A/N: So, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
SMeyer owns all Twilight characters. No copyright infringement intended.
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Chapter 2. In the Beginning…
Summer, 2006
"Hey, dumbass, those studs are set too close," Bella yelled from the trailer on the job site. I was working construction the summer after I'd graduated from college because I'd chosen to go into it as a profession, so in order to know the business from the bottom up, I'd been working every summer and spring break for one construction company or another. That summer I was working for CS Builders.
My father had taught me that regardless of my chosen profession, it was always good to have something to fall back on and construction work was mine. I'd gone to business school, but construction was something that had fascinated me my entire life. My dad and I used to build birdhouses when I was young, which was what initially sparked my interest in making things with my hands.
My older brother, Carlisle, was more interested in science, so we didn't have a lot in common, but Dad was like me. He liked to build shit, too, even though he was a doctor. Maybe that was why Carlisle didn't like me in the first place…I got along better with Dad than Carlisle did when it came to things outside of medicine. When my dad died, it rocked me to my foundation. Mom always seemed to like Carlisle best anyway, so losing my dad was a blow.
"They're sixteen inches apart, sugar hips, just like they're supposed to be. Aren't you supposed to be in the office making coffee or something?" I sniped back at the cute girl who was walking around the job site in shorts and a tank top with a Cardinal's baseball cap on her head. I'd seen her there earlier in the week, and she was attractive. From what I'd been able to pick up on, she was Charlie Swan's daughter. She worked in the office during the summers while she had attended college, and she'd just graduated like me.
"Check again, dipshit. They're not fucking even. A cross-eyed monkey can see that. Do you need a tape?" she snapped back. She was even cuter when she was pissed.
"I've got your tape right here, baby. You wanna see it?" I called back, hearing the guys behind me laughing at my crude comment. She stomped out to the sub-floor of the house we were putting up and pulled a tape measure from her back pocket. She went from stud to stud showing us all that they weren't evenly spaced. Why we couldn't see it ourselves was beyond me.
Feeling completely embarrassed, I cowered back as she marked the studs that were wrong. Some of them varied as much as two inches which wasn't code, so we'd never get passed the inspection. "Fuck," I whispered under my breath. To be shown up by a girl, no matter how stunningly beautiful she was, was completely humiliating since I was leading the crew who was putting up the bones of the house we were building, and I should have been more on my toes.
"These things are for more than just measuring your dicks, you know? Charlie will be back in an hour, so I suggest you pussies get this fixed. He'll see it quicker than I did," she called as she stomped back to the office.
"What the fuck was that?" I asked Quil Ateara who was working with me. He laughed.
"That was Bella Swan. She could probably build this damn thing by herself. She's been on jobsites since she learned to walk. I worked with her last summer putting a roof on a house. She's tough as nails and she knows this business as well as her old man. I should have warned you that she can spot a mistake a mile away, but you're a cocky bastard and it was just too fun to watch her take your ass down a notch. Now, we better fix this because if Charlie sees it, he'll fire all of us," Quil responded. That was the beginning of the end for me. The woman owned my ass from that moment forward, but I didn't know it at the time.
##
Over the rest of that summer, we actually became friends. She'd come out and work with us when we were short-handed, and she definitely knew what the fuck she was doing. When the house was nearly finished, a party was planned to say good-bye to all of the summer help, and I made it my business to find out if she was bringing anyone.
"So, Bella, are you bringing anyone tomorrow night?" I asked nervously. She was a puzzle for fucking sure. One minute, she was strong and confident, but the next, she blushed furiously and wouldn't look me in the eye.
"No. I just thought I'd come alone. I wouldn't even come at all if Dad hadn't blackmailed me into it," she replied.
"How so?" I asked. She didn't seem like the type of girl who could be blackmailed into anything.
"If I don't show, I'm off the Lindbergh job. You won't be around for that one, right?" she asked as she sipped a diet Coke. It was my second to the last week on the job and I was set to move to Chicago for an internship at a large contracting firm. It didn't pay much, but that didn't matter because I was looking for experience. They underwrote large construction projects and that was the next step of my plan. I wanted to learn how the business side of construction worked as well as how to swing a hammer.
"So, you're going to work for your dad now that you've graduated?" I asked. She'd gone to UMSL and had graduated with a degree in marketing. My degree was in business management with a minor in finance. I'd worked construction my entire adult life one way or another, and I knew what I wanted to do. My brother was in his residency in Chicago, and he was dating a nice young woman, so I hoped that maybe we could heal the rift between us, though I didn't know exactly what it was that had caused it in the first place. He was just always a dick to me, and it didn't make sense.
"Yeah. I enjoy this shit too much to quit. You're moving to Chicago in what, a few weeks?" she asked. We'd been working inside the house setting dry wall when we'd talked about my future plans. She knew a little about the contentious relationship I had with my brother, and she didn't comment on it, she just let me talk. She was also one of the best fucking mudders I'd ever met. She could walk on those goddamn stilts all day without even stumbling when it came to ceiling work. I was okay on the ground, but she could work over her head which was admirable.
