Chapter Nine
Just Girl Talk
I didn't want to wake up, but the alarm was going off and I knew if I didn't get going I would be late meeting Alice and Rose for the coffee date we planned the day before while shopping. We figured since the guys were going to be busy helping Esme with the redecorating we would take that time to get together and talk about them.
I felt like I was walking on a cloud while I was getting ready for the day. An hour later I was in my Camaro on my way to meet the girls. While I was driving I couldn't help but to think about all that had transpire in the last twenty-four hours. I had an amazing date with Jasper and finally had a long overdue conversation with my father. It seems like my life is finally coming out of the ashes from the hell it has been for the last few years. I was looking forward to spending more time with Jasper and rebuilding my relationship with my father.
I pulled up to the coffee shop and as I expected Alice and Rose were already waiting for me with excited and expectant faces. I was surprised that I was actually looking forward to having this soul bearing conversation with them. I parked in the spot closest to them and before I could get my seat belt off Rose already had my door open.
"We have so much to talk about Bella. Well, you have a lot of talking to do." Alice said while her and Rose each looped an arm around mine and proceed to walk into the shop. I waited until we had our orders and were seated before I said anything.
"So do you want to hear about my date, or the heart mending conversation my father and I finally had?" I asked, and then took a tentative sip of my latte, testing the temperature before taking a bigger drink.
Both their eyes grew wide, "Bella you and your dad finally talked about that day?"
I put my drink down leveling them with a serious gaze, "not just that but about the rift that had developed between us the last few years. Believe it or not, it was my date with Jasper that was the catalyst for this elephant in the room to be addressed."
"Well if the date was the cause then we should start from there." Rose said.
Okay. I took a big gulp of air to center myself, "You already know the beginning when Rose offered to take my bags home so he could take me to dinner." I shot Rose an appreciative look. She just nodded her head and smiled.
"He took me to a little restaurant that was practically deserted so we had a nice private dinner. I thought he was going to take me home after that, however Jasper had other plans. He brought me to a beautiful place on the beach, his place. I felt so safe there with him, his arms wrapped around me, I was able to relive the horrific memory. He was my anchor and I was able to let go of some of the grief I felt from losing her and the guilt I felt because I did nothing." I said while a single tear slide down my face.
Alice and Rose both leaned in and put their hands over mine, "Bella now you see here, you were fourteen, and you were scared. There were three of them. There was nothing you could have done. You barely survived yourself."
"I know Rose, but that doesn't negate the fact that I am here and my mother is not."
Alice moved closer wrapping her arm around me, "Do you think she would want you to live your life in the past filled with nothing but guilt over events you had no control over? The Renee I knew would want you to be free and live your life to the fullest every day."
I sat up and wiped my face with my hand getting rid of the tears reminisce, "Your right and I promise I am. Last night in that secret alcove with the moon, the waves and the breeze….it just felt like Jasper was offering me not only a new beginning, but a piece of him at the same time. I know I can start living again. I already have."
Both Alice and Rose flashed a beaming smile at me. I had no idea until that moment how much they worried about me. I thought I was fooling them convincing them I was fine, but I was getting there. I guess I was only fooling myself. I know they didn't want an apology or big fuss so I just continued on.
"After wards he put a song on his phone and we danced. Just as the song ended Dad called."
"No Way!" Alice exclaimed. "He called you while you were still on your date!"
"That's how I reacted too." I said with a laugh.
"And you know what; he wouldn't get off the phone with me until I promised him I would tell him everything when I got home."
"Are you serious?" Rose huffed.
"I would have been mortified."
"Believe me Rose I was, and to top it off Jasper heard the entire conversation." I said as my face turned red at just the reminder of the awkward situation.
"Jasper was great about it though and when I finally got off the phone he gave me the sweetest kiss and just held me for an hour."
"Well other than your father calling it sounds like it was the perfect date." Alice said with a hint of a chuckle.
"Yes it was so much so that I didn't want it to end and I told him as much. We had to leave but he promised we would go back there soon. He walked me to the door like a perfect gentleman and when we were in the middle of our good night kiss my father struck again."
At this point they couldn't control their fit of giggles,"Okay, okay." Rose said between gasps and giggles, "So we get the picture of the perfect date you had with your gentleman. Now I want to know how it went with you and your dad." So we spent the next two hours talking about how my father and I reconnected.