It's Time

Chapter 23

Alec POV

Gianna and I had spent the last thirty minutes becoming acquainted with our great-granddaughter. Gia Rose was the spitting image of her mother. With shiny brown curls and rosy, chubby cheeks, she was absolutely beautiful. The moment my eyes met hers, I was a goner. And Gianna...well, let's just put it this way, I'll be making a call later today to find a rental property because I know there is no way in hell we'll be going home anytime soon. That little girl already had my wife wrapped around her finger.

I just needed to figure out what to do about my grandson; I really wanted to talk to Bella first before speaking with him, and I needed to do it as quickly as possible.

The perfect opportunity arose a few minutes later. When Gia became sleepy, Bella asked if Gianna would go home with her while she napped.

"Of course," Gianna said as she cooed at the baby.

"Are you sure you don't mind, Nonna?"

"Mind? Not at all. I've already been looking forward to some one-on-one time with my patatina. We'll be fine."

"Patatina?" Bella asked.

"It means little potato." I explained before laughing at Bella's horrified reaction. "It's a term of endearment. I promise."

"If you say so," she muttered.

Once they left, I sat next to Bella and said, "Mike told me about Edward's visit."

"You probably know more about it than I do," she mumbled.

Surprised by her response, I asked, "Bella, you don't think I sent Edward here do you?"

She shrugged her shoulders and turned away from me. "I can't help but wonder. I mean, why else would he suddenly show up after all these years?"

"Well, you're wrong." I walked around the bed so I could look her in the eye. "You know the promise I made you; I would never betray you."

Her bottom lip began to quiver. After rubbing her face with the back of her palm and taking a deep breath, she said, "I know you wouldn't; I'm sorry, Nonno. I didn't mean to accuse you; it's just...why was he here? Especially now, after all this time?"

"I'm afraid I don't have an answer for that. When he called to tell me about your injuries, we didn't get the opportunity to have a long conversation. I plan on speaking with him this afternoon."

"But how did he know where I was? About the accident?"

I sighed and scrubbed a hand across my forehead.

Shit.

No matter how I put it, this was going to come off badly.

When I didn't answer, Bella said, "He was having me followed, wasn't he?"

I nodded.

Her hands knotted into fists. "Ugh. He's still such a damn, control freak."

"It's true," I answered before adding, "but he was only tracking your location—nothing else."

Bella stewed for a moment before saying, "Does that make it any better? Honestly? Is he ever going to let me be?"

"Sweetheart, I agree. He was wrong for having you followed, and I will be speaking to him about it."

"Is he still in town?"

"Yes, I told him to stay at the hotel. He doesn't even know you've awoken from your coma."

She remained quiet while she digested what I had told her. After a few short moments, she said, "I want to see him."

"What?" I was uncertain I had heard her correctly.

"I want to see him. Now. Today," she repeated. Her voice cracked with emotion.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. It's time for us to have a talk. He needs to get past his fixation with me and live his life, so I can live mine."

But it's not going to be that simple for him, I thought with a frown.

Giving Bella's hand a gentle squeeze I said, "If that's what you really want, I'll go call him now."

"Thanks, Nonno."

-IT-

EPOV

I woke up the next morning to the buzzing of my cell phone.

"Cullen."

"Edward?"

"Hey, Nonno." I grunted in pain when my back cracked as I stood from the bed. For an old fucker, Mike Newton sure as hell knew how to throw a punch. He was the last person I had expected to see yesterday outside Bella's room.

I hadn't thought twice when Nonno had released him from service several years ago—he was getting up there in age and had put in his time, but now it all made sense. Newton had gone away with Bella.

"You sound like shit."

"Well, I should; I feel like it."

"Can you get over to the hospital?"

"S-sure? Are you and Nonna already here?"

"Yeah, we got in late last night. We've been at the hospital since early this morning."

"This morning? Wait, what time is it?"

"It's one o'clock."

One o'clock? How in the fuck did I sleep so long? I haven't slept this late in ages probably not since I was a kid.

"Edward, did you hear me?"

"Hm? No, I'm sorry? What?"

"I said, Bella woke up yesterday morning. She's asking to see you."

-IT-

Bella POV

It was about an hour after my talk with Nonno when Edward Cullen appeared at my door. He tapped gently on the glass window before letting himself in; I suppose it was his attempt at showing me he had manners, but I wasn't buying his act—I knew better.

A bouquet of daisies partially covered his face. The part I could see was puffy and bruised.

When he offered me the flowers, my attention zoomed in on his battered features. Someone had recently beaten the hell out of him.

Once I realized I was staring, I took the bouquet. After placing them on the table by my bed, I gestured to an empty chair, and he sat.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Better than you look."

