Chapter Twenty-Nine
Bella stood nervously in the hotel foyer huddling close to Edward, well aware that outside were ranks of photographers waiting for them to walk outside to their car. James had 'accidentally on purpose' let slip to the press that Edward would be taking his new girlfriend to the premiere tonight and consequently the road outside their hotel was at a standstill, as official and unofficial photographers jostled for the best position to get the clearest shot of the mystery girl.
As Bella looked up at the handsome man at her side who had just slid a protective arm around her waist, she thought to herself, "Bella Swan, you are one lucky lady."
Edward was looking down at Bella with love and pride in his eyes. His personal shopper had pulled out all the stops and had found Bella a stunning, full length sapphire and silver evening gown that shimmered in the light as it clung to her slim body. It was a halter-neck with a low-cut back which showed off her frame to perfection. Her abundant hair had been left loose but styled so it fell in soft curls almost down to her waist, covering most of her bare skin.
The personal shopper had also arranged for Bella to wear some exquisite Cartier sapphire and diamond drop-earrings and a matching necklace that comprised of a magnificent sapphire in an elegant diamond and platinum setting. Her eyes had been made up to look smoky, but apart from that, her make-up was quite minimal. Matching silver shoes and clutch purse completed the look and Edward couldn't take his eyes off her. If he had, he would have seen the appreciative looks of the other guests and hotel staff as they looked on at the fairy tale scene, wondering who this unknown beautiful girl was who was now the centre of Edward's attention.
James arrived in the foyer and grinned at Edward and his anxious escort. "You look sensational, Bella; just enjoy yourself tonight and don't worry about all the flashing lights, you'll soon get used to it."
Bella smiled at James, but she was too nervous to talk. Instead she snuggled up to Edward again as she had just spotted their limousine gliding into view and coming to a halt at the bottom of the steps. She took a deep breath and straightened herself to her full height, then slid her hand into Edward's and smiled.
They walked towards the side door which was opened for them by a very smart doorman, who winked at Bella and gave her a little head-bow as she passed. As they crossed the threshold hand in hand, they entered a world of shouts and yells and flashing lights. Bella felt Edward's hand tighten around hers as he could feel her anxiety through her touch, as if she was physically connected to his body like a conjoined twin, and Bella relaxed knowing that the man she loved would help her get through this unreal experience.
In that moment, anonymous Bella Swan from Portland, Oregon, whom the world had never heard of before, became Bella Swan, girlfriend of Edward Cullen, one of the most desired men on the planet. Tomorrow morning her face would be on the front of newspapers, celebrity magazines and website pages, her life history would be picked over by every gossip column across the world and she would either be hated or adored by Edward's fandom that were desperate to find out more about the girl who had stolen Edward Cullen's heart.
Her life changed forever in that instant, but if that was the price she was required to pay to be with Edward, she was willing to pay it – a million times over.
They woke late the next morning both feeling like death. It had been a long night but immensely enjoyable, primarily because Tanya hadn't showed, claiming a family emergency back in the States. But she wasn't missed by anyone and the after-party went with a swing until the early hours.
Edward rolled off the bed and disappeared into the bathroom then came back again and face-planted on the bed with his head buried in a pillow in an effort to reduce the amount of natural light which was making his head throb.
"I'm never, ever going to drink again," he groaned. "Fucking Emmett, feeding me drinks all night."
Bella hadn't drunk excessively, but she was physically exhausted, especially her legs and feet which were killing her. The Jimmy Choo's she had worn were very beautiful, but she wasn't used to wearing high heels; well not that high anyway, and not for six hours. She had effectively been standing on tip-toe all night and her calves and the soles of her feet were aching and throbbing like hell. She tried to roll out of bed but didn't have the energy so gave up trying, even though her bladder was complaining.
Edward turned his face to look at her and chuckled.
"What are you laughing at?" Bella retorted. She wasn't in the mood for fun and games this morning and couldn't guess what Edward was finding so amusing.
