Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot of the Twilight Saga are the property of Stephanie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. The storyline of Hope Springs is mine.
This story is rated M for a reason – you have been warned! There may be scenes of drug use, abuse, physical and sexual.
HOPE SPRINGS
End of chapter 5…
Bella watched her skip down the steps and walk towards a car that was coming up the driveway. Bella recognized the waitress from the previous evening and her cheeks burned with embarrassment, but Bethany just waved and smiled at her.
The people in this town sure are strange, Bella thought as she raised her own hand and gave the girl a wave.
Just then Esme walked out of the house, "come back inside, Bella. I need another cup of coffee and then we can discuss your job offer."
Bella got up and patted the porch swing, yeah they were strange, but she found herself liking them – well most of them.
I wonder what that means? She thought as she followed Esme into the house once more.
CHAPTER 6 – AND SO IT BEGINS…
Esme and Bella sat at the kitchen table as Esme explained that she needed a complete stock inventory of the two shops, as well as some sort of system for inventory control. At first Bella was too scared of messing up to really listen but after another cup of tea, Bella began to get rather excited as Esme told her what her new job would entail.
Bella was beyond ecstatic, although she tried hard not to show any emotion. Esme offered her a job initially for eight weeks, but for longer if Bella wanted to continue – working forty hours a week. Bella's mind was racing – at eight dollars an hour, which would be over three hundred dollars a week!
That was enough to see her through for a long time. She would be able to go to a doctor and find out why her stomach had been unsettled for the past few days and she could buy clothes… maybe even an apartment… she could take care of the baby.
Bella stared at her blankly until Esme frowned slightly, "Bella? That is my standard rate for summer jobs, and I am willing to revise your wages if you stay longer–"
Bella jumped at the sound of Esme's voice, "What? YES! Yes, I will take it! I want this job, please Mizz Esme, I won't let you down, I promise!"
Bella forgot all about remaining impartial and aloof. She forgot everything except the small voice in her heart that was telling her that she was going to have enough to get her car fixed and then she could begin to build a life.
Esme smiled at Bella and without really thinking about it she reached across and hugged the girl. Bella stiffened at first and then she just seemed to let out a breath and she moved into Esme's arms.
For a moment, Bella forget everything. She forgot that she was barely eighteen years old; she forgot that she was running away from a horrible childhood and that she was pregnant from a boy that she barely knew who had almost forced himself on her.
All she did was close her eyes and relax. Esme's arms felt so – right as they hugged her. Bella put her head on Esme's shoulder and she breathed in a fragrance so unique that Bella knew that she would never forget it. It was like honey and something flowery, a little spicy, and perhaps nutmeg? and fresh linen and soap – it smelled exactly like what Bella had imagined when she used to dream of what a mother would be like – soft, warm, comforting, loving.
Bella could not remember anyone hugging her. Nor had she ever willingly hugged anyone – ever.
Esme felt tears flood her eyes as her arms tightened around Bella's thin frame. She had no idea why she felt so protective over this girl, but there was just something about her.
Finally Bella pulled back slightly and she turned her face away with a self conscious smile as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand quickly.
Esme wasn't ashamed to show her how moved she was and she reached for a tissue and after a moment, Bella took one as well and she blew her nose and wiped her eyes again.
"Well, now that that is sorted out, I really meant what I said about you seeing what we do and where our produce goes to, so are you up to going to the orchards for a while?" Esme asked.
Bella nodded, "Of course."
"Great, then after lunchtime and we will go and see – oh! Hey everyone!"
Two women walked in to the kitchen, followed by four children of various ages. The two women were completely opposite to each other in looks. One woman was tall, much taller than Bella. She had blonde hair, and hazel eyes and she was very beautiful. She was dressed in a white pencil skirt with a red blouse and white stiletto sandals.
The other woman was petite in stature. She had dark, inky hair, wide blue eyes and once again she was gorgeous. She was dressed in a pretty floral skirt that was flirty and cute, coupled with a strappy top in yellow. She was taller than Bella in her six inch stiletto heels.
"Everyone, this is my friend Bella. She is going to be with us for a while and she has agreed to take the inventory and stock position at the shop, Alice. Bella, these are my daughters-in-law – Alice and Rosalie. And these four breathtakingly beautiful and handsome children are my grandbabies Jed, Emma – they belong to Rose and Emmett and this is Chelsea and Brady, Alice and Jasper's two children."
Bella greeted the two women quietly. She felt inadequate and underdressed compared to these women.
Bella tried to remember everything that Esme told her but most of it went over her head. She had never spoken to so many people in her life!
Jed held out his hand and shook Bella's with a very polite, "How do you do, Ma'am?"
She felt herself blush as she shook hands with the tall, blonde, good looking boy with the cutest dimples. The two little girls greeted her with a smile before the small blonde boy stood in front of her.
"You's real pretty, Belle. You look like dat Belle from da movie. You seen it? I is Brady, I's four and I's real clever. My Uncle Eddie did sayed so!" His gruff, husky voice was completely out of character for his cherub features and Bella fell in love with him in that moment. She was grinning at him until she realized that he was waiting for her to respond to his interrogation.
"Um no, Brady, I haven't seen that movie. And I think you are very clever and very handsome." She said.
Brady grinned at her and blinked his eyes several times as his mother, Aunt and grandmother chuckled, "Oh my word, he is such a flirt! He's winking at you Bella! Brady Cullen! You'd better not be winking at women at your age, young man." Alice said playfully.
Brady just smiled at Bella before he looked at his mother, "I think I's gonna marry Belle, mama" he said with a completely serious look on his face as Esme and Rosalie clamped their hands over their mouths.
Alice put her hands on her hips and stared at her son, "Well, now, I don't know about that, Brady. Bella might not want to marry you and remember, she is older than you."
Brady sighed dramatically and pushed his curls off his forehead before he looked up at Bella and then at his mother again, "Naaagh, she will marry me – I's a Cullen, 'member Mommy? Uncle Emmy sayed we are 'resispa-til to girls!" He answered seriously with a shrug and looked at his cousin for confirmation.
Jed nodded at him and then he smiled at Alice, "Dad did say that we Cullen men are irresistible, but don't worry Aunt Ali, I'm gonna set Brady straight – can we go and swim later, May-May?"
