A/N: sorry it has taken me so long to update this story, I took a break from writing and now I am back at it again
Once again I do not own twilight I just like playing with the characters that Steph created
Hope you enjoy this one
like my other story this is not beta'd
We finally touched down in NY, I think I slept the whole flight, Alice grabbed our carry-on's and pulled me to baggage claim, think my body was moving on auto pilot, my mind was off in another direction. Who would want to burn down the restaurant and why. That was my life's dream and now what was I going to do.
" You are going to start over, we will find another maybe even better location and we will build a more beautiful restaurant Bella."
" Did I say that out loud."
" Yes, you were mumbling it the whole flight in your sleep, now listen I have Esme on speed dial if you need her, she said she is ready to help you in any way you need, I took the next week off and am here for you too."
" No…. No Alice you cant do that you have deadlines, and clients that need you."
" I don't care, you are more important." Alice said, as she lifted not only mine but her suitcase off the carousel. " Now can you focus enough to pull your bag along so we can go home and I can get you into bed, I'm on strict orders from Edward, I don't think I want to piss him off."
All I could do was nod my head, Alice put the handle to my luggage in my hand she grabbed my carry on from my hands and her bags and walked ahead of me, and I followed like a good girl. Edward had a car waiting for us. I slipped inside the black town car and rested my head on the window. I pulled out my phone and dialed Edward. He answered groggily.
" Hey, sorry to wake you we landed and are on our way home."
" The car was there right you didn't have to wait."
" No it was here waiting for us, thank you by the way."
" I love you baby, it's the least I could do since I'm stuck here in this big bed by myself, God I miss your warmth. " he sounded so tired.
" I miss you too, go back to sleep you need your rest." I whispered.
" So do you, I want you to take a hot bath and climb into bed for me when you get home please. God I should be there taking care of you Bella."
" I'll be fine."
" Bella love."
" What." I looked out the window we were leaving JFK and heading out on the expressway.
" Let us help you. Alice is at your beckon call until I get back, my mother is a phone call away, and if you need me please don't hesitate to call I don't care what time it is or I'm in the middle of practice your are important baby. I love you so much if you need me to I will get the next flight out of here and be there as fast as I can Bella."
" I love you too, Just stay and finish up what you need to do then come home, I'll let you get back to sleep."
" Love you baby, the minute the last practice is over I'm on that flight, call me in the morning when you get up okay, I'll have my phone on me all day just call me if you need me okay."
" Okay." I sighed. " Sweet dreams Edward."
" Always baby, same to you."
" Okay." I hung up with Edward, the tears started again, as much as I wanted him here with me, I don't want to be that girl that the press paint in a bad light. Can just see the headlines" Edward Cullen not having stellar season could it be the new girl in his life?" yeah no thank you.
Since it was so late and there was no traffic we made it home quickly, Alice ushered me up the steps and into my room. " Do you need me to run the bath water for you."
" No, I'm not an invalid."
" Nobody said you were Bella we are just trying to help you out, you look like you are lost I…. Just want to help anyway I can." She looked dejected.
" I know sorry, It's….. Just my mind is still trying to process everything, a few hours ago I was having the time of my life with Edward and now my whole life has been shattered. What am I going to do, my poor employee's will need to find new jobs and when I do get a new restaurant up and running they wont be able to come back and work for me. I just want to curl up in a ball and pretend this never happened. Edward does not need all this shit going on he needs to focus on his career, maybe we should just cool things off."
" Are you fucking insane Bella." Alice yelled at me her hands flailing everywhere. " You are not going to cool things off. Edward loves you, I am pretty sure he would rather be here with you than playing football right now. Jasper had to rip his credit card out of his hand at the airport, he was about to buy a ticket and come home. Jasper had to force Edward out of the airport and back in the car Bella. It's killing him he's in Florida and you are here and he can't be here to comfort you." Alice wrapped her arms around my shaking body and turned the faucet on.
" Alice." I whispered and sobbed into her neck.
" Shhhh. It's going to be okay Bella, everything is going to work out."
" How do I just start over, it feels like we just opened our doors and now… It's going to take months to rebuild."
" Hush let's worry about that in the morning okay, your bath is ready for you, I'll be back when you're out."
