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Chapter 69
Visit
Bella
"You saw us!" Leah said softly after Edward finished.
I was deeply moved inside and hid my face against his shoulder.
Edward was there. When my children had seen the light of day. When life had made sense to me again.
"And you heard our thoughts!" added Jake.
Edward let go of me to put a hand on the cheek of each of the two on our right and left.
"You sent me home. Who knows where I would be today without that incident," Edward whispered and the four of us hugged each other.
We were silent for a long time, enjoying this great feeling of connection. Probably we all thought the same thing.
What would all our lives have been like if Edward had stayed back then? Where we would live, where I would have studied, when would we have married, when would he have changed me after all, that my children had always said Dad to him, that they had turned into wolves much earlier. I chuckled as I imagined a torn diaper that a wolf cub ripped off itself - and infected the others with my laughter. A really improbable thought, yet I still had to chuckle. But contrary to that notion, I knew that Edward would not have stayed with me back then. Apart from the fact that we all would have been seventeen years younger, there was a difference from today. Regarding Edward's motivations, at least. I had children, but no husband. But I was still young. He would have continued to insist that I was entitled to a human life and therefore left me alone anew.
After David got back with his family, we ordered pizza and played together for the rest of the evening.
Their day also seemed to have gone well. The children spoke of hardly anything else.
Daniel was old enough to understand this situation. He had already known for some time that his father had a real family. With a wife and other children. And also, he had guessed before they said anything yesterday who Sonya was and today immediately understood that Luces, Deacon and Emma were his siblings. In that respect, he had probably strongly restrained his unruly adolescent nature and played very sweetly with the smaller ones. Moreover, he had introduced himself as their brother. I knew Daniel's opinion about his father and the fact that he had a family without him. He was not particularly angry with David or felt betrayed by it. After all, Daniel himself already lived in a very happy family and knew no other life. He was very happy when David came to visit him but was also fine without him.
With a sweet-sweet weary sigh, Emma determined at dinner that it was time for a little brother. She had enough older ones now.
After the smaller children were in bed, we called Carlisle, who came over with Esmé.
Sonya wanted to get to know her apparent new doctor in person before he examined her.
We talked for a long time after the medical details had been worked through, and at some point David in secret retreated outside to the terrace.
"You haven't smoked for so long. You don't want to start again," I said sternly to David, who had helped himself to my box again. I didn't mind, per se, because I didn't have to rely on those things. But he had smoked a lot during college and quitting was pretty hard for him.
"It's not lit," he explained to me.
The feeling of holding the cigarette in his hands like before calmed him down enough for the moment.
"Tell me, Bells, how would you feel about us becoming neighbors?" he then asked rather quietly and as if out of nowhere.
In shock, I missed the chair I just wanted to sit on.
It was not so much a terrifying idea as the fact that such a question caught me completely off guard.
"Ouch!" I grumbled to myself. That was going to bruise. I'd landed flat on my butt.
David laughed at me as he helped me up from the floor.
I turned briefly to the window in a huff to look at Edward.
I was surprised that he didn't come running as soon as I cried out. He chuckled. Just you wait!
I stuck my tongue out at him and turned to David again.
"You're impossible!" chuckled David.
I was looking for a suitable answer when I remembered his question, which was, after all, the reason for my latest mishap.
"What exactly do you mean by neighbors?" I now asked.
"I made Mr. Abagnale an offer and he agreed," he whispered.
"I'd be happy, but why are you thinking about it?"
There were a few reasons for him to do so. So far, he had only thought about it secretly and didn't know what Sonya and the children would think about it.
At the moment, his children were still young enough to agree to such a move without hesitation. A new city, a new school and new friends would be a lot more exciting than the familiar. Daniel lived nearby and he could finally behave like a decent father towards him. Sonya had mentioned a few times, a big city like Philadelphia would not be right for the kids. His children inevitably grew up very differently and more unprotected than mine because the city had more opportunities for young adolescents to get into trouble.
His work would not be a problem. He was a programmer, and his industry had virtually perfected the home office. He would only have to fly back for a day or two every few weeks, whereby he could better serve the customers here.
