Authors Note:All mistakes are my own.
Remember
Chapter 18
Bella's POV
James.
Calm down, deep breath. He lifts a finger to his lips and winks. I have to remind myself that I just can't jump out of bed a rush to him.
Ten minutes later Charlie's radio is going off. "Cheif, we need you out here."
He growls, "What is it?"
"Remember the old abandoned house off Chucker Road, it's up in flames."
"What?" he looks over at me apologetically, "Bells."
"It's fine, just go. If I get home before you do I'll call." I tell him.
He leans over and gives me kiss on the forehead, "Be safe, I'll see you soon."
The second my father is gone James slips into the room. "James, what are you doing here?" I ask.
He smirks, "What, no how are you doing, how's recovery?" I just look at him unsure of myself. "I just heard you were brought in and wanted to check up on you."
"How did you hear that, what are you even doing around here?" I ask.
He shrugs and plops down on a chair, "Well, we're not out of the clear yet, and Carlisle asked me to come. I also figured I owed you my life, you know, since you saved it and all."
We're quiet for a while, a million questions flying through my mind and yet I can't seem to ask any of them. "What are you doing, Bella?"
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"You've been back for almost seven weeks; you haven't done anything with your life. You stay home all day, even worse, you stay in your room most of the time. Why aren't you living?" he asks.
"Everywhere I go, I'm watched. I don't know who to trust." My voice shakes. I have to lie about where I ve been, people don t believe me. It s hard trying to be normal again after what happened. And I m so alone, I miss ..."
James stands, "I get it, Bella; but you need to live. Trust no one, and don t worry if people are watching. Give them a good show and hold your head high. Don't give up." he says, resting his hand on mine.
That uneasy feeling I use to get around James is gone, I have never been more relieved. "Summer school is in progress, I think I'm going to go."
"Good, when will you start?" he sits on the edge of the bed.
"I could go tomorrow," I tell him.
He doesn't get to respond as Stephenie, the nurse, comes back in holding a chart. Before I even get to panic James is speaking, "You were informed to call if this happened."
"I didn't call because you were already here." she hisses.
"Wait, what?" I look between them.
"Eyes and ears," she says. "Carlisle hired me. Now, James, I need to speak with Bella privately."
"No way." he says.
She glares, "Yes, what we have to talk about is none of your business."
"I'll be fine," I tell him.
He glares back at her and reaches into his waistband. "I was instructed to give this to you if we communicated." he lays the sleek, black, metal next to me. "Use it if you have to." he gives Stephenie a pointed look.
She doesn't even look fazed. "She won't."
"Carlisle will hear about this," James says, walking towards the door.
"Go ahead, tell him." she crosses her arms.
"Do you two know each other?" I ask.
James laughs as he closes the door. Stephenie shrugs, "We met six weeks ago, I was stupid and slept with him."
"Oh." I try not to smirk, the feeling is foreign, but it's definitely there. "Sorry."
She laughs, "Me too, so I just got your blood work in." she says holding up the clipboard. "I could get in huge trouble for this, but I kept it off your record."
"Kept what off, I don't want you getting in trouble for me."
"It's part of the eyes and ears deal, keep what I think needs to be kept secret and report back to Carlisle." she says fidgeting.
"Okay, so what's up?" I ask putting my SIG into my bag.
"Your blood work shows that you're pregnant," she says. "When did you..."
" ... Um, right before I was found," I answer in a daze. "S-seven weeks ago, almost."
"When was your last period?"
"Two weeks before that, I think. I was on the pill before everything happened but being gone, I forgot all about it. I mean I knew I didn't have it, I just didn't plan on ... Are you sure I'm ..." I can't even say it.
She nods, "Yeah, I'm sure. Should I keep this to myself?"
"Please," I say. "I don't know what to do, what do I do?"
"Are you keeping it?"
I put my hand on my flat stomach, "I don't think I could get rid of him."
She smiles, "I brought these; they're doctors from here in Forks and from Port Angeles, just in case you don't want anyone knowing."
"Thank you," I tell her, taking the cards for different doctors.
"I will be back to check on you soon." she says opening the door.
James is there on the other side. "I called Carlisle," he says proudly.
"Good, I assume he wants me to call as soon as possible?" she says.
He glares, "Yes, bye now!"
She huffs and walks away.
"Good riddance, what did she tell you?" he asks, sitting in the chair.
I shake my head, "I can't say right now."
"Will you tell me eventually?" he asks.
"Of course."
"Good," he says, and I can't help but roll my eyes.
I feel as if I've taken one step forward in agreeing to attend summer school, but two steps back with the information I've just been given.
I stare at my reflection; my flat stomach is all I can look at.
What the hell did I do?
There's a baby in there. When am I supposed to tell people? Am I supposed to tell him? Is he even alive, I haven't heard anyone say his name?
No, no, I can't think about this, I'll have a panic attack, and it's my first day of summer school. I grab my bag and head downstairs. "Hey, Dad."
He startles, "Bells, hey, are you going somewhere this morning?"
I nod, "I enrolled in the summer school program. Even though I'm late, they're allowing me to join."
"That's great! Do you need a ride?" he asks way too enthusiastically.
"I thought I might just take the truck if you don't mind?" I ask.
