I wanted to call home and talk to Bella, but my day in court was a relentless schedule of event after event. Things were going well, but I still wanted to hear her voice. Make sure she was okay after what had transpired the night before. Did she regret kissing me? I sure didn't.

As soon as I came through the door that evening, the house... smelled good.

There were candles burning, scented ones that Mom had left in a cabinet in the kitchen. I was surprised to see that the house was sparkling. It had been cleaned. There was no dust on the hardwoods where foot traffic was scarce. No little dust bunnies hiding under the piano.

This was a bit surprising. I was excited about getting home, seeing Bella, but I hadn't expected this.

But where was she?

I began the daily divest ritual as I went to my bedroom. I stopped short when I found Bella going through my hamper.

"What are you doing?" My voice was remarkably high-pitched.

Bella gave me a strange look; she had a pair of my boxers in her hand. "Um... Laundry."

"B-but those are m-my... underwear..."

A blankness stole over her features. "Are they really? I thought they were yesterday's dishes."

Completely horrified, I glanced from her to the boxers, then back to Bella again. She finally cracked a smile.

"What's the matter, Edward? It's just underwear."

Ha! I thought. Underwear that you are touching, that you are planning to wash, that I'm going to wear next to my most private places.

This was not a good thought process. Bella touching my dirty underwear was in no way like Bella touching my...

I started ripping at the noose around my neck. Things were going south really quickly. Literally.

"Thanks for... doing my laundry. I guess."

She just shrugged. "Wish I could do more."

"What else would you want to do?" I ventured to ask.

She frowned and looked down. "I wish I could cook a nice meal for you. That dinner you made the first night I was here... I don't think I've ever tasted anything as good as that. I'd like to do the same for you."

"Well," I hedged. "I could teach you to cook..."

She smiled a little. "I'd like that. But I've got to warn you... I'm horrible at it."

"Okay. We can go slow."

"Okay," she agreed.

I glanced around the room once more as we both fell silent. An idea came to me.

"How about a trade? I'll teach you to cook if you teach me to play piano. What do you say?"

Bella's expressive eyes traveled to the direction of the grand piano. "You want to learn piano?"

"Yes, I've always wanted to learn. Think you can teach a no-talent wannabe like me?"

"First of all, you're not a no-talent wannabe. Second of all, you shouldn't put yourself down like that. And, thirdly, yes, I can teach you."

The tensions of the night before seemed to have dissipated. There was still more to say, but I guess I'd been given a reprieve.

By Wednesday, with a lot of encouragement, Bella knew how to chop carrots. And I knew how to play the C Major chord.

Thursday had Bella peeling potatoes like a champ, and I played Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star with my right hand.

Friday, Bella helped me bake brownies and she taught me what an arpeggio was. That night, I also got a phone call from Jasper. He'd been busy over at Fort Bragg.

"So I've got some news on our new friend, Charles Swan."

"Yeah?" I gestured to my phone and left the untidy kitchen to Bella's care, and closed the door when I got to my office. "Tell me everything."

"He's an asshole."

I rolled my eyes, then started massaging my forehead. "I've not seen any evidence to disprove that fact."

"Hehh!" Jasper chuckled. "So lawyerly, little bro. Nobody around town likes this guy, Edward. I've had no trouble recruiting a few guys to go over and TP his house."

"You what?"

"Yeah. Mummified the place. Flaming bags of dog shit and all." Jasper was still laughing over the line.

"You got grown men to do all that? You sound like a bunch of rag-tag juvenile delinquents."

"Cool, huh?"

I groaned and shook my head. "What else?"

"He's a bully. He's got a bad attitude. And he probably only put out like five posters about Bella missing. Dude... he didn't even put in a formal report down at the police station. Don't you think that's peculiar? Why wouldn't he do that?"

I frowned. It was disturbingly peculiar.

Jasper continued. "This Charlie Swan, bro... he's off his rocker. Now, I've been keeping an eye on him when I can – and I have others watching him. But he's... volatile. Unpredictable. He's got some nasty stuff going on, man. You and Bella better be thanking the good Lord that she's away from him. And you better be praying that he doesn't come after her. This dude... I've got a bad feeling, Ed."

I was silent as I soaked in all Jasper was saying. What was Charlie into? "Keep me informed of anything, Jasper. I don't like this."

"Will do, Ed."

Jasper ended the call and I sat back. Charlie's actions weren't making any sense. And I had a real fear for what he could do and the trouble he could cause Bella. I was more determined than ever to make Bella safe.

Saturday morning, before Bella woke up, I was going through personal mail that had been sent to me from clients through the office. A harmless looking envelope addressed to me fell out of the stack. Curious, I opened it first.

To my utter astonishment, the letter was from Charlie Swan.