And for Sonya herself, it would be good if I were to be nearby. Since she had spent the last few years taking care of the children almost exclusively on her own, most of her friendships had fizzled out over time. Their best friends were even spread out all over the country, so Philly or Saco didn't make a difference. Sonya's parents had died in an accident, while his lived in Jacksonville anyway and basically didn't talk to him anymore. Sonya's sister was also mostly traveling with her husband and rarely at home. As of yesterday, they were in Dubai for about two months, where her husband was an architect overseeing a construction project. Besides, if they were to have another child now, it would be very comforting for him to know Carlisle was close by.
I listened to everything calmly and considered it impartially.
He was right. The timing was ideal, but I was offended by one tiny detail.
"Me living here wasn't one of your reasons?" I asked, played offended.
He pulled me into his arms laughing.
"Not at all!" he teased me.
"Is your boss going to accept it that easily?" I asked.
"He'll have to. The software you are working with is MY baby. All rights are mine ... If he kicks me out, I'll take the program with me ... And if he really comes up with that idea, I could care less from a financial point of view," he said with a confident grin on his face.
It persisted for a moment before he put on a serious face and ask for my honest opinion.
"Ask Sonya," I replied, already almost pushing him through the door.
Sonya was first of all completely caught off guard. This proposal just came out of nowhere for her.
Also for me. My bruise was proof of that!
Her facial expression changed visibly into enthusiasm, however, the more David told her about his reasons. She would have liked to immediately run over to see the house, but by now it was almost eleven o'clock in the evening.
The following week flew by.
David droves home with his family on Wednesday.
All the vampires had gotten to know David and his family before, and Emma wrapped each one around her finger.
They were going to start moving soon. As soon as Mr. Abagnale was finished packing up his house. He promised to hurry, provided his age did not stand in his way.
Jake, Leah, and Edward had readily offered to help.
Peter and Stan had come over for dinner one evening as agreed, and the invitations to their wedding had finally been printed without error. They clearly said that one was scheduling me with five people. In addition to me and my children, Edward was personally invited to come and Jake was kindly requested to bring Becky.
David was also invited too - with his family, of course - but he didn't know yet whether he would be able to make the move in time.
Contrary to expectations, Cathlyn had not contacted me yet, but I had no doubt that she would show up at my door sooner or later.
Stephen, her husband, had forewarned me that she was not thrilled with my 'sacrilegious' relationship with Edward. He had even stopped by in person, but had missed Edward, who was in the woods together with Jake and Leah. I thought I heard something like 'race' when the three of them disappeared across the terrace. But since Stephen had to go right on, he waived me to call Edward and ask him to come. He would surely get to know him in the near future and was already interested to see what kind of 'rascal' could have turned my head.
On Friday, the children's friends were all gathered around a campfire in our backyard, and some of them were quite amazed that Edward was here. They were all equally surprised when Alice, Jasper, Rose, and Emmett came by, but not to keep them company.
There was apparently a brief speculative debate about it.
It ended with Jake and Leah explicitly stating that the four of them wanted to visit their brother Edward and his girlfriend. With that, the discussion was over and the kids spoke to them openly about our relationship and that it wasn't a hackneyed love affair, but that we sincerely loved each other and were already engaged.
I didn't know why, but Lisa seemed kind of offended. Instead of shocked because of our age difference.
The twins said afterwards, after they had now told everyone about me and Edward, that they had coped quite well. After all, it was only Lisa and Jenny who had no idea yet.
And then it was already Saturday.
I was completely nervous and kept looking at the clock. The plane from Seattle had already landed fifty-eight minutes ago as we were clearing away the remains of a late breakfast.
"Take it easy, darling."
Edward took me tightly in his arms. Soothingly, he continued to whisper to me while the kids cleaned their rooms.
We did not know who would come. Therefore, the accommodations were unknown. Whether Emily would come alone or with Sam. Or Emily didn't come because she didn't have time. Maybe Seth because it was about vampires. Charlie, because it was about his daughter. Possibly still together with Renée. Billy, because as chief he wanted to make his opinion known. Paul, because he was always very aggressive when it came to vampires ... The possibilities were endless. In my mind, I saw half of La Push standing at my front door.
"Relax, Bella. I'm with you. We'll stand through this conversation together. No matter what they say, at the end of the day, we'll still be together ... The worst that can happen is that they have something against me on principle and won't understand our love. And Jake and Leah will always stand by you, no matter what may cross their minds."
