Chapter Sixty Five
Bella
Jasper took my hand and promised to be back soon then he and dad left me with this woman who had not only stolen my dad's life but his heart too.
"Hello Bella, we haven't been formally introduced but I'm Tanya Denali."
"The woman who turned my dad into a vampire."
I wasn't going to make things easy for her, after all she'd already done to my dad what he wanted to stop Jasper doing to me.
"Yes and I apologize for that, it was an accident but I do love your father very much, I recognised him for my mate and I will look after him."
"So what did he ask you to do? Talk me out of making a big mistake?"
"He asked me to point out the pitfalls yes but I already told him I wouldn't say anything against Jasper, I admire him and I think he deserves a chance at happiness."
"But not with me?"
"Not necessarily. What you have to understand is that Jasper is a man and has been for many years. He's not a school kid looking for some puppy love. He's also a warrior, brave, and a man of his word. If he said he will look after you, keep you safe then you can take that to the bank, but are you good enough to deserve all that he can give? Don't you think he needs, deserves, a woman at his side? His equal?"
I was getting a bit fed up of everyone telling us what we should do, what we needed, what they thought was best for us, and I guess I got a little angry.
"I agree Jasper is a man and certainly well able to decide for himself. He knows what he wants and that should be good enough for the rest of you. True I'm not a woman of the world but that doesn't mean I don't understand such emotions as love and need. You made your choices, Charlie made his after some were forced on him so I guess its our turn to make our choices, OURS, not anyone else's. Now if you don't mind I think I'd like to get some fresh air and you don't need to accompany me, I'm sure I won't get lost.
Jasper
I decided to let Charlie have his say before having mine so we walked out into one of the courtyards and sat on the edge of the fountain ignoring the splashes of water that beaded on our skin.
"I know you think I'm being unreasonable Jasper, wanting Bella to have a better life than I now have but remember she's only a child, she's seen nothing of the world. You're her first love and they rarely end well, I know, I've seen enough of them over the years. Besides which there's the matter of her becoming a vampire. I don't know much but I do understand that she can't have a relationship with you and remain human. I haven't been a vampire long enough to know all the downsides but there are probably many, one being she'll never have a family of her own and would you really take that choice away from her? Isn't that being a little selfish? You're a man of the world just like me, you had your choices taken away from you, don't do the same to my daughter, not before she understands what they are. I can't prevent you from taking her, from turning her but I can ask you man to man, don't do it."
"I think the choice is ultimately Bella's Chief Swan, don't you? Let's see what she has to say and I'll be guided by that."
Bella
When Jasper and my dad got back I could tell they hadn't come to any understanding which I found was a relief, I knew my dad would have tried every trick on Jasper but he'd held firm to his own belief. He came to my side and took my hands looking into my face and smiling gently.
"Bella your father thinks I should let you go."
"No!"
"Please darlin' just listen to me. Your father thinks I am stopping you from choosing a human life with all that holds, a career, a husband and children. As a vampire you cannot have children and I understand that means a lot. I told him that I would let you choose and I will. Let me just ask you one thing, does what you feel for me mean more than all those things? If you hesitate, if you aren't sure I will understand and I won't attempt to stop you leaving, I'll even help you get back to the States and start afresh. Please think carefully before you answer."
I glanced at my dad who stood with Tanya watching me carefully. Then I looked back at Jasper,
"I know exactly what I want out of life Jasper. I had a terrible childhood and those memories alone would be enough to put me off having children of my own even though I know I would be different from my mother. The rest all hinges on finding love, if there is no love there can be no happiness, no contentment and I have found my love, you are the only thing that matters to me, if you were human then I might consider children but you aren't and I understand exactly what that means. I'm not stupid or blinded by a crush."
I turned to my dad,
"I'm sorry dad but I made my mind up or at least my heart did when I met Jasper. I want, no I need him, and that's the only thing I'm sure of, my love for him and his for me so I'm sorry but I choose to stay with him and all that means, including becoming a vampire. Besides it means I still have you in my life and that means a lot to me too."
Jasper
I pulled her close and kissed her feeling genuine relief that she understood what her choice meant yet still made it in favor of me.
"Well your dad will be staying in Volterra for some time so we can stay too if you like. While we are here we can get married if you will do me the honor and if you are ready I can change you too but that is entirely up to you. If you prefer to stay human a while that is fine with me and I'll never put you under any pressure."
She closed her eyes but not before a single tear rolled down her cheek and I stopped it with a finger brushing it away.
"Don't cry Bella."
She smiled and bit her lip before speaking,
"Don't worry Jasper, these are tears of happiness, I love you so much."
"I love you too darlin'."
Charlie
Well I threw the dice and I lost, I'd been fighting true love and I guess that's never going to get you anywhere. I could see how much those two meant to each other and if they were indeed mates which seemed true then I could understand that deep connection. I'd never felt it for a human woman, not even Renee who I had thought I was deeply in love with but I felt it now. The connection between Tanya and myself was so strong I was amazed it couldn't be seen by the naked eye. I'd found my true love and maybe Bella had too in this strange world that existed outside of the human one. If anyone had told me a few short months ago that I would be talking with shape shifters, that some of my friends turned into wolves, and that our local doctor and his family were a coven of vampires I would have laughed them out of town but now I knew it to be true. My whole life had been lived in a town I didn't know, among people I didn't recognize for their true nature and suddenly I had been catapulted into that world of the supernatural, me and my daughter and we'd both found happiness here. What more could either of us ask for?