All I could do was nod; Alice slipped out of the bathroom and shut the door. I slowly undressed and slipped into the warmth of the bath water, the water cascaded over my shoulders as I slowly sunk down in the warmth. I fell in love with this bathroom the moment I walked into the room; it was one of the selling points in this house. I loved it from the turquoise glass tiles of the shower to the infinity tub that I was now laying in. Inhaling the lavender scent that was permeating the air, I instantly relaxed. Alice had gone all out and lit the candles by the bath the flames casting amber shadows against the dark brown wall opposite the tub. I closed my eyes wishing that the warmth surrounding my body, was not from the water but from Edward's strong arms.
I don't know how long I was laying there in the bath could have been minute's even hours I did not want to leave but the water had gone cold and my fingers and toes were prunes. I left the confines of my large tub and slipped on the fluffy white robe that Alice had laid out for me. I wandered into the adjoining closet and slipped on some pink boy shorts and a cream cami. I brushed my hair and threw it up into a ponytail.
I walked out into my room Alice was standing there with a cup of steaming liquid. " Did that help?" she asked as she set the cup and saucer on my nightstand and pulled my navy blue duvet down and patted the mattress signaling for me to get in bed.
I climbed in and she covered me up and handed me the cup, looking down the mixture looked like a cup of steaming liquid mud. " What the hell is this?"
" It's homemade kava tea."
" It smells like shit."
" Just drink it, it will help you relax."
" Alice you know how I feel about drinking and taking crazy stuff."
" Oh yes the girl who refuses to take Advil when she has a headache… listen just one cup will not hurt… Please just drink it for me." She batted her eyelashes.
" God Alice, you suck." I tipped the cup to my lips instantly regretting the decision to allow an Alice eyelash bat to persuade me into drinking the awful smelling liquid.
" Drink it fast." Alice looked on with amazement as I tipped the last remaining drops out of the cup.
" God it tastes like dirt." I scrunched up my nose as I put the cup down on the nightstand by my bed.
"And you would know what dirt tastes like…" we both started laughing. Last year Jacob made us do a relay race and he purposely put me in the leg that had to run through the mud, Jake was scared of Alice and he did not want to ruin his precious outfit. Oh and let's not forget he did not tell me what leg I was running until right before the start. God he's so gay and a bitch. I should have known though the race was called the Muddy Buddy relay.
" Oh the memories, you were covered head to toe in mud, your teeth were black instead of white and your face when you handed him the baton…. God I need to find those pictures." Alice hopped off the bed and ran from the room.
She was back in an instant photo album in hand and scooted herself up against the headboard and opened the front cover there I stood only the whites of my eyes showing. " Oh god you can only see the whites of my eyes." We both busted up laughing.
" Okay short of you having to run through that mud pile that was a fun day." Alice said as she flipped the pages.
" It was fun, Oh do you remember when I took off after Jake when the race was over." Alice flipped through the album no doubt trying to find the picture.
" Oh here it is." We both laughed, Jake was making fun of how muddy I was, and I took off running after him we both landed in the mud pit. Seth of course had the whole affair documented from me first taking off after him to me bumping into him when Alice yelled my name to stop, of course Jake just held onto me as we both fell in.
" The best was you guys trying to climb out, you both kept slipping until Seth decided to hand the camera over to me and went to help you guys."
" No the best was when Jake pulled Seth in and then proceeded to make out with him and I used them as a stepping stone to get out."
We both laughed. " Best day ever, well that was until I met Jasper that day trumps all the rest."
We both sighed. " Yeah, I feel the same."
" Well girlie you have a big day tomorrow, what time do you have to meet with the insurance adjuster again."
" I think he said ten." I slid down under the covers.
" Do you want me to sleep with you tonight, I will you know." Alice said.
" I'm fine just don't let me sleep in to late I still need to call everyone and see how they are doing, you know tell them that if they want to find another job they can."
Let's just cross the bridge tomorrow okay after we speak to the adjuster. He might have some options for you in the morning."
" Okay, I'll just wait to freak out tomorrow." I said as I curled up under the covers.
" That's the spirit." Alice left the room.
I rolled over and turned off the light on the nightstand. And closed my eyes hoping sleep found me quick.