"I am. Will you go to the party with me? I'd really like to take you to dinner first," I asked as I taped the wall for her to go behind me with the mud.
"Um, I guess I can do that. But, you've got to pick me up at the house and my dad will probably be there. You up for that?" she asked. Charlie Swan was very protective of his only daughter and he made it known that any of us were expendable if we made a nasty comment in front of his daughter. It was probably one of the cleanest jobsites I'd ever worked, save one person's dirty mouth…his own baby girl. She didn't exactly follow the rules, and it turned me on like a fucking light bulb.
"Sure. He can't fire me. Next week is my last week," I teased. We made a date, and I was looking forward to it more than anything in the world.
##
I was set to pick her up at 5:30 PM the next night, and she looked incredible. She actually wore a dress, and my cock thought it was pretty sexy.
"Dad, you remember Edward Cullen. Mom, this is Edward Cullen. He's worked for us over the summer. Edward, this is my mom, Renee, and you know Charlie," she introduced. I swallowed hard because he looked none too thrilled to see me picking up his baby girl.
"Mrs. Swan, it's a pleasure. Mr. Swan, sir, nice to see you again," I greeted, shaking both of their hands.
"You're leavin' next week, aren't ya?" Charlie enquired. Apparently, he did remember me and was more than happy to get rid of my ass.
"Yes sir. I have an internship with Marlow Brothers in Chicago," I announced. I could see immediately that he wasn't impressed, but he was definitely relieved. I was certain he was happy I wasn't going to be around to date his little girl because he made no secret that none of us who worked for him were good enough for her.
"Good for you. I hear they're a top-notch group, so that's quite an opportunity for you. Well, we'll see you two later," Charlie responded, effectively telling me to get the fuck out of his house.
"Edward, it was nice to meet you. I'm sure I'll see you later," Mrs. Swan called as we left. Once we were outside, I heard Bella exhale loudly.
"Were you worried?" I asked with a laugh in my voice. I was the tense one but apparently, she was worried about her parents' reaction to meeting me.
"He gets pissed when I date. So, where are we going for dinner?" she asked. I opened her door and helped her into the car and then quickly walked around to my side. Mom had lent me her car for the evening, and I felt like an old woman driving a Buick to church, but it was wheels.
I climbed inside and shut my door. "I thought we'd go to Tucker's," I offered. They had great steaks, and it was a casual place. She looked incredible, and she had legs that I couldn't keep my eyes off of, so being cooped up in the car with her for too long would be far too distracting.
I parked the car and helped her out, and I couldn't stop myself from kissing her. I was young and impulsive, and she was stunning. As I pulled her into my arms, I wasn't sure if she'd kiss me back or rack me up, but it was a gamble I was willing to take.
Her mouth was soft and warm and inviting. I teased my tongue against her lips, and much to my surprise, she opened her mouth to me. I don't know how long we stood outside the car on Twelfth Street kissing under the street light on that warm August night, but I'd have paid anyone who came along to stop time. It was fantastic.
When we broke apart, I needed to adjust myself because the woman was weaving some strange magic, and I wanted her more than I wanted to eat. "I guess we better eat so we can get to the party," I responded. The flush of pink on her tanned face was unmistakable. I'd affected her as much as she'd affected me. It was a new notion for me to be happy about it.
After dinner, we went to the party and I didn't let her out of my sight. She looked far differently than she had on the job sight during the day, and every guy we worked with watched her. I made it known that she was with me, but I'd be leaving too soon to really start anything up with her and I hated it.
When I took her home that night, I parked down the street from her parents' home because I wasn't ready for the night to end, but I couldn't take her to my mother's house so we were stuck in the car. If I were planning to stay in St. Louis, I'd have moved out of Mom's house, but I was moving to Chicago so it was ridiculous to find my own place for the summer. Suggesting a hotel seemed offensive to me because Bella Swan wasn't one-night-stand material, so I had to settle for the car.
"Bella, I wish we'd have done this earlier in the summer. I really like you. Is there any way that you'd be willing to keep in touch with me?" I asked nervously. I was a twenty-two year old dolt, and she was a beautiful woman who I was certain had many men chasing after her constantly.
"As friends? Sure. I don't think we know each other well enough to do the long distance thing, but I really like you so we can exchange messages if you'd like until it fizzles," she answered as she shifted in her seat.
I leaned over the console and kissed her again. Her mouth was definitely something I'd miss. We sat in the car for over an hour kissing…just kissing. I wanted to do more, but the late hour and the circumstances with my looming departure caused me to rein it in. She was someone I'd never forget, I was sure.
After I walked her to her door and kissed her again, I left. The next week on the job sight, she wasn't there. I was sorry for that because I wanted to take her to dinner again, but I didn't get the opportunity.
