Chapter 3

Rubber Duckies and Bastard Cousins

Bella made that right turn down Eclipse Drive, thankful that Officer McCarty's directions were exactly how he'd just explained them to her. The dirt road extended nearly a quarter of a mile and was lined with tightly nestled Live oak trees. Bella's heart began to ache when thoughts of Riley flooded her memories. She thought of their last and only visit to Safe Harbor. They had only stayed one night but she remembered what that one night meant for the both of them.

Underneath similar oaks, Riley had made love to her in the evening summer breeze, professing his eternal, undying love to Bella in barely a whisper as he slowly entered her again and again until they were both breathless and sated, and when the sunrise broke in a painted mixture of blue, orange, and light purple just beyond the oaks, Riley kissed Bella on the lips and asked her to spend the rest of her life with him. Bella ran her thumb over the fourth finger on her left hand and felt the beautiful stone he'd given to her just before he'd left, and the last time she'd ever see him again.

A split second later, Bella slammed on the breaks. Her palm landed dangerously against the steering wheel in quick succession. Anger coursed through her veins at the very sobering thought that she will never see Riley, the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with, ever again.

"Oh, God," Bella sobbed through a plethora of tears. "I can't do this. I can't do this life without you, Riley."

Bella gripped the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white. Her body started to shake and she felt as though she would be sick as her insides twisted and turned. The tears continued to flood her cheeks. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out a pack of cigarettes that she swore she'd never touch again. The only reason she even held onto them was to prove to herself that she could have them around and not light one up. On the day that Riley proposed to her she'd made a decision and promised herself that she would try to quit. Bella looked down at the pack in one hand and the lighter in the other. She needed something, anything for her nerves.

"Please come back to me," she whispered, trying to catch her breath. She tossed the pack of cigarettes on the floor board and sucked back the tears but they were relentless. "Fuck."

Bella wiped away what she could of the tears and put the car into drive. She took a calming breath and continued on down the road until she reached the beautiful two-story country home. Painted white and slate grey, the home was absolutely breathtaking with its wraparound porch and hidden under two very large Live oak trees. The oaks were surrounded by beautiful white daisies. Off to the right, and sitting just slightly behind the home, was a small cottage. It was as gorgeous as the main house. It reminded her of something right out of a fairy tale.

"How come you never told me about this, Riley?" Bella asked even though he couldn't hear or respond to her. It made her feel a little bit better just believing that maybe he could in some form or fashion. "This is amazing, Ry."

Bella turned off the ignition and slipped out of the car. Placing her sunglasses on top of her head, she closed the door and decided to give Riley's brother a heads up that she had arrived. When his voice mail greeted her, she did the obvious and left him a message.

"This is Bella Swan. I just wanted to let you know that I'm at the address you sent me. Please return my call as soon as you can. Thank you."

Bella's cell phone immediately alerted her that she'd just received a text message.

Running late. I'll be there shortly. Thanks for waiting. Edward.

"Well, that was short and sweet," she said to no one around and closed the message out. "Your brother isn't one for words is he, Ry?"

Bella shook her head, taking a deep breath. As her feet moved to check out the place, she'd wondered for a brief moment how long this sort of pain will last. She really never had to grieve any loved one before. Her father died when she was a very little girl so in her book it doesn't really count. She didn't know the man and had no memory of him. Her mother on the other hand was alive and kicking with her new husband. She had all but abandoned Bella as soon as she entered college. It's been three years since they last spoke to one another.

Moving toward the back of the main house, Bella ditched her little trip down Memory Lane and took in every facet of the stunning property. Just as she was admiring the backyard and the beautifully crafted swing that sat right under a beautiful willow tree, the sound of gravel kicking up in the front of the home caught her attention.

"Maybe that's your brother now."

Turning on her heel and headed back toward the direction she'd just come from. A black mega cab truck with pitch black tinted windows roared down the dirt road until it came to a stop right next to her small rental. Bella stood by the porch, stuffed her hands in her back pockets and waited for the driver to exit the truck. Nerves filtered throughout her body and she wasn't quite sure why. Maybe it was the fact that she'd never met anyone from Riley's family and meeting them now under these circumstances shredded her from the inside out.

"Let's go, boy."

As a man's voice caught her attention, Bella decided that it was now or never, and as she made her way over to the truck, a large black dog hauled ass toward her. Before she could get the hell out of its way, the dog, with its wagging tail and hanging tongue, jumped up on her and started licking her face.

"Oh, crap!" Her voice rose just a bit higher than normal. "Wow you sure are happy aren't you puppy?"

"He's anything but a p…"

Him…

"You! McAsshole! It's you!"

"What in the hell are you doing here? What? Did you come here to take more pictures? Or I know! You're lost again, right? Well, get un-lost and get the hell off my property before I call the law!"

"The law was the one that sent me here, genius!"

McAsshole's features morphed seven ways to Sunday as he ran a hand through his hair.

"So much for having a cop for a cousin," he said, pulling is phone out of his pocket. "Wait until I get a hold of that bastard Emmett. He's gonna wish his ass was in another state."

"Officer McCarty's your cousin?"

"Yeah, genius, he is."

"Well, fuck a rubber duck that explains the smug look on his face."

"I think it's time for you to leave," McAsshole said, pointing to the road. "I don't know why you're here or why my jackass cousin sent you here, but you're not welcome. So go."

"First of all, I was invited. Second, I'm supposed to be staying here for the next week. And third…"

Very slowly McAsshole lifted his eyes up from his phone to meet mine.

"You're Bella Swan."

"How do you know my name?"

"I'm Edward Cullen," he said, pointing a finger toward his chest. "Riley's brother."

Fuck. My. Life.

Until Next Time...

OzellaMarie