Here's the next Chapter! The weather here is so bad! Lots of flooding and strong winds, I thought I was about to be blown away, that's how strong it was.
I was packed and ready to leave, I checked one last time making sure I had my passport and other documentation I may need then locked up the house waiting for my dad to pick me up. I called him yesterday so he can drop me off at the airport, I didn't want to drive myself because my car would be sitting in the parking lot for a month and I just wasn't comfortable with that.
His black Alpha Romeo pulled up the drive and I had to smile. It was nice to get some time alone with him without mum hovering. He got out and helped me load my suit case into the trunk. I hugged him briefly before getting into the passenger side.
"How's my daughter doing?" he asked peeling off. "I just knew that husband of yours would pull something like this. That jackass, you now I never really liked him from the start."
"It's fine dad. You don't have to do that." I laughed.
"What?" he said innocently.
"I know you like him, you two have had many bonding experiences. You don't have to pretend otherwise."
"He hurt my baby and I wont stand for it." Charlie banged the wheel letting his anger out. "I'm glad that you're having time to yourself, it would do you well."
He walked me through London Heathrow terminals till we got to the check point which he could cross. He hugged me making me promise to text him as soon as I land and to pass on his hello's to the family.
The plan ride went without a hitch, I spent my time watching a list of movies and only catching a few hours of sleep. We stopped in Japan for a refill for two hours so I walked around taking a look in the duty-free shops for any souvenirs that I could get.
Once getting past immigration I was relived to get past the gates. I stood for a moment taking in my surroundings so I could spot my aunt. I immediately found a large sign with my name on it decorated with sparkles, clearly my cousin Nessie got her hands busy. I couldn't remember exactly how old she was but I knew she was around the age of ten.
Beneath the banner a small girl stood, she was wearing a cute denim skirt and a pink flowery top that matched her shoes. Besides her stood aunt Maggie, she looked exactly the same as the last time I saw her. Hair pinned back into a pigtail, and dressed in a maxi dress.
I walked over with a huge smile and wrapped Nessie in a tight hug when she dropped the banner, aunt Maggie came next squeezing me for all I was worth.
"Wow, look at you." She exclaimed holding me at arm's length.
I laughed at her expression, Nessie was holding my hand swinging it between us as she watched.
"You look so grown up, just like your mother."
"I'm not that old." I joked
"Lets get the bags, we have a car out front."
Nessie grabbed hold of my hand and began talking until we reached the car.
"I'm so excited you're here" She continued "Now you can come to my birthday party in a few days, all my friends are going to be there."
I was grateful that I bought everyone presents, I wasn't aware that it was her birthday when I took this trip. I helped load the bags into the large SUV before getting sitting in the passenger seat.
"So. why didn't Edward come?" she asked from the back seat.
I wasn't sure if my mum told Maggie about us but i wasn't ready to tell the rest of the family yet so I kept my answer simple.
"He's really busy at work and couldn't afford to take time off."
"Well that sucks." Nessie said looking out the window.
"Yeah, it does." I muttered playing with a loose piece of leather.
"Don't worry about it." aunt Maggie said "I'm sure we'll keep you busy enough, Caius is looking forward to your visit, I know how much you two got along. He just wont admit it though."
"I heard Caius talking to his friends the other day about how you could teach him how to play the drums." Nessie added
I smiled. "I'm not sure if I can still play. I haven't touched an instrument in a couple of years."
"Playing an instrument is like learning how to ride a bike. Once you now how you'll never forget." Maggie said turning into a drive way.
She parked in front of a bright yellow bungalow where a couple of toys and bikes where on the front lawn.
Nessie got out and opened my door pulling me out with a big grin.
"You have to see my room."
She pulled me inside passing every room at full speed until we reached a pink room. It was Barbie themed. She had her barbie's lined up on a shelf and a few doll houses on the floor.
"So, what do you think?" she asked looking around trying to see it from my point of view.
"It's cute." I approved touching the doll house. "I like what you've done with the place."
"hmm, I was thinking of changing it because all my friends say its too babyish." Nessie said sitting on the bed.
"Well,I say keep it the way you want it. Don't change it because others want to."
"That's what mum says."
Aunt Maggie walked in "You can take Nessie's room."
"That's okay, I can take the couch." I said
"You don't want to sleep there, who knows what Caius and his friends bring from outside." she said shuddering "Lets go down stairs and leave Bella settle down."
