a/n: Twilight characters belong to Stephanie Meyer. The plot and characterization is mine.

"Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence, that can yet do thee office?" ~Measure for Measure

Chapter 6 – Thee Office

Leah had stayed up late the night before compiling a laundry list of items to attend to. Now she sat in her office nursing a strong coffee while staring blankly at paperwork related to her newest client. Her mind was not focusing, a rarity for her.

"Damn it all," she muttered and closed the manila file.

It was obvious that Leah would not be able to concentrate on her case until she settled a few matters in her personal life. She picked up her phone and began dialing a number she had written down during her late night research.

"Hello, this is Claire," a soft voice answered the phone.

"Hi Claire, this is Leah. Did you receive my message?" There was a bit of a sigh on the line.

"Yes I did."

"Were you able to find out anything about Edward Cullen?"

"Leah," there was a slight hesitation in Claire's voice, "I don't feel comfortable passing around gossip like this."

Claire Ateara's indecision was hardly a roadblock for Leah. In fact, Leah expected as much and was more than willing to exploit her bloodline relations in order to extract the gossip from Fork's only hospital.

"I understand the conflict, but you know that talk down at the nurse's station is not privileged information under HIPA. We aren't talking about revealing medical records here. Anyways, I would appreciate your help and consider it a family favor. I know Jacob would see it as an act of kindness," it also helped to namedrop every once and a while. Leah knew that Jacob was in line to become the next tribal chief if he would ever man up and accept the responsibility. Claire's husband, Quil, was a good friend of Jacob's and would hardly let his buddy down.

"Jacob never mentioned anything about this," Claire hesitated, but Leah could hear the hint of uncertainly in her voice and was ready to pounce.

"In this circumstance it is better for appearances for him to not be involved," Leah added for her own amusement, "I am much better equipped for the dirty work."

"Fine," Claire relented, "but you didn't hear this from me."

"Agreed."

"The head nurse that usually works in Dr. Cullen's department mentioned that Edward finished up his residency in Seattle. He is in the processes of being recruited for several Cardiovascular Fellowship programs. The ones I remember her mentioning were Georgetown University and Mayo Clinic."

"Did she mention anything about Chicago?"

"I think she said U of Chicago, but that really wasn't his top choice. He was only going to visit as a courtesy for a friend of his father."

Leah considered this and briefly wondered if his encounter with Bella might push Chicago up on the list of candidates. She sincerely hoped he would go as far away as possible.

"Keep your ears open Claire, you have my phone number."

"Sure, sure," there was a pause on the line, "Do you still keep in contact with Bella?"

"I hear updates, she is doing well."

"That's good to know, we all miss her."

The two quickly finished the call without sharing any more information. As open as Leah expected Claire to be, she did not feel the obligation to reciprocate. It was Claire's job as a nurse at the same hospital as Edward's father that even put her on Leah's radar.

Leah was called in as a favor to help Bella by Jacob. With the exception of Charlie, Jacob, and Billy Black, no one knew the extent of Bella's situation. Jacob had done a good job of keeping most of the circumstances of her departure out of the ears of the tribe, but strategically let enough information leak through that they were angry with Edward Cullen.

Bella had been a fixture at the Quileute reservation as a child. Charlie would bring her there when she was only an ankle biter and let her play at La Push beach. Her quiet, yet commanding personality endeared the Black family, and by default made her friends with the tribe. As she grew older and her trips to Forks became infrequent after her parents' divorce, she was never forgotten. She returned for her last two years of high school to Forks and was immediately invited to events held on the reservation. Jacob would often call her the pale-Quileute.

The tribe knew that Edward betrayed their beloved Bella, but they did not know the extent. They would not speculate the cause out of respect for her, but they did blame her ex-husband for pulling her away from them once again. The Quileute lived as a family, and they mourned the separation from their child.

