Chapter Thirty
Alice
Carlisle looked at me shocked and embarrassed,
"So you did know? I thought you'd guessed, did anyone else?"
"No, not even Esme. You played your part so perfectly they would be horrified to find out how deceitful you can be. If it all comes out you'll lose the whole family you know that? Not because you love Edward but because you deceived everyone, even yourself."
"What do you suggest I do Alice? Edward will be angry if he finds out I knew Bella was alive and didn't tell him. She is still his wife after all."
"What you don't know you can't tell him and you don't know anything for sure. Aro lies when it suits him, perhaps he's just looking for Jasper and using Bella's name to obtain your help."
Carlisle shook his head but thoughtfully,
"I suppose it would be wrong to tell Edward until I had proof, it would only hurt him and I can't do that, I won't."
Carlisle was squirming, trying to find a way out of his predicament. If he told Edward then they would have to find her and there would be a fight he couldn't win. He stood every chance of losing his mate. If he didn't tell Edward and it later came out that he knew, then Edward would turn on him for his deceit and he might lose Edward again. His only real hope was that Bella and Jasper disappeared or were killed by the Volturi which meant using Alistair to track them down and another person in on the truth, or the possible truth!
Esme
I had known something was going on between Alice and Carlisle so when he asked Alice for a few minutes of her time I waited until I heard the door close then went outside. His door was soundproofed so he had quiet to study or read but this time of year he often had the window open so I stood close enough to hear what was being said. At first I couldn't get to grips with what they were saying but finally it sunk in. Bella was still alive and with Jasper while Edward and Carlisle were mates. They sent a lightning bolt of pain through me, almost bringing me to my knees. My husband, my mate was in love with someone else and not only that but our own son Edward. Lots of little things started to slip into place, the hunting trips the two took alone, the hours they spent together at the hospital, at conferences, at musical recitals. Some of these I hadn't been able to attend because the tickets were all sold out or I had a meeting with a client to discuss their interior design plans! I had been so blind, so trusting, so stupid, and Alice knew. Alice had seen it all and said nothing, showing her loyalty to Carlisle until she swapped allegiance to Bella and Jasper. She didn't seem bitter about losing her own partner but then she had never made a secret of the fact that they weren't mates in the traditional sense, more friends and lovers. Was that all I was to Carlisle? A friend and a lover? Or a smokescreen to keep his respectability in the human world. Good old Dr Cullen and his charming wife?
Alice
I knew Esme was listening in and had been terribly hurt by the revelations but I didn't know what if anything she would do with the knowledge she now possessed. I waited for Carlisle to speak again,
"If I don't ask Alistair to look for them will I or Edward be in danger?"
"I don't think you have any choice now Carlisle. Aro will be expecting to hear that Alistair is actively looking for a dead girl and Major Whitlock"
"Will he find them?"
"I can't tell you that but I doubt he can track phantoms, what do you think? Besides Alistair is going to be livid when he finds out why you contacted him. You know he hates any trouble, especially with the Volturi."
"So what you are saying is that I can't win."
"I think you are swimming in very treacherous waters Carlisle and most of the monsters are much bigger and more deadly than you."
He nodded then we both heard the sound of a car pull away from the house and he jumped up to see Esme's car turning the bend in the drive away from the house.
"Esme"
His voice was harsh with pain as he ran down the stairs but I could have told him he wouldn't catch her up. She'd heard too much to ever forgive him now and checking quickly I saw her with Rose and Emmett which could be problematic in itself, because Edward was there too and if he heard what she'd learned then it would make things far more difficult for Bella and Jasper. So I rang her cell phone,
"Yes Alice what do you want?"
"Esme I'm so sorry that you had to find out this way but I need to ask you to do something for me"
"Oh? And why should I do anything for you Alice? I assume you thought it was quite amusing seeing me sitting at home waiting for my mate to get back when he was already with his in some hotel or other."
"No, but how could I tell you? Would you have believed me? Especially once Edward started dating Bella because it wasn't long before that it all started. I think seeing Edward with Bella forced Carlisle to come out into the open and acknowledge what Edward had been feeling for some time. Bella was a smokescreen although I think Edward genuinely loved her at first. Carlisle spoiled it for them."
"I won't be seeing Edward."
"You will because he's going to stay with Rose and Emmett for a while and you're headed that way."
"Then I'll change direction. I think I'll go stay with Carmen and Eleazer and don't worry I won't tell them anything, it would be far too embarrassing for me."
"Thank you Esme."
"Just tell me one thing Alice. Am I protecting a flesh and blood person or a ghost?"
"Well lets just say a little of both."
Esme
I thought about Alice's words, a little of both? So Bella was with Jasper and would become a vampire, something she had always wanted and Edward refused her. Was that Carlisle's fault too? Was he jealous of the idea that Edward might prefer Bella to him once she was transformed or was there another motive? For now these were questions I couldn't answer, I had to concentrate on my story for Denali. It had to sound plausible. I guess a holiday from Forks and all the memories of Bella and Edward would be good enough. I wondered if Carlisle would follow me and if he did what he could possibly say that he thought would make any difference?