The ringing of my cell phone woke me up and I rubbed my eyes, the morning light streaming through the west facing windows lighted up the room. Alice thought it was crazy of me to make this room the master when we renovated since I'm really not a morning person but I loved how the light filters through the windows warming the room up in an instant. I rolled over and grabbed my phone off the nightstand smiling
" I love you." I said into the phone.
" Morning beautiful, I love you too and miss you like crazy my bed was fucking lonely without you last night."
" I was lonely without you too, but Alice made me the most discussing tea and It really relaxed me surprisingly I slept pretty well." I looked at the clock. " Well at least for the four hours I got."
" I'm glad you got some rest baby, listen I have to go but my mom said she's meeting you girls for lunch to go over some plans to help you rebuild."
" About that." Edward would not let me get a word in.
" Hush just let her help you, she wants to do this Bella, she feels like she owes it to Charlie to take care of you."
" Okay." I sighed in the phone
" Good thanks for not being too stubborn." He chuckled. " Okay Jasper and Emmett are waiting for me downstairs baby I got to go, love you so much, oh I sent some breakfast over for you girls Alice should be knocking on your door."
Sure enough a knock came on the door. And Alice came through the doors holding two coffees and a bag from the bagel shop down the street.
" Mmm Breakfast in bed, thanks Q.B."
" Well next time you get breakfast in bed I am going to make damn sure its me who is serving you and not the little pixie."
" Looking forward to that." Alice handed me the coffee and plopped down on the bed pulling out two cinnamon raisin bagels and handed me one.
" Good cause I'll make good on that promise when I get back, okay I really got to go, please call me later after you talk to the insurance adjuster and let me know what he says okay."
" Promise. Go get all manly on the football field for me okay."
" You like me all manly don't you." He laughed. " Love you baby."
I could hear the chime for the elevator and knew he would loose cell service while in the elevator, my time with Edward was coming to a halt. " Love you too."
" You two make me sick." Alice mocked us. " Edward tell Jasper I said I miss him." Alice yelled and Edward laughed I knew he had heard her.
" Okay I'm really going now before I have to wait for another elevator." Seems neither of us wanted to say bye.
I laughed; he was so cute when he was flustered. " I'll call you later stud." I hung up the phone and took a bite of the bagel Alice had spread some plain cream cheese on it for me.
" Your man is perfect." Alice said, her mouth full of Bagel.
" He is perfect." I got up off the bed and walked into the bathroom, I grabbed some shorts and a tank top it was going to be pretty hot today in NY, I braided a portion of my hair and threw it up into a ponytail.
" Jasper is pretty perfect too if I do say so myself." I said as I poked my head out the door of the bathroom. Grabbing the coffee mug I walked out and sat down on the bed.
" He is so perfect Bella, thank you for taking me to the wedding." Alice had this far away look on her face.
" You miss him too."
" Of course but enough of this lets get you to your meeting you are more important right now." Alice jumped off the bed and was out the door before I could argue with her.
I grabbed my purse and headed downstairs and into the kitchen, Alice was right behind me and we headed out the door, There was a black town car waiting outside our door and an older gentleman with very dark skin and dreadlocks leaning against the side of the car.
" Miss Swan, Miss Brandon I'll be your driver today, I'm Winston and it's a pleasure to be working with you two lovely ladies today." The man had a very thick Jamaican accent he tipped his hat at us and we climb in the back seat when he shut the door we both giggled.
" Is it a pre requisite that you have some weird name to drive a car for the rich and famous I mean Winston is that even Jamaican." I shook my head.
" I know, but he's cute for an old guy and that accent wow." Alice said as our drive climbed in the front seat.
" I have orders from Mr. Cullen to take you anywhere you want to go today." Winston said as he pulled away from the curb. " So ladies where will it be?" he asked as he came to a stop at the corner of our street.
" I have to meet with someone at my restaurant can you take us there, it's by the water front, I gave him the address and he nodded and turned the corner. The ride was long due to the morning traffic and we pulled up right at ten. The tears were flowing as we pulled up and I could see that the inside of the building was totally black and gutted. Yellow caution tape was across the front of the restaurant, there were firefighters still in the debris lifting tings and making sure they got the fire all out.