In some respects, Leah could have taken the tribes obvious preference as a reason to despise Bella. Where she had been outwardly shunned, Bella was welcomed in like the prodigal child. But her motives went beyond the rejection of her tribe; she was compelled by her position as a lady with disdain, scorned by men and a natural protector of the victim. It was her job to protect Bella. As much as she wanted to maintain her hard outer shell, she had softened to allow Bella and Ellie into her sphere of care.

Although Leah did not yet realize it, her continued protection of the Swans was a strong attempt to regain a sense of family. Her former bonds were all but lost upon leaving La Push, and now there was a sense of redemption in watching over her charges. She was not there to watch over her father in the last days of his life, but she would receive a bit of penance by saving Bella and Ellie.

Leah looked through her Outlook contacts before she came to one who may provide useful in discovering if Edward Cullen would be accepting a fellowship in Chicago. She picked up the phone and dialed the number.

Fellow scorned women were often the most likely to offer assistance.

Leah paid the taxi driver and stepped out in front of a small coffee house looking out toward Chicago Harbor. The last time she had been to this part of the city was on invitation to a Bears' game at Soldier Field. It was a dismal game that was lost against Green Bay, and her companion for the day had become increasingly drunk as the score worsened through the second half. Leah left his sorry ass at the stadium and found her own way home.

The coffee shop was one trying to find its identity, obviously trying to cater to the upscale residents living in housing around Grant Park, and the lowly college students attending the University of Illinois. Elegant lines clashed with bohemian fusion to create an utter confusion of interior design.

The shop did offer intimate booths, and this made it ideal for the conversation Leah was about to have. Her cohort was already seated and easily spotted with glowing blond hair and a striking figure, sensually sipping a Double Soy Latte. Leah scoffed at the drink, during their first encounter the blond haired beauty had mentioned that she had been a vegetarian for quite some time, but was now dabbling in veganism. Leah dismissed it as the act of a hoity academic.

"It is so good to see you again Tanya," Leah slid into her seat and gave her order to a barista that had appeared at her table—tall coffee, black, no sugar.

"Of course Leah, it has been too long." Tanya's hands wrapped around her drink as she leaned back comfortably in her chair. Leah did not even acknowledge the barista when she returned with her drink, simply taking the same relaxed position.

"Are things going well at the university?"

"The men are going well, if that's what you mean," Tanya cocked one eyebrow as her lips curled into a smile.

Leah laughed heartily. She saw how her former client had certainly turned her life around since her tumultuous divorce.

Leah Clearwater was nothing if not a woman of irony. A scorned woman who helped other scorned women and men exact retribution against their former spouses. She was never interested in the cases that ended amicably; she always deferred them to other members of the Chicago firm she worked for. No, Leah specialized in the cases which always steamed from a spouse who wanted to exact revenge.

It was not her originally choice for a law degree by any stretch of the imagination. When she was a small child sitting in tribal council meetings watching her father, Leah dreamed of working in environmental law. At the time she was really too young to properly articulate the exact vocation, but she could understand its essence. She wanted to take on the people who were destroying her home, her earth, and do it through the legal system.

When Leah left for Seattle, she left behind a great deal of her passion for the Quileute, and abandoned her once protective stance of preserving her culture and turned toward the more lucrative side of divorce law. The dollar signs were glaring at her, and for the first time she equated money with independence. Money transferred into independence from her father and independence from the tribe that cast her aside.

Leah's background in law also became another determining point for Jacob Black when he made the fateful call five years before. She was the only one he knew who was capable of freeing Bella from her marriage. Just as Jacob had anticipated, Edward would not willingly sign the divorce papers, and Leah had to turn to more extreme methods of securing their separation. Ellie's safety depended upon it.

One of her first cases when starting out at the Chicago firm involved Tanya, and her Slovakian born husband, Vasilii Smirnov. While Tanya admitted that she was a bit of a wild woman in her youth, her mother was insistent that she settle down and marry. To top off the "request" her trust fund would be withheld until she found a suitable young man.

