Memories of Us
Chapter 1
"Yes, dad. I'll be fine on the drive, it's eighteen hours, but I'm breaking it up over a few days. I don't have to rush. You and Jake got my stuff situated, right?" I asked my dad for the millionth time.
"Bells yes. It's all in your house. All you must do is unpack. Everyone is really happy to see you." My dad told everyone I was moving back. I was hoping for some alone time after all I've been through, but Forks is a small town and everyone knows everyone and what's going on in their life. Especially mine.
"Thanks dad. I'll call you when I get there. Love you." I kissed the phone before hanging up.
Sitting in my barren living room, I was sad to leave my home. But I couldn't stay in Hollywood anymore. It held nothing but bad memories for me.
My husband Emmett and son Maximus were killed in a freak accident on the set of a movie.
Emmett had been a stunt double and my son had been cast in the movie, Max was only 5.
It was an explosion gone wrong. Several people were injured seriously, but Emmett and Max who were ground zero were killed.
The movie was cancelled due to all the bad press, but it didn't help my grieving process.
No, the studio wanted to write me a check and make me go away. That infuriated me more than anything.
Calling our longtime friend and tough as hell lawyer James Hunter I was able to get a hefty settlement and make sure all the others who were injured were taken care of. I'd gotten in touch with Emmett's union and set up a scholarship for stunt doubles families who lost loved ones in the line of work.
After the long drawn out process of this settlement, I'm finally able to leave California and head to Forks.
Two years in this house was twenty-three months and twenty-nine days too long after what happened.
I pushed myself off the floor to go shower and get ready to leave. I had a couple of stops to make along the way and then I'd be off on my new adventure.
Stopping by my realtor's office, I handed over my set of house keys assuring her it was cleaned and ready for the new owners. I couldn't believe it when the house had sold within a week. I wasn't due to leave for another month, so instead of moving out right away, I made a deal with the new owners, paying all closing costs and their realtor's fees for me to stay that month. They readily accepted.
My last stop was the hardest. I was going to visit Emmett and Max's graves. I'm not sure how long I sat there and cried, but when I finished telling them about where I was going, like I'd done for the last six months since I'd made up my mind, but this felt different. I felt like a presence was telling me it was OK to move on and start over. I'd always have a piece of my boys anywhere I went. I'd had a beautiful necklace made with their birthstone color and ashes weaved together. Since Maximus was born on the same day as his father April 1st, it was easy to do.
With one last kiss, I told them I'd be back soon. I dusted off my jeans and walked back to my Hummer.
I shook my head at the thought and had often thought about getting rid of this over the past couple of years, but Emmett had bought it for my birthday present.
"Em, really? Such a huge vehicle?"
"Babe, I want you and Max to be safe. This is a tank!" he'd exclaimed. "Plus, I had it custom made for you." His dimples on full display. "Besides, I bought one for me too, now we can match."
Emmett's was all black and customized. And he was right, after driving it; I did love it.
I'd sold his about six months after he passed, the man Emmett had gotten them customized from bought it, saying he'd loved it the entire time he was doing it.
I took the money from that and put it into Emmett's scholarship.
Driving through the streets of LA, I wouldn't miss it. Just the two pieces of my heart I left behind.
Emmett and I had often talked about retiring to Forks, we'd both grown up there. It was a great place to raise a child and we'd have been about to do that by the time Max was 10. Instead I'm left to start this adventure on my own.
Yes, Emmett and I were high school sweethearts, well actually middle school sweethearts. We'd been through so much together. We were each other's first everything. We'd had Max shortly after Emmett made it big. We were young and everyone told us we wouldn't last, Emmett would find a blond bombshell and leave me in the dust. But after six years of marriage and a child we were just as much in love as ever and still the same small-town kids that arrived in Hollywood at 18. Until tragedy stuck.
The first year after their death I retreated from society, only went out if it was completely necessary. I'd lost around thirty pounds, which wasn't the best thing to do when I was already petite. It was hard to eat; my stomach was always in knots. I was on several medicines for my depression and anxiety. Jake came out to visit me and snapped me back to life. Telling me Emmett wouldn't approve of me like this, he'd want me to move on and be happy. Carry on their memory, our happy times.
