Harlow watches Edward closely, absorbing every single detail she can—from the freckles on his cheeks to slight bend in his nose. She can hardly believe this is real, but the pain is a constant reminder. She made it out, she's free, but she's not safe. He wants her to speak to federal agents, but she doesn't trust them. People like them know all about the ranch because they're patrons. Yesterday wasn't the first time that badge has been flashed in front of her eyes, so as much as he's begged her, she can't do it. If he finds out she's talked, her mom is dead.
And honestly, just running may have killed her too. Take the opportunity if it arises, Bella told her. Don't look back and do not worry about me. But how can Harlow possibly do that? Looking at her dad, she sees the pain in his eyes, the sadness and loss. They mirror her mom's. Bella warned her he moved on, told her she would be heartbroken if he didn't, but Harlow knew better. Despite their harsh reality, they both had a secret dream—one they never spoke of because there was no use. They dreamed he'd find them, save them, and they'd live happily ever after.
But dreams are just that—dreams. Harlow knows better than to imagine one coming true, so finding Edward, seeing how much he missed her, and knowing he wants to find Bella seems impossible. Only it's not.
Reaching up, she gently touches his scruffy cheek and feels the warmth of a real person. This isn't a dream, but she's just not sure how to accept it. "Are you okay, sweet Lo?" Edward asks, smiling as he lays his hand over hers. "Can I do anything for you?"
She shakes her head. "N-No, I'm fine. It's just . . ." She struggles to find the right words, knowing it won't make sense to him. "I don't know. I-I wanted to make sure. I mean, I know you are, but—"
"It's all right, baby girl," he chuckles softly, finding her fluster absolutely adorable. "Just say it."
"Real," she quickly blurts out as her cheeks flush bright red. "It's weird."
He smiles, shaking his head as he squeezes her hand tight. "It's not. I can't tell you how many times I've pinched myself to be sure you're really here, too. You were my greatest dream, little Lo, and now my miraculous reality. It's a lot to take in."
She nods, knowing she's barely wrapped her mind around this new life. There's still so much to say, to do, and to see, and this hospital isn't exactly the most comfortable place to bare your soul to someone. "How much longer do I have to stay here?"
He seems to think for a moment before curling his lip into a smirk. "I was thinking about breaking you out today, actually. Your grandparents and aunt and uncle have been working on the house we're going to live in for a while. It was your mom's childhood home and I bought it a long time ago. It's about four hours away from here, though."
"Good," she says without a thought. Well, four days' distance would be better, but at least I'm not staying in Seattle. "I mean—"
"I understand," he assures her, noticing the relief in her expression. "I don't think it's a good idea to stay in the city either, but Forks is remote, rather unheard of, and relatively safe—compared to most towns, at least. We grew up there."
She nods, knowing all about the town from Bella. When Harlow was little, she'd tell her bedtime stories about it, adding in a cast of characters she hopes are real and always ending each story with a perfect happily ever after. It's how she knows who her family members are and little details about them. She shocked Esme by asking if she still knits warm, beautiful scarves and when she referred to her aunt Alice as Tink—the nickname Bella always used—she made her cry, though she assured Harlow they were good tears. Her mom tried so hard to give her a normal life in one that was anything but. She protected her as much as possible, suffered for her, and made sure she had the knowledge she'd need.
For all of that and more, Harlow won't stop until she finds her mom. She wants to bring her home to Forks, to this incredible family, and most of all, to Edward.
Noticing the change in her expression, Edward leans forward to kiss her temple. She snaps out of her daze, quickly masking sorrow with a soft smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Want to talk about it?" he asks, knowing the answer before she shakes her head.
"It's nothing," she says as he recites the words she's repeated over and over in his head. It's always nothing, but he knows better and doesn't want to push yet. "I just . . . I'm ready to go home."
He can't help the grin spreading across his face at the word. It's about damn time he's taking his baby girl home.
"I used to braid your mom's hair just like this," Esme says, smiling at the memory as they wait for Edward to turn. "I would sometimes put a ribbon in it, too."
Harlow nods. "Mom did the same. No wonder this reminds me of her." Her heart aches, knowing it's been over six months since the last time she saw her and so much could have happened. Her nana's touch feels similar in so many ways, but it's not exactly the same. "I miss her so much."
