't explain straight away you were too confused and just for your information Jasper isn't my mate...he's yours. I saw that a long time ago but you were so wrapped up in Edward I couldn't tell you, you wouldn't have believed me."

"And you think I do now?"

"Ask him."

"What?"

"If you don't believe me ask him. He's spent the time since you left reading your book and retracing your footsteps in Denver. Does that sound like rational behaviour to you? Ask him, go on"

She pressed end and handed me back the phone looking into my eyes,

"Well?"

I didn't answer, I was so scared of the reply I would get but as the silence grew longer my phone started to ring again. She took it from me and answered,

"Go away Alice"

My phone went flying across the room to land on the bed and she looked at me again.

"I need to know Jasper. I need to be able to trust someone and so far you're the only one who hasn't lied or tried to con me in some way, so?"

I had no choice so I nodded,

"It's true. I knew it before you left, before I dropped you at the airport but I didn't know what to do. You were Edward's wife."

"I still am"

"No, Bella Cullen died on that aircraft."

She looked at me as if weighing things up,

"What do you want from me Jasper?"

"Want? Nothing"

"OK what do you expect?"

"Nothing"

"Then why don't you just leave now?"

"Leave? Why?"

"It seems everyone wants something. Edward wants a child, Charlie wanted a daughter he could watch grow up and a wife who loved him, and me...I wanted a husband who would love and cherish me for eternity. We were all disappointed. So what do you want?"

I took her hands in mine and looked into her eyes,

"I want to love you, to keep you safe, to make you happy, and to be allowed to share your life. It's a lot to ask but I can't help how I feel. Now its your turn to tell me what you want. You are free, I can get you false papers and you can go wherever you want, be whoever you want, I can give you money to start a new life and I would willingly do so if you asked me then vanish. So you decide what it is you want and you tell me. In the meantime I'm going to ring my friends in Louisiana, it will be safer there for you, with or without me but its your choice, I won't force anything on you."

Bella

I had been so scared, after Alice had explained why she had done what she did, I had no idea what would happen to me. She kept telling me to stay put, to keep out of sight and wait, wait, wait. I moved hotels twice but late evening and the room had always been booked in her name and the key for the room posted under my door so either she was nearby or she had someone helping her in which case why didn't they speak to me? When I finally got the promised knock on my door I was terrified, had Edward traced me after all? Who would I find when I opened the door? Jasper was the last person I expected to see but he had been like sanctuary and I collapsed into him with relief only to find that he was as clueless as me. Then I heard Alice's conversation with him, I could hardly not, I was so close to him but I couldn't let go, he represented safety to me. When Alice told me to ask him I realized she had been speaking the truth but I needed to hear it for myself and he was reluctant to speak, fear or something else? I had to know because here in this room alone it was his face I had thought about, not Edward's, his company I craved not Edward's and I felt guilty because he was Alice's mate. My best friends mate but it turned out I was wrong. I had to know what he wanted and how he felt even if he didn't want to tell me. When he did speak I realized just how much he loved me, to offer me the chance of a new life without strings attached. I didn't answer him straight away only because I wanted to be as sure as possible that I wasn't jumping from the fireplace into the fire. I heard him talking to someone and knew I had to be honest so I touched his arm and he looked round at me.

"Just a second Charlotte."

"I'd like to go with you to your friends. I need to find a way to trust again so give me time please."

He nodded and smiled then touched my face with his other hand.

"You can have as long as you need Bella. I'll be with you until you tell me to go. But if you do tell me I promise I will go without a fuss."

"The crazy thing is I believe you. I'll leave you to talk, I think I'd better try to pull myself together."

Jasper

I would have been devastated if Bella had chosen to leave without me, at least I had a chance to prove I was worthy of her love. I didn't tell Charlotte everything but she didn't care, they were my closest friends and they would help me out no matter what.

"Major, just come. We can sort out the rest when you get here. We'll expect you when you get here OK?"

"Thanks Charlotte. Do you think you could ask Peter to take it easy on her?"

"I can ask but knowing Peter that will be a red rag to a bull."

"See you soon and thanks Char"

Bella

I went into the bathroom groaning at what was reflected in the mirror. I looked terrible, my hair was all over the place, my face was red and tear-stained, and I hadn't eaten or slept properly for days. Very sexy Bella, that will really get the guys interested. Who was I kidding, there was only one guy I was interested in and he stood just a few feet from me, separated only by the door. I was prepared to put my safety, my future in his hands, knowing he would do all in his power to keep me safe and as long as Edward never found out I was alive I would be OK. If he did he would come for me and as his wife it wouldn't be easy to avoid going. I couldn't get a divorce as I was officially dead, all I could do was wait for Jasper to get me some new papers and decide where to go from there. I felt sick and dizzy, I really needed to eat and get some sleep and now Jasper was here I felt safe enough to do both. I rang down for room service when I came out of the bathroom, having repaired the damage as best I could.