Chapter 24
It was humid at present in Olympia. The sun peaked out from time to time, yet even without the rays of the sun, the weather still reflected the late summer time. The apples were ripening on the tree and they foretold it was to be a plentiful harvest. Peter had told Renesmee as much and she jumped at the opportunity to offer to make apple jams. She knew Jacob and Quil had stolen some when they'd taken her and Caevia and as she recalled, those two jars had been gone in minutes. She wanted to bring some back to the tribe when she left.
"Are you sure you want to spend so much time making Jam?" Peter asked when Renesmee made the suggestion. She barely left the room since coming back.
"Yes, I'm sure," she said. "I need something to occupy my time with." There was a moment of silence that was painfully awkward. Since the argument Peter, Renesmee and Edward had, the tension in the air had been palpable. Peter was already a rather quiet man anyway, but now, he was usually silent like the grave. "Would John still like me to make enough to sell in town?"
"He'd appreciate it I'm sure," Peter mumbled. They were quiet again until Peter finally looked at her. She'd begun showing just how pregnant she really was. It protruded beneath her light blue dress and she cuddled her belly like one might expect any young mother to do. "I haven't even asked how you're feeling," Peter said offhandedly.
"I feel alright. The baby's been kicking since spring." Renesmee smiled a little and stared at her belly. "He's rambunctious."
"How do you know it's a boy?"
"Just a feeling," Renesmee answered. Part of it was also the fact that the baby shared her gift. She already knew. Earlier that summer, images started popping in her head and Edward had seen them too. They reminded him of when Bella had been pregnant with Renesmee. By this point, everyone was rather excited about the baby, despite how he was conceived. Rosalie loved babies and was eager to have a new one to spoil rotten. Emmett and Jasper were already making toys out of wood for the baby and Rosalie and Esme were already crafting clothes. Sadly, Bella had no talent for such complex sewing, only mending. So she contented herself with suggesting patterns and colors.
"Have you already picked a name, then?"
"Kevin," Renesmee said. "Something tells me this boy is a Kevin."
"Handsome name," Peter said awkwardly. Another moment of silence passed, though it was felt mostly by Peter. "I fear I've been unreasonable," Peter finally started, "but I can't help myself. I worked so hard to bring you back and now it feels like it was all for not. Your father's insisting I sign divorce papers and you already signed them because you want to go back." Renesmee looked up at Peter and took a deep breath herself. She'd been as delicate with this matter as she possibly could be, yet it seemed no amount of babying the situation made it any less painful.
"I don't want you to think I hate you or that I'm ungrateful for everything you've done. You really are a good man, Peter."
"It's not enough, though." There was silence again. "Is there really nothing I can do? Is there really no way I can convince you to stay with me? Even if I promise to accept and love the baby you carry?"
"I just can't do that to you, Peter. Or to Jacob. I'd be lying to you and I'd be keeping Jacob from our child. And besides, what would your friends think if they had even a meager suspicion that my child was fathered by an Indian? They'd call you a saint and a fool and they'd call me a whore and my child a bastard. I'll not stand for it."
"I would think my friends would be understanding enough to realize this was not your fault."
"You know that's not how the world works, Peter. They'll be nice to me because they respect you and then when we're not listening, they'd talk ill of me and my son behind our backs." Peter was quiet. "I know this hurts you and I don't like that it hurts you, but I have to go back. I want to go back."
"I suppose I just don't understand. What can that boy give you that I can't? I know I'm just a pig farmer, but I have more to offer you than he does."
"It's not what he has to offer materially. He makes me happy. I don't know what else to tell you, Peter."
"There's nothing else you can tell me I suppose." There was nothing else he could think to say. He went outside to work and Renesmee stayed in the bedroom. Bella came upstairs shortly after and sat on the bed with her.
"I don't know if there's any way to be kind about my decision," Renesmee said.
"There is no way you can be any kinder than you've been," Bella said. She looked at the belly and rested her hand on it so the baby would kick. A gentle kick came and she smiled. "I'll tell you a story my mother used to tell me when I was a girl," she said more to Renesmee's belly than her. "It's the story of a beautiful wood elf and the young lad that fell in love with her. A young man walked through the forest and happened upon a singing woman sitting beneath a tree with hair of fire and eyes of emeralds. 'Come with me, fair maiden,' he'd said to her. She only shook her head and said she, 'I cannot leave this place. Don't ask me to follow, for I will leave my mighty willow not.' The next day, the young man returned to the forest with a yellow rose in his hand wearing a coat of green. He presented the rose to her and told her, 'You've captured my heart fair maiden. Will you not let me become your groom?' But to him she replied, 'I'll wed you never. I cannot leave this place. Don't ask me to follow, for I will leave my mighty willow not.' The next day, the young man walked into the forest with an axe in his hand. 'I shall make the fairy my wife. She will be my bride and mother to my children for all my life.' The young fairy wept when she saw him and cried more as he chopped down her mighty willow tree. 'Now your tree has fallen,' he said to her. 'Now you belong to me.' With the tree's destruction, the young man grabbed the fairy and pulled her out of the forest. She collapsed upon the ground when she exited the forest and became a flower. For you see, my little one, the young man found he could not take from the forest what was never meant to leave." Bella petted Renesmee's belly and smiled.
"Would you allow me to return?"
"I can't stop you from what you wish to do, Renesmee. You're capable of making your own decisions and I trust your judgment. And you are right; it would be wrong to keep this baby from his father."
"Thank you for understanding, mother."
