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Chapter 3

Once the church service concluded, I let out a huge yawn, my eyes watering at the force. I was desperate for a nap but knew I wouldn't be getting one.

While in the infant care room, I only had three kids to keep track of. Thankfully, they were the ones that were easier to keep busy and entertained. One was a three-month-old little girl, who slept the entire hour and half that she was in my care. The middle boy was just a year old and was kept busy by the eighteen-month-old girl.

The youngest was the newest to join our family service in the small town of Forks. And one I watched a few times when her mom needed a late-night sitter when her shifts ran later.

Maybe that was what I needed to do – watch more kids to keep my parents off my back. Not that it would last long, but it would be something to do to past the time while I figured out what I was going to do.

After greeting each parent as they came and collected their child, I made sure that I sprayed everything down with Lysol as I picked up all the discarded toys around the room. I coughed as a wave of the smelly spray coated my nostrils. I hated the smell, but it did keep any unwanted germs away from spreading to the kids.

"Hey," Peter said, leaning against the door jam with his hands folded across his chest. His eyes took me in from head to toe.

"Hi," I said, pausing for a moment.

"Need any help?" he asked, nodding towards the few toys that were still scattered about on the gray carpet.

"Not much left to do," I answered, picking up the blocks and putting them back into the plastic tub they belonged in.

"Did you listen to the service?" he asked after a moment.

"Sorta," I shrugged. This room did have a speaker up in the top corner to whoever was on infant duty could listen in on the topic of the day. My mind had been elsewhere, so I wasn't entirely paying attention to the service.

I was never happier that my parents didn't question me about what the service was about, as I would have failed miserably.

My mind had been on the man that stood in the door way, watching my every move. I wasn't sure if him watching me put me on edge, or if it was just him. There was something about him that not only called my attention, but also something that was dark about it.

After hearing what Mom had said about him, I kept second guessing everything. That alone made me pause in what I wanted. Sure, friendship would be the only thing I was capable of with this man. I knew he wanted more, but could I even try to do that?

I also wondered why he was back, and for how long. What had he seen while away? And was he really that dangerous that I needed to keep my space as far away from him as possible?

I was positive he wouldn't ever hurt me, not on purpose. My heart was still tender from his departure a few years ago, but I was sure that if he would have talked to me about what was going on, I wouldn't have been so hurt about it all.

I understood, to an extent, but I couldn't help the worry about what would happen if he left like that again. There was no guarantee that he'd stay here. There was nothing holding him here now, as there hadn't been anything before.

"I almost fell asleep," he stated. It felt like he was forcing us to have this conversation.

"Good thing there's a song half way through to wake up all the sleepy old people," I smiled.

"Yeah, not sure that was the smartest change to do 'round here," he laughed slightly.

It was a fairly new change, one that actually worked. We did two worship songs at the beginning of the service, one in the middle, then two at the end. All the worship signing part was the best part, at least to me.

Sometimes, I was part of the worship choir, but only once every other month or so. My parents loved when I was up there, taking part of something they thought would be good for me. I didn't mind, just didn't care much for the people watching me. Unfortunately, I would be taking that job next week since the back up singer was going out of town for a family reunion.

I wasn't so sure that I wanted to know what Peter would think of that. Just the thought of him watching, listening, gave me nerves I didn't know what to do with.

"What are your plans for later today?" Peter asked, bringing me out of my thoughts.

"Family dinner," I answered, looking around the room to make sure everything was put away. Everything seemed to be in order for the next week. "Other than that, no clue. I'm sure something will come up." Most likely Alice. She'd want to hang out, and probably talk more about last night. Not that there was all that much more to talk about. It was done and over with. "What about you?"

"Probably go see Jasper. Have a meeting I have to go to later," he said. "Have to find a job around here, too."

"How long do you plan to say?" I asked before my brain could stop the words from slipping off my tongue.

"For a while," he shrugged.

"Hmm," I said, walking to the light switch that was just beside the door, and beside Peter. I didn't really want to step so close to him, but he left me no choice unless I wanted to stand there and look like an idiot.

"Hey," he said, dipping his head to meet my eyes. "I promise, I won't leave like I did last time. I'll give you fair warning."

"It doesn't matter, Peter," I sighed, shutting the lights off. "I have no control over where you go, or when you go. But it was nice that you came to church today. I'll see you around."

"Bella," he said, a soft plea as I passed him.

I ignored him as my heart threatened to break out of my chest. The stupid beating organ wanted more from the man, but my mind knew better to than to ever allow it.

"Oh, Bella!" Alice called, wrapping her arm around my elbow, stepping up beside me. "Did you know there's a youth group in the next town over? We should so go!"

"No thanks, Alice," I sighed. "I'm tired."

"You never wanna do anything fun," she pouted. "Your parents would approve, you know."

I shook my head. She was lucky to drag me out last night, just because she had been bugging me about going to do something fun for over a week. A movie hadn't been fun enough. But I wasn't going to go out with her again tonight.

"Please," she went on.

"No," I said, giving her a look that told her to not push it. "I went last night just to keep you out of trouble. Once was more than enough. Drag your new boyfriend to it."

"Oh, he'll already be there. He's kinda in charge of it," she skipped. "Peter will probably be there, too."

"Makes me want to go even less," I huffed. "I just want to stay home, okay. Maybe next week."

"Alright," she sighed, knowing she wasn't going to get me to cave.

Alice was great at talking me into going out to do things that I normally would never do on my own. Sure, she did get me out of my house and away from my over protective parents more times than I wanted to admit. I knew I shouldn't have let her talk me into going last night. But after a week of constant asking, I was just tired of hearing her ask over and over again.

That was the first time that it was something so out of the normal for Alice to drag me along to. Most of the time, it was shopping. Once in a while it had been to some dance club for under aged people.

I'd never know what Alice would have up her sleeve next.