Esme smiled at him, "We'll see, but for now, I need to take Bella to the orchard. She's going to work with Collin and the gang this morning."
"Can we also go May-May? Can we?" The children's pleas rose up and the four adult's looked at each other.
Esme smiled, "If your mothers say it's okay, then fine. After lunch its rest time and then when Pa comes home, you may swim while I take Bella to the shop."
Rosalie and Alice gave their consent and they thanked Esme profusely before they kissed their children goodbye and left.
Bella felt shell-shocked. The flurry of activity was enough to make her head spin.
She quickly excused herself to use the bathroom, while Esme got the children ready to spend the morning in the warm sun.
When she got back to the kitchen, everyone was waiting for her. The four children were wearing the cutest floppy hats, the two boys were brown and the girls were bright pink.
Brady looked at Bella with a frown, "Where's your hat, Belle? You gots to have a hat – May-May rules!"
Bella looked at Esme with raised eyebrows, "May-May rules?"
Esme grinned, "What can I say? My husband may be the head of our home, but I have a few rules…" she tossed a similar floppy hat over the counter to Bella. It was blue with white daisies on it, "Put that on and you will need to put some sunscreen on as well, Bella. Right, are we ready?"
The four children nodded.
"Well then, let's go!"
The older children raced out of the kitchen but Brady hung back and stared at Bella before he looked up at Esme, "May-May, she's real pretty, huh?"
Esme winked at Bella, "She sure is Brady, now go and get in my car."
Esme handed Bella a basket with a blanket, "I'm sorry Bella, Brady takes after his father. He is a bit of a charmer!"
Bella heard a foreign sound coming out of her mouth – what the fuck? Was that a giggle?
"It's okay Mizz Esme; I think that the crush is mutual. He is a cutie pie."
Esme walked over to a large seven seat SUV. The four children were sitting in their seats with their seat belts buckled up.
Bella looked over at Esme, "let me guess, another one of May-May Rules?"
Esme smiled and nodded, "Absolutely."
Bella spent the rest of the morning working side by side with Collin, Esme and the rest of the pickers. Brady stayed one step behind her and she was surprised to see that the children seemed to know just what they were doing. Jed showed her how to look for only the ripest fruit to put into the large wooden crates. The rest of the fruit went into baskets to be taken to the canning or juicing sheds.
Esme spread the blanket in the shade so that the children could take a break if they wanted.
At lunch time the workers all said goodbye and they headed off to the kitchen. Bella walked with them to the truck but she turned when she felt a small tug on her top. Brady stood glaring at her with his bottom lip pushed out in the most adorable pout.
"What is it Brady? I've got to go to lunch." She said softly as Collin looked on in amusement.
"Why is you going with dem?" he asked as he jabbed his thumb towards the truck.
"Because I am working with them and it's my first day and I don't want to eat alone. I will see you another time, okay?"
Esme had watched how gentle and sweet Bella had been with the children. It was as if she was seeing another person altogether. Bella let her guard down completely with all of the children.
She talked to Chelsea and Jed as if they were adults, not talking down to them, which they loved. She chatted with Emma and she listened as the little girl told Bella all about her friends and her new school and her excitement over the coming upcoming Labor Day celebrations that were taking place at Dorset Common.
Bella was unreserved as she laughed with them. She teased and chatted and she listened to the four's endless chatter. Esme knew how tiring that could be, but Bella never lost her patience with them at all.
Brady looked as if he was going to burst into tears and Bella looked over to Esme in a panic.
Esme stepped forward and put her hand on Brady's arm, "Come on Sweetheart, I promise that we will see Bella again later on – after your nap, okay?"
Brady looked from Esme to Bella, "You promise Belle?" He absolutely refused to call her anything other than 'Belle', even though everyone had corrected him.
Bella smiled at him, "I promise."
=====HS=====
Lunch was surprisingly relaxing. Bella thanked Rachel quietly for the fried chicken, potato salad, a garden salad, chunks of fresh crusty bread, and ice cold water and fruit juice.
"Bella," Rachel said as she turned way. Bella turned back to her, "Even though I only serve meals at certain times, there is usually something to snack on and there is always fresh fruit juice, coffee and tea, so you just stop by for a chat if you want to." Bella smiled and nodded at the pretty woman, "Thanks, Rachel."
She walked outside and sat at a table under a huge tree. She smiled at several of the people that she had worked alongside, but no one pressed her to sit with them and Bella could see a few people that were sitting alone and relaxing.
After she ate, Bella emptied her plate and set her flatware in the canteen-like rack that stood to one side of the great room.
She waved at Rachel and walked back to her room.
My room! That sounds so strange – my room. Bella shook her head at the way her life had turned around in a matter of days.
She knew that she was to meet Esme at around 3 p.m., but she didn't have a watch. Esme had told her that she would send Jed and Chelsea to fetch her when they woke up.
It was warm and Bella quickly stripped down to her underwear after she made sure that the door was locked and she climbed onto the bed.
=====HS=====
She woke up to the sound of tapping.
"Bella? May-May said to tell you that it's time." She heard Jed say through the closed door.
"Um, thanks Jed. Please tell your May-May that I will be there in a few minutes? I just need to wash my face." Bella sat up and pushed her hair out of her face.
"Kay!" She heard the cousins shout and then she heard Chelsea and Jed running and laughing up the drive towards the house.
She hurried into the bathroom and after a quick consideration, she stepped out of her panties and bra and jump under the shower and set the temperature to a cool, steady stream. A quick wash Bella felt refreshed and wide awake – and hungry again!
She pulled on a fresh pair of panties, a clean wife beater and her cut off jeans. Instead of her sneakers, she put on her flip-flops and after brushing her hair and pulling it into a pony tail, she braided it to keep it off her neck and after she pulled a bottle of water from the mini fridge, she locked her room and took off for the main house.
She was unsure of whether to knock on the front door or to walk around to the kitchen door at the back of the house.
After a moment, she knocked on the front door. Almost immediately, there was the sound of running feet and then Brady was standing on the other side of the screen smiling broadly at her, "I's did have my sleep and now we are having a snack before we go swimming with Pa! Are you coming with us to da pool, Belle?"
Bella giggled again as Brady didn't stop to take a breath, but instead he pulled her down the hallway to the kitchen. He held up their joined hands as he announced loudly, "See! I did found my Belle, Pa, I fint dat I's gonna keep her."
