Reaching for Love
Chapter 7: Cheshire Prince
BELLA
It was overwhelming being with Edward, and I was not sure why. He was sweet, and his generosity was almost too much for me to handle as was his damn smile. I melted every single time he flashed it. It lit up his entire face and had the corners of my mouth twitching.
His smile reminded me of the Cheshire Cat from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Of course, Edward's smile was not mischievous. His was full of emotion, easy and hard to read at the same time.
It was his slight, off-center smile that had me tentatively accepting his help outside Palisade. Warmth and understanding radiated from it. And at the same time, it confused me with why he would be empathetic to a stranger. Still, I saw past the empathy, past his clothes, and past where we were to the compassionate heart of the man sitting next to me. He reminded me of men in all the books I had read as a child, as a teen. The ones where the prince comes charging in on the white horse saving the princess , and riding off into the sunset. I knew fairy tales didn't come true, at least not for me. Yet, I found myself with a guy sitting next to me, offering to help me. How could I not accept, thinking he would take me somewhere I would be able to get assistance. Looking around the bedroom of the plane, I never imagined I would be figuratively riding off into the sunset.
His tender smile as he held me had me agreeing to marry him, even though he was a stranger. It had me accepting his phone and giving him a list of my sizes and preferences for his personal shopper. The man wanted to buy me clothes for heaven's sake. No one but my father and grandmother had ever brought clothes for me, and they were secondhand.
I was on the verge of tears… happy tears. I didn't want Edward to think he had done something wrong. His actions had me wanting to forget Jacob was my baby's father. I wanted Edward to be the father. Why couldn't I have met Edward before I met Jacob.
My tears were easy to hold at bay when I thank him for stopping. They had almost spilt over again when he handed me a copy for Wuthering Heights. He had listened to me. It hadn't donned on me to ask why he had the book if he didn't care for it.
Then the outfits he showed me had me tearing up again. His personal shopper — what was her name, oh, it didn't matter — had selected outfits were beautiful and so me, simple with a slight air of elegance. They were perfect. Styles and cuts I would have selected for myself.
The book wasn't the welcomed distraction I thought it would be. Everything from the moment we met kept circling in my mind. It was pointless trying to analyze Edward's actions. He was an enigma. Years of studying him wouldn't help in understanding him. It was too much, way too much. Yet, I found I myself drawn to him. Found I couldn't argue with his logical reasoning.
Using the excuse of needing to use the bathroom, I slipped through both curtains. When I was in the small bedroom, the first tear slipped down my cheek. I was happy yet sad. What would I ever be able to give him? There was nothing I could give Edward, other than a baby that wasn't his.
"Bella, Edward," Mike's voice called from a speaker. "We are making our final approach to McCarran International. Please take your seats and buckle up."
Then there was Jacob. Yes, he broke up with me, like all the guys I've dated. He gave me no explanation. I didn't want one. One day I would find someone who would treat me with respect. Who would listen to me. Who would… rescue me.
More tears slipped free as a new and frightening fear came to my mind. I was afraid Jacob would use our child against me one day. Having someone to protect the both of us was important. He never given me a reason to suggest he would harm a child, but using our child to get something from me, I wasn't sure he wouldn't try. I know he didn't want kids… I just didn't get why he denied impregnating me.
My hands moved to my stomach. Edward wanted to be our protector. He was already my rescuer, my knight in shining armor. He has already shown he listens to me.
I could feel the change in pressure as we descended a bit and then level out again. It was almost enough to throw me off balance. I rushed to the bathroom and washed my hands and face. Edward was walking toward me when I came through the second curtain. Relief washed over his face which momentarily confused me, then he smiled.
Damn his smile.
"I thought you locked yourself in. That door is tricky to open once locked," he said once we were seated. "I really need to get a repair guy in to fix it." He pressed a button the light came on before he spoke. "We are both seated."
"Thanks, Edward. You need to get that lock fixed," Mike said.
Edward laughed. It was rich and full. "I know." He hit the button again and the light went off.
"I didn't lock it," I replied with a blush. "When you gotta go, you gotta go."
Edward laughed again. "I guess," he said, wiping his eyes. "Still, I need to get the door fixed."
Reaching across the table with my left hand, I took hold of Edward's right hand. It was the most natural thing. And once again, I could tell he lived a privileged life and had probably had not done a day of hard labor in his life. For some reason, I liked that.
