3

After sitting in the booth for nearly an hour, I decide to take the cowboy on his offer and head out. I pass by a little girl with long black braids who is dancing around in circles. Her long dress flares out at the bottom and gently glides across the dirty cement. It was a beautiful picture and I only wished I had a camera. I watch as she smiles and looks up into the sky. She looks over to me once and gives a big smile before she continues dancing again.

Maybe all this sun is getting to me.

I need to remember to write down, 'Litlle girl with long black braids wearing a mexican style dress with flowing skirt .' It might come in handy later in the story I still have yet to write.

Maybe I could write a book about traveling back in time because that's what I feel like has been happening since I found Jasper's home.

A thought occurs to me and I stop my walking instantly. I turn back to the girl who is still dancing, "Excuse me? Do you know where a library is?"

She stops and looks at me while pointing across the street. I turn around and realize it was right in front of me. I dash off towards the library.

The building was pretty big and looked very old. I imagine a lot of things in this city are. I step inside and walk over to a computer.

I need to look up records. Death records. Family trees.

I stand up and walk over to the librarian.

"Hi, I'm looking for very old records, possibly from the late 1800's. How would I go about finding such things?"

"What computer are you at?"

I lead her over to my computer and she takes a seat in a chair.

"Do you have anything specific or are you just browsing?"

"Whitlock." I say confidently. "Any Whitlock would be great. I would prefer the earliest."

She looks up at me and raises an eyebrow. "Whitlock, you say? That's very old." She continues to look through the computer and gets up. "There you go. If you need to find anything, it will be in there."

"Thank you." I take the seat and scroll lists of names. Whitlock dates all the way back to the early 1800's. Everything else is blurred. It's so old that I'm surprised I have seen anything this far. Then one name pops up. "Jasper William Whitlock".I click on his name and read. So, he had two brothers and was the middle child. He left for the army but disappeared and no one had seen him since. They assumed he died in battle.

Very interesting. I guess only I knew the real truth.

It's kind of exciting to read about a piece of history and truely know it was wrong. Only you have the hidden secrets.

Now I know how Jasper felt everytime he would pick up a book about the war and shake his head. They must have gotten it all wrong.

I go back to the previous page and see if there are any relatives of his left. Most likely, no but it never hurts to try.

Madeline Whitlock and Ryan Whitlock died in car accident leaving two children behind. It gives no date but seems recent. The names above are from the seventies so this would have to be present day.

I almost jump for joy at the revelation. Why do I care, though? It's not like I'll ever see the Cullen's ever again.

I've moved on and so have they.

After finding what I was looking for, I head out of the building and walk aimlessly down the street. Jasper Whitlock has family that is still alive. It's amazing.

They keep popping up in my head. What am I even researching anymore?

I wonder if he ever saw his family. I know he couldn't meet them because that would definitely lead you to your death, but I wonder if he ever checked on them. Maybe he was like Edward and peeked in windows. I laugh at that.

I stop short when I spot a building with the name "Houston Adoption Center." across the street and it has a help wanted sign hanging in the front window. They needed volunteers to help with the younger children. Maybe those children would be there.

What am I thinking? They probably got adopted or live with some close friends or something. I have become obsessed with this. Focus, Bella.

Oh, screw it. I walked across the street and inside the building.

"Can I help you?" the woman behind the counter asks me.

"Um… yes. I saw the Help Wanted poster and I thought I could volunteer."

What?! I do not want to volunteer. What is wrong with me?

"Come with me." A new voice says. I turn around to see a see woman around my mom's age. She leads me towards the back and into a cafeteria where lots of children are sat at many different tables eating.

It's so sad to think these kids have no families…Parents who didn't want them or couldn't afford to take care of them.

They saw it as a burden, not a life. Perhaps they saw it a different way but I can't help but think of how they are missing out on children growing up.

"Sorry, my name is Caroline and I haven't had lunch yet. I was at a doctor's appt. So, you'll have to excuse my ravenous appetite."

"That's fine" I say. I watch as she grabs a lunch tray and grabs a slice of pizza from one of the Lunch Lines. We then take a seat at an empty table and I watch as she silently stuffs her face.

"I really do apologize. I am so sorry."

"It's fine. I am positive." I assure her. "What does the job entail exactly? I mean I'm just volunteering?"

