Edward Cullen POV
I looked at Bella and she seemed so happy that I had to commemorate this moment with a toast. I wasn't one for speeches very often, but this seemed to be an appropriate time.
I cleared my throat and stood, "I'd like to make a toast, if I may." Everyone turned their attention to me.
"To family," I raised my glass to my parents. "To the very best friends," I raised my glass to Jasper and Bella looked to me. "To new friends." Which were Alice, Emmet and Rosalie. "And to love, may it never waiver or disappear again." I finished with a nod to Bella. She blushed, and I knew that my words hit home with her.
As I sat back down everyone murmured their agreement. We started passing platters around everyone began digging into the food. Conversation began to flow freely and we were talking about how Alice and Rosalie ended up coming to the island.
"Well, I actually ended up coming here because of Emmet and Rose." Alice said. "Emmet came here because he had heard about Captain's Cliff his whole life. Who is it that lived here, Em?" Alice asked, and we turned our attention to Emmet.
He cleared his throat and looked slightly embarrassed.
"I'm not sure, but I remember my mom saying that I had a relative that was from here. I decided to come to the island and see if I could figure it out, but I found out that anyone that would have known had already passed away." He shrugged his shoulders and went back to his food.
"Anyway, when our Uncle John passed away Rose and I came up to here to settle everything. I decided to run the bar for a while and then wanted to stay. Rose met Em, and I met Jasper." She smiled at my friend and I could see the love between them. My heart swelled for them. I looked at Bella and she looked like she was trying to figure out all the information she was listening to.
"So Bella, are you ready to tell everyone about your decision?" I asked as my parents looked to her eagerly. She paled slightly and then rolled her eyes.
"Well, I if I wasn't, I'm certainly on the spot now." She replied with a laugh. "Well, I've decided that I want to renovate the house and turn it into a bed and breakfast. I always thought that the island needed one, so why not?" she shrugged a little and I knew that she was nervous about what everyone would say.
"I think that's a wonderful idea, Bella!" my mother exclaimed. "I'd be happy to help you with decorating ideas or anything. I think Captain's Cliff would really benefit from an inn." She said as she smiled at Bella.
Alice piped up and in turn put both myself and Bella on the spot.
"Um, Edward, are you going to be overseeing the renovations? I mean, you an architect, why couldn't you do the designs based on whatever Bella decides?" she asked casually, but I saw the look that Jasper gave her. She simply smiled and he rolled his eyes at her.
Bella and I sat there sputtering for a moment, when my father chimed in and saved us.
"I'm sure Bella isn't even sure what she wants to do yet, but if she's smart, and I know she is, I'm sure she'll ask Edward's advice." He stated and that seemed to shut everyone up about that. At least for the moment.
"When do you think you'll start?" Rosalie asked. Bella took a sip of her wine before answering.
"Well, I've also decided that I'm going to be moving back to the island." She started. I felt myself beaming. I caught Jasper's eye and he grinned at me.
"So, I'll need to go back to California and pack up and move everything or ship it up here. But I figure I should probably do that soon. Then after getting all the permits and whatnot, I can get started." She finished.
"Well, you don't have to make any decisions right now about what you want to do," my mother began. "But, I am so happy to hear that you've decided to move back. With you here, it will almost be like having my whole family back again." She dabbed lightly at her eyes with her napkin.
We all fell silent for a moment. I looked to Bella and it looked like she and Emmet were staring at each other intently. Her brow was even drawn together like she was concentrating on not breaking her gaze.
I cleared my throat to break the silence.
"Mom, this was fantastic! Thanks for dinner." I said as happily as I could, even though I knew something was wrong with Bella.
"Thank you darling." My mom said as she patted the back of my hand. "You boys get to do the dishes." She said with a laugh.
I grumbled something under my breath and Jasper laughed with me.
Since everyone was finished I started clearing plates and walked into the kitchen. I heard the door swing open and turned to see Bella standing there holding some plates and silverware.
"Are you ok?" I asked cautiously. I knew something was wrong with her; her face was flushed and it looked like her eyes were filled with tears. I took the plates from her and her hands started to shake.