Bella loved Brady's mispronunciation of his words and the dimples and golden curls just added to his cuteness. She realized that Carlisle, Esme and Alice were all grinning at her, while Jed, Chelsea and Emma seemed to take Brady's announcement in their stride as they didn't look up from where they were eating.
"I can see you found her, hello Bella, but I'm not sure if you can 'keep' her honey, she's not a pet." Carlisle said gently as he winked at Bella.
"Go and finish your snack, so that you can swim later, Brady" Alice said.
"Come and have some of this delicious pound cake that Alice bought from Sue Black's home bake store, Bella." Esme said.
Bella found herself blushing as she slipped onto a barstool and she quietly thanked Esme as she placed a huge slice of a triple layered, vanilla cake with a caramel and fresh cream filling as well as a cup of tea.
"Thanks" Bella muttered. She listened as Carlisle, Esme and Alice chattered, occasionally they were interrupted by one of the children, but Bella noticed that no one told the children to 'shut the fuck up!' or to 'get the fuck outside, brat!'. Instead their question would be answered with a gentle reminder not to interrupt if someone was talking first.
Most of all, she was fascinated at how they seemed to touch each other all the time. The children would rest their hands on legs, or they would play with a pocket as they waited for attention. While the adults would smooth or tuck hair, gently brush their fingers over cheeks or kiss foreheads.
It was as though in addition to using words, this family seemed to use touch to communicate as well.
It was a refreshing change and Bella was fascinated at how these adults treated their children. She had not seen Alice strike or be harsh with any of them.
She sure was different from Kate! Kate, who even when she wasn't high or drunk, was just plain mean and nasty to the children in her care. That was one of the reasons that Bella hadn't really complained about being pulled out of school. She loved the children and she wondered with a pang how they were getting on without her. She had protected them. She had made sure that they were as clean as possible, washing their clothes by hand in the bathtub after she had bathed them at night.
Did they hate her? Did they think that she had betrayed them instead of staying to protect them, she had run away to protect herself.
The thoughts made Bella stare blindly down at her plate. Suddenly she couldn't eat anymore.
How could she be sleeping on a comfortable bed, eating all the food she liked when several hundred miles away, she knew of at least two children that were under the age of seven, that were at the mercy of the Rawlings?
She felt the food rising from her stomach and she clamped her hand over her mouth and stumbled off the seat before she ran blindly for the bathroom.
Once her stomach was empty, she stood in the bathroom contemplating her next move. She was embarrassed. The Cullen's would think that she was ungrateful, maybe they would ask her to just go –
"Bella? Can I come in, child?" Esme's voice was quiet and concerned.
Bella opened the door slowly and stared at the woman, "I'm sorry." She whispered, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
Esme brushed the strands of hair that had come loose off Bella's pasty, sweaty skin, "Oh Bella, there is no need to apologize, Honey. If anything, I should be apologizing to you. I know that today must have been very overwhelming for you and I know that Sue's cake is very rich. She never uses less than six eggs and a pound of butter in her cakes. Probably not what you are used to, right?"
Bella nodded.
"Okay, well, there is a new toothbrush under the sink with a small tube of toothpaste that we keep for emergencies just like this one. Afterwards, we will take a drive to the shop and perhaps you can call Jacob Black. Does that sound okay?"
Bella nodded again.
Esme smiled and closed the bathroom door to give her privacy and Bella let out a deep sigh.
She rested her forehead on the cold tiles. It felt so good that she rolled her forehead from side to side while she took deep, calming breaths.
Bella splashed cold water onto her face and after she had brushed her teeth she felt so much better.
She dried her face and hands and opened the door.
Her stomach felt a little sore and Bella pressed her hand above her pubic bone, "Sorry about that baby." She whispered before she walked into the kitchen, only to find that it was empty except for Esme who sat sipping a cup of tea.
"Where – where is everyone?" Bella asked. Shit! Had she cleared the room, with her barfing?
"Carlisle and Alice took them to play outside until their food all settles and then they are going to swim. We have a small play set and climbing frame out back, under the large elm tree and the swimming pool is there as well. Are you ready to go?"
Esme handed her a packet of ginger snap cookies and a bottle of juice, "Here we go, this should sooth your stomach. Just take small sips and nibble the cookies slowly."
Bella smiled her thanks.
She followed Esme out to the waiting truck that she had driven in the previous evening. Esme saw the question in her eyes, "This is the farm truck and the SUV is what I use when the grandchildren are with me."
As she drove, Esme explained that the shop had begun as a farm stall about fifteen years earlier as a way for Esme to sell some of her surplus crops, some of her preserves and canned goods. Over the years the popularity of her one hundred percent organic fruit and vegetables, as well as her organic bottling and canning methods had led to more and more people wanting Blue Bonnet's goods.
When Sam had opened his market, Esme had begun to supply him and she had closed the 'fresh' part of the stall and instead, she had increased her stock of bottled and canned goods and recently they had expanded to fresh fruit and vegetable juices. Bella found that she was interested in what Esme was talking about and despite herself; she began to ask questions. She wished that she had a pencil and some paper so that she could take notes.
Esme was impressed by Bella's questions. She asked well thought out and logical questions. When Esme told her that the entire inventory system was captured electronically on a program on the computer, she noticed that Bella could barely conceal her excitement.
Bella had been fortunate to go to a school that had a fairly advanced computer program and she had quickly learned to maneuver her way around the internet, as well as having mastered the various word-processing programs. She had even dabbled in some of the graphic art programs and her teacher at the time was impressed with her talent and he would often give her extra tasks and challenges – until the Rawlings had pulled her out of school just as she was about to
She remembered that about three weeks after she had been removed from school, her teacher had come knocking on the door one morning. Bella had gasped in fright when she had seen geeky Mr. Miles standing on the other side of the broken screen door.
"Mr. Miles, you can't be here, please. You need to leave!" Bella had whispered frantically before Simon heard her. Simon had worked the night shift at the cold storage plant and he was extra mean if he was woken up before he was ready to get up.
All of her school books, artwork, and anything relating to school or learning had been burned in the barrel in the back yard the day that Bella had tried to defy her foster parents and she had demanded to go back to school. Simon had forced all of the children to watch as Bella had been made to burn all of her books, report cards, certificates and the many drawings and paintings that she had painstakingly kept over the years.