I sent her a text message that I'd call her from Chicago once I got a new number, and she sent one back saying she hoped we could keep in touch. It didn't sound very optimistic to me but I held out hope.
##
When I walked into the bar off Rush Street having been in Chicago for nearly a month, I saw a stunning red head sitting at the end looking very bored. She was the first woman I'd seen who even caught my eye since I'd been in Chicago. Bella and I had tried to keep in touch but she was busy and I was busy, and it just sort of faded. I was sorry about it, but I decided that maybe it was time to move on.
I walked over and sat down next to Red and brought my best line. "So, I've finally found you. I've been looking in every bar around town for a month," I tossed out. She seemed to have a fire about her, aside from the red hair, and I liked a woman with spirit.
She turned to glance at me and responded coolly, "Dear God, that's the worst pick-up line I've heard in a long time." I was hooked. We talked for two hours, and I ended up taking her back to my apartment that night. We spent a year together while I worked at Marlow Brothers, and at the end of the time, we parted amicably. I'd decided not to stay in Chicago, and we didn't have strong feelings for each other, though the sex was pretty damn great, but we weren't anything more than hook-ups, really. She saw other people, and I still thought about Bella Swan when I wasn't with Victoria.
From Chicago, I went to New York. I worked for a management company there and dated like a fucking sailor on leave. Well, I don't think you could actually call it dating. I saw women, but none of them stuck. I tried to keep in touch with Bella but it was difficult because she was very busy. She was still working for her father, and she was actually managing construction sites for him. She loved her job and she said she was learning a lot. She never mentioned seeing anyone, and I never mentioned seeing anyone, but I made damn sure to keep the connection because the woman had me so fucking captivated that I couldn't let go of her.
##
Eleazer Denali was a great guy to work for. He took me under his wing and taught me how to find a good deal on real estate and flip it into something that would make a lot of money. A lot of people, me included, called him a slum lord but he made an assload of money and paid us very well. He was my first experience with paying dues. In retrospect, I had no fucking idea how much danger I was actually in dropping off envelopes to some seedy fucker in a park or an abandoned building, but in years to come, I'd come to understand it and Eleazer Denali dropped in my opinion of how great a guy he actually was.
He did, however, teach me how to negotiate a price and how to see a diamond in a chunk of coal. We worked eighteen-hour days, and I felt better being in New York than I ever felt being in Chicago. I'd learned a lot there about underwriting, but I learned a lot more in New York that translated into how things really worked in the construction business, and I loved living there.
The only thing in the whole world that could ever get me to go back to St. Louis was my mother's cancer scare. I was living happily in Brooklyn for almost two years, but when Carlisle's new wife, Esme, called to tell me that Mom was in the hospital with a diagnosis of breast cancer, I didn't hesitate to pack my shit and go back to St. Louis. I sent Bella an e-mail that I was going back and explained why, and she offered to pick me up at the airport. I didn't hesitate to take her up on it. It had been three years since I'd actually seen her, but we'd kept in touch sporadically, and I felt like we were friends of sorts, so I was looking forward to a friendly face at the airport.
When I walked into the baggage claim area, I was surprised to see the beautiful face that had somewhat dimmed in my memory over the years. She was positively radiant. She smiled her angelic smile at me, and it fucking melted my lackluster heart. I hugged her for meeting me, and we walked to baggage arm in arm. It was the most intimate gesture I'd experienced with a woman in a long time. Sex wasn't intimacy for me, but walking through the airport with my arm around her that evening felt more intimate than anything I'd ever felt with anyone else I'd ever been with, and I took notice of it.
"I can't tell you how much this means to me," I told her as I kissed the top of her head, realizing for the first time how small in stature she was but how her personality made up for it.
"Hey, we all need someone. I'm just glad you got in touch with me. Now, what hospital is your mom in?" she asked.
"Um, St. John's off Ballas," I answered as I pulled my suitcase from the carousel and allowed her to lead me to the parking garage to her car. It was a pick-up truck which surprised me. She didn't seem like the type. She should have been driving a sleek sports car, but she was driving an older model pick-up. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Hey, don't laugh or you can take a bus," she called as she climbed into the cab of the truck. I climbed in next to her and took her hand, kissing her knuckles in appreciation for her kindness. She was the most intriguing woman I'd ever met, and all the other women I'd met in my life paled in comparison.
"I'm sorry. It just doesn't fit that you'd be driving a truck like this," I responded as I buckled my seatbelt.
"It's my work truck. My car is in the shop, so I didn't have a choice. So, how is your mom? Have you talked to your family?" she asked. It was then that I realized she knew very little about my family other than what I'd told her when we worked together that summer, and I wanted her to know everything for some stupid damn reason or another.
