Carlisle Cullen: Twilight

6. The Bet of Bella

Over the next three days, Edward took his Volvo by himself before school began. His mood had improved considerably and the house also seemed to lighten up as well. Rosalie was still sour but that was nothing really new. On Friday morning, before he went to pick up Bella, he told us he would be out all Saturday. Alice giggled quietly to herself whereas I stepped forward, concerned.

"It's going to be sunny weather according to the forecast." I warned. Edward shrugged cheerfully.

"Making the most of the good weather."

"Where we going hunting then?" Alice asked cheerfully. Edward blinked at her. He then breathed in deeply as he thought.

 "Not far. What time?"

"Twelve."Edward nodded.

"We'll take my car."

"Of course we will." Edward rolled his eyes skyward, as he walked out of the door to the garage.

"Unbelievable." Rosalie muttered as she followed him, Emmett, Jasper and Alice also leaving.

"Bye guys." Esme called after them. I kissed her cheek.

"I've got to run myself, Alice warned me we'll be busy today." Esme smiled and stroked my cheek.

"I love you."

"I love you." I told her back, picking up my bag. I waved one handedly and went to the garage.

The day did indeed have a lot of patients to be seen. A fire had broken out so a couple had been burned but not badly. A child had fallen off a horse and got hurt. A teenager kept passing out. The day was filled with interesting patients. I was therefore busy all day. I eventually got back home at around midnight, when the doctors had started to realise I had worked almost all day and way over twelve hours. I drove home and found that everyone was there but Edward and Alice, who were probably still out hunting. Jasper was sketching, Emmett was trying to build a house of cards while Rosalie watched and Esme was reading a book. I went to my office to start straight away on my paperwork. I eventually had it finished by four in the morning by which time, Edward and Alice were back. I spent my three hours alone with Esme, watching one of her favourite musicals, Chicago. When that was finished, it was around seven in the morning so I got ready for the day and bumped into Edward on the stairs, who had been doing the same. I examined how smart casual he looked and smiled.

"Have fun." I told him. He smiled back.

"Thanks Dad." I clapped him on the back and he rushed down the stairs. I didn't hear his car start and wondered why on Earth he would be running all the way to the Swan household. I couldn't understand my children all the time...

I spent the day helping Esme with the back garden, doing a chess game with Jasper and Alice and going through my clothes with Alice who was doing another spring clean of clothing.

"You need to come shopping with me next time I go." She told me firmly.

"I really would rather not." I said, examining my smart shoes.

"You really should." She argued. I rolled my eyes.

"Would you really want me there? Saying I don't like this, I don't like that when you can just choose my clothes for me?" Alice hesitated then nodded in agreement.

"Fair point." I laughed softly and hugged Alice. She froze in surprise but hugged me back.

"You are definitely one of a kind, Alice." She smiled and squeezed me round the middle.

"Yep, you know it." She let go of me, winked and left. I rolled my eyes. Could life honestly get any better?

I spent my three hours alone with Esme watching a few of my favourite films. She didn't enjoy them as much as I did but we were together and that was what counted. At around one in the morning, we were all doing various activities over the house when Edward burst in.

"Edward?" I asked but he dashed straight upstairs. I could smell the faint familiar smell of Isabella Swan. His clothes must have smelt like her. When he came back downstairs, he was dressed into something else. Before he could even say anything else, Alice squealed.

"Yay!" Edward scowled at her.

"What's the big deal?" Emmett asked, sprawled on one of the couches, hisarms around Rosalie who had her eyes closed against him.

"I'm thinking of bringing Bella today." We all were silent.

"But will she come?" Emmett asked with a smirk.

"Oh she's coming." Alice replied with an expression of extreme delight. You would have thought it was Christmas the way she was looking at Edward.

"To a houseful of vampires?" Jasper sounded doubtful and kept throwing glances at Edward.

"Who's up for a bet?" Emmett's eyes roved around the room.

"Of course she's coming. Two hundred." Alice was too confident not to doubt her. Emmett shook his head, laughing. Rosalie opened her eyes a smidge.

"She better not be. Three hundred."

"She wouldn't dare. One thousand."

"Really Emmett?" Edward asked with a roll of his eyes. Emmett shrugged cheerfully. Rosalie had her eyes closed again.

"I'm with Emmett here. Two hundred." Jasper said, still doubtful. Alice giggled.

"Oh this is too good."

"I'm not getting involved." Esme said, throwing her hands up in the air.

"Two hundred. She'll definitely come." I put in. Alice laughed in delight and Emmett roared with laughter.

"Oh we will see." Esme smacked my arm as Emmett spoke, still laughing.

"Stop encouraging them." Esme scolded. I smiled at her blissfully.

"Aw you know it's just a little bit of fun." She relaxed against me again.

"One thing though..." Edward spoke and all laughter was out of his face. "Keep your distance. Especially you." He looked towards Jasper who flinched. However it was not himself that came to his defence, it was Alice.

"Jasper will do fine, Edward. Maybe you should stop doubting him."

"Maybe you should start." Alice growled, all traces of laughter gone from her too.

"I never doubt my  family."

"Okay. Cool it down please." I said over the pair of them. Edward looked around at everyone and threw his hands in the air, in surrender.

"I'm just taking care of her." He left without another word.

"He's not taking his car again?" Esme asked when there was a short silence after Edward had left through the front door.

"They're coming in Bella's truck," Alice replied softly. Her eyes were watching Jasper who looked anxious. She took both of his hands and pulled him up to stand. "Let's go hunt." He nodded warily and the pair left.

"Well this should be interesting..." Esme murmured to me. I nodded.

 "Let's just hope this goes to plan." She nodded too.