She and Nessie went down leaving me, I freshened up a bit in the bathroom before going back down. On my way I bumped into someone.
"Sorry." a deep voice said. I looked up and saw my cousin Caius and a few other boys standing there. Caius was pretty much the same except for the deeper voice and the prominent muscles bulging out of his t-shirt.
"Bella?" he asked with a grin. "I didn't know you'd be here yet."
"Just got in about ten minuets ago."
He stepped in giving me a hug then moved back to make introductions "Guys this is Bella my cousin, Bella this is Felix" He pointed to a bigger guy who just smiled "Demetris and Marcus." They both gave me hugs and a pat on the back like I was one of their friends.
We moved down the stairs, "So, I hear you got a motorbike."
I laughed, word gets around quick. "Yeah, I do. I bought it a few weeks ago."
"Sweet."
We had lunch and I watched the boys banter while Nessie was left alone to her own devices. Uncle Phil walked in straight for his wife then greeted his kids then he noticed that I was there. He gave me a hug and a welcome speech. Now that everyone was here I could give them the gifts that I bought.
Maggie herded everyone into the family room and pulled my luggage to the center of the room. I gave Nessie a new set of diaries that I knew she'd love, aunt Maggie got a voucher for a spa, I had to look up at what spas they had in Australia before I could get one that was valid here. I got Uncle Phil a golf set because I knew he loved his golf. Finally I got Caius a couple of music books and accessories.
I was happy they all liked their gifts and seemed to enjoy it.
The rest of the evening was spent catching up and telling stories. Aunt Maggie wanted me to talk with Caius as I was closer to his age and talk him out of taking drugs.
I settled in Nessie's small bed with a content smile. This was how I wanted my days to be, fun and relaxed.
I helped set out the garden for the party which was in just two days, we had a marque set up and a couple of activities set out for the kids. Aunt Maggie was dead set on baking the cake saying it would be a fun thing to do, we'd buy back up if this didn't go well. We had fun baking getting covered in powder and dried dough, it was nice to relax and not have to worry about work projects or what Edward was up to. I hate to admit it, but I did think about him a lot. As usual he plagued my mind constantly popping up when I least expected it.
I spent some time with Caius who like me enjoyed playing music so we made up some of our own tunes and for the first time I realised how much I missed doing this. I wonder if the boys still had their own jamming session while in college.
On Friday when the kids were in school and Phil was at work leaving me with Maggie. We were at the grocery store picking up the snacks when I got a call from Alice.
"Bella, I know that you want to relax right now but no one had seen Edward for the past two days."
"What?" I stopped in my tracks gripping onto the trolley. "Did you call him?"
"Of course I called, we even went back to your place to see if he was there. In understand he's a grown man but Edward always answers his phone. He's practically attached to the thing."
"Have you tired his parents?"
Silence.
"Alice, call his parents first. They might know were he is." I sighed calming a bit, I would wait for a blown up panic when they don't know his location.
She hung up with a choppy call you back.
"Is everything okay?" Maggie asked setting her hand on my back.
"I don't know, Alice called in a panic cause she hasn't seen or heard from Edward in two days."
"Haven't you been in contact with him?" she asked concerned
"Edward and I are not on the best terms at the moment, so no."
"Really? What's going on?"
I sighed heavily, "He wants a divorce."
Maggie looked shocked, eyebrows raised and mouth agape. "Oh, sweetheart. Is that why he's not here?"
I nodded unable to look her in the eye.
...
It was Nessie's birthday today and people were starting to arrive. I was introduced to the parents and Nessie's friend who begged me to play tag with them. I agreed felling in the party mood, Caius was standing in the corner with Felix watching and handing out drinks.
I ran around chasing after the kids before the roles reversed. I ran way laughing after I tagged Nessie. She came at me full force ignoring the others while I dogged at the last minute so all she caught was air.
I felt like a kid again, finally after half an hour I surrendered collapsing on the ground out of breathe.
A crowed of parents gathering at the front caught my attention so I jumped up to see what was going on.
Phil stood with Maggie blocking the way of someone. I saw a flash of bronze hair and gasped.
Edward was here.
He came. He actually came.
Tell me what you think. We are almost at the end and i'm thinking of two different ways to go but I'm not sure which.
See you next time!