"I didn't understand at first," Bella said. "I'll admit I was even mad at you as ridiculous as that sounds. But I realized I was no one to talk. Your grandfather never liked your father, yet I fell in love all the same. Disappearing out of the blue didn't brighten your grandfather's opinion, but I was in love all the same. My father was kicking and screaming the whole time he walked me down the aisle."
"Daddy's not behaving any better," Renesmee said.
"No, honey, he's not and I'll be the first to agree with that. But you have to understand you're his only baby girl. Just like I was my father's one and only, you're your father's one and only, no matter if you're 41 or 100. And if I'm being very blunt, at least the man I insisted on marrying was white and Catholic." Renesmee managed a small laugh.
"Jacob doesn't have that going for him I'm afraid. He's a Chief's son, though. He's kind of a prince so to speak." Bella giggled.
"I'm not sure that'll improve your father's opinion, dear."
"Daddy will grow to like him once they meet. Jacob's a lot like daddy. He's brave, strong willed, willing to learn. The man learned English for me. Considering his opinion of most white people and their language is lower than the depths of hell, I'd say that's worth more than he's being given credit for."
"How did he grow to love you if his opinion is thus? That's my question."
"Like I told you all: he imprinted on me. There's no logic to it, no bias or bigotry to hold it back, just pure unadulterated love. He loved me since he first saw me. Had he and I met any other way, I think I would've loved him at first sight too. Sometimes I wish we could've met another way. Any other way. But he saw me when I was on my way to Olympia and he loved me in an instant. He didn't know what to do except take me."
"It all sounds like a romance novel when said out loud. I'll admit I prefer the love stories of Jane Austen, but then, there was no kidnapping involved in those."
"Jacob and I read some of her work together. He's very fond of Sense and Sensibility."
"We have a common interest then," Bella smiled. "What else did you have him read?"
"He's read Shakespeare's sonnets with me, we read Othello together, and the days before Christmas we read A Christmas Carol. He didn't care for that one so much. He found Dickens to be wordy and hard to follow."
"It is his style. Most would call it genius, but differing opinions are understandable. I'm pleased to hear he read through the book at all. You should make him read Hard Times. That's your father's favorite."
"I barely got him through A Christmas Carol. He'd never pickup Hard Times. We were actually reading through The Odyssey together before I was taken back."
"And how faired his opinion of that? Surely a story of a hero would peak a young man's interest."
"We'd made it to the part of his journey where he arrived at the King's castle and was retelling his story. We stopped reading that night because Jacob couldn't believe that, 'Odysseus was such a fool the whole trip and now has the audacity to retell his story as if he were some great hero. The man's no more than a fool with his head shoved firmly up his own ass.'" Bella burst out laughing and Renesmee joined her.
"Your father has much the same opinion," Bella finally said.
"I know he does. I told Jacob as much. He'd been so excited to read The Odyssey since it was about a war hero. And I'd told him so much about the Greeks and their influence on the modern world that he was interested to find out what made them so brilliant. But after the beeswax in the ears to avoid the Sirens, after the Harpies they encountered, after the incident with the Cyclops and after being stuck on an island for a year having sex with a witch goddess that turned his men into pigs, Jacob just became irritated with Odysseus and called him a philandering self-centered fool. When we were reading about the Cyclops and how Odysseus revealed his name as they ran away, Jacob actually slapped his hand to his face and said, 'he's such an idiot, it makes my head hurt.'"
"He's certainly an opinionated young lad," Bella said.
"He much preferred Othello. He and I exchanged turns reading lines and I had him play Othello's part. He even began to choke up when he read of killing Desdemona and finding out she'd ne'er wronged him a day. It even had me choking up a little."
"It is a good play. Is it the only play you've read with him?"
"I believe we read Hamlet. I fear his heart was not moved by Hamlet's story. Moreover, he found the tale rather comical." Bella smiled.
"Comical is an interesting word to choose. I'd call it a sad story, whether it be sad because you feel for the characters or sad because you believe Hamlet's lost his mind is another matter entirely."
"Jacob didn't think Hamlet was insane. His people believe in spirits and the dead coming to speak with the living. He only thought Hamlet's reaction to his father coming back to be funny."
"And how might he react if his father came back from the dead to tell him he was murdered by his brother?"
"I asked Jacob as much. He told me that his uncle would never murder his father and marry his mother, so my question was a moot point." Bella chuckled.
"Goodness," she said. "He's certainly an interesting young man."
"I know you'll all like him once you give him a chance." Renesmee rubbed her belly a little. "Do you think he'll like the name Kevin?"
"I wouldn't know, dear. Only you would. Perhaps you should think of a girl's name, though? You're certain it's a boy, but I'd been certain you would be a boy. I was certain you'd be my little Edward Jacob, but you wound up being my little Renesmee Carlie."
"I actually thought Natalie was a good name. Jacob would like that name, I know."
"It's an exotic name," Bella agreed. "I'm fond of it myself. Although, we are preparing for a boy." Bella rested her hand on Renesmee's belly and smiled. "So you'd better be our little Kevin."
"I was thinking Kevin William specifically. William isn't his father's real name, but I think Jacob would be pleased all the same."
"What's his father's real name?"
"Kayechiwetchwe." Bella scrunched her nose.
"Far too long," she said. "William is a handsome name."
"I think so too," Renesmee agreed.
"Is Jacob his real name?"
"Yes, it is. His sisters have biblical names too. They're Rachael and Rebecca. I think they're twins if my memory serves me right. They live with their husbands in another tribe, so I've not been able to meet them."