It seemed that I had given him all the information he needed that day we'd crossed paths on the beach. He'd looked up law offices in the area – my picture and name were easily found on my firm's website.

I was going to have that information removed as soon as I could. I was angry that it was so easy for Charlie Swan to find me.

Charlie's letter was a threat.

I was to send Bella home or he was coming after her. He would kill me if I stood in his way. Plain and simple.

"Well... Charlie Swan, that's not going to happen."

I sat down and thought long and hard about what I should do. I could hardly give credence to the threat to myself, but Bella was of age to do as she pleased. Charlie Swan no longer had power over her. Bella wanted nothing to do with the name of Swan...

An idea formed in my mind. But I didn't know if this was an idea that Bella would go for.

I took her shopping after lunch on that same Saturday. I was in the way, mostly. She gathered only the things she needed, and then I realized why she'd been too embarrassed about what she was running out of. Feminine products.

At a local clothing store, she picked out the bare necessities. Affordable jeans. A pair of slacks. A nice shirt. Socks.

I watched her stop, mid-search, to touch a pretty dress. She quietly withdrew her hand and turned away, but I didn't miss the admiration in her eyes.

"Bella, wait..."

She turned back to me in question. I touched the hanger of the dress she had looked at. "Try this one on."

"No... I don't need that."

"I still think you should try it on. Pick out your size."

She finally relented, chewing on her lip as she chose the dress and took it to a dressing room. She came out with it on, looking so dainty and pretty and ladylike. My eyes ate her up.

"Here's the problem with dresses, Edward. You have to have shoes to go with them. I don't think I'll need this."

"Well, why don't you get some shoes that you can wear with several outfits. Get what you need, Bella. I don't mind."

She did a small half turn, setting the skirt of the dress in a flutter away from her knees. "It's so pretty. I've never had anything this pretty before... that I can remember."

I smiled, so happy to do this for her. "Now you have something for going out in."

That evening, we took our typical walk with the breeze and the late sun surrounding us. Bella was barefoot – the legs of her jeans rolled up to show off her slender ankles. Her hair flew around her, the flyaway cloud fragrant with an apple flavor.

She was like a flower – fragile and soft – radiating a quiet, soulful beauty. I never tired of stealing glimpses of her.

I brought up the letter that her father had sent. Bella was not surprised.

"He can be crafty and underhanded when he wants to be."

After a quiet distance walking beside each other, I decided to tell her about my idea.

"Bella..."

"Mmhmm?" she hummed at me.

"I've been thinking about you changing your last name..." I was about to reveal my big plan. And if I didn't present it correctly and succinctly, she probably wouldn't go for it. I wanted it to work for us. It was surprising how badly I wanted it.

I cleared my throat, stuffed my hands in my pockets. "Now, I want you to think about this. I've been thinking it over. It feels like a solid plan. It feels... right. And I know it's only been a few weeks and we are just scratching the surface with each other, but... I'm sure... You make me feel sure..." I looked off down the beach, collecting myself and my thoughts.

"We don't have to change things as they stand. We can work through new obstacles as they come at us... but I... I want you to take my last name."

When I finally looked at Bella, I had to turn around. She was stopped a few paces behind me as I had kept walking. She stood faced off against me, Tru's leash firmly in her hands. Her mouth was open in mute disbelief as she puzzled over what I'd said.

"I know this may seem sudden and spontaneous, and maybe a tad crazy... but you could marry me. Take my name. Let me take care of you. Establish yourself here. Get a job or go to college if you want. I can offer you stability and a chance to get back on your feet. You won't ever have to worry about being in an abusive situation ever again."

She gaped up at me, blinking several times. "You... You're asking me to marry you?"

I nodded.

She swallowed. "A... a real marriage?"

I know I blushed. It was easy for my mind to go to places that were not fit to be thought of in the light of day. I looked down at my feet before I replied. "Only if you want it to be... And only when you want it to be. I won't... push for anything to change. I'm... happy." I nodded and smiled.

"Marriage is sacred. Momma used to say that. She said marriage is never something someone should do in haste."

I nodded in agreement. "Yes. And I want you to think about it. It could be a very simple ceremony in front of the Justice of the Peace. And when we go home, nothing has to change. Then you'll be able to make the necessary changes in your life to start fresh. And I'll be there to help you."

"As my husband?"

A pleasant warmth stole over me. I nodded. "And you would be my wife."

Bella swallowed thickly. "So the sooner we do this... the sooner I could actually have a life?" Hope lightened her words.

"Yes. I think so."

"That actually sounds wonderful." She looked down to fiddle with the end of Tru's leash in her hand. "I've never had much of a life – not since Momma's been gone."

My heart broke for her, and it just made me want to give her the whole world.

And then she said the words that would forever change my life.

"Yes, I'd like to marry you, Edward."