Tanya was an academic at heart, and her passion was medicine. She had been accepted into some of the most prestigious universities across the country, and it did not hurt that when she turned up for in person interviews that her physical beauty left everyone speechless. The only impediment to her studies was the cost of tuition. Her family's wealth prohibited her from scholarships and federal loan eligibility. Yet, she could not access her funds without her mother's permission. Wanting her career above all else, she was willing to sacrifice her personal life and asked her mother for a list of male candidates.

It was a marriage of convenience. Vasilii Smirnov was a well respected member of higher society, and willing to move wherever Tanya requested to complete her schooling. In return, he propelled his social standing and had the free time to dabble in local politics.

It was not a marriage of love. Tanya knew it as soon as she spoke the vows and held nothing but contempt for this portion of her life. But the trust fund was released, and like many held back by the power of wealth, she assumed her life would become easier once it was acquired. Her medical degree was easily obtained, and she began her residency and went on to specialize in pediatric leukemia. Behind all of the alluring exterior and wealth, Tanya did have compassion and a will to help young children survive.

As with most marriages of convenience, it did not stay monogamous for long. Tanya was too busy with her studies and career to deviate from her marriage, but Vasilii was hardly occupied with his dalliances in politics. He soon found a mistress, and then another. Tanya knew about both but held her tongue.

But Tanya Smirnov could not find a word equivalent for "male mistress", and after that discovery she no longer remained silent. Her husband's third betrayal was painful and destroyed her dignity as a woman. With her trust fund now solely in her possession she sought out a lawyer to stop this absurd display of "marriage".

Tanya ended up at Leah's law firm, and although she certainly had the money to hire someone with more experience she could not hire someone with more tenacity than Ms. Clearwater. Leah went after Vasilii with every ounce of contempt she shouldered, and some ways it served as a therapeutic release. Tanya's instructions where specific, it was not just about draining him of money, it was about draining him of dignity. That meant the case would go public.

The story was easy to leak coming from a family that was descendent from high society, the distant relatives of Russian royalty. Beautiful Tanya made an easy martyr in print photos. Her former husband was much less press friendly, and was often caught on the street by reporters swearing and angry. Surrounded by his infidelity, his little love of politics was all but destroyed, and he became an isolated and bitter man.

Tanya's divorce was easily Leah's most high profile case. Rarely did any of her other clients end on the front pages of the society section. It was the case that propelled Leah to the forefront of Chicago divorce law. Hardly the respectable title she wanted to give at dinner parties to drum up business, "Hi, I'm Leah Clearwater, I specialize in divorce law. Do you know anyone who needs my services?"

Today Leah would find some consolation in her chosen profession. This particular contact could lead her to inside information to Edward Cullen, and a possible deterrent if he rerouted his career path to Chicago.

"Yes Tanya, I am sure the men are doing quite well under your watchful surgical eye."

"I haven't earned my cougar status for nothing."

After Tanya's divorce she returned to her maiden name. A newly freed Tanya Denali ushered herself into the world and returned to her youthful activities of catch and release. Catch the man, have her fun with him, and release him back into the wild. No attachments, no distractions.

Leah was well aware that Tanya's colleagues dubbed her the "Surgical Succubus" and she entertained quite a few of the University of Illinois students at her spacious apartment overlooking Lake Michigan. Leah was aware of this because Tanya proudly called her the first time she heard someone whisper it in the hall and needed to share the exciting news with someone.

"So you mentioned Edward Cullen when we talked on the phone. Are you going to spill some more info on this hottie," Tanya said while setting her cup down on the table.

"Well, what do you want to know," Leah hedged.

"For starters, is he single? Not that being with someone hasn't stopped me before, but it is nice to know what I am getting into."

"My, you are presumptive. What makes you think I want you to go after Edward?"

"Leah, does a leopard have fucking spots? Why else would you call me if you weren't trying to set me up with this guy? What is he; married and you want to catch him in the act?"

"No, he is very much single. But I don't even know if he is coming to stay in Chicago yet."

"Well that is a definite yes. The whole cardiology team is psyched up for the kid. Apparently they didn't think they had a chance of hell in selling him on coming here with the other offers he received."