"I'm not ok, but I can't explain right now. Um, I'm going to the music room. Come find me when you're done." She said. I nodded and she took up the back stairs off the kitchen before I could say another word.
I set the plates on the counter when Jasper and my dad came walking in carrying the rest of the dinner dishes.
"Son, is Bella alright? She came in here, but didn't come out." He stated matter of factly and opened the dishwasher to begin loading it.
"I'm not sure." I replied quietly. I began putting the leftovers away and made a mental note to smuggle them out tonight when we left.
"Did you see how Bells and Emmet were staring at each other?" Jasper asked. "It looked like she wanted to rip his head off. What happened when you guys met with him today?"
I told them both about how supportive he was and how he had explained that he thought that the vacation homes would ruin the appeal of our small town.
"Well, maybe he said something earlier that finally hit Bella?" Jasper offered up. I shrugged.
"She did mention that she thought he was familiar to her. Maybe she finally placed how she knows him." I said. I was wondering if maybe they did know each other and they both realized it. The possibilities were endless.
We finished cleaning up and set the dishwasher to run. My father began brewing a pot of coffee and I motioned for Jasper to follow me upstairs.
We walked up the stairs and went down the hallway and paused outside a door that was pushed to. I could hear Bella at the piano playing the only song she had ever learned. I put my finger to my lips to tell Jasper to hush. We listened as Bella sang along with her playing. I had forgotten how beautiful her voice was.
When we were in school, Bella was in choir and she always got the best solos. The two times our school put on a play, she got the lead because we did musicals. She had an amazing talent. She couldn't play an instrument, but one day she asked me to teach her a song. It was a sweet but sad song. And listening to her sing it now was cutting me like a knife.
"It seems like every time I try to make it right, it all comes down on me. Please say honestly you won't give up me, and I shall believe." She sung as we crept inside. If she heard us, she never let on. She just continued to play and sing.
"Please say honestly you won't give up on me, and I shall believe. I shall believe." She finished the song and sat on the bench for a few moments before saying anything. I knew she could see Jasper, because he was basically standing right next to her. I was sitting on the small sofa behind her.
Bella stood up and went to crawl under the piano. Jasper and I followed her and I lay down on her right, while he was on her left. I looked up and saw our names scrawled on the underside of the instrument in sharpie.
I read the quote Bella had written to myself. May the Lord watch between me and thee while are absent one from the other.
None of us were particularly religious, but we agreed that it was fitting; given that Jasper and I were about to graduate and go out into the world on our own. It was hard; we all went through our personal struggles and problems. We made new friends and lost track of each other from time to time. We fought and loved and remained as close as we could. Laying here with my two best friends made me realize that we needed that time away from each other to figure out who we were as individuals. I was grateful for that.
"I remember how depressed I was right before you guys graduated." Bella said. "I remember thinking that I would never see either one of you again, and we would never stay friends."
I heard Jasper chuckle, "Bella, you can't get of us that easily. You're stuck with us for life."
I smiled but remained silent. I was waiting for Bella to explain herself. I grabbed her hand and laced my fingers with hers. She squeezed my hand and took a deep breath.
"So, I think that I leave on Friday, I could have everything packed and ready to go by the following Monday. I mean, I only have a tiny apartment and not much furniture." She started, "Edward, do you think your parents would let me stay here until the house is done?"
"Of course they would Bells. You know that. What about after the house is done?" I asked.
"Well, I was thinking that I could expand on my old room and live there. I mean, it's my home and I'll be running it, so it makes sense." She explained.
"So, you're really going to come home?" Jasper asked quietly. I think he had secretly believed that his friends would never realize what he had; that home was the best place to be. I honestly believed that at some point he would get fed up and kidnap us both and bring us back to the island.
"Yes Jazzy, I'm coming home. For good." Bella giggled. We all started laughing and were content to lay there for a few more minutes until we heard Alice calling for us to come downstairs for coffee and dessert.
