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Chapter 26

Transformation?

"Bella?" dad addressed me cautiously, and I broke away from Edward's kiss.

He looked kind of glum!

"I see how much you love Edward. I know you want to belong to him, to him and the Cullens - and I don't begrudge you that! I don't think it's nice that it has to be this way - that you want to be transformed. But it's okay. Just please, understand that I don't want that. Such a life is not for me, honestly!", he said calmly, and I was speechless.

And it wasn't just me who seemed to be at a loss for words. Everyone looked a bit shocked, except Alice, who of course knew once again.

"Charlie, you don't know how much this means to me!", Edward was the first to speak again. "I love Bella more than my life, my existence - and I will watch over her and love her for all eternity. I promise!"

He looked me in the eyes, and I was really moved to tears at that moment.

I fell sobbing around his neck, but he laughed happily and stroked my back.

When I had calmed down again, I stood up.

Charlie looked down at the floor in dismay.

I could imagine what those words cost him!

I took him tightly in my arms and he did the same. So we just stood there for minutes and held each other in our arms.

"Thanks, Dad. It means so much to me. I'm so grateful to you for giving me your blessing ..."

I could not speak any more.

"Okay, how are we going to do that. I mean, as a newborn, we can't very well let her go to school and everyone would notice how much she's changed," Emmett broke the silence.

Everyone seemed to be thinking.

"Emmett, this is going to work!" exclaimed Alice then.

Everyone looked at her and Emmett, but Edward was the one who spoke up.

"Emmett plans an accident that will then kill Bella, so no one will think of her when she suddenly disappears. "

I had to swallow at first.

"Okay," I then said, however.

"Yeah ... and we can wreck Bella's truck while we're at it! Then you can at least buy her a new car, Edward," Emmett said.

Edward growled slightly.

"Oh come on, we all know how much you want to spoil her. "

Okay ..., I thought. Now just don't blush ... Crap! Didn't work! Well, at least Edward had something to laugh about! Umm...

"It's really not a bad idea," Charlie said suddenly.

I looked at him, puzzled.

"Well, I'd have to grieve and everything, of course, even though I know you're still alive. But I won't be able to see you for a while either, so that'll work out. And it's also easier for your mom than if we fake a kidnapping or something like that. She'll just get her hopes up."

He was right!

I looked questioningly at Edward.

Did he agree with that?

"Okay, let's do it this way," he said after a few minutes. "I think it'll be best for everyone that way. I guess we'll have to burn the car down completely then, so Bella's body can't be identified. And I'll hide in the car while she drives."

He did not allow any compromise.

"The best thing would be for the car to crash down some bridge," now came another suggestion from Emmett.

"Yes, that will probably be best!" added Jasper.

"And when do we want to do the whole thing?" now came the crucial question from Esmé.

She looked at me encouragingly. I was glad that they all helped.

This showed me once again that they wanted me in the family, all of them!

I noticed that all eyes were on me and blushed.

Edward came to me and took me in his arms!

"Sorry! This is probably all a bit rushed for you. We'd best postpone the conversation for a few days!" he said and gave me a kiss just as I was about to speak.

Alice spoke for me instead.

"I think we should do it in the next two months. Edward was turned at seventeen and I think Bella wants the same. Since she will be eighteen in two months, we should hurry!"

I nodded my thanks to her as Edward broke away from me.

"Okay, in two weeks it's vacation time. How about Bella calls her mother, or Charlie does, since she doesn't know that Bella is talking again, and tells her that Bella wants to visit her on vacation. Bella is driving her truck and falls off a bridge on the way!" Edward now suggested, after getting confirmation for Alice's words in my mind.

"Yes, that's how we do it!" now came from all the Cullens.

Charlie looked sad, but at the same time calm. It hurt him; you could see that.

I let go of Edward and turned back to him.

"Dad, it's not like we'll never see each other again, right? It's just that we can't for a while," I tried to cheer him up.

He looked at me and suddenly he seemed happy.

"Yes, you're right, Bells. I'm glad you finally found someone who means as much to you as Edward does! And ..." he looked at Edward, "I'm happy for you, too. Even though I don't particularly like the fact that my daughter will soon be a vampire, I'm proud of you, Edward. You couldn't have had someone better by your side. I hope you will stay happy for all eternity!", he said firmly and kindly.

I thankfully fell around his neck and sobbed again. This time Charlie stroked over my back soothingly.

I was really happy. Happy with Edward by my side. Happy with the Cullens and Jonath. And happy that my dad was happy for me!