"I don't know if you remember, but my brother and I don't get along very well. My dad's passed away. Mom sort of acts as a buffer between Carlisle and me, God bless her. I didn't expect that anything like this would happen to her. Carlisle just got married and is finishing up his residency in Chicago. I think he and Esme are going to move back to St. Louis as well, but I hear that shit from Esme, not him. He doesn't have time for me," I confessed. I sounded like a whiney bitch but I couldn't help it.
"Well, I'm an only, and my dad wants to retire soon. He'd really like me to take over the business, but men don't take a woman seriously in the construction business, so I told him no. He's not very happy with me right now. Hell, you've worked for Charlie, so you know how the fuck he is. Anyway, I'm looking for a job. I applied at the brewery and at a small construction company to be the office manager. The guy seems to know what he's doing. I have no fucking idea what I want to do with my life, so I guess it'll be fine for now if I get it. You ever feel that way?" she asked as she pulled into the emergency lane at the hospital. Of course, I couldn't ask her to come up. It would be too weird because she didn't know my mom, but I really didn't want her to leave.
"I think you'd probably be able to run your dad's company. Maybe it would be harder for you in the beginning, but you've got a pretty strong personality so I think you could make it work. You've got a way about you that makes me believe you can probably do anything you set your mind to. Can I call you later?" I asked. I had a suitcase and nowhere to go, but I had a friend in town who I could talk to about my sick mother waiting for me upstairs, so it could have been a lot worse.
"Where are you staying?" she asked as she hopped out of the truck and walked around to the passenger's side.
"I'll get a hotel somewhere and I guess I better get a rental car. I'll worry about it tomorrow," I answered, looking into the most beautiful brown eyes I'd ever seen.
"That's just stupid. I don't live too far from here, and I've got a roommate that's rarely home. Here's the address. My car should be out of the shop by tomorrow so you could use it. Just think about it. I know you want to be close to your mom, but you can't rest here and she's going to need to rest as well. Anyway, call me. It's good to see you again, Cullen. I've missed talking to you," she responded as she hugged me. It was exactly what I needed in that moment.
I went into the hospital and checked in at the desk to find my mom. I went to her room and found her asleep. Her friend, who had taken her to the hospital for her surgery and stayed the afternoon with her after it was over, was gone when I arrived thankfully. I was exhausted and I had a lot to think about, so I melted into a recliner in her room and fell asleep without much encouragement. I didn't, however, quit thinking about Bella Swan. She'd shown me more kindness than anyone I'd ever met in my life with a simple hug and a sympathetic ear. I couldn't get her out of my head, not that I wanted to. She was incredible.
##
I woke up to the sounds of groaning. It was then that I realized I was in my mom's hospital room, and there were nurses looking after her. They were moving her in the bed and it must have hurt. "Liz, are you okay?" one of the nurses asked.
"Is it time for more pain medicine?" Mom asked groggily. I got up from the chair and walked to the end of the bed to see if she had her eyes open. She looked so frail. My mother was a small woman and she had always looked young for her age. At that moment, she looked every bit of her fifty-two years which threw me.
"Liz, remember honey, you have a pump. You just have to push the button," the nurse instructed as she pressed the controller into Mom's hand and pushed down on the button on top. I heard the machine whirring and saw clear fluid release into the IV tube in my mom's arm.
Mom fell back to sleep pretty quickly, and I followed the nurse out into the hallway. I'd been given sketchy information when I arrived, so I was still pretty much in the dark about her condition. There was something about a mastectomy and chemo, but I wasn't the doctor. My ass of a brother was and he was nowhere to be found. I looked at my watch and saw that it was nearly 6:00 AM and that I'd slept for most of the night.
"Excuse me, where's the cafeteria and the john?" I asked the nurse, Connie, behind the desk.
"Oh, Mr. Cullen, you're awake. There's someone waiting for you down in the visitor's waiting area. The men's room is to the right on the way," the woman instructed as she pointed down the hall. I nodded in appreciation, and after I finished in the bathroom, I walked to the waiting room and found Bella sitting on the ugly blue couch looking through what appeared to be a contract.
"What are you doing here so early?" I asked. She was a sight for sore eyes. I sat down next to her and laid my head on the back of the couch, closing my eyes.
"I brought you breakfast, directions to my apartment along with the keys to it and my car. You can't be comfortable here, and I sorta snuck into the room and read your mom's chart. She's gonna be in and out of it for most of today before they start weaning her off the morphine drip. You can't have slept comfortably in that chair, and I'd bet you'd like a shower. Here's coffee and a donut. Seth should be up by the time you get there, so if you need anything, ask him. He's expecting you. My bed's very comfortable so feel free to sleep there. Call me later," she ordered. She was very organized and she was thinking far clearer than I was at that moment, so I accepted everything she handed me and I kissed her on the cheek.
"Thanks for taking care of me. I feel like a helpless git," I responded.
