Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or its characters.
All mistakes are mine!
July 12, 1942…
Bella
Dear Izzy,
Please forgive me the long wait for my response, but trust me, the wait has been worth it for I have names. I did not expect for it to take so long to find the uncle you asked me about. Of course, my mother refused to give me names or even speak about what she told you the night she confronted you at the house. So, I did a little digging amongst my circle to see if anyone I knew might be linked to a family member of yours. I had no such luck at first.
I also looked into the families in the society, but none of the names Swan or Dwyer had shown up, at least not in the last couple of years. However, I finally came across some luck when I looked at some of my father's old pictures in his study. I found a picture of our fathers, together! The picture was from when they were enlisted together during World War I and there was an additional man in that picture named Henry Swan. I figured that must be the uncle my mother was referring to.
After some more digging, I found out from a friend of a friend whose parents were good friends with the Swans that they left Chicago after some big scandal and moved to New York. And I found him! I'll leave his information below. He lives in New York with his wife and son.
I hope this information is of some use to you. Please take care of yourself and my little nephew. I hope to see you soon.
Love,
Kate.
Folding the letter again, I pull out the picture Kate sent as well. In it are three men, arms thrown over their shoulders, dressed in their military uniform with big smiles on their faces. I recognized the man in the center right away. He was my father, only without the mustache and twenty years younger. The man to his right had an undeniable resemblance to Edward. The structure of his nose, his lips and even the unruliness of his hair all matched Edward's. That had to be Edward Sr.
It was the man on the left who I had no idea who he was, but upon a closer look, I realized there was a resemblance between him and my father, only he seemed a little older.
That had to be Henry.
Kate had added all the information I needed on the back of the picture.
"Who's that?" I heard Carlisle ask from behind me.
I turned slightly, showing him the picture.
"Kate sent this to me. She found it in his father's things. We believe the man on the left may be related to my father, possibly his brother?"
Carlisle took the picture, inspecting it further. "I've only ever met your father, but I can't remember if he ever mentioned having a brother. Although the resemblance is uncanny. Will you be reaching out to him?
I nodded, taking the picture back.
"I figured the worst that could happen is that he doesn't reply at all. It's worth a try."
"Can't argue with that," Carlisle said. He leaned forward, pressing his hand on my belly. "How are you feeling today?"
I groaned, leaning back on my chair. My belly seemed to be tripling in size with every passing day and the baby has become more active. I'm often woken up by his kicks and nudges, which is why I've been calling him My Little Nudger as of lately.
"Other than tiredness, I'm fine."
I was more than halfway through my pregnancy, which meant I couldn't be on my feet as often as I normally could as I am tired easily now. That is why at work they have shifted me over to less strenuous tasks to keep me off my feet as much as possible, thanks to Carlisle. And at home, the only way they'll let me help with chores is if it's washing the dishes.
"Edward asked me to look after you and that is what I am doing," Carlisle said to me one afternoon when he caught me trying to do some gardening. "He may be my nephew, but he'll have my head on a silver platter if he finds out I let his pregnant wife work on her garden under the unforgiving Hawaiian sun."
"Or we could not tell him at all and I can work on my garden," I argued, sitting on one of the chairs.
Carlisle gave me a knowing look. He'd never lie to his nephew and if Edward asked him to take care of me, then he was going to take care of me.
"Seth said in his letter than he was sent to a different base than Edward," Carlisle said, bringing me out of my train of thought. "He's with Emmett now, but I'm worried about Edward. He is on his own."
"He will not talk about it with me," I told him. "He won't say anything about what he is going through, only that he is working on coming back home."
Carlisle shook his head, leaning his chin on the palm of his hand on the table.
"I was a combat medic when the first war happened, Isabella. The things you see in war-" he shook his head again, closing his eyes. "I know what my nephew is going through out there. Trust me, if he's not sharing, it's not because he doesn't trust you. Esme doesn't know half the things that happened to me when I was deployed."
I felt Little Nudger kick my side and I softly caressed the spot where he kicked. The act itself helped me feel more connected to my baby. And in some weird sense, to Edward as well.
"Sometimes I feel cruel for telling Edward about the baby," I admit quietly.
Carlisle frowns.
"How so, sweet girl?"
"If my father feels like he's missing out on something so important that he set his pride aside and reached out, then I can only imagine how impotent Edward must feel knowing that even if he wanted to, he cannot be here unless he is released."
My Little Nudger kicks me again, almost like he agrees with me.
"I cannot say I understand what it's like to be in your shoes because I don't. So, I'll tell you this from a father's perspective, okay?"
I nodded, giving him the go ahead.
"If Esme would've been pregnant while I was deployed, I would've wanted to know. Yes, I firmly believe there has to be some urge, some impotence Edward must feel knowing you are here and he is over there, but I know that boy. That boy is more determined than anyone I've ever known and he loves you, sweetheart. Edward has a good head on his shoulders, Izzy, trust me when I tell you, nothing will keep him from you and your baby. Not even a war."
