Twenty-Six

I looked between them as they stared each other down. Neither of them spoke and I got annoyed with being ignored. "Tell me what? What the fuck are you talking about Jacob?"

"You didn't fucking tell her?" Jacob growled, his face contorted in anger.

Edward looked the same but much worse. His eyes were tempestuous, murderous even. Something bad was unfolding in front of my eyes and I didn't have a clue on how to stop it from happening. Whatever it was, it wasn't going to be pretty. I got in between them before anything escalated further. "What the fuck is going on? Somebody say something before I lose my shit." Edward took his eyes off of Jacob and focused on me. I saw the fear emboldened in them and I knew something was definitely wrong. "Edward what is Jacob talking about? Tell me what's happening," I pleaded. Edward opened up his mouth to speak but the words that came out weren't his own.

"He has a fiancée, Tanya Denali. They got engaged over a month ago. I'm sorry Bella."

My eyes widened as everything clicked into place. The anger from Jacob and the fear in Edward's eyes. It all made since. I felt like I was going to be sick. "Is it true?" The look on his face told me everything I needed to know. My heart shattered and the coldness I felt was replaced with red hot fury.

"Bella let me expla—" was all I heard before the resounding noise of a slap replaced his words. I lashed out so fast, I shocked us both but I felt numb. I slapped him so hard I left an imprint of the right side of his cheek and I felt the dull throb of pain in my palm.

"Fuck you!" I spat angrily, "Stay the fuck away from me!" He tried to reach for me but I screamed. "Don't fucking touch me! You are NEVER allowed to touch me EVER again!" I stormed off and thankfully he let me go. Jacob called after me but I kept going. I hailed a cab and got in. I was in a daze and vaguely remembered giving the cabbie my address. When I finally stepped out of the cab and walked into my apartment, the bough broke and out poured the tears. Pain lanced through my heart and it hurt so fucking bad— Edward's ultimate betrayal and the lies. I fell for him so hard and the heartbreak, my god, it was so much worse than the last and I wasn't sure if this time it could be repaired.

Over the next couple of weeks, I stayed with Alice and Jasper at their home. I couldn't stay at my place right now. Edward came to my house later on the night I found out the truth, banging like a madman on my door. He was drunk out of his mind, yelling at the top of his lungs, telling me how much he loved me and wanted to explain himself. I screamed and cried telling him to leave. Eventually, one of the neighbors threatened to call the cops and he finally got the message. When it was all over, I packed my bags and called Alice. She came to get me with no hesitation. I cried on her lap on her couch as she softly stroked my head and whispered soothingly that everything would be okay. I cried myself to sleep that night. And the day after that. And the day after that. Finally, I stopped crying all together. I couldn't shed a single tear. I just felt numb. Nothing, absolutely nothing. No pain, no sadness. Nothing. I turned off my phone and used Alice's to keep in contact with my family. They asked about him and I ignored them, changing the subject. I think they got the message because they left it alone.

I took a short sabbatical from work, prolonging the inevitable. I knew I couldn't stay away forever, despite the uncomfortably painful circumstances. The sounds of Manhattan filtered up to the balcony where I sat in a plush lounger, sipping on a glass of crisp white wine. The sun was setting, cascading the sky in soft pink, orange and indigo hues. I watched the colors change silently as the warm late summer breeze caressed me and the unkempt wisps of hair that escaped from my messy bun.

"Bella?" I heard Alice call out to me, announcing that she was home.

"Out on the balcony," I yelled. I took another sip of the delicious wine, humming in appreciation as the light fruity flavor went smoothly down my throat. Alice finally appeared on the balcony and sauntered over towards me. She sat next to me in the lounger and I passed her the glass of wine that I held. She took an arduous sip and exhaled, kicking off her heels.

"How was your day?"

"It was a drag. There's so much work that needs to be done before this damn event for your crazy ass ex-fiancé. I swear every time I see him he's constantly asking about you."

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him nothing. I just change the subject. Besides without Bree's help on this, I would've gone crazy by now."

"Wait, what? I thought. . ." I paused, not wanting to say his name. Even when I remotely thought of it, my heart hurt. "I thought. . .I . ." I stopped trying to form a sentence entirely. The look Alice gave me confirmed that she understood who I was referring to.

"He's gone, Bella. He transferred over to the L. A. division a little over a week ago. I didn't say anything because I didn't want to upset you," she said sympathetically.

"It's fine, Allie. That means that I don't have to see him anymore," I assured her although deep down inside, it felt as though a piece of me had died.

Three months later

I was frantically running around my apartment looking around for my house keys. "Where the fuck are they?" I growled in frustration, lifting up the cushions of my couch to no avail. I stopped and tried to backtrack where I had seen them last and remembered I left them in my leather jacket in the coat closet by my front door. Sure enough, that's exactly where I found them. I sighed in relief, hurrying out the door and carefully ran down the steps to catch my Uber. I got in and was on my way to my destination in Union Square. When I arrived, I said a quick thanks to the driver and hopped out. The brisk winter morning air greeted me as I bustled through the busy crowd of Manhattanites.