"You know this for sure?"

"Damn straight I do. Whole hospital is up in a freaking tizzy fit, it looks like they have their new gold boy. If he is as good as they say, he'll probably bring in some big research dollars and a hell of a lot of good publicity," Tanya leaned forward putting her elbows on the table, "Which begs the question, what are we doing here?"

This news was exactly what Leah did not want to hear. Edward was definitely going to start snooping around, and the prospect pissed Leah off. She could not rationally understand why the man could just not give up and move on. Any other red blooded male would have taken the hint when the divorce papers hit the door that their relationship was over, but Bella had to hook onto the one man in all of Washington State who would not give up chasing after his bitter ex-wife.

"It would be helpful if you provided Edward with a …distraction?"

"Do I want to know why?"

"It would be better if you didn't know. It would also be better if he didn't know that we were connected either."

"Leah, you know I have always trusted your judgment. Not that it's killing me to be pushed toward a gorgeous specimen such as this, but should I be watching my back around him. Is he a bad guy?"

"As long as you stick with your usual strategy and don't get hooked on the guy, have fun with him. I just need him distracted for a little while so I can set everything up."

"Well Miss Clearwater, it looks like you have given me a new conquest," Tanya smirked and then waved to the counter to bring over her tab, "I knew hiring you would bring me a great deal of satisfaction in the end."

"Just promise to keep me posted. If you find out any information on him, phone number, house address, hell if there is a favorite restaurant he likes to go with you, send it my way."

"That's fine—I suppose you are not going to tell me why we are setting up this little game of ours?"

Leah stood from the table and handed the barista that appeared a bill, "Friends close Tanya, enemies much, much closer."

Edward watched as his mother's cab pulled in front of his town house. She did not appear to have any luggage with her other than her usual purse. The lack of baggage confused him and made him more suspicious of her motives.

Esme hugged her son and he led her into a house she had not seen in many years. It was apparent from the moment she stepped inside that quite a bit of renovating had occurred, but the bones of the home were unchanged.

"You have a wistful expression, whatcha thinking Mom?"

"This place just brings back a lot of memories. Gosh, it has been so long since they passed away."

"Dead Mom, they are dead. Passed away sounds like they are just wind blowing through town," Edward's faith was never his strongest asset. A deep part of him wanted to believe that there was an afterlife, because the thought he ended his mother's time on earth was too painful a burden for a son to bear. But the rational part of him always questioned how a child could loose his parents so early on in life. If there was a God, he was vengeful.

"Don't be so crude Edward. They are still here, watching out for their smart mouthed son."

Edward nodded at his Mother, not wanting to take on that particular discussion again. Instead he did what he could to turn the conversation around, "I see you didn't bring any luggage. Not even a carryon."

Esme blushed, if she had not been so anxious to get out of the airport and see Edward, she would have stopped at a department store to grab a bag and a change of clothes. Now she knew her son was suspicious.

"It was a quick decision. Your father and I did not want you to be alone while you put your parents home up for sale. How are you feeling about that sweetheart?" As good as Edward was at deflecting the conversation, Esme was the master. And although she did not want him to know about her following Charlie quite yet before she had any news, she was genuinely concerned about her son's welfare. In hindsight, she should have joined him here to put the house in order and make sure he could make it though this situation.

"About that," Edward pushed his hand through his hair nervously, "I'd tell you to sit down for this, but seeing as I don't have any furniture in here right now—"

"What's going on Edward?" Esme was instantly concerned, her mothering skills kicking into full gear.

"I decided to take the position here in Chicago. I'm going to stay in the townhouse—at least for a little while."

Silence. Esme was stunned and while her mind tried to sort out if this was a good or a bad idea Edward waited for her reaction. He expected her to be surprised, just as he expected his Father to be shocked when he planned on telling him the news. Confirming his decision out loud even stunned Edward a little before he recovered his composure.

"Edward, is this what you really want to do. Are you sure you are not overreacting to the shock of seeing Bella last night?"

