All normal disclaimers apply.

Chapter 26

I shake my head chuckling as she walks out the door knowing if we keep this up, most of the town will know we are a couple by the end of the week. I'm writing up my notes in the short five minute break I have between clients.

"Edward," Mrs. Cope says.

I look up from my paperwork to Mrs. Cope who's standing at the door.

"Yeah," I say nervously, because of the look on her face.

"Jessica is asking to see you."

I rub my face and pout. "What the hell has Molly done now?" I say out loud.

"Oh, no, Edward, there is only Jessica here to see you. No Molly today."

I swallow and Mrs. Cope holds back a chuckle. "Shall I show her in?"

I shake my head not wanting to be trapped in this room with her. "No, I need to check on something. I'll see her out there." I jump up walking out the door and put a smile on my face, when I see Jessica standing there.

"Hi, Jessica, Mrs. Cope, said you wanted to see me? I hope everything's okay with Molly."

"Oh, she not talking to me because of the new rules, but don't worry, I make sure she knows who's in charge."

I tilt my head and raise my brow trying to contemplate what she just said.

"Anyway, I just stopped in to ask you if you like to have a drink with me?"

I open my mouth to speak, but she quickly cut me off.

"I'm just going to lay it on the line and tell you that I like you, really like you. I want to get to know you better, and let you learn about me. So, what do you say?" Jessica bites her lip as she looks at me.

I let out a sigh. I find Jessica a little odd—yet after what Bella said—I do understand her more. Above all, she seems to be a nice girl. She's just not the girl I want. "Jessica, I have a girlfriend," I say deciding to be truthful with her.

Jessica pales as she looks at me. "What, but I though you said you were single?"

"I was, this is just a new thing, really new actually."

She frowns as she looks at me. "But no one said anything about dating you. Is this just your nice way of turning me down and trying to spare my feelings?"

"I'm sorry, but no, my girlfriend and I have known each other for a couple of years now, we just moved our relationship into this new stage very recently."

Jessica laughs a little. "Bella?" I swallow, but nod at her. "I thought there was something more between you both last night, but I shook it off as just worry. Well, good luck."

I give her a small smile, before she turns to walk away. "Hey, Jessica," I say walking after her as she turns to me. "Bella doesn't really want people knowing right away, so would keep it to yourself?" I pull at my hair feeling guilty that I just turned her down, but now am I'm asking favors from her.

"Sure, I can understand not wanting people to know your business. Make sure you treat her good, and in a strange way, I think you and she are well suited."

"We are, and I will."

"You are both very lucky." Jessica walks off and I sigh turning around seeing Bella standing there.

"Hey, honey," I say walking to her, "is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I was just coming to see if you wanted me to get you something from the grill for lunch."

"That sounds good, honey. I have three more people to see, and then we can eat together in the office."

"What would like me to get you?"

"Surprise me." I feel her nod as I hug her and I kiss the top of her head, before letting her go.

I finish seeing the animals, and walk into my office smiling, as Bella has just set out our lunch. I walk to her, kiss her lips, and then smile more.

"I want to take you on a real date," I say when I pull back from her.

"Really?" Bella says sounding really excited. I chuckle as I nod at her enthusiasm.

"Yes, you're my girlfriend and I plan on taking you on many dates."

I grab my meal, and sit down on the floor patting the space next to me for Bella to sit.

"When?" I tilt my head smile a little.

"What about Friday, that way we can stay up late, since we both have Saturday off?"

"Sounds good to me, are we going out-out?"

I tilt my head at her "Yes, I am taking you out-out. We're going on a date and out of this town."

"Where?" I shake my head at her.

"Trust me, and allow me to surprise you. If you're okay with it, I'll make sure you have something suitable for it."

"I trust you. So, are all the town pets doing okay?"

I grin that she trusts me and has agreed to go out on a date with me. "Yep, so far it has just been routine checks and injections, nothing big. What about you – how did today go for you?"

"I loved it. Jacob had me take Toby out for a walk; he's getting better, thank the lord. I also cleaned the cages—all of them."

"Well, thank you for all of your hard work. After our lunch, I'm off to Drake's to check on Red Wine and her baby, you want to come with me, or stay and help Jacob? Tilly is coming here to give birth."

Bella bites her lips and seems to think it over. "I would love to see the colt again."

I grin, pleased that she decides to spend some time with me.

"We have some time," I say pushing our lunch to the side.

Bella grins as she scoots near me. "We do?"

I chuckle nodding at her, before placing my lips to hers. Within minutes, she's flat on the floor with me leaning over. I slowly run my free hand up her side, feeling her fine soft curves. I pull back letting out a hum.

"Jessica asked me out on a date." Bella frowns a little and I quickly kiss her, reassuring her that I'm still hers. "I turned her down, telling her I have a girlfriend." I pull at the hair at the back of my neck. "She sort of guessed it was you." Bella bites her lip and looks a little pale.

"I asked her to keep it to herself and she said she would."

Bella bobs her head. "Maybe we should tell Mama E, Dad, Alice and Peter soon then, before anyone else in the town finds out and tells them for us."

