BPOV

"Miss Swan, this is Emmett McCarty. I represent the interest of your grandmother Marie Swan's estate. I look forward to seeing you on Saturday at 10 AM for the will reading. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call."

I've listened to this message three times now, and I still don't know what to expect. Obviously, I know that this lawyer will read my grandmother's will, but there's just no telling what she could have left me or why. I'm nervous to find out.

Dad and Sue can't come with me today because they're meeting with Pastor Weber to talk about getting married. They want to do it sooner rather than later with just a small gathering of friends. I'm so happy for them, but I wish they could be here with me.

Pulling up in front of McCarty's office, I see a woman on a ladder hanging Christmas lights around the windows. She steps down as I walk up, and we both admire her handiwork.

"It looks really good," I say as I reach her side and smile.

She turns to look at me. "Thanks!" She does a double take and when her smile widens and I see her dimples, I realize why. It's my best friend from high school who I haven't seen in almost 10 years.

"Rosalie? Rosalie Hale?"

"Oh, my gosh, Bella!" She grabs me in a bone-crushing hug and releases me just as quickly. "Sorry, I'm just so delighted to see you. What are you doing here?"

"I have an appointment with this guy." I jerk my thumb to the window where it reads "Emmett McCarty, Attorney at Law".

"That guy's my husband," she says with a laugh. "I had no idea you were going to be here. I just wanted to get a jump on decorating. Let's get you inside."

Rosalie leads me in through the door, and we catch up quickly before she offers me coffee and takes my coat.

"I'll just go tell Em that you're here." She disappears through a doorway, and I'm left waiting in the lobby.

A few minutes later, a huge mountain of a man comes through the same door and smiles warmly. "Miss Swan, I'm Emmett. Thank you for coming in today."

"Please, call me Bella." I shake his hand, and he gestures to follow him. Rosalie smiles at me and mimes a phone and I nod.

When we reach his office, Emmett shuts the door behind me and offers me a seat, and then sits behind his desk. He shuffles a few papers and clears his throat.

"First of all, let me convey my condolences. I didn't know your grandmother personally, but I was a regular at the bakery until she had to close," Emmett says somberly, and I smile.

"Then you knew her. Grandma always said her regulars were her friends."

"That's a nice sentiment." He clears his throat. "Shall we get down to it?" Emmett reads the will, and frankly, there's a lot of legalese I don't understand. When he reaches the end and looks at me, I shrug.

"So, she left me her house and her shop?"

"And a sizeable monetary inheritance," he adds. He opens the drawer at his side and pulls out a small key ring and hands it to me.

"So … what do I do now?" I laugh, and he smiles gently.

"That's entirely up to you." He leans back in his chair. "My suggestion would be to speak to a realtor about your options should you decide to sell or rent either property, and then I would discuss those options with your family. I understand you don't live in town, so that may affect your decision."

I nod. "Could you recommend a realtor then?"

"Actually, Rose is a realtor, and as I understand it, you two used to be best friends," he says knowingly.

"Oh, that's perfect then." I stand up and shake his hand. "I look forward to any more business we'll have. I'll see myself out and talk to Rose."

Walking out, I feel a little lighter knowing that Grandma had plans for me all along but still so sad for having lost her. I find Rose outside again, this time hanging garland around the windows, and I stand at the foot of the ladder. "Hey, I heard you might be able to help me."

I grin as she looks down. "Depends on what you need." I explain to her how I just need to know my options and she climbs down the ladder.

"I can definitely help you, but it'll cost you."

Grinning because if I know Rosalie Hale, then I know where this is going, "Do you still take payment in the form of cheeseburgers and milkshakes?"

"Not really, but for you I can make an exception." She laughs. "Let me put this stuff away, and we can walk down to the diner."

An hour later, after we've eaten the greasiest burgers known to man, split an order of fries, and guzzled a couple of milkshakes, I think I'm clear on my options and how Rose can help me even when I'm back in Seattle.

"I'd go take a look at the house and see if you think it needs fixing up, and then we can go from there," she says as she wipes her mouth. "I know the shop needs work, but it's not bad from what I understand."

"I saw it the other day," I say as the waitress drops off the check, and I dig in my purse for my wallet. "I think it mostly needs some elbow grease, but there might be some repairs needed. I don't even know how to go about that around here."

"There's a local guy, Edward Cullen. He does everything," she tells me as we stand to walk to the front register. "Electric, plumbing, repair work … he's handy. And not bad on the eyes, if you catch my drift."

"Oh, I know," I say as casually as possible. "Charlie invited him for Thanksgiving dinner." I don't mention the park or the ball or the fact that I'm supposed to have dinner with him soon.

She quirks an eyebrow at me. "Did you meet the kid? Liam. Doesn't he make your ovaries swell?"

"He's pretty great too."

After I pay, we walk back out into the cold sunshine, and Rosalie pulls out the big guns. "Why Seattle? And why don't you come home very often?"

Never one to pull her punches, I should have seen this coming. "I wanted to make a name for myself and not ride on Marie's coattails. You know there wasn't much keeping me here. Charlie and Sue come to visit, and Marie used to. That was enough."

"I've missed you."

"I'm just a phone call away," I point out, and I can see her lips twist at the truth.

"You're right. I haven't put in much effort either. Can we both be better at it?" Her bright blue eyes are shiny and hopeful.

"Of course, and I'll come back to visit more," I tell her. "But you and Emmett should come to the city to visit me."

We part ways outside of the office as Rose heads inside to decorate the interior and before I head back to my childhood home, the weight of the keys in my pocket gives me an idea.