I walked into Union Fare and was welcomed by the aroma of freshly baked goodies and savory dishes. I scanned the area and found who I was looking for by the bakery. I traipsed through the establishment until I was behind my companion and tapped them on the shoulder. Jacob turned around smiling and gave me a peck on the cheek in greeting. After the whole thing with Edward last Summer, I went back to work and caught up with my obligations to the event for Jacob's clothing line. Once I came back on the project, he profusely apologized every chance he got for once again causing me pain. He was remarkably adamant for us to start over again. I told him I needed time and he respected that. Our newfound friendship was reminiscent of the one we had during our childhood and I was content with that.

"Sorry I'm late. I couldn't find my damn keys," I explained.

"It's fine. You're actually right on time." He looked back down at the various choices of pastries and contemplated what he wanted. "Do you know what you want? I think I might go for either the Fruity Pebble croissant or the blueberry lavender muffin."

"Just get both then," I chuckled.

"You know what? Fuck it, you're right."

He ordered both and I went with the birthday cake croissant. We also got freshly brewed coffee and grabbed our treats, sitting down at our reserved table. We ate and chatted here and there about work; his stores overseas in London, Paris, and Milan were a lucrative success and he was going steady with a beautiful model who he's been seeing for the past three months. I was single and wasn't interested at all in dating anyone, much to Alice and Jacob's chagrin. They wanted me to try but I just wasn't ready. I hadn't heard from Edward for months. He didn't try to contact me, although at times I longed to hear his voice. I had days when I cursed his name and others that I utterly missed him. The hole in my heart didn't gape like before but it was still there. It didn't hurt as much when I thought of him or if his name was sometimes mentioned.

I went on with my everyday life, focusing only on work and family, who I regularly visited once every month. Charlie's health progressed immensely and I couldn't be happier. His speech and motor skills were a little stilted but that was going to be the new normal for him for the remainder of his life. Charlie was beyond thankful for Dr. Harlowe's guidance and his affiliates for his recovery. I was just thankful that God had healed my father and that he was still alive.

"Hello? Bella?" Jacob was waving his hand in front of my face, gaining my attention. "Are you alright? You looked like you were a million miles away."

"Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking about my dad."

"You sure that was all you were thinking about?"

"Yeah. Why?"

Jacob sighed, not thoroughly convinced. "Look Bella, I've known you for about twenty years now. I know when you're happy and I know when you're not. Clearly, you're not happy in the slightest. You try to pretend that everything's fine but you're not quite pulling it off."

I looked away, not wanting to surrender to the emotions roiling through me. "I don't want to talk about it, Jacob." There were bigger issues I was dealing with that concerned me more than my own happiness. Much more important and bigger than myself.

"There's something else going on with you, Bella. I can see it all over your face."

I bit my bottom lip, trying to stop the trembling of my lips. I was literally on the brink of tears and I didn't want to cry in public, let alone in front of Jacob.

"What is it, Bella?" Jacob asked, worry laced throughout his words. He lightly grasped my hand, trying to comfort me. "Please tell me what's going on."

I took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to calm down the fury of tears threatening to spill over. "I went to the doctors' the other day because I haven't felt like myself. I was tired all the time and had bouts of dizziness. They ran some tests and it turns out that I'm pregnant."

"Holy shit Bella."

"Yeah, holy shit."

"How far along are you?"

"When I went to my follow up with my OB/GYN, she told me I was about fourteen weeks pregnant. When I was in Forks helping take care Charlie, I missed a shot. Edward and I didn't use other forms of contraceptives during that time, hence there was a chance of conception. She did a shitload of tests and did an ultrasound. On top of being shocked about my pregnancy, I was doubly shocked to find out that I was carrying two babies."

Jacob's eyes were round as saucers as he processed what I revealed. "I was able to see the babies and heard their little heartbeats," I pressed on. "I saw them and heard their little hearts beating Jacob. . .and I broke down. Alice was there to console me, but deep down inside, I wished he was there instead." A few errant tears slipped down my cheeks and I quickly brushed them away. Fortunately, I decided to forgo makeup this morning.

"What are you going to do?" Jacob asked quizzically.

I scowled at him, snatching my hand away from his grip. "I'm keeping the babies if that's what you're really asking me. I'm not fucking getting rid of them," I growled.

Jacob looked at me shocked, putting up his hands as if he was surrendering. "Whoa, Bella. That's not what I meant. What I was trying to ask was what are you going to do as far as Edward? Are you going to tell him?"

I immediately felt guilty for snapping at him. My face softened and I placed my hand over his again. "I'm sorry, Jake. I assumed that you were insinuating that I would get an abortion. It's these damn hormones, my emotions are erratic ."

"It's okay, Bells. I understand and I get it; I should've been more specific in asking you that question. I support you in whatever decision you decide to make."

"In all honesty, I'm scared shitless. I can't believe I didn't notice the changes in my body much sooner. After everything that happened with Charlie and ultimately my breakup with Edward, I was stressed out and totally forgot that I missed a shot." My gynecologist tried to contact me a few times after I came back but I didn't speak to her. I just cancelled all appointments with a receptionist for future shots because I didn't need them anymore since I would be staying celibate," I laughed but it was devoid of humor. "At the time, I was a lost cause. During those last few weeks of summer, all I did was cry, mope around and sleep for hours."

Jacob grimaced, sympathy written all over his features. "Frankly, I'm indecisive on whether or not I should tell Edward." I continued. "I know I can raise these babies on my own but at the same time, I want him to raise them with me. I still love him, even though he broke my heart, I still fucking love him." I tried in vain to purge the feelings I had for him but it was futile. He was ingrained within me, in my heart and the little beings that were growing inside me.