Chapter Twenty-One- Lay a Whisper

Bella POV

What had I done? I'd slept with someone else. The worst part of it was, it felt right. But this cloud of guilt hanging above me, told me it was the most wrong thing I could have ever done. I drove to Rachel's and picked Liam up, praying Jacob wouldn't be there. I needed a little extra time to think. Clear my head of everything. Jacob needed to know, but the selfish person inside of me was tell me not to tell him because I wanted to keep him for myself. Being with Jacob was safe. That's all I needed in my life was something safe.

I drove us both home and put Liam in his room with his toys. I grabbed his monitor and jumped in the shower, trying to comprehend. I wasn't a cheater. After Jacob, I wasn't the type of girl to have random sex. But something had come over me last night. Maybe it was the wine, maybe it was Emmett. Whatever it was, it didn't feel wrong at the time. But getting into my car, everything that'd happened felt wrong.

I stepped out of the shower and went into my room, my phone buzzing on the nightstand. Emmett. Figured.

"Hey you." I said to him.

"Hi, how are you?"

"Good and clean." I laughed. "I'm sorry, but I don't have a lot of time. I gotta pick Liam up and we're going to go see Jacob's father for a bit."

"That's okay, I just wanted to say hi."

"Hi." I almost whispered. Talking to him, made me feel more guilty.

"What are you doing tonight?"

"Emmett, as much as I loved last night...we can't. I have Liam, I need to take care of him. I'm so sorry." I told him. My heart broken. Last night made me realize I'd never not love Emmett. But he was my past. Liam and Jacob were my future. That was that.

"No, I understand." He said. After we'd said our goodbye's, I threw on some jeans and a t-shirt and went to get Liam dressed and fed.

"Mama?" He asked as he picked at his grilled cheese.

"Yes Liam?"

"Is gampa okay?" He asked, looking pained. He must have overheard Rachel and Paul talking last night.

"Yeah, baby. Grandpa is okay. You know how you get boo-boo's and mama and daddy need to take care of them?" I asked and he nodded his head. "Well, grandpa had a very big boo-boo on his back, and it was so big that doctors needed to fix it. But, soon, Grandpa's boo-boo will be healed. It will just take a bit extra time."

"Oh," He said, his face unsure. But once he began eating again, I knew I'd gotten through to him. We finished eating and got in the car. He was in the backseat playing with his spiderman action figure and I smiled. No matter what happened with Jacob or Emmett, I'd always have my favorite guy in my life. I pulled into the hospital parking lot and got Liam out of his booster seat. We walked into Billy's room, and his eyes lit up. Since we stayed in Washington with Liam, Jacob's family didn't get to see him as often, so they were extatic when they saw him.

"Gampa!" Liam yelled, running up to the bed. Jacob grabbed him in time, making sure he didn't pounce on Billy with his back. "Daddy!"

"Liam, you can't jump on your grandpa. You have to hug him gently. Okay?"

"Okay. Can I get down now?" Liam asked, probably not even caring what Jacob had said. He put him down and he went straight to my purse.

"What are you looking for, bud?" I asked.

"My card for Gampa." I laughed, pulling it out of my pocket. "Thanks!" He squealed, grabbing it from me and walking over to the bed. "Here." He said happily, shoving the card in his face. It was sweet. He scribbled all over the front and on the inside, and had me write a message. He signed it with his handprint. He was the sweetest two year old I could have been blessed with.

"Get well soon, Grandpa Black." He read out loud, a tear rolling down his cheek. "Thank you, Liam." He said, lightly squeezing Liam. The rest of the afternoon passed by slowly. We talked as Liam played quietly by himself after Paul had left.

"Dad, we should be heading out. Liam's gonna be really cranky tonight, since he didn't nap. We're going to try and get him to bed early." Jacob said, grabbing a very sleepy Liam in his arms.

"Sure. Thanks for bringing him." He said, gripping my hand tightly. "Your mother would have been so proud, Jacob."

"I know, Dad. I know." Jacob said, trying to keep it in. We said our goodbye's and Jacob carried Liam out to my car, putting him in his booster seat.

"Hey, you oaky?" I asked, cupping his cheek with my hand.