They stayed quiet for a time. Bella wasn't sure how to continue their conversation. She couldn't pretend she was thrilled with the turn of events, but Renesmee had shown her many things of this boy. She told stories of how hard he'd worked to learn English for her, how he'd saved her from the cold when he'd found her outside the town limits, and they'd talked endlessly of him. Her daughter loved the boy.
"I remember when I met your father," Bella started at last, ending the silence. "I was working for your grandpa's friend at his butcher shop. He came into the shop one day and ordered blood accumulated from the butchery process. He claimed it was so he and his family could make blood sausage. I recall despising blood sausage when I was human, so I'd thought it gross. But your father was so handsome. According to my father's friend, Edward had been coming in once a month for a year prior. But once he met me, he was coming in far more often. He was buying more blood and even some meat here and there. It's funny to think of it now, knowing what I know. Then, one day after I left work, he was outside and said hello to me. He'd scared the wits out of me. I thought he might be dangerous."
"Technically, he was."
"Well, yes, but I didn't know that then now did I?" Bella and Renesmee snickered. "He'd been so charming and asked me about my family, my interests, but he would never tell me much about him. He walked me home from work and told me to have a wonderful day. He came in a few days later and did the same thing. He walked me home, we talked on the way, and he told me to have a wonderful day. It became customary that he would be outside waiting to walk me home. I remember my boss telling my father about it and he asked so many questions, demanding to know who this boy was. I realized I couldn't tell him a thing about Edward except his name. Father knew little about the man, only that he was Carlisle Cullen's nephew and they'd come to America from England years before. Father wasn't too keen on them from that alone."
"I suppose grandpa was taking political relations a little too close to heart."
"Well, dear, let's be blunt here, the English were never exactly kind to the Scottish. I mean, goodness, you go north enough, there's a wall trying to keep the English out."
"I'd hardly call that a wall," Renesmee giggled. "More like a stone fence." Bella swatted Renesmee's hand, but the two laughed.
"You watch your tongue young lady."
"Mother, I'm 41."
"You're still a young lady to me. But back to your father. After father had questioned me so much about Edward, I decided I would ask him questions. He came to pick me up after work and I began questioning him. 'I'm told your Uncle is a doctor. Is that so? How long have you been in America? Where in England were you born? Do you ever miss England? Tell me about your mother and father.' Just question after question. He answered all my questions. He even answered them truthfully. 'I was born in Brighton. Indeed, my Uncle Carlisle is a doctor, has been for many years. We've been in America perhaps five years. I can't say I miss England terribly much. Unfortunately, my parents both passed away of disease, so Carlisle took me in as his own.' In truth, he seemed perfect to me. He said he was Catholic, which I couldn't believe. I'd thought, 'Surely father will like him since he's Catholic.' It's rather uncommon for the English to be Catholic, what with that nonsense with King Henry and his family so many years ago."
"When did father relay to you that he's a vampire?"
"He didn't," Bella said. "I figured it out myself. I noticed he would never pick me up if it was still bright outside. I recall a time it was weeks before he came to pick me up. I'd thought perhaps they'd moved or returned to England, but my boss affirmed Edward simply came later after dark. I'd thought I'd offended him and I was saddened. But one day when it was raining, I came out of work with nothing but my jacket to protect me from the rain and there was your father, holding an umbrella and walking up to me to cover me from the rain. I'd asked him why he'd not come to pick me up for so long and he told me, 'don't worry, little lamb. I was still watching.'"
"Am I terrible to tell you daddy was a bit of a strange and creepy man?"
"I told him so," Bella giggled. "I told him, 'You were watching me? The thought has me rather frightened.' He told me, 'From me, you have nothing to fear,' and he took me home. Those were my first two clues. Then one day, I realized his eyes had turned black. I remembered they were usually a bright bronzy color. I asked him what happened to them and he said the lighting was making his eyes darker. That was clue number three that he was strange. One day, I'd gotten mud splashed on my face and he brushed the specks away and I noticed he was cold to the touch. That was clue number four. I recall asking him to come stay for dinner and he said he wasn't hungry. I persisted numerous times, but he always said no. That was clue five. You're father also has a specific sweet smell. I'd always thought it was cologne, so I asked him once what perfume he wore. He insisted he didn't wear perfume."
"So many clues," Renesmee said. "Though all things considered, nothing was conclusively a giveaway that he's a vampire. Did you even know what a vampire was?"
"I had no idea. That's why it took so long for me to discover it. Though I knew your father was strange from the beginning. I just never knew how. Even his buying blood once a month didn't strike me as strange because they'd already said they were using it to make sausage. I didn't think it was strange until my boss mentioned that they buy blood, but they never buy any meat. I asked how to make blood sausage. In truth, I'd thought it was just congealed blood, but that's another thing entirely evidently. The sausage is mostly blood, but all recipes he knew of required some meat to help bind it. So I asked your father how they made blood sausage and asked why they didn't buy the meat from us since they already buy the blood. He said they got their meat from a shop called Cooler's, which made absolutely no sense. I'd heard of them in passing, but I knew for a fact they were at least 50 miles away from our little shop. So yet another clue.