"Yes." She nods. "There are too many kids here. We have the funds for all of them, just not enough staff. It's getting a bit hard. We got two new arrivals last week and I must say, it's been a while since we had gotten a baby in here… well newborn anyway. So that's been a refreshing change but then everyone wants to see the baby since they're so cute and since we had extra room, an adoption center in Dallas was closing so they sent them all here a few days ago. It's been rough."

"Wow. I must say you do have a lot on your hands."

"Oh yes. So, I would need you to help with the children. Help dress the little ones. Maybe assist on taking them to the playground. That sort of thing."

"Anything you'd like to know about me?"

"Yes. Here are some papers…" she pulls out a few sheets of paper out of her bag and slides them across to me with a pen, "I need to know your background history. You're full name, social security, age, etc. You're not a crazy person are you?"

"No" I laugh. "I'd like to think I'm quite sane." Except for the fact that I was canoodling with vampires. That would get me locked up in a heartbeat.

"Good. After you fill that out, I will have Miranda, our secretary run a check on you. In the meantime, tell me about yourself."

"Let's see. I graduated high school, wrote two books and now I am working on my third. I'm traveling Texas to get some stimulus on what to write."

"Ah, you're a writer." It wasn't a question. It was more of a revelation.

"Yes, Mam." I nod.So you need a spark to help the writing process and you think you can find it here."

"If you put it that way…"

"These kids are great but they don't need someone who is only interested in-"

"Hey, hey." I cut her off a bit agitated. "No, you have me all wrong, Caroline. Sure I need to write my book but I have all the free time in the world. I love kids. I may not want any of my own but it doesn't mean that when I see one in need, I won't help. That is my purpose."

There was a moment of silence and then she gives me a warm smile. "Alright, then."

After finding out that I was approved of my background check, Caroline gave me a tour of the place. Boys shared a room with other boys and girls shared a room with other girls. Babies were separated in a nursery but they all ranged from six months to a year but there was one baby who caught my eye. He was about four months and had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. I peered over his in his crib and he gave me the cutest smile ever.

"That's Bryan. He's the new baby I told you about. Him and his sister came in and are inseparable. She can't leave his side. She spends her recess time inside with him and all of her free time. She is such a sweet girl. We're trying not to separate them but these things happen." Caroline sighs giving me a sad smile.

"Can I hold him?"

"Of course." She picks him up and places him in my arms and he lets out a cute little gurgle.

"Awe" she coos. "He likes you."

He wraps his tiny little hand around my index finger and I can't help but make baby talk. I take a seat in one of the chairs and rub his soft, sweet little head.

A little girl comes barging in and it would be almost comical the way she growls at me if it weren't for the recognizable similarities.

"Who are you? You cannot have my brother!"

"Sadie" Caroline scolds. "Stop that."

"No!" she pouts and stomps her foot.

I stare wide eyed and see her bright honey blonde curls that come down to her waist and notice her bright blue eyes. She looks just like Jasper. She's the female version of himself; only smaller.

"Um… don't worry Sadie. I am not here to take your brother away. I'm a new volunteer."

"Oh." She takes a seat next to me in one of the chairs and rubs his tummy.

"He's all I have. I need my baby brother." She whispers sadly.

"I couldn't agree more." I smile.

After I left, I had went back to my hotel room trying to stop the whirling of thoughts in my head.

I had gone to Jaspers home and found pictures of him and his family.

I had possibly found two of his relatives.

I have surely gone insane.

I grabbed my phone and decided to call Charlie since I haven't talked to him all week. I needed to hear a familiar voice and my mother was out of the question. Since she's been with Phil she's all 'Pro Love'. It gets rather annoying.

"Hello?" He picks up on the first ring. It makes me smile. Thank goodness for caller Id.

"Hi, Charlie."

"Bella! It's good to hear from you kid. How's Texas?"

"Oh, you know… fine." I played around with the cord on the phone and try to lie for all that its worth.

"I miss you Bells. The food isn't the same with out you and Billy keeps teasing me that you're going to run off with some cowboy."

"Charlie." I laugh. I'm so glad he can't see my blush through the phone. "No need to worry. I'm trying to write my book, you know. So there's no time for that. I signed up to volunteer at an orphanage thing today. The kids are really sweet."

"Wow, really? Well, I'm happy for you. I just want you to write so you can come back home."

"I know. Me too."

"You know, I thought you didn't want kids?"

