Bella
Once we reach the Cullens Garrett goes to tell Jasper what happened and I search for Esme. She's in her workroom and studio space in the attic, it's an amazing room, I've never been up here before, Edward thought it unnecessary and so it was never even considered. I would have come gladly had she asked me and ignored the boy wonder. Esme smiled and asked if I'd like to see the plans for the new houses, she had found two adjoining plots of land which they were going to buy in Minnesota, near Silver Lake. I nodded and followed her to her architect's desk were the plans were laid out, they were beyond spectacular as always, but a bit showy for my taste.
I put my proposal to her and she agreed to go see Charlie today, we needed to be back before Saturday as Garrett was spending the day with my dad. So the sooner the better and we could set off for Montana either tomorrow or the next day, I only had a couple of weeks then school resumed for the last time. I would seriously be glad when it was all over, no more small town drama, no more Mike nipping at my ankles and soon eternity with Garrett.
Esme
I was delighted that Bella asked me to speak to her father, I would do almost anything for her, if I thought it would make up for the wrongs we'd done her. But it won't, nothing really could and she was starting to distance herself from us already. Not that I can blame her for that either, we deserve her condemnation and more, all because we didn't think to question Edwards motives. I wonder what he actually did when he was away supposedly heartbroken? Because we now know that was a lie, no wonder he went to Volterra to die, the guilt must have been choking him for that lie.
Charlie was really happy for me to take Bella in his stead, yes he was busy, several unexplained deaths in the surrounding counties were taking up all his time, I better tell Jasper about this on my return. While I was in town, I dropped into the hospital to see Carlisle. He and Jasper had had a long talk and everything was transferred over to him easily, Carlisle had told Jasper he didn't want to have any serious tasks to carry out for now. He and I would like to travel after we settle things here and then return to the new place in Minnesota.
Jasper said that was fine as he was making changes so that everyone had a role to play, mine was the same, but Alice was taking over the financial side of things and he hoped it would make her appreciate the money more if she was in charge of it for once. Emmett was to take over the liaison between J. Jenks the lawyer and all security matters too. Rose was to invent of our new persona so to speak, no more school, but if we were able to, then a business as a front would be good he felt, but he was leaving the details to her and she was actually in her element and happy to do this. She had put forward the idea that this time she and Carlisle be brother and sister and Jasper their cousin, Edward would be my younger brother. But all of us of working age and married except Edward of course.
She also put the brakes on Alice shopping for everyone, we would do our own from now on and obviously for an older age group for them and more casual one for us, well except Carlisle's working attire that would stay the same. I was okay with this and told Carlisle it would be nice to wear jeans now and again and be less frumpy. I often felt when I visited the hospital the nurses who had designs on my mate thought he'd be an easy target since he had a boring staid wife at home.
Charlie
Esme Cullen had stopped by earlier and asked if it would be alright for Bells to go with them to Montana, Jasper had inherited a ranch there years ago and his half-brother had been managing it as well as his own but it was all getting too much, Jasper had asked Garrett if he'd manage it for him as horses were his background too. Garrett had leapt at the chance she said, as he was still out of work since leaving the military. Bells wanted to look over the campus of the university there as she was not going to Alaska now and Montana had been one of her choices.
I agreed, but in the back of my mind, I knew it was a ruse of some kind! I'd never looked too close before but the Cullens seemed just too good to be true. Perfect kids, perfect parents, no trouble not once, not even a driving violation, they are so squeaky clean it's scary and well shit, not normal! I'll maybe quiz Garrett on Saturday and see if I can winkle something loose. But for now I have bigger fish to fry with these fatalities happening in all the surrounding counties but so far not here.
Garrett
I had reported to Jasper what had taken place today and how we'd handled it, he'd laughed saying I was downright fucking evil keeping the boy naked, but it did put him at a disadvantage and that was my plan. After we finished talking I went in search of Little Swan, I had a proposal for her, not marriage, not yet, but soon I hoped. I couldn't marry her if I didn't have a surname! So I wanted her help to navigate the internet, to see if I could well, find myself really. It might be an impossible task as thousands of men were killed and the bodies never recovered, but I knew where I died and my first name was unusual! If we didn't have any luck I was going to suggest using her name instead, Isabella and Garrett Swan, sounded okay to me.
When I found her she was with Rose and they were laughing at something, this kind of surprised me as I didn't think Rose actually liked Bella! When she saw me she jumped up and rushed over, tripping as she came, but I caught her and steadied her till she was upright once more. "I thought you were joking about that, but no you, my angel are a klutz!" I said and she pouted at me, but her eyes were twinkling and I knew she wasn't offended. "Esme went to see Charlie an hour ago, so that's sorted!" she informed me, "Okay when do you want to go?" I asked we could leave as soon as she wanted.
"Just need to go home and pack a few things and then I'm good," she told me and I nodded scooping her up and heading for her truck, I'd asked Jasper if we could borrow something more reliable and faster for the journey. Rose came out then saying she'd follow us in the Escalade. Little Swan said she was looking forward to driving it. She was excited about the journey as she thought she'd combine it with teaching me to drive, along the way.
Bella
After my talk with Esme, I was just going to relax and read while I waited for Garrett, but Rosalie called me over and asked if I'd walk with her by the river. To say I was surprised would be an understatement, but I nodded and we set off at a human pace, saying nothing until we reached the dock, Rosalie started by first saying call her Rose and then apologised to me for being a bitch when I was dating Edward! She said she should have explained her objections instead of ignoring me, "I could blame the way we were living for my attitude, but that was all me being a selfish bitch!" I was astounded when she said this, "Bella, I never wanted this life, but instead of accepting it, and move on, I have whined, moaned, bitched and taken it out on everyone else!" she informed me.
"Carlisle didn't kill me Royce and his friends did, I've behaved badly all these years, acting like the child I was portraying! I'm ashamed of myself, all that time wasted!" she was truly enraged at herself and I was unsure what to say, "Rose, I think everyone played their part in this, after all, you went from a child in your parent's house to a child in the Cullens!" I reminded her. "They never let you grow up and be your own woman, to deal with your past and move forward", she smiled weakly at me saying "And I never tried to be the adult either, so I'm just as guilty". I nodded, "But now you have realised this, you can change everything or nothing it's up to you now!" I suggested and she now smiled more naturally, "You're so right Bella, I can be anything I want, for as long as I want. I need to start looking forward, not back at how it was!"
She seemed really excited about the future now and as we turned to head back she asked "Will you be able to forgive us all Bella, we behaved so coldly irresponsible and downright callously to you!" she blurted out, "Emmett is beside himself, unable to find a way to fix this, unfixable thing!" I agreed and said we may be needed to move on from it, accept that it happened and they hopefully would learn from it, but I would never be as close as before or as blindly trusting of them. She nodded sadly and said that was probably the best they could expect, at least I was still talking to them all, "I know, I would never have been as gracious about it, as you are Bella" she sighed and I laughed saying "No, I don't suppose the old you would have, Rose!" Just then Garrett appeared and we were going to go get my stuff for our trip to Montana, I was really excited about driving the Escalade there.