I chuckle. "I'm pretty sure Alice will already know, as for the rest of them, it doesn't have to be today."

She lets out a hum and I kiss her lips before jumping up. "Come on, let's get to the Drake's."

I pull up outside of Drake's and Bella just about jumps out of the truck. "Hi, Mr. Drake, can I go and see Red Wine?" she asks as Drake approaches us. He gives her a nod pointing to the field and Bella runs off.

"How are Red Wine and ..." I trail off, not sure if the colt has a name yet.

"Cutter," Mr. Drake interjects the name for me. "The kids got to name him, the wife said I had to allow them to do something."

I hold back my chuckle at the way he says wife, not calling Mrs. Drake by her name.

We start to walk to the field. "Isabella seems, calmer?" I move my eyes to him, giving him a little nod.

"She would rather everyone call her Bella now, and she is—she's healing."

Mr. Drake looks away from me. "I'm glad she's getting better. I hate the fact that this was happening just down the road from me, and I had no clue."

We arrive at the field to see Bella is in the middle with Red Wine and Cutter both next to her, getting plenty of attention from her.

"She has quite the way with animals," Drake says, and I grin broadly proud of my girl.

"She does, she has an amazing ability with them."

I enter the pasture and look over both Red Wine and Cutter, finding both are doing well.

I take Bella with me on the few other house call appointments I had to do this afternoon. We are just heading home now.

"Pull over, Edward."

I frown looking at Bella. "What, honey?"

"Can you pull over?"

I look out the window she's looking out and see her old house go past. I turn the truck around and head for it.

"You sure about this?" I say weakly, hoping she'll say no so I can take her back home.

"Yes," she says lightly.

I let out a sigh stopping just outside of the house.

Bella gets out and walks to the front door. She turns the handle and pushes on it frowning. "The dead bolt is locked. Do you think you could get us in?"

I sigh out again and nod at her.

"I'll call Jasper, he has the keys."

Bella and I sit in the truck until Jasper arrives. When he gets here, we open the door. Jasper and I surround Bella, only giving her a little breathing space.

"You know this house has eight bedrooms in it?" She looks around at us when we fail to answer. "Charlie closed off most of the upstairs after Peter was born. Mom wanted more children, and he closing off upstairs was his way of saying no. This was her house—hers. She grew up here," Bella sobs a little. "I was eight when I learned Charlie wasn't like other Dads that he ... that there was something ..." She shakes her head stopping her talk on Charlie. "I used to wish someone would come save us. A handsome prince would see my mom and love her, as soon as he laid eyes on her. He would chase Charlie away and we would live happily ever after. It never happened. There was never a prince for her."

Bella eyes go to mine and she gives me a smile. "But it did happen for me. I love you," Bella sobs out and I pull her to me. She wraps her arms around my waist and I put one of my hands on her back as the other moves to her hair holding the back of her head to me. I hold her for a few minutes, just kissing the top of head and whispering words of my love to her.

"He's not here anymore."

I frown unsure of what she is meaning. I see Bella frowning looking down like she's unsure.

"You know this is just a dirty big old house. It's not evil, it's not bad and it's not Charlie's. While I don't think I could live here, it's stupid for it to remain empty. This is one of the bigger homes around this area that doesn't come with farmland or out buildings. It would be so right for a big family, like Leah and Jacob have."

"In fact, it would be just right for them; they live in that small three-bedroom house. I know it costs them fifteen hundred in rent each month. This house would give them a room for each of their kids. We could charge the seven-fifty a month or something like that. They can make it so the payments are to buy it from us? It's not like Peter or I will ever live here again. The payments could go into a bank account for when Peter goes to college. We can even say they only need to pay us monthly payments until Peter turns twenty-one. That's only ten years from now. That's ninety thousand dollars; what do you think?" Bella bites her lip as she looks between Jasper and me.

"Why don't I speak with Mom, and have her call Jenks?"

Bella nods at me, still biting her lip. "I really should speak to Peter to about it, too; it is after all half his." I chuckle and give her a kiss. "But it does sound like a great idea, and I am sure he will agree." I smile down at her before kissing her lips.

"So, you two are together now?" Jasper says slowly.

Bella and I both turn to him and nod in unison.

"Darn it, I own Alice a shopping trip now."

"Yes, how is life dating my big sister?" Jasper pales and his mouth drops open.

"When did you work it out?"

"Why don't you call Alice and tell her to meet us at the ranch for dinner, just us four?" Bella says softly to Jasper just as his cell rings.

"Hello," he says sounds a little freaked out. "But how did you ... you know what, never mind."

"Let me guess, she's already there with dinner on?" Jasper bobs his head as he chuckles. I lock up putting the keys in my pocket and help Bella into the truck.

I smile the whole way home holding Bella's hand with Jasper in his car just behind us.

A/N: So the cat is out of the bag officially now for both couples. Don't you love how Bella always thinks of others, and how perfect is it if Jake and Leah will want the house? Maybe they can bring it some happiness with a full family as Bella and Peter's mom, Tanya wanted. Thoughts?