Moving Day?
“I cannot believe he’s going through with this,” Alice groused as she folded her last pair of jeans. She moved at human speed, a testament to her stress. He is the most bullheaded, arrogant, idiotic excuse for an immortal this world has ever seen!
Though she used every argument she could muster, bombarding him with visions despite his protests, Edward was resolved to leave Bella and asked her to take a walk in the woods near her house. Alice knew his ringer was off, so she didn’t bother calling again to tell him what a first-class horse’s ass he was.
No matter how much she wanted to.
She dropped the jeans into the suitcase. And we’re just as bad because we’re leaving too.
“Stop.” Jasper’s voice caressed her as he entered the room. “You’re only… not human.”
His attempt at humor didn’t go unnoticed, but her smile was limp as she flopped on the bed. “He won’t listen, Jas. No matter what I show him, he is convinced she’s better off without him.”
Jasper sighed. “And I’m sure my attempt to…”
Alice covered his mouth, shaking her head. “You stop this. I won’t have you beating yourself up all the way to Ithaca.”
He liberated her hand from his face, kissing its tender palm. She fluttered as always but kept her voice even. “Don’t try to distract me with your charms, Major. I meant what I said.”
Jasper nodded in a poor attempt to placate his bride, and she pretended to believe him as she reached for her sweaters, alpha by designer. “Where’s Esme?” he asked.
“On her way to a food bank in Seattle.” Alice opened another cavernous suitcase. “She doesn’t want anything to go waste.”
He expected no less. “Carlisle?”
“At the hospital saying final goodbyes. His offer to consult by phone will reduce the likelihood of anyone checking on us.” She shrugged. “Every little bit helps.”
“Em took Rose hunting.” Jasper handed her the first sweater. “Trying to get her mind off things.”
“As much as she crabs about Bella, you’d think she’d be happy.”
Jasper understood Alice’s confusion but empathized with his mercurial sister. “Forks is the first place Rose has liked since…”
“Gaitlinburg.”
“Either way, this isn’t easy on her.”
“This isn’t easy on any of us! Bella will get the worst of it, but it’s bad for all of us.”
“I know, Chickpea.”
“And it’s especially bad for me because I know this is a mistake. I know it, Jas! Even if I couldn’t see it, I know it in my heart. And I just wish Edward would…”
The cashmere sweater fell from her hand as her mouth fell open, and Jasper rescued the Armani creation before it hit the floor. He knew better than to interrupt when she got a vision, but the onslaught of emotions caught him off-guard.
Confusion, frustration, fear, and sadness battled for dominance within him as his bride stared at nothing, and he leaned against the doorframe, idling in wait.
Alice gasped, and the mounting pressure in his soul disappeared. And as it was replaced by rising excitement, Jasper watched the slow grin spread across her luminous face.
“Oh my god! Is she serious?!” Alice clapped her hands and squealed, vibrating where she stood. “Bella, you crazy minx, I love you! But will it work? Gah! I can’t see that, but this is great!”
Blinking out of her trance, she looked at her husband, her eyes alight. “Get Em and Rose back here and pass me my phone. I need to call Carlisle and Esme right now!”
Jasper did as requested, marveling as she dialed. “You mind cluing me in on what just happened here, Sparky?”
“I’ll tell you what happened!” Alice cried. “Bella’s taking Edward to court!”
