Disclaimer: I don't only thing Twilight related. Warning – mention of mild drug use.
Chapter 3: Opening up the Golden Gate…
San Francisco, California, 1964
I had been on the bus now for four days when I saw first saw the San Francisco skyline. My paranoia hadn't let up until I passed through Utah into Nevada.
The bus ticket had not required any identification, unlike an airline ticket, so I knew that neither parents nor James would be been able to track me down.
My plan was to establish a residence and find a job. Then I was going to contact a lawyer. Given my limited skill set I wasn't sure what kind of job I could find and that worried me. I also had a feeling getting a lawyer wouldn't be easy and I was petrified about spending too much money.
My bus ticket had barely made a dent in my savings but I knew it was not going to last forever. I might have been sheltered but I knew how to run a household and how to budget money.
My bus pulled into the station at 8:30 at night and my nerves were frayed. Between leaving James and my fear of being caught, my fear of failing and having to go back; not too mention the unknown, I was a wreck.
It took a couple of moments to get off the bus. The only thing I had with me was my purse and a suitcase. I had nothing else that I could say was mine. When we arrived I obtained my luggage from the side of the bus.
Looking around, I realized I had no idea what Mr. McCarty looked like. Vanessa had given me a vague description of him, tall, dark hair and blue eyes, but she didn't have a picture of him so I was starting to worry. At least Jake expedited my picture to him so he knew who to look for.
Going into the concourse, I looked around for any man who might fit the description. I didn't have to wait long. An extremely tall man, who was built like a rock walked over to me. "Isabella?" he asked gently.
I took a good look at this man with whom I would be staying with for the immediate future.
He did indeed have dark curly hair and he was pale. I could see a hint of Vanessa around the jaw and they had the same ice blue eyes. He seemed to be in his late thirties. And from what I could tell, he didn't seem to have a mean bone in his body. He certainly did not look like a beatnik. In fact, he was dressed fairly conservatively.
Clearing my throat and gathering my courage, I put my hand out. "Yes, I'm Bella Hunter," I told him.
"Emmett McCarty, please call me Emmett." he replied, shaking my hand gently. Emmett took my bag from me. "Let me get that for you Isabella, my wife is standing over there."
He gestured to a tall, thin, blond woman standing by the coffee stand. She walked over and gave me a hug. It caught me by surprise, not being used to physical contact with the exception of my brother.
"I'm Rosalie McCarty but please call me Rose," she said. I got a good look at her and nearly blanched; my finishing manners saving me before I could make a fool of myself.
Rose was outstandingly beautiful. She reminded me of Eva Saint-Marie or Grace Kelly with their grace and confidence.
"Isabella Hunter," I replied putting my hand out to her and then made a quick decision, "but please call me Bella." I never liked Isabella, it reminded me of Queen Isabella who helped begin the Spanish Inquisition.
"Bella it is," she said, giving me a once over. "When was the last time you ate?"
I shrugged my shoulders. The last four days I lived off candy and Coca-cola. My last meal was probably the soup I picked at with Jake in New York. My paranoia had kept me on the bus, not wanting to take a chance of being seen.
"Let's get you something to eat," Rose said exchanging a look with Emmett. I could only imagine what I looked like. My last shower had been in New York. Again, my paranoia stopped me from taking a shower at the truck stops along the way and my trips to the bathroom had been brief; my appearance hadn't been my primary concern.
"Okay," I replied. Emmett took my bag and I followed them to their car, a 1959 black Ford Country Wagon.
Emmett opened the rear door for me and I got in gingerly, putting my head on the corner of the door and seat. Rose had offered me the front, but I was too exhausted to appreciate the view. Quietly they drove us back to their home.
Their home was in the Sunset District, Rose explained, lighting up a cigarette. One thing I learned on the way to the McCarty's home was that she was a chain smoker. She was amused when I refused her offer of a cigarette.
"They make me sick," I explained, remembering the couple of times I had tried smoking in finishing school.
"That's probably a good thing," Rose said smirking a little. "The surgeon general said these things will kill me."