"Yeah, I just wish my Mom were hear to help my Dad. I hate the idea that we're going to need a private nurse to help care for him while he's in the wheel chair." He told me. His mother had died in a car accident when Jacob was only fifteen years old. Not even a high school freshman yet. She would never get to see anything monumental in Jacob's life, and it killed him everyday that she'd never meet Liam.

"I know, honey. But she's here. And she loves you, and Liam. She knows him."

"I know, but Liam will never know her." He said sadly. I didn't know what else to say. He was hurting, and lucky for me, I'd never have to deal with this. A roll of thunder told me it was time to leave and go home. The drive home didn't take long, most people were inside hiding from the storm. We got home at the same time and ran inside before it began to rain. We put Liam in his room for a little extra time to sleep, and settled on the couch.

"Crap." I said, getting up and grabbing my phone.

"What?"

"I forgot my jacket last night. I'm going to go get it." I said, grabbing my keys.

"Bella, can't you wait to get it?"

"No," I said, jumping into my car, hoping it'd be a quick ride. But, traffic seemed to pick up and I was caught. I grabbed my phone, telling Emmett I'd be there soon to grab it. Thankfully, traffic began moving again and I was at his place soon. It began pouring and I ran into his building, looking at the apartment number's to find him. I pressed the 'up' button to the elevator and it opened, showing Rosalie. Awesome.

"Bella." She said, sounding cold and nasty just as she did in high school.

"Hi, Rosalie." Was all I said before she got out and walked away, not missing a chance to bump me out of the way. I ignored her and made my way to Emmett's place. I knocked softly on the door, hoping that once I saw him I could just grab my jacket and go. But, once I saw him...I was his.

"Bella." He said, his breathing labored. This was wrong. I wasn't supposed to be feeling anything for him. "Here, come on in." I made my way inside, seeing my jacket I should have grabbed it, thanked him, and left.

"Thanks, for keeping this." I said, picking it up.

"No prob..." Just then the lights went out and I heard Riley's screech coming from the other room. It was only six o'clock, but it was dark with the heavy cloud looming outside. "Riley, honey, I'll be right there. Hold on." He said running to where she was. He came back, with the little four year old nestled in his chest. "Shhhhh. The lights only went out."

"It's scary now, Daddy." She wined, and I could see her gripping his shirt tightly. My phone rang, bringing me to pull myself away from them.

"Hey," I said, scarred Jacob would be really pissed off.

"Please tell me your off the road." He demanded, his voice urgent and scarred.

"Yeah, why?"

"A bunch of trees are coming down, I didn't want you getting crushed."

"I'm off the road. I'm inside, and I'm perfectly safe."

"Thank god. Now, why the HELL did you run off you get your jacket in a storm like this, Bella? You scarred the crap out of me."

"I'm sorry. I should have stayed with you and Liam. But, I'm okay. Really." I explained, and he was silent. "Jacob?"

"Did you go home last night?" He asked suddenly.

"Jacob..."

"Answer the question, Bella."

"No, we went on his boat and fell asleep. That's...all." I lied. I felt horrible. I should have told him. He deserved the truth. But I couldn't bring myself to tell him something so horrible. "Please say something."

"Stay where you are. I don't want you driving in this. Love you."

"I love you too. Jacob?"

"Huh?"

"I'm sorry." I whispered.

"I know. I'll see you later." He said and hung up. I walked back to where Emmett was and couldn't help but laugh. He had a hundred candles lit, and about ten flashlights going.

"Is that enough light?" He asked Riley. She shook her head no, and he sighed, searching through a box and finding more candles.

"You sure have a lot of candles." I laughed, sitting next to him.

"Yeah, well when your kid is afraid of the dark, you accumulate more than you ever thought you would. Plus, it helps setting the mood." He laughed, making me blush. We finished lighting the candles until Riley was thoroughly satisfied. "Well, there isn't much we can make for dinner. Our stove is electric." He sighed.

"I think I can whip something up. Where's your pantry?" He lead me to where the food was kept and I shooed him out. Half our later, there was a chicken salad for the two of us, and some cold chicken, and apple sauce set out for Riley.