Mr. Miles' eyes had grown wide as he saw the bruise on the one side of Bella's face and her split lip.
"Bella – I-I-I – god! You need t-t-t-to tell someone about this, let me-" Sweet Mr. Miles had stammered until Bella had heard Simon call for her to come and sort out the 'rug rats'.
She looked back at the sweet young man, who had always encouraged her, and shook her head, "Just forget about me, Mr. Miles. Please." She whispered.
Bella had closed the door quietly and dashed a tear off her cheek.
She had never seen him again.
Bella wondered what he was doing, if he was still teaching.
"Bella? What's wrong, are you feeling sick?" Esme asked when she saw how pale Bella looked.
"No, I'm fine. I was just thinking about something." Bella said vaguely.
Esme turned into Main Street. In broad daylight, Bella could see how charming the town was.
"It's very green here, isn't it?" Bella asked.
Esme laughed, "Well Vermont is one of the greenest states. Our state tree is the Sugar Maple and in February each year the sap is harvested. It's all very exciting. We even have a small grove of Sugar Maples at the farm and we have our own Maple festival in town."
Bella shook her head, "Billy told me about all of the festivals that you have here. Do you celebrate everything?"
"It's one of the charms of small town living, I suppose. Sometimes we team up with neighboring town for events. There is a very deep feeling of community here in Hope Springs. There are a few people that were born here or that have been here for generations, like the Blacks and Carlisle's family, but most of the people in our town have come from the 'outside' and have just decided to stay and make this their home. We care about each other. If someone is sick, some of the women will get together and take care of dinners, or carpool kids to school or clean their home. If someone dies, we rally around and help wherever we can. It's almost as if we are all part of one extended family and of course in all families there is drama, infighting, scandal and chaos, you should come to one of our town meetings – I usually drag Carlisle just for the entertainment factor and of course to piss Edward off. Our economy is thriving, thanks to people coming in – there was even talk at the last town meeting of putting another traffic light in place."
Bella rolled her eyes and snorted, "Yeah, good luck with that. Billy told me how 'safe' the one traffic light has made these really busy streets! And why would you and Carlisle going to the town meeting piss Edward off?"
Esme laughed aloud and her eyes twinkled with mischief, "Oh, I didn't tell you, Edward is the Town Mayer. And well you met him; he can be a little stick in the mud sometimes so we like to go jus to liven things up. Oh Lord, here is our volunteer traffic officer, hello Randall! How's traffic today?" she said as she rolled down the window.
A tall, thin man, who reminded Bella of a stick insect, stuck his face in the open window, "Well hello Farmer Cullen! Traffic was manageable this morning, even though it was market day, although, I must say, you seemed to swerve rather recklessly didn't you? You need to watch that, ma'am, you don't want to find yourself on the wrong side of the law, you know. Now, who is this?" His voice was a little high pitched and Bella bit back the urge laugh. He had dark hair that had been slicked back and his pale blue eyes popped out of his pale face.
Esme rolled her eyes as she opened her door, forcing Randall to step backwards, "Randal this is Bella, Bella this is Randal – there is not much that he hasn't done or participated in. Bella is our friend. She is going to be working in the shops for the foreseeable future."
Bella smiled and Bella looked up so see the 'Purple Cow Diner' across the road. It seemed so long ago that she was there, but the memory wasn't a good one. She grimaced and turned away.
"Here we are," Esme said.
Bella followed more slowly as she looked around. The street was wide and surprisingly busy for a Saturday afternoon. Bella could see stationers, a convenience store and a hairdresser further down the street. Esme nodded and greeted several people as she stood on the sidewalk.
Esme unlocked a framed glass door and Bella heard a small bell tinkle as she pushed the door open and walked inside the darkened room. Bella could see that the roll-down blinds had been lowered in the front windows. Esme walk over to the wall and flicked a switch which flooded the room with warm light from the pretty colored glass chandeliers that hung from the ceiling.
Esme looked at Bella "Well, this is our store, Best of Blue. Why don't you take a look around?" she pointed to a door on one side of the large room, "That is the inter-leading door to Alice's store, Beds and Bags."
Bella nodded and she walked around the shop that was quaintly but tastefully decorated in 'country chic'. There was a small table with two chairs on one side, several isles that held jars, cans of various fruit as well as a small commercial refrigerator with bottled juice, butter and eggs. The overall look was one of a warm and inviting country pantry or kitchen. There was a shelf of old fashioned pots and utensils on one wall, next to photographs in blue wooden frames in sepia and black and white. Bella stepped closer and she saw that the photographs were of the street outside, although by the cars, it was many decades before.
The following hour flew by with Esme showing Bella the stock room at the back of the store and explained how they had kept stock in the past.
Esme showed Bella the small office, which was more of a closet, there was desk and a laptop computer and once again Esme watched as Bella's face lit up.
She quickly gave Bella an overview of the inventory program before she looked at her watch.
"Goodness! It's almost four thirty! Let's get going, young lady; you have done more than enough today!"
Bella used the small bathroom before Esme switched off the lights and they left the store.
Bella bit her lip as she looked out of the window. She saw Jacob's garage and remembered that she needed phone Billy and Pat to let them know that she was fine.
A sharp twinge in her lower stomach made her gasp and Esme looked at her in concern, "What's the matter?"
Bella grimaced but shook her head, "Nothing. I think I've got a bit of indigestion or something."
Esme didn't say anything but her frown deepened.
"Esme, do you know where there is a public telephone? I need to phone Billy's friend Pat to let him know that I'm okay. I met Billy at Pat's diner and I promised that I would call him once I got settled. I also would like to phone Jacob Black."
It was the most that Bella had ever said to Esme in one go, "Sure, there is one at on the corner of our road. Do you have money?" Esme asked.
Bella pulled the phone card and the folded piece of paper from her back pocket and held it up.
Esme stopped at the entrance to their driveway, "Um, Bella, we are having a barbeque tomorrow at lunch time, we would love you to join us. Please say yes, Bree will be there as well."
Esme looked so hopeful, that Bella found herself nodding, "Okay."
"Great! Just come on up to the house whenever you want to, okay? We go to church in the morning, if you like to join us?"
Bella snorted and shook her head, "I can't." She said.
