The Girl with the Broken Smile
Chapter 14
It'd been another three weeks before I talked to Edward.
I'd kept mostly to myself, not wanting to really talk to anyone, I didn't keep tabs on him.
My phone ringing brought me out of my revere about our relationship and the strained situation we were in.
"Hello?" I let out a sigh, noticing the hospital number.
"Bella?" a strange voice asked.
"This is she, yes." I said a little nervous.
"Hi, my name is Cindy. I'm a nurse at the hospital and I'd really like to talk to you. It's about Edward." She said nervously.
"How did you get my number?" I asked in a very pissed off voice.
"It's in the employee files. You're listed as his emergency contact and I know you're his girlfriend." She rambled.
"What about Edward?" I asked cautiously.
"I can't talk right now, but I'd love to meet you somewhere to fill you in." She said hopefully.
"What time are you off?" I asked.
"My shift ends in thirty minutes." She said in a sure tone.
"OK. Meet me at the corner deli, I'll buy you lunch and we can talk." I told her.
"See you there, and thank you." She hung up and I waddled to my shoes.
Reaching the restaurant, I looked around for the 'Cindy'.
"Bella!" I saw a young lady in jeans and a t-shirt.
"Cindy?" I asked and she nodded.
"I hope you don't mind this table?" she asked.
"I just want to know what you know." I cut to the chase.
"I understand. Let's order and I'll start, you've got to keep strong for that baby." She smiled sadly.
After ordering we sat there and I waited for her to begin.
"Ok, so I'm the one who kissed Edward that night and gave him the hickey. First off, I'm so sorry. But, I was told I needed to loosen Cullen up and he'd cooperate. I didn't want too, but Dr. Hughes said if I didn't I'd end up with the worst rotations. I've got a three year old. I can't afford months of second and third shifts. Night time child care is outrageous and I have no family here. Anyway, I went along with it. I had NO idea he had a girlfriend or a child on the way until after and it's been eating at me. I had to tell you. I've also heard a few of the other newbies complaining about what Dr. Hughes has been doing and spiking peoples drinks." She shook her head and wiped a few tears.
"You're telling me that the head Dr. is doing all this?" I asked in disbelief.
"Yes. He made two newbies make out with each other, he's made them do sexual things, and spiked a few drinks. He needs to be stopped." She sighed.
"So why me? Why now?" I asked.
"Most of the others have been single and got over it. But Edward and Dr. Hughes are on edge around each other and Dr. Hughes has put Edward on these crazy shifts and no more surgeries as of yet, because Edward won't go out with them anymore." She looked at me sadly. "And not to mention the way he talks about you and your son. He's so in love with you."
"SO why doesn't someone go to HR with this?" I asked in disbelief.
"I don't know, pride?" she shrugged.
"I'll talk to someone and see what I can do. But don't say anything." I assured her.
"OK. I can do that." She smiled. "Thank you for listening to me. I hope you get things worked out before the little one comes." She hugged me before leaving.
After lunch I called Carlisle and asked if he had time for me.
"Darling Bella, I've always got time for you." He chuckled and I let him know I was on my way.
Arriving at Carlisle's office, I was escorted to his private office and told he'd be right in.
"My sweet Bella." He hugged me tightly. "How's our grandbaby doing?" I noticed Esme was behind him.
"I had a visit from a nurse at the hospital and she told me what went down the night Edward 'strayed'. She also told me some other disturbing things about Dr. Hughes." I sighed.
"Ah yes, Dr. Hughes. He's not a very nice man. He likes to bully people. And Edward is on his rotation?" he aske
"Yes. He's had a few other people do questionable things as well. It's something that needs to go before the board or HR." I shrugged.
"I was hoping Edward didn't get him." He shook his head. "He'll have it out for him no matter what Edward said or does." Carlisle said sadly.
"What do we do? I really want Edward to come home. The therapist you recommended Esme is great, I've been seeing her and she said Edward comes when his schedule allows." I smiled.
"Well then we need to get a lawyer and see what he can do." Carlisle insisted.
I waited while Carlisle made some calls and then declared we had the best lawyer money could buy.
"I'll meet with Edward and fill him in and then you two can hopefully move forward." Carlisle hugged me.
I thanked him and left to go home and figure out a plan for Edward and me.
Two weeks later had Edward moving back in and a case against Dr. Hughes started.
"Bella, thank you so much! I can't believe that Cindy contacted you. She told me a few days later when Dr. Hughes was in surgery." He smiled.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked.
"I didn't want you upset that I talked to her." He shrugged.
"I'm still not happy about what happened, but now I understand that it wasn't your fault, except that you didn't call." I told him honestly.
"And I'll never do it again. Promise." He kissed me softly. "We're going to dinner with my parents tonight, I hope that's OK." He smiled.
"Fine. Less I have to do. All this stress is taking a toll on me. And this little one has been kicking me a lot." I groaned.
