Chapter 37: This chapter starts out explaining Bella’s POV and how she freaked out seeing Esme. She remembers Esme as being Jane’s sister in- law, and of course it puts her right back in the slave/master frame of mind. Until Esme tells her a story of when she was a child. The story is about how Carlisle throws a rock at “crazy Janie” to protect Esme. Alec is silently watching this (he was creepy even as a kid) and when Carlisle’s mother goes to punish him for throwing the rock, Alec speaks up and defends him saying that “...because he was only trying to protect his family...a person should never face punishment for protecting their own.” Well this proves to be something that Carlisle, Edward, and even Alec continue to live by. Esme also tells her something that Bella may need to hear at this point, seeing as she’s getting involved with a potential mafiaprince. The women of these made-men, understand they grew up in this life. They know they have flaws, they are violent and yet they love and accept them for who they are. And she let’s Bella know that she sees that Bella cares for Edward and that she too accepts him for who he is. Yeah, seems like their little secret isn’t so secret after all.
Esme’s nurturing and kindness helps Bella feel better, they go on to have a really nice Christmas. Opening up gifts. Did you pick Rosalie’s gift to be your favorite? Yeah, well I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of that gift yet!
Chapter 38: This chapter is a rare Carlisle POV. This is the chapter that convinced me that Carlisle wasn’t such a bad man. Esme and Carlisle watch out the window as “the kids” play in the snow, which by the way, is the first snow fall Bella has ever experienced.
Carlisle explains that he blames himself for Elizabeth’s death, not doing more to protect her. He also blames himself for not being able to help Edward deal with his emotional pain. They talk about knowing that Edward and Bella have fallen in love and how Carlisle thinks they are “idiots” to think that it will work out for them. Esme tries to explain how good it is for both of them, they are healing each other. Carlisle also admits he was wrong for being so cruel to Bella on the anniversary of Elizabeth’s death. He’s ashamed of himself and knows that his wife would be too. The theme of atonement and revenge are also discussed by Carlisle, he wants to make up for not being able to save Elizabeth and for all the bad he feels he’s caused others.
We get the history of how Elizabeth and Carlisle met Bella, and the attachment that was formed with this sweet meeting.
Elizabeth wanted to save everyone it seems, adopting Emmett after his mother abandoned him and then determined to save “bella bambina” after she meets the dirty little Bella. What is it about Bella that causes everyone she meets to fall in love with her? They all want to save her it seems. Even Carlisle wants to help her, granted at first it’s to atone for his wife, to try to do it for her. Have you changed your opinion of Carlisle? Or do you still hate him?
The part of this chapter I found most interesting is when Esme says Carlisle should tell Edward and Bella about who she is...and he says, “..how do you tell your child that his mother was murdered in front of him and he was nearly killed himself because of his girlfriend? How do you explain that he was broken, and was being pieced back together by the very same person who inadvertently caused him to shatter in the first place? How could I make my son see that it wasn’t Isabella’s fault, when part of myself still blamed her , and I was doing all I could to try to finish what she’d started...” See, Carlisle is trying to do right, but he’s still got that anger and wants revenge...he’s trying at least to get over it. He’s not sure that Edward will be able to look at Bella with the same eyes once he knows the truth.
What do you think? Will he? Is he just like his father? Or is he better than his father?
Esme has faith in Carlisle, that he’ll redeem himself, save Bella for Elizabeth’s and Edward’s sake. How about you? Think it will happen?
I hope you’ll tell me your thoughts, comments, or drop by and tell us what chapter you’re on.
Next week’s chapters will be 39, 40, 41...
Sempre,
Fran
