A/N: All I'm going to say is HANG IN THERE! Go review the pairing and remember (or know if you haven't read any of my other stories) that I love HEAs. I've been warning you that it get worse before it gets better. Jake can't just dump Maggie! Why do you think he's in such turmoil. I love that my story is conjuring such strong emotions (some in PMs) from some of you even though I get very defensive for my characters that I have grown to love. Hang in there. All will be revealed soon, but we need one more from Edward after this before we begin to see it.
And, I've begun two additional chapters I hadn't planned on so instead of being 25 chapters, it will be 27 or 28.
Rosalie looked radiant as she came down the aisle. She wore a fitted Chinese style dress with a high collar. It was accented with burgundy flowers and it hugged every curved and ended at her knee. Her bouquet was composed of eighteen burgundy roses, one for each day she and Emmett had been together.
The Ballroom of Jake's casino was decorated in a simple elegant style. The Japanese lanterns illuminated the partitioned room with a soft glow while Pachelbel's Canon in D filled the air.
Emmett didn't look nervous at all. He looked like a man who knew exactly what he wanted she was walking right towards him. Yesterday, when we were shopping for my dress, which matched hers only in Burgundy with white accents, she told us how Emmett didn't care if they got married naked as long as it happened. The drama that surrounded my wedding, just over my veil, is something I never wanted to live through again. And it was all Edward.
I wiped a tear from my eye as I thought about how lucky Rosalie was to have someone who loved her just the way she was. The more I thought about how much I had altered not only the core of my personality, but my physical appearance as well, I shuddered at how slowly and completely it was done.
And now, as I was just restoring the Bella I was, I was going to have to raise a baby on my own.
I watched Rosalie give herself to Emmett, her parents looking on happily, though skeptically, while my mind ran over the conversation I had with Maggie the night before. Rosalie was arguing with Emmett on the phone when Maggie approached the subject at dinner.
"Bella, how are you really feeling about your pregnancy?" Maggie hedged. I thought it was odd, but the question came out of left field, her face was so earnest and kind. It was so unexpected I blurted out the answer.
"Scared."
"That is how I felt. Well, still feel sometimes," she confided.
"You have a child?" I asked, a little shocked. I hadn't expected that.
"Yes, he's twelve now. And I was scared shitless. But I had people around me, my mom mostly, who were willing to help and he's turning out just fine."
"My mom died years ago. Jake's sister is pregnant, she said we can go through this together," I said.
"I'm so sorry, Bella. I can't imagine doing this with the obstacles you're facing. But I'm sure that Jake will help as well. My son already loves Jake!" she said with a smile.
"So, Jake knows?" I asked. I could see kids loving Jake. I knew he'd be a great uncle. I ignored the pain my heart felt when she said her kid loved Jake.
"I told him on our date, I was so scared. It turns out he knew since he took over the resort. I'd worked so hard to keep it hidden, and he knew the whole time. The one thing I learned from this whole ordeal is that you don't need to hide who you are from the people who matter," she said.
"Sounds like you and I have been learning the same lesson," I told her. Damn it, it was hard to find something not to like about her. "What's your son's name?"
"Frankie. He's a complete nerd and is smarter than I am," she said and smiled proudly. "I was only sixteen when I had him, but he changed my life for the better. He's made me a better person."
"Does he see his father?" I asked, and then realized that may be too personal of a question.
"No," she answered, but didn't continue. She seemed to be lost in thought.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry," I added quickly.
"Oh, no, you're not prying. I can understand your concern. I never told his father. He was a tourist and I was underage. I did a lot of really stupid things when I was younger," she said.
"Does Frankie ask about him?" I asked, seeing that she was willing to discuss it.
"He did when he was about ten. And I gave him the same answer I just gave you. He grew worried that he was a burden, because that's what Frankie does, and I told him I wouldn't have my life any other way. When I had to worry about the life of another human, I couldn't allow myself to make selfish decisions any more. I told him that he saved my life—which he totally did. He seemed content with that answer," she explained.
"I'd like to meet him," I said. "He sounds wonderful."
"I'm sure that can be arranged," she smiled. "He's very outgoing and likes talking to people."
