MY Psycho Ex- Husband.
chapter 1 Getting Out
"Come on, EJ," I call behind me to my three year old son carrying his teddy bear. The night sky is navy blue and there is barely any stars out tonight. Holding a bag of laundry, I stick the key into my Mercedes Benz.
"Mama, what about daddy?" EJ asks, walking down the porch steps.
"Come on," I say. What do I say to him? Forget daddy. He won't stop until he kills me? EJ doesn't understand any of that now. All he sees is his loving father who never misses his favorite cartoon shows that they watch together before he leaves for work in the mid mornings. I get the door open and dump the bag on the seat. I open the side door and get EJ's car seat ready for him. He hops inside it and I make sure it's comfortable and tight. I put the laundry bag in the back next to his car seat. I take one long look at EJ as he is hugging his favorite teddy bear and staring back at me with his green eyes. He looks just like Edward.
Is it wrong if that annoys me? Because it does. I'm about to close the door.
"Mama, where are we going?" EJ asks, a weary expression on his face. Some place safe. No, I can't say that. That would mean that something is wrong. "To visit Uncle Jacob, baby," I say. EJ smiles, oblivious. I shut the door. I rattle the key in the ignition, and at the same time, my cell phone rings. I close the door and start backing out of the wide, long driveway. I answer my phone.
"Hello?" I ask, looking out the back window, my sudden smile falls on EJ.
"Bella, this is suicide," Alice Cullen, my sister in law. Her musical voice chimes in my ear. "You know you can't do this."
"Yeah, yeah. He'll get angry. But, what other options do I have?" I ask, my voice dull. My hand is shaking as I am holding the phone up to my ear.
"Jacob is not going to make anything better," Alice says, bitterly. She hates Jake.
"If I go to anyone else, they'll let him come and get me. You know that. You would give me up to him, too. I got no place else. You can't see it, but my lip is so fat right now." I'm looking into my compact mirror. "Well, maybe you can see it. Seeing as your psychic and all." I roll my eyes.
"Bella, I'm so sorry."
"You always say that."
"I wish," She says with force. "I wish I could do something."
"What you can do is keep your mouth shut," I say, almost driving into our mailbox as I'm pulling out of the driveway. The Cullens painted across it in cursive. I never told Alice I was going anywhere today. She called because she saw this coming. Hopefully, she won't run into Edward today who conveniently picks through people's thoughts. My car splashes in a pool of water on the side of the road. Two hours later, EJ is asleep. His head on his shoulder, the teddy bear stuck to his little hand. My smile trembles as I come closer to the LaPush sign. Almost there.
chapter 2 The Here and Now
The reservation looks deserted at night. No one is out walking around. Everyone's inside, asleep. The roads end at the sign. From here on out, it's just flat dirt. I remember where he lives. Where I saw him last I was here. The same place I ran to when I first got hit. But I didn't tell him why I came. All he knew was that I was crying and hysterical. It could have been for anything. But the truth was I just couldn't believe it. He would hit me? His wife? I drag my Mercedes in front of the two story apartment complex. Very different from the three story mansion I just escaped from. A few lights are on. Maybe I should have called. This was a spur of the moment thing. I was feeling brave. I finally got enough strength and courage, but who knows how long those super powers will last me. Or how long it will it take me to gather them up again. A light that wasn't on before comes on on the second story. I keep my headlights on. It's Jake stepping out. He knows it's me, unlike the couple of people peeking out their windows at my car, curiously. He leans his tall, muscular body over the railing. I get out and he smiles big. I must not be smiling back, because his just faded. He must have caught sight of my lip.
I go to the side and get EJ out.
"Jacob!" EJ says. I dip into the back seat to pull out the laundry bag. Then I close the door and turn around. I shouldn't be stunned. Jacob moves fast. He scoops EJ up in his arms for a warm hug. He's shaking his head at my lip.
"When you gonna learn, Bells?" Jacob asks. "How long you gonna stay this time?"
"Until he comes and gets me," I say, my voice cynical.
"That's the spirit," Jacob says, being sarcastic as usual. I carry my bag up the metal stairs. Jacob is behind me with EJ.
"Is Leah here?" I ask. They were dating last time I checked.
"She's at Sue's. We argued. It's nothing," Jacob says.
"He doesn't know you're here right?" Jake asks, he puts EJ on his feet. Inside, the little boy scurries over to the bed.
"No," I say, unsure of myself.
"Only a matter of time before he sends one of his minions, or he finally figures out a way to come on to the land on his own," Jacob says.
"Don't.. talk like that," I say in a low voice, trying to whisper. "He has ears." I look at sleepy EJ.
"Yeah. I'm sorry," Jacob says. He puts his hands on his waist, his heather gray wife beater clinging to his chest like a second skin. He's wearing white sweatpants and is barefoot. "You guys can have the bed. I'll take my couch."
"Thanks, Jake," I say, tucking EJ in the soft blankets. I take out the blanket that Rene gave me as a present one year. I lay it across EJ. I put the laundry bag by the bed and sit on the edge. Jacob turns off the tv.
"Goodnight," He says, almost smiling. The look he gives me is bittersweet. It's just a friend helping a friend. I always wonder what it would have been like if I had walked down the isle with Jacob instead of Edward. Is it too late to find out. Not saying I regret EJ. If I could have EJ without everything else, I would.
" 'Night," I respond.
He goes into the small living room. I lay on top of the blankets beside EJ and put my arm over him. I kiss his rosy cheek and whisper to him good night.