Carlisle assured me that the allergy medication should begin to help with the fluid in my ears in a week or so, and if it didn't we could try something else. Alice said that I should increase the times between walking and running bit by bit until I was running for the entire 30 minutes. Afterward, we would do some yoga together to work on my balance every day. Jasper and Emmett were tossing a football high over my head while I ran next to Edward. Emmett made a game of it when I lost my footing. He'd dive in front of me, and catch me mission impossible style, and set me on my feet before I realized I'd tripped in the first place. The human was the only one who didn't think this was funny, but I wasn't about to complain. Skinned knees in a house full of vampires? No thanks.
Garett arrived before lunch while I was running down the long driveway. He ran up next to us at a human pace and said hello, then preceded us toward the house where he found Esme elbow deep in soil. I found Alice after my run, and she taught me to do sun salutes; a series of poses that would strengthen my core, and were meant to improve my posture, flexibility and balance. She said that we would gradually increase the times that we held poses, just like running. I didn't believe her when she said downward dog would end up being a resting pose when I got used to it. I lost my balance often while she was teaching me the poses, and I'm absolutely positive I could hear Emmet's guffaw from inside. We entered the house afterward to everyone sitting casually in the great room. Carlisle showed Garett the canvas, but he said that while he'd smelled the vampire before, he'd never met them.
"Do you recall where you've noticed the scent?" Edward asked, clearly still unhappy about either the mystery vampire, Garett, or both.
"Alberta, Virginia, and the northern midwest, out past the great lakes. Always in passing, just during the last 40 years or so. I've never bothered to follow the trail," he shrugged, "and I don't know whether they've followed me either. Nomadic life is about moving forward."
"Please inform us if you come across the scent again." Carlisle requested, to which Garett said he was happy to do.
Over the next few weeks we went on with life. I continued to exercise, the medicine started to work and I fell a lot less, thankfully. Carlisle was pleased with my progress and said that the fluid in my ears was nearly gone. I found out Alice was right about the ease of downward dog when she taught me how to do a plank. Slowly I began to gain weight and strength. Exercises I could barely do one week into joining the Cullens, were now what Emmett called "bush league," because I was working them in as warm-ups.
Garett left us after a few weeks, but not before trying the Cullen way of life. He said he'd never given his solitary life a second thought, until he saw the way we live. He'd always thought of Carlisle as a valued and favored friend, but was unaware that his friend's lifestyle may have fostered our leader's gentle and good-natured personality. The bonds we've created made him feel that his existence was lacking in some way, and felt challenged to try it. He hunted several times with the Cullens before he left the area, vowing to do his best to check-in in the near future with yellow eyes. He said he was hoping to someday also experience such bonds of friendship, or at least test the theory. Edward relaxed somewhat around him by the end of his stay but remained cautious. He could at least hold a civil conversation, but continued to stick to my delicious-smelling side.
Emmett and Jasper were redigging the creekbed adjacent to the house, which had seen a lot of dirt deposited in it over the last few years. By late spring, the small lake at the bottom of the hill behind the house was much more full, fed by the creek. By the end of June, Em and Jazz had a giant waterslide, with a ramp at the end set up to launch us into the lake. The privacy the property afforded us meant that we were able to swim and play all summer. Edward and Carlisle took on the project of creating a large covered dock for shade, and it became our routine to walk down to the dock after lunch to relax or swim with the family. Which is exactly what we did for the 4th of July. Alice and Esme made sure that regular backyard barbeque fare was available to me as we enjoyed swimming, dancing, and a small fireworks show organized by Jasper and Carlisle.
Rosalie occasionally asked me for input on the truck she was restoring as a gift for me. I was blown away by how fast she was working and I was excited to see it finished. Edward, to my surprise, wasn't as excited, and I caught him rolling his eyes a few times when the discussion turned to the truck. His behavior seemed to make Rosalie smile so I kept my suspicions to myself, not wanting to rock that particular boat. It was nearly done when Carlisle checked on my physical progress, and declared me healthy. I had gained 22 pounds in the end, and I'd never felt better. I felt strong and balanced, not weak or a liability, which was something I struggled with even before I met my strong, handsome vampire and his ultra talented and athletic family.
By mid august I received the all-clear to end my human life, along with the keys to my truck. Rosalie transferred ownership with the whole family present. She pushed it to the area of the driveway where it had been dropped by the tow truck just 3 months before. The fresh blue paint and shiny chrome gleamed even in the shaded driveway. She handed me the keys and told me to crank it over. I hugged her and thanked her profusely, but she brushed me off and told me to "quit acting like a sap." I sat on the tan leather seat, and put one hand on the large walnut steering wheel, admiring its smoothness. I slid the key into the ignition, turned it, and suddenly the quietly powerful engine was rumbling. Edward smiled at me and then turned to Rosalie, and hugged her. I was glad to see that they'd settled whatever it was that was ticking him off. Their embrace didn't last long before she swatted him away and he climbed into the passenger seat for my truck's maiden voyage. I pulled out of the drive and made our way toward a shaded stretch of road with the windows rolled down and the breeze blowing in.
"Rosalie did a beautiful job on this truck."
"She did. I can't believe she did. I've never driven a car this nice-ugh! It's so nice!" I could not wipe the grin off my face.
"You know it goes faster than 45, right?"
"I'm too excited to go faster right now. The truck and I are too breakable to walk away unscathed if I send this thing barreling down one of the mountains."