"Your eyes look like Alice Cooper's, your hair resembles a bird's nest, you're wearing one of my old t-shirts with a million dollar necklace and earrings!"
Bella recalled trying to get the necklace off last night but she couldn't undo the complicated fastener and Edward was too drunk to be of any assistance. She had forgotten about the earrings. She was sure she looked ridiculous but was too drained to see the funny side.
In the end she had to force herself out of bed before she had an embarrassing accident and staggered bleary-eyed into the bathroom. After relieving herself she took one look at her reflection in the mirror and could see what Edward was laughing at and despite her best efforts, couldn't help a small smile touching her lips.
She turned the shower on and while she waited for it to warm up, she made another attempt to remove the necklace but couldn't, but she did manage to take off the earrings and put them safely on a shelf. She stepped carefully into the shower cubicle, still feeling very unsteady on her feet, and hung on to the wall to keep herself upright as the torrent of water brought her back to life. As the blissfully hot water poured over her aching calves and soaked into her throbbing feet, she felt instant relief and couldn't help sighing out loud.
She heard Edward enter the bathroom and he joined her in the shower. Neither of them had the energy for any hanky panky but stood under the showerhead in silence for ages, not caring that they were probably sending the hotel's energy bills through the roof.
When they had recovered enough to order a room service breakfast, even though it was almost midday, Bella asked Edward what his plans were for the rest of the day.
"I've an appointment at the Solicitor's at three; will you come with me?"
Bella presumed correctly that this was about his grandmother's estate so she readily agreed. This meant travelling to Richmond again as his grandmother had used a local solicitor for all her legal and financial dealings, including her Will.
Edward arranged for a chauffeured car to take them to Richmond, as he was sensible enough to realise that he was still too hung-over to be behind a wheel safely. They left the hotel at two fifteen and were driven through a rain-soaked London, following the same route as before, but the west side of the city looked totally different under a grey blanket of cloud from when they had last seen it in the warm sunshine.
Edward hardly said a word during the journey and Bella guessed that he was anxious about what he might learn today. He had been warned that a final decision about his grandmother's estate was imminent, so in the next hour it was possible he could find out whether his battle with his parents had been won or lost. Bella snuggled up close to him, taking his hands in hers, and as the car turned into the familiar high street she gently squeezed them to let him know she understood what he was going through.
The driver dropped them off in front of a tall, elegant, Georgian house that faced Richmond Green. The four storey building had been converted into offices, but it was only when you approached the front door and saw the names of several companies on brass plates hidden in the recess of the porch, that you were aware that the building was not a family home anymore. These vast houses and the majority of the others around the Green were listed buildings and their facades were protected by law so that the character of this beautiful suburb of London would not change for another two hundred years.
Edward pressed one of the buzzers and a very cultured female voice responded with a welcome. "Edward Cullen to see Mr. Jameson," Edward answered in response. Another buzzer sounded and the heavy front door clicked open.
Mr. Jameson's office was on the second floor, so they made their way up the wide, carpeted staircase and were greeted by the receptionist, whose elegant attire matched her voice. She was pleasant and efficient and made them both strong black coffees while they waited for Mr. Jameson to finish with an earlier client. After about a ten minute wait they saw a woman leave and Mr. Jameson beckoned them inside.
"Hello, Edward" he said as he shook his hand. A pleasure to see you again and this must be Miss Bella Swan?" Edward was surprised that he knew Bella's name, then he spotted a picture of himself and Bella on the front of a tabloid newspaper which was lying on his desk.
"News travels fast nowadays," Edward commented ruefully. Mr. Jameson nodded and indicated that they should sit down.
He shuffled some papers on his desk, then opened a drawer and closed it, then turned and picked his briefcase up off the floor, then put it back down again, knowing full well that Edward was desperate to hear what he had to say. But Mr. Jameson was relishing keeping the information he was instructed to impart to Edward close to his chest for just a few more minutes. This was one of the more pleasurable parts of his profession as most of the day he dealt with anguish or death.
