Moving On

(How Bella Got Her Groove)

Chapter 9

~o0o~

Chapter 9

One Is Such A Lonely Number

Previously:

"It'll work out Bella. As long as you both have feelings for each other. Edward's a good guy. He thinks you're worth the wait."

~o0o~

Chapter 9

Two months later...

Edward Cullen did indeed believe Bella Swan was worth waiting for. Even though he was 20 years younger than Bella, he was very mature for his years. He was an only child and his parents had expected and treated Edward as an adult when he was a preteen.

He understood how special Bella was and he thought he knew the mistakes that her ex-husbands must have made. They probably treated her like a possession and talked down to her. A woman with Bella's desire needed to be not only a wife and mother, but to make her own mark on the world as an educator. He totally understood this. At the same time, Bella was soft and gentle, and a little old fashioned, but in a good way.

He was in no hurry. Bella needed some space and he understood how Conner must have felt, even though Edward thought Conner was being childish with his possessive attitude about his mother. Hopefully, something would bring him to his senses.

He would give her as much space as she needed. He still would call her once a week or so just to say "hi" and catch up on any news. He never got more personal than to tell her what he'd been up to or that he'd not been up to anything. Mostly they talked about the upcoming Christmas holidays. He wasn't going to let her forget about him and he let her know he had most definitely not forgotten about her.

They became friends.

~o0o~

Bella was planning on Conner coming home for Christmas. She was very excited about the prospect of seeing him again. She missed her Sunshine. If the truth be told, she missed Edward too but in a much different way.

Rosalie was at the house on Saturday to help Bella decorate for Christmas. Instead of Christmas music blaring through the house, Bill Withers was moaning in the background about this house ain't no home anytime she goes away followed by Eva Cassidy and Buddy Guy singing out the same sad blues song.

"What's with you and this Bluesy music Bella?" Rose asked as she stretched to hang a snowflake by an open doorway. Conner will have to duck to not hit them when he walks into this room, mused Rose, for that matter so would Emmett and Edward if they were here.

"Speaking of Edward, Bella, have you heard from him lately?" Rose asked before she was able to engage her verbal filter.

Bella froze for just a moment, "Yes, he calls me at least once a week to catch up as he puts it. We're just friends now."

Cringing, Rose answered a little lamely, "That's nice." She hung the last snow flake and turned to her friend.

"Bella, I know you don't want to hear it..." Rosalie started to say.

"Then why say it Rosalie?" Bella asked stiffly.

"Emmett says that Edward really misses you," she paused and looked at her friend, "and I can see that you really miss him too. Why don't you..." Rose was not given the chance to finish her thought.

Feeling defensive, angry and frustrated with her friend now, Bella spoke a little more harshly than she really meant to. "Nothing's changed Rose. Nothing. Conner and Edward are almost the same age and Conner is my son. My only child. I can't lose him Rose. I just can't. He's stood with me through three failed marriages. I can't just, I just..." Bella ran her hands through her hair and her eyes filled with tears.

Rose rushed over to her friend and pulled Bella into her arms. "I'm sorry. Bella I'm really sorry. It's just you just look so sad, so unhappy."

Bella buried her face in Rose's shoulder and sobbed. "I do miss Edward. I don't know how he could have gotten to me in such a short period of time," Rose just hugged her friend tightly, then patted her on the back, and leaned back causing the two friends to part. Rosalie put her hands on Bella's shoulders and looked her friend in the eyes. "Let's stop for awhile and have some coffee, or a cup of tea, or even a glass or four of wine? Come on."

Bella nodding, turned and headed into the kitchen where she got two bottles of wine from the fridge one red and one white and two wine glasses from the cabinet, put them on the small kitchen table and sat down.

Rose poured herself some white wine, and a full glass of red for Bella. "Okay tell me about the last two dates you had. How were they?"

Bella scoffed. "Awful. Just awful," She shook her head. "I don't know why I even continue to bother to be very honest."

"Details Bella! Details," Rosalie encouraged.

Sighing heavily Bella said, "Well, the one Friday night asked me during dinner if I "fucked" on the first date which ended that date. I was so glad I'd met him there. I just stood up and walked out of the restaurant. I didn't even want him to walk me to my car. I was so pissed off. How rude!"

"Alright, what about Saturday night?" Rose asked hopefully.

"Almost as bad except he waited until after dinner and we were in the movie theater. He kept trying to feel me up Rose. I was so grateful I hadn't worn a dress or a skirt, my slacks were bad enough," Pausing to take a sip of her wine, she continued. "I didn't even wait for the movie to be over. I just excused myself on the pretext of going to the bathroom and didn't go back. I took a cab home. I hope I never hear from either of those men again," She looked in the ruby reflections of her wine glass. "I miss Edward, Rosalie. We had a wonderful connection," This caused a fresh round of tears for Bella.

~o0o~

Why aren't you with Rosalie, Emmett?" Edward asked leaning over the pool table and sinking the stripped 6