It had been hours since Esme left Bella's house, hours since she was let in on the little secret. To say she was furious was putting it very lightly. She tapped her foot on the floor, standing, arms crossed, directly in front of the door. Carlisle should be home any time now. Bella's words had been playing in her mind over and over again, "I'm not worth loving the way he loved me." She couldn't believe it! Bella should have known that she was worthy of all the love in the world, sick or not. Esme had tried to tell her, tried to explain it to Bella over and over again, but the girl just wouldn't budge. She was certain there was a reason behind her feeling this way about herself, for having such low self worth, Bella just couldn't have come to this conclusion all on her own.
The door opened, and in walked her husband, the exact man she was waiting for. "Why did you hide that from me, Carlisle?!" she screamed at him, new tears rolling down her cheeks. "Why didn't you tell me this was going on? How long have you known?"
Carlisle set the grocery bags down carefully, leaning against the bar. "I guess you spoke with Bella today." His voice was quiet, but the relief was evident.
"What is he hiding and why does it have anything to do with her?" Edward's voice was angry, his words slurred, he had done plenty of drinking since last seeing Bella at the diner. His eyes were livid, and in all honesty, he had a right to be angry. But he couldn't handle knowing the truth. Not in his current state of mind. Esme didn't have the heart to tell him and Carlisle didn't see it as his place. Bella was the one wanting to tell the truth, and when Edward was told, she'd be the one to do it.
His mother ran toward him, engulfing his body in her small arms, her tears wetting his t-shirt. His arms went around her hesitantly, his glare remaining on his father. "Do I have to ask you again?"
Carlisle shut the door behind him and picked up the groceries, walking past his wife and son and into the kitchen. He looked completely broken, devastated, but at the same time he looked as if a huge weight had been lifted off of him. Edward wasn't sure why, but that only fueled his anger more.
His mothers sniffles stopped, her hands cupping the unshaven face of her son, forcing him to look at her. "I'm so sorry, Edward….we're all so sorry." And then she moved toward the stairs, away from him, and toward the traitor that he called his father.
He was left confused and mad. If his family wouldn't tell him what was going on, he was going to force Bella to. He frowned at the thought of her name, and became even madder at the thought that he was going to have to see her again. See whoever she was now.
Edward pounded on the Swan's front door, his rage barely contained. If she didn't answer the damn door, he'd make a point to break it down. He glanced down at his watch, getting very impatient.
"Edw…" she couldn't even get his name fully out of her mouth before he pushed past her and into her house, cringing at the familiar feeling of it all.
"What the fuck did you tell my mother today?" his jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing down at her. She had never seen him so angry before, and had no clue how to act.
"I..um.." she was searching for the words to say. She hadn't expected this at all. Esme knew that she wanted to tell Edward on her own, but now he knew that something and she wasn't quite sure what.
"Isabella, what did you do with my father?" her eyes snapped up to his, the accusation in his voice as evident as the whiskey smell of his breath. His nostrils flared, his anger radiating off of him.
"Excuse me? What exactly are you trying to say?" her voice started to raise, and she could not remember the last time she had gotten mad, much less yelled at anyone, and she definitely couldn't remember the last time she yelled at him.
"Bella Swan, tell me the truth right now." He rushed toward her, his hands wrapping tightly around her forearms, and if he were sober, or paying attention, he'd know he was gripping her entirely too hard. "Did you sleep with my father?"
"I have cancer, you fucking idiot." She snapped, struggling against his hold on her. "I would never have slept with your father." She jerked one last time, his reserve and grip weakening as the time went on. She pointed toward the door, "I think you should leave."
But he hadn't heard a thing, hadn't heard a single word she had spoken since cancer. Bella had cancer. And all of a sudden it all clicked in his mind. She was smaller, frailer, her hair short and dry, her eyes void of joy and life. His Bella, his Bella had cancer.