"Will or can? ... We'll see about that!", I heard a bouncy deep voice outside the front door.
In a rush, I opened the door and Seth was leaning casually against the frame, dressed only in shorts.
He grinned. Like he pretty much always did.
Every time I saw him, I tried to picture the thirteen-year-old boy who stole the show from the others wolves. I hadn't succeeded in a long time. Seth was grown. No longer gangly like he used to be. In the past, it appeared as if the wolfish muscle mass didn't have enough body to spare and was holding back for that very reason. But today he was tall and muscular, with masculine facial features and three-day beard. Only his broad smile was that of a naughty rascal and reminded me of Jacob.
We took each other in our arms in greeting.
"Hello, Bella," he said good-humoredly and gave me a cheery kiss on the cheek. Then he turned to Edward and held out his hand. "Edward," he said a little more reservedly, which Edward, on the other hand, returned very kindly.
I wondered what was going on inside Seth. Behind the serious facade he had just put on, he seemed to have to suppress a smirk.
"Did you come on foot?" I asked incredulously. 3,300 miles? That couldn't be! That had to be too much. Whether wolf, vampire, or even flying carpet!
"I'm really not that fast!" he laughed, pinching my cheek teasingly. "Behind Portland, the cab driver kicked me out so I could get a head start," he explained. "Where are they?" he then asked me.
"What are you going to do with them?", I asked immediately. My maternal instinct howled like a siren.
"Well, what else. I'll get them out of the line of fire!" he replied.
And in my head I repeated each syllable of the phrase 'line of fire'. The letters circled in my mind's eye and made me feel a little dizzy. So, he wasn't alone, and one intended to give me a piece of their mind.
I pointed upwards.
"JAKE! ... LEAH!" he yelled up the stairs, unusually cold and frighteningly imperious.
My kids promptly appeared at the top of the stairs.
Relief appeared on their faces, because only Seth was here. They laughed, but it stopped immediately when Seth, with a more than serious expression on his face and an imperiously raised index finger, showed them the way into the forest. Without greeting and deeply intimidated, they followed his request.
With an unfathomable gaze, Edward followed them with his eyes.
We watched the three of them as they disappeared into the forest as wolves.
I was startled when the doorbell rang.
Edward lovingly took my hand in his, squeezed it and smiled encouragingly after he had breathed a kiss on my forehead. Together we went to the door, which I opened hesitantly and with my heart racing in fear.
It was the best thing that could happen and at the same time the worst. Emily and Billy.
Emily greeted me with a laugh and we happily embraced. Sam would have liked to come, too, but apparently, he had an emergency at work and couldn't leave so soon.
It sounded like an ordinary visit between friends, so my heart slowed down the beat. One beat in the direction of normal.
Then I looked at Billy. His gaze spoke volumes.
He looked at me as if I had betrayed and exploited his entire tribe. Or his son!
"Bella!" he nodded at me suspiciously in greeting. "Where are the kids?"
"With Seth in the forest ... It's good to see you again," I answered partly honestly.
In one way I was really happy to see him. But on the other just not, because I was afraid. Fear that he would bring Jacob into play and push me back toward my abyss with his accusations. With Edward by my side, I didn't think I'd slip over the edge so easily again, but still.
He forbade Edward to help him up the three steps with the wheelchair with a condescending and spiteful gaze.
So, Emily and I struggled.
Billy was no lightweight, after all.
Finally, Edward merely took the three bags of our guests and carefully set them aside.
"So, you're Edward," Emily broke through the trepidatious moment and extended her hand to him with a friendly smile. "Bells and the kids have already told me quite a bit about you on the phone. I'm eagerly waiting to see if they've exaggerated. The twins are quite enthusiastic about you," she chatted on and pushed Edward towards the living room.
Billy gave me a shattering gaze and rolled after the two of them.
I closed the front door and leaned against it for a moment.
That would be a great day, if Billy was already in such a 'good' mood. But what did I expect? That he would do leaps in the air with joy? I didn't know myself.
I took a deep breath and asked if they wanted anything.
Coffee? Water? Breakfast?
In my thoughts I added an immediate return ticket for Billy to the list.