Jasper jumped up and grinned down at us, "I love your mom's desserts!" he exclaimed and took off down the stairs. Bella and I continued to lay there for a moment. It was killing me so I finally just asked.
"Bells, what's wrong?" I rolled onto my side and propped my head on my hand. She mirrored my actions and sighed.
"Edward, there are some things that I never told you, never told anyone about my parents. Well, specifically my father. I have had so many questions over the years, and I think one of them has finally been answered." She stated rather cryptically.
"What do you mean?" I asked, fishing for more info. She smiled.
"It's a long story and I want to tell you. But, more importantly, will you come to California with me?" she asked as she stood up and brushed herself off. She offered a hand to me and I took it. As I stood up she looked at me expectantly.
"To help you move? Sure, I'll go with you." I answered and she smiled. She walked to the door. "But I have a few conditions." She turned to me and I smirked.
"And what would those be, Cullen?" she asked as she put her hands on her hips.
"One," I began as I walked towards her. "You explain to me the stuff about your parents." She nodded and bit her lip. "Two, you agree to stay with me during the renovation." She was about to speak, but I cut her off. "It'll be easier to go over the plans with you if we're in the same house. Plus, I think we need to get used to each other again. Thirdly, let's not drive. We can fly out of Seattle and ship everything."
As much as I would love to spend a couple days in car with Bella, I knew that we would fight the whole way. That's what happened when we drove down to Disneyland with Jasper for her 17th birthday. Jasper was so angry at both of us that he spent half the day alone in the park.
"Ok, I agree to the first two." Bella began, "And I'll agree to the third and fourth on some conditions of my own. One, I will pay for my own plane ticket." She gave me a pointed look and I nodded; even though we both knew that I would book some seats as soon as we got back to my house. "And, I'll only agree to ship everything if it isn't too terribly expensive. I mean, I have quite a bit in savings and all the family money, but I'm going to be starting my own business. I just want to be careful." She finished and I nodded in agreement.
"Deal." I said. She was about to head down the stairs when I caught her wrist and brought her to me. I had one arm wrapped around her torso and her breath hitched in her throat. She subconsciously licked her lips and I leaned down brushed mine over hers. I felt her shudder at the light touch and wanted desperately to deepen the kiss. Just as I was about to run my tongue over her lips asking for permission my mother hollered for us to come back downstairs.
Bella pulled away and ran her hands through her hair. She looked up at me and I gave her a crooked smile. She grinned back and rapped me lightly on the chest.
"Race you!" she yelled and took off down the stairs. I grinned and flew after her.
I breezed past her and when I got the living room I was panting and she came crashing into my back. We both started laughing when my mother tried to scold us.
"You know, after 20 years you think you two would understand that there is no running in the house." She said with a twinkle in her eye. We both apologized through giggles and sat down while my dad poured us both a cup of coffee and my mom handed up plates of strawberry tarts.
"Esme, where did Rosalie and Emmet go?" Bella asked as she took a bite of the tart. Her eyes closed and I could have sworn I heard her moan lightly.
"Oh, they wanted to say goodbye, but something came up and they needed to leave. They apologized but said that they would like to see you soon." She explained.
"Oh, ok. Esme, this is so good! I tried making this dozens of times, but it never turned out as well as yours." Bella said as she took another bite. We sat around eating while Alice filled us in on more wedding plans.
"I just haven't figured out where to have the ceremony. I mean, we could go to Seattle, but Jasper and I met here. We're going to live here. I feel like it should be somewhere on the island." She said with a sigh.
"Well, I'm not going to promise anything, but why don't you have the wedding and reception at the house? If it's finished by then you could have it in the garden in the back and then the reception inside. If you want to of course." Bella offered and Alice's face lit up.
"Really Bella? I mean, I would love it, but you hardly know me. That's a lot to offer." Alice back tracked.
"Alice, you're basically going to be my sister. Besides, what a great way to commemorate the grand opening? We'll see if we can get it finished, or at least the bottom floor and the garden. But I also have a few ideas that might work if it's not ready yet." Bella replied. Everyone was touched by Bella's offer and Alice was on the verge of tears.