Alice handed me a tissue as Winston came and opened the door for me. " Bella it's going to be okay." She squeezed my hand.
" So sorry Ms. Bella for your loss, I heard your restaurant was one of the best in NY, if you re open I'll be the first in line." A man standing on the street in his business suit said as I walked up in front of where Bliss stood.
I was flattered. " Thank you sir." Was all that I could say with out choking up, I was already a mess from the crying I did in the car, Alice and I walked over to where the adjuster was standing surveying the damage to the building.
He was a tall lanky man with glasses and dark brown hair. " I'm guessing you are Isabella Swan." The man held his hand out for me to shake. " I'm Peter Cross, the adjuster working on this case for you, I spoke with the fire Marshall he's suppose to meet us here, looks like he's running a little late." He finished shaking my hand and let go.
" You can call me Bella, yeah um sorry I was out of town when this happened, I'm just shocked, what happens now?" The streets were filling with people some stopping to look at the damage and whispering to each other. I tried to ignore the looks they were giving me.
" Well it kind of looks like it's a total loss." He smirked and just gave him my bitch brow. " Yeah Okay well after I speak with the fire Marshall we will know more. But you were very smart and insured for the full amount of so if they do determine it's arson well then after we do our investigation you should be reimburse for the loss. We will give you checks to pay for the restoration and rebuild also we will give you a check to pay your employee's."
" So how long will that take, and how much will I be getting."
" Well it all depends on how fast we get this all processed lets just hear what the Marshall says first, then we can talk after about the logistics of what I need you to do okay." He pushed his glasses back up off his nose.
" Okay." Alice was rubbing circles on my back.
A big burley man stepped out of a black cruiser and walked over to us he had on black pants and a blue NY firefighter shirt, he must be the fire Marshall. Another car pulled up this time it was a police cruiser, a
" Sorry I'm late folks we had another fire last night at an apartment building on fifty seventh street, whole thing went up in flames, lots of people misplaced."
" Oh that's so sad." I said and looked back over to where my building use to stand, where I came to work every morning, where I felt so much joy watching people enjoy a night out on the town with some delicious food.
" You must be Ms. Swan, I'm the fire Marshall, but you can call me Coop, and this here is Officer Dan."
" It's nice to meet you wish it were under different circumstances." I said as I shook both of their hands.
" Nice to meet you and who is this lovely lady next to you." Officer Dan asked winking at Alice.
" Oh yeah sorry this lovely lady is Alice my friend and roommate."
Alice and Dan shook hands, she turned around and rolled her eyes.
" So this is what we know so far. According to your manager Angela Webber she had just locked the doors for the night and was walking out to her car when the smoke started coming out from the front doors. She said she did not remember anyone being left in the building, she called 911 and we arrived to flames shooting out from the windows. Some of the firefighters had smelled gas, while they were in the building fighting to get it contained but they did not know if it was from an appliance in the kitchen. Upon further investigation we did find the trace of an accelerate so we are deeming this fire arson Ms. Swan."
" You can call me Bella, do you have any leads?"
" No and that is where you come into play, do you know anyone that might have a grudge against you." Officer Dan said as he took out his little notepad to take down notes on.
" No not that I am aware of."
" That's not true Bella, James is here in NY." I gave Alice a pointed look I highly doubt James lit my restaurant on fire.
" Who is this James guy?" The police officer asked.
" He's my ex boyfriend from back in Seattle, he kind of stalked me once and he came to the a few days ago with his new girlfriend that's a model."
" Did he say why he was here."
" Just that Victoria landed a modeling job and he came with her."
" Douchebag moocher." Alice said under her breath.
Officer Dan shook his head. " What's James full name and can you give me Victoria's as well."
" It's James Hardy, and I think Victoria's is Randal." Dan wrote everything down in his book
" Has he tried things in the past?"
"Yeah I did not do anything about it just left Seattle for here, hoping I could just get away, when he showed up her Alice talked me into finally getting the restraining order but um was told that until he did something they could not do anything about it."
" Yeah well that's true guess we will look into where they were the night of the fire."
" Okay so you were in Florida at the time of the fire right."
" Yes."
" Can I ask what you were doing there."
