For those of you who read the Get Your Southern On contest entries, this is my contribution. I am tickled at the results … first place in public vote and third place for the judge's choice. I've decided to break this up into smaller, drabblish chapters and it will be continued. The contest contribution is the first six or so chapters, roughly. I don't know how long it will be, but I do have it planned. Thank you to Bridget for betaing this for me and for Clo, who created the banner.
Thank you for those of you who have read this! I hope you continue to do so! Without further ado …
This is the beginning of the extension of the original contest entry. ALL NEW! Thank you for sticking with me and I hope you enjoy this!
Edward's meeting with Jenks and Charlie will happen next chapter. We're also going to go back to Bella and hear her thoughts about the whole Tanya situation.
After spending the morning with his kids and dropping them off at school, nearly avoiding all of the vapid soccer moms, Edward put in a call to both Charlie and Jason. He was doing laundry when his doorbell rang. Starting the load, he walked to the doorway, seeing Charlie on his doorstep. "Morning, Chief," Edward said, ushering him in.
"I got your message," he said gruffly. "That bitch sniffing around again?"
"Yeah. Her attorney called me, saying that she wanted to see the kids," Edward replied, leading Charlie to the kitchen. "Do you want some coffee?"
"You got that cinnamon shit?" Charlie asked, his mustache twitching.
"I only buy it for you," Edward chuckled, popping in a Cinnamon Bun K-Cup into his Keurig. He grabbed the cream and sugar, putting it on the peninsula. "Should I contact my attorney about this? I left a message on his voicemail."
"He won't be able to answer until this afternoon," Charlie said, taking out a pad of paper. "I saw him at the courthouse. But, it would be best to keep him appraised of the situation. Now, tell me what happened?"
"Yesterday, I got a phone call from this slimy lawyer, Aro Volturi," Edward shuddered, putting the steaming mug of coffee in front of Charlie. "He sounded like one of those snake-oil salesman, desperate to make a profit, using the desperation of his clients to fill his bank account."
"Aro Volturi is one shady attorney. So are all of the Volturi brothers," Charlie grumbled. "They take the seediest cases and somehow win. I don't think they are all that legal, if you know what I'm saying. Caius Volturi got that drug dealer, the one that murdered …"
"Allegedly murdered," Edward snorted.
"He murdered them. Whatever, the drug dealer that murdered ten kids and caused several overdoses from his crap heroine, he got out on a fucking technicality," Charlie growled. "My guys were on the ball and Caius ripped the case to shreds. Be careful with Aro. Make sure that you're following every procedure when you're working and taking supreme care of the twins. Though, that's not a problem."
"It could be, Charlie. Do want to know how many hours I work in a week?" Edward argued. "My daughter complained last night that she never sees me. Tanya can use that against me and then …"
"Whoa, relax Edward. She can't. Legally, she doesn't have a leg to stand on. She relinquished her parental rights," Charlie said soothingly. "You have the paperwork. You are their legal guardian with your parents as backup. Though, I would talk to the school and let them know that Tanya could come sniffing around."
"I'll do that," Edward nodded. "And what about the restraining order?"
"It's still in effect. She can't come within 100 yards of you, your parents, your twins or the twins' school without being arrested," Charlie said. "Anything else?"
"I think that Tanya is trying to see the kids because I'm dating your daughter," Edward muttered. "It hit me last night. I got up to have a snack and it seemed completely out of the blue, but then I remembered the reunion. Lauren was there and she must have dished to Tanya about all of the details what happened, including Bella and I becoming a couple."
Charlie's lips twitched and he arched a brow. "I wouldn't put it past her. Tanya is a vindictive, back-stabbing bitch who made my daughter cry more often than not. Why the fuck were you with her?"
"Stupidity," Edward said, scrubbing his hands in his hair. "She said she was pregnant, which blew my mind because we always used condoms."
"Have you had a paternity test?" Charlie asked.
"Yes, Charlie. They are mine," Edward replied. "I ran the test after she gave birth because she alluded to the fact that she was fucking around on me. I think she poked holes in the condoms." Charlie growled. "Tell me about it. While the timing of her pregnancy wasn't ideal, it was the one thing that I loved about us. I adore my children. Regardless of how they were conceived, they are and always will be my babies. I would die for them. Surely, you understand that."