Sometimes my brother was very insightful. Yes, for all intents and purposes Jake was my brother. His parents passed away when he was 5. My dad and Billy had been friends from birth, so my dad was his Godfather and adopted Jake when they passed. Jake always protected me in school. Emmett and I had a fight one time and I was crying when he came home from football practice. He drove over to Emmett's and beat him up, because he'd hurt me. He'd cut Jessica's hair off in 5th grade when she called me four eyes, because I'd gotten glasses. He was always there to protect me. Now he's happily married to Leah Clearwater and he's started his own construction/restoration business. Leah was a realtor and they worked hand in hand quite a lot, like when they found a house for me. It was perfect and so very me. Perfect for starting over. It was a quaint cottage, in need of TLC. I went over everything with Jake and my dad and told them what I wanted. The outside was painted yellow with white trim and a white picket fence. It had a sunroom on the front of the house, two bedrooms and one and three-quarter baths.
The master bathroom was the three-quarter bath with just a shower, toilet and sink. I had Jake put in a waterfall shower with extra shower heads, keeping the vintage look with black and white subway tiles. The guest bath was a simple claw foot tub set in an alcove with the shower on the left and toilet on the right; each in their own little areas and the sink to the left of the toilet. The bathroom was white and sage green. My guest room was small, but would work if I had company, it had two big windows and fit a full-size bed, a small wardrobe and nightstand. I had Jake paint it yellow and I'd bought white bedding to make it look bright and airy. My bedroom was a taupe color with all white furnishings. Jake had surprised me and painted white butterflies up one wall. The kitchen was white with stainless steel appliances, a large island that I could use as my table since it sat four people comfortably. The living room was cozy with the fireplace in the corner, a brown entertainment center/bookcase to match the wood floors, the furniture was cream colored to keep with the cottage feel. My sunroom Jake had completely blown me away with. He'd hung sheer curtains to keep the cozy feeling, but to give privacy as well, made two porch swings one a coastal blue with a white cushion and a white with coastal blue cushion, both with blue and white pillows. There were two chairs on the side of the swings that were brown wicker looking and several matching tables scattered throughout. He'd also put in central heat and air in the house and on the porch, he'd put in a through the wall air and heat unit so I could use it year 'round.
It was simple and cozy. A total contrast to my home in Hollywood.
Pulling up in front of it, I couldn't wait to see it all in person; not just the pictures Jake and Leah had sent to me.
I was smiling all the way up the front steps. The door opens and out walks my dad, Jake and Leah.
"SIS!" Jake runs towards me and swings me around. After hugs from my dad and Leah, we head inside.
"You look tired." My dad stated.
"Meh. Just excited about this." I wave my hand around.
"You doing OK Bella?" Leah asked, looking a little worried.
"Yeah. It's just hard being back here. Even after two years. I still miss them. I just can't believe they're gone." I break down as Leah rocks me and tells me it'll all get better.
The crying finally subsides and I feel better after getting it out. I kept it bottled up after everyone left.
"So, are you going to teach here too? I know you won't be happy sitting still." Jake laughed, he knew me to well.
"I'd like too. Summer break is coming up, so it'd be a good time to apply." I shrug.
"The high school always needs assistants. Maybe you can do that if you don't want to actually teach right away." My dad mentioned.
"Thanks dad. That's a great idea. I can teach anything."
"Well, Mrs. Cope is still at the high school, I'm sure she'd pull some strings for whatever you want to do." He smiled.
"I'd love to see her. I'll go there on Monday. Now, let's eat."
Jake and my dad manned the grill while Leah and I were in the kitchen tending to the corn on the cob, Leah's famous mac n cheese and I poured the strawberries and chocolate over the cheesecake.
"Jeeze Bella. I'm going to get fat with you back. I've missed your desserts." She swiped some chocolate with her finger.
"When are you and Jake going to try?" Leah knew what I meant. She'd put it off after Max died, seeing as they were the Godparents.
"Don't say anything!" she pulled me close. "I stopped the pill a month ago." She giggled.
"Leah that's great!" I was truly happy for them.
"Yeah, I'm a couple of days late. Jake is excited but it could just be from being on the pill."