"Hey, it's not just that I'm lucky at knowing what you need. My mom had breast cancer a few years ago, so I know what you're going through. Now, be careful with my baby. I just got her tuned up so she's got a lot of horses ready to run," Bella replied, taking a sip of her coffee.
"What kind of car is it?" I asked.
"It's a fully restored 1969 Pontiac GTO convertible. Can you drive a four speed?" she asked. I could, but that's only because a guy I knew from high school had one and taught me how. It had been a while since I'd dealt with a clutch.
"I can. How did I not know this about you?" I asked with a laugh in my voice. She was full of surprises.
"Oh, there's probably a lot about me you don't know. I'm pretty much a tomboy so when the opportunity came up to buy Gracie, I jumped at it. My boyfriend at the time restored her for me, and he's still the only person I let under the hood," she answered. That word…"boyfriend"…got my attention. The phrase…"under the hood"…didn't escape my notice either.
My head snapped up and I looked at her. "Boyfriend?" I asked. She'd never mentioned anything about a boyfriend, but all the times I'd talked to her, I hadn't really asked.
"He's not my boyfriend any longer. We dated for a while and then moved in together, and it was just weird because we were really better as friends so we stopped dating but still live together. Anyway, his cell's at the bottom of the map to my place if you get lost. Look, I gotta get to the jobsite. I'll talk to ya later. Get some rest," she instructed and then she disappeared.
I went back to my mom's room and saw she was still asleep, so I left my cell phone number with the nurse and asked them to call me as soon as my mom was awake. I grabbed my bag and made my way to the parking lot, finding Bella's car quite easily.
I checked the directions and figured out roughly where her apartment was, and I was on my way. I drank the coffee she'd given me but I decided not to eat in her car because it was definitely in pristine condition, and I was pretty sure she didn't eat in it. I pulled into the parking lot as she'd instructed and made my way to the second floor of the small building where she lived, bracing myself to meet the ex-boyfriend/roommate.
I unlocked the door and walked inside without knocking. I smelled coffee and heard a very deep voice from somewhere inside talking to someone. "Bells, I won't be an ass. You wanna let some stranger drive your car and sleep in your bed, I got nothin' to say about it. I gotta get to the shop. The guy's not a toker or anything, is he?"
I walked into the room and dropped my bag to get his attention. "No, I'm not a toker," I answered. I could hear Bella's ringing laugh as he held the phone away from his ear. She said something to the guy, and he barked out "fuck off" and hung up the phone.
"Hey man, sorry about that. Bells just called to give me a heads up that you were on your way. I'm Seth Clearwater," he introduced, sticking his hand out for me to shake.
"Edward Cullen. I hope you don't mind me crashing here for a while," I asked. It seemed like the thing to say since he and Bella shared the place.
"Naw. If Bells trusts ya, you must be good people. She doesn't trust too many people, but if she does, she pulls out all of the stops. So, her bedroom is that way. There's still coffee if you want it, though you look like that's the last thing you need. Bells said she gave ya my cell number, so if you need anything and can't get ahold of her, call me. My shop isn't far from here and I can be home in five minutes. Sorry to hear about your mom. I hope she's okay," he responded.
Apparently, Bella had filled him in on my reason for being there. "I hope so too. So, Bella tells me you two used to date. There still anything there?" I asked. It wasn't my business, but I was making it my business to know about the competition.
"Worried?" he asked with a smirk.
"Maybe," I answered honestly.
"Well, let's just see how this all plays out. If Bella wants you to know about our relationship, I guess she'll tell ya. Lock up when ya leave. Later, Cullen," he responded and then walked out without really answering me. It was pretty much what I expected.
I grabbed my bag and went back to Bella's room, seeing that it was absolutely spotless and perfectly neat, not that I expected anything different. The bed was turned down like I was staying in a four-star hotel, and there were fresh towels on the end of it. The woman thought of everything.
The drapes were closed which made it pretty dark, so I quickly took a shower and pulled on clean boxers. I climbed into her bed and smelled the pillow. There was the faintest scent of her on the pillow, but the rest of the sheets smelled like fabric softener which led me to believe that she must have changed them for me. Yet another thing to like about the woman…organization, planning, and a caring heart. That was the last thought I had before I dozed off.
##
When my cell woke me sometime later, I answered without looking at it. I quickly wished to fuck I wouldn't have. I'd hoped it was Bella. It wasn't. "Where the hell are you? The nurses said that you were here, but I've looked everywhere for you. Tell me you're not banging some slut somewhere," my wonderful brother snapped over the line. I looked at the clock on the bedside table and saw it was just after noon.
"Carlisle, it's nice to see that you could tear yourself away from what-the-fuck-ever to come check on our mom. I was there all night, so I'm at a friend's house. I took a shower and a nap, and I'll be back to the hospital in a little while. Is Esme with you?" I asked, hoping and praying to God that she was because otherwise, it was a distinct possibility that my brother and I could end up rolling around the floor of my mother's room in a fist fight if he kept talking to me like I was fifteen.