"I do," Charlie sighed. "You may want to call Bella and give her the heads up about the she-beast. Bella hated and feared her. Tanya made my little girl's life hell. You were one of the few people who stood up for her. I think that's why she's with you."
"No, she's with me because we love each other," Edward pointed out.
"Well, that and you were kind to her, Edward," Charlie said. "Bella never really fit in because of her mother disappearing, my job and money issues. It made her a target for those popular girls, forcing her to leave Tampa when she graduated." He looked up at Edward, his eyes narrowing. "But, if you hurt my daughter, I'll hunt you down and make it look like an alligator attacked, Cullen."
"I promise to never hurt her, Chief," Edward squeaked. "I love her. She's everything I've ever wanted and I am such a fool for not following my heart in high school."
"You were young and stupid," Charlie said, finishing his coffee. "I can't fault you for being young and stupid. But, your stupidity decides to make a reappearance, you know what I'm going to do." He got up and put his pad of paper back into his shirt pocket. "I'll print up another copy of your restraining order to include the hospital, but tell the school about Tanya's bullshit."
"Thanks, Charlie," Edward said. "And I'll do everything in my power to not let my youth or stupidity rule my brain. I would like to see my kids grow up."
Charlie grunted, letting himself out of the house. Edward collapsed onto the kitchen floor, his heart stammering against his chest. Pulling out his phone, he sent a text to Bella.
Your dad is freaking scary. Did you know that? – Edward
xx TOTGA xx
Across the country, Bella was getting settled in for a long day at the library. She set up her laptop and placed her coffee on the squishy book-shaped cup holder. Her phone lit up with a message from Edward. Your dad is freaking scary. Did you know that? – Edward
Not wanting to text him, she picked up her phone and called him. "And you're just figuring this out now?" Bella asked teasingly after Edward picked up.
"I had a conversation with him regarding Tanya and her need to see the kids. He was great about that, but he essentially threatened my life if I hurt you in any way," Edward squeaked. "He'd make me alligator bait."
"Don't doubt him, Edward. He'll do it," Bella giggled. "Are you off today, too?"
"I am and after I pick up the kids from school, we're having a daddy/kid date," Edward said proudly. "I've missed them so much."
"Take lots of pictures," Bella cooed.
"I will, Sweetness," he said. "Shit, my attorney is calling. Can I talk to you tonight?"
"Good luck with the attorney. I'll talk to you later. I love you," Bella said.
"Love you more, my Bella," he purred and he hung up. Bella placed her phone on the desk, opening up a new word document to brainstorm ideas for her new novel. She adamantly refused to do a BDSM novel. Yes, it was all the rage, but Bella had a hard time dealing with the pain, humiliation and slave aspect of BDSM. It's one thing to be controlling, but to have one person telling you what to do with your body baffled her mind.
"What to write," Bella murmured, her fingers tapping on her laptop keys. "Paranormal romance? Revolving around angels and demons?" She pursed her lips and wrote that down. "Famous actress, body guard with a creepy, nasty manager? Or vampires?" She jotted those down as well. She added a few more, including a sequel to her most famous book, Mafia Princess and then she began brainstorming possible plot lines.
Her work was interrupted a few times by her coworkers and patrons on the library, but she managed to get down several ideas for her next novel. She was pleased with the results and would ask Alice, who she was meeting for lunch, for her opinion. As she was packing up, locking her laptop in her desk, Jasper, Alice's husband strolled over. "Hey, Bells," he drawled, his southern accent deep and sultry. He was originally from Texas and went to college at University of Washington, falling in love with Alice and moving here to be with her. "You meeting my wife for lunch?"
"I am. We're meeting at Market Fresh," Bella replied. "Do you want to join us?"
"Not if you're going to be all secretive," Jasper chuckled. He didn't know about Bella's secret, writing smutty, romance novels.
"Well, maybe if you're a good boy, we'll let you in on the secret," Bella smirked, grabbing her purse and slipping from behind the desk. She waved at her assistant, who had come back from lunch and they left, walking to the nearby salad bar.
