Shotgun Wedding Chapter 1

Bella Swan was just leaving her Manhattan flat when the telephone rang, and she almost did not go back to answer it because she had such a busy day ahead of her, but she had never found it easy to ignore the shrill insistence of a ringing phone, so she sighed and when back.

"Bella? It's me" Said her mother is a husky rush. "I'm glad I caught you, I thought you might already be on your way to work, and I have to leave at once if I'm going to make it on the 8 o'clock train, and then it will take ages to get to JFK from the station."

Frowning Bella said "Slow down, Mom- what are you talking about? Where are you going?"

"Well that's just it. I only heard myself this morning…well last night, well, in the middle of the night." Renee Dwyer's incoherence did not surprise her daughter, who was quite accustomed to it. It was one to the traits Bella was glad she had not inherited. She knew she looked very much like her mother; both were medium height, slim, thick brown hair, and brown eyes, and they both had good skins and oval faces, but in temperament they were very different. Bella was calm and capable; Renee was impulsive, impractical, and volatile.

"Heard what?" Bella asked patiently, but she should have remembered that you couldn't halt her mother's flow. Renee would only tell the story her way- you threw her if you interrupted.

"I'm trying to tell you? Do listen, Bella!" Renee plaintively said. "They rang at three o'clock this morning, which seemed like the dead of the night to me, I was half asleep when I picked up the phone. Well, I couldn't sleep, so I got up again and packed my case and made sure the cottage was tidy and I booked the first available flight to Florida…"

"Florida?" Bella guess then, her face sobering. "It's Phil? He's been taken ill?"

Her stepfather had been in Florida for several weeks, playing with his minor league baseball team, something he did all the time. They played every team and practically every where. This left Renee to be home alone when he went with his team. Bella had spoken to him yesterday morning, when he had been in the best of spirits, so she knew whatever had gone wrong must have happened suddenly.

"No. Thank God, he broke his leg while practicing, yesterday afternoon!" Renee said dramatically and Bella gave a little gasp of shock.

"Broke his leg? Well how did he do that?" Phil was the kind of man who always played it safe and he was the last man she was ever having expected to break something. It just wasn't what happened to Phil; he loved the game too much to ever need to be away from it. A little over forty, he was still a very handsome man, with dark hair and dark eyes, a wonderful tan and a charming endearing manner. She knew her mother thought the sun shone out of him, and he seemed to love her mother very much, too.

Oh, I don't know, Bella," her mother wailed. "I couldn't make it out. I spoke to is coach first, who said something about a collision. He was talking too fast and I was so shocked I couldn't concentrate on what he was saying. Then they let me speak to Phil, who begged me to come down and he sounded like he was in so much pain. He's gone to pieces- you know what he's like."

"Do I not?" Bella was smiling ruefully because Phil was one of those men who always needed a woman to look after him. His mother was the one who could not see him part away from her, that's why he had waited so long to marry. He couldn't bring himself to hurt her feelings.

When her death had finally freed him, though, he had married to first woman he had met soon afterwards. The really surprising thing was that she was older and wasn't what was expected of him. It might so easily have been a disaster, that astonishing, unexpected marriage, but it hadn't, it had instead been a blazing success, and they were still happy seven years later.

"So you see why I must get to him as soon as I can!" said her mother.

"Of course - poor Phil! He must be in quite a state. Would you like me to come, too? I'll have to rearrange a few appointments for today, but that won't be hard. I could book a late afternoon flight, I'm sure there must be one…"

"No, no, dear, I can manage on my own. I'd much rather you stay here, and then if I need anything I can call you. We all three can't be away or who knows what might happen!"

Bella smiled wryly. "oh, I think it would stagger on for a few weeks but, I'll do whatever you want me to, you know that. Anything I can do now?"

"Just one thing-will you go down to the cottage at the weekend and make sure everything is OK? The workmen should have finished work on the new kitchen extension and be out of there- I meant to drive down to make sure they had done the job properly. Mrs. Stanely, was going to keep an eye on them for me but her daughter had a baby and she's gone to look after them both, so I don't know what sort of state the cottage is in, and it's on my mind, so if you could…"

Sure! It's Thursday right?" Bella stared at the wall, mentally checking off her weekend plans. " I don't have anything important on this weekend." Just a date with the man she was currently seeing, but that would have to be placed aside. It was more important to have her mother's mind at rest. "I'll rive down tomorrow night. Just remember, if you need to speak to me after five tomorrow I'll be driving down to the cottage, so call me on my cell."