"Oh Bella!" Alice cried as she jumped out of her seat and crushed Bella in a hug. "Thank you so much! You've really made all this wedding planning seem so much easier!" Alice pulled away and Bella chuckled.
"Alice, it's my pleasure. As soon as Edward and I get back from California, we can go over some things and I can show you the other places that might interest you." Bella replied as she took a drink of her coffee.
"Bella, when are you leaving for California?" my dad asked earnestly. It seemed like he might have something up his sleeve.
"I think that if we leave Friday and fly down, that we could have everything packed and ready to either move or ship by Monday." Bella answered.
"Well, are you going to ship or rent a truck and move?" he asked. I was wondering where he was going with all the questions, but it also seemed normal since Bella and I were the only ones that had discussed this.
"Well, I'll look up what shipping costs will be and decide from there. I don't have much stuff and I could probably sell a lot of my furniture. I know some friends of mine really want some of it. But, I guess it just all depends." She shrugged as she finished her coffee.
I glanced at my watch and took note of the time. I wanted to get Bella home at a reasonable time because I wanted to talk to her about some things. I stood up and stretched which I knew would clue Bella in that it was time to leave.
Everyone else got up and Alice and Jasper were murmuring about going home.
"Well, it was nice to have my house filled at least for a few hours." My mother said quietly. I went to her and wrapped her in a hug.
"Mom, if I have my way, it will be filled all the time. And hopefully soon, little feet will be running through it." I whispered in her ear. When I pulled back her eyes were filled with tears. She looked at me curiously, and then glanced at Bella who was talking to Alice and Jasper.
I nodded and kissed her cheek. She wiped away at her tears and called Bella over for a hug.
I went to Alice and kissed her cheek and grinned at Jasper.
"We finally got her home, man." Jasper said with a smile.
"Yeah, now we just have to keep her here." I responded. I turned when I heard Bella laughing with my mother. I turned to my dad and shook hands with him.
"Thanks for dinner, dad." I said casually. He rolled his eyes and grinned at me.
"You don't need an invitation, son. But, bringing Bella is a definite plus." He laughed and put an arm around my shoulder and led me to the coat rack.
"I want to pay to have Bella's things shipped here. I assume that she'll be staying with you during the remodel?" he asked. I raised my eyebrows at him and he laughed. "I'm a father Edward, we know these things. She can store her things here in the garage if she wants to. But don't tell her. Just have it down." He finished. I rolled my eyes at him.
"Great dad, let her be pissed at me for just 'doing' something for her. She'll eat me alive; you know she hates that!" I exclaimed.
"Then blame your mother and myself. She won't be angry with us. We just want her back here sooner, rather than later." He replied and then moved to hug Bella.
She went willingly into his arms and I saw him murmuring against her head. She pulled back abruptly and looked up at him. He nodded at her and she flung herself at him again and hugged him for dear life.
When they broke away kissed both Alice and Jasper on the cheeks and then pulled her coat and scarf on. We said our goodbyes and headed out to my truck. We got in and I pulled out of the drive and headed to my house by the docks.
We were silent for the entire drive, which really is only several minutes. I pulled up in front of my house and we walked up to the front door. Bella was quiet; but I wasn't concerned. She had a serene look about her face and I had the feeling that she was reveling in the fact that she spent the evening with her family for the first time in years.
We got inside and both hung up our coats. I went to the kitchen to get a drink and Bella followed.
"What would you like?" I asked as I began pulling out hot chocolate mix and some peppermint schnapps.
"Do you have any tea?" she asked as she pulled herself up on the counter. I nodded and pulled out a few boxes of bagged tea. She looked them over and finally picked strawberry zinger. I put the other boxes away and filled the kettle and set it on the stove to boil.
I was pulling mugs out of the cabinet when I remembered the moment between my father and Bella when we were leaving their home.
"Bella, what did my father say to you before we left?" I asked casually. If she was ready to tell me, she would. But even if she wasn't, I could always ask my dad later.
