She looked over to where Ryoma is seated. To her surprise, she met his gaze. Sakuno offered her warmest smile to the boy, and he nodded to her. Sakuno stood up silently without interrupting her friends' chattering and stood in front of Sumire's portrait by the stairs. A tear made its way down her cheeks as she thought about those bittersweet moments by her grandmother's deathbed. She recalled the last words Sumire told her.
"Sakuno, when I'm gone, I want you to move on and live the life you want. I love you so much, my granddaughter."
Sakuno grabbed the portrait and wiped a few dusts from the glass. She smiled, mirroring the person's expression on the picture.
"Indeed I did," he replied solemnly. "And I'm the luckiest man in the world."
Bella rushed to Esme, surprising the older woman with an awkward but heartfelt embrace.
"Congratulations! I'm so happy for you!" she cried.
Esme held her breath and carefully returned the hug with great relief. Whoever this mysterious young woman was to Carlisle, it did not seem that their connection was romantic.
Carlisle cleared his throat. "As much as everyone would love to visit with you… selfishly, I wonder if we could speak in private a moment."
Bella's expression sobered rapidly and she looked nervous again. She nodded, swallowing.
Carlisle guided her down the hall to his study, seemingly unable to take his eyes off her. "Just this way, Isabella," he spoke quietly, leading her into his study.
He was so intent on his young visitor that he didn't notice the small gasp of astonishment from Esme.
Bella studied her father, she knew that she had never really given their relationship a chance, but he had been with her and supported her through the worst months of her life.
He had never judged her and he had loved her unconditionally. She felt ashamed for the ease in which she had given up on him, but in this life, for the time that she would stay she wanted to make an effort and to get to know him better.
She could have these memories to take with her when she would go back to Edward. There wasn't any doubt in her mind. And yet, she had accepted to go back.
In that moment it hit her that in this life she would be without Edward, and she wondered if she was strong enough. But then she shook her head, she had been through hell and back, and she had made it. She knew she had the strength in this life to be brave and supportive of the pack.
Bella wondered if she was really meant for Jacob in this life; she had seen a future with him during the kiss they had shared on the mountaintop, but it had paled in comparison to her feelings for Edward.
When her dad parked in front of their house, he turned and smiled at her. "Welcome home Bells. Tonight we're going to the Clearwaters for a small party. I hope that you don't mind that my friends wanted to celebrate with us."
Bella bit her lip, in the other life there hadn't been a party, small things were already changing and the 'plan' to meet her 'other' mate was into motion. She wondered, feeling somehow apprehensive, how many other things would change, but she had accepted to go back and now she would make the best of this chance. After all she knew very well that she would go back to Edward at the end of it all. "Sure dad, I can't wait to meet my old friends. Jake, Leah and little Seth." she replied.
Charlie smiled. "They have all grown up, Leah even has a boyfriend. They fight and break up often, but there seems to be something strong between them."
Bella took in the news, she had known next to nothing of the relationship between Leah and Sam, only that the imprint had destroyed them and scarred Emily for life. She was curious to meet Sam pre-shift, she wanted to know how he was when he was just human.
She wondered if she would meet the other wolves too. It scared her that one of them was going to be her mate, but she was there to see another life and she would do the best to make everything work out for everyone involved.
—-
The evening arrived sooner than she had anticipated, her father had told her that after the party they were going to Jacob's house because he had purchased a red truck for her. Bella was moved by the gesture, just like the first time, the truck had been destroyed when Edward bought her a new car that she hated and she couldn't refuse to drive.
Many times Bella hadn't agreed with the Cullens' way of living, but she had always been afraid to voice her concern because she didn't want to hurt them. But by never complaining she hurt herself more, she never let her true voice and opinions be heard. When she went back and became a vampire things would change though.
She was ready to go to the party, and she went into her father's car to go to La Push, strangely she felt a tingly sensation when she crossed the border between Forks and the Reservation.