Tears fill Esme's eyes, but she tries to hide the tidal wave of emotion as she puts down the hairbrush. "Oh, sweetheart, I do too. She was such a special little girl and you remind me so much of her at your age. We'd call her an old soul because she was too mature for her age—like you. It seemed she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders sometimes, but . . . that was Bella. Our Bella."
She made their family complete, to be honest. She and Edward were always so, so close—inseparable at times, so she truly felt as if she lost her own daughter when Bella went missing. The idea that she's out there somewhere and has been for so long breaks Esme's heart into a million pieces. Fifteen years stolen away, for what? That's what she wants to know. Who could be so heinous to have taken a pregnant woman from a car accident? Was it even an accident in the first place? She's torn to shreds but also furious at the person responsible, and while she's not usually one for violence, she'd love to get her hands around their neck.
"It's going to be okay, Harlow," Esme says, wiping her granddaughter's soft cheeks. "We're going to find her. I know it in my heart." She smiles to comfort Harlow, but in reality she isn't so sure. There's so much unknown and it seems like an impossible feat.
Before Harlow can respond, there's a knock on the door and a strange man comes in with a wheelchair. She doesn't recognize him and slightly shrinks away as Esme looks up to read his badge. Riley.
"I'm here to take you both downstairs. Dr. Cullen is waiting outside," he says, pushing the chair close as she checks her phone. No messages from Edward, which is strange if he's waiting for them.
She cocks her head slightly, looking at the young man closely. "Did he call? I haven't gotten any messages that he's here. Do you have her paperwork?"
"Dr. Cullen does," he says, almost if he's bored. "You probably don't have a good signal or something. Are you ready?"
Harlow nods, wanting nothing more than to get out of this hospital she's been trapped in for two weeks. Granted, she doesn't remember the first week what with the unconsciousness, but she woke up ready to leave. Esme's a little unsure, but the orderly does have credentials and she knows coverage has been a little spotty. She brushes the strange feeling off as overprotectiveness and quickly helps Harlow into the wheelchair before putting the small duffle bag over her shoulder.
While Esme helps Harlow get ready, Edward heads back to his apartment to pack up his own things. He hasn't been home since Harlow was hit, but his parents have been staying there and packing it up between visits. He turned in his resignation three days after Harlow woke up, knowing he couldn't keep her here and in a way, it seemed right to take her to Forks. He bought Charlie's house right after he passed, paying off the loan he'd taken against it to pay for private investigators. He never believed Bella died, saying he'd feel it, but detective after detective couldn't find a damn thing and he put every dime he had into the search. Edward and his family helped, Charlie wouldn't take much. He said he didn't need anything except Bella.
And I fucking moved on, he thinks, unlocking his front door and heading inside. He's quick to pack up his clothes and throws the bags in his truck, saving the safe for last. While there are four handguns and two rifles inside, only one of them is his. Considering she stays with him or on base when she's stateside, Kate keeps important things with him and he's incredibly thankful for it now. He packs up the ammo and puts the guns in their cases, storing them under the backseat in his truck before his phone suddenly rings. As if her ears are burning, it's her face on his screen and he quickly answers as he slides into the front seat.
"Thank Christ," he says, feeling the weight of the last few weeks coming down on him. "Are you okay?"
"Am I okay?" she asks, her voice just as teasing as usual. "I think you've had a more eventful time than I have. Holy shit, Edward! Your daughter is alive? How is that even . . . where the hell—"
"I still have a shitload of questions myself, Kate. Where are you? Back in the US yet?"
She sighs and he braces himself during the silence afterwards. "I have another mission. I'm so sorry. I know I need to be there, but I can't—"
"You can't disregard orders," he finishes for her. "No chance of leave?"
"I'm afraid not right now. I'm . . . in the middle of something. I can't really stay on the phone too long, either. I'm between planes right now."
He cocks his brow, wondering what the hell she's gotten herself into this time. He tries to listen for background noise, but it's silent. "I get it, but, uh . . . I do have one favor."
"Of course, anything."
"I'm going to need to borrow your guns."
"Edward, what are you going to do?"
He shakes his head to himself, looking around the parking garage. "Nothing, but I don't know what exactly Harlow is associated with. The FBI isn't sure if the man who ran her over is involved in her disappearance, but it's still a possibility. I just want to be prepared."