"Oh, well…he wants to invest in the B and B." she said evenly. She put a teaspoon of sugar in her mug and opened her tea bag.
"Really? How do you feel about that?" I asked as the kettle started to whistle. I poured hot water into her mug and then mine.
"I'm flattered that he offered, and frankly he won't let me refuse. But…" she stopped.
"But what? And you know that he wouldn't do anything that you didn't want." I supplied. She sighed and slid off the counter.
"I know that. I appreciate the offer and frankly, it will probably help. Not only financially, but with Carlisle as an investor, people around here might be more open to the idea. It's just that I wish it were my parents doing this with me. That's all." She finally said as she threw her used tea bag in the garbage. I finished making up my hot cocoa and we headed into the living room. I sat on the couch, but Bella went to the fireplace.
She looked back at me and I nodded. She began building a small fire and when it was lit, she came and sat on the other end of the couch with her feet curled under her.
"Bells, I can't begin to understand how you feel right now. You quit your job, decided in a matter of like, two days to move back here AND open a business. That's a lot going on there." I said as I looked into her eyes. "Just know, that all of us are here to help you any way that we can." She smiled at me and nodded.
We sat in silence for a bit sipping our drinks. I reached over and picked a small remote off the coffee table and hit he power button. The CD player began to play the first thing that was in there. If I ad remembered what it was, I might not have turned it on.
"Is this really what I think it is?" Bella asked with wide eyes. I cringed slightly and nodded. She started laughing and reached for the remote to turn it up.
The CD was a mix that Bella had made for the three of us. It had a collection of random songs that Bella thought we couldn't live without hearing. When we first got the discs, Jasper and I could barely listen to some of the music. But over the years, I knew that personally it had become some of my favorite songs.
As the next song started to play Bella began singing along. I watched her for a moment and then stood up and pulled her with me. We started to sway along with the music; I realized in that moment that I had always wanted to dance with her.
She was leaning her head against my shoulder and murmuring the lyrics to "Revolution" by Robbie Williams.
"With Love in your eyes and a pain in your heart you're gonna find yourself some resolution. A million miles with one step, and you'll find yourself yet. Walking with the revolution." Bella crooned and I grinned listening to her sing. I wondered if she heard the hidden meaning in the lyrics like I did.
Here she was changing her life; making a revolution for herself. I wondered if she was thinking about finding Anabelle's diary still. If that was still going to be her main focus, or is she was just doing what she honestly felt was right. I was about to ask her when she picked her head up and looked at me.
I stared down at her and realized that we had stopped moving with the music. I moved a piece of hair away from her eyes and cupped her cheek.
I'm not sure who went to whom, because it felt like we moved together. We kissed and it felt like everything in the past; all the hurt, the love, the fighting and the sadness just disappeared. Her lips moved under mine and she was clutching my shoulders with all her strength.
I traced my tongue along her bottom lip and she allowed me access to her mouth. I slipped inside and she wrestled with me briefly before pulling away. I immediately felt guilty about letting that go on for as long as it did.
"Edward," was all she said. The way she looked up at me, with passion filling her eyes, I couldn't resist. If she asked me to stop, I would but I wasn't going to let this opportunity pass me up.
I scooped her up and carried her to my bedroom. I laid her down on my bed and hovered over her. She smiled up at me from under her eyelashes and I took her mouth again. She moaned into my mouth and my hands began a slow and lazy trek down her body. I could feel how pert her nipples were beneath her thick sweater. I was dying to find out if her core was wet and hot; waiting for me.
When I reached the hem of her sweater I looked up to her for permission. She nodded slightly and I put my hands under and tugged. She wriggled her body and helped to get her sweater over her head. She laid there in her jeans and a nude colored lacy bra. I gasped quietly at the sight of her creamy skin and her breasts that were standing at attention.
I ran my hands over them softly and smiled when I heard Bella moan. Her hands when to the bottom of my shirt and pulled. I sat up briefly to pull the sweater and my t-shirt off. Before I came back down, Bella reached up to the curve between her breasts and unclasped her bra. She slid it off her shoulders and when I came down to meet her flesh with mine, it was heat on heat.