"Months went by of me asking your father questions, locating odd holes in his story but never knowing what it was about your father that was so strange. Then, one day when I left work, it was sunny out and he wasn't there to walk me home. On my way home, some men were trying to get a piano onto the top floor of a building, the rope broke and was plummeting towards us, I'd began running to avoid it, but I felt someone grab me and force me out of the way. It was Edward. I knew it was him. I saw him only a moment and noticed his skin was shining in the sun before he was gone again like dust in the wind. I can't remember how long it was before I saw him again after that. But such a long time went by before he came to walk me home again, even when it was over casted outside. But one day, he came to pick me up and I asked him right then and there, 'What are you?'" Bella laughed a little. "I feel silly for being so direct with him, but I simply had to be. I knew something was different about him. But you know your father. He was stubborn as anyone could possibly be. He insisted that I was being silly. I asked him about the incident with the piano and he insisted he remembered no such incident. He even went so far as to pretend he was shocked and demanded I tell him if I was alright.
"He didn't even tell me the truth. Your aunt Alice told me. She came to me one day, introduced herself, and told me that Edward was deeply in love with me, yet only his being a vampire was keeping him from asking me to marry him. I was so shocked. She had to explain to me what a vampire even was. Eventually, I confronted your father and he finally admitted the whole thing since Alice had already told me everything. And at the time, I didn't care. I loved him and I wanted to marry him. One day, I came from work, Edward was there to pick me up and this time he insisted on being allowed to come in. He stayed and spoke with my mother and waited for father to come home and when father was home, Edward looked him in the eye, told him he was in love with me and he wanted to marry me. Mother and I were pleased as chipmunks and mother agreed before my father could voice a single complaint. Father only agreed when Edward expressed just how wealthy their family is and that, were we to marry, I would never want for anything."
"I'm not sure where you're going with your story mother. Jacob never lied to me about his ability to become a wolf and he never hid it from me." Bella sighed.
"The point I'm trying to make is even when I found out what your father is, I still loved him. Nothing my father could say would change my mind or stop us from falling in love. Granted your grandfather never found out Edward's a vampire. He'd have attempted to crucify him."
"Not that it would've done much good."
"I'm trying to explain that I understand how you feel. My father didn't like Edward and insisted we not marry, but we did so anyway. You're father's being just as bullheaded about the matter with Jacob. That's to say nothing of the fact there's a child involved."
"Exactly," Renesmee said. "Though I'd want to go back regardless."
"I know, Renesmee. I'll speak with your father. I'll get him to see things your way and I'll try to help you go back. I can't promise I'll change his mind about Jacob, but at least I can try to get him to agree to let you go back. Though, at present, you're not going anywhere. You're simply too pregnant."
"Jacob won't be happy about that," Renesmee sighed. "His mother told me once that children of the tribe needed to be born in the family home. It's bad luck to be born elsewhere."
"I'm sure luck will smile on the baby regardless of where he's born, dear."
"You shouldn't discredit their beliefs so, mother," Renesmee said. "We have our own beliefs and codes of conduct and we'd not appreciate having those discredited."
"As I've heard, the boy discredits ours quite regularly."
"It's an unhealthy bias, I'll admit. But that doesn't mean we should act the same. Besides, I want Jacob with me when our baby is born. I want his mother to be able to hold her grandchild. She sees her other grandchildren so rarely since her daughters live with another tribe. If she knew I were pregnant, why she'd be tickled pink."
"And what about us, Renesmee? This is my first grandchild. Do I not deserve to be there and hold my grandchild?"
"I never said it meant you couldn't be there. I do want you there. I want all of you there. I want all of you to meet. You'd love Sara, mother. She's a darling woman and very nice. And William?" Renesmee laughed a little. "William and Jacob are two peas in a pod. Jacob is his father's son that much is certain. And Sokajili. He started training me in their medical practices. It's so different from what I've learned with Carlisle and our modern medicine. Their medicinal practices center almost exclusively on aromatherapy. It's fascinating. He's been teaching me what herbs go together to cure a wide variety of ailments. He has a recipe for everything from pain control to nausea to light headedness. And mother, he wants me to take over for him once he passes. I'm the first woman in their history to ever be asked to succeed a Medicine Man."
"Well, aromatherapy is a very natural method of healing." Bella took a deep breath. "I'll speak with your father, Renesmee. That's all I can really do at this point."
"And that's all I ask," Renesmee said. "But if I have to do this myself, I will. And I mean that." Bella closed her eyes and took more needless deep breathes.
"I understand, Renesmee."
Bella waited until Edward, Jasper, and Emmett returned from their hunt before broaching the subject again. Alice, Rosalie, Esme, and Carlisle had overheard the whole conversation, naturally, but Bella refused to speak about this with anyone but Edward. He was the one being most unmoving in this situation. Peter was outside tending to the pigs, rather unaware of anything the Cullens were doing. He had other things on his mind. Sometimes, while tending to the pigs, he would just sit off to the side staring at all the pigs as if hoping one of them might approach him and tell him what he should do. One of his pigs had indeed approached him, though it was one of the piglets. A little speckled piglet with mostly pink skin and little black spots splashed around. The piglet approached Peter making little noises and sniffing him.
"Do you know what I should do?" Peter asked the little pig. The piglet looked up at Peter and continued his little noises, tilting his head as if he were a dog listening to his master. "My wife was kidnapped a while back. I finally brought her home safe and sound, yet she wants to return to her captors. Her father's insisting we divorce as well." Peter started tearing up and breathed deeply. "I don't know what to do." The piglet said nothing. He only looked up at Peter and started poking him with his little snout. To calm himself, Peter picked up the piglet and started petting him to calm down. The piglet made mild protests at first then calmed when in Peter's lap being petted. He began to make cute grunting noises of contentment. "At least someone appreciates me, I guess."
Upon Edward's, Jasper's and Emmett's return from hunting, Bella opened her mind so she would not have to bother repeating Renesmee's concerns and demands. She'd known it was coming and Edward was extremely irate, though he continued to uphold a calm demeanor that betrayed none of his irritation.