"Oh, dear, It is a long drive, darling. Are you sure you don't mind?"

"No, I don't mind. In fact, I'll enjoy a break from the city for a couple days. Don't worry about it, just concentrate on Phil, give him my love, and make sure you get him all the best doctors."

"Of course, darling. I have to go or I'll miss my flight…bye, talk to you soon." Renee Dwyer flung the phone down and Bella smiled wryly as she replaced her own. Really, she should be going with her mother. Mom was bound to get flustered and panic.

She had a busy day ahead of her, visiting three of the New York stores in turn, so she pushed all thought of her mother and Phil to the back of her mind for the moment, and hurried out to the garages adjoining the block of flats in which she lived, to pick up her small red estate car. After pulling out of the garage Bella made her way to work.

"Something wrong?"

The voice made her jump, swinging round, but she relaxed when she saw the young woman standing next to her. "Oh, hello, Alice. Sorry, I was just daydreaming."

"I thought you were hating the window display!"

"Oh, no! I love it" said Bella and Alice Witlock gave a relieved grin, her brown eyes brightening again.

"Oh good! I was pleased with it myself. Rosalie did it, the new girl. She's good don't you think?"

"Very" agreed Bella, nodding.

Alice had been managing the store for several year, and was very good at her job. Staff and customers liked her, yet she was very efficient; this branch had run like clockwork ever since she took over.

Bella and Alice were not only co-workers but very good friends and Bella confided much to Alice. Alice had brown eyes and pixie type hair style. She was married to a business man who was often away for half the week, which Bella knew she would hate, but it did not seem to bother Alice.

She was always happy to see her husband, Jasper, back again, but when he was away she didn't seem unhappy, maybe because she had an absorbing career of her own, and had many friends. She and Jasper lived in a modern block of flats, mostly occupied but young people, none of them with children. Alice had rapidly got to know most of the them, and her social life was a busy one, but she was a big success in her job and Bella hopped they would keep her.

"What are you doing this weekend?" Alice asked her.

"My mother is away, Phil broke something and needed her so I have to their cottage in Jersey."

"But weren't you going on that date with Jake?"

Bella pulled a face. "Yes, and I'm not looking forward to telling him I can't go."

"Can't you take the train to Jersey right now and get back in time to go?"

"No, I have many important appointments; I can't put them off and anyway I want to be near the airport in case my mom needs be to go to Florida. By tomorrow night she'll know whether or not she needs me."

Alice nodded sympathetically. "Oh well, Jake will understand; family has to come first."

Bella gave a wry smile. "Let's hope so. But it's a pretty important date. It's his firm's annual party and all his bosses will be there, and Jake wants to make a big impression. He even came with me to buy my dress, to make sure I looked good, so he isn't going to be too pleased when he hears I'm going to Jersey instead, but I don't see how I can get back by Saturday night. I'll be exhausted after the ride down there. I doubt I'll be about to face riding back as soon as I get there."

"No, I don't think you'd be able to," agreed Alice, but when Bella talked to Jacob Black that night he was by no means as understanding. In fact, he was furious. He went red and stiffened, his black eyes flashing sparks at her.

"You can't be serious! You have to come! I can't do to the dinner alone, people will think you stood me up! I'll look like a complete fool!" Nothing could horrify Jake more than the prospect of looking like a fool. Bella knew that and looked at him ruefully. She realized why his dignity was such a big deal to him. He was a man from a poor background who was climbing the ladder of success so fast it occasionally gave him vertigo. He felt the need to appear completely in control, completely at his ease. He used dignity as armor. It was his inner uncertainties that had attracted her to, in fact, not that Jake would be to pleased if she told him so. He could be rather sweet and helpless, when he stopped pretending to be a big, tough executive.

"I'm sorry Jake. I know how much it means to you, but it's a matter of priorities…"

His face tightened angrily. "I see, and I come second to your mother's cottage, do I?"

"I didn't mean that."

"Oh, yes, you did. Your mother asks you to go all the way to Jersey to check on her cottage, so you dump me and out date without a second thought. My career doesn't matter a damn to you, does it? I've explained over and over again how important this occasion is… the Chairman will be there! He always dances with a couple of the prettiest women- he might have picked you."

