A World Full of Strangers

Disclaimer: All the characters in the story are the property of Stephanie Meyer. I have borrowed them for my entertainment and (hopefully) your reading pleasure. I make no profit from their use.

Chapter 11: Plans

"Is my Jacob gone?" I ask as I look up from Momma's shoulder when the others come back into the house.

"For now," answers Daddy. "But I'm sure that he'll be back. Carlisle told him to consult with the Tribal Elders about the move."

"Can they tell us not to move?" I ask puzzled.

"They can't tell us anything," answers Auntie Rose. "I think that Carlisle is hoping that they will explain the facts of life to him."

"Huh?"

"What Rose means," Carlisle says. "Is that I am hoping the Tribal Elders will explain to him that his imprinting on you does not mean that he has any right to take you away from us against our will. And that it is his responsibility to follow you, not the other way around."

"He was thinking about that when he was talking to us," says Daddy. "He was trying to remember if Claire's parents had been willing to just give her up to Sam and Emily to raise so that she could be near Quil. But I can't believe that they were forced to give her up. The Makahs fully buy into the old Quileute legends."

"Renesmee," says Carlisle seriously. "When we were outside, Jacob told us that you were afraid because you didn't want us to take you away from him. Now tell me the truth. Do you feel that way?"

"No," I say. "I was afraid that I would hurt his feelings if I told him the truth. I don't want to leave my Momma and Daddy. But I want him to come with us. Do you think that he will?"

Everyone looks at Daddy.

"He isn't even considering it," he says. "He wants to stay on the reservation. It's an interesting clash of cultures. It is unfortunate that he views Renesmee as a part of his culture because he imprinted. But actually, she has been raised as a part of our culture. I'm curious. Renesmee, when you visit the reservation do you feel at home there?"

"Not really," I admit. "I mean the other children are so different from me. They don't like to talk about books or music, except for their music. They don't know much about history or science. They know a lot about their legends and their tribe's history. It's hard to play with them because I don't understand their games."

"How would you feel about living there?" he asks.

"I would miss everyone a lot. You are my family," I reply. "And I wouldn't know what to do. I don't think that there would be anyone to teach me. Sometimes Emily teaches me, but it's all about their magic and how great it is to be a wolf girl. And she says that now I am in their family."

"This is ridiculous, Edward," says Auntie Rose. "She has no interest in reservation life. If she did, don't you think that she would be asking to go there more often?"

"I'm wondering if we shouldn't move up our timetable for the departure," says Esme. "I'm afraid that if we drag this out too long that we could have trouble, big trouble."

"You don't think that the packs would attack us?" I ask anxiously.

"No, of course not," answers Carlisle quickly. "Do you?"

"I don't know," I say. "I mean, suppose they're like Jacob and think that they have to protect me from . . . from you? And what if they think that you are taking their family away from them."

"I never considered that," says Daddy.

"We can't leave without telling Charlie," says Momma.

"If we tell him, will he tell Sue?" asks Carlisle. "And if he tells her, will she feel that she has to tell the others?"

"It would be useful to know what the Elders make of Renesmee leaving," says Daddy. "But I think that we should prepare for a fast departure anyway. If necessary, Bella, Renesmee, and I can stop and say goodbye to Charlie on our way out of town."

"If you leave by car," says Jasper. "They can't track you. But you might want to go to Whitehorse by a more circuitous route."

"Through Montana and North Dakota and then up through Manitoba and Saskatchewan," says Carlisle. "You know the way, Edward."

"It's a pretty drive," adds Esme. "Plains will be lovely in late summer. You'll need passports at the border. It's too bad there's not enough time to get real ones."

"Jenks will be cooperative," says Jasper. "Especially since Bella overpaid him for the last job he did for her. There is one problem."

"What?"

"Do you think that you will be able to pass off Bella and Edward as her parents?" he asks.

There is silence all around.

"I'll go with them," Esme immediately offers. "We don't want the immigration officers to think that Renesmee is being kidnapped. It wouldn't be the first time that Edward has played my brother. And for the few minutes that we're at the border, there's no reason why Bella can't be our sister."

"And Renesmee will be your daughter," adds Carlisle. "But it might be smarter if you went through with Renesmee alone. Bella and Edward can run through the wilderness meet you on the other side."

"But what if they get caught?" I ask.

"Huh!" says Emmett. "As if any immigration officer could see, let alone catch them."

"Don't worry Renesmee," Daddy assures me. "Even if they got close, I would hear them thinking. But there's no fence across the Canadian border the way that there is across the Mexican one. It will be fun, more fun than driving through the checkpoint"

But I don't like to think about being separated from them anyway. I've never been away from them for one night at a time. Even then, I was staying at the big house and they were at the cottage. Of course, it's also because we've never gone anywhere before except Grandpa's house and the reservation.

"Renesmee," says Momma. "Why don't we go back to the cottage and start packing? Esme, do you want to help us?"

"I'd be happy to," she answers cheerfully. "Why don't the rest of you stay here and pack up the house? Carlisle, you should call those movers and see how quickly they can get here."

"When do you want them?" he asks.

"Tomorrow morning," she replies. "Emmett, you should see about getting the cars moved. And Edward, when you're done moving the heavy stuff here, you should come to the cottage to help us."

"Yes, ma'am!" answer the two boys smartly.

Auntie Rose rolls her eyes.

"This is your first move, Bella and Renesmee," she says. "Esme knows exactly how to get things done. As long as we all do what she says, we will be out of here in twelve hours tops."

"That quickly?" asks Momma.

"We want to try and get away before Jacob returns," answers Carlisle. "If he realizes that we are leaving so soon, his temper may get the best of him. The last thing that we want is a fight. I wouldn't like to see him harmed. As soon as the cottage is packed up, the four of you can say goodbye to Charlie. You want to give him a little time to say a proper farewell."