Esme pursed her lips, "do you have something against religion?"
Bella shrugged, "No, I just don't believe in all that mumble jumble. That is stuff that they tell people that need to believe in something. I don't, that's all."
She climbed out of the car and thanked Esme quickly before she closed the door and walked over to the phone booth.
Esme sighed as she drove around the side of the house and parked in the garage.
Carlisle was sitting on the back porch sipping a beer and talking to Jasper. Esme saw that Edward was swimming with Jed, Brady and Roscoe while everyone else was sitting around the pool.
"Edward Cullen, is that your dog in my swimming pool? You had better be the one to clean the filter tomorrow!" she called as she walked out onto the porch.
Carlisle chuckled as he rose and put an arm around Esme's waist, "Hello Darling, how was the rest of your day?" Esme asked.
"I'm not as young as I once before, and our grandchildren are tiring!"
Jasper snorted, "Dad, please! You don't keep the law in this town and have to have Brady, Chelsea and Alice all day and night! Besides you run at least ten miles a day!"
Edward wrapped Brady in a towel and he called Roscoe to get out of the pool. He carried his nephew over and deposited him none too gently into Jasper's lap, "I believe this one is yours?" he said with a laugh.
Esme rolled her eyes and she walked inside together with Rosalie and Alice.
One Saturday night each month, the family got together to have a 'movie night'. Supper was normally 'comfort food', macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, soup with grilled cheeses or something similar. The children had their own version of movie night. They were set up in the play room, on the large camping mattresses that Esme kept for them, with sleeping bags, bowls of popcorn and juice.
Every month a name of a movie was selected from a hat. One grownup movie and one childrens' movie was chosen by Carlisle or Esme.
Esme put the large dish of macaroni cheese into the oven and closed the door. She was so grateful that both of her daughters-in-law cooked and baked so well and that they both enjoyed cooking. It made preparing family meals much easier.
Rosalie and Alice used the spare bathrooms to bathe the children before they were sent off to the playroom to eat at the table that Esme had placed there for them.
Once the children had eaten and Jasper had settled them onto the mattresses with blankets, pillows and 'movie food', the adults sat at the dining room table enjoying their dinner.
"Hey, Mom, how did Bella do today?" Alice asked quietly.
Not quietly enough as silence fell over the table.
Edward frowned, but quickly smoothed his face out before he looked up to see Esme watching him. He smiled at her encouragingly, "Yeah, Mom is she working in the orchard?"
Esme shook her head, "Not exactly, I have offered Bella the position at the shop to be in charge of the stock and inventory. I've spoken to Alice and she will be working between both shops and you know that we can use the help."
Jasper and Emmett shared a pointed look before Jasper gave Emmett a slight nod. Emmett looked over at Esme, "Mom, we have spoken to Dad about Bella. We know that you and the girls are taken with her. Dad has also changed his opinion about her and you know that we trust your judgment, but…"
Esme's eyebrows shot up and her eyes narrowed slightly, "But…" she prompted.
Edward decided to interject to stop the argument that he could just see on the horizon, "Well, Em, Mom knows that she is going to have to get Bella's details before she can put her on the payroll, and I'm sure that she is anxious to make sure that Bella isn't underage, doesn't have a record and isn't a junkie or a runaway, so surely we can shelve this conversation until we have the information that we need." He spoke quietly and when he was finished, he noticed that Esme was smiling at him in approval.
Emmett sighed before he and Jasper nodded reluctantly, "Okay, but will you at least let me check the information out?"
Jasper frowned, "No, that's my job as the Sherriff in this town, I will check her information out and then if I need you to, you can speak to your goon friends!"
Carlisle chuckled at Esme, "What age are they again? Okay Boys, not at the table! Bella seems to be a lovely young woman, who I think has had a really tough life, from what Bella has told her."
Esme didn't want to break Bella's trust but she also felt as if she needed to allay some of their concerns, and so she decided to tell them as much as she could, "I think that Bella has been living on the streets for whatever reason. She doesn't have a home or family, she told me this morning that she is an orphan. I don't think that she finished school either, but she is really bright, even though she reminds me at every turn that she is 'stupid' or 'dumb' but I think that those are labels that she has heard over the years."
Rosalie shook her head sadly, "She is so thin! She reminds me of that stray kitten that Al and I found over on Harvard Road, when we first moved here?"
"Poochie?" Alice asked as she moved to sit on Jasper's lap. She leaned against his chest as he gently rubbed her back. He knew that Alice was moved by Bella's story, or non-story, but he also knew that he had to maintain some semblance of logic before they were all taken in by the girl.
Rosalie nodded, "Yeah, Poochie. Bella seems wary and just like when we brought Poochie home and she would hiss and spit and then she would try and hide away and try and make herself invisible, and Bella seems to do the same. It's almost as if she is waiting for someone to lash out at her."
"Well, Bella is coming to lunch tomorrow, so I expect all three of you boys to be nice to her. Do I make myself clear?" Carlisle said with a deceptively mild tone, but his blue eyes flashed in a warning.
Bree arrived home and she quickly washed her hands before she joined her family at the table.
Conversation turned to general topics.
After they had finished dinner, they all helped to clean the kitchen before they put the movie on.
"Mom, do you think that Bella is alright down in the shed?" Bree asked.
"I was just wondering the same thing." Esme said.
Carlisle looked at his wife steadily, "Esme…" he said in a quiet warning.
"No, Carlisle, I'm not suggesting that we have her move in, but I was thinking that she should have a way of getting hold of us."
"What about my old phone?" Bree suggested excitedly.
Edward cocked an eyebrow, "Old phone? Oh come on Brianna, that phone wasn't even a year old-"
"It's none of your business, Edward!" Bree snapped before she turned her back on him to face her parents. "I could put all the numbers that she needs, like mom's, and mine we could buy her a prepaid card so that it won't cost you anything. What do you think?"
Carlisle nodded, "That sounds like a good idea. I'll pop over and see if Embry or Lauren will open up for me."
Embry and Lauren Atera lived just a few streets away from their store, The Atera General Convenience. Embry had grown up in Hope Springs and one year when he was in college, he brought a young woman home with him for the summer. Two years later, Lauren and Embry were married and Embry had taken over the store from his father. Lauren had first worked in and then she had purchased a lovely bed and breakfast when her grandmother had died and left her some money. She and Embry had moved into the cottage at the back of the property, Dorset Manor.