"No, not at all, here." he hands over all his keys. I laugh and take the truck key off the ring.
"I think you need the rest of these."
"Oh, yeah, thanks." he says blushing.
"I'm just going to head out." I motion to the door.
"You don't want some breakfast? I made eggs and bacon."
He looks so hopeful, I just can't turn him down, plus, I'm not just eating for me now. Honestly, I haven't been eating very well at all since I've been back. I've even lost a few pounds. "Sure, why not, I've got time."
"Great," he says pulling out a plate for me. "Do you want both?" he shows me the food, and I can't help but wrinkle my nose at the eggs; they smell awful.
"I think I'll just have bacon," I tell him.
He lets me serve myself and then takes what's left on the plate.
"What's wrong?" he asks as he shovels in some eggs.
I take a small bite of food, "Your eggs don't smell all that appealing."
He looks down at his fork full of eggs, "What do you mean, they smell fine to me?" he says sniffing at them. "How is the bacon?"
"Good," I mumble eating another piece.
"Are you nervous about going back to school?" he asks.
I shrug. "I think I'll be okay." It helps now that I've got my gun on me. I'm pretty sure it's not my gun, since I gave Riley 'mine, but it's exactly like it.
"I think you will be too. If you have any problems though, leave and come straight home, call me when you get here."
"Okay, um, I think I'm going to go now." I stand and place my plate in the sink. "I'll get it later."
"Don't worry about it," he says.
I lean over and give him a soft peck on the cheek, "Thanks, Dad, for everything."
He blushes but only nods his head. I turn and head for the front door, ready to get this all over with.
Everyone's staring, even after being here for the past week, people still stare. It's as though they're waiting for something to happen.
So, if I've done my math correctly, I've been back home for eight and a half weeks, which should mean that's about how far along I am. I haven't told James, though I've talked with him a few times, and I haven't seen a doctor yet. I have made an appointment, and I'm hoping I'll be able to get to it tomorrow.
I know the blood work said I'm pregnant, but I'm only just starting to believe it. Everything smells so strong, and some of it is nasty. This morning Charlie made more eggs, and I almost puked because of it. Thankfully, he didn't notice. Plus, my skinny jeans won't button, and if you pay close enough attention, you can see a bump.
"Hey, Bella?" Eric Yorkie slides into a seat in front of me.
"Eric," I greet him.
"How have you been?" he asks, I shrug. "I guess that s a stupid question. Um, I wanted to ask you something; I was wondering if you wanted to go out Saturday." He touches my hand; I pull it back and under the desk.
I don't even mean to, but my left hand comes to rest on my stomach under the desk. "I- I'm not...um, I can't," I tell him. "I'm barely able to come here, I'm not ready..."
He nods, "Well, maybe another time."
I've never been more thankful when the bell rings, and we're allowed to go home. When I arrive, Charlie is gone, but James is there waiting. I've really gotten used to James' presence.
The first time I found him sitting in my kitchen, he nearly gave me a heart attack. Now I expect it. "I should break his hand for touching you," he says with a smile.
"Who, Eric, he's harmless." I say making a PB & J sandwich, "Want one?"
"Sure, but harmless, I think not. Edward would want me to break his fingers."
I pause hearing his name. "Um, how is he?"
When James doesn't answer, I turn to look at him. "I was wondering when you were going to ask." he sighs, "Sugar-coated or straight out?"
I glare at him. "Do you really have to ask?"
"He's not doing so hot. He rarely sleeps. He's doing more for the family business than he ever did before, and he constantly asks about you."
"So, he's alive."
"Barely. Wait, did you think he was dead?"
"No one ever says his name." I shrug.
"Well, we didn't want you breaking down again." he says, eying me in a serious way.
"He asks about me?"
"Of course. But he's been ordered not to call or text. When he found out I was here, Emmett had to restrain him for a whole night." I can't help but smile at that. Edward cares. Of course, he does, did we really doubt that?
"Hey, that's the first time I've seen that smile in eight weeks. It's nice to see it."
"Can I ask something?" he nods, waiting for my question. "Will I ever see Edward again?"
He scratches the back of his head, "Do you want to see Edward again?"
"Of course." I automatically place my hand on my stomach. "Hmm," he eyes me up and down.
Oh shit, I don't drop my hand in fear he'd look too closely.
"What?" I ask a tad defensive.
He smiles, "Oh, nothing. It s just that you look a tad healthier in the weight department."
I glare, "Are you calling me fat?"
His smile drops, "No, that's not it at all!"
"Then what are you saying?" I put my hands on my hips.
"You can see Edward again when it's a bit safer." he changes the subject back to the original one.
"Are you avoiding my question?"
He squints, "Well, I was thinking ... are you pregnant?"
My jaw drops. "What, no!"
He smiles again, "Well if you were, I don't think I would say anything."
"Really, why?"
He shrugs, "What happens between mommy and daddy should stay between mommy and daddy until otherwise." he winks.
"You honestly feel that way?" I ask nervously. He nods. "Are you busy tomorrow?"
AN: Honestly I don't know how many more chapters there are left, this story is writing itself out, though I still see the ending the same when this story first played out in my mind. So...what do you think? James is a good guy? Bella is pregnant, how will the family handle it? How will Charlie handle it?