"Be careful and don't do anything I wouldn't do," she teases sadly. "Just take care of her and I promise I'll be back as soon as I can. I can't wait to meet her, love."
"You'll like her." He smiles, wishing her good luck on whatever incredibly dangerous thing she's doing and asking her to keep in touch when possible. Glancing at the clock on the dashboard, he realizes it's past one—when he told Esme he'd be back. He shoots her a quick text before pulling out and making the short drive back.
He parks close to the main entrance and ducks inside, taking the stairs up to the third floor with a damn skip in his step. He can't wait to have Harlow out of this city and in a place they can make a home. Forks was his home for most of his young life until his parents moved to Port Angeles and he went to college, and it would have been Harlow's home too. He and Bella always planned on moving home after school and his military contract, so, again, it seems right make this sudden move.
As he passes the nurses station, he waves at Leah and she creases her brow. "Forget something?" she asks, standing up from her desk.
"Yeah, my daughter," he chuckles, turning into the room to find it completely empty. "Leah?"
"An orderly took them downstairs about five minutes ago," she says, quickly coming to his side with a worrisome expression. "You didn't call?"
His entire world crashes around him as he bolts from the room, yelling for his mom and Harlow. He tells security to lock down the hospital and call the police before tearing open the stairwell door and running down. This isn't happening, he thinks as he gets to the main lobby and heads for the parking garage. They could easily get that far in five minutes and it seems like the most logical place to him. They could have gone to the loading dock too, though.
"Harlow!" he yells and his voice echoes off the concrete structure. "Mom!"
He hears a blood curdling scream somewhere nearby and follows it up one level. When he runs out of the stairwell, though, the sight before him is nothing as he expects and something he'll never forget. He can't even process it right away, taking a few seconds and multiple glances to understand. His mom is holding a Taser and repeatedly hits the trigger as a man in scrubs lays in the fetal position, screaming like an infant
"Put a gun in my back again, you son of a bitch!" she screams, continuing to inflict as much pain as possible. "You lying piece of—Edward!" She stops for a second, as he runs over, flipping the man on his stomach and putting a knee in his back.
Considering where the Taser landed on him, Edward doubts he's going anywhere but he'd rather be safe than sorry. "When did you get a Taser?" he asks incredulously as she hits it again. "Stop!"
"I just want to be sure!" she yells back, tossing him the gun.
He disconnects it, leaving the prongs in place for someone more qualified in urology than him. It's definitely going to leave a mark, which Edward can't seem to feel sorry for. "Who are you?" he asks, pressing his knee into the guy's back. "Tell me!"
"F-Fuck you," he coughs out, gasping for relief.
Edward wants to smash his face into the concrete, but he's surprisingly in control and possible still reeling from the sight of his mom standing over a man as she tased his testicals. Harlow's cries keep him from giving in to his deepest desires and he watches as Esme wraps her arms around her. "Are you both okay?"
She nods, pressing a kiss to Harlow's temple. "He didn't hurt us."
Leaning down closer to the piece of shit, he whispers, "You're lucky I'm not willing to kill someone in front of them. Now, who the fuck sent you?"
Groaning in pain, he shakes his head before Edward puts more pressure on him and he cries out. "My fucking balls, man!"
"Are probably not going to make it if you keep struggling and I start pulling these cords," he sneers, grabbing them and tugging just enough to get his point across. "Again, who sent you? Think about your answer very carefully."
"Caius!" he grunts out as red and blue lights come up the ramp across the garage. Edward takes a moment to look at Harlow, finding her white as a sheet as the two look at each other. "She's dead."
Letting his control slip for a second, he jerks the man's arm back and hears a satisfying pop while he screams until he passes out. He knows full well this isn't over and whoever the hell Caius is won't stop at just one goon, but having a name to go on is a start.
I just plain suck. I've rewritten this chapter about 50 times and I'm still not 100% happy, but I didn't want to keep you all waiting any longer. Also, I did have to go back to chapter one and make one small change because I wasn't thinking clearly. Jasper is Alice's husband, not a nurse in the ER.
I can't thank you all enough for sticking with me. Now that the actual meat part of this story is starting, I'm hoping to get a little more regular in posting. My outline is a bit more concrete now, so if Edward cooperates, we should be good. Much, much, much love!