Emmett snorted, I imagined it was at the the sarcasm in his wife's voice.
Another thing I came to realize on the short drive back to the McCarthys was their marriage was quite different than any marriage I had seen before. Emmett appeared to be interested in what his wife had to say. He treated her as an equal, not as a decoration. It gave me hope and helped me relax.
The McCartys' home was a Spanish style "Marina House" Rose explained as we walked in. At first glance it looked similar to the townhouses you saw in downtown Manhattan or Brooklyn. The only noticeable difference was that they were two stories versus the three or four stories I was familiar with. Taking a closer look I realized that the main living quarters were on the second story instead of the first.
A teenage girl with light brown hair was waiting in their living room when we walked in. "Thanks Peggy," Emmett said, handing her some money.
"No problem Mr. McCarty," she said putting the money in the pocket of her skirt. "Seth and Leah are asleep."
"Those are our kids," Rose explained to me as the girl left.
I took a look around the house. It was nice and looked like a typical middle class home. The sofa, family pictures were definitely less formal than my family's. A television set in the family room was something I had never seen. You couldn't more all American then this house. It definitely was not what I was expecting.
"What were you expecting?" Emmett asked amused, his blue eyes crinkling a bit.
I blushed, not realizing I said that part out loud. "Honestly?" I replied, "That you were both marijuana smoking beatniks."
Both Emmett and Rose looked at me and burst out laughing. "Bella, have a seat," Rose said, wiping her eyes. "I'm going to get you something eat. Em please convince her that we do not smoke reefer."
I wished the floor could have opened up and swallow me whole.
Emmett pulled out a chair for me and I sat down gingerly. "Okay Bella, you have obviously heard stories about me. I'm guessing they were about me being a reefer smoking beatnik who abandoned his pregnant wife?" he asked. "Most of what you've heard about me isn't true. I want you to be comfortable here so let me explain a little of my story and then you can tell me, or Rose if you rather, more about yourself. Vanessa didn't give me much, other than you were trying to get away from a bad situation."
"Why did you agree to help me?" I asked a little flabbergasted that they would take in a perfect stranger. Even if I was going to be family by marriage.
"Because it's what I do for a living," Rose called from the kitchen.
"And I've been where you've been," Emmett answered. "I was involved in the European campaign. My father is Vanessa's uncle and he wanted to get involved in communications."
I nodded knowing that Vanessa's family was big in politics; newspaper or radio connections would've come in handy. "Before I left for Europe, my father arranged for me to court an heiress to a Manhattan Sun corporation," Emmett explained.
I gaped at him and said, "You were engaged to Mitzi Freeberg?"
Emmett chuckled, "I was married to Mitzi and when I came back after the war she was three months pregnant," he answered. "She was in love with a reporter and her father disapproved. They basically lived together while I was in army."
"Oh my goodness," I said. "What happened? I mean I know you left but why? Did they tell you to leave?"
"Hardly, both our families wanted the arrangement to stay and for Mitzi to go to England for an abortion," Emmett answered sadly.
"But you didn't stay," I said softly trying to remember what happened to the girl.
"No I didn't, I couldn't. First, I knew Mitzi really wanted her baby and secondly, it wasn't mine. I thought of claiming the baby as my own but I couldn't do it. The father really loved her and wanted the child. And the more I thought about it the more I knew I wasn't going to survive if I stayed in New York. Even if I divorced Mitzi, my parents would have found someone else for me to marry," Emmett said.
I shuddered thinking how similar this was to my story. "How did you end up out here?" I asked.
"In the end I couldn't do what they was asked of me so I told my parents I was going to divorce Mitzi. Her lover got an assignment in France so they moved there immediately. The divorce was actually easier than I thought since she was pregnant," he explained.
"Mitzi actually got the brunt of it but she was grateful that I let her go. I knew that I didn't want to go into the family business and I told my father that. He was furious and demanded I fall into line. But I wanted to go to school and was accepted to Stanford and I had the GI bill to help with expenses so I moved out here, met Rose and the rest is history."