"Yeah, Mike handed me my ass," he chuckled as he ran his hand nervously through his unruly hair.

Wait. What? "You're saying my Mike, Mike Newton, did this to you?"

Edward shrugged before saying, "Yes, and I didn't realize he was your Mike."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Even though it's none of your business, he is. Why would he do that to you?" And though I had just seen Mike a few hours ago, I asked, "Did you hurt him?" Sitting up in my bed, I poked my finger in his face. "Because if you did, I'll—"

When he reached to grab my hand, I pulled it away and shot him a glare.

He smirked at my reaction.

"Relax, champ. I didn't harm a single hair on his head; you have my word," he answered.

I scoffed. "Like your word means anything to me."

"Touché."

Tension filled the air. The next few minutes were spent in silence. I refused to make eye contact with him but could see from the corner of my eye that he was watching me.

Edward pinched the bridge of his nose. Releasing a groan, he stood and walked across the room. He lingered at the window before finally turning to face me. "Bella, thank you for agreeing to see me. You don't know how long I've wanted to apologize—"

"No!" I interrupted. "That's not what this is about...I don't want your apologies."

"But—"

"Do you seriously think saying you're sorry is going to make things right between us?" I let out a short, dry laugh.

He exhaled and scratched his chin. "You're right. I don't deserve your forgiveness."

"Damn straight; I don't owe you anything," I said. "But after all the shit you've put me through, I think I'm entitled to something."

Returning to his chair, he leaned toward me. A hint of hope carried in his voice. "Anything. Name it, and it's yours."

"What I want," I paused and took a deep breath before continuing, "is for you to leave me alone. I'm not that little girl you used to control. I'm a grown woman!"

"Bella, I know that believe me, and I'm so incredibly sor—"

I raised my hand in the air to silence him. "Again, I don't want to hear it. I couldn't care less how sorry you are. It truly means nothing to me," I said before adding, "It's all lies anyhow."

His brow furrowed. "What do you mean by that?"

"How can you possibly be sorry for something you're still doing? Or am I wrong, and you haven't had me followed the past three years?"

"Jesus," he muttered with a grimace. "I can explain. L-let me explain."

"Priceless. Yes, please clarify. Or better yet, why don't you just go purchase me a set of books or a pretty bauble instead? Isn't that how you deal with your problems? Just buy your way out of them?" I scoffed.

Rubbing his neck, he stood and began pacing around the room. "You're right. There's no excuse for my behavior. All I can say is that I needed to make sure you were safe."

He scrubbed a palm across his face and sat next to me. "Bella, even though you don't understand or believe it, I feel a connection to you…"

"Please," I whispered, "don't."

His eyes remained locked with mine. "You really don't feel anything?" he asked.

I shivered involuntarily as a sigh escaped my throat.

He held out his hand. "Just once. Please. Tell me you don't feel it too."

My eyes drifted to his outstretched fingers, which were mere inches from my own. I don't know how long I stared at them before I groaned to myself.

How did this conversation get so off track, and why am I even considering his request?

With a huff, I relented. "Fine, but only so you will finally see what a load of shit this is once and for all."

"R-really?"

"Yes, it's time for this to be finished. But as soon as this is over, I want your ass out of my room and out of my life...forever."

"B-but what if you change your mind?"

"Trust me, that will never happen."

"But—" he continued to argue.

"Ugh, you are so frustrating. Are you even listening to me?" I exclaimed leaning my head against my pillow. "You know what? I have no idea what I was thinking. Please leave, Edward."

Screwing my eyes shut, I exhaled and waited for him to go.

But instead of leaving like I asked, my hand was instantaneously engulfed in his.

AN:

I apologize for not getting to reviews last week. A common question that popped up several times was "Why doesn't Edward know about Gia? He was having her followed by a private investigator."

In chapter 18, this is what was said about the investigator -

It had been over three years since Nonno had essentially banned me from having anything to do with Bella's life. And in all that time, I had kept my promise. I had not seen her or asked any family members about her.

But even though it was wrong of me to do so, I had hired a private investigator to keep track of her location. A weekly report arrived at my office each Monday morning telling me where she was at.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

So as you can see, Edward was only receiving information about her whereabouts and that was it. The PI wouldn't have told him about Gia.

Trust me, Edward will be having a word with the PI in a future chapter when he finds about the baby. ;)

I truly appreciate those who have been patient and stayed with me through this journey.

Thanks as always to Fran, Gail, K, Alex, and Diane.

And a special shout out to the ladies of TFMU whose friendship renewed my spirit in ways I cannot even begin to describe.

I love all of you and this fandom.

Until next time,
HE