"I can't believe this," he said. "She doesn't honestly think I'd let her travel in her condition? What if there's a problem on the way? Are we to just birth the baby in the middle of the woods?"
"What's the problem?" Emmett said.
"Evidently the Quileutes have a tradition where the child of a family has to be born in the family home or its bad luck upon the child. Honestly, I've not heard of a culture so fixated on 'good luck' since the Quileutes."
"I don't know," Alice said. "The Chinese have a culture fascinated with luck and they're considered one of the world's most brilliant cultures."
"The Quileutes hold no such worthiness to be called so. I'll not have Renesmee traveling when so pregnant strictly because of some silly superstition these people have."
"You shouldn't call it a silly superstition, honestly," Alice said. "Look at the Egyptians. It was believed that death in a foreign land was the cruelest fate that could come upon a person. To die anywhere but their homeland was truly a fate worse than death. Would you call the Egyptian's fears nonsensical superstition or would you call it a culture engrossed with the belief of their gods and a fascination with the rules of the afterlife?"
"I can't believe you're defending this," Jasper said.
"We have a doctor readily available," Bella said. "Even if there is a problem, we have Carlisle to assist do we not?" Everyone looked at Carlisle.
"Of course I would assist her no matter what," Carlisle said. "But I do agree with Edward that travel in her condition simply isn't ideal for Renesmee or for the baby. If the child were closer to what Renesmee is, perhaps there would be no reason for concern, but this child is closer to human. Unfortunately, children as a rule are vulnerable and if we don't have necessary, basic tools to care for the baby after birth, then we risk bringing harm to the child. It becomes a matter of: would Renesmee rather go to great lengths to see her child born in the father's homeland at risk of the child's health or would she rather have the baby in a safe environment and travel only when we're sure the child is in good health?"
"Carlisle, we are within our power to have Renesmee back in the Forks region within a matter of hours," Bella said. "You all have to remember, whether any of you like it or not, we're not the only family this child has. The father's side of the family has just as much right and desire to be with this child as much as we do. If we were truly limited to the modes of transportation most humans are, certainly the trip from Olympia to Forks would be no less than unreasonable, but for us it's not."
"And what do you suggest, Bella?" Edward asked. "Do you suggest we just hoist Renesmee onto our backs and run here back?"
"Don't be facetious, Edward. Naturally she would be in a cart. But we're all faster than any horses in the world. We pull her along and don't stop until we get her back. As far as I'm concerned, all we need to do is finalize the divorce and then we can leave."
"So you'd reduce us to beasts of burden," Rosalie said.
"If it means we get Renesmee back, then yes." Bella looked at Edward prepared to argue further, but then she stopped. There was a strange look to his face and he seemed far more irritated then before. Yet it seemed to her that it wasn't their present conversation that had his feathers so ruffled. "Edward, what's wrong?"
"That mutt's on his way."
"What?!" everyone yelled in unison.
"On his way here? You can hear his thoughts?" Esme asked.
"Yes, I can hear him. He's just a mile away."
"What do you want us to do?" Emmett asked, prepared for whatever Edward would suggest.
"He's here because Sgt. Lovejoy broke his side of the agreement. It was agreed that Renesmee would go with them only if Jacob and his people were left alone. Sgt. Lovejoy returned this morning prepared to arrest Jacob for assault upon an officer."
"So he's coming here to take Renesmee back," Jasper muttered more to himself. "What about Sgt. Lovejoy? What did they do to the man?"
"Dead," Edward said. "Sgt. Lovejoy threatened Jacob with a penalty of hanging at the gallows. So Jacob shifted to a wolf, scared the man, and then hung him from a tree."
"Surely that was too far," Rosalie said.
"The man pointed a gun at Caevia when she was pregnant. He got what he deserved," Edward said, to all their surprise. "What I'm more concerned about is that mutt making a mad dash for this house. All of you stay in here. I'll meet him before he can get to the house."
Edward left the house and began making his way towards the back. He needed to meet Jacob further away from the house but still needed to make sure he was in earshot of the others should he need them or should he need to relay any information. The woods behind the fence of the house seemed the best location to speak. Jacob was there shortly after Edward took his spot and he knew the man instantly. Renesmee had shown Jacob images of all her family and he even knew them by name. He also knew her father was a mind reader.
You know why I'm here, Jacob began when he saw Edward. Where's Renesmee? Edward didn't speak at first. He was staring at the great wolf with a grimace.
"I should kill you," Edward finally said. Jacob said nothing, though his thoughts went wild. Every thought Edward heard of course. When one's mind was completely open, it was near impossible to remain respectful. "I realize Sgt. Lovejoy went back on his word about leaving you and your people alone. But the way I understand it, you would've been the only one to suffer."
And what do you think would happen to my people if something happened to me? I'm the only son my father has. I die, tribal leadership would be forced to fall in the hands of one of my sisters' husbands or their children.
"Your nephews are Quileute."
But they were not raised by Quileutes. They were raised by Hous.
"Not a word about it being bad luck or ill-will upon your tribe. It's your damned superstitions that place me in my current predicament."
And what superstition might that be? I only came to take back Renesmee and I'll not leave without her. I don't care if I have to bring you down by myself. Edward laughed a little.
"You're strong Jacob, but you can't stand against eight vampires singlehandedly. Bella and I are not the only members of the family to come, concerned for Renesmee's safety. Safety you compromised from the moment you forced her from her home."