Our conversation was both comforting and disturbing all at the same time. I tried as hard as I could to find something about Maggie I didn't like, but it was useless. She was just as wonderful as Jake described her when I told him he needed to try to love someone other than me. It took everything I had to act happy to see her yesterday, but I think I pulled it off. Had I known all those weeks ago what I knew now, I would have told him to wait for me. But hindsight is always 20/20.
The wedding ceremony wasn't long. My contemplations took me through the rest of if it and before I knew it, I was walking back down the short aisle with Jake, who was Emmett's best man, under the beautifully decorated arch, into the next room, and towards the large round table set up for the reception.
This was a wedding much to my taste, and so different from my own. It was all in one place, including the reception, with tasteful decorations that were elegant and understated. It was just close friends and family, twelve in all. Emmett's parents were both deceased, but Rosalie's family was there including the five of us.
Now that I think about my own in comparison, it was all about Edward showing everyone in Forks what he had to offer me. It was months of complaining that he couldn't find adequate amenities in Forks, but he insisted that we have it there. Emmett and Rose's was a celebration of love. It was brand new, but anyone could see it was there.
"Bella?" Maggie whispered, pulling me from my thoughts.
"Yes?"
"Mrs. Hale asked you a question," she said. Her voice was kind and her redirection discrete.
"Oh! I'm sorry, say again?" I blushed a little. We were all seated around a huge round table eating chicken Kiev.
"Rose tells me she knows you from college?" she asked again.
"Yes, ma'am. I took her self-defense class. We lost touch after I stopped going. It was such a wonderful surprise to see her here when I came to visit Jake," I gestured at him. I took a sip of my water. There was a little more chit-chat and when the focus of the conversation moved away from me I caught Maggie looking at me from the corner of my eye.
"Are you okay?" she asked, sincerely concerned.
"I will be," I said. "I just have so many decisions to make. This celebration is a nice distraction, but I can't keep my mind on it. My mind keeps wandering." I picked at my food a little more. I'd held down breakfast. That was good because Sue'd told Embry to get me to a clinic if I couldn't hold anything down.
"Well, let me know if there is anything I can do. I know you have some family that can help, but I know where you've been. Even if all you need to do is talk, I want to help if you need it," she said.
"Thank you so much," I said. I had so many mixed feelings about Maggie. I really liked her. I really liked that Jake liked her. But why did he have to find her the day Edward decided to end our marriage? There'd been the tiniest little seed in my mind—the smallest wisp of a thought—that Jake would want to pick up where we left off. But now I could see that it was not meant to be.
I was beginning to recognize the nausea much sooner than a few days ago. It started with cold sweats and a trickle ran down between my shoulder blades. It made it easier to get to a bathroom in time.
"Bathroom?" I asked, covering my mouth with my hand and placing my napkin on my plate with the other.
"Out the main door, two doors down on the left? You okay?" Maggie asked.
"Whoever named this morning sickness had a very mild case," I said. "Excuse me everyone," I said to the table. I caught Jake's worried look from the other side of Maggie who leaned over and explained it to him.
I was wishing I'd had Rachel's chocolate ice cream after my third wretch into the toilet. Chicken Kiev was not nice the second time. I stood up in the stall and opened the door and a man was standing in the washroom.
"Um, I think you have the wrong bathroom," I said.
"No, I was looking for Maggie, but you'll do, Bella," he said, an evil glint in his eye. "You shouldn't have chosen this particular time to purge, sweetie." He lunged towards me and before I had time to react he'd pulled me in, twisted me around, and placed a rag over my mouth. I struggled for a few seconds against the man. The sweet smell was overpowering and his strong arms had me locked against his body. It took a long time, and his hand clamped hard against my mouth made it extremely difficult to breathe. I was scared, but more for my little blip than for me.
When I woke up, I was on the floor of a small closet. The man sat in a chair against the door and he smiled down at me. His blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail and his front locks had fallen free. He tucked them behind his ear.
"Who are you?" I asked. "What are you doing?
"I know who you are, so it don't matter who I am," he said.
"How do you know who I am?" I asked. "This is the first time I've been here."
"Because I've researched your boyfriend," he said.
"I'm going to stop you right there," hoping this was a terrible mistake. "I'm married, I don't have a boyfriend," I said, confused. I knew he wasn't going to let me go just because he made a mistake. He'd chloroformed me. Fortunately, I could tell we were still in the casino because I could hear the jingle of the machines through the door. That meant this guy was an idiot. Jake would find me when I didn't return in a few minutes. That was just Jake.