"I'll go, Dad. I wanted to talk to Embry anyway; Lauren is still experiencing bad morning sickness with this one." All eyes turned to Edward.
He looked around, "What?"
Emmett frowned, still sulking from having had his plans shot down earlier, "Why would you want to do anything for Bella?"
Edward rolled his eyes, "Because, well, I was really rude to her the other night and I wanted to apologize to her in person." He ignored everyone's shocked looks and turned to his mother, "Do you think that she will be okay with that?"
Esme smiled at her son, "I think that she will probably give you a hard time, but it is a very nice gesture, Edward. Thank you, Honey. Bree, please go and fetch your phone – in fact, rather get me the spare phone. I don't think that Bella would like something so, um high tech."
Bree looked as if she was going to argue with Esme but she caught the look in her mother's eye and she quickly went to fetch the phone in the hallway dresser drawer.
Even though everyone in the family had a cell phone, Esme had insisted that they keep a phone, an older model, that was easy to use, fully charged and in the dresser drawer, just in case they ever needed it or someone else needed it. Carlisle was famous for forgetting to charge his phone and then he would rush back home and take the spare phone.
Bree handed Edward the phone reluctantly, "Can I come with you?"
"I want to go. I like Bella." Alice piped up.
"So do I, let's go and see her." Rosalie added.
Edward shook his head, "No! This isn't some family outing! I am going alone."
"Just don't make her run again, Eddie!" Bree retorted.
Edward stuck his tongue out at her as he walked to the front door.
"Very mature, Edward!"
"Are you gonna go see my Belle, Uncle Edward?"
Edward turned around to see Brady standing in the doorway with a frown on his face.
"Well, Buddy, I'm going to see Bella."
"I's gonna marry her, you know." Brady stated quietly.
Edward's fought his smile, "Really? Did you ask her?"
Brady shook his head, "Naw, she knows. Girls know."
Edward's eyes met his brother's, "Looks like you have some explaining to do, Jas".
Jasper smiled and bent down to pick his son up, "Come on Casanova, let's go potty."
Edward called Roscoe and they made their way out to his pick-up.
He settled Roscoe at home before he went to Embry's house down the street.
After he explained what he needed, Embry was only too happy to open the store for his childhood friend.
He explained that Lauren had gone to bed early and their eight year old daughter, Kelly was sleeping at his parents' house for the night.
They quickly got what Edward needed and he purchased twenty dollars of airtime.
He quickly put the airtime onto the phone and then he spent ten minutes checking that Bella had the numbers for Esme, the house, the shops, Alice, Bree, Rosalie and the police station as well as Billy and Jacob Black.
On impulse he added his own cell number as well as his office and his home line.
Once he was sure that Bella had all the numbers that she needed, he set off for his parents' farm.
He didn't want to think about the reason that he was so eager to see Bella again. He just knew that the girl had been on his mind the entire day.
He kept seeing her wide chocolate brown eyes. He kept seeing the fear, anger and shock in her eyes as they had looked at each other at the diner.
He saw the fury deep in her eyes as the words that he had spoken resonated with her.
Just by looking at her, Edward had known that she wasn't a junkie. Yes, she was thin, but Edward could see that her eyes were clear and if they were haunted, it wasn't from drugs. No, there was something else in Bella's eyes.
She had the oldest eyes that Edward had ever seen. She had seen and lived a life that seemed to have sucked all of the joy and exuberance that any normal young woman would have.
Edward parked at the main house and decided to walk back to the shed. As he was walking he realized that Bella was walking in front of him. He could see that she was carrying books and what looked like a bag in her arms.
He wanted to call out to her but he didn't want to scare her, so he just walked faster.
Suddenly Bella stopped and screamed as she spun around, dropping the books and the bag as she did so.
=====HS=====
Bella had gone to the kitchen for dinner only to find that it was empty except for Paul and Rachel.
"Hey there Bella! I was wondering if you were going to join us for dinner. Saturday nights are really informal, so Paul is going to put burgers on the grill and we are just going to have some fries and a garden salad with that, so can you wait for about ten minutes to eat?"
Bella nodded as she hovered near the front door.
Paul smiled at her, "Why don't you come in and keep Rachel company while I do the burgers. She loves having company when she is watching reruns of 'Cake Boss'!"
He jumped up just as Rachel threw a pillow at him, "Go and do some work, you lazy bum!"
Bella found herself smiling at their antics. They were cute together.
Bella poured herself a glass of juice before she joined Rachel on one of the sofas. She couldn't help but look at the books on the one wall.
"That is a lot of books." She remarked as her eyes looked over the shelves hungrily.
"Yeah, Doc and May-May are really into education and gaining knowledge so they are forever putting books in here for the staff. If you want to read anything, just help yourself." She said as she waved towards the shelves.
Bella's mouth dropped open, "Really? They won't mind?"
Rachel smiled at her briefly, "Not at all, they will be thrilled that someone is using the 'library' at last. God ahead and have a look. There are general knowledge books, books on travel, biographies, and novels, really whatever you want."
Bella bit her lip and she hesitated for about three seconds before she got to her feet and walked over to the book shelves. She felt as if she wanted to pee just from excitement.
Her fingers touched the spines as she read the titles and after an encouraging smile from Rachel she began to pull books out to read their flyleaves before she put them back.
"How many can I take?" she asked almost in a whisper.
"As many as you want to, but honestly, Bella, you are going to be here for a while so they will still be here when you want them. Perhaps you should take a mix of books because everyone needs to read a good story before they go to sleep."
Paul had to call her name three times before Bella heard him. She actually enjoyed eating dinner with the couple. Paul was quiet and funny, while Rachel kept Bella entertained with stories of her childhood. Bella found out that Rachel was Jacob's sister and Bella found herself relaxing further.
She was shocked when she realized that it was after nine o'clock. She said good night to the Lahotes and made her way towards the barn. She had finally chosen two books and Rachel had given her two muffins to have with her breakfast the next morning as she and Paul went to church. Rachel told Bella to make herself at home and she showed Bella where she would leave the scrambled egg mixture in the large industrial refrigerator.
=====HS=====
The night was really dark and Bella shivered slightly. She heard noises that she wasn't used to and every sound made her jump.