This place was no more her home than being with all of you. Edward leered at Jacob, but he continued his thought all the same. She left your roof because she wasn't happy being eternally seen as a child. You know that just as well as I do. She came here because she thought she had nowhere else to turn for her own life and yet all she did was move from one cage to another. I admit how I brought Renesmee to my tribe was wrong, but I gave her the life she wanted all the same.
"The life she wanted?" Edward said with a huff. "And what life might that be, mutt? A life in the woods and no civilization? A world of myopic superstitions and living in sin?"
Myopic?! Jacob growled.
"Quiet yourself! Honestly. I'm surprised you know what myopic means."
Yes, I know what myopic means! And who are you to callmemyopic?
"And why should I not? You not only lack any sense of prudence, clearly, but you also display a sense of short-sightedness."
And you're one to talk?! Renesmee would have wanted to come back immediately. I know her. She wouldn't have kept quiet of wanting to return to me. Based simply by the fact that she's still here, I'm left to imagine you're refusing to allow her to come back. Edward was silent at first as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I'm sure I don't see what my daughter sees in you," he finally said.
She sees plenty in me. Now let me see my wife.
"I can't just let you into the house. Peter's home and he might find you. Then where would you be?"
I'll take care of him if I need to.
"What happened to not hurting the man because it would upset Renesmee?"
If he leaves me no choice, then he leaves me no choice.
"Good Lord, you really are just a boy. You're not even twenty." Edward rubbed his face. "You're lucky Renesmee wants so badly for you to help her with that child." Jacob was stone silent a moment.
What child?
"She's pregnant," Edward said. "It's the only reason you're standing right now." Jacob's mind went wild and Edward heard it all. More than anything, he was shocked and angry with himself. He should've come much sooner, agreement with Lovejoy be damned. Finally, Jacob shifted to his human form, no concern for his nudity, and looked at Edward sternly.
"Let me see her."
"For God's sake, put on your pants. Lord knows you brought them." Jacob proceeded to pull up his pants, however he kept his eyes firmly planted on Edward.
"Pale faces and your nonsensical aversion to something as trivial as nudity. Now let me see her," he said when he was clothed.
"Not yet. I'll let you see her, but we need to get rid of her husband first."
"I'm her-" Jacob yelled and Edward forced his hand against Jacob's mouth to silence him, pushing him against a tree.
"Quiet," Edward said harshly. "You may be her husband according to your pagan traditions, but as far as the Law is concerned, Peter is her husband. As far as I'm concerned, you made a bigamist of my poor daughter." Edward took his hand away only when Jacob was calm. "Emmett will take Peter into town. When Peter is gone, then you can go see her."
Back in the house, they'd all heard everything and Emmett stood up and made his way to the large barn where the pigs were largely congregated. When he happened upon Peter, he saw the man holding a piglet in his lap, rubbing the little baby's back saying, 'At least someone appreciates me, I guess.'
"You're talking to the pigs, Peter?" Emmett said, startling Peter. The piglet was also startled and kicked Peter in the leg before going to the ground and running away, making Peter release an audible, 'OW'. "Sorry, Peter, I didn't mean to startle you."
"No," Peter finally said. "No, it's alright. I was miles away. Am I needed inside?"
"Actually, we need to go into town and get more potatoes."
"Goodness," Peter sighed. "I don't know how Renesmee doesn't tire of the root after eight months of eating just that."
"That's not fair, Peter. She's been eating other vegetables too. And admit it, you've enjoyed eating all those potatoes."
"Well, yes," he sighed. "Alright, let's get going. If we don't leave now, the shop will be closed by the time we get there."
"Indeed. Now how about you and I speak about this divorce my cousin is adamant on."
"Oh, I don't want to talk about that," Peter said as they walked to the cart. "With all due respect, your cousin has been a tyrant since we returned." Peter took a deep breath. "Not that Renesmee is heartbroken over the prospect."
"I won't try to tell you what to do or how to feel, Peter," Emmett said. "If I'm being honest, since I've arrived, you've had no less than the patience of a saint."
"No, I did snap at her. I was frustrated and tired of being yelled at and pushed around and told what to do. So I just started yelling."
"That's the story I got too," Emmett agreed. "All the same, I admire how patient you've been."
"I want Renesmee to be happy, I really do. But it seems to involve leaving me. I don't know what to do. I worked so hard to bring her back and to save her and yet it all seems like it was for nothing. I don't want to divorce Renesmee. I really do love her. I want so badly for us to remain married, but she and Mr. Cullen are leaving me with no options."
"I wish I knew what to tell you, Peter. I really do. All I can say with certainty is that you're a good man. Don't let my cousin make feel like less of a man or like you're not worth anything. He's just as grumpy about the matter as you are. More so, in fact. Edward's no happier with the prospect of Renesmee returning to the Quileute as you are. Though, frankly, with a child on the way, he's left with little choice on his end too."
"I said I would be a father to that child if she would let me."
"I know you would, but you must remember, Indians have dominate features. Black hair, dark eyes, tan skin, such things pass to a child when the mother has such pale and delicate features. The chances of that child being born with features that would pass him off as yours are non-existent. No matter how kind you were to be to that boy, the people around him would be all too eager to label him a squaw's bastard."
"I suppose you're right," Peter finally said.