"So you not a beatnik?" I asked.
"No Bella," he chuckled, "I have never been a beatnik. I did smoke marijuana once but it made me see Nazis attacking me. Not a pleasant experience; I wouldn't advise it."
"And not I'm not a tramp that stole Emmett from his wife," Rose said bringing me a plate of grilled cheese and a cup of tomato soup.
"Where are you from Rose?" I asked, starting to eat my food. It was a gourmet meal after living on junk the past 4 days.
"I'm from Boston," she answered. "I came out here around the same time as Em. You might know my family, the Hales?"
The Hales, I thought, thinking of a very old banking family in Boston. And then I remembered the story of the Hale daughter who ran off from her husband, Royce King.
"You're that Hale?" I asked in awe.
Rose removed her scarf that had been covering her head, revealing a long, old faded scar down her neck. I gasped in surprise as I looked at the marred skin.
"Yes I'm that Hale. My first husband was a bastard. He cheated on me and when I called him on it, his response was to choke me and then throw me down the stairs," she answered lighting up another cigarette.
"Oh my, God." I said reaching to my throat and my shoulder, thinking of how James had grabbed me the night I confronted him.
"Oh my indeed," she replied, flicking her ash into the ashtray in front of her. "I'm sorry, does the smoke bother you?"
I shook my head and continued to nibbled on my sandwich.
"Then why are you eating like a mouse?" she replied.
"No appetite," I replied honestly. I was hungry, but my stomach felt the size of a walnut.
"Well, tell us your story," Rose said patting my hand. Emmett wisely stayed behind his wife. He seemed to have some sense that I was still wary of my new home.
"Well long story short, my parents arranged for me to meet some bachelors when I turned 16. They wanted me married and they chose the louse of the lot," I told them. "I got married a year and half ago and found out last week that my husband was sleeping around on me. The mistress came to my apartment to tell me that she was pregnant. When I went to my parents for help they said I couldn't come home."
"Bella did he hit you?" Rose asked, concerned. Emmett looked at me.
I shook my head. "No he grabbed a couple times when I busted him. It left a little bruising but nothing serious. I just couldn't stay. I just couldn't." My voice cracking a little.
"No you couldn't; what did you do, other than leave?" Emmett asked.
"I cut all the crotches out of his pants and called my brother," I replied, snorting as I imagined James searching through his clothes for a useable pair of pants.
"You did what?" Rose sputtered into her coffee.
"I cut out the crotches of all his pants," I muttered, turning bright red. It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Both the McCartys looked at me for a moment and then Emmett let out a giant belly laugh and Rose burst out giggling.
"That's brilliant! I never would have thought to do that; even in my heyday," Rose said after her giggles subsided.
"You're definitely got a backbone," Emmett said, reaching for his beer. Then he sobered up. "Bella, the question is what do you want to do? We're happy to help you but you need to have a plan."
"I guess find a job and start over," I replied eating some more of my soup and dipping my grill cheese in it with my fingers. My mother would have had a fit if she saw me right now; eating with your fingers and dipping your sandwich in your soup was definitely not something they taught at finishing school.
"I can help you with that," Rose said. "But honey you're going to need a lawyer. And a good one."
I nodded. "I know that. Before I came out here I contacted my family's attorney. He told me to think about it. He's not taking me seriously."
"He probably thinks you're having a tantrum and will be home once this blows over," Rose stated in a matter-in-fact voice. "The question is Bella, do you want to go back? Sounds like you had a comfortable life back home. You know that's not what you're going to find here."
I shook my head. "I'd rather clean toilets for the rest of my life," I replied in my best imitation of Rose's voice. I wished I could be like her, confident and strong. Then I burst into tears. "I have no skills, I barely have any money." I could feel myself hyperventilating.
"Shush," Rose said, patting my back gently. "You have balls kid, you cut out the crotches of your husband's pants. You can do this, let's first take stock of the situation. You said you have some money?"
