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Chapter 8

Good Deeds


Edward


Around midnight I couldn't stand it in my room anymore and went over.

I wanted to put her a rose by her bed. All day my thoughts had been with her. I thought of her scent, her voice and her crying. I was such an idiot.

James was standing next to Isabella's bed, where she was sleeping.

Quite restless ... because of me, I thought in frustration.

The envelope was still unopened on the table. The book was on her bedside table.

"How is she?", I asked quietly.

"Not good, my Master. She has been crying a lot, not eating."

"Nothing at all?", I asked, horrified.

"Nothing at all, my Master. She said she couldn't eat anything when she felt like this. She paced up and down restlessly - like a caged animal. I offered her the use as well of your room, but she would never voluntarily enter it again, she said. She was visibly bored, Your Highness."

"That doesn't sound good," I said quietly.

"I am worried, my Master, badly worried. She was so unhappy, sad and lonely. I want to see her laughing, not crying."

James was really worried and frustrated. And it was all my fault.

I stepped over to her bed and looked at her. My heart contracted.

I felt so much for her. Why couldn't I control myself? I could have slapped myself right now. How was I supposed to fix this again?

I sighed.

"Do you think she would be happy if she could go to the garden and the park?", I asked.

"Certainly. She kept opening the window all the way, breathing in the air and standing in the sun. Also this running up and down - she needs exercise, Your Highness."

"Then go outside with her tomorrow if she wants to. And keep an eye on her. Especially if Prince Alec crosses your path. I don't trust him!"

"Of course, my Master."

"Another idea occurred to me. Where did you put her clothes - the ones from the first day?", I asked.

"It's lying washed in the cupboard, my Master," he said confusedly.

"Was there a key in her pants pocket? She must have had a front door key with her, right?" I asked.

"Oh ... yes, of course. She had a key and a rose quartz angel in her pocket. I put both there in the nightstand," he said.

I pulled open the drawer he had pointed to.

The angel was all rose quartz and small - a good luck charm.

Next to it was a key on a silver ring with a room number. I took it.

"James, I'll be gone early in the morning and I was thinking about going to her student accommodation. I'm sure there are a few things she'd like to have here. I might be able to please her with that."

"That is a very good idea, my Master," he nodded.

"And James, feel free to tell her that I was here, I'm concerned, and I'm sorry. I deeply regret it."

"I am glad to hear that, my Master. I will deliver it."

I looked at my lady of the heart for a moment more, put the rose on her bedside table and then left.


When the morning dawned, I looked for a servant and drove off.

I wanted to get this done before the sun came up. It was far. Isabella hadn't realized how far we had walked - it must have been 120 miles. But I wanted to take the car with me, because who knew how many things I would find. That way I could transport them safely.

At 7:30 a.m. I was standing in front of the student accommodation in the place where I had found her.

Port Angeles.

I put contact lenses in my eyes.

The night watchman sat bored in front of the TV, but immediately looked up when I entered the house.

"Sir?" he asked as he rose.

There was a viewing window in the window to his room. It was opened.

"Good afternoon, I hope I am in the right place. I am the Swan family lawyer. This is my secretary. The Swans' daughter, Isabella, was in that terrible accident in the woods three days ago. The father asked me to get her estate out of the dorm. I have the key."

Demonstratively, I held up the key.

He nodded, "Yes, the dear Isabella. She was such a nice young girl. She used to bring me coffee in the evenings ... from Starbucks!"

He smiled at the memory and I saw my Princess in his thoughts, winking at him with a smile and passing a cup through the window.

"So the key belongs to this place, Sir. First floor, there's the staircase on the right. The room number is on the key."

"Thank you!", I said kindly and we went upstairs.

That had been easy. Now I only hoped that it was a single room and not still sleeping young ladies fainted when I entered.

I was lucky again.

It was a single room. A very small room - but bright, neat and clean. Very neat. She had little in the way of knickknacks.

I let my gaze wander.

There was a diary on the desk.

I opened it and looked at the last entry.

The evening before our encounter.

She had written:

I interpreted this endless brainless poem today and I'm fed up. Am I glad that we can now tick off the subject. Tomorrow is the trip to the forest, where we are to write a poem ourselves.

Does anyone have any idea what I'm going to use to pay rent next week?

Good, me neither.

Well then, good night!

Well, she had a sense of humor.

I read the entry before that.

Now I have three tutoring students, but sixty dollars a week will hardly be enough. The most I can do with that is buy groceries. Hopefully I'll get that scholarship - two more days, then I hope to get mail. The day was frustrating. Tomorrow will be better - for sure!

When I entered, the mail was on the floor, I remembered.

I went back to the door and picked it up.

Two letters. One from the university.

I opened it.

... we are pleased to inform you that due to your exceptionally good performance in the next semester ... we will award you the scholarship ...

She would have gotten it. I stopped her from studying further.

My guilty conscience dealt me a blow.

The other letter came from Florida.

I opened it too.

Dear Bella,

you haven't called or written in so long? What's wrong?

I can guess - you probably can't even afford a stamp. Please let me give you a cell phone so I can call you. Please contact me, I'm worried about you. Knowing your parents, you are not supported at all now. Let me help you!