Great here we go. " I was visiting my boyfriend, he's there for football training." Yes I was trying to be as evasive as I could.
" And can I ask your boyfriends name we might have to question him too, make sure you were really there." Officer Dan asked.
" Am I a suspect."
" No there are a few people that have attested to the fact that you were gone, out of the state, and that you were with your boyfriend, it's just procedure."
" Okay I was with Edward Cullen in Orlando we were at a club when Angela called me."
" Wow you're dating the Edward Cullen quarterback for the Giants do you think you could snag me an autograph."
" Oh and maybe one for me too." Coop said, he was talking to the adjuster over by the building.
One reason I did not want to tell them who I was with. " Yes and I guess I'll have to ask him how he feels about that."
" Okay well tell him I'm his biggest fan, maybe then."
" I have a feeling that Mr. Cullen would appreciate his biggest fan helping his girl find out who did this. So maybe you should focus on that and not trying to snag an autograph what ya say about that, if you find the person that did this then maybe he would sign something for you, maybe even get you tickets to a game." Alice said. I knew Dan flirting with her earlier would come back to bite him in the ass.
" Yes Ma'am guess that's all for now, do you have any other question for me."
" Do you know how long its going to take to get any leads?"
" Our team is working as fast as they can to gather everything, once they gather all the evidence then the clean up can begin, here is my card feel free to call me anytime Bella, with any question you have."
The adjuster came over after he finished up with Coop. " Are you all through?" he asked.
I nodded my head. " Well then since now we know it was arson we can get a jump on processing your claim, I'll be in touch with you Ms. Swan expect a call in the middle of the week, if you have any question you can call me too okay."
" Okay, that's it."
" That's it, once I get this processed it should take a couple weeks and you should start seeing the first checks to pay your employees."
" Okay." I nodded hoping that it covered everyone and they would stay with me through the rebuilding process. " Let me get you my business card so if you need to get a hold of me you can." I reached into my bag and pulled out my wallet grabbing the card out of the slot.
He took it, and slid it onto his clipboard. " I'll be in touch with you Bella." He shook my hand and walked away.
I was just me and Alice left along with the fire Marshall, the officer and a few others, I'm guessing the CSI team since they were wearing gloves and it looks like they were searching for evidence. " Do you still need me." I asked both the officer and the Marshall."
" No go ahead and go if we need anything else we will call you, I have all your info back in my office, oh wait before you leave." He hopped over the crime scene tape and stood in front of Alice. " Hey I was just wondering if you have a jersey." He asked Alice; we both stood there dumbfounded by what he was asking.
" What?" Alice asked her eyebrows were all scrunched up.
" You know a jersey, cause I need your name and number baby."
Oh my god that was the lamest pickup line ever. I turned around so he could not see my face I was shaking with laughter, Alice grabbed onto my arm and I braced myself for her comeback.
" Its officer Dan right." she asked. Oh god here it comes I could just hear it in her tone.
I could not tell how he responded since my back was to them both.
" Well Dan, the only jersey I have has the name Hale written on the back and the giants logo on the front, now if its my phone number you are looking for I don't think it's a good idea if I give that out to you."
" Well I can see you want to play hard to get, maybe I should just ask your friend here to give it to me."
" Oh my good lord he's not going to give up, just make up a stupid number Alice." I whispered hoping he did not hear me.
She grabbed on tighter and I knew Dan and I were in for it.
" Buddy listen up, one that was the worst pick up line ever you might want to consult with Alex Hitchins, two I never play hard to get, three never in a million years would I give out my number to you and last but not least I have a boyfriend. So unless your name is Jasper Hale I suggest you turn your little boy body around and go figure out who lit the fire that burned down Bella's restaurant. Come on Bella we have to meet Esme for lunch." Alice dragged me to the car. I could not stop laughing the whole ten steps it took us to get there.
Winston opened the doors for us and we climb inside, once he shut the door I lost it. Tears were streaming down my face.
" If one word of this gets back to Jasper I'm going to." She paused.
" You're going to what… oh my god Alex Hitchins that was classic Alice, oh I should consult with goggle and see if they really do have a date doctor." I laughed holding my stomach.
" I'll figure something out." She huffed.