"She is. Just get back here. We need to make some arrangements for Mother," he snapped. I wanted to tell him to fuck himself but that wouldn't be productive at all, so I bit my tongue and got up, pulling out jeans and a clean t-shirt from my bag.
"I'll be there in ten minutes, douchebag," I answered pressing the off button to end the conversation before I said anything worse. I wasn't looking forward to seeing him in the least.
I left Bella a note on her dresser after I made the bed. I left my bag in the corner of her room because if I had her car, it was a pretty safe bet that I'd be back at her place at some point, or so I hoped. I was definitely interested in getting to the bottom of the roommate/ex-boyfriend issue.
##
"Hi Esme," I greeted as I walked into Mom's room. I saw Carlisle in the hallway speaking with a woman I assumed was one of Mom's doctors because, prick that he was, Carlisle wouldn't waste time talking to a nurse. I had no desire to join the conversation because my brother would likely embarrass the shit out of me by dumbing down the information the doctor was giving him, and I didn't need his reminder that he was the more intelligent of the two of us.
"Hi Edward. She was awake for a while and they got her up, but she's been out of it for the most part this morning and early afternoon. Carlisle is talking to her oncologist right now. So, did you get some rest?" Esme asked as she hugged me. She looked like she could use a nap.
"I did. A friend of mine lives ten minutes away, and she was kind enough to give me a key to her apartment and the use of her car while I'm here until I get squared away. So, what's Carlisle planning to do about this situation? He made reference that we had to make decisions about Ma. She's not that old that she can't make her own decisions, you know," I remarked. Once Mom was off the heavy duty shit, I was pretty sure she'd be taking care of the arrangements for herself without any input from Carlisle or me.
"That's convenient. So, how long can you stay before you have to get back to New York?" Esme asked avoiding the rest of my comment. We'd gotten to know each other when I was in Chicago for her and Carlisle's wedding. He was busy working, so I ran errands with Esme. She was a wonderful person, and she definitely deserved someone better than Carlisle.
"I've got as much time as I need. I talked to my boss, and he told me to take care of what I needed to. I guess I'll have to go back to New York at some point and deal with mail and bills, but I can at least stay a couple of weeks until Ma's up and around," I answered.
"So nice of you to be able to tear yourself away from whatever the hell you're doing these days," Carlisle snapped as he walked into the room.
"Carlisle, don't…" Esme began with a look of disapproval on her face. We weren't having the argument in our sick mother's room, so I grabbed him by the arm and dragged him back out. I was fucking sick of his condescending attitude, and I wasn't going to listen to it anymore.
"Listen to me. Your job is no more important than anyone else's on the fucking planet, you egomaniacal son-of-a-jackass. Drop the fucking God complex and tell me what the doctor said. Ma's cancer isn't about you at all," I snapped through clenched teeth.
"Fine. They removed the left breast and some of the lymph nodes under her arm. They're going to do one round of chemo. She'll need someone to stay with her during that and take her back and forth to the hospital and for doctors' visits. I'll hire a nurse for that. After she finishes, they'll reassess to see where we are. The surgeon believes she got it all, and she is very optimistic with regard to Mother's prognosis. I've got everything under control, so you can take your transient ass back to wherever you came from and don't worry about anything. Once again, I'll be handling things," he responded with his usual asshole superiority. I'd had enough of that shit.
I wasn't a fucking hobo, and I had a very good job. Plus, I absolutely refused to leave my mother in the hands of a stranger when she needed her family. I knew Carlisle couldn't be bothered to stick around, but by God, I could. I could quit my job in New York and look into opportunities in St. Louis, and I could and would take care of our mother.
"Not so fast, hotshot. I'll go back to New York and close out my shit and move back. I'm not comfortable with Ma being taken care of by a stranger, and we know you're far too important to take care of her yourself. I have enough money saved that I can take some time off without worrying about a job. Now, try not to be such a prick when she wakes up because you know how upset it makes her. Try to act like an adult, will you?" I asked. I turned on my heel and walked back to my mom's room without another word to the asshat.
##
Carlisle and Esme went to Mom's house to stay, and I was taking the night shift at the hospital again. They were reducing her pain meds and had taken her off the morphine drip altogether. She'd been awake briefly, but she was still quite groggy. I was watching a baseball game on TV when I heard a knock at the door. I got up and walked over to the half-closed door to find Bella standing there, peeking inside. She was a welcome sight.
"Hey, Bella. Come on in. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to call you today. My brother and sister-in-law were here, and thankfully, they just left. I'm staying the night. How was your day? " I asked, trying to talk about anything other than my mother's condition.
She followed me into the room and sat down on the radiator unit next to the chair where I was sitting. I muted the ballgame and turned my attention to her after I saw that my mom was still sleeping. Bella had obviously gone home to shower and change because her hair was still damp. She smelled really good, though, even from where I was sitting.
