Chapter 4
Bella:
At exactly 11, Alice and Jasper arrive, hand in hand.
I subtly point them out to Maggie, who assesses them as they walk towards us.
"Hello Bella. And, it's nice to meet you, Maggie," Alice greets us, extending her hand.
Maggie and I both shake her hand in turn, looking at her cautiously.
"Do you want to sit over on the grass together? It might be better to talk that way," Alice suggests.
"Sure," I shrug, following her over to an empty patch of grass.
It's a sunny day today, which means the park is pretty full. I'm grateful for all the witnesses present. As we sit down, I glance around the park, being struck by how beautiful it is. In the distance there's a small lake and there are only a few trees, providing shelter for the humans. I've never really had a reason to come to the park, but now I feel like I've been missing out by now visiting here.
"I believe you were going to explain why you sent your husband following me yesterday?" I push, wanting to get this conversation started.
"Yes, ok, we'll get straight into it, then," Alice says, smiling a little.
Before she can say another word, Maggie starts talking.
"What's your gift?" Maggie asks Jasper.
"I don't believe mentioning that I had a gift, miss," Jasper replies, a faint grin on his face.
"That wasn't my question," Maggie says, smiling a little too sweetly. I jab her in the thigh.
"I'm an empath," Jasper tells her, a slight drawl to his voice.
"Anyway…" Alice draws out. "I was sent here to find you," Alice tells me.
"That was obvious. What's not obvious is why you're here or who sent you to me," I point out.
"No one sent me. And the why is complicated," Alice replies.
"I'm reasonably intelligent," I counter.
"Look, it's easier to show you than tell you," Alice says.
"Ok, so show me."
"That'd require you coming to America," Alice says sheepishly.
I laugh and shake my head. "This is feeling more and more like a set up."
Alice looks over to Jasper, looking a little desperate. They seem to have some sort of silent conversation for a few moments, before Alice turns back towards Maggie and I.
"You have to understand that this situation is incredibly complicated. The person who this involves…well, they don't know that I'm here. And if they did know…let's just say that they wouldn't be very happy," Alice begins.
"You're not making an awful lot of sense right now," I point out, more confused than ever.
"Just tell 'em, darlin'," Jasper encourages.
"I'm here because I believe I know who your mate is."
A/N: Thoughts on who Bella's mate is? No? No idea?
Yeah, so that's probably not the best cliffhanger you'll ever read...
Leave me some words of encouragement, maybe?