Honestly, yes Edward was absolutely basing his decision solely off the chance encounter outside the theatre. Part of it spoke to there being a bit of fate involved, something Bella truly believed in. She tried to explain it to him in the manner of the Quileute teachings, but being a man of science he often dismissed this view on life. But finding her in the city of millions was simply too much of a coincidence to not reevaluate destiny. Of course he did not want to say this to his Mother, so he stayed silent. His silence was his admission of guilt.

"I see," Esme observed, "Well then, it looks like we are going to have to make arrangements to move your furniture here, and perhaps pick up some new pieces..."

"My realtor is going to help with that," Esme's eyebrows arched at his admission, "I am still going to keep the house up for sale, but I'm not going to make a push to sell until the market opens up in the spring. My realtor has experience staging homes."

Edward also thought to himself that his realtor was also a link to Bella, but for the time being he kept this information to himself.

Esme's concentration was broken by a beep from her phone singling an incoming text message. Three small words made her heart leap.

I found her.

"Excuse me Edward, I have to make a quick call. Do you have a rental car?"

"Yes."

"Good, why don't you pull it around front and we'll go load up your kitchen with food—since you are staying here and all."

Edward headed out of the house and with his car key in hand, and Esme waited for James to take her call.

"Esme, that was a quick reply."

"Of course it was, what do you have?"

"I am sitting outside of Bella Swan's apartment building right now. Her father is inside. As long as no one notices me, I am going to do a little tailing, find out where she works, pinpoint her daily schedule."

"I want to see her, what's the address?"

"Relax Esme, if you come jumping over here with guns blazing she will hightail it out of here faster then lightening. There is no need to panic."

"I've waited five years for answers, I think that my patience has worn thin."

"A couple more days and your questions will be answered."

"Fine, two days. That is all I am giving you James." Esme hung up and gritted her teeth. She had two days to put together all the questions she had formulated since Bella left. She also had two days of keeping her newfound knowledge a secret from her son. Oh, she would tell him her whereabouts, but not until she had a chance to question her former daughter-in-law first.

A honk came from outside and Edward was waiting behind the wheel of his rental car. Esme quickly made sure the house was locked and headed out to meet her son.

While Esme Cullen joined her son in his car, James Damon was setting out for a stakeout in his. He briefly considered ordering pizza and having them deliver it to his car, but figured that might not work well in Chicago, although he did successfully pull it off in an overnight watch in Olympia. But James was not in Kansas anymore, and the only Toto nearby was a yapping Rottweiler who was the cause of his now throbbing headache.

James sat back in his seat and threw on some classic rock. Once he was comfortably settled into his temporary office, he pulled out a paisley folder and leafed through a set of photographs and information that Esme had compiled for him. He remembered groaning when she handed him the folder with the feminine print and watched his masculinity slowly walk away.

The contents of the folder ranged from photographs Esme compiled of Bella over the years she and Edward were together. One photo in particular always peaked his interest and spoke volumes for the type of relationship Bella and Edward shared. It was a simple snapshot, the two were outdoors and Bella was sitting in between Edward's legs. Edward's arms wrapped around her and reminded James of a metal cage. Bella looked calm, but somewhat diminutive in stature.

The most mesmerizing portion of the photograph was their eyes. Edward's stare into the camera was not harsh, but behind the love there was protectiveness. He held the stance of a shielding tiger coddling his cub.

Bella's eyes showed pure love and adoration. She did not give off the persona of someone with a complicated past or difficult personality. Everything he learned spoke of an all American girl who married her high school sweetheart. There was nothing there that would make James' believe she would leave and walk away from her family for no reason. Channeling his new feminine streak care of Esme to describe her, Bella was simply glowing.

Each photo displayed the same set of emotions only in different clothes and circumstances. A photo at what appeared to be Edward's birthday showed him ignoring his glowing cake and placing his entire focus on Bella. Bella was starring at the camera with the cheesiest grin on her face.