"Well as long as I'm in the know, FIRST… Your child will want for nothing." I promised.
"Bells, you can't go spending all your money on our child." Leah protested.
"Leah, I could by you and Jake a house, have it gutted and remodeled like he did this one and still have plenty left over. That settlement was huge. Not to mention all the money Emmett and I saved and I'll get from the movies he's done. We were very thrifty, minus our cars."
"Bells, there was nothing thrifty about that house you lived in." she chuckled.
"Pfffftttt. Compared to most stars, it was very modest." I waved her off.
"Dinner's ready!" Jake yelled inside for us.
We carried out the food and enjoyed dinner on my back deck.
EPOV
"Jesus Christ!" I wake up a sweaty mess. Again.
I keep having the same nightmare over and over about Rose and our unborn child. Those reckless fucking teenagers. I'm glad they're all rotting in jail.
I get up to go for a jog, release this stress before work so I don't choke a teenager today.
Jogging down the steps that lead from my loft above my parent's garage, I head out. Putting in my earphones and turning on my running mix which has everything from Journey to LMFAO on it.
It's dark out, seeing as though it's barely 5 a.m. when I arrive at the park getting ready to do some of the exercises on the outside gym equipment, so I'm stretching when I'm knocked on my ass. Annoyed and ready to beat down some asshole, I jump up and start yelling.
"Watch where the fuck you're going!" I yell and look for the assailant. I hear a muffled cry and squint to see in the dark. "Hey, are you OK?" I ask seeing someone laying on the ground by the picnic table.
"Just leave me alone." The voice of an angel sounds and my heart is pounding in my chest.
"I'm sorry. It's so dark out here and no one ever runs at this time." I ramble. "Can I help you up?"
"My ankle is hurt, I can't walk." She huffs out.
I bend over and see her outline, seeing she's petite I won't have any problem carrying her.
She gasps when I pull her into my chest.
"Do you live far?" I ask.
"No. A few blocks." She was breathing heavy.
"Let me carry you."
She nodded no against me.
"My mother raised me to be a gentleman and with my dad as Chief of Staff at Forks Memorial he has taught me a thing or two about sprained ankles."
She finally consents and gives me her address.
"I saw all the construction going on here. I'd love to see the finished product sometime." I blurt out when I see where she lives.
"Oh well um, another time?" she questions. "It's still a mess from all the moving."
Not trying to sound pushy, "Can you walk inside and wrap your ankle?" I give her grin.
"I-I can try." She winces when she put her weight on it.
"Let me look at it right here on the porch then." I place her on a chair and notice it's black, blue and swollen.
"Hey, I think you need to see a doctor. This looks pretty bad." I grimaced every time she'd whimper when I touched her ankle.
"Ugh. I'm not even back in town a day and I injure myself. I think that's a new record." She laughs and man it's beautiful and sends my heart racing.
"Let me call my dad, he's working the morning shift. See if we can get you in."
"No, no I don't want to be any trouble." She protested.
"No trouble. He's a doctor, that's what he does." I assured her.
"I don't even know your name." she shook her head. "I guess I must have been in Hollywood too long, I'm just striking up conversations with strangers."
"Hollywood? Are you a movie star in hiding?" I smirked.
"No." she said quickly and dropped her head.
"Sorry if I made you uncomfortable." I kneeled in front of her.
"No. You didn't. Uh, my name is Bella." She gave me a small smile.
"Edward." I touched her knee and she must have felt what I did, she gasped and caught my eye. Placing her hand on top of mine the feeling was intensified and we were lost in one another's eyes.
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Lost Loves of Meadow Lane
By: writtenbyabdex
Lost between the man that bought her and the one that could not afford her, Bella tries to navigate the bonds of an arranged marriage that separates her from the man she loves. How does a man move-on when his heart is meant for the one person he can not have. How do their lives effect those who live a century later? Will what was lost be found? Romance, Mystery, and angst.
Rated: Fiction M - English - Romance/Mystery - Alice, Bella, Edward, Jasper - Chapters: 36 - Words: 76,106 - Reviews: 426 - Favs: 175 - Follows: 355 - Updated: Dec 28 - Published: Jul 14, 2015 - id: 11379831