Serenity
Chapter one
"Bella, Gus is here for you." Sarah mumbled, glancing in the direction of the old man who always tipped Bella so good.
"There she is!" He said, the old man made his way over slowly. Grinning wide at Bella. "We've missed you around sweetheart."
Bella looked up slowly, throwing her rag off to the side and returning the eager hug from Gus. "Yeah I'm sorry. My dad actually is visiting for a bit. He wanted to be closer to Bug and I. It's been kind of a whirlwind, but I'm thankful he's here. So, how are all the guys fairing without me."
"Wow that is a good excuse I'll admit." Gus teased. "Tell your father he's welcome anytime down at the rehab center."
"I will, thank you."
"No need for thanks, just make sure he stops by sometime. I'm sure if he raised you he's a great man. And his granddaughter is about the cutest little peach in the world!"
"Just like her daddy." Bella remarked softly, losing herself for a minute before looking back at Gus. Gus reached out and grabbed her hand,
"That's a good thing Bella, you'll always have a piece of Jacob with you."
A tear came to her eye, and Bella quickly blinked them away. 3 years seems like a long time, but it doesn't seem like enough at the same time.
"Well, I'll make your favorite Gus. You better get back down to the center. The guys are probably lost without you."
"You're right they are, thank ya sweetheart." Gus watched as Bella skillfully twirled around the kitchen, a soft bell directing their attention toward the door where a gentleman much younger than himself entered.
"Dad." Bella smiled.
Gus stood, and Charlie approached reaching out and returning Gus's handshake. "Your daughter is quite the cook." Gus noted, watching as Bella finished up his burger and fries.
"That she is." Charlie nodded. "But she's an even better nurse."
Bella froze. Nearly dropping the food from her hands, and she glared at her father. Gus stood awkwardly, and tried to clear his throat to make things less awkward but that didn't work. "Dad." Bella muttered through gritted teeth.
"Jacob would have wanted.." Charlie started to comment but Bella put a hand up.
"Dad. Stop. This is not your place."
Charlie smiled at gus in a apologetic way before looking back at his daughter. "I'm sorry Bella. I just want the best for you. That's all."
Bella nodded but still looked annoyed, before handing Gus the sandwich. He handed her a 20 and told her to keep the change, she retorted but he waved her away. "Just bring the kiddo by the farm this weekend and I'll call it even."
Bella sighed and nodded, ignoring Sarah's jealous glance. Gus waved at Bella and shook Charlie's hand one more time before exiting. Bella ignored her father as she walked around wiping down all the tables.
"Bella." Charlie sighed. Bella ignored him and continued wiping the tables and putting up the things on the tables and restocking things. "Honey," He moved forward grabbing her softly by the side. "I just want what's best for you sweetheart. I just know how much you loved being a nurse and I don't want."
"Dad." Bella snapped ripping her body from his grasp and putting space between them. "I am DONE, talking about this. DONE. If you don't support what I'm doing you can just go. I am doing what I can, and supporting myself and my daughter just fine."
"Okay Bella." Charlie conceded, smiling at his daughter. "I hope you know, I completely think you are doing what you need to for Ever and yourself, and I would never say otherwise."
Bella nodded in appreciation, taking a deep breath she didn't know she was holding.
"Alright, now when do you get off again? Do I need to get Everlee from School?"
"No, it's okay dad I can get her today. Do you have any plans?"
"Yes, I do actually. I met a woman, Sue… She invited me to go fishing."
"A woman huh?" Bella grinned.
"Oh you hush, it aint like that kiddo." Charlie slightly blushed and Bella knew it was infact JUST like that. She smiled in joy and decided she would beg him for more details in private.
"Seeya Sweetie," Then he kissed her head and was gone.
Bella finished stocking the other tables, waved bye to jealous-Sarah and was on her way to get Ever.
When Bella pulled up to the preschool none of the kids were out yet, she climbed down from her old truck and went inside, waiting as the teacher finished before entering.
Everlee immediately saw Bella, and ran for her mother. Bella giggled and spun her daughter around in her arms. The little Jacob lookalike wrapped her legs tightly around her mother refusing to be let down. At 5, she was pretty small. Easily one of the tiniest in the classroom. But no doubt the most loud, and charismatic, Bella figured.
"Mommy, mommy!" Everlee grinned, ranting about the various days activity's and Tommy Nelson, who ate glue and then puked, Bella grimaced at that little detail.
"Everlee, baby I know. I'm listening. But please put your seatbelt on honey." Ever sighed in annoyance, but did as her mother said.
Bella continued to listen as Ever talked, when they pulled into the long gravel driveway Ever edged up in her seat. "We goin to see daddy's friends today?"
"Yeah we are!" Bella smiled.