We took our time getting reacquainted. He made love to me like I was the most precious thing on earth, after we showered and dressed for dinner.
"Bella!" Irina shouted and ran over to me.
"Irina? What are you and my dad doing here?" I asked.
"Esme wanted a surprise dinner for you. Said you've been under a lot of stress." She kissed my cheek.
"Yeah, sorry. I just wanted to keep it here. I didn't want dad coming down and shooting Edward." I laughed.
"More like shoot the doctor. Your dad is beyond pissed that he did this to you two." She smiled as my dad walked up.
"Bells." He hugged me tightly.
"Hi daddy." I kissed his cheek.
"Let's sit." He led me to the chair by Edward.
Edward stood to make a toast.
"I know this past month has been hell on Bella and me, but my main concern is for her. We've started a HR investigation in Dr. Hughes and I'm confident things will get worked out. But, as I was saying. Bella has/was affected the most by this and other actions on my part. We've been in therapy, mostly apart due to my schedule, but we talk to each other more now that I'm back home and it's helped me see some things more clearly." He looked at me and smiled.
"Bella I have loved you since I laid eyes on you. I've been a fool and took our relationship for granted. I'm so sorry that I've put my work before you at all times and I promise to do better with it in the future.
That is if you'll marry me and be my wife." He dropped to one knee and pulled out this beautiful trillion cut diamond with sapphires on either side.
"Yes!" I scream probably a little louder than I should have and the entire restaurant looked our way and applauded.
"You've made me the happiest man ever Bella." He kissed me softly.
Esme and Irina came over to look at the ring.
Congratulations all around and talks of wedding and baby filled the rest of dinner.
"Bella, that is gorgeous!" Charlotte gushed.
"Thank you. I was so shocked. I truly didn't see this coming." I told her.
"I'm so glad that things are working out. Emmett was getting worried. He thought he was going to have to beat Edward's ass." She laughed.
"Yeah, I thought Demetri and my dad might as well." I sighed.
We planned some wedding details, although it wouldn't be happening until after our baby came.
Edward said just to tell him when and where and he'd be there, as long as I was happy, he was happy.
We were planning three months after Lawrence was born to get married.
That way I'd have some time to lose the baby weight and we could plan something decent enough in a few months with Irina and Esme's help.
I'd decided on a Marsala colored wedding.
It was elegant, yet simple at the same time. I also knew Chelsea and Charlotte would look good in those colors.
A part of me was sad that Rose had turned me down, I thought she was a better friend than that.
"I'm sorry Bella, I'm really busy these next few months and I don't know where I'll be during that time." She rushed out and then apologized that she couldn't talk at that moment and hung up on me.
I hadn't heard from her since, so I asked Charlotte and Chelsea to be in my wedding party.
They were overjoyed and we'd been planning since.
It would be an evening wedding, I didn't want over the top fancy, but I wanted elegant and these colors worked best for something really elegant.
Sitting at home late one night, working on last minute wedding ordering, I felt a sharp pain in my stomach that made me jolt and my laptop flying to the floor.
Edward was working the night shift and I still had about two months to go.
I felt a wetness and looked down, my water had broken.
Panicking I grabbed my phone and called Chelsea, they lived the closet to me.
"Bella? Is everything alright? It's 1am." Demetri asked with a yawn.
"My water broke!" I screamed into the phone, trying to control my tears.
"Hey, calm down. Your water broke?" he asked and I heard the rusting of the covers and then Chelsea.
"Bella, we'll be right there. Clean up and change if you can. If not, I'll help you when we get there. We'll take you to the ER." She said fast, yet calm.
"OK. See you in a few." I cried.
Standing slowly, I waddled my way to the bedroom and cleaned up, folded a towel between my legs and put on a simple dress. They'd become my choice of clothing because I didn't feel restricted and I had slip on shoes to match most of them.
I was ready when they got there.
"Demetri, in the hall closet is my hospital bag. I'm so glad Edward insisted on getting it packed and ready so we didn't have to worry about a thing." I rambled.
"Come on sis. I've got it. Let's get you to the hospital." He smiled.
Arriving at the hospital, Edward was waiting at the doors. Pacing and running his hands through his hair.
"You know he's going to go bald if he doesn't stop that." Chelsea laughed.
"Please don't tell him that. It'll give him something else to worry about." I laughed with her.
Edward ripped open the door and doctor mode set in.
"Bella, how long since your water broke? Any contractions? Pain?" he was firing all these questions.
"About 30 minutes since it broke, yes a lot of pain, but not sure about contractions." I shrugged.
He rushed me to the elevators and up to labor and delivery.
After an exam, the doctor declared that if I didn't go into labor within 24 hours, they'd have to induce labor or do an emergency C-section.
Either way I was here for the next 24 hours.
AN:
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We'll be meeting baby Lawrence Charles Cullen soon.
Enjoy!
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