I returned to her lips and deepened our kiss. I could feel my erection pressing against her thigh and I knew that she could feel how aroused I was. I thrusted my hips gently against her and she bucked up against me. I pulled away from her and saw that her lips were swollen and her face was flushed.
"Are you ok, my love?" I asked quietly as I began to undo her jeans. She nodded and lifted her hips so I could tug them off of her.
"I want you Edward. I've always wanted you." She breathed. I moved down the bed kissed each of her thighs. She hissed and I could feel the warmth radiating from her center. I pulled her matching underwear down her legs and deposited them on the floor with the rest of her clothes. I rubbed a finger up her folds and she bucked her hips again.
I grinned and leaned closer to her. Her scent was intoxicating to me. It was sweet and musky. I used my finger to explore her slit and found her tiny nub protruding and begging for me to touch it. I rubbed it gently, which caused Bella to moan again. I glanced up and saw her fists clutching the bedspread.
I flicked my tongue out and licked her core. Her taste was driving me mad with lust, but I wanted her to cum for me before I made her mine. I licked her tiny bundle and slid one finger into her. I began sliding my finger in and out of her as I continued to lick. As I moved my finger faster and licked harder, I felt Bella's walls start to clamp around me. I heard her moan and whisper my name, and when I slipped another finger into her and sucked on her clit, I pushed her over the edge.
She came hard and fast and I knew that I needed to slow down and let her calm down and catch her breath. I pulled myself back up to lay next to her and caress her skin lightly. Her breathing was ragged and her skin was dewy and flushed. I nuzzled her neck and waited for her breathing to return to normal.
I felt my erection straining against the denim of my jeans, but I waited to take them off. I wasn't sure if Bella would be ready to sleep with me, even after what we had just done; or more accurately, what I had just done to her.
She turned towards me and kissed my jaw line and up to my ear. She sucked lightly at my ear lobe and whispered, "Edward, I want to taste you." I know my eyes rolled back into my head as she moved to remove my pants. I raised my hips to help her get me out of my denim prison.
She dropped my pants and my boxers to the floor and I saw her eyes grow slightly wider. I propped myself up on my elbows and saw as she reached out a shaky hand to grip my erection. I moaned at the contact, but I sensed that Bella was nervous.
"Bella, you don't have to do this. We don't have to do anything more, if you don't want to." I said as evenly as I could. She started to move her hand up and down my shaft. She grazed her thumb over the tip and used my glistening wetness as lubrications for her movements.
"I want to Edward; it's just that I've never done this before." She said timidly. I sighed and went to move her hand away and pull her to me.
"But I want to try. Will you let me?" she asked huskily. I simply nodded, because I had no other words for her. She moved her lips close to my head and her tongue darted out to lick at it. I felt myself fall back onto the bed as her mouth engulfed my engorged being.
She began to move her mouth up and down and was working her tongue along the underside of my cock. I was responding much more quickly than I wanted and when Bella began moving her hand along with her mouth, I knew that I had to stop her before I finished.
I picked myself up and pulled Bella away from me. She looked confused.
"That was amazing Bells. But I want to be inside of you tonight." I said as I pulled her to me and laid her back down on the bed. I kissed her deeply and massaged her breasts. I leaned down and brought one of her peaks into my mouth and I groaned when she moaned my name.
I lightly pushed her legs apart with my knee and rested between her thighs. I reached into my night stand drawer and pulled out a condom. I ripped into the foil package and rolled it on as I Bella bit into her bottom lip. I lined myself up with her wet core and looked to her for permission once again.
She nodded, "Just go slow. It's been awhile." She said as she blushed. I nodded and slid into her. Bella felt incredible around me. I met some resistance and pushed through. Her gasp brought me back to reality.
"Are you ok?" I asked as I leaned down to kiss her neck and let her become accustomed to me being inside of her.
Bella nodded and I gave her another moment to adjust while I captured her lips in mine. I felt her body vibrate beneath me as she moaned into my mouth and then she wrapped her arms around me. I pulled out slowly and thrust back in. I continued until I built a slow but steady rhythm and we were both panting and kissing every available inch of skin we could reach on the other one.