Then she told about herself and her family, a new piano ...

Don't you want to spend the next semester break with us? The kids would love it - and so would I. I would send you plane tickets!

Your Aunt Kate who loves you!

Well, at least someone who cared about her. What kind of strange parents did she have? Why was she so educated when her parents' home was apparently so primitive? That was a mystery to me.

I threw the letters away.

That would only make them sad.

But I put the diary in the box I brought with me. Also her writing case and stationery. She had some books, I packed them.

All English literature, a lot of Shakespeare.

Jane Eyre was at her bedside. I took it.

There were markings all over it, her favorite parts underlined. She seemed to love this book.

I put it with it.

She owned a portable CD player and about forty CDs. Mostly classical, but also Coldplay, James Blunt, Oasis, Milow, Mika. We were really similar in that respect.

I wrapped it up.

On the windowsill was a wooden candlestick, two-piece, yin and yang. I packed it up.

In the window hung a crystal drop that broke the light. I took it off, wrapped it in my handkerchief, which I carried in my jacket pocket for decoration, and packed it away.

A dream catcher with blue and pink feathers hung on the bed. I packed that too.

The bed smelled of her.

Hmm ...

I stroked the pillow.

A teddy sat on the pillow, white with a blue bow. I took him with me, too. He smelled strongly of her.

I opened the closet.

Clothes. Hmm ... she wouldn't need them.

In the bathroom was her perfume. I smelled it.

It actually smelled like magnolia.

I wrapped it up.

Oh yes, the nightstand, I opened that too. A photo album. Bella with her parents - they looked quite nice. Bella at the seaside, in the ballet studio as a little girl, at the piano, at a huge harp, photos of school classes, trips with the school, pictures over and over with a boy named Jake, then with a young man who adored her. Tyler was written under the photos.

A letter appeared at the end of the album. I pulled it out of the envelope.

My dear Bella,

so now we are in Europe and I have started my studies. My dad is happy with the new job. Mom is still setting up the house, there are still some things missing. So everything is already running smoothly and regulated.

Only one thing I miss - you. I miss you very much. Couldn't you imagine a continuation of our relationship after all? Your argument of distance is only relative. I know you can't afford the flight, but I would come anytime you want me. Please think it over, Isabella, I love you. I will never forget our beautiful time, it was way too short.

I hope you are well. I worry about you.

Say hi to your dad for me - if he's receptive right now ...

I am so sorry for you.

I'm sending you a big hug, oh and give Mr. Darcy a kiss for me ...

your Tyler

I looked at the envelope.

It was addressed to an address in the neighboring town and was about nine months old. That would probably be her parents' house. Hmm ...

I packed the album, but not the letter.

He would only make her sad. I hope I wasn't too dominant in this matter.

I sighed.

I was jealous. How could that be?

There was sheet music for piano and harp in the dresser.

It had her name written all over it in her handwriting and every page was edited.

I wrapped it up.

That was it. That's all I found. A large box, but certainly filled with the things that were important to her. Oh ... there was a Hundertwasser calendar hanging there, so I added that. She must have liked it.

I said a friendly goodbye to the night watchman, who had just been relieved.

The house started to come to life, doors were rattling everywhere, so let's get out of here.

We put the box in the car and then I decided to go see her parents' house.

We drove off.


It was a small town, Forks.

My navi quickly found the street and the house.

A quiet street in a good neighborhood. The house was quite large. A patrol car was parked in the driveway.

I turned my car around at the end of the street. At that moment, a good-looking, big burly man came out of the house, got into the patrol car and drove away.

I stopped in front of the house and got out, walked to the door and looked at the doorbell.

Above it hung a large sign:

Renée & Charlie & Isabella Swan

it said.

I listened.

There was no one in the house. I could not be seen by the neighbors, my servant was sitting in the car.

I pushed the door open violently and looked around.

It was large, clean, neat and smelled like only one person.

I looked around.

In the living room there was a piano and the usual furniture. Kitchen, bathroom, guest room. Upstairs bedroom - only men's stuff in the closet, police uniforms, bathroom, an office and Isabella's room. It smelled just faintly of her. She hadn't been here in a long time. The room was quite empty, she had probably taken the most important things with her.

There was a note on the desk.

Dear Dad,

I can't stand your drinking anymore. It's not my fault that Mom left, and I'm sure the two of us could have worked this out on our own. But apparently, now you don't care about me either. That hurts, Dad.

So I'm moving into the student dorm. Nevertheless, I love you.

If you ever get your wits about you, call Harry and he'll give you your job back. The chief's position is still vacant.

Bella

The letter was about three months old. It didn't smell of alcohol and apparently he had his job back. So why hadn't he taken care of her?

I didn't take anything else with me, quickly repaired the door and drove home again.

By now it was 11:00.

Unfortunately, I had little time, I still had to go to the office. So I quickly brought the box to Isabella, but she was apparently not there. They must have been in the park. I hoped it was good for her. My rose stuck next to the magnolia in the vase and the letter lay open on her writing pad.

I just left the box on the table and left for work.

Hopefully she was a little happy.