"How was the reunion?" Jasper asked. "Alice told me that you ran into an old flame?"
"He wasn't an old flame. We never were romantically linked. It was more like, a huge crush," Bella blushed. "But, yes, I ran into Edward. We ended up getting together at the reunion and we're trying to make a long-distance relationship work."
"That's got to be tough," Jasper sighed.
"It is. The last relationship I had was a joke and he was local," Bella cringed.
"Have you heard Jake, the snake?" Jasper asked, his voice tight. They never got along. Jasper felt that Jacob was using his wife's best friend and was almost abusive toward her with his harsh words and demeaning nature.
"Not recently, but he's due to rattle my cage soon," Bella deadpanned. "We're not talking about Jake. He's in my past. Edward is in my future."
Jasper nodded, hugging Bella as they turned the corner. A few moments later, they arrived at Market Fresh. Alice wrapped her arms around Bella, squeezing her tightly before turning to her husband and giving him one hell of a kiss. "What a surprise, Jazzy. I didn't know you were coming," Alice said, smiling. But her smile belied her shock that Jasper had joined them. Alice and Bella had made plans for this to be a working lunch, not social.
"Ali, I think it's time we let him in our secret," Bella said.
"Yeah, you two speak in code and it's driving me nuts," Jasper chuckled, but sobered, arching a brow at his wife. "Are you sleeping with your best friend and leaving me to become a lesbian?"
"Yes, Jazzy. I go over to Bella's and I lick her pussy until she screams," Alice retorted, smacking his chest. "Though, that might be fun. You want a threesome, Bells?"
"Focus, Alice," Bella said, rolling her eyes. "I'm not Alice's lesbian lover."
"Damn. A guy can hope. Two hot women fawning over each other. That's every man's wet dream," Jasper laughed. "Seriously, though, what's the deal?"
"Let's get our food and then we'll discuss. Not here," Alice said. "Too many people." They got their food to go and went to sit outside on the patio. "Okay, you have to promise not to say a word, Jasper Michael Whitlock. I'm almost tempted to pull out a non-disclosure agreement and make you sign it!"
"Whoa! This is a big deal, then," Jasper said, his eyes wide. "You middle-named me."
"And I will withhold sex if you blab to anyone, Jasper. You're worse than a woman!" Alice growled. "Promise me that this doesn't leave this table. If you value our sex lives and your manhood, you won't breathe a word to a single soul. Not even Whiskers."
"Whiskers, your cat?" Bella giggled.
"Shut up. That cat is a whore. She travels the neighborhood to get laid even though she's not really a she," Alice grumbled. "Jasper Michael! Do you agree?!"
"Yes, yes! Okay! I agree," he said. "What's this secret?"
"Bella is Marie Cigno," Alice hissed.
Jasper looked at Bella and furrowed his brows. Bella, sweet, demure, sometimes snarky, Bella is the writer of those insanely sexy novels that cannot stay on the shelves. Bella, who can't say anything worse than the word damn can write those salacious, smutty sex scenes that women and men squirm. He blinked at her blankly, his mind not computing what his wife just told him.
"I think you fried his brain, Ali," Bella giggled.
"He's got several of your books on his nightstand as guides for making me come," Alice whispered, winking at Bella. "I personally like it when he gets all sweet and seductive like Caden in Mafia Princess."
"Oooh, I like him," Bella nodded. "But, what about Jackson from Friends with Benefits. He was all sorts of hot, especially when he was drunk. Very take command and all about going down on Sophie."
Jasper squeaked, his lips twitching. "You … Bella … sex … write?"
"Definitely fried his brain," Alice nodded. "Now, do you have ideas for your newest novel?"
A/N: This chapter ran away with me. I just couldn't help but write Jasper completely losing his shit that his wife's best friend wrote smut. Anyhow, we're going to finish up this conversation and Bella's conversation with Edward regarding Tanya and her request in the next chapter.
Pictures of the Seattle Public Library (a literary lover's dream!) are on my blog. I seriously want to move to Seattle just for the library alone. Have you seen it?! Well, if you haven't, check out my blog. The link is in my profile. You can also find me on Facebook: Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation and twitter, too: tufano79. Leave me some!