If I Fell
Chapter 1
Working sixty to seventy hours a week was getting old, but I had no one to go home to so it didn't really matter.
My fiancé had cheated on me and moved to Chicago with a colleague of mine, I've went through all the stages, hurt, anger, resentment, anger several times. So much so that I took everything of hers that she'd left and burnt it. Had a huge bonfire in my backyard. I then took the $6000 engagement ring and $3000 wedding bands and pawned them, put the money in savings, not like I needed it. I was a well-respected doctor, wrote article after article for the medical journals, perfected several heart surgery procedures and was one of the youngest Chief of Staff.
I moved back to my home town to be close to my ailing parents. They lived in the little cottage off the rose garden.
My sister and her husband lived here too. She was an interior decorator (that's how I'd met my ex-fiancé) and he was the sheriff.
It's been two years since Esme left and ran away with the cocky Edward Masen. My sister Rose was severely pissed off and fired Esme from her business and told her not to ask for any references. My sister was insanely protective of me, even though we were the same age, being twins has its benefits.
"Carlisle, you need to get out and live again." Emmett bellowed as we were cooking out for the 4th of July.
"Emmett, please. I'm so not ready for that yet. I'm enjoying my work and when it's time I'll know." I shrugged.
"Carlisle you're too quiet and shy for your own good." Our friend Charlie laughed.
"Oh and you're Mr. outgoing, right Chief?" I scoffed at him.
"Touché." His wife Renee laughed, they'd been married since high school graduation, their son Riley was 13, and he was currently playing with Rose and Emmett's kids. Ivy who was 4 and Ivan who was 10.
"So Charlie, when is this sister of yours supposed to come to town? And how did we not see her in high school?" Jasper our young mayor asked.
"She'll be here this weekend. She lived with our mom growing up. Dad had no idea on how to raise a girl, hell he barely raised me." Charlie laughed and drained his beer. "She's off limits to you anyway lover boy." He pointed to Jasper.
"Hey, if she's single, she's fair game. She's got to be old enough to make her own decisions." He countered, causing Charlie to sigh and Renee to laugh.
"Look, she's coming here to get a fresh start. She just ended a bad relationship, the guy was a real ass and if she would've told me sooner, he'd of been a dead man." Charlie snapped.
"She'll be opening a bakery, that little cottage by the hospital, she bought that and is going to have the entire place renovated so she can live upstairs and have her business down." Renee smiled. "Jake's construction crew has started the demolition on it already. Then Rose here is going to meet with her and help her design it." Renee boasted.
"And we're just now hearing about this?" Jasper gasped. "I'm the mayor." He stated as always and we laughed.
"Hey, you've been awfully quiet, even for you." Rose sat beside me and handed me a beer.
"Yeah, just thinking." I sighed.
"Well, I hope you'll introduce yourself to Isabella when she gets here." Rose suggested.
"Rose…" I hedged.
"Carlisle! I'm tired of seeing you alone. I've talked with her on the phone and she seems so adorably sweet. I know she's 26, she's worked all over with renowned pastry chefs and graduated top of her class from culinary school, baking is her thing." My sister, always trying to set me up.
"Of course I'll meet her. But she just got out of a relationship, you heard Charlie." I shook my head.
"She's been out of the relationship for over a year. She's been traveling Europe, perfecting her recipes." Rose nudged.
"Ugh! You're so damn pushy." I laughed and hugged my sister.
"Hey, from the first time I Skype with her, I knew you two had to meet." She shrugged.
"And we will, it's a small town." I stopped her with a look.
It's been three weeks since that talk with my sister and she wants to know why I haven't met Bella yet.
"Rose, I've been pulling so many hours a week at work I just come home and crash. And besides, what am I going to do? Walk up to the door of her house that's being renovated and say 'Hey, welcome to town, I'm Rose's brother.' C'mon Rose." I huffed.
"Fine. But no more excuses after Friday. We're having dinner, welcoming her to town and fair warning, Jasper is already on the hunt." Rose snapped.
"Good for him! He needs someone to keep him in line." I smirked.
"We all know Jasper wants one thing and one thing only. Charlie will nail his ass to the wall!" Rose laughed.
"Well, maybe that's what she wants after being with an ass. She might not want anything else." I shrugged.
"Carlisle Cullen!" Rose snapped. "Once you meet her, you'll see! She'll take your breath away, I guarantee it!" My sister smiled widely, always wanting to bet.
"OK, OK. What is the bet this time?" I sighed.
"Just for you to tell me I was right, once you've fallen." She stated simply.
"If I fall." I hinted.
So here I am Friday night showering and deciding on what to wear, I feel like a damn teenager on his first date.
I decided on a pair of jeans, a grey button up with the sleeves rolled up and my grey Converse, I left my hair to just dry and ran my hands through it. It was good enough.
"Hey, you're just in time. Bella, Charlie and Renee just got here and Jasper hasn't arrived yet." Rose wiggled her eyebrows.
"Rose. I told you, I'm not falling for anyone." I shook my head as she led me into the kitchen where Emmett was cooking and Isabella was leaning against the counter, head thrown back in a fully belly laugh, punctuated by a snort. Charlie and Renee laughing too.
"Carlisle, so good to see you my friend." Charlie got up and slapped my back in a man hug.
"You too Charles." I laughed using his full name, causing his sister to laugh again.
"Bells, this is Carlisle, Carlisle this is my little sister Bella." Charlie smiled.
I picked up her and kissed it, just like my dad had always taught me to do. "Nice to meet you Bella." I smiled and kissed her hand.
Looking up into her eyes I fell!
AN:
Here's one that just popped into my head…
It'll be a Carlisle and Bella…
Not sure of the length, depends on how well they talk to me.
And if you haven't visit my home page and take the poll!
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