"This looks very good." He said, putting Riley in her chair. "Doesn't it, Riley?" Her eyes lit up as she dug into her chicken. We sat down, and nothing was really said, Riley talked the night away. She told me everything, and I was thankful she was able to warm up so quickly.

"I know you." She observed as we were cleaning up.

"Riley, sweet girl, this is the first time you've met Bella." Emmett said to her.

"But, she looks like the girl in your picture, Daddy." She said and Emmett turned red. "The one by your bed, Daddy."

"Riley..." He called after her as she ran into the other room. She came running back with a picture fram in her hand.

"See, that's me. That's Daddy. And...BELLA THAT IS YOU!" She screeched, jumping for joy like she just solved a mystery.

"Yeah, Riley. That is me." I whispered, taking the picture from her and studying it. It was a picture of Emmett, Riley and I in the nursery. I smiled at the memory, it was just after the clock turned twelve on New Year's Eve. We'd woken Riley up with our screaming and I had just put her back to sleep, Rosalie had fallen asleep early and could not be woken up. Riley soon grew board and went into the living room and began playing with her Barbie dolls again.

"So, thanks for dinner." Emmett said, trying to change the subject.

"Emmett?"

"Yeah?"

"Why do you have this by your bed?" I asked, and his face turned sad.

"Because, it was all I had of you. It was my only connection to you."

"Em..."

"Bella, I told you last night. I'm in love with you, and I never stopped. And from last night, you seemed like you knew what I was talking about. To still be so in love with someone, that it hurts."

"There was so much going on last night, Emmett."

"Yeah, there was. But how I felt about you, it wasn't going to change no matter how complicated it would be. Stop fighting this."

"Emmett, no. I'm not fighting anything. Last night, it was great. But it was wrong. You know it."

"But how can something so wrong, feel so right then?" He asked, walking closer to me. He placed his hand on my heart again, and I almost melted. "Bella," He said before leaning into me. Our lips touched, and I should have pushed him away immediately. But I couldn't. We heard a faint giggle coming from the doorway, and broke away, looking to see Riley laughing away.

"Riley Taylor! I'm gonna get you!" He said before she screamed and he chased after her. After playing with Riley for a bit longer, I helped Emmett get her ready for bed, but stepped out as he tucked her in.

"Daddy?"

"Yes my darling?" He asked as he pulled the covers up.

"Do you like Bella?" She asked, almost sounding scarred.

"Yes, I do. Very much."

"Are you going to marry her?"

"No, sweetie. Bella has a family of her own."

"But you said you liked her?"

"I do, but like a best friend. I like mommy, but I'm not going to marry her." He said and I heard a tiny sigh. I decided to quit ease dropping and went back into the living room, snooping around. He didn't have many personal things in his apartment. A few pictures of Riley, and him and his mother. A couple pictures of the what I assumed to be the aunt he had told me about, but nothing else.

"Sorry about that. Bed time seems to always be a question and answer session with her." He said, coming into the room.

"Don't worry about it, Liam never goes down right away. Jacob and I had to begin putting him to bed half hour earlier just so he'd actually be asleep when he's supposed to be." I said as he awkwardly moved closer to me, shoving his hands in his pockets. This is when everything needed to be said. "Look, Emmett."

"Don't. Please." He whispered.

"Don't what?"

"Give me the speech."

"What speech?" I asked, moving closer to him.

"The 'it was great but it shouldn't have happened' speech." He answered. He knew, he knew this was just a one time thing and that it pained me every minute knowing it had happened. "Because, Bella...it's bull. That speech."

"Excuse me?" I asked, trying to keep calm.

"You know it was meant to happen. You know we belong together. I'm supposed to be Liam's father, the one you're going to marry."

"But you aren't, Emmett. You haven't been that guy since senior year...five years ago." I answered, seeing the pain in his eyes.

"Bella..."

"I have to go." I whispered before grabbing my jacket and heading for the door. I was suddenly jerked back and facing Emmett again.

"Bella...please." He pleaded, pain and confusion in his eyes.

"I'm sorry." I whispered before running back into the hallway. We weren't meant to be together. He was my high school love and that's all he ever would be.