Just as she got to the barn, Bella heard soft footsteps walking towards her. She screamed and dropped the books and the bag of muffins as the large figure walked beneath a lamp.
Edward smiled at her, "Hi Bella, I didn't mean to scare you. I'm Edward Cullen."
Bella's chest was heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. "Jezzzzzus! Are you fucking crazy? What are you trying to do, scare the shit out of me? What the fuck is wrong with you?"
Edward ignored her outburst and knelt down instead to pick up the items that Bella had dropped. He smiled at her and Bella felt her pounding heart stutter.
He really was quite beautiful.
Edward rubbed his free hand over the back of his neck, "Um, thanks?"
Bella moaned as she realized that she had spoken aloud.
She crossed her arms protectively over her stomach and glared at him, "What do you want, Mister Cullen?" she snapped as she glanced around them before she glared at him again.
"It's Doctor Cullen actually and my mother asked me to check that you had everything that you need. There isn't a phone in here and this place is quite isolated so she asked me to give you this."
Bella looked down, but she couldn't see what he was holding in his hand.
"Can we go inside at least? I promise that I won't try to scare you again." He asked.
Bella shook her head, "Whatever, but if you try anything, I promise you Doctor Cullen, you will end up with your balls in your mouth!" Bella sneered before she pushed past him and made her way into the shed. She unlocked the door and stood aside to let Edward walk into her room.
Edward tried to ignore the way his dick twitched at Bella's threat, he knew that she meant every word but that didn't mean that she didn't sound as sexy as fuck as she spat it out at him.
You are so fucked, Cullen! You need to get laid, man. Seriously. She isn't even your type!
Bella was standing glaring at him with her eyebrows raised, "So, are you coming in or what?"
Edward nodded and walked into the small room that he and Jasper had built one year at his mother's request.
The small room hadn't changed much but Edward saw that Esme had put one of their old quilts on the bed and she had hung a blind in the window.
Bella was standing in the doorway staring at him, "So? You wanted to give me something from your mother?" she tapped her foot impatiently.
Edward put the two books and the small brown bag on the counter before he ran his hand through his hair.
He had studied for ten years to become a doctor and he couldn't seem to find words with this cocky little girl.
He moaned inwardly; don't say cock in her presence! Do not think about your cock in her presence!
"Look Bella, I volunteered to come and see you. I had to fight off my sister, my sisters-in-law and my four year old nephew!"
Bella smiled at the mention of Brady, "He is cute." She said.
Edward smiled again and Bella's heart skipped another beat, "He still insists that he is 'gonna marry his Belle."
Bella chuckled as Edward motioned to the chair, "May I sit down?"
She sighed and walked into her room and sat on the bed facing him.
She saw that he was wearing a grey t-shirt with a soft looking chambray shirt. His old jeans had a tear in the knee and his sneakers looked even more broken than hers were.
He looked younger and more approachable than he had when she had seen him in the diner.
Edward could not take his eyes off the woman sitting in front of him. She was even more enchanting today.
Her hair looked as if it was at least five different shades of brown. Her chocolate brown eyes and thick lashes made him want to run his finger over the shadow that her long lashes cast over her cheeks.
Her plump pink lips looked….fuck! Edward felt his cock begin to strain in his jeans. He shook his head and cleared his throat.
"Bella, I know that we got off on the wrong foot. You overheard some things that I may have said to my mother –"
"Excuse me? 'May have said?' Are you high? You did say them, I heard you – and probably so did half of this insane town! You were - an asshole and you hadn't even met me! I know your type, Doctor! You think that anyone else who isn't as genteel as you and who's family didn't come over on the fucking Mayflower is beneath you and your family – well let me tell you something-"
"I'm trying to fucking apologize to you, Bella! Fuck! Don't you ever give a guy a break?" Edward ground out as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
This wasn't going the way that he had envisaged it – not at all. She was the most infuriating person that Edward had ever met!
Grrrrr!
Bella stared at Edward in shock before she began to laugh. And laugh. She rolled over on her bed and hugged her middle tightly as she laughed while Edward stared at her in shock.
Eventually she wiped her eyes and jumped to her feet with a quick, "Gotta pee!"
Edward propped one shoe on his knee as he waited for her to finish in the bathroom.
When she came out he watched her mouth twitch before she sat down and looked at him, "Did you, um did you growl at me?"
Edward felt his cheeks grow unusually warm and he felt himself smiling at her, "Hmm, I think I did. You seem to have that effect on me."
Bella flicked her bangs off his forehead, "Well I'm beginning to think that everyone in this town is barking mad!" she retorted, but she couldn't stop a small smile from breaking through her tough veneer.
Bella watched as Edward looked down at his shoes and his thick, dark lashes swept his cheeks.
"Your eyelashes are long." Bella wanted to smack herself – what the fuck was that?
Bright green eyes met chocolate brown ones in surprise and amusement.
"You have no verbal filter."
"Yeah well, I don't like bullshit. I don't like being lied to."
"I will never lie to you."
They stared at each other in silence before Edward felt the phone in his hand.
The phone! Shit!
"Oh! Here, my mom wanted you to have a way to reach her or, or one of us if you need to."
Bella stared at the small phone in Edward's hand, "She bought me a phone?"
"What? No! No of course not – this is the family spare one. My dad's always forgetting to charge his anyway it was my mom and Bree's idea. Yeah, so they wanted you to have this one." Even to his own ears, he knew that he sounded lame.
Bella stared at the phone as if it was a spider.
"I, um, no thanks." She mumbled and Edward watched puzzled as her eyes became hard.
"Just take the phone, Bella. I bought you a prepaid card and so it's not going to cost us anything and it's" he said with mild exasperation – he had never known anyone to disagree with him more!
"I said no! I'm not a fucking charity case, Doctor Cullen!"
Edward hissed, "Oh my God! Will you just fucking stop being so fucking judgmental for once in your stuck up life? Just take the fucking phone, Bella! It's not charity – it is a necessity. You are an employee of Blue Bonnet and you need to be contactable whenever my mother or Alice needs you!"
Edward got up and tossed the phone onto the bed before he walked to the door, "Before you make any more of your snide little comments about us being charitable or snobbish, why don't you get off your high horse and look in the mirror, Bella? Not everyone is out to get you. The only one who thinks that she is a charity case around here is you."