"Well, I'm overseeing construction on an addition to Fenton High School. We're building a new gymnasium. Some of the guys on the job don't like me, but I'm pretty used to it by now. So, what's your game plan here?" she whispered. I hated that the guys who worked for her didn't respect her. I knew that the woman knew her shit better than nearly any man I'd ever worked with, so if others couldn't see it, they most likely couldn't get passed the fact that she was a stunningly beautiful woman. That was completely unacceptable in my opinion.
"Well, I'm going to go back to New York, pack up my shit, and come back here and take care of my mom. Carlisle wanted to hire a nurse, but that's my mom, and there's no way I'm letting a stranger take care of her," I responded. I couldn't believe how cavalier my brother had been about the whole fucked-up situation. Throwing money at the problem had always been his way. That wasn't going to fly with me when it came to taking care of our mother.
"Okay, that's good. When are you going?" she asked.
"This weekend. Esme's going to stay until I can get back, but it's probably going to take me a week to pack up my shit. Of course, brother dearest has to get back to Chicago day after tomorrow, so he's of no mother-fucking help whatsoever. How long did it take your mom to get up and around?" I asked. She had experience with cancer that I didn't.
"Well, if it's anything like Mom's surgery, they got her up today and started getting her more ambulatory. If there are no complications, she'll probably go home by day after tomorrow. Um, likely a visiting nurse will come by for a few days to deal with the drain and make sure there's no infection. They'll teach your sister-in-law and your mom how to change the bandages, and then it's just how much your mom can do on her own. They'll give her exercises so that she doesn't get so stiff and everything, but that's what we had with Mom. You know, I don't have anything to do this weekend. I could go with you to New York and help you, if you'd want," Bella volunteered.
Her offer was so damn sweet, and I was exhausted and my nerves were shot with everything that was going on, so I couldn't help myself. I fucking started to cry. There sat a woman who I really didn't know very well offering to help me pack my shit so that I could move back to take care of my mom, and my asshole of a brother couldn't even be bothered to stay in town long enough to help his mother get home from the hospital. It was too much. I closed my eyes and let the tears fall. A second later I felt warm arms around my neck and a light weight on my lap.
Bella was sitting on my lap holding me, and it was the best comfort in the world. I let go and felt the cathartic release of the tears. I felt absolutely no judgment from the beautiful woman in my lap, and I felt that I was safe to let go and get it all out.
I don't know how long she sat there holding me, but when I woke up, she was gone. There was a note on my lap and a blanket was draped over me. The note read,
I booked us on a flight leaving Friday morning at 10:00. My return flight is Sunday night at 9:00. Your ticket is open-ended. Your mom woke up and I got her to eat some broth and drink some juice. I think they'll start her on more substantial foods tomorrow. I'll see you in the morning. I'll bring breakfast. Bella
I turned around and saw my mom was awake, looking at me. "Ma?" I asked.
"Hi, honey. Thank you for coming home. Your girlfriend is very sweet. She got me some broth and juice. How'd you meet her?" Mom asked. I shifted my chair around and pulled it closer to the bed, taking her hand.
"She's not my girlfriend, but she's a wonderful person. I worked with her a few years ago when I worked for her dad. She and I kept in touch when I was in Chicago and since I've been in New York, and when I found out about you, she picked me up at the airport and she's been taking care of me, basically. So, how do you feel?" I asked. She looked tired, but the light was back in her eyes and I was grateful for that.
"I'm sore, but I'll be glad to get out of here. I heard you talking about coming back to St. Louis to take care of me. I don't want you doing that. You've got your own life, Edward," Mom offered. Coming back to take care of my mother was the biggest reason to move back. It didn't hurt that there was a Bella Swan kicker in there, too.
"No, I wanna come back. You're my mom, and I'm going to take care of you. You took care of me my whole life, and it's the very least I can do for you. I'm going to move back home with you, if that's okay. You won't mind me moving back in at the ripe old age of twenty-five, will you?" I asked. Mom laughed, and I saw the pain cross her face.
"I'd love to have someone milling around the house again. It's too quiet there. Just promise me to bring Bella over every now and again. I'd really like to get to know her better," Mom responded. I rose from my chair and kissed her forehead seeing that she was tired.
I sat back down in the chair and waited until she dozed off. Once I was certain she was asleep, I got up and used the restroom in her room and then walked out to the desk. "Do you think she'll be out all night?" I asked the nurse in charge.
"Yes. She's had something to eat, and we gave her a pain pill before you woke up. I'd say she's out until shift-change in the morning. Why don't you go home and get some rest. I can tell she's worried about you," the nice, older woman responded.
I nodded and left. I drove to Bella's apartment and let myself in, finding her and Seth sitting on the couch watching television. I looked at my watch and saw it was only ten o'clock.