I felt Bella's walls clench around me and she screamed my name when she reached her orgasm. Her nails clawed at the taught skin over my shoulder blades. I was having a hard time staying focused and not rushing through this.
I could the muscles in my abdomen start to tighten and I knew I was close. Looked into Bella's eyes and saw her smile as me. I thrust a little deeper and harder and I felt her cum again, just as I spilled myself. I pumped several more times and collapsed on top of her. We lay there for a few moments catching our breath.
"Omph, Edward. You have to move, please." Bella said quietly. I rolled myself off of her and I felt the bed shift as she got up and ran to my bathroom.
I pulled the condom of and threw it into the trash can by my bed. I reached down pulled my boxers back on. I sat at the end of the bed and ran my hands through my hair. For some reason I felt incredibly guilty. I wanted Bella, and I took her. I knew that I didn't force her; she wouldn't have allowed that and I could never do that to her. But there was a feeling deep inside of me that was telling me that what had just happened, as beautiful and perfect as it was, it was wrong.
I heard Bella come back into the bedroom and she grabbed her underwear from a pile on the floor and pulled them on. She smiled at me as she grabbed my white t-shirt I had been wearing. She pulled that on and crawled up behind me on the bed. She began rubbing my shoulders and neck. I leaned into her movements.
"I can see you're struggling with this." She said quietly. I stiffened slightly and she dropped her hands. I turned to look at her but I couldn't meet her eyes. She lifted my chin with her finger and I looked into her deep eyes.
"That was wonderful. There was nothing wrong about that." She said firmly. I nodded and she pulled me with her to lie down. We pulled the blankets down and crawled underneath. I lay on my back and she curled into my shoulder.
"So, I was thinking that there isn't a lot in the way of renovations for your house. It'd be more like repairs and what not. I know it would only be 4 rooms, but I'm pretty sure that those small sheds out back could be renovated and added onto to make some more rentable space." I said as I stroked Bella's hair. She rolled over so she was resting her chin on my chest.
"You really think so? I was thinking one of the rooms on the second floor could have a bathroom added to it. The one at the end of the hall." She said, and I nodded.
"That would be easy. Then we would just repair what needs it and you'll have to repaint. I don't care if you keep that same color that grammie liked, but it desperately needs to be repainted." I said with a laugh as Bella wrinkled her nose.
"I loved my grandmother, but that color has got to go!" she exclaimed. "When I went through it when I got here, it seems like everything is good. Jasper's been taking very good care of it apparently."
"Yeah, it's his home too. We all grew up there Bella, you just lived there more often than we did." I said and I lightly scratched her back. I could have sworn I heard her purr.
"I wasn't there very long, but I didn't notice anything that needed...wait..." she said as she sat up suddenly.
"What is it?" I asked curiously. She looked at me wide eyed and jumped off the bed and started pulling on her clothes.
"Get dressed, we have to go over there!" she said. I got up and pulled my jeans on.
"Bells, what's going on?" I asked as I pulled my sweater over my head. She did some kind of magic trick and put her bra on without removing my shirt. I was more than a little bewildered.
"When I was there and I went up to the walk, one of the floorboards squeaked when I walked over it. It's right by the door." She slipped into her shoes and pulled her hair up into a bun. She looked at me with excited eyes. "Do you have a crowbar?" she asked as she breezed past me.
"Bella, wait!" I called after her as I tried to pull my shoes back on. I walked out and found her waiting by the front door with her coat on and her keys in her hand.
"Bella, so a floorboard is loose. We'll deal with it when we start. Why do we need to go over there now?" I asked as I slipped into my jacket and led her outside to my truck. I opened the tool box on the back pulled out a small crow bar. She took and jumped in her car. I ran to follow her and as soon as I was in she started it up and took off.
"Bella, tell what's going on!" I cried as she careened through town. Luckily it was late, so no one was out to see us racing up to Lover's Curve. When we pulled up to the gates in front of her house she parked the car and jumped out. The headlights were casting enough light on the drive. I opened her glove box and was lucky to find a flashlight.
