Once again, thank you for your kind reviews. I'm so appreciative. Capricorn75 is my wonderful friend who also beta's for me. Love you, Cappy xoxo
Leaving Forks was harder than I cared to admit. Self-doubt nagged every chance there was. What if I couldn't make it without being able to fall back on the safety net of my parents? What if I didn't find a job before the money I'd saved (and been given) ran out? What if the whole notion of a new life was impossible to attain? Failing myself was one thing, but failing my daughter was not an option. I would never forgive myself if I let that happen.
It wasn't easy dialing back the negative thoughts, but I knew I had to—especially for Isabella. I shouldered the guilt of taking her away from her school friends, her adored grandparents, and the only home she'd ever known. I owed it to her to be positive. Some days I faked it but my daughter was none the wiser.
I made setting up our new home an adventure and gave Isabella full rein on her room. She chose pink - pink paint, pink comforter, pink rug, and pink curtains. It looked like Pepto Bismol threw up in her room. She was happy, though, and that was all that mattered. Her happiness is all that will ever matter to me.
I painted my room pale grey tinged with blue, and it wasn't until later I realized how similar the color scheme was to the perpetual sky in Forks. My subconscious knew how much I missed home and my choice in paint color was indicative of that. Still, I was determined to make Edmonds home.
Five days of unpacking left me feeling a bit squirrely. After breakfast Isabella and I ventured outside to check out the quaint seaside town we would now call home. In desperate need of caffeine, our first stop was the coffee shop around the corner from our place.
The patio out front of 'Common Ground' was furnished with wicker chairs and worn wooden tables. Though it was currently empty I could picture friends- young and old -sitting out there, hands wrapped around coffee mugs, trading stories or simply sitting quietly, doing a crossword puzzle.
I ushered Isabella into the cafe ahead of me. The bell above the door gave a muted jiggle, quietly announcing our arrival.
The barista- Tanya according to her nametag- greeted us with a smile. Isabella asked for an apple juice and I ordered a dark roast. As we waited for our drinks, Isabella struck up a conversation with a man who was sitting nearby.
"Hi. I'm Isabella."
The man smiled and extended his hand in greeting; it swallowed my daughter's tiny one.
"Nice to meet you, Isabella. My name's Emmett."
"That's a funny name," she said, her nose wrinkled.
"I'm a funny guy." He gave her an exaggerated wink.
I thanked Tanya for the drinks as I noticed Isabella climbing up on the chair next to her new friend. Poor guy was trying to enjoy a cup of coffee and read the paper, and along comes my kid.
"Isabella, no—"
The man waved me off as he put the newspaper off to the side. "Nah, it's fine. Pull up a chair." With one arm he pushed in Isabella's. "I'm guessing he's your dad, huh?" He asked with a nod of his head in my direction. "Unless you're here by yourself."
Isabella rolled her eyes, a trait she'd recently perfected that, sadly, reminded me of her mother.
Lucky me.
"I'm a little kid. Of course I'm not here alone. Duh."
The man's eyes crinkled at her 'duh'.
"That's my dad. I don't have a mom." Six years in and it still hurt my heart. I frowned as reached for her, my hand brushing her hair out of her eyes. I should have found her a headband before we left the apartment.
"Are you sure you don't mind some company?" I asked.
"Of course not."
I set the coffee and juice down on the table and shook his hand before I sat, introducing myself. I punched the straw out of the packaging and handed it to Isabella.
"Emmett McCarty," he repeated. "Are you here visiting for a few days?"
"Actually, we just moved to town on Monday." I took a sip of the dark brew, burning my tongue in the process.
"I'm almost six. I'm going into first grade."
"Wow. I thought you were at least ten." Emmett winked at her and she beamed.
"Well, I'm as smart as a ten year old."
"You are?" Emmett leaned in close; my daughter was clearly thrilled with the attention of someone other than her father.
"Uh huh. I know that inside my brain is my hippocampus. And I have an anus and a va—"
My index finger pressed against her lips.
"Heh, heh. Isn't it amazing what they teach kids in Kindergarten nowadays." Isabella ignored my interruption and managed to talk around my finger.
"My dad has a small—".
"Isabella!"
No matter what, I did not want her to finish that statement – who knew what would come out of her mouth. Thankfully, the stern tone of my voice shushed her but did little to stop the blush from burning my cheeks.
"Let's not talk Emmett's ear off."
Emmett grinned as he took a sip of his coffee. "Are you kidding? This is the most excitement I've had in months."
Isabella stuck her tongue out at me then started blowing bubbles in her apple juice. I shook my head once and she obeyed before taking a big sip. Emmett gave a little nod to Tanya and she came over to our table asking if Isabella wanted to draw a picture for their bulletin board. She looked to me for permission first then happily skipped off to a low table where there were crayons and paper already set up.
"Cute kid."
I smiled. "Thanks. She's a handful, that's for sure."
"Just wait until there are boys in the picture." Emmett laughed and I groaned.
"Ugh. I don't even want to think about that."
"So, what brings you to town?" He leaned forward, bulky arms resting on the table. He should've been intimidating based on his size alone but he just wasn't.