"Soon you won't have to worry about that. With your change, your reaction times will be nearly instantaneous."
"There's a perk that wasn't in the brochure," I snarked, smiling in his direction as I kept my eyes on the road.
He giggled before asking, "Do you have any thoughts of when you'd like to initiate the change?"
"I'm not sure, I think before the weather turns cold again."
"That will give us a couple of weeks to enjoy the rest of summer. And for me to enjoy the benefits of your daily yoga routine." I turned to see him raise his eyebrows at me, and his eyes flick down to my bare thighs, clad in only a pair of cut-off shorts.
"Edward, have you been oogling me?" I asked in mock outrage.
"Absolutely, yes." he said, still staring at my form unabashedly.
"I am astonished. Lurking around, spying on an unsuspecting human is despicable behavior."
"I've come to find, Miss Swan, that since mating with you, I've developed an alter ego that is an absolute scoundrel."
"Shocking!"
I was laughing out loud now and coming up to a large patch of sun, Edward directed me to a dirt road almost hidden to the left where I assumed I'd turn around and head back. Before I knew it the truck was in park and his lips were pressed against mine. His hand was on my inner thigh, and the other was in my hair. I threw my arms around his neck and he pulled me out of the cab through the passenger door. He backed me into the side of the truck, pressing himself against me and trailing his hand up to the apex of my thighs. I could never get enough of being with this beautiful, utterly sexy man. I had just begun to start on the buttons of his jeans when he inhaled forcefully, and hissed angrily.
"Get in the truck." he ordered, eyes black. He turned and sniffed the air again while I climbed in. He was already in the driver's seat when I had shut my door and reached for my seatbelt. He quickly backed out of the side road, spraying dirt everywhere. "The stranger has been here. The scent is hours old."
"Oh damn." Adrenaline hit my system and I gripped the seat as he hit the pavement and peeled out.
"I'm going to take you home and follow the trail." The truck's engine could certainly handle speeds over 45, and hairpin-turns as well, apparently. Thankfully, we left the gate open, anticipating the family would also want to take turns driving my truck. "Jazz, Em, the stranger-lets go!" He kissed me soundly on the mouth, looked into my eyes for a second, and then he was gone, his brothers trailing behind.
"What the hell happened?" Rosalie came running out from her workshop, looking absolutely livid.
"The strange vampire scent, we came across it while we were driving."
"That motherf-" was all I heard from her as she raced after them.
"I'm sorry Bella, I was trying to give you privacy. I didn't see you until Edward pulled up to the gate. I was too busy looking into your next couple of weeks. I saw your decision to change, and Esme and I were making plans to make this last bit of time memorable." Alice fiddled her hands in front of herself nervously.
"It's ok, Alice. I didn't realize anything was amiss either." I pulled her close and she put her head on my shoulder.
"Do they find the one responsible for crossing into our territory?" Carlisle asked her.
"I don't see the stranger, I only see Rosalie and the boys running after the scent for the next while. I don't see them catching it. I don't think that they do."
"Esme and I will run a perimeter, and try to find where the scent originated. Alice-"
"She'll be safe with me, Carlisle. We'll stick to the house."
Esme embraced us before they set off together to run around the property. They returned an hour later saying that the scent skirted the property line on the eastern side, crossed a track that Jasper and Edward had run while hunting two days before, then backtracked to the creeks and streams that led toward the Housatonic River. Not wanting to risk the stranger making their way to us via the waterways, Carlisle and Esme returned quickly.
Jasper called a while later and said they lost the scent as soon as it met with the southern Housatonic River. They followed the river almost to Newtown, and didn't catch another whiff until they found the vampire's meal near the northern end of Lake Zoar. Emmett grabbed the hiker's backpack to keep a sample of the fresh scent. They followed the river to New Haven, but did not smell it again.
It was after dark by the time they arrived home. Relief flooded through me as I took in his wind-blown hair and dark eyes. We stayed up late discussing what we knew, and what steps we should take. That the vampire was targeting us with some interest was obvious. For what reason, was unknown. We didn't know if they were friend or foe, or what their end-game was. So far it seemed like this person was experienced at evading others, and used waterways to do so. We decided I would be escorted around the property, not that I was ever alone. Whether I was doing yoga with Alice, in the workshop with Rosalie, flying down the waterslide or just reading in the library, there was always someone in or around the house. But to formally say I was to be protected felt off.
"Let's be real about this," Emmett started, "a new vampire in the area wouldn't be such a big deal if one of our family members wasn't in such a vulnerable position. No offense Bella."
I shrugged, "It's the truth, but now that I have the OK from Carlisle, I can change whenever I want."
"Perhaps first we should consult our other friends. If we can know definitively if this vampire is a threat or a benign nomad, we won't have to waste our efforts on someone who may just be intimidated by a large coven."
"Elazar will agree, he'll come with Carmen." Alice gave Carlisle the results of his decision as soon as she saw them. "They'll be here in 3 days." Carlisle nodded and called Alaska as the discussion continued around them.
"I still say we move up the date."
"It's Bella's decision."
"She might be tricky to handle as a newborn."
"That's true, she'll be very distracted, but she won't be edible."
"What do you feel like you should do, Bella?" Jasper asked.
"I feel like I should meet Elazar before I change, but I feel like Emmet has a point, too. Alice, do you see anything?"
"I won't see anything unless you decide. Right now all I see in your future is tea and a brownie." She shrugged.
"Then I'll wait until they get here to make a decision."