"Seth Clearwater, you are such a slut," I heard Bella cackle as I walked into the living room. I worried that I should have knocked because I really had no idea what was the status of their relationship.
"Hey, Cullen. How's your mom?" Seth asked as he got up from the couch and ambled into the kitchen, having spotted me lurking in the hallway. He was a huge guy, and I couldn't imagine him and Bella as a couple. Hell, I didn't want to imagine it. I wanted to imagine Bella and me as a couple, and there wasn't room for anyone else in that scenario.
"She was sleeping when I left, thanks for asking. Is it okay if I crash on the couch?" I asked Bella as she finished her beer.
"You take the bed. Want a beer?" she asked as she rose from the couch. I didn't mind sleeping in her bed, but that was only if she wasn't going to be sleeping with Seth. I didn't like that idea at all.
"Yeah, I'd love a beer. I won't throw you out of your bed," I told her. She walked back into the living room and took my hand, pulling me down on the couch next to her. They were watching the end of the ballgame I'd began watching earlier, and she looked adorable in a pair of pajama pants with bears on them and a tank top. I noticed that Seth had on a pair of cutoff sweats and a t-shirt, so I didn't think I was intruding on anything intimate, but if I was, I wasn't going to be unhappy about it at all.
"Your mom's really nice. She and I talked while she ate some chicken broth and drank an apple juice. She really loves her sons. You've kind of told me that you and your brother don't get along, but why is that?" she asked.
"I don't know. Nothing I ever did was good enough for Carlisle. Actually, I got along better with my dad than Carlisle did. He was a doctor, like my brother, but he liked to build shit, too, and that's where I got my love of construction. I don't think Carlisle can change a fucking light bulb," I responded, taking a pull of a good, cold beer. It had been a while since I'd had one in such a relaxed setting. It was fantastic.
Bella laughed. Just then, Seth came back into the room with a laundry basket. "Okay, Bells, I'm done. I'm turnin' in. Night you two," Seth called as he went to his room and closed the door. I felt myself relax a lot more because I wanted to talk to her about a lot of things without him lurking around.
"Hey, thanks for getting the plane tickets. I'll pay you for them. I'm really glad that you're coming with me. I can see that you're pretty organized, and I think you'll be able to help me figure out a game plan. So, you and Seth? Are you two still…anything?" I asked apprehensively as I shifted on the couch and looked at her.
She shifted on the couch, mirroring my position. The intensity of her eyes was nearly hypnotic. "We dated for two years and decided to move in together. My mom was going through her cancer recovery at the time, so that's why we moved here. Well, that and Seth's garage isn't far from here. Anyway, he was very supportive of me when I was helping my mom, but we sort of fell into the best friends category easier than boyfriend/girlfriend. We didn't want to jeopardize our friendship, so we stopped sleeping together.
"He's actually dating a very nice young woman. That's what I meant by the fact that he's not here very much. Rachel's out of town right now, which is why he's even here tonight. Well, I think that and wanting to get a handle on you because he's very protective of me. I've had to bail him out of jail more than once when a guy got too fresh at a bar or on a jobsite. Anyway, he likes you, so you've got nothing to worry about," she answered. I felt a sigh of relief leave my body because the fucker could easily pummel the shit out of me.
"So you started dating him after we met?" I asked.
"Yeah. Like I said, I bought Gracie and she needed a lot of work, and he came highly recommended. When I took her into his garage, he and I immediately hit it off. He did a hell of a job on the car, don't you think?" she asked.
"Fuck yeah. That car is amazing. I was scared shitless driving it. I parked way the hell at the end of the lot away from everyone else. I can't believe it still has the original AM radio," I responded.
"Yeah, I couldn't bear to modify it except for the seatbelts and the new top. I'm glad you like it. Most guys think I'm a freak because I like muscle cars. You're pretty cool, Cullen," she responded, unfolding her legs across my lap.
I placed my hand on her left shin and took another sip of my beer. "That's probably one of the nicest things I've heard in a long time," I answered. I saw her cheeks turn pink like they had when I took her to the party years earlier, and I remembered how attractive it was. The woman was like an onion, and I was anxious to begin the peeling.
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E/N: Okay, a few answers I anticipate you'll want…there won't be a regular posting schedule, but I'm not going to draw it out. It's going to be somewhere around 22 chapters, and they're all about the length of the first two. There's really no angst, though there is a bit of danger because of some of the people Edward will be dealing with in later chapters. It's set in St. Louis because, with the type of story it is, I needed to really know the area to be more authentic, and since I grew up in St. Louis, that's the place I know the best. Yes, most of the characters will be OOC, but the story is so far removed from the original canon that it would be ridiculous to have a simpering Bella or a Victorian Edward in the construction business…IMHO.
I hope you'll give it a chance. I'll probably post another chapter tomorrow. Please, feel free to tell your friends and neighbors about it. Oh, and I hope to hear from you as well.
Till next time…xoxo