Reaching for Love

Chapter 19 – Convincing Bella

EDWARD

Each day with Bella affirmed my love for her. After a long day at work, I would come home to find dinner cooking in the oven and the table set for two. The first few days were strange. Other than my parents, no one had cooked daily for me.

Nightly Bella and I would cuddle up on the couch watching a movie, talking, or reading together. Tonight we were outside enjoying a campfire in the pit.

Bella had her head on my shoulder as she looked up at the stars. "You know it was tragic the way Victor Hugo was able to capture the injustices found in Medieval France," she said.

Where had that thought come from? "Victor Hugo?"

She turned her head slightly to look at me. "The Hunchback of Notre Dame's author."

Oh! The book she was reading. "How so?" I asked.

"Well for starters, the courts are run by flippant people who are more interested in getting to supper on time than in administering actual justice."

"It's been a few years since I've read the book, but I recall getting mad at the judges for punishing falsely accused people."

"Though the percentage of falsely accused people is smaller than that of Medieval France, today's justice system still sends some to prison."

It took me a moment to catch up with her. When I had, I was amazed by her mind. Before I could even form a sentence, she continued.

"I would love to one day go to Paris and see Notre Dame Cathedral. To walk the streets Victor walked, though they are not the same a back in his day."

My gazed moved down to her profile, a smile splitting my face. There was something I could do to make her wish come true. A little research was needed.

A sighed left Bella and her gaze shifted to mine. "Only my passport is expired and at my dad's.

"You could call him," I suggested. The first time I had suggested her calling him it didn't win me any points.

Her eyes fell to her lap. "I wish I could. I knew his rules and made my bed. I have to live with the consequences."

Consequences? Zero contact with her father wasn't a consequence, it was her punishing herself. I knew better than to voice my thoughts on that.

The consequence of getting knocked up was marrying the guy or becoming a single mother. Jacob kicked her to the curb just like her father. hated thinking about her living on the streets and raising a child alone. Not to sound arrogant or anything, running into her was a blessing.

With my free hand, I left her chin so she was looking at me again. "What if I called him?"

She tried to turn away, but my hold on her chin was gentle and firm.

"No," she whispered into the cool night air.

Whether it was in answer to my offer or her disbelief, I wasn't sure.

"No," she said again, a little louder. "He would eat you alive. Jacob told my father it was the guy I dated before him who knocked me up. My dad hadn't met that guy."

I wanted to pinch the bridge of my nose, but I would have to release my hold on Bella's chin. What I was about to say was best said looking her in the eye so she would know I was serious. "Bella, I told you before I will take a paternity test to prove I'm not the father. I'll even hire an attorney who specializes in family law to see if there is a way to compel a DNA sample from Jacob."

Her eyes went wide for a moment before tearing up. I wiped them away when the spilled over.

"If I let you talk to him, what would you tell him?"

I released her chin as I thought about it. I had a strange feeling she didn't want her father to know she was married to me, or married at all. That wouldn't blow over. All her dad had to do was run her name and he would find out.

"Hmmm," I started, pursing my lips. From the little I was able to get her to tell me about her father, I knew the truth would go a long way with him. "That you are staying with me until you find a job."

Her shoulders moved up and down as she breathed. "He'll asked how we met."

"Mutual friend. Angela Weber introduced us before going out of town."

I smiled when her eyes went wide again.

"Yes," I answered her unspoken question. "I remember you talking about her and how you stayed with her the night you were kicked out."

Bella closed her eyes and once again settled herself against my shoulder. "Okay, you can talk to him. There are a few things I want from his house."

I rubbed her arm, drawing her closer to me.