The Inevitable

Chapter 11 Happy

She looked up forlornly at the house. Other than its occupants, it hadn't changed much. She pictured the cruiser parked in the drive and closed her eyes against the pain that hit her full force.

That was the worst part about not hiding anymore. When she thought of those things the pain wasn't as dull as it had once been. It was sharp and it pierced her. She couldn't imagine what her parents must have gone through. All because of her.

"Is this the first time you've been here?"

She whirled around to see Edward standing just a few feet back. She was always so caught up in her thoughts that she never noticed his approach the way she should have. "Yes," she said quietly as she turned to look back at it once again. "I…I don't even know what happened to them."

Edward cleared his throat slightly. "I do," he almost whispered.

She turned slowly to look at him again. Her face must have said it all, because she didn't have to utter a single word.

"I…did a little research," he admitted.

She swallowed hard and closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them he had taken a step closer to her.

"Do you…want me to tell you?" he asked quietly.

She stared at him for a minute before nodding weakly. He hesitantly took a few more steps forward, until he was close enough to touch. She made no move to step back, only looking at him intently. He slowly reached his hand out and took hers in it.

As soon as he touched her she felt a jolt go through her. She felt her eyes widen as she continued to stare. He seemed to have some kind of reaction also; she heard his sharp intake of breath. She looked down quickly at their joined hands. She raised her eyes up to his again, a part of her brain telling her to pull her hand away. But she didn't listen.

Edward squeezed her hand slightly before speaking. "Charlie…had a heart attack," he said, his voice pained.

She closed her eyes, fighting back the sob she felt in the back of her throat. She felt Edward squeeze her hand again, and after awhile she opened her eyes again. He stared at her sadly. "My mom?" she croaked.

"She…she had another child."

She felt her eyes widen once again. "A…baby?"

"About a year after…it happened. It was a girl. She named her Marie Isabella," he continued softly.

Bella swallowed hard, saying nothing.

"She passed away when she was eighty five; Phil died ten years later."

"They were still married?" she asked in a daze.

"Yes."

"And their…their daughter?"

"She died just three years ago…cancer."

She stood there, lost in her own thoughts for awhile. "They all had really long lives," she mused.

"Yes, they did."

She glanced back at the house. "But not Charlie," she said sadly. "It's…it was my fault," she murmured.

Edward tugged hard on her hand and she whirled back around to look at him. "None of this is your fault Bella," he said firmly. "You have absolutely no blame here."