"He might not even have noticed me!" Bella muttered..

Jake snapped back, " The wives and girlfriends of executives always get noticed! The higher you go in the company, the more important it is to have a presentable woman."

"Oh, thanks! So that's what I am, is it? A presentable woman?" Bella was seething too and had flushed a bright pink. "I'm not a possession of yours, Jake. You can't take me out to be assessed by your boss once a year. Do I get marks for clothing sense? A mark for good legs? What else do they judge a woman on? You'll be asking me to cook dinner for the whole board of directors, soon, to prove to them I can cook, too."

"Oh, don't be so ridiculous!" he snarled, his hands screwing up into fists as of he wanted to hit her, although Jake was fat too polite to do anything of the kind. "You know what I meant. It's vital for you to be with me this one evening of the year. It isn't too much to ask is it? Everyone will be there- the managing director, my head of department, everyone! I've talked about you, they're expecting you…"

Their eyes met and she read his expression frowning. Jake had boasted about her, she realized suddenly. Her family firm had been getting big publicity lately, with their expansion out of Manhattan. She was a very useful girlfriend for an ambitious man like Jake; if she didn't show up his pride and his ego would be dented. It wouldn't be that he would miss her; it was merely that he wanted to show her off. She hesitated, not knowing what to say, both irritated and sorry for him.

"Isn't there anyone else you could take?" she suggested at last, and he looked at her as if she were mad.

"Another woman? You really want me to take another woman?"

She fell silent, realizing suddenly what she had said, and all that underlay the words. Jake sounded outraged, as if she had suggested some heinous infidelity, told him to betray her. There was a fraught silence while they both stared at each other, and Bella tried to say something, anything, to cover the discovery she had just made, they both had made.

Jake had been having a light dinner with her. He got up from the table, pushing his chair back with a violence that made it fall over, and walked stiff legged to the door. Bella followed him and watched him collect his expensive coat put it on and turn towards her.

"There's nothing to say, is there?" He said. "Either you come to the dinner with me, or you don't, and we're finished. Let me know by tomorrow evening which way you decide." He opened the front door, his flushed face struggling to be polite. "Thank you for dinner- it was delicious."

As the door closed she felt a bubble of hysterical laughter in her throat. How typical of Jake to become formal and courteous after issuing her with an ultimatum. Then she stopped laughing. Why hadn't she realized until now that she wasn't serious about Jake? Her mouth indented wryly; but hadn't she known? Had she ever though of herself as serious, committed to him? She had drifted into the relationship gradually, not intending to get seriously involved- it hadn't entered her head that Jake thought she was serious, or that Jake himself might be serious.

She curled up on the carpet in front of the electric log fire which glowed on her small hearth, trying to sort out her thoughts, Jake's feelings. What exactly did she mean by…serious? What was she saying? That he was in love with her? The idea made her frown, then laugh shortly. No. Not that. Jake was not in love; he felt nothing so overwhelming.

He had probably decided, though, no doubt after careful thought, because that was Jake's way of reaching any important decision, that she would make a suitable wife for a rising young executive; and perhaps that was the right way to consider marriage- as a partnership. What, after all, had love to do with it?

No sane person would marry for love- that was no basis for choosing someone to live with, to bring up children with was it? Bella didn't trust love. Love was messy and explosive, it made you vulnerable, betrayed you and it didn't last; worst of all, it left you feeling like hell. She had been in love once, and the wound still ached on certain days, like the scars of some old battle. She never intended to let love happen to her again, and, luckily, so far she had never been in the slightest danger of caring that much for anyone else.

She had felt quite safe with Jake, she liked him, but not too much. He was no threat to her emotions, and yet he was good company. They had a lot of friends in common, and everyone felt that they made a nice couple; their mutual friends approved, and, although she had ignored the fact until now, so did their families. She should have guessed, meeting the smiles, the knowing looks, the little hints, from his mother, her own.

Why on earth hadn't she realized the way the wind was blowing? How had she stayed blind for so long? She could kick herself. Had she preferred not to know? It was so convenient to have a represent able male as an escort, someone who her mother and Phil liked, someone who knew most of her friends and had a busy career of his own, so that he understood the demands of her job- and also, admittedly, she like Jake.