Bella sat staring at her hands as Edward walked out and closed her door quietly. She heard him open the shed door and then it closed and she heard his footsteps hesitate before he began to walk away muttering to himself.
Before she could think about what she was doing, she was on her feet and out of the door.
"Edward! Wait! Edward!" she shouted.
She saw him stop walking but he kept his back towards her.
He wasn't going to make this easy for her.
Bella took a deep breath and she walked to where he was standing.
"I'm sorry." She said quietly to his back.
Edward didn't move but Bella didn't see the way his mouth curved upwards in a slight smile that he quickly squashed.
Bella huffed as she stepped to stand in front of him, "I'm sorry. That was really rude of me. You were being nice and you were going to apologize and I was rude to you. I didn't give you a chance and that was wrong of me."
Edward looked down at her, "Well now, apology accepted. I am sorry that I misjudged you the other night. I would like to start over."
Bella stared up into his green eyes and although she didn't understand everything that she could see there, she did see that he was being truthful.
"Okay."
Edward smiled a heart wrenching crooked smile that set Bella's heart racing as her skin prickled.
"Okay. Hello, I'm Edward Cullen." He said softly as he held out his large hand.
Bella licked her lips, "Hello, I'm Bella. Bella Swan." She whispered as she placed her slightly trembling small hand into his.
Edward felt warmth radiate in his chest. Bella Swan. He knew that she was telling the truth, he could see the fear on her face and the tremble in her fingers. He felt a surge of warmth going between their joined hands.
"It is very nice to meet you, Bella Swan."
"Please tell Esme that I am grateful for the phone. But there is a problem…"
Edward frowned, "What?"
"I, um, well; I don't know how to use a cell phone. I've never had one before." Edward realized that their heads were almost touching, they were so close.
He grinned at her, "I can help you with that. let me show you how to answer your phone and make a call. Bree can show you more tomorrow. She is the queen of phones!"
They turned back to the shed and they both realized that they were still holding hands.
They both jumped away from each other and walked back to the shed quickly.
Edward showed Bella which button to push to make a call, and then he told her that Esme's numbers were programmed into it. He showed her the directory and she noticed that all of the Cullen's numbers were programmed into it as well as Jacob Black's business and private numbers and Billy Black as well.
"There is a phone charger in the box as well as ear phones if you want to listen to music. But Bree will give all of that to you when you come up to the house tomorrow. Mom said that they will be home after eleven."
Edward ran his hands through his hair, suddenly feeling nervous. "Well, I'll let you get back to your evening. Good night Bella."
Bella smiled at him, "Thanks again. Night, Edward."
They stood staring at each other until they realized what they were doing and Edward left quickly.
Bella locked her bedroom door and then she sank back against it.
Bella undressed and after putting on her clean wife beater, she climbed into bed and picked up the book that she had taken about travel in Europe.
Every now and again she would find herself smiling and she would touch the phone that she had put on the pillow next to her. She thought about Edward Cullen. He really was so damn handsome!
Edward took his time walking back to the house. When he got there, he noticed that the movie was on already. His family was dotted around the room snuggling to their significant others. Bree was lying on the floor and she turned as Edward quietly joined her.
"Did she like the phone?" Bree whispered.
Edward took a handful of popcorn from the bowl on her lap and nodded, "she was very grateful."
Bree turned and she watched as Edward chewed the popcorn. She knew that giving Bella the phone had not taken almost an hour, but she didn't say anything as she turned back to the screen.
Across the darkened room, Esme Cullen hid her smile in her husband's shoulder. She had seen Edward's face when he had first walked into the room. He looked – smitten. She looked across the room at her son and noticed that he had a dreamy smile on his face which had nothing to do with the blazing guns on the screen.
Hmmm, perhaps Bella was someone they had all needed for a long time.
=====HS=====
It was way past midnight when Edward finally climbed into bed. He had spent almost two hours at the piano once he had gone home.
Edward groaned as he felt himself growing harder again – "What? Once in the shower isn't enough?" He snapped as he gritted his teeth.
Apparently not.
With a resigned sigh, he reached over to his nightstand and took out the small bottle of lube that was almost empty, after only a week, and poured a generous amount into his hand.
"Fuuuuck" he hissed as his fingers twisted the head of his cock. Edward shuddered as he began to stroke himself firmly at an accelerated rate.
Bella's skin, fuck, licking the small pulse at the base of her throat, hmmm, savoring a delicately pink nipple, teasing it before he pulled it into his mouth and suckled against her.
Pre-cum leaked out as Edward squeezed the top and twisted, heightening the sensation of his piercing.
Edward imagined kissing Bella's flat stomach, nipping her hip bones before he delved to where her pussy waited for his touch. He wondered if she had soft curls that covered that most sensitive part of her. Hmmm, fuck, just a little more… nuzzling between her sweet thighs until he found her waiting clit, that would be throbbing, silently begging him to suck, lick and lap at her sweet juices.
"Bella!" cum spewed over his fist and stomach as he bucked his hips against his hand.
Edward lay panting for several minutes before he roused himself to take another shower – ice cold this time.
Everyone had kept asking him what was wrong with him, but he had barely heard them. He felt as if he was in a waking dream or dreamily awake. Bella had cast a spell on him.
She had enchanted him so that all he could do was think of her. Her laugh. Her smile. Her eyes. Her skin.
But it wasn't just her physical attributes that had him in a state. He liked her. He actually liked her.
She was quick witted and funny. She was the most frustrating woman that he had ever met, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to kiss her, or shake her – really hard, but one thing was for sure, he wanted to get to know her better and he wasn't sure if he could stay away from her.
Or if he even wanted to.
Strangely enough, across town, Bella sighed as she wondered the exact same thing. Did she even want to try and stay away from him?
A/N: Well, what do you think? I must say that I am completely blown away by the wonderful response that I have had to this story! Thank you to each one for reading, putting this on alert, sending me such wonderful reviews and encouragement. I know that Bella seems weak, but she is one of the strongest characters – in fact I hope that all of my characters are strong – even if they have flaws, surely that is the beauty of them.
I would like to say that I would like to update faster than I did with PLU, but in case something happens, please know that it won't be longer than two weeks without an update. (hopefully every week to ten days?)
With love and hugs,
Michele