I ran up behind her and followed her up the steps to the front door. I shone the light on the door knob and she inserted the key. When we got inside she flipped on the lights and started upstairs.
"Edward, I didn't realize it when I was here. Seeing Anabelle really threw me for a loop, I guess. But the floorboard was loose. And then when she came to me earlier tonight, I should have known." She said as we sprinted up the stairs. I caught her on the landing of the third floor.
"What do you mean she came to you tonight? Why didn't you tell me?" I asked incredulously.
"She brought me to the house. I saw her diary. She was on the walk; I mean I was on the walk. It was like I was her. She was waiting again for him, for Anthony." She explained as she started up the small stairway to the walk. "I saw her write in her diary and put it down, then she went to her room, my room and it wasn't with her."
I followed her up into the sun room and we paused outside the door that led to the walk. I hadn't been up here for years. It brought back so many memories for me.
"I'm not quite sure I'm following you, Bella. What are we doing up here?" I asked as I brought myself back from my memories.
"I think Anabelle's diary is under the floorboard." Bella said plainly and I understood. She opened the door and the wind whipped at us.
She walked slowly over the threshold and we both heard a distinctive squeak.
"This one right here. Can you pry it up?" she asked excitedly. I knelt down and slid the crow bar between the boards and worked it back forth until it started to come loose. I pulled up and the piece of wood came up. I pushed it aside and Bella shone the flashlight into the hole.
I didn't see anything at first, but then something shiny caught my eye. I reached in and pulled out an old tin box. It was plain, without any decorations. I handed it up to Bella who sat down on the floor next to me. She handed me the flash light and I shone it over the box. She took a deep breath and pulled the lid off.
There wasn't a journal inside. The only thing that was in there was a small envelope with the name Swan written on it. Bella slid her finger under the flap and shakily ripped it open. A small brass key fell out onto her hand and she pulled a small piece of paper from the envelope.
"This is weird." She said as she showed me the paper. "I think it's a safety deposit box number." She said.
I nodded, "This is some Da Vinci Code crap, Bella." She laughed lightly and rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, but aren't you curious as to what's inside the box?" she asked. I shrugged.
"Well I am. I'm going to Seattle tomorrow." She proclaimed.
I set the floorboard back and stood up. I helped Bella to her feet and she carried her treasures down the stairs with her.
"Why Seattle?" I asked as we descended the stairs. We were almost to the front door and Bella hit the light switch.
"Because Edward," she said as we stepped outside and she locked the door. "Seattle Bank and Trust is written on the note."
We walked back to her car and she drove us back to my place. She went and brought her laptop out and looked up the bank hours. While she did that I brought out my own computer and booked two plane tickets for Friday morning and made sure a rental car would be waiting for us.
"The bank opens at 9am. If I catch the 7 o'clock ferry, I should make it there by 10, right?" she asked as she closed her laptop.
"Yeah, that should be enough time. We can grab something there and then drive back." I said casually as I turned off my computer.
"So, you want to come with?" she asked coyly. I rolled my eyes at her.
"Hey, I just busted up your floor, of course I'm going to go with you!" I said with a laugh. She came and sat on my lap and laid her head on my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her close to me.
"It's pretty late. If we want to leave early we should probably get to bed." I said as I looked at the clock.
Bella stood and looked slightly forlorn.
"Alright, I'll see you in the morning." She said and started to walk to her room. I stood up and pulled her back to me.
"Um, Bella. You're staying with me tonight." I said firmly. She raised her eyebrows at me.
"Oh really? Any why is that?" she asked as she crossed her arms across her chest. I smirked at her.
"Because I want you too. C'mon, its bedtime." I answered as I dragged her back to my room. We stripped down to our underwear and climbed back under my blankets. I reached over and turned out the bedside lamp and pulled Bella's body towards me and curled behind her.
I fell asleep listening to Bella breathing and her running her hands up and down my forearm. I knew that for now, everything was right for us.