"Yeah, yeah, Bella. I know you're married to Edward Cullen, but only because Jakey broke your wittle heart," he said in a baby voice. Now I was just irritated. Who did this guy think he was?
"I didn't marry Edward because Jake broke my heart. I married Edward because I love him. Who the fuck are you? How did you even know I'd be here?" I asked. I knew I needed to stall him and give someone time to notice I was gone and then to find me.
"I didn't know you were here. That's just a happy co-incidence. I've done a lot of research the last few weeks. Been all over Houston talking to the other women whose hearts he broke. You were the first in a long line of women, Isabella. I gotta say, you did better for yourself," he taunted. Jake had told me he was a ladies man. This was not news, so I didn't react.
"What's your point? I already know Jake scratches his itches," I said. "And I really don't care." I made sure I used the present tense. I knew Jake had changed in the past few months, but this asshole didn't know that.
"Yeah, he's playing this high and mighty asshole, like he hasn't stuck his dick in half the women in all the cities he lived in. And now he's onto Maggie. Well, I had that bitch first. And he knows it," he said under his breath.
"What are you talking about?" I said, getting really frustrated. He pulled out his phone and flicked on the screen a few times and then turned it so I could see it. It was a picture of Jake and Maggie kissing. They were in the woods somewhere and you could tell that it was taken from behind a tree.
"So you're spying on him? Sounds like you need to get a life if you have to follow Jake around on his dates," I remarked. I won't deny that seeing that picture hurt a little bit.
"That was the day before she was added to the lawsuit against me. They think they got a slam dunk, but I got bitches willing to testify against him. Try to get me on sexual harassment. You can't rape the willing," he ranted. This guy sounded like one evil motherfucker. I had to figure out a way to get out of this for both me and little blip.
"You're the reason they stopped dating?" I asked. He looked at me. "You're James. That's all they'd say and then they all shut up."
"They're not dating. Jake doesn't date, he fucks. I have him on tape saying just that," he said, but his smirk was gone.
"Sounds like you have 'dated' information," and then I laughed at my own joke. "What is your plan? Why did you take me?" He looked at me like I was stupid.
"You're the reason he is like he is, sweetheart. It's the easiest way to get back at him. He's taken everything from me. So I'll take his everything." Sweetheart? I thought.
"What are you talking about? Until two weeks ago, I hadn't seen or talked to Jake in ten years. I am not his everything. I came here with Quil and Embry. I didn't even know Jake would be here," I lied. A look of doubt crossed his face so I continued on. "It was a free flight and vacation. And if you've done that much research you'll know that it won't make my husband happy at all. He's a bit possessive."
"Shut up!" he demanded.
"What is your plan? If you've got evidence against Jake, why would you risk a kidnapping?" I could see him getting more agitated. "Look," I tried, "just let me go and I won't say anything. If you've got dirt on Jake, just use it. Don't make your problems worse."
"Why don't you shut up and let me think?" he said. I could see he was getting agitated. That was both good and bad. I didn't want to get hurt, but I needed to get him into a position where I could use what Rosalie taught me all those years ago. I stood up, knowing this was my best option. If I could get him on the ground I could maybe kick him into unconsciousness.
"Sit back down," he demanded.
"No," I said. "I'm not going to be a passive part of your idiotic plan. If you're going to do something to me, then do it and get it over with. But Jake will find you if my husband doesn't find you first," I bluffed.
"Your husband isn't here," he spat.
"No shit, Sherlock, but when he finds out you've done something to me, he won't be happy," I continued. I had no idea what I was saying. I just wanted him to get up.
"I said shut up!" his voice was low and he finally stood up.
"Make me," I said, and geared up for a fight. He took one step towards me, his face a mask of rage. I planted my left foot and kicked my right foot with all the power and strength I could muster.
My foot hit its target and James shrieked in pain. It must have been delayed because the next thing I saw was the back of his hand coming towards my face. It made contact and stars erupted before my eyes. I fell backwards, hitting my head on the corner of the shelves. The last thing I saw was Jake's furious face bursting through the door before it all went black.
Thoughts?