"Just because I don't want any, doesn't mean I cant help them. It's so sad to see them like that. They have no families."

"As much as I hate to say it, I really would like some grand kids in the future. Maybe working there you could—"

"Okay, enough drinking the beer. You're clearly delusional."

He gives a hearty laugh and I cant help but chuckle a bit myself.

"I'm just kidding… to an extent."

"Uh huh." I roll my eyes and give a snort. "Alright Charlie, I gotta go but I'll try to call you next week."

"Alright, Love you Bells."

"Love you too."

I started to get choked up on the phone of missing my dad. It's been so hard. I need to hurry up with this book. I'm not coming home until I finish.

So you need a spark to help the writing process and you think you can find it here."

"If you put it that way…"

"These kids are great but they don't need someone who is only interested in-"

"Hey, hey." I cut her off a bit agitated. "No, you have me all wrong, Caroline. Sure I need to write my book but I have all the free time in the world. I love kids. I may not want any of my own but it doesn't mean that when I see one in need, I won't help. That is my purpose."

There was a moment of silence and then she gives me a warm smile. "Alright, then."

After finding out that I was approved of my background check, Caroline gave me a tour of the place. Boys shared a room with other boys and girls shared a room with other girls. Babies were separated in a nursery but they all ranged from six months to a year but there was one baby who caught my eye. He was about four months and had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. I peered over his in his crib and he gave me the cutest smile ever.

"That's Bryan. He's the new baby I told you about. Him and his sister came in and are inseparable. She can't leave his side. She spends her recess time inside with him and all of her free time. She is such a sweet girl. We're trying not to separate them but these things happen." Caroline sighs giving me a sad smile.

"Can I hold him?"

"Of course." She picks him up and places him in my arms and he lets out a cute little gurgle.

"Awe" she coos. "He likes you."

He wraps his tiny little hand around my index finger and I can't help but make baby talk. I take a seat in one of the chairs and rub his soft, sweet little head.

A little girl comes barging in and it would be almost comical the way she growls at me if it weren't for the recognizable similarities.

"Who are you? You cannot have my brother!"

"Sadie" Caroline scolds. "Stop that."

"No!" she pouts and stomps her foot.

I stare wide eyed and see her bright honey blonde curls that come down to her waist and notice her bright blue eyes. She looks just like Jasper. She's the female version of himself; only smaller.

"Um… don't worry Sadie. I am not here to take your brother away. I'm a new volunteer."

"Oh." She takes a seat next to me in one of the chairs and rubs his tummy.

"He's all I have. I need my baby brother." She whispers sadly.

"I couldn't agree more." I smile.

After I left, I had went back to my hotel room trying to stop the whirling of thoughts in my head.

I had gone to Jaspers home and found pictures of him and his family.

I had possibly found two of his relatives.

I have surely gone insane.

I grabbed my phone and decided to call Charlie since I haven't talked to him all week. I needed to hear a familiar voice and my mother was out of the question. Since she's been with Phil she's all 'Pro Love'. It gets rather annoying.

"Hello?" He picks up on the first ring. It makes me smile. Thank goodness for caller Id.

"Hi, Charlie."

"Bella! It's good to hear from you kid. How's Texas?"

"Oh, you know… fine." I played around with the cord on the phone and try to lie for all that its worth.

"I miss you Bells. The food isn't the same with out you and Billy keeps teasing me that you're going to run off with some cowboy."

"Charlie." I laugh. I'm so glad he can't see my blush through the phone. "No need to worry. I'm trying to write my book, you know. So there's no time for that. I signed up to volunteer at an orphanage thing today. The kids are really sweet."

"Wow, really? Well, I'm happy for you. I just want you to write so you can come back home."

"I know. Me too."

"You know, I thought you didn't want kids?"

"Just because I don't want any, doesn't mean I cant help them. It's so sad to see them like that. They have no families."

"As much as I hate to say it, I really would like some grand kids in the future. Maybe working there you could—"

"Okay, enough drinking the beer. You're clearly delusional."

He gives a hearty laugh and I cant help but chuckle a bit myself.

"I'm just kidding… to an extent."

"Uh huh." I roll my eyes and give a snort. "Alright Charlie, I gotta go but I'll try to call you next week."

"Alright, Love you Bells."

"Love you too."

I started to get choked up on the phone of missing my dad. It's been so hard. I need to hurry up with this book. I'm not coming home until I finish.

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