As they spoke, they prepared the cart and the horse and finally left after a few minutes of their deep conversation. Emmett took the reins, eager to get the horse moving as fast as possible. Jacob, meanwhile, was waiting behind Jacob like a child waiting his turn for a ride on the Ferris Wheel. The more he was forced to wait the more impatient he got. It seemed as if Emmett and Peter were taking their time leaving the grounds. But they did eventually leave and Peter was out of eyeshot of the house. Only then did Edward finally let Jacob approach the house. With Edward's permission, Jacob dashed for the house with Edward following behind him. Jacob let himself into the house, not so much as looking at the others and completely ignoring the burn in his nose of the sweet smell that infested the air. He went right upstairs where he suspected Renesmee was. He could smell that she was upstairs. Once upstairs, he went to the door where her scent was strongest and let himself in.
Renesmee was stunned by the sudden entrance, but stilled when she realized it was Jacob at the door. She couldn't believe her eyes. Apparently, he couldn't either. The two stood where they were and stared a moment as if to discern whether the other was really there. But ultimately, Jacob finally approached her and with tears in her eyes, Renesmee fell into his arms and hugged him as best as her protruding belly would allow. Once he was holding Renesmee, he fell to his knees on the floor and just let her cry on his shoulder.
"I missed you," Renesmee finally managed in a squeaky voice through her tears.
"I missed you too," Jacob replied.
"I'm sorry," Renesmee said, tightening her grip on Jacob.
"For what?"
"For leaving," she clarified. "And for not telling you I'm pregnant."
"How long did you know?" Jacob asked as he rubbed her back. It was his attempt to let her know he wasn't angry.
"I knew about two weeks before I was taken back. I was expecting the worst and I knew you'd never have let me go if I'd told you." Rather than say anything, Jacob gently released Renesmee, pushing her off him, so he could stare at her belly. He put his hands on it and moments later felt a gentle kick.
"Does that feel strange?"
"The kicking? It used to, but I've gotten used to it." Jacob smiled and kept rubbing her belly hoping to earn another kick. "You're not mad are you?"
"I'm not mad. I know why you did what you did. In retrospect, I'm glad." Renesmee grinned.
"And where did you learn the word retrospect?"
"I can't remember if I'm being honest." They shared a gentle laugh and Renesmee went to hug him again.
"I am sorry for not telling you."
"I know now," Jacob reassured. "But now it's all the more important I get you back."
Downstairs, Edward had sauntered in shortly after Jacob had made a mad dash up the stairs. Everyone in the house looked in his direct, even after he'd completed his trek up the stairs and into the master bedroom.
"Well, hello to you too," Rosalie mumbled after Jacob was gone.
"He's a handsome young man at least," Alice said.
"That's hardly relevant," Rosalie said.
"We'll have more time to speak with him later," Bella said. "They haven't seen each other in months. We need to let them talk first."
"What was going on out there?" Carlisle asked. "It sounded like you were talking to yourself out there for most of the conversation."
"He arrived as a wolf. He already knew I could read minds, so he didn't bother changing. He didn't trust me either. Frankly, the feeling is mutual."
"You let him in all the same," Alice said.
"I'm left with little option in the matter. Renesmee's been immovable."
"We owe it to her to give Jacob a chance, Edward. She loves him. Renesmee wouldn't love him if there was nothing in him worth loving." Edward didn't respond. Silence proceeded until he overheard Jacob say something about it now being imperative that he get her back to the tribe being that she's pregnant. Having overheard the conversation as well, Bella and Carlisle followed Edward upstairs. Jacob stood up and looked at the door when he heard them at the door. Renesmee stayed seated on the bed, holding Jacob's hand.
"She's in no condition to travel," Edward said, getting right to the point. "You aren't taking her anywhere."
"Daddy, I'm not so far along that I'm at risk of giving birth in the time it would take you to get me back to the tribe."
"Renesmee," Carlisle stepped in, "this is your first child. We just aren't certain what to expect. For all we know, you may go into labor on the way there. I'm sorry, Renesmee, but I can't in good conscience permit you to travel right now."
"Carlisle," Bella stepped in, "I do think you're overestimating how long it will take to get her to Forks. At least how long it'll take us to get her to Forks. If we run, we can have her there in two hours at most. In fact, we can probably get her there without horse and carriage. We can just carry her ourselves. I certainly can."
"That would be under the assumption we leave right now," Edward said. "We can't leave right now. Peter hasn't signed the divorce papers and he's not wavering."
"I'll talk to him then," Jacob said.
"Are you out of your mind?" Edward said with a grimace.
"I don't know. You tell me." They stared at each other a moment before Edward sighed.
"Damned smart ass." Edward rubbed his face. "According to your memory, the last time you spoke to the man, you held a knife to his face and nearly unleashed your dogs on him."
"When did that happen?" Renesmee asked.
"I think it was the night after Lovejoy shot at Caevia," Jacob said thoughtfully.
"Is Caevia alright by the way?" Renesmee asked.
"Caevia's great," Jacob answered. "She had a boy over the summer. They named him Embry."
"Oh," Renesmee smiled. "I can't wait to meet him."
"She deserves a child after all she's been through," Carlisle said cheerfully.
"They're already talking about another child," Jacob chuckled a little.
"They should probably wait at least until next summer," Renesmee joked.
"That's up to her, Renesmee," Edward said, trying to get them all back on topic. "You heard Carlisle: traveling in your condition is not a good idea."
"And like she said," Jacob pointed at Bella, "she could easily carry her back with no harm to Renesmee."
"And like I said, that's under the assumption we'd be leaving today, and we can't leave now. Unless you want to have another manhunt sent out on you."
"There wouldn't have to be if you just told him you're taking Renesmee away and that's that."
"That's what I would have done had you not gotten my daughter pregnant!" Edward barked back. "We'd be back on the East Coast by now if you hadn't gotten her pregnant!"
