"We come spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust…"
-Rumi
The women stared at each other. The blonde, mute for the longest time, and the brunette fidgeting under her lingering gaze. Tension filled the silence between them.
Emmett held Bella closer to him, protecting her from whatever words may come from Rosalie. Yes, she let him go, and seemed to leave him at peace; however, Emmett knew better than to let his guard down with his ex-wife. Her boyfriend, Quil, kneeled in front of her chair, whispering in her ear, and squeezing her hand.
She smiled tenderly at him, and with misty eyes, stood to make her way toward the couple. Bella stepped forward, refusing to hide behind Emmett. Rosalie held her hand out, "Congratulations… if you don't mind, I'd like it if we talked."
"Over my dead body," Emmett glared at her.
Bella took the blonde's hand to shake it. Blue-violet eyes pleaded with her, and she gave in. "It's okay. I'll sit with her at their table. You and… what's your name?" she glanced at the large man accompanying Rosalie.
He didn't take his eyes off the petite woman at his side, "Quil… Bella, right? And Emmett."
Their men talked… or argued… after a moment. Neither woman paid attention. Emmett would give Bella hell later, and Quil would worry himself into an early grave if he did not start trusting Rosalie enough to know her limits.
Nearing the table, Bella turned to her man, "Can you buy a keylime pie for later? And, play nice." His emotions were clearly displayed on his face - annoyed, frustrated, and fearful; but, he gave in to her request.
She sat diagonal from the woman she once hated. The woman who tormented her with words, and showed no compassion when it came to Emmett. She should have been angry… yet, the only feeling she could manage was pity. Shame and regret shone in Rosalie's haunted eyes. Nothing she could say could make the other woman feel lower than she already did.
"I'm sorry," Rosalie whispered.
"I know."
"I… I had no plans of talking to you. Not ever. When I saw you, just now, I couldn't…"
"I understand," she unconsciously rubbed her belly, where Baby Mac was safe, growing, and healthy after all their scares.
"He always wanted to be a father," the blonde said, a bittersweet tone to her voice.
"He's a good man."
"I know."
A waitress brought Bella tea, and Rosalie coffee. Outside, they could see their men, talking while leaning against Emmett's cruiser.
"We didn't plan it, you know," the brunette stated. "Falling in love. Seeking the other when we needed someone to listen… it was never my intent when he was there for me after the Chief died."
The other woman regarded her carefully, choosing her words wisely as she learned -through her own experience- that life finds a way to right wrongs, "Love finds a way... I've done and said some deplorable things to you, to him, all the while knowing -deep down- they were wrong. I can only apologize, and hope that one day you can both forgive me."
"Why the sudden change of heart?"
"Not so sudden. I have to live with myself… to move on from the nightmare I created. Letting go is one of the many steps in the right direction."
Minutes ticked by filled only with the sounds of the diner.
"Quil… he makes you want to be better," Bella observed.
"Believe it or not, all my actions do not revolve around a man," hearing the bite in her statement, she took in deep breaths before responding, "He is good to me, and accepts me as I am."
"I understand."
"You do, don't you?"
"It is rare to find that person, that individual who takes the good with the bad and still worships the ground you walk on… It's written all over his face when he looks at you."
Rosalie peered out the window, a small grin touching her lips as she watched her love, "He's been there for me..."
A chair across from her scraped on the tile. Bella was moving, trying to find a comfortable spot. Her former enemy wanted to ask… second guessed herself, then said fuck it; might as well, "How far along are you?"
"Six months," she said cautiously.
"Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?"
Bella narrowed her eyes, "Why?"
"There is no ulterior motive. You don't have to tell me. I was just curious… regardless of what you think, I am happy for Em. He deserves it after everything I put him through." She wiped at her eyes, refusing to show more feeling to this woman. Letting go is a process, and she had done well with these steps in moving forward.
She rose, and nodded at her company, "Thank you for this. If nothing else was accomplished, other than my own closure, it was worth it."
Warm fingers grasped her hand as she walked by. Bella used the table for leverage to stand next to her. "You deserve to be happy too… and, it's a boy."
Hugging was for friends, which they were not. They had been through hell, and back, and came out with scars to heal. No, they would never be friends, or even acquaintances.
They did, however, come to respect each other.
The blonde waited until the brunette left the diner, and let it out… choking back a sob, saying a final goodbye to one man - who was not meant for her - and relishing in the love of another man… the right person for her.
Two more chapters.