"Everything and nothing." I toyed with the discarded paper from the straw.
"A fresh start, huh?"
I nodded. "Something like that, yeah."
"You're awfully young for needing a fresh start."
I shrugged. "I grew up in a small town where everyone knew my business. Mostly that I got a girl pregnant when I was in high school. She left us when Isabella was four months old. This is the first time we aren't living in my parent's basement." I paused, embarrassed for blurting out such personal information to a complete stranger. I ran my hands through my hair. "Uh, wow. Sorry, I don't know why I just told you all that."
"Like father like daughter, huh?" Emmett teased.
I laughed. "She comes by it honestly, apparently. Anyway, I'm sorry."
"Eh, don't worry about it. A coffee shop's like a bar. People talk to me like I'm a bartender instead of a barista all the time."
"You work here? Sorry, I just assumed you were a customer."
There was that huge grin again. "I own the joint, actually. "
"Cool."
Emmett shrugged like it was no big deal. "It was my dad's business. He passed away last year."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Thanks." He paused for a moment, frown on his face. "Anyway, I've been muddling my way through ever since. Thank God for Tanya, she's my savior. Unfortunately, this is her last day. She's leaving me for college out of state. Not sure what I'll do without her. I had a guy lined up but he bailed on me last minute."
"I could help you out." The words left my mouth before I even knew what I was saying.
"Really?" Emmett looked hopeful.
"Yeah. I moved to town on a whim and I sort of need a job."
"Shit, man. That'd be awesome. When can you start?"
"Uh…" I hadn't expected him to take me seriously. "My parents are coming to town this weekend. I could have them look after Isabella and come in on Sunday or Monday?" I'd figure out babysitting after that.
Emmett twisted his lips in thought. "How about you come in Sunday and I'll show you the ropes."
"That sounds great. Thank you so much!"
Before I could confess my lack of experience to Emmett, Isabella came back to the table.
"Daddy! Look at this." She climbed up onto my lap, shoving the paper right in my face.
Emmett grinned as I moved it away to admire it.
"Wow, sweetie. Nice."
"Guess what it is."
"It's a…." I was stumped. I turned my head sideways and narrowed my eyes hoping for divine intervention.
"Is it your dad and me sitting here having coffee?" Emmett ventured a guess.
"Yes! You're right. Daddy, you were holding it upside down."
"Silly me." I planted a kiss on her cheek. She immediately wiped it off and looked at our new friend with a flushed face.
"Dad!"
Emmett quickly looked away. "I didn't see a thing. Did you want to keep the picture or can I hang it up on the bulletin board?"
"You can keep it, since you knew what it was before Daddy." She passed him the picture and he stood up to post it on the board.
"Whoa! You're like a freaky tall giant!"
"Isabella!" I scolded her for being rude but I couldn't disagree – he had a good three inches on me and I was six foot two.
"I'm not a giant. I'm an ogre. Grrrrrrr!" With arms outstretched he went to grab a then screeching Isabella. She hopped off my lap and ran away. Emmett stopped chasing her and let out a belly laugh.
"You run fast … for a girl." I knew he was kidding by the smirk on his face but my daughter was not impressed.
Isabella stomped over to him, hands on her hips.
"For a girl? Hmmmph! I was the bestest runner in my Kindergarten class. I could out-run you any day."
"Good practice to outrun all those boys who will be chasing after you in school," Emmett said.
"Eewww! I don't like boys. Gross! Well, I like my dad and my grandpa, but that's about it."
Emmett grinned. "I'm sure your dad would be more than okay with that but I have a feeling you'll be changing your mind one day."
Sadly, he was right.
"Should we get going, Princess? Check out the rest of the town?"
Isabella nodded and turned her attention to Emmett. "Thank you for the apple juice."
I was proud of her for remembering her manners.
"You're very welcome. You make sure your daddy takes you to Kinder Britches for a new outfit for school, okay? And go to Giardi's on 5th and Walnut for lunch. Tell them Emmett sent you for one of their famous Shirley Temples."
How he knew that was her favorite drink, I don't know but Isabella's face lit up, and her ponytail bounced as she nodded her head.
"Thank you, Emmett," I said as I extended my hand to him. "For everything."
"No problem. I'll see you Sunday? Nine okay? Wouldn't want to start you too early on your first day."
"That'll be fine. There's, uh, just one problem."
"What's that?"
I blushed knowing I had to admit the truth. "I, uh…. I don't exactly know the first thing about making specialty coffees."
Emmett waved it off.
"You didn't know the first thing about raising a little girl and I'd say you've done a fine job with her."
With that he turned his attention to my daughter, squatting down to her level and extended his hand.
"Miss Isabella, it was my pleasure to meet you. Try to keep your dad out of trouble, okay?"
"Don't worry, I will."
That's pretty much the short version on how I came to work for Emmett McCarty. Eventually, we would become 50/50 partners and, despite our nine-year age difference, best friends. Isabella still refers to him as a freaky giant but more affectionately calls him 'Uncle Emmett'.
And that picture she drew of Emmett and me sitting by the window having coffee the day we met? It's framed and sits on the front counter of our business.