"Edward, calm down," Bella said. "Listen, Jacob, Renesmee explained this to me and I can appreciate that your culture dictates the baby be born in the family home. But Edward is right in regards to Peter. You must understand that, legally speaking, we are in a bind. We can't just leave with Renesmee right this second. They are legally married and that needs to be dissolved, otherwise Peter will still have legal precedent to come after her again or demand she come back. Their marriage does have to be dissolved."
"Edward," Carlisle said, "You said you could forge Peter's signature did you not?"
"There you go," Jacob said. "How long will that take? Just sign his name and the document's binding isn't it?"
"You didn't tell anyone Renesmee's pregnant did you?" Bella asked, realizing that would make a divorce near impossible.
"I didn't say anything."
"Good," Renesmee said. "And I know Peter won't say anything."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that. He already said he's willing to accept that baby as his own if it means Renesmee will stay married to him."
"Over my dead body," Jacob said rather adamantly. "He's not raising my child."
"Daddy," Renesmee said. "We can either ask Peter one more time to sign the divorce papers willingly or sign the paperwork, turn it in to city hall in the morning and finalize the divorce. The sooner we can leave, the better."
"You know what Renesmee," Edward said, "You talk to him. When he gets back, I'll give you the paperwork and you make him sign it. You want to be treated like an adult, then you take care of the divorce papers."
"I'm fine with that," Renesmee said.
"So if he signs the paperwork, how long before we can take Renesmee back to the tribe?"
"Let's worry about getting Peter to agree to the divorce before we worry about that."
Edward ended the conversation there and left in a mild huff. Everyone except Jacob and Renesmee followed after him and when the two were alone, Jacob closed the door (slammed may be a more appropriate word) and sat down on the bed with Renesmee. He started petting her belly again and started smiling again.
"Mom will be so excited when she finds out. I wish we could've given everyone time to make toys, though. I'll get to work once we're back."
"Jasper and Emmett are making toys already. Mom, Esme and Rosalie are making clothes for the baby too. We won't be hurting for anything."
"Good," Jacob said.
"The baby has a similar gift as me. He'll put thoughts in my head the way I can."
"Really?" Jacob asked, intrigued. "Is that how you know it's a boy?"
"I'm pretty sure it's a boy. Daddy thinks it's a boy too. I wanted to name him Kevin."
"Kevin," Jacob said the name out loud.
"Do you like that name?"
"Yeah," Jacob said after a moment. "It's a good name."
"We can give him William as a middle name."
"I don't have a last name, though."
"It's alright," Renesmee said. "As long as you like that name, I'm happy."
"I do," Jacob said. "Kevin William it is." Jacob rubbed her belly some more and his smile brightened every time the baby kicked. "I don't think we ever talked about how many kids we should have."
"Not as many as Caevia's planning to have," Renesmee said bluntly. "I'll be happy with three."
"Just three?" Jacob asked. "How about six?"
Renesmee laughed, "No. That's far too many. Even your parents only had three."
"That doesn't mean we have to limit ourselves to three. Your parents only had one child. Should we limit ourselves to one child by that logic?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Renesmee laughed again. "Let's start with the one we're having and go from there. Can we agree on that?"
"I can agree to that." Jacob lifted his head up to give Renesmee a kiss. When he kissed her, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. Their kiss lasted a moment until Renesmee pulled away and kissed the tip of Jacob's nose. "I really did miss you."
"I missed you too," Renesmee said, getting mildly teary eyed again. "I knew I would go back. That was the only thing that made this separation tolerable." Renesmee kissed Jacob again. "Why did you come for me now?"
"Lovejoy went back on his side of the agreement," Jacob said.
"Oh my God," Renesmee went wide eyed, "is everyone alright?"
"Everyone's alright," Jacob reassured. "When he came, he only came for me. He tried to arrest me for assaulting an officer and threatened to hang me at the gallows. I determined that as a breach of our agreement, so we hung him, killed his horse, and I left Quil and Embry with the task of disposing of everything while I came and got you."
"You killed Sgt. Lovejoy?" Renesmee asked, a little stunned. She wasn't sure what to think. Mostly, she was concerned this might come back to bite them.
"Don't worry, Renesmee," Jacob said, feeling he knew what her concern was. "It'll be like he was never there. Any evidence he was there will be gone by the time you and I get back. He came alone too. We can easily claim he never got to the tribe."
"He came alone?" Renesmee asked. "He didn't stop by Forks or anything?"
"He probably did stop by Forks," Jacob said thoughtfully. "Either way, there'll be nothing left of him. Quil and Embry will make sure of that."
"Are you sure no one will look for him?"
"We'll worry about that when we have to. And we can make sure they continue not to see you."
"No," Renesmee said. She shook her head and said, "no," again. "I don't want to hide. I'm not a prisoner that needs to be kept locked away. It's more stress than it's worth to keep me hidden away. I married you because I love you, not because you made me. I'll make that clear if I need to."
"You'd really do that?"
"Of course I would. I want them to know I married you. I want them to know we're having a family, whether they like it or not. I'm not ashamed of loving you or being married to you or being mother to your children. I won't hide as if I am." Rather suddenly, Jacob kissed Renesmee again and with a great deal of passion. She held his face to return the kiss in kind and Jacob wrapped his arms around her, the bump the only thing making the meeting difficult. Renesmee pulled away to look at him. "I'll speak with Peter once he gets back. I'll get him to sign the divorce papers and we'll leave the moment daddy submits them to the court. The sooner, the better."
"Yeah," Jacob said, "the sooner the better."