A/N - don't own the characters, but the story is mine... Please let me know what you think!
I crossed the state line from Kentucky into Tennessee on a clear, brisk morning in late March. I knew it wasn't far now. After two nights spent in non-descript hotels in non-descript places, I was ready to get home.
"Home – I like the sound of that," I answered my own thought and a smile crossed my lips. The volume was up on the iPod and I hummed along with Ryan Adams to "Goodnight Rose."
Forty-five minutes later I was driving through downtown Nashville. It had changed so much since I had been through last. Must've been ten years ago, because the Tennessee Oilers had just moved from Houston and were at their temporary home in Memphis then. Home of the Tennessee Titans I read as I drove past the huge stadium on the right side of I-24. I guess they had their permanent home now. I'd have to remember it when the season started.
Only eighty miles stood between me, my old truck and my new life. I couldn't help but be excited and a wee bit nervous at that realization. So much had changed. What other turns were ahead of me?
Nothing could make the smile fade as I turned off of Smithland Road and onto Red's Lane appropriately named after my Grandfather. The Redbud trees and Buttercups were already in bloom lining both sides of the lane up to the Big House. "Springtime in Tennessee couldn't be more glorious!" I exclaimed. I took the bumpy gravel lane a little bit faster than I should in the old truck, but I couldn't wait. My home, my new life, was finally staring back at me after 3 days on the road.
The house was exactly as I remembered it. It was large and white, built in the Greek Revival style of the late 1800s with huge columns at the front of the oversized porch. My Grandparents wicker rocking chairs were still there side by side, unchanged. I was damned if I would change it. My Granny and I would retreat to those same rockers after supper in the summertime when I was here for a visit. She would have her only cigarette of the day along with a glass of iced tea and she would rock back and forth with her shotgun draped across her lap. More than once, I remember her tagging a gopher digging in the yard at the end of the lane. She was that good of a shot.
I pulled behind the house and backed the truck under the carport. After pulling a couple of suitcases out of the bed, I fished the house key out of my purse and made my way inside.
Renee told me that she'd hired a woman from town to work the house into shape. I didn't recognize the den when I walked in. Gone were the dark panels and brown shag carpeting. In their place were new hardwood floors and the walls had been dry-walled and painted a happy shade of tropical green. There was a new chocolate microfiber sofa and flat panel television mounted to the wall, as well as two leather reading chairs in front of the windows. Those changes were noticed before the door had shut behind me. I sat my bags down in front of the couch and upon turning, realized that the kitchen was completely different as well. The half wall that had separated the spaces was gone and it was now one large open space. The cabinets were refinished in a gorgeous cherry stain to match the woodwork in the house and there were all new stainless appliances. "Wow, Renee. Don't spare any expense, why don't ya?" I mumbled.
I grabbed a glass from the cabinet and walked to the refrigerator to get a drink of water. There I noticed an envelope with my name on it. Curious, I pulled it from its place under the magnet and ripped it open pulling the folded note enclosed.
Dearest Isabella,
I hope that the work that has been completed is to your satisfaction. Your Mother told me your preferred color pallet. We are not yet finished in the remainder of the home, so I will be calling after you arrive to set up a meeting so we may discuss what else you would like to see done in conjunction with your Mother's requests.
Welcome home, dear.
Yours,
Esme Cullen
Never being one for extravagant style, I wasn't sure how much more Ms. Cullen would need to do. The house as I remembered it was good enough for me. Mom did get the color right, though. Green had always been my favorite color. I decided to take a walk through the remainder of the house to see what else had been changed. I opened the door into the main foyer behind the staircase and what I saw surprised me. "I guess I won't have any peace and serenity for a while." I stated flatly. The carpet was pulled from the walls and rolled in sections. The tacks had yet to be pulled from the floor. Not wanting to look any further, I turned back into the den shutting the door swiftly behind me.
I grabbed my suitcases and took them through my bathroom off the den and into my Granny's bedroom. I had decided on my way down that her room would become my own. There was a nice sized bathroom between it and the den and it encompassed one of my favorite things in this house, the old claw-foot tub. As I was putting things away, the ring of the phone startled me. I nearly jumped out of my skin.
"Hello?" I answered. "Bella!" Renee exclaimed. "You made it. I was so worried. I've been trying your cell for the last hour and half and was getting ready to call Charlie to have him make a few phone calls and send the Sheriff out to look for you!" "Mom, I'm fine. Don't over-react. Sorry. My phone is out in the truck and it must be on vibrate. I got here about fifteen minutes ago and just started unpacking my suitcase. No need to worry. I made it okay."
"Good. I'm glad to hear it. How was your trip? Did you have any trouble? What do you think of the renovations?" she asked. "The trip was fine, Mom. Uneventful, really, but I expected the house to be the same. You didn't have to go through the trouble. I liked it the way it was. Plus, there's no telling how much money you've spent on the work!"
"Bella, darlin'," she said sweetly. "What else would I use the inheritance that Mom and Dad left me on? With the money that Phil is bringing in from playing ball, I don't need it. Besides, the house was screaming 'Update!' Have you talked to Mrs. Cullen yet?"
"No, I haven't talked to her. She left me a note on the fridge saying that she would call me to set up a work schedule. I didn't make it into the front of the house because it's so torn up. The carpet has been pulled, but it's still lying in the floor. What else have you asked her to do?"
"Not too much." She replied. "She is going to refinish the hardwoods throughout the house and paint upstairs and downstairs. I didn't know what room you would claim as your own, so she's also having a bathroom installed upstairs. For that large a house, there just aren't enough bathrooms."
