Chapter 4

I sat with my back against the wall and allowed everyone to get comfortable before I began speaking.

"Let me start off by reassuring you all that I have no intentions of putting you out. You are all welcome to stay here but that will come with conditions."

I took a deep breath and began "Rosalie and Edward first thing Monday morning you are both going to Department of Human Services on Third street. You both need to apply for government assistance."

I saw Edward stiffen so I said "These babies need food and insurance to visit a physician. You will both receive food stamps and state insurance for yourselves as well as the kids. Don't let your pride keep your children hungry and without the proper care they need."

He looked away I could tell this was a sore subject for him but he knew the reality of his situation.

"I've tried that before they denied me because I don't have an address." Rosalie piped in.

"Well you have one now." I stated matter of factly. She was still believing that I would throw them all out in the street. Honestly I couldn't blame her hell they just met me 4 hours ago. I'm sure they all need to process all that has happened in this short amount of time.

"Secondly this is not a shelter and everyone will pull their own weight. There is a warehouse about 15 minutes away by bus that will pay you day to day for work. All you have to do is show up and have a valid ID and they will allow you to work. Is that a problem for anyone." I looked around and Jasper raised his hands.

"All of our things were stolen over a week ago my license was in my wallet. Alice's was also taken."

"How old are the two of you, you both look awfully young." For a minute I was concerned that they were teenage runaways.

"I'm 21" Alice said "Jasper is 22." That shocked me they looked younger than I did and Alice was so small.

"Oh….. well Monday while Rosalie and Edward are at DHS you two will be getting copies of your licenses." They both nodded their heads in agreement and I continued. "The job will pay you all minimum wage but you will get a check at the end of your shifts."

I paused to make sure everyone was following me. "Now I don't expect this to be your permanent employment a friend of mine is the Department manager at The DPS they always need hub workers and drivers I will get him to pull your applications but the process takes about 2 weeks and he is on vacation this week."

"They won't hire us. I've been three times applying for a job." Emmett exclaimed exasperated.

"I'm sure but that was before you met me. Getting a job half the time is about who you know. Riley owes me big and I'm collecting by getting a job for the four of you." Emmett just looked at me and shrugged. I could tell he didn't want to get his hopes up but I saw something flash in his eyes.

"Ladies we will be on the lookout for you guys. I have to make some phone calls but I'm sure I can find you guys something." I paused and asked "Is everyone okay with this do you feel as if I'm overstepping if so let me know now."

No one spoke so I took that as my cue to keep going. "Tomorrow I will call my pastor, my church gives to various charities and individuals in need. Now they won't give you cash but will provide a gift card with a few hundred dollars to each of you for Wal-mart. There you can buy clothes, shoes, food, whatever you need. They did the same thing for the Hurricane Katrina victims a few years back."

I was about to continue when Edward interrupted. "What are you?" He asked he had this perplexed look on his face as if he was trying to piece together a puzzle.

I laughed out loud being used to this question. People always commented that I had a "look" whatever that meant. I wasn't offended at all I was proud of my background. The others looked a little curious as well.

"Well I guess you can say I'm a mutt my mom was biracial Asian and White, and my father was African American."

"Ahhh" Was the only response I got with a head nod. He then looked over at Rosalie whose face had hardened once again. Ok what was that about I wondered until Rosalie spoke out.

"Wasn't it obvious what she was. She's one of them and here we are in her damn house and this will end badly."

"What the hell is a one of them." I asked using quotation marks at them sitting up straight. My tone was ice cold and everyone caught the tenor. Rosalie was well on her way to being introduced to my fist.

Emmett tried to defuse the situation by quieting Rosalie down but I wanted to know what this bitch's problem was and if I'm putting two and two together correctly then we have an issue.

Carlisle decided to intervene and leaned towards me "Rosalie has had some awful things happen to her in the past it's no excuse for her bad behavior, but I promise we will get her under control." Emmett at this moment pulled Rosalie towards the back room and shut the door.

I held his gaze for a few moments and decided to let it go for now. I can on occasion behave like a grown up.

There was an awkward silence for a few moments in which no one knew what to say, so I decided to bite the bullet.

"Can I ask a question?" I asked. Carlisle motioned his hand for me to continue. "How did this happen to all of you?"

No one said a word.

