Chapter 35 – Collaboration

Edward

Since Bella and I had become a couple, it seemed as though there was an inside joke or secret that I was not privy to around the hospital. Male colleagues and other staff who had once been cordial were now acting as if I had stolen their lunch out of the staff fridge. On more than one occasion, I had walked up on Dr. Cheney and Dr. Black chuckling amongst themselves, only to have them drop whatever they were talking about when I approached. I hadn't caught them bothering Bella again, but I didn't trust either one of them not to continue trying to garner her attention when my back was turned. It was a shame two grown, professional men couldn't act more maturely.

Dr. Stanley was becoming a persistent problem, constantly trying to find me in secluded places and making suggestive comments and offers I definitely did refuse. She had attempted to touch me more than once, but I had managed to evade her hands, being very blunt each time that I was not in the least bit interested in what she was offering. The more time I spent with Bella, the more repugnant this Stanley woman was becoming to me. She couldn't hold a light to Bella's warmth, beauty, and character. Dr. Stanley's lack of class and tact made me wonder how she had gotten as far as she had in her career. I shuddered at the possibilities. If filing sexual harassment charges became necessary to back her off, I would do it with no regrets. The same went for my colleagues with Bella.

The best part of being a couple with Bella was getting to spend time with her doing ordinary things. I loved helping her around the house, because it meant I was able to get to know her better every day, and the cleaning got done. She helped me in the apartment, and I worked with her to clean the main house, with the occasional water sprayer fight. Ever the gentleman, I always avoided her face, but I would confess to aiming at the front of her shirt. Hey, I might have been a gentleman, but I was a guy, after all, and Bella in a wet t-shirt was nothing short of perfection.

We had just finished one of our rounds of stimulating housework when Emmett dropped by to go for a run with me. He caught a glimpse of Bella darting up the stairs to change out of her wet shirt, and he looked at me with a raised brow.

"Dude, I never knew you liked cleaning so much," he smirked, elbowing me.

"I don't, but if it's time spent with Bella, I'd be willing clean anytime," I smiled, and Emmett chuckled.

"Yeah, I'll bet you would. If Rose presented dishwashing as a wet t-shirt contest, I'd be game to scrub her pots, too," Emmett waggled his brows.

"I'll be sure to tell her you said that," I nodded, ducking when he tried to grab me into a headlock.

"You do, and I'll tell Bella all about the time you and Sarah Rosenburg went skinny dipping," he threatened.

"Do and die," I countered and took off on our run, with Emmett following behind me, laughing and taunting me. I didn't want to get into a conversation about firsts anytime soon, especially since Bella didn't have any juicy details to exchange with me on that subject.

We had been running for a while when I asked Emmett what he thought about marriage.

"I think it's a good idea. I've been toying with the concept myself," he said seriously.

"Really?" I asked, surprised. I had always thought Emmett would be the eternally happy bachelor.

"Bella's little speech on Halloween got me thinking. Rose deserves the kind of life Bella described. I'm thinking about burning my little black book and trading in my Corvette for a minivan."

"Good for you," I grinned. "Rose is a great lady."

"That she is," Emmett agreed, picking up his pace, and I did so as well to keep up.

"Speaking of Halloween, did you catch the look that passed between Alice and Bella at the mention of the creepy shadows?" I asked, wondering if it had just been me.

"Yeah, what was that about?" Emmett asked. "Alice can be kind of quirky, but that seemed a little too intense not to be something."

"Alice told me a while back that Bella gets these weird 'feelings' sometimes, like someone is watching her around the hospital, but you heard what she said to your mom. I'm worried it's not just a feeling, and someone actually is watching her, both at home and at the hospital," I frowned. "You know how many real monsters are out there and what they're capable of. We've both seen the results of their work."

"You're right. I'll talk to the head of security at the hospital and put them on alert. If there's someone to be worried about, we'll be watching for them. In the meantime, see if you can get Alice onboard with keeping a closer eye on Bella," he suggested, as we returned to the house.

"I planned on it," I agreed, and later that afternoon, I called Alice as promised.

"Hello, Edward, I've been expecting your call," she answered.

"I don't doubt that, Alice. Jasper said you have a sort of sixth sense about things. So, I'm guessing from the look Bella gave you Halloween night that she's still getting the vibe that she's being watched, maybe even more so than before? Emmett said he was going to speak with hospital security, but there's got to be more we can do," I said, frustrated.

"I'll do my best not to let her be there by herself, and if she is, I'll text you and let you know, so you can be on the lookout as well," Alice promised. "I don't like this, either, but I know how Bella is. She won't say anything to anyone about it, not wanting to worry us."

"Stubborn, beautiful girl. I can't risk losing her, or having her hurt in any way, Alice. She's my reason for existing now and my number one priority. If I have to, I'll hire extra security myself or put a bodyguard on her."

"Be prepared for the fight of your life, then, Dr. Masen. You're right; she's a stubborn one."

The holidays were coming up soon, making me miss my parents even more than usual. I wished I had them around to discuss this stalker business with right now. My father would have wanted to come stand guard over Bella himself, and my mother would have found every excuse to hang around the hospital and be another set of eyes, too. I said a quick prayer, asking the powers that be to let them help me from the other side. Between them and Bella's family, who were over there as well, maybe we could combine our efforts and keep the girl I wanted to add to my family sooner rather than later safe and around to be able to do just that.