James could not find a single picture that would elude to a depressed or angry Bella. No sign that she would give up on her marriage and simply walk away. As a man astute in judging character for his career, he could find no evidence to explain why he was sitting here today outside an old apartment building tracking a wayward ex-wife.

What bothered James the most was he could not figure out the motive for her disappearance. She did not appear to be unhappy from any of his interviews with the Cullen's and a few of her old acquaintances in Forks and Seattle.

Bella certainly was not motivated by money as evidenced by her modest housing. From what James had learned in his background research, she was never who was set on acquiring assets and doubted with further investigating anything of value would turn up.

Despite the fact he worked for the Cullen's, James had a suspicion that the reason Bella left was due to do with a fallout with Edward. Judging from the sight of these photographs, it would have had to been a rather large event to push her away.

That was the innate problem with stakeouts such as this, James had far too much time to think and analyze every little detail. His overactive mind took hold and occupied him in his hunt. But he would never grow impatient in his tracking; it was the thrill of the hunt that kept him in his car. Once it grew dark he would take a walk closer to the building and get a feel for the layout.

Before his brain could run off any further he noticed movement from the front entrance of the worn apartment. The door swung open and Charlie Swan stepped out followed by a petite chestnut brown haired beauty. Even without the photographs Esme had provided, James would have recognized her as Charlie's daughter. Same hair color, same eyes, and same mannerisms.

An enthusiastic movement at Bella's hips was what caught her pursuer's attention.

"Wooo…what do we have here?" James pulled out the binoculars that were under his passenger seat. He pulled the lenses up to his eyes and clear as day he saw a curly chestnut brown haired mini-Bella dancing along the sidewalk.

James quickly riffled through his femme paisley folder and grabbed a random photograph. The kids' hair looked strikingly like Edwards.

"Shit, she is hiding a fucking kid!" James grabbed his camera off the seat with the nice 70-200mm lens and zoomed in for a tight shot. Through the viewfinder he could even see the child's eyes. Emerald green, dead on match with Edward Cullen, "The old lady is going to pee her Depends when she finds out she's a grandma. Holy shit."

The Swan's walked up to a ratty old light yellow Nissan Datson. James hadn't seen one of those clunkers since the late 1980's. Starting up the engine, James began his pursuit of the clunker, already hearing the bankroll when he showed Mrs. Moneybags the goods. Bella Swan was turning out to be a more interesting character then he originally imagined.

Bella made an executive decision that she was going to take her father and daughter out on an exciting evening on the town. She proudly walked her father to her latest pride and joy, her 1984 Datson. Paid for in full and barely rusting, Bella waved triumphantly at her vehicle.

Charlie just shook his head. His daughter was stubborn, and he knew he couldn't convince her that her 'pride and joy' was a death trap on wheels in Chicago traffic.

When her father and daughter were both safely strapped in Bella started up the engine and took off down the road.

"So what fine eating establishment are we going to tonight that is making you so excited?" Charlie asked.

"Chuck E Cheese's of course!" Bella replied with a flourish of her hand. Ellie squealed from the backseat and began bounding up and down. Even with her tiny body she was able to rock the Datson.

"Your tastes in restaurants has certainly changed Bells," Charlie joked.

"Hardly, I never liked going to those fancy places," Bella lowered her voice while her daughter was distracted singing to her favorite Tom Pease song about her belly button, "And this has definitely become my favorite because every time I leave Ellie falls asleep in seconds."

Charlie could not help but chuckle at his daughter's admission. He had pulled the same trick a few times when she was young. Of course, he did not have long to spend time with his little girl because when she was just about Ellie's age, Renee had filed for divorce and moved away from Forks.

Bella navigated the traffic and within twenty minutes they were all sitting at their table ordering a pizza. Ellie was regaling her grandfather with tales from preschool.

"A ghost haunted our class! And he left chocolate on my desk! Paul ate his fast and threw-up on my teacher. That kinda smelled," Bella had allowed Ellie one small glass of root beer because the kid was practically addicted to the sugar water, and suddenly every sentence out of her mouth ended with an exclamation. She started bouncing in her seat and Bella quickly banished her to the play area.