EPOV

I looked at the exotic woman sitting against the wall talking to us as if we were human beings and not scum of the earth. The only word that could describe Bella was beautiful and even that didn't do her justice. She had long thick brown hair that hung to the middle of her back and wide set eyes that had a slight slant to them belying her Asian heritage. Her lips were full like most African Americans and she had a slim nose. Her skin tone was like a light tan just a little more bronze.

Now that she has stated her heritage it's easy to see. I'm pretty certain Rosalie had guessed this a long time ago which explains her hostility towards Bella, but I wasn't going allow Rosalie and her prejudice to ruin this for my son. I was no charity case but I man enough to admit that I needed help. The world had conspired against me hell my own father had left me to the wolves and I've hit rock bottom.

Bella had given us all a lease on life and wasn't about to waste it. She was a rare find, she was a mix of sweet and tough that was hard to pull off. She had a quiet confidence about her and mixed with her alluring looks she was irresistible. Her inner self only made her even more gorgeous if that was possible. How many women or men for that matter would have taken the chance and picked us up off the street as she did. So I decided to tell my horror story first.

Rosalie and Emmett came back into the living room just as I was about to begin.

"My Father was the CEO of Noreflex corporation. We had it all, growing up I went to the best schools and graduated top of my class from Dartmouth. Once I finished school I moved up quickly in the business world I'm sure Being Edward Masens son didn't hurt. I married my college sweetheart and life was good. Until my father and his greed screwed it up. He embezzled millions of dollars in corporate funds draining all employees of their 401ks and retirement. To top that off the company went bankrupt behind this. They couldn't trace the funds or figure out who had stolen the money. Three years ago the Feds figured out it was him and were going to arrest him. Somehow he found out about the warrant and he fled the country leaving me and my mother to deal with the fall out."

I ran my hand through my hair as I told the events that changed my life forever. "The media and public were out for blood and we were the scapegoats. All of my assets were frozen and we ended up losing the house. They took everything from my mother and she eventually killed herself she couldn't deal with the reality of being poor."

I choked out this part my mother was a high society woman but I knew she loved me and it hurt to lose her in such a fashion. In the end her so called friends turned their backs on her and shunned her. People she had known her whole life treated her like she was a common criminal.

"I didn't even work for the same company but I was fired from my job with no explanation other than "We're cutting back" no one would hire me I mean I share my father's name so as soon as they saw Edward Masen on the resume I'm pretty sure it was ditched."

I paused for a moment and looked down at Christian. He was sleeping peacefully his little stomach full for the first time in a while.

"Eventually the feds had to release my assets as there was no connection to my father's money, but it only lasted so long six months ago the money ran out. Once it did my wife Tanya filed for divorce and left me and our new son to this life. I pawned my wedding ring and got enough money to get us a room but eventually we were kicked out of there as well. I can find work but what would I do with Christian? I had no one to care for him while I job hunted and no money for daycare or even a baby sitter. My first night on the streets I ran into Carlisle that was six weeks ago and here we are."

"Damn dude" Emmett muttered. Everyone else was quiet this was the first time I told them the entire story. Previously they had only gotten a very shortened version.

"I'm sorry." Bella said softly.

I looked up at her then, I don't think Bella understood the ramifications of her selfless act. She had done so much for us in the short amount of time. I had just decided to give my son up when she walked up on us in that alley. I can admit I was being selfish by keeping him but the thought of being separated from Christian was unbearable. Each day I would convince myself that the next day would be better but I was fooling myself.

I could have left Christian with Carlisle and Esme to find a job, but the fear that they would run off with my son was too great. I'd only known these people for six weeks and we were together for safety purposes not loyalty. If they disappeared I had no way of tracking them down, that was a risk I couldn't take.

I knew that this opportunity was a gift I couldn't waste and I had to do get out there and find employment. Being destitute like this had humbled me like nothing else ever could. I had always been an alpha male and I took my life for granted. That bitch Tanya took my last shred of dignity when instead of standing by me she walked out on me and our son. I lost faith in people and I cursed God. I may have been wealthy but I was never a prick, and I wondered how my life could take such a drastic change for the worse. Why was I being punished for someone else's crimes.

But it was time to remind the worId that I was Edward fucking Masen. I had lost my way for a little while along with my belief in myself.

But the tiny brunette sitting across from me gave me a reason to believe again.