It took me several days to work up the courage to write to Henry Swan. I didn't know if I was opening old wounds with my letter. If he was my uncle, someone related to my father, possibly a brother, then why haven't I heard about him until now? Why had they drifted about? I couldn't imagine ever losing contact with Alice, not talking to her for years.
But the more I thought about it, the more my curiosity grew and finally, I couldn't hold back anymore so I sat down on my writing desk and hoped for the best.
Dear Henry Swan,
My name is Isabella Swan, my parents are Charles and Renee Swan. I'm reaching out to you because I learned from an acquaintance of mine that we may have some familiar relationship, and if we do, then you may have some answers to some questions that have been plaguing me. Especially about what happened between my father and the Cullen family back in the day.
If I do have the correct information, please let me know. I'd love to have a conversation with you and perhaps learn some more about my family and our history.
I hope you and your family are all in good health.
Sincerely,
Isabella Cullen.
Henry Swan did not send me a letter back. It'd been two weeks since I sent him the letter and I never heard word back from the man. A part of me truly believed that my letter might've bought something from the past that he wanted to keep hidden. Perhaps he too was too proud to set whatever grudges aside to help a niece he never met.
That was where my train of thought was headed as the days went by and still there was no word from him.
I at least expected a letter of him telling me he didn't want any part of this. At least that would've been nice.
However, what I didn't expect was to one day open my door to a strange man at my doorstep. He looked like the older version of the man in the picture. His dark brown hair graying from the roots. And while having him face to face, I could see the unmistakable similarities between him and my father.
He looked just as shocked as I was.
"My god." He gasped, his eyes welling up with tears. "You look just like your mother."
"I'm sorry, I-"
"I was going to write back and ask if it was best for me to come down here and see you, but I couldn't wait," he said rapidly. "Not after you signed your name as Isabella Cullen. I had to see it for myself."
I shook my head, trying to get out of my stupor.
"You're Henry Swan?"
"Yes!" He laughed. "Yes, I'm Henry Swan. I'm your father's brother and I'm here to answer whatever questions you may have, and to find out how in the world did Charles' daughter end up married to a Cullen."
August 12, 1942…
Edward
Edward,
I recently learned that the Swan girl is pregnant. Of course, I only learned this after overhearing your sister talking to one of her friends about being an "aunt" really soon. She didn't have the courage to tell me herself, so after I confronted her, she told me the truth. Or what she believes is the truth.
Edward, I know you are smart. I know that a part of you must know that child cannot be yours. How convenient that she accepted your marriage proposal so quickly and agreed to you marrying her the same day you proposed. I bet she didn't put up much of a fight with you moving her into your house and giving her all the accommodations you have. Now she is pregnant so soon after your deployment. I know you are not stupid enough to think that child is yours. Knowing her family's history, I firmly believe that the girl was already compromised before you married her and she was aware of it. She's making you out to be a fool, Edward. She is taking advantage of you and your kind heart, and I will not have it.
Please, come to your senses.
Sincerely,
Your mother.
I ripped the letter apart, threw the pieces into the fire pit and pulled out another cigarette. Of course my mother would break her silence only after learning of Bella's pregnancy, and she didn't even bother to address not being there to say goodbye when I was deployed or if I'm even okay. No, her only concern was to tell me that she doesn't believe my child is mine. Her only goal was to cause a strain between my wife and I.
Little does she know, there is nothing she can do or say that could ever make me doubt Bella. Nothing.
"Hey, Cullen." I looked up to Paul, who waved me over from where he stood on the other side of the firepit. "The Colonel wants to speak to you."
Nodding, I took a deep draw from my cigarette and tossed it on the ground, stepping on it as I stood. I followed Paul over to the Colonel's tent.
"Ah, Cullen, just the man I wanted to see."
"Colonel." I gave him a curt nod.
"I got news for you, son."
My back straightened and I was suddenly on alert. The last time he said that, he sent me and Jared on a mission where only I came back. Jared's plane was shot down by enemy planes and I was lucky to make it back in one piece. That night, I prayed for what felt like the first time in a very long time. I was never much of a devout believer, but I nearly fell to my knees and sang my praises when I made it back. When I didn't die and still had the chance to see my Bella.
"I got word from my superiors. They're asking me to consider some men for a special mission they got planned and I was thinking you might be the one for the job."
"Mission, sir?"
"Don't ask for specifics, they didn't give me any. But they did tell me this." Colonel Jenkins looked up finally, his black eyes meeting mine. "They told me whoever I send, after this mission, will be free to go home. From what I heard, you have a little one on the way don't you?"
Free to go home? Did he really say that whoever he sent would be free to go home?
"Y-yes," I said, not believing my ears. "My wife's due October 3rd."
"Well, then what do you think? You go, do whatever mission they're thinking of and if you complete your mission, you might be home in September. How does that sound, son?"
"Like-" I choked up, emotion welling up in my chest. I could go home. I could finally go home and see my Bella. See my baby being born. "Whatever you need, Colonel. I'm the man for the job."