"Well, Edward, it looks as though your grandmother had a genuine soft-spot for you. Probate was granted yesterday and you are legally and without question the sole recipient of your grandmother's estate, once all the death duties and fees have been paid that is."
Edward grasped Bella's hand. "Oh thank God," he cried and he closed his eyes tightly as the information sunk home. Bella could feel that he was shaking with emotion and she put her free arm around his shoulders and hugged him.
Mr. Jameson was babbling in legal jargon about what happened next, but Edward couldn't absorb anything he was saying. It had taken him over three years to win this case and the relief he felt now was overwhelming.
During this lengthy process, his parents had produced false witnesses who had made statements to the courts that his grandmother was senile when she made the new Will. When that didn't succeed, his parents had claimed that Edward had coerced Esme into signing this version by convincing her they were alcoholics and gamblers. When those avenues had finally been exhausted, they had used numerous delaying tactics in the hope that as Edward became more famous and obviously very wealthy in his own right, they would be awarded the estate because Edward now didn't need the money. They forgot that, number one, this was not about money in the Court's eyes, and number two, the laborious but fair British legal system was unbending, and sentimentality and sympathy was never a consideration. A Will was a legal document and the law was the law.
After Mr. Jameson had finished talking and had handed Edward an envelope containing the document that set out the Court's judgement, Edward thanked him and said goodbye for the moment. They walked down the stairs in silence then left the building and crossed the perimeter road and onto the wide expanse of Richmond Green. Still without speaking, Edward put his arm around Bella's shoulders as they strolled along the narrow path that led from one side to the other, but he came to a halt when they reached the cricket wicket situated in the centre of the Green. The weather was brightening up and as the grey clouds gradually began to turn white and glimpses of blue sky appeared in the gaps between them, the rain-soaked grass surrounding them began to glisten in the emerging sunlight.
Edward pulled Bella towards him and put both arms around her as he looked up at the sky to where he hoped his grandmother was looking down on him in his hour of triumph. As he did that, the sun appeared from behind the clouds for the first time that day, and he recognised that this was a metaphor for his own life. Light had finally come back into his world, and as he felt the sun's warmth evaporating the dampness on his face where his tears of relief had been falling, the heavy load that had been resting on his shoulders for the past three years gradually fell away.
After a few more minutes of silent thought-gathering, he released Bella from his embrace and said, "Come on!" enthusiastically and grasped her hand as they quickly made their way across the Green towards his grandmother's street. When they got to the garden gate, Edward stood for a moment before going further and stared at the house that was now legally his property. In his heart he knew that when he opened the door and walked over the threshold, his itinerant existence would be over, as he finally owned the one place in the world where he knew he could put down roots. His only regret now was that his grandmother wasn't there to greet him with a loving embrace and to welcome them both inside. Taking Bella's hand again, he slowly walked along the red and black diamond tiled path to the front door and they both held the key as it turned in the lock.
Edward switched off the security system and then, without speaking, he led Bella straight through the house towards the kitchen. Still firmly holding onto her hand, he unlocked the door and pushed it open and stepped out onto the small patio that overlooked his grandmother's garden. The naturally beautiful colours of the different varieties of roses had been further enhanced by the rain, and for a moment Bella felt as though she had fallen inside an impressionist's painting as her eyes were confused by the masses of vibrant or muted coloured flowers that were swaying in the light breeze. As the sun warmed the damp air, the fragrances emanating from the roses was multiplied and Edward and Bella's senses were overcome by the sweet scents that filled the air.
Edward put his arm around Bella's shoulders and pulled her closely into his side as he finally accepted that all this was his. Looking at his grandmother's beautiful garden and then at the girl he loved by his side, Edward proudly proclaimed out loud,
"Grandma, I'm home."