Both asked for coffee and I was glad to be busy for a moment. Somewhere else!
But for long I still could not avoid following them into the living room. I distributed everything I had balanced on a tray and sat down with Edward. While I was leaning facing backwards against him, he took my hand in his.
A gesture that was commonplace for us, but which was silently viewed by my guests for a long moment. A gesture that made clear the reason for their visit to me.
Emily gently summoned us to tell her what I had not yet reported on the phone.
With every word we said, I grew calmer and snuggled closer and closer to my angel.
Emily asked a lot of questions, chuckled at some points or was moved.
But while I became calmer and calmer, Edward seemed to become more nervous. Again and again he looked briefly in the direction of the forest. I was not sure what his face expressed soonest. Anger would be exaggerated, concern, on the other hand, too little.
Billy kept his eyes glued to us the whole time, but said absolutely nothing. No emotion could be seen on his face.
When we had finished and thus told almost everything that had happened here since my return from La Push, there was an oppressive silence.
Billy seemed to be gathering himself, considering the appropriate words.
I expected to hear him speak any second when Edward spoke up.
"I would like to clarify something. Just so there are no misunderstandings," he began in a hushed tone that appeared very reassuring. Just as calmly, he continued, "Bella is my life! I will not allow her to be harmed. Neither physically nor emotionally ... I see that everyone treats you with respect, Mr. Black, and as far as I can tell, you deserve that respect. But I will not tolerate you being abusive to Bella. You can attack me all you want, but if you don't behave in an appropriate manner toward Bella, I will throw you out the door despite your physical limitations."
I was stunned for a moment and looked at Edward.
What had caused Edward to be so blunt with Billy? It was a very clear threat, even if he had said it meekly. He did not seem to think that the diplomacy he usually displayed was sufficient.
"You're going to let him talk to me like that, Bella?" Billy snapped at me smugly after he got over his astonishment.
A tone of voice to which I have always been allergic with him. He had often thought that his opinion was the only correct one. When he had subtly warned me about Edward and at the same time threatened to say something to Charlie. When Jacob had avoided me after his transformation. When Charlie brought me to Renée. When the kids were born and I was supposed to move to La Push ... The list was long.
"What did you want to tell me?" I asked irritably.
"As you heard for yourself, I didn't say a single negative word!" insisted Billy stubbornly.
But that was beside the point in Edward's presence.
I angrily jumped up from the sofa and thrust my chin forward.
"I'm asking what you were thinking! ... Edward will surely have shown you your limits for a reason! And when he becomes so unequivocal, you almost have to stone me in your head," I screeched.
Emily had involuntarily jumped up with me, but just looked at me uncomprehendingly. She didn't understand why I was so angry and just kept turning her head back and forth between Billy and me.
"You're taking his side? Against your family?" Billy accused me bitterly.
"He IS my family!" I yelled irritably and was about to rush at Billy, but something held me back.
"They are MY grandchildren!"
"And you allow your grandchildren to be tortured and lose faith in themselves?" now Edward interfered.
His body quivered with tension. He forced himself to calm down. He clenched his jaws together and nervously drove his hands through the wild hair.
"What?" asked Emily and I at the same time.
Billy put on a comfortable smile as he noticed Edward's restlessness.
"They are wolves! That's none of your business, bloodsucker!" Billy replied adamantly.
"What's Seth doing out there?" asked Emily angerly.
"What is he doing a to both of them?" I wanted to know helplessly.
"He's reminding them what their job is!" declared Billy smugly.
"Is that why you're looking at the forest all the time?" inquired Emily cautiously.
Edward nodded - with his teeth clenched now as before.
"You are afraid!" stated Billy. "Afraid that my grandkids, the descendants of Ephraim Black, will do their duty and hunt you down!"
Edward ignored him, took my face in his hands and looked at me.
Again and again I had heard the distant howl of a wolf, but my children often did. It was a liberating feeling, they kept saying. But now it was roaring in my ears again. It seemed like it was louder, scary, and made me tremble.
Immediately I turned my gaze in the forest.
Edward also winced at that last sound.
"I'm getting our kids back before Seth wrecks them!" he whispered to me, gave me a fleeting but meaningful kiss, and disappeared across the patio.
Thanks for reading!