"How long is this going to take, Mom?" I asked frankly. "Not to sound ungrateful, but a little peace and quiet would be nice and from the look of it, it's going to take months. I had already decided to take Granny's room since it had the big bathroom with the tub. Besides, I need some time to myself to think and look for a job."
"Bella, I've already found the most wonderful thing for you!" Mom exclaimed, trying to keep the mood upbeat as she knew that I didn't want her or anyone else fawning all over me. "Do you remember Mr. Parks in town? He owned the quaint little bookstore on the square."
"I remember the bookstore, but not Mr. Parks. Why?" I asked inquisitively, not knowing where she was headed with this part of the conversation.
"Well, Bella," she said. "Mr. Parks' daughter is a good friend of our cousin Randee Lyn and when I called to tell her that you were moving down, she told me that he was planning on selling the bookstore."
"Mom! You didn't." I exclaimed with a twinge of disgust in my voice. I knew my Mother was only looking out for me, but I didn't want to feel like a charity case. Not even to her.
"Darlin, I only wanted to make the transition easier for you. Besides, you love books and you love to read. So, I bought the bookstore and made you the sole owner. You'll just need to go by Mr. Dickey's office one day this week to sign the agreement. It's yours, Bella. Yours to love and I know you will."
"Thanks, Mom. I do appreciate it. It's just all a bit overwhelming right now." I replied as I choked back a sob. "I hate to cut this short, but I need to get the remainder of the stuff out of the truck and finish unpacking at a decent hour. I didn't stop by the grocery coming through town, so I want to get that done before it gets dark so I don't get lost."
"It's okay, Bells. I understand completely. Please don't think I'm being too pushy. I just wanted to make the transition as easy as possible for you. You've been through so much and this is your new beginning." She sobbed. I did know that she had best interest at heart. "I'll e-mail you later in the week to see how things are going. Take your time with the book store. Everything's already been done. You're just taking over from the previous owner."
"Okay. I will work on getting settled here for a few days. Thank you again, Mom. I love you. Talk to you soon." I told her and hung the phone back in its cradle and slid down the wall to the floor releasing all the tears I'd held while on the phone.
Jake, where are you when I need you? Why did you have to leave me? You screwed up my whole life. Look at me now. I'm three quarters across the country and a blubbering mess.
Stop it, Bella. Shit happens and you move on. Get your ass up and finish unpacking your things. You still need to go to the grocery before it gets dark. No getting lost in the backwoods of nowhere on your first day in town.
That little voice in my head was always good for a chuckle. The two sides of my brain were always in a constant battle with one another. I did have to admit that I was, in fact, in the backwoods of nowhere and didn't want to get lost. Besides, I didn't want tears ruining my first day at home. "My home. My new life." I breathed. "Let's get this party started," I answered myself sarcastically.
It took about an hour to unload the truck, after which I was a bit sweaty. I looked at my watch to surmise the time. "Two o'clock. Time enough for a quick shower before heading back into town." Daylight savings was still a few weeks away, so time was running short. I grabbed my toiletries and headed to get cleaned up.
I changed into jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt, threw on my favorite old Chucks and pulled my wet hair into a huge knot at the back side of my head. Grabbed my purse and keys and made my way out the door. The trip to town was a quick one, and things started looking familiar to me.
The old Lincoln Theatre was still there. I'd been to many movies there as a child. I found Mr. Dickey's office and also saw Parks' Books And Things. My store. The name would definitely change. Three doors from the book store, I saw a sign that read Esme Cullen Interiors in an elegant, swirly font. The window was surrounded with large, plush velvet draperies in a gorgeous hue of violet. There was an oversized reading chair with a vase of Hyacinths, Tulips, Baby's Breath & Buttercups on the table beside it. Mrs. Cullen definitely had a sense of inviting warmth in her style.
I made my way to the west side of the square and found Gerald's Food Land two blocks later. I pulled into a spot and made my way inside. I didn't want to get too much, just a few things to get me through a couple of days. I strolled up and down the aisles getting only what I needed. Bread, eggs, sandwich meat, a bag of salad, dressing and milk would do it.
Once I paid the cashier for my things, I grabbed my two bags and headed out to the truck. I was fumbling awkwardly through my purse for my keys not paying attention to my surroundings when I lost my footing and collided with something hard that held onto me.
As I looked up to see what I had run into, the blood rushed to my face. Staring back at me were the loveliest green eyes that I'd ever beheld.
"Are you okay?" the mouth below those dancing green eyes questioned.
"I. I.. I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. I'm fine." I stammered, more embarrassed than anything. Leave it to clumsy Bella to cause a commotion on her first day in town.
"I'm Edward. May I carry your bags for you?" He asked as his arms retreated from their hold on me. He pulled the bags from my grip without giving me a chance to respond.
"Thank you, Edward," I said flatly, "but I can manage on my own." trying to get the bags from him.
With a crooked grin, he asked "Which is your vehicle? I don't mind one bit."
"There, that's me." I sighed defensively, pointing to my old truck. "Thank you for your help."
As he put the bags in the back of the truck, I climbed in the cab and shut the door behind me. When I looked up from putting the key in the ignition, I saw that he was standing outside the door. I rolled down the window, still a bit embarrassed and perturbed. "Yes?"
"I didn't get your name." he stated.
"Name's Bella." I responded curtly as the engine roared to life.
"Well, it was a pleasure running into you, Bella. I hope to see you around." Edward said as I threw the truck into drive and sped out of there.