After a few moments of taking in the beauty of this English garden which held so many memories for Edward, they went back into the house and wandered from room to room as Edward gathered his thoughts. He was remembering the precious weekends he stayed here with his grandmother, away from the trauma of his parents' home, but even though every room and every piece of furniture held a special significance for him, he accepted that the house was in a time-warp and needed updating. However he was reluctant to change anything just yet, less the memory of seeing his grandmother everywhere faded. He knew this wasn't the time to be making decisions, as so much had gone on in the past week and he still wasn't completely convinced that he wasn't insane, but the house was his responsibility now and it was time he started behaving like an adult.
He called the driver and gave him instructions where to pick them up, then he went back to the garden and located the clippers. He picked buds from several bushes and, like before, he handed a beautiful white rose to Bella and kissed her on her forehead. They locked up the house and got in the car and Edward asked the driver to take them up Richmond Hill to the church.
Bella stayed in the car while Edward went to visit his grandmother's grave. She could sense he needed some alone-time and she watched as he cleared some faded roses from the gravestone and replaced them with the fresh ones from the garden. She could see him talking to her; he was crouched on the ground with his hands touching the headstone, and Bella guessed he was probably telling her about what had happened in his life since his last visit and that the house was now his, and then she watched him blow her a kiss and walk back to the car.
Edward climbed in next to Bella and put his arm around her as the driver pulled away and drove down the steep hill to the road that would take them back to London. He squeezed her hand and smiled at her. "I'm really okay, Bella; thanks for giving me space," he said.
When they got back to the hotel Bella ordered room service and Edward called Jasper. They arranged to meet up the next day as they hadn't had a chance to get together since the day Bella and Alice arrived. While he was saying goodbye to Jasper, Bella's cell rang and she saw it was Mike calling.
She listened to what he was saying for about twenty seconds, then started shrieking and dancing around the room. Edward watched her with a bewildered expression, not knowing who it was on the other end of the phone making her react in that way, and so to avoid a long explanation she passed the phone to Edward who took it and pressed it up to his ear.
"Who is this?"
"Edward, its Mike."
"Hi Mike. What on earth have you said to make Bella jump up and down like a lunatic?"
"We've got a new backer."
"Shit. Who, for fuck-sake?"
"Tanya's father!"
"No fucking way"
"Yes fucking way"
"How?"
"Apparently you already know your agent sent Tanya's father a tape of your meeting when you were blackmailed and then Emmett got involved by dropping her in the shit as well. He's so appalled at Tanya's behaviour, that he got his guys to contact me with an offer after Emmett confirmed to him that we were 'good guys', but it's on the understanding that James won't make public what she's done and Emmett keeps quiet about her being a coke-addict."
"Holy Shit!"
"Daddy called Tanya just before the London premiere and ordered her back to Alaska immediately. She's in rehab now on his insistence or he'll disown her and he's called time on her acting career. Jacob and some other guy have been sacked and reported to the Law Department for gross misconduct."
"Excellent news about Jacob, Mike. He's a conniving piece of shit and I hope he's struck off. Jesus! I'm so pleased it's worked out for you and Tyler and I'm so sorry that you got mixed up in Tanya's vendetta against me and Bella in the first place; you shouldn't have become involved in this nightmare."
"Edward, as long as you're still up for doing the movie, then its water under the bridge as far as we're concerned and a lesson well-learned. We're hiring new lawyers as well, as the last lot were less than useless. I've dumped them for not picking up on Jacob's loopholes and they can sing for what I owe them; I'm not paying them a cent."
Bella had stopped leaping around the room and was standing behind Edward with her arms around his neck while he was talking to Mike so she could hear the conversation going on between them. She spoke quietly in Edward's ear; "Ask Mike when he wants me back at work?"
Mike actually heard her whispers and shouted, "Monday, young lady! You've got lots of work to do." Bella groaned.
Edward and Mike spoke for a few more minutes then hung up after Edward said he would travel back to New York with Bella and would come with her to the office to help get the project up and running again.
After he hung up, Edward picked Bella up and swung her around like she was a small child. "I don't believe it," he cried. "Everything's working out how I wanted. Kate told me not to give up hope."
As soon as he realized what he had said he put Bella down, knowing that she was going to ask the obvious question.
"Edward, who is Kate?"
