Chapter Eighty Four

Jasper

Bella had agreed to meet Carlisle and Esme but I could feel her tension rising each time she checked the clock on the wall.

"You look very pretty Bella."

She looked down at the new clothes Rose had bought for her ruefully,

"I look like a skeleton dressed up."

Unfortunately she was right, she did look painfully thin but at least the clothes hid the fading scars of the beatings she had received at the hands of Mendoza.

"You'll soon put weight on, once your stomach gets used to food again."

For now she ate little and often, I made sure of that by putting something in front of her every few hours, never a lot just a little of things she had liked before although only the blandest of foods stayed down for long. I wanted to ask Carlisle's advice while he was here. He couldn't examine her, she didn't know him well enough for that liberty to be acceptable but just looking at her and talking to her he should get some idea of her physical and mental state.

Bella

I could feel myself tensing the closer it got to the time of their arrival. What had possessed me to agree to meet Jasper's foster parents? I hadn't even seen my own dad yet and I was upset he hadn't called or visited sure he blamed me at least in part for what had happened. I knew he still loved Renee and it must have been a terrible shock when he found out what had happened to her but even so.

I jumped when the buzzer sounded and tried to calm myself by taking deep breaths but when Jasper answered the door and I heard his foster mother's voice ask after me I felt my throat closing with dread at meeting strangers. Just as suddenly as the lump had appeared it vanished and I found myself feeling a little calmer.

When they appeared I was shocked, not only were they much younger than I had expected but both were very pale and had the same golden eyes as Jasper and his sister Rose. Were they sufferers too? Is that why they fostered him? They both smiled and Esme held out a hand containing a small posy of flowers,

"I thought these might cheer you up as you aren't going outside yet. I do hope you didn't mind our wanting to meet you only Jasper never stopped speaking of you and the girl who could steal his heart I just had to meet."

I took them with trembling hands,

"Thank you they're beautiful, I'm not sure what I should call you I'm afraid."

"Esme and Carlisle will be fine."

"Right, please sit down."

Esme sat as Carlisle came forward also holding a gift for me, a book.

"Jasper tells us you enjoy reading, especially Shakespeare and Dickens so I thought you might enjoy this, its written by a modern author in the style of Dickens."

"Thank you, it's very kind of you both. I'm just sorry we had to meet under such circumstances."

"We're just happy you're safe Bella."

We started to talk as Jasper took the flowers from me and put them in water and suddenly I found I was no longer afraid. They were so friendly and there were no awkward questions as I had expected. I found out Esme was an interior designer and wondered what she thought of the apartment. Jasper had already told me that Carlisle was a doctor but he didn't act like any doctor I'd ever met! His presence did get me wondering though, since I was freed along with Kat and Skye I hadn't seen a single police officer or doctor and I didn't think Kat had either so why not?

It was a question I wanted to ask but I wasn't sure now was the time but of course Carlisle, the eagle eyed doctor had seen there was something on my mind.

"You seem perturbed Bella, is there something worrying you? Something in particular I mean, that we might be able to help you with? I don't wish to pry, just offer our help but feel free to say no and I won't bring it up again."

I was thankful for his words but I had to know what was going on so I took a deep breath and asked,

"You know what happened to me and the others, you saved me and you are looking after me, all of you, Kat too but what happened to the police? I haven't been interviewed or examined, I haven't even given a written statement and where's Charlie? None of this makes sense. Jasper tells me he knows where that man is and that he will deal with him but that's the job of the police surely?"

There was a deathly silence and I wondered if I'd said something wrong but thinking back I couldn't see what. If a man had kidnapped, rap….., murdered several people surely the police would be only too eager to speak to anyone who knew anything about the crimes.

"Bella, do you want the police involved? It means interviews, examinations, the press becoming involved, all the terrible details being brought up again. Is that what you want? We thought we were protecting you, Jasper too."

I shook my head, of course I didn't, I wasn't sure I could do it but that didn't make any difference to the authorities. They needed to know what had happened to arrest and indict the man responsible.

"No, I don't think I could face going through it all again but won't you get into trouble? The police must know some of what happened. I know Renee's body was found."

"Yes they know you disappeared and about Renee but that's all. They don't know that we found and rescued you and the other children, we thought it would be better for all if it remained an open case."

"And Charlie knows all this? He agreed to it? I don't understand, what happens when I finally get out of here? If I try to get a job somewhere? They're going to know I escaped or know something and they'll come looking for answers."

"I think it's a little early to worry about that Bella. You should find your feet again before talking about the future but be assured you will never be hounded by the police or anyone else as long as you wish to remain under the radar."

He sounded so sincere and I was too fragile to want any questions so I just thanked him. Then realizing I hadn't offered them any refreshments I did so but both refused, so not only did they have the same characteristics as Jasper they didn't eat or drink either which was very strange.

We talked about their new home which would be ready soon and how there was plenty of room for me should I wish to go live with them. The family may not be an actual blood related one but they were close and all talk was so good natured and gentle that I could see the love between the members, a love that was being extended to me too.

"I'm not sure I'm ready for a lot of company, to go visiting, but thank you for the offer. I guess I really should contact Charlie but I don't even know where he is. I guess I could ring the station in Forks."

"He's not in Forks Bella, Charlie is in San Diego at the moment with a friend of ours."

I saw Jasper throw Carlisle a puzzled look, was he lying to me about Charlie's whereabouts? If so why? What was Charlie trying to hide? Or were they hiding something instead? I didn't think so, they were too honest and open to be doing that but there was a secret I was not yet privy too and when they left that feeling hadn't changed.