The Fence
Three loud knocks on my front door wake me brutally from the sleep I feel I just slipped into. My phone reads just after eight in the morning. Who would be knocking so early? Just after covering my head with a pillow, two more loud knocks sound.
Shit.
Throwing the covers off, I shuffle my feet into the ratty slippers next to my bed, toss on my stained robe, and walk sleepily to the front door.
"Good morning, Miss," a man, way too handsome for this town, greets with a smile. He's got soft gray eyes, a scruffy beard, and warm coffee in his hand. "I'm Edward from Cullen Laborers. We're here to start your fence."
Right. The fence.
"Oh, yeah, I'm sorry," I apologize, looking away for a second. It should be illegal to be this handsome at this hour of the morning. Pulling the robe tighter over my bra-less chest, I say, "it slipped my mind. If you give me a few minutes, I'll meet you out back."
He nods politely. "Take all the time you need, Miss Swan. I'll have my guys start setting things out back, if that's okay?"
His kindness hurts me. I'm so used to the yelling, arguing, and gas-lighting. Since moving back here after my dad died after my divorce, I've just kept to myself. I guess that explains why I haven't seen this handsome man's face around town.
"That's fine. Thank you."
Rushing to the laundry room, I toss on a pair of leggings and a T-shirt before brushing my teeth.
Miss Swan.
I hadn't heard that since I was twenty-three before I got married. It doesn't hurt. In fact, I like it.
Today's one of the sunniest days this month, and I have to hold my hand over my eyes to see which of these hunks is … what was his name?
"Boss Man's over there," a burly guy carrying a load of lumber says before placing it down in the yard.
I glance to where he was referring and make my way over.
Edward smiles, and good lord, if it doesn't take my breath away. Instinctively, I look for a ring. Nothing. I don't know why I care, but I do.
He licks his lips before guiding me over to a shady spot and discussing the plans. I had spoken with his dad, the owner of the company, and now his men are mapping everything out. Edward jokingly asks if I'm trying to keep anyone out.
"Yeah, my ex-in-laws," I say with a half-laugh.
He grimaces. "Yeah, I've been there. In-laws aren't even fun when they're family, and after the divorce, it's ten thousand times worse. Kids?" he asks.
I shake my head. "No."
"Lucky," he jokes. "It's a million times worse if there's a kid involved."
I nod. "I take you have kids then?"
He nods. "One. She's three."
And then he excuses himself to get to work, yelling at a man named 'Em' to stop tracking mud all over the patio.
~!~
For days, the men arrive at nine and leave at four. I find myself hanging around any window I can. On the warm days, I open the windows for fresh air, but I know it's secretly to catch the sound of his voice.
Edward.
He's kind, funny, and honest.
On the third day, he knocks on my door and says, "we've got a problem, Miss. Swan."
"Please, call me Bella."
"Well, Bella, your neighbors are saying we're past the property line."
Irrational anger runs through me. "That can't be! This was my dad's house, and he was meticulous about the boundaries. He had them pinned decades ago."
"Do you have the paperwork? We can't start back up until we know if the posts we just spent three hours digging are where they should be." He wipes his forehead with his dirty forearm. Sweat soaks through his shirt and mud cakes onto his work boots, but he smiles despite it.
"I'm so sorry," I tell him apologetically. "I can look through his old documents, but it might take a while. I don't even know what they look like. I guess I can call you when I find them?"
"Sure," he says with a nod and writes down his number.
I spend the rest of the afternoon tearing apart the attic and my dad's old office, looking for anything with information. Just before dinner, there's a knock at my door.
When I open my door, it's Edward and a dark-haired little girl resting against his chest.
"Hey, Bella, I hope you don't mind that I dropped by," he says, running his free hand through his clean hair, his daughter asleep on his chest with her arms wrapped around his neck. I shake my head and allow him to continue. "If your dad got his property line pinned more than fifteen years ago, it would be public record and available at the Court House."
"Really? I didn't know that! I'll head down there tomorrow and—"
"Actually, I got them already," he interrupts, pulling papers with his free hand from his back pocket.
"Edward, you didn't have to do that."
"I know." Edward shrugs and smiles, hiking the faceless little girl up higher on his chest. There's a kindness in him that I appreciate and crave. It's been so long, too long since I've felt the gentleness of a man's touch.
For the first time, there's a desire for it. For the touch. For the warmth of a man's body against my own.
I invite Edward and his daughter inside, and we sit at the small island in the kitchen while he explains the paperwork to me. He points with his long, slender fingers, clarifying the boundary lines and noting that his workers were, in fact, within them.
"If they give you any more trouble, just let me know, and I'll—" I start, but he cuts me off.
"I'll handle it," he says simply, eyes on mine intensely.
