Chapter 29 - Leap of Faith
Bella
I stayed with Hannah for quite a while, asking and answering questions and helping her fill out the hospital's paperwork, while I filled out my own. The nurses finally allowed her to come and sit with Aaron after a while, so Alice and I left to go check on the other two children being treated. As we were leaving, we met Dr. Cheney and Dr. Black in the corridor.
"Miss Swan, so good to see you!" Dr. Black crooned. "We haven't seen you around in a few days. What have you been up to?"
"I…uh…" I stammered, trying to think of what to say, but Dr. Cheney interrupted me.
"Obviously, whatever it was, it wasn't that memorable. Now, dinner with me tonight would be something to remember, I promise you," he said in what I was sure was supposed to have been his "smooth" voice. He just made my skin crawl. He had just grabbed my hand and started kissing it when Edward came around the corner, seeing me looking extremely uncomfortable while trying to get away. He glared furiously at Dr. Cheney, as he took my hand from him and pulled me into an embrace right in front of the two doctors.
"Gentlemen, I'll thank you to refrain from hitting on my girlfriend," Edward said, as his eyes met mine, sparkling and intense. He grinned and kissed me on the cheek, whispering in my ear, "Just play along." He turned back to them, smirking. "Trust me, gentlemen, anything that happens between Miss Swan and myself will be worth remembering for a lifetime," he said before kissing me again, on the lips this time. "See you at home later?" he winked.
I think he was having as much fun as I was watching the Testosterone Twins being shot down, yet again. I nodded and smiled back at him, and then I did something I would never have thought myself capable of doing. I took him by the hand and pulled him back to me hard, throwing my arms around his neck and kissing him like I meant business.
"Hurry home," I moaned and winked back at him before turning to leave with Alice. Both other doctors looked as if they needed to pick their jaws up off the floor. Edward just nodded, a smile playing on his lips.
Alice and I started walking back towards the exit, laughing about our exchange and the way Dr. Cheney and Dr. Black had looked stunned from my performance.
"Bella, I saw the way Edward looked at you. He might've been delirious that night, but he spoke the truth. He's got it bad for you," Alice grinned smugly, certain she was right.
"Until I hear it from him while he's coherent, I'm not betting the future on it," I said quietly. "Until then, I'm taking it day by day."
From the corner of my eye, I caught a fleeting glimpse of someone I could feel had been watching me. I spun around to look, but they had disappeared behind the stairwell door so quickly, I didn't have a chance to see them clearly before they had slipped away once again. Alice didn't see them at all. I had told her about feeling as if I was being watched, and she suggested I report it. I would have, but I had no idea who they were, or if they were even male or female. I had no name or even a good description. The person was very elusive, and all I had to go on were fleeting glances and the feeling in the pit of my stomach that maybe something wasn't quite right. That thought unnerved me, but with nothing more to go on, it seemed futile to pursue it.
Rose had come back into the office by the time we returned from the hospital, looking tired but happy. "Hey, Rose, are you resting enough?" I asked, grinning to myself about the conversation I had overheard with Emmett. "You look worn out."
"Who needs sleep when you have Emmett?" she laughed. "He's got enough drive for the two of us. Honestly, I don't know what that man eats during the day, but he seems to have a never-ending supply of energy at night."
I debated whether to tell Rose about our conversation with Emmett, but I thought better of it. Rose wasn't usually reserved with her sexuality, but with things being so new with Emmett, I figured it best to wait until she offered more details before I did.
Dr. Whitlock walked in just then, looking as if he was upset, as he motioned for Alice to join him in her office. She flitted off after him, closing the door behind them.
"What do you suppose that was all about?" Rose frowned, nodding over her shoulder at Alice's door. "He looked like he just lost his best friend."
"I don't know. I hope everything's alright." Alice and Jasper were so perfect together, like they were made for each other. I hoped nothing was going on to mess things up for them. They emerged half an hour later, both looking a little disheveled and winded. Alice gave him one long, last kiss, and then she watched him walk out of the office, looking like she was on the verge of tears. Rose and I were by her side instantly.
"Alice, what happened?" Rose and I asked simultaneously. "Are you guys alright?"
"Yes, we're fine…perfect, in fact," Alice smiled, wiping at her eyes. "He's just leaving for a week, and I won't see him until he gets back. He has to go to a psychiatry conference to fulfill his mandated continuing education requirements, and I'm going through Jasper withdrawals already. But what's almost as bad is the host city has great stuff to do and see. I'd love to be able to go with him," Alice lamented sadly.
Rose led us into her office and checked her calendar, and then she pulled up something on her computer. "Looks like you have four personal days to burn, Alice. Am I correct in assuming you'd like to take them next week?" Rose grinned knowingly.
"Yes! I could drive down to surprise him!" Alice squealed. "We've never gone away together like this before, so I'm hoping he'll be happy to see me. He'll be busy during the day with the lectures and workshops, and except for a formal dinner reception last evening of the conference, his evenings and nights will be free. I just know it'll be so much fun!"
It was awe-inspiring to watch Alice on the phone, reorganizing her appointments, making reservations, and planning her surprise visit to Jasper's hotel. He was not going to know what hit him. She came bouncing out of her office, itinerary in hand.
"He's heading out Sunday morning, and I'll leave on Tuesday morning. I'm just getting a rental car, so I can ride back with him. It's not exactly a short drive, but with my lead foot, I'll be there before dinnertime!"
It looked like Dr. Whitlock was in for a particularly good trip indeed.
