The One That Got Away
Chapter 8
Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight – no copyright infringement intended.
Thanks to everyone following along on this journey! The reviews last chapter really helped – each one is terrific and I'm glad you are enjoying this. Let's see what happens now as Bella makes her way to her borrowed holiday home.
"Alice, I have to admit it. You're a genius." Bella stood in front of the small cottage with her suitcases, phone to her ear, and prepared to open the front door with the key that had been left for her under the mat. "I'm not even inside yet, and I can tell it's perfect."
"Of course it is." Alice smirked. "I never do anything halfway."
"That's not always a good thing, Alice." Bella pushed open the door and walked in. "Oh Alice, its beautiful. I feel like Goldilocks. This cottage is just right." She turned around and saw the window that took up half the back wall, with a cushioned window seat tucked right beneath it. Through the window, she could see the ocean, its grey-green waves foamy from pounding against the cliffs. The only homes she could see were far in the distance. "Wow..."
Alice could hear the amazement in her friend's voice across the thousands of miles between them. "You just found the window and the window seat, right? Jasper and I…"
"Do not tell me what you and Jasper did or didn't do on the window seat. I'm going to pretend you didn't even start that sentence."
"Sorry, Bella." Alice sounded anything but sorry. "Maybe you'll meet some gorgeous Irishman and…"
Bella cut her off again. "Not why I'm here, Alice. No, I think I'll spend the whole two weeks sitting in that very spot and writing." She sighed. "I'm inspired just looking at it."
"No need to thank me, just write another best seller! I'll be waiting to see the first draft."
Bella knew how much she owed her friend. "Alice, really, thank you. For suggesting this trip, for, well, everything."
"I do have one itty bitty piece of news for you, Bella. No big deal. Just a very small work thing."
Bella picked up the biggest suitcase and carried it into the bedroom. She looked at the four poster bed sitting under a skylight and nearly squealed. She took a running jump smack onto the middle of the bed and nestled in the pillows. It was amazing. "Ok, Alice, what is it?"
"The publisher is going to reprint your book."
"Isn't it a little soon for a reprint?"
"With your regular books, yes, but remember, this is a Barbara Smith book, not a Bella Swan book, so the first run wasn't very big. They didn't expect big sales, and it's selling out everywhere." Alice took a deep breath. "And they're going to change the cover."
"Excuse me?"
"I said, they're going to change the cover."
"What? Why?"
"Now Bella, remember that any publicity is good publicity."
"Alice, tell me."
Like ripping off a band aid, Alice thought, and spit it out quickly. "They're going to put the dedication on the cover. Under the title. In big letters."
Bella sat up and groaned. "And you're going to let them? You're my agent. Tell them no!"
Alice shifted to her professional voice. "Sorry, sweetie, but it's good business."
"I hate you."
"No, you don't." Alice smirked, knowing she'd already won. "Enjoy the house, do lots of writing, and go exploring. Call me if anything interesting happens. Otherwise, just check your email from time to time. Bye!"
Alice leaned back in her office chair and steepled her fingers. She knew Bella wouldn't be happy about the book cover, but as her agent, she needed to make those decisions, and to tell her client what she'd done. What she didn't have to tell her was what that little cutie Bree Tanner said in her email this morning. And that, Alice thought, was way more interesting than anything they could put on the book cover.
-TOTGA—
Edward jotted some quick notes in the little book he'd brought with him as Emmett went over the current patients in his clinic. His brother had kicked him out of bed early in the morning. It was only ten o'clock, and they'd been to three farms. At each one, Emmett introduced him to the owner and went over anything he thought might come up in the next month before heading back to the clinic.
"The two cats can be discharged today, so this big guy is the last one." Emmett made kissy noises to the Dalmatian in the final cage. "You'll be back to normal in no time, won't you? And next time, you'll keep away from the cows."
Edward had to laugh. He and his brother were so different, but both of them treated their animals like people. He'd been teased more than once by his students for the way he talked to all his patients.
Emmett continued talking as they walked out the front of the clinic to Emmett's house, just next door. "Tanya will give you the schedule of patients for the week, and she'll be in Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to play receptionist. The rest of the week, you're on your own. But she's a great assistant, so if you get anything where you need help, emergencies or anything, just call her."
"Ok" said Edward. "How do I get hold of her?"
"Get hold of her? Well, you just slide your arms around her waist…"
"Not funny, Emmett."
"Sorry, Ed. I couldn't resist. But seriously, she can be here in a couple of minutes if you need her. She lives in the apartment upstairs. Over the clinic. Technically, she's my landlord." Emmett grinned. "And I'm just busting your chops about her. She's spoken for, so you don't have to worry about that."