Winston climbed in the driver seat and turned around to face us he had a smirk on his face " What a looser, that poor man needs some help, with picking up women." Winston turned back around. " So ladies according to Mr. Cullen I'm suppose to take you to Peep in Soho where you will meet up with his mother Esme is that correct."
" I guess, he never said." I looked at Alice
" That's correct, sir." Alice said.
We spent the rest of the ride into Soho laughing about Dan's attempt at flirting, Winston dropped us off and Alice and I walked into the swanky restaurant Esme was waiting for us at the hostess stand.
" Ladies you are both looking fabulous, looks like love is good for you two." Esme said as she hugged me and then Alice. Esme grabbed my hands and held them. " I'm so sorry Bella, I don't even know what to say, did you find out what happened?" she asked. As we sat down on the bench to wait for our table.
" They said it was arson." The tears were starting to form again.
" Oh sweetie I did not mean to make you cry." Esme handed me a tissue. " Karma's a bitch, one day and I'm hoping it's really soon whoever did this will get what's coming to them."
Alice nodded her head as I wiped the new set of tears from my face I was pretty tired of crying I could totally fill a 16-oz water bottle with how many tears had fallen in the last couple days.
A young man in a tan suit came and stood in front of Esme. " Mrs. Cullen your table is ready, if you would follow me ladies." He motioned for us to follow.
I checked out the interior restaurant as our hostess lead us to our table; it was a small restaurant with a long hallway of tables and a bar along the right side. The under cabinet lighting on the bar was neon pink and it was casting a pink hue on the ground as well as on the bar top. There were mirrors along one side of the wall where the tables were lined up side by side all the way down to where the bar started. There were huge light fixtures over-head that were also casting pink hues down towards the ground. I was kind of overwhelmed it was such a small intimate restaurant yet it had this electric feel to it, no wonder it got such great reviews as the place to hang out in Soho on a Friday night. I could just see the posh residents hanging out here drinking and socializing, really not my scene.
" I don't know about you ladies but this is just a little too much for me." Esme whispered as the hostess sat us down. " I mean the music and the lighting it's just to much I like it more intimate quiet you know." She said as he handed us our menus.
" Steven will be your server." The hostess said and walked away.
" No I totally get it, I kind of feel the same way, it's a little much." I whispered so as not to draw to much attention to the fact that we were bashing their restaurant.
" And look at those bar stools I don't think they look very comfortable, at least not for my tiny ass." Alice said and we all giggled.
They did look uncomfortable, I could not tell from where I was sitting but the things looked like they found some old barstools took of the padding part and then strung some leather pieces across them leaving gaps, don't think I would want to sit on those.
I was brought out of my musing by a very familiar voice. " Oh my god Bella, I can't believe what happened are you okay doll face." I looked up into the dark brown eyes of Jacob Black; I stood up and hugged him, even though he yells at me like a drill sergeant during our workouts the man has the softest heart.
" I'm as good as I can be at the moment, what are you doing here? I thought you don't do lunch dates"
" Yeah well don't let Seth know I stopped in here, he'll throw a tizzy fit." Jacob grabbed the chair in front of him and spun it around then plopped down. " So whose this beauty." He lifted Esme's hand and kissed it.
" Sorry Esme this is one of my friends and personal trainer Jacob, Jacob this is Esme Cullen she's Edwards mom."
" Well ma'am it's a pleasure to meet you, so what are you girls up to today, Doll face take a seat." Jacob motioned to me to sit back down in my seat.
" Well we were about to order lunch do you want to join us." Esme asked.
" Of course, I cant pass up the opportunity to eat with 3 lovely ladies now could I, does not happen very often if you know what I mean." He whispered to Esme, by the look on her face I was pretty sure she knew he batted for the other team.
" Hello I'll be your server today what can I get you to drink." Our server had finally shown up after sitting there for fifteen minutes.
" Well its about time Steven, I'll have a diet coke with a lime." Esme said.
" Um I'll have a Long Island Ice tea please." I said
"Going for the hard stuff already huh." Jacob nudged me.
" Its fine Bella you probably need it." Esme winked at me
" I'll have a lemonade please." Alice was the last to put in her drink order.