"I don't care how much bacteria they say is in one of those ball pits, they are the greatest idea ever. Survival of the fittest, the kids have to fight their way to the top" Bella sat down in a chair by the play area to watch Ellie. Charlie sat next to her.

"Builds character," Charlie smiled as Ellie leapt from the side of the pit and twisted into the mess of balls and bobbling children's heads, "With moves like that I bet you visit the hospital quite a bit."

"Thankfully she has not inherited my klutziness. You'd be proud though Dad, with all the training I've had, I pretty stable on me feet."

"How is that job of yours Bells?"

Bella smiled, "It's good Dad, really good. For the first time in a long time I feel at peace, like everything might just work out."

"Except last night," Charlie rubbed his hands over his scruffy face, "I have something to admit to you Bells."

Bella turned her attention away from the ball pit and looked at her father's worried eyes, "What is it Dad?"

"Esme followed me here to Chicago. Edward called her and told her about her encounter last night. I was able to lose her at the airport, but she is still trying to track you down," As much as Charlie wanted to keep his daughter in her contentment, he knew she had to be warned, "We might need to come up with a contingency plan."

"Damn it," Bella huffed eliciting a dirty look from a mother wiping the snotty nose of her child, "Leah should be back before my shift starts tonight. We'll sit down and work something out."

The Swans sat in relative silence. Both pondered ideas of how to throw Esme off and protect Ellie. Neither one was much for creating conversation, but somehow having the other's presence there was naturally comforting.

Something else started to creep into Bella's mind. She had the intuitive feeling in her stomach that usually happened when she was on duty, and her sense of self-preservation began to kick in.

"Dad," she turned toward him in a whisper, "I feel like someone is watching us."

"You grab Ellie, I am going to do a quick scan of the place," Charlie calmly stood up from his chair as if going to the bathroom. When he was out of the main play area, he stowed away in a corner. He did not see Esme or even Edward hiding out. He walked around the perimeter, but did not spot any suspicious people hiding out. There was an employee entrance by the kitchen and he wanted to discretely gain Bella's attention.

Charlie pulled out his cell phone and for only the second time in his life attempted to send a text message, "Stupid, tiny buttons," he muttered under his breath. It took in almost four minutes to write a few words in horrible English. He prayed Bella would understand it.

Ext by bathroms. No Esme.

Bella felt the vibrations in her pocket and ushered her daughter from the play area toward the bathrooms. Ellie was protesting and trying to squirm away, but Bella held on tight. She spotted her father hiding out in the shadows and followed him to the back door.

When they hit the back parking lot, Bella practically threw her daughter over her shoulders and began running military style to her car as if her petite body was not carrying a forty pound weight. Charlie was momentarily stunned and equally impressed by his daughters physical transformation before he too began running toward the yellow Datsun. Ellie had stopped her squirming and started to squeal in delight over the fun "ride" her mother was giving her.

Bella put Ellie in her car seat and flew to the front of the vehicle. As much as she wanted to spin out of the parking lot like she had done quite a few times in her squad car, she could not risk it with her daughter in the back. Charlie had positioned himself so that he was facing the rear of the car and looking out for any pursuers.

After a few minutes Bella finally spoke up just slightly above Ellie's kid CD that she was singing too in the back, oblivious of her grandfather and mother's distress.

"Do you think we overreacted?"

"No Bells, I don't." He turned and whispered, " We are being followed."

Bella's car is a homage to my Mother's 1984 yellow Nissan Datsun that she refused to let go. Practically everyone could spot the darn thing, and when I was staying later for practice after school, someone would inevitably come in and say, "You're mom is waiting for you!" because that car was legendary in our town and easily recognizable for its ugliness. She finally sold the thing after owning it for 16 years. So today, I honor the memory of that bright, freakin' yellow Datsun—may you embarrass me one last time: RIP Nissan Datsun 1984-2000