Just then, a tiny mewl sounds from his shoulder, and she pulls back. "Daddy?" her little voice coos.
"Hey, Baby doll."
Her eyes glance around at her surroundings until they find mine. "You're not Mommy."
I start to panic, and before I can say anything, Edward cuts in. "This is Daddy's friend, Bella."
She simply stares at me before tossing her arms back around her dad's neck and burrowing in.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Bella."
I see them out and think about him the rest of the evening.
~!~
The following day, Edward and his crew arrive on time. I'm already outside on my side porch, reading a book.
"Good morning," Edward says politely, and I greet them back.
They work quickly, pounding wood into the dirt, screwing pieces together, and laughing at something I can't quite hear.
During lunch, I invite the guys to sit under the shade of the porch with me. Edward and I chat about the fence, when they'll be done, and the final payment. The big burly guy, Em, rolls his eyes so often that I think he might be having a seizure.
"Is that a good book?" Edward asks when the crew finishes lunch.
"It is. Do you like to read?"
"In my free time," he says with a nod. "Would you like to… uhm … talk about it … over dinner?"
There's a slight panic that arises, but I want to, so I agree. Edward and I both stare at each other, smiling, unmoving. And then Em calls him over, ruining the moment.
"Does tonight work? Seven?"
"That's perfect."
~!~
It takes me longer than I want to admit to pick out an outfit. I try on everything in my closet at least twice before settling on a simple black dress and a sweater, flats, and wavy hair. Jake used to like my hair up, my skin covered, and my lips quiet. To decrease the panic, I remind myself that Edward is not Jake.
I pace around the house, ten till seven, and wring my fingers repeatedly. It's been so long since I've felt this feeling—butterflies, excitement, anticipation. I haven't looked forward to man's company in so many years that the feeling is foreign.
Edward brings me flowers.
My heart jumps.
"No one's ever brought me flowers before," I tell him honestly, glancing at the soft purples in the bouquet.
He just looks at me like I've grown two heads.
I place the flowers in water before we walk down the steps.
"Where to?" I ask.
"My house."
"Edward … I thought…"
"Relax," he says with a laugh. "It's just dinner. Totally PG, I promise."
Nodding, I walk next to him. "Do you live around here?"
"Three blocks, to be exact."
"I wonder why I've never seen you before. I mean, it's not like Forks is very big."
Edward shrugs. "Maybe you just haven't been looking."
~!~
Dinner is phenomenal. Steaks cooked perfectly, a baked potato, and vegetables.
"I wish you had told me you were cooking," I tell him. "I would have made my famous chocolate chip cookies."
He looks wounded. "Those are my favorite," he says seriously. "Rosie likes them, too."
"Rosie is your daughter?" I ask.
He nods. "It's her mother's week right now."
"That must be tough."
"It is. Our divorce was amicable, though. If I want to see Rosie on my off day, I just have to call. I respect boundaries, unlike your in-laws," he jokes.
"Yeah, they're very difficult."
"Living next door to them? That's brave. Lauren and I separated on good terms, but I still wouldn't want to live next to her parents."
"What happened between you two since it was amicable … if you don't mind my asking?"
Edward shakes his head and sips his wine. "Married young. High school sweethearts, that kind of thing. We grew up and grew apart. What about you?" he asks.
I guess it's only fair. I swirl the liquid in my wine glass, take a sip, and say, "basically the same. We dated since we were sixteen, married by twenty-three, and divorced a few years later. It was not… amicable. He was cheating. I found out. He blamed me. The end."
"He blamed you?" Edward asks in disbelief.
I nod. "For all six girls I found out about."
"Fuck," Edward whispers before apologizing. "Sorry, I get my sailor's mouth from the crew."
"Sure," I tease.
I help Edward clear the table, place the dishes in the dishwasher, and refill our wine glasses.
"This might be too forward for our first date, but you're absolutely beautiful," he says as we make our way outside to his back deck.
"Thank you," I say bashfully, looking away.
"I mean it," he tells me. "Way too fucking pretty for this town."
"That's very kind of you." My throat tightens, tears brim my eyes, and I feel utterly stupid. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm getting emotional," I explain, brushing the wetness from my cheeks.
"It's okay," Edward says. "Why don't I walk you home?"
I nod, thankful he understands.
~!~
The next two days, I keep myself inside. I'm far too embarrassed to show my face.
On the last day, Edward knocks on my door.
"We're finished," he says softly.
I follow him outside. The tall, wooden fence separates my house from theirs, and I can't help but smile.
"Thank you," I tell him softly. "This is perfect."
He nods and watches me. "Let me take you out again, Bella?"
I turn to him. He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Okay."
"I won't bring him up, or overly flatter you, or talk about my ex, or—"
"Edward," I say, interrupting.
"Yeah?"
"Shut up and kiss me."