" Okay are you ready to order or do you need a few minutes to decide." Our cheery waiter asked us
" How about we do family style, we each pick something and share, what do you say ladies." Jacob asked
We decided on our favorites and waited for our meal to arrive, we chatted and talked through lunch, even thought he service was slow the meal it self was delicious. Jacob and Esme walked out with us to the valet stand. I was instantly hit with the flashing bulbs of cameras and men yelling at me, asking if I was really dating Edward Cullen, yelling at me to look their way and asking if I knew who burned down my restaurant.
Luckily Jacob was fast and ushered me back into the restaurant. He located the manager and called Edward's driver, I sat in shock on the plush velvet couches in the manager's office in shock. " How did anyone know about us." I asked behind my hands over my face.
" Bella I don't know, maybe when we were at the club somebody noticed us." Alice was bent down trying to calm me.
My phone started ringing in my purse, I fumbled trying to locate it and barley answered it before it went to voice mail not even checking the caller ID. " Hello."
" Really Bella, you're dating Edward you think he's going to stay with you forever, and your precious restaurant what are you going to do about that, hope you aren't going to dig into that trust fund you got I'm sure your father wont be happy about that." My mothers nagging voice was on the other line.
I held the phone away from my ear and mouthed mother to Alice and Esme. Esme held her hand out for me to hand her the phone. I handed it to her and covered my face again.
" Renee, what a pleasure to be speaking to you again."
" Yes its me Renee. No I will not do that, my son loves your daughter and if you had any sense in that thick skull of yours you would be excited that your only daughter has found someone that loves her, and that will treat her with the up most respect." I sucked only hearing Esme's side of the conversation.
" Renee I'm done talking to you, if you cant say anything nice about me, my son or your daughter don't think for a second I wont hop on a plane and come down there and kick your liposuctioned ass, now Bella is through talking to you good-day." She hit end and handed me back my phone.
" Don't mess with momma C, wow girl you are something fierce." Jacob said from the doorway.
We all giggled. " Yeah well that women needs to be put in her place, or have her mouth sewn shut, I'm sorry, Bella."
I waved my hand in dismissal "No need to be sorry that's what I get for not checking the caller ID." My phone started ringing again.
"Don't answer it its probably her again." Alice stated. I looked at the caller ID and my smile grew wide.
" Oh never mind answer the damn phone." everyone left the room to give me some privacy.
" Hey sexy."
" Hey beautiful are you alright, Winston just called me said there were a dozen Papps outside the restaurant where you had lunch he said he has to pick you up out back, did they hurt you?" Edward fired his questions at me.
" I'm fine just a little shaken up, nothing really happened they just were asking if I was dating you, and if I knew who burned my place down, that's all."
" Still I don't want you to be bothered."
" Hey stop, it's okay, I guess I need to get use to it right."
" If you are having second." I needed to stop his thoughts.
" Stop right there I'm not second guessing myself, I love you, you are worth having to put up with the scum."
" Thanks baby, god it sucks being away from you." He sighed. " Tell you what, my parents are leaving tomorrow for the Hamptons, why don't you and Alice go out with them take a couple days to relax by water, I'll meet you there as soon as I can get away okay"
" That sounds nice, okay are you sure your parents won't mind us invading them early."
" Bella I already talked to my mom earlier today and she thought it was a great idea okay, I love you so much baby, I have to go they need me to throw a couple passes I just wanted to make sure you were okay,"
" I'm fine, you go play football, I'll talk to you tonight when you get back to the hotel, Love ya." I hung up the phone, knowing if I let him say anything else we would be on forever and sighed, how can one person miss someone that much.
" Hey Bella Winston pulled the car around for you and Alice." Esme poked her head around the corner.
" You better sneak out of here before they catch on and get around back. Carlisle and I will pick you girls up tomorrow Alice has all the details she'll talk to you in the car." She hugged me goodbye.
Alice and I snuck out the back door and into the car. After a late dinner and packing for the beach, I climbed into bed and waited for my bedtime call from Edward.
A/N: so I hope you liked this little filler chapter, next Chapter the beach and Edward's return
as far as posting I'm hoping to post at least once a week but don't hold me to it since I have another story going at the same time, this one is written I just have to go back and proof read the chapters.