"I know you told me earlier, but what exactly do you do for a living?" I asked as my ears started popping. Swallowing hard, I waited for his answer.
Edward shifted in his seat but did not let go of my hand. "I come from money, old money, Bella. I am not sure exactly how my family came into the money, but I have read it was from oil."
My jaw dropped. It was not the answer I was expecting. But… wow! I wouldn't have guessed he was from a wealthy family. Most wealthy people I dealt with were snobbish. Here Edward was telling me... I shook my head. He was treating me as an equal, with respect.
"I didn't know about my inheritance until after I graduated college with my undergraduate," he said.
What now? There was no way I was going to interrupt.
"My parents died when I was four, and I had no other family, so I was put into foster care. The first couple I was placed with adopted me." He smiled. "Carlisle and Esme Cullen taught me to treat everyone with respect." His thumb moved over my knuckles in a gentle caress that made me shiver.
The corners of my mouth lifted. "I had wondered why you are different from other rich people, however you have not answer my question."
"Oh, I guess I didn't. Like I said in the restaurant, I'm an entertainment lawyer. I like helping those who are trying to find their place in the world."
"Interesting," I commented. "Any clients you can tell me about?"
He chuckled, still rubbing my knuckles. "You will get the opportunity to meet a few in a couple of them in a few weeks at a movie premiering in Seattle. A couple of my clients were in the movie and invited me and a guest to it."
I smiled. He was already rearranging his life to include me. Not a one of the guys I dated included me in their life one-hundred percent. Tears were threating again.
"Will you please tell me what you wanted to study had you gone to college?" he asked.
His green eyes bore into mine, a curious gleam sparkling in their deeps. Only Seth, my first boyfriend asked. My future educational pursuits were not something I wanted to discuss. "I only wanted to further my education."
He smiled as if that much was obvious.
"What's the plan once we land?" I asked changing the subject.
With a gentle squeeze of my hand, he said, "We'll go straight to hotel to freshening up a little and then head over to clerk's office to get the marriage license. Do you have your id on you?"
The smile fell from my face as I withdrew my hand at the thought on my upcoming nuptials. I should be excited, not dreading getting married.
"I do," I answered. "Are we tying the knot tonight?"
Edward pursued his lips and with his left hand rubbed his chin. "No, unless that is what you want. I would like tomorrow reserved for preparations. There is a lot that you and I need to get. You need a dress and all the accessories. We need to go ring shopping. Alice is getting a list of places for us to consider that is more than a roadside attraction. Sound good to you?"
I nodded relieved someone was helping us. In my dreams, I had pictured my wedding and going to Vegas was not even close to what I saw. I had always envisioned myself in a flowing white dress without embellishments. Simple. Classic. I saw my hair up in a bun with curled tendrils brushing my face and make-up done just enough to bring out my natural beauty. I was sure all that could be accomplished if I had more time and the money. I never saw myself getting married in a church. Sometimes I was outdoors. Other times I was in a room elaborately decorated. There was always one constant, Dad was escorting me down the aisle to my future.
"Oh God. My dad is going to be mad."
"I can send Mike back in the morning to get your dad," Edward commented.
"No, I don't think he'll come. He might still be pissed at me," I said honestly. "What about your parents?"
He grimaced.
I wondered what that was all about.
"I have tried getting a hold of them and haven't had much luck. I'll keep trying."
"How are you going to explain?"
Edward looked away and out the window. "Still trying to figure that out." He sighed.
I bite my lip, coming to a decision. "Maybe the best thing is for me to talk to them and tell them your reasoning. I mean, I am the one you're helping out." I hoped I wasn't overstepping in our strange relationship.
EPOV
I turned back to Bella, my eyes connecting with hers at once. Her suggestion surprised me. The last few girls I dated never met my parents, and my parents didn't know about them. Bella would have to meet them at some point. They would be her in-laws. Her speaking to them over the phone… I shook my head. "You would speak to them before you even meet them?"
She nodded with a smile I was starting to love. "If talking to them would smooth the way for you, then I'm game. And it would make me feel better knowing I can help you in some way."
Resisting the urge stand and gather her in my arm to kiss her, to really kiss her, I thought, where in the world has Bella been all my life? "I don't think that will be necessary. I will let you talk to Esme, no matter what. She will love you." I sighed again. "They won't like it but will understand. It's your story to tell, not mine. No one will hear the story from me."