"I saved $2000," I replied, both the McCartys stared at me in shock. Sniffing I explained a little more. "A friend from a luncheon told me that I should start saving some money so I wouldn't be totally dependent on James. I'd been saving some here and there in a Tampax box in my bathroom."
"She saved it in a box of tampons," Emmett snickered. "You're full of surprises kiddo. Okay, so you have some money. Good. Rose and I have a proposition for you."
"We have a room above our garage. It's set up like a small apartment. We use it from time for young women in your situation," Rose explained. "We would love for you to use it until you're back on your feet."
"That would be lovely. How much do you charge? Would it be weekly or monthly," I asked, wondering how far I could get with the money I had. I also had some jewelry that I had brought with me to sell. I had left my engagement ring with James since it had been a family heirloom and I hadn't felt right taking it. My wedding band was in my purse along with the money and the jewelry I had taken.
"Nothing. Here's the catch, I want you to enroll in school," Rose answered. "I run a shelter for abused women and I'd like you to work for me."
My eyes bulged. "But I have no skills," I told her honestly. "And I only went to finishing school."
"Can you answer a phone?" She asked dryly.
"Of course –" I started to say.
"And did they teach you had to write in this finishing school?" Rose
interrupted.
"Yes," I answered.
"Then you can work as a receptionist," Rose said with finality. "You can enroll in the community college by our house. It's right on the bus line so you can get to and from school until you can afford to buy a car."
My head was swimming from Rose's proclamation. "But I have never been to college. I'll be the oldest person there," I replied horrified.
"I was 25 when I graduated," Emmett said, looking at me with seriousness. "If I can, you can."
"You did finish high school correct?" Rose replied.
"Of course, but like I said it was a finishing school," I told her feeling overwhelmed.
"That's fine, I'm assuming you had to pass the appropriate subjects to get a high school diploma?" she said with the same tone of finality.
"But I've been out of school for a couple years and after high school I was planning my wedding. I haven't completed school work in a long time." I told her.
"I can tutor you," Emmett answered. "Bella, you're going need to an education above whatever etiquette you were taught. Tenacity will get you far but you need an education to guide you."
"Why?" I asked like a small child and in so many ways I still was.
"Because your husband was right about one thing Bella," Rose said snubbing out her cigarette, "This is a man's world and you need be able to take care of yourself. When I got out of my marriage I swore I would help anyone who ever needed it. You're the not the first young lady I've helped and I know you won't be the last. Our spare room has seen a lot of young woman who have needed help, just like you do right now."
I had finished my sandwich and soup and felt surprisingly invigorated and excited, even though I was terrified of the unknown. But I knew this was my chance to take my life back and make something of myself, for myself. So I told them, "Thank you for the offer, I'll be happy to take you up on it," before I could chicken out.
"We're happy to help you," Rose said, taking my hand. "I have a friend who's a lawyer. We'll see her tomorrow."
"One thing," I said raising my hand.
"What's that?" Emmett asked.
"It's Bella Swan. I'm dropping Hunter like a bad habit," I told them, trying to emulate Rose's strength. It wasn't with the same conviction as her, but she smiled back at me. For the first time in four days I felt I was going to be okay.
AN: First and foremost – thank you to LSU15 for your beta. Great as always!
Now for a little clarification. This will eventually be a Bella and Edward story. For the purpose of the plot, I want Bella to be about to find herself somewhat before I bring Edward into this who will be joining shortly.
Yes, Bella is still numb and very paranoid about James coming after her. She had good reason to be too. While no one could technically force Bella to go back home, she wouldn't have had much protection until the law. Stalking was not taken seriously until 1990's and arrests in domestic disputes were rare. Since she was married to James, it would have been hard for her to have gotten a restraining order and if she did, it would not have protected her as the police rarely arrested the spouse and that person was let out usually after a few hours.
Remember it's the early 1960's and the women's movement isn't going to start for a few years. Most of the laws we enjoy protection from today were not established until the 1970's weren't really enforced until 1990's.
Thanks to everyone for taking the time read/review/favorite/follower this story!