She bit her lip, her frown deepening. Yes, she liked him- but not enough to think of spending her life with him surely? Her brown eyes were troubled. It was just as well that this had happened. She had been warned, and how she had to make a very important decision. She was too tired tonight, though. She looked at her watch, and got up. She would sleep on it, decide tomorrow.

She must have been more tired than she realized, because she slept through her alarm and woke with a start to find that it was past eight and she was going to be late for work.

It was a bad day to start a difficult day; she was in a hurry from then on and had to forget any thought of Jake and whether she wanted to end their relationship. It was only as she rode out of Manhattan heading to Jersey on the train, that she admitted to herself that the decision had been made without her needing to think. She had not called Jake, and silence was an answer in itself. He would know what that meant. If she had called him he might have tried to persuade her, or flown into another rage, and she was too tired to face either reaction. Jake would have no problem finding someone to take; he was not good-looking, but he was attractive- a tall, muscular man, with russet skin and long brown hair with black eyes. Sometimes she had had trouble conjuring his face in her memory, it was true; Jake was not memorable. But he dressed well, he was very eligible and she knew other girls noticed him; he would soon find someone else.

I'll miss him, she thought, pulling a face. They had been seeing each other for months; he was a habit with her.

Oh well, she signed making herself concentrate on the moving landscape. There was no point in regret for what could not be helped. Life wasn't easy, that was all. Her mother's panic was over; Phil would heal in time for the next season and they were staying down in Florida for the rest of the season.

Night had fallen, as she made her way to her mother's cottage by taxi, but there was a strange light in the sky- something very different. Bella screwed up her eyes in puzzled surprise, staring- what was it? It looked positively eerie.

Then she saw the first soft white flakes blowing by the window and her heart sank. Oh, no! Not snow! She hadn't bargained for that when she agreed to come here.

As the rode on westwards, the gentle drift of snow became a howling blizzard and she began to think she wasn't going to make it, but the roads were not yet impassable. An hour later the taxi finally pulled up to the isolated little cottage within earshot of the sea. She got out and paid the cabbie told him she was sorry about the trip back and made her way to the house.

She found the front door key, unlocked the cottage and slammed the front door on the way into the house. It only took a short while to make the place a warm and welcoming home; she put on lights, turned on the oil-fired central heating, made up her bed, unpacked, opened a can of tomato soup, heated it, and sat down to eat dinner at the kitchen table.

Her first spoonful was on its way to her mouth when the phone rang, and she dropped soup all over herself with a cry of shock. Jumping up, she dabbed herself with a cloth while she was running to pick up the phone.

"Hello?" she breathlessly said, expecting to hear her mother's voice.

There was a silence, and then a husky male voice said,"Mrs. Dywer?"

Disappointed Bella said flatly, "No, I'm afraid she isn't here at the moment. She's in Florida with her husband. Would you like to leave a message?"

There was a silence, and then he said "Who is this?"

For no reason could she have explained, that voice made a shiver run down her back; an instinctive shudder. She didn't recognize the voice, yet she almost didn't answer, which was crazy.

He had only asked who she was! A perfectly natural question, wasn't it? What is the matter with you? she asked herself.

"I'm her daughter," she said slowly and got a second shock when she heard the phone click, and she realized he had hung up without another word. After a surprised pause, she replaced her own phone, frowning. How rude.

She went back to the table and sat down. Well, at least her soup was still hot. She finished her meal hungrily, but couldn't stop thinking about the phone call. Who could it have been? They had no near neighbors here; the nearest house was a mile off, closer to the sea, but if it had been someone she knew he would have said so- he wouldn't have hung up without a word.

Confused, she went back to her room and got ready for bed. She made sure all the windows and doors were locked, took a bath, and went to sleep.

She woke with a jolt some time later, and sat up, eyes wide yet blank with sleep, trembling as if from a nightmare. She didn't know where she was for a second and stared around, slowly recognizing the shadows of the furniture, remembering why she was here.

The room was fill with the eerie light she had seen on her way up; the reflection of the moon and stars on the snow outside, a magical disturbing light which made her shiver.

She was about to lie down again, when she heard the creak of the floorboard outside, on the landing. Her heart crashed into her ribs; she stared fixedly across the room- there was someone there, outside her room.

Before she had time to think the door began to open and she saw in the strange white light of the snow a shape appear in the doorway, a tall, looming, shape. The outline of a man.