Edward felt relieved, for some reason. "Ok, tell me what else I need to know before you leave."
A couple of hours later, Emmett was off to England, and Edward was on his own. He decided to walk to the local grocery to pick up a few things. Emmett's idea of a fully stocked refrigerator was one with beer and not a lot of food. It was a beautiful day, sunny and just cool enough to be comfortable. He felt the tension roll away as he set off down the road, thinking what a good thing coming here was turning out to be.
The store was small, just a few rows of shelves. Before long, he'd have to take the car Emmett left for him and head over to the big grocery store so he could do some proper shopping. Right now, he just wanted to pick up something for dinner tonight, and maybe some snacks.
Edward nodded to the man at the register, who smiled at him while taking care of an older woman who needed some help deciding which of two cakes she should buy. He walked to the back of the store and looked over the meat choices. He might love animals, but he couldn't bring himself to be a vegetarian. Suddenly, his nose caught a whiff of something familiar, and he jerked his head around looking for the source. Strawberries. He smelled strawberries. It reminded him of the way she always smelled, the way her hair smelled when he buried his nose in that lovely spot between her neck and her shoulder. He shook his head. Maybe it was the jet lag.
He heard the store owner ring up another customer. "Good day, miss" the man said. "We'll look forward to seeing you in here again, me and Matilda."
Edward turned to look and just caught a glimpse of chestnut hair going out the door and down the street. Just for a minute, he thought…but no. It was definitely jet lag. And the dream he'd had last night. The one that woke him out of a sound sleep because it was so real. So real he could almost feel her lips on his.
The store owner's voice jolted him out of his stupor. "Can I help you sir?"
A little embarrassed, Edward walked to the front of the store and set his few purchases down on the short counter. "Yes, sorry. Just these things, thanks."
"Today must be the day for visitors. You're the second unfamiliar face I've had here today." He held out his hand to Edward. "I'm Gerald Jenkins, but everyone calls me Jenks."
Edward shook his hand. "Edward Cullen. I'm…"
"Emmett's brother! He told me you'd be here for a bit."
"That's true. I'm going to fill in for him while he's away." Edward looked behind the counter, where a beautiful black lab lay on the floor. Next to her, three sleeping puppies were curled in a box. "I see you have some recent additions."
"This is my Matilda, and her pups. They're 3 months old and just big enough to be trouble when they aren't sleeping. I don't usually have them in the shop, but Dr. Emmett just gave them their shots yesterday and they're a bit sleepy."
Edward bent down and scratched Matilda behind the ears. "Nice to meet you, Matilda. You have beautiful babies there." He stood up and looked at Jenks with a genuine smile on his face. "I'm really looking forward to spending some time here. I just have a good feeling about this place."
They talked about Emmett, the clinic, and the town while Jenks added up Edward's few purchases. Then Edward remembered. "Oh, before I go, do you have any strawberries?"
"No, Dr. Edward, I'm sorry to say I don't. The big grocery outside town probably has them, if you fancy some."
"No, that's OK" said Edward. "It was just I thought I smelled them before." With a puzzled look on his face, Edward took his packages and headed back to his temporary home.
-TOTGA—
"I knew she'd write back! I knew it!" Bree shouted. She'd been on pins and needles since they sent the email to Ms. Hale. The email where they asked if she could confirm their suspicions about "the one that got away." The girls came running when they heard her excited voice.
"The agent?" Claire clapped her hands. "What did she say?"
"Yup, it's Ms. Hale."
Kim put her hands on her hips. "Read it, Bree, come on."
"Ok." Bree read the email out loud to her anxious friends.
Dear Bree, Claire, Kim, and Rachel,
I read your email this morning. My, you girls have been busy. And such good detectives! How did you ever find a Forks High yearbook? Any time you want to write a novel, be sure to let me know. I want first dibs on being your agent!
Ms. Swan really appreciates all your compliments on her new book, and she is sincerely grateful for your discretion about her true identity. I promise to send you each an autographed copy of her next book – she's at a secret location right now, working on it.
Unfortunately, I can't answer your question about Edward Cullen. Ms. Swan is not telling anyone who the dedication is…well…dedicated to. But my goodness, you girls are so resourceful (winks)!
Alice Hale
"It's definitely him" Bree announced.
Claire wasn't convinced. "What makes you think that? She won't say if it's him or not."
"Think about it. You girls are such good detectives? So resourceful? With a wink?" Bree was smug. "Oh, please. It's him."
Rachel shook her head in agreement. "Oh my God, you are so right. That has to be what she means."
"So what do we do now?" Claire didn't want to be left out of any fun, just because she hadn't figured it out right away.
"Now" said Bree dramatically "we find Edward Cullen. Ladies, grab your laptops!"