"Are any of them missing more legs." Bella bit her lip, not sure on how to answer that question as they passed the "South Carolina Base Rehab Center" sign.
"I'm not sure honey, but if they are we don't ask about it, remember?"
"Yeah I member'." The 5 year old nodded. Bella watched as her long dark hair bouned as she got excited, her huge curls glowing in the sun. Her bright blue eyes from Jacob's mom no doubt, pierced every soul they touched.
As soon as they were parked Everlee bounced out from the car, running into the huge plantation style house. Typical South Carolina. "Slow down!" Bella scolded after her, making the little beauty hesitate before slowing to a softer run, but still a run nonetheless. Bella smiled as some familiar guys chuckled at her daughter. "She reminds me more of Jacob everytime I see her Bella." Bella smiled at Jasper, a friend she had grown to treasure over the years. One of jacob's right hand men, and best friends.
"Right?" Bella smiled, leaning into his side for a hug.
Some of the other guys greeted her and Bella sat around on the old porch with the familiar men, chatting while the sun went down and the crickets sounded in the background.
"Oh yeah, does she know?" Chuck asked, glancing at Jasper then Bella.
'She hasn't been here in awhile and I haven't gotten around to telling her, but thanks Chuck." Jasper grimaced.
"Tell me what?" Bella said, sitting up nervously.
Jasper sighed, rubbing his forehead while glaring at Chuck. "It's nothing. Just that we had someone new come in. My brother in law, actually."
"Oh?" Bella mused, wondering what this had to do with her.
"He uh, had the exact same thing happen to him that happened to Jacob, Bella. Head injury, he was in a coma but woke up. Literally same damn thing happened too."
"Besides he lived." Bella noted, looking around at all the guys who nodded sympathetically. "Well, that's great." Bella nodded, "I'm glad another family doesn't have to go through what Bug and I have." Bella genuinely was glad the man was alive, but a small part of her couldn't help but wonder why him and not Jacob.
Jasper reached out and rubbed her shoulder, "He's been here a few months. They are keeping him for observation, he's being discharged and the army doesn't want him going back, as his brain is bruised and can't afford anymore trauma. He's pretty shaken up about not going back."
"How does his wife feel about that?" Bella mused.
"No wife, or kids. He's single, never been married."
"What's wrong with him, video games and moms basement kinda guy?" Bella joked, causing the other men to chuckle.
"I mean I am pretty good at Mario Kart." A man said suddenly, Bella's eyes quickly met that of one of the most handsome men she had ever seen. She blushed bright red and looked away while the other men around her laughed harder, Jasper in particular. She looked at him again, feeling a sense of butterflies she had not experienced in a long time.
"I could take you." Bella said, trying to sound confident. The men around her 'oooohed'.
"Wanna bet?" The soft southern accent escaped the handsome man's lips and she blushed again. He was grinning in a cocky way that she couldn't help but fine insanely sexy.
"You're so on." She grinned.
"Tomorrow. 6pm. Here."
"Oh need time to prepare?" Bella challenged, cocking an eyebrow.
"No…" Edward trailed off, looking at the ground before meeting her eyes with an intense look. "I just want an excuse to see someone as beautiful as you, twice."
Bella blushed again and her stomach did flips, she had never flirted with a man… none other than Jacob of course and he had been a highschool sweetheart. She couldn't help but feel like she was somewhat betraying him.
"Excuse me." She mumbled curtly, sliding swiftly past Edward.
She scowered the huge houses for a few minutes before finally finding Ever playing cards with her buddy, Carll. "Come on baby let's go home."
"Okay mommy after this game."
"Now." Bella said sternly to her daughter.
Jasper entered the room, rubbing Bella's shoulder.
Poor Ever, the usual good listener went on to beg Bella, "Mommy." She whined, flailing her arms out in frustration.
"Everlee." Jasper said sternly before Bella could. Jacob's best friend went to his daughters side and kneeled down in front of her. Turning her in her chair to face him. "Mommy said it was time to go, put the cards down and let's go. If you don't listen I'm gonna have to carry out of here kicking and screaming, and you wouldn't want that huh?"
Ever shook her head. Jasper raised an eyebrow. "No, sir." She sighed.
"Good girl."
Everlee sighed and stood going to grab her backpack, "Thank you." Bella sighed, looking up at Jasper.
Jasper chuckled and hugged the woman back, "No problem honey. You know I love that kid like my own. And besides, Jacob would want someone helping you out." Bella could sense a hint there, but she decided to ignore it.
That night after leaving, and exiting quickly to avoid Edward many thought swirled through Bellas head about Edward and Jacob and what was wrong but what felt right. Until she finally drifted off, dreaming of a discussion she and Jacob had months before he died…
TO BE CONTINUED…
(Please review if you liked, and want to see more. Thank you.
-Rach)