BPOV
For the last three weeks, a small crew has been diligently working on Grandma's old shop, getting it up to code so I can work in it for a week and get everything ready for my big catering job. Jane wasn't thrilled when she called to discuss the turn of events with my place in Seattle, but after a lot of assuring, I was able to keep the job.
Today is December 17th, and I finally get to see the finished place. Edward says he has a big surprise for me when I get there, but I'm not sure what to expect. I've been watching Liam while Edward works, and when he comes to pick him up he usually stays for dinner. He's been texting and calling me; I know he needs to ask me questions and give me updates, but then we end up talking for a few hours each time, and I have to remember that I'm leaving on Christmas Eve when I take my goods to the hotel for the party.
I'll be back for visits, but that's not enough, and I can't do that to Liam—it's not fair.
As I get ready to head downtown to the bakery, I ask my dad and Sue if they're coming, and they smile and say that they stopped by yesterday and saw the surprise.
"Am I going to like it?" I ask as I shrug into my coat. "He didn't paint the interior chartreuse or something, right?"
"No, he didn't." Charlie laughs. "You know he didn't. But, kiddo, I don't think you're going to like the surprise. So, just brace yourself."
"Did you like it?"
"I loved it, but you and I are very different people." Charlie stands and hugs me. "Just know that it comes from a genuinely good place within Edward's heart."
I pull away from Charlie and look into his eyes. "You're being awfully cryptic."
"I promised I wouldn't give it away." He kisses my forehead. "Go check it out and keep an open mind."
The entire drive I'm wracking my brain to think of what Edward could have possibly done to surprise me, but all I can really think about is making a shopping list and getting all the ingredients to start prepping all the pastries and tarts I need to make. So when I pull up, I don't immediately notice the tarp hanging where the sign should be until I get out of my car.
"What's that?" I ask as Edward meets me out front and presses his lips to my cheek in a quick greeting.
He smiles. "That's your surprise, but I want you to see the inside first." He opens the door and gestures me inside, and I'm delighted to see gleaming floors and counters, clean display cases, and new paint on the walls.
"Everything is up to code, and we got Emmett to do a workaround with the city planner since you aren't using the place as a business … yet," he says as he guides me to the back, and I roll my eyes behind his back.
"I had every appliance professionally cleaned, so you're good to go." I look around at the shiny work surfaces and my heart swells.
"Thank you for overseeing this. I really appreciate it," I say and reach out my hand to shake his. We've been too familiar, and I want, I need, for it to stop.
"Bella, I offered to do this because I care about you, and I want you to be happy." He crosses the distance between us and cups my cheeks. "I thought you understood that I'm all in."
He dips his head to mine, and just before he presses his lips to mine, I pull away.
"Edward, I've been trying hard not to lead you on, but I thought I made it clear that I'll be returning to Seattle when I'm done with this bake."
He steps back and rubs the back of his neck and sighs. "Well then, this is going to be super awkward."
Edward leads me back outside and situates me across the street, and then runs back to pull the tarp down to reveal a brand new sign that reads, Bella Bakes Cakes, a play on both my shop's name and my grandmother's.
I get a little choked up at the image of the two bakeries becoming one, but then I remember that Edward made this decision without talking to me, and all I can feel is anger and frustration. I cross over to the bakery and drag him inside.
"What are you doing?"
"I was trying to do something nice for you and maybe give you some incentive to stay here in Forks with us … with me." He has the wherewithal to look sheepish.
"Edward, we barely know each other! What do you expect? I'm just going to uproot my life and move back here to be what? A wife and mother?" I'm pulling at my hair, and when I look at him, he looks devastated.
"Edward, you and Liam are amazing, but—"
"But you don't want this, and you aren't ready?" Edward sighs. "I get it. I'm sorry, Bella. I'll … I'll invoice you and stay out of your way while you're working. I just ask that you say goodbye to Liam before you leave. He's going to miss you."
"I will. I promise."
He moves toward the door, and then turns around before leaving. "I'm glad I met you, Bella Swan. You're my Christmas wish." He pulls the door shut behind him and tosses the keys in through the mail slot as an afterthought.
I feel so guilty, but I can't dwell; I have things to do. I call Lauren and tell her to call Ben to get up here so we can get to work. It's going to be a long week.
A few days later, I get a call from the police officer handling my case with the fire with news and the fact that they arrested two suspects.
"We had a complaint that one of your former employees had been making threatening phone calls to your shop, so we followed up, and after some questioning, Miss Brandon's boyfriend admitted to everything. She waited until the last employee left and used a spare key she made to enter the shop."
I have to listen as the officer describes how Alice ruined my life's work in the spark of a single flame.
"I want to press charges," I say, breaking into his monologue. "She needs to be held accountable for this."
"Of course, can you come down to the station …"
I make plans to come in after Christmas since I'll be back in Seattle and hang up the phone just in time to see Rose waving at me from outside the shop window. She has little Liam perched on her hip.
Quickly moving to let them in out of the cold, I open the door, and Liam squeals in excitement, "Bewa!" He lunges out of Rose's arms and into mine, and I giggle as I usher my friend inside.
"It smells amazing in here," Rose gushes, and I laugh.
"That's just tart shells baking—nothing special," I tell her as I lead her to the back and set up Liam with some spare tart dough to play with as I pour Rose a cup of coffee. "What are you two doing here?"
"I'm watching the rugrat, and we thought we'd come by and say hi and see how it was going," Rose says with a shrug, and I can see right through her.
"You're spying on me for Edward, aren't you?"
"Maybe, but he really just wanted to make sure everything was working well here," she says and ducks her head. "And maybe I wanted to see if I could figure out why you're so against having your shop here in Forks."
I shrug and pour myself a cup of coffee. "Maybe I have too much of my mother in me."
"Don't you dare say that, Bella. You're nothing like your mother," Rose says sternly. "She left because she couldn't hack it. That's not the case here. What is it? Do you not like Edward?"
"I do, but it's not enough to just leave my life behind. What if it doesn't work out? And what about him?" I jerk my chin in Liam's direction. "He may not remember his mother leaving, but I won't do that to him."
"So, are you going to open a new shop in Seattle?" Rose sips at her coffee and I shrug.
"I don't know what I'm going to do yet," I tell her honestly.
"Bewa, can we bake this?" Liam asks from his seat on the stool at the prep counter.
I smile and move to him. "Sure we can. What did you make?"
"I made me and Daddy and you," he says as I look closer at the dough on the counter and can make out three little people. I swallow harshly. "You did great. Let's get these in the oven."
I've got to get a spare tray and liner, and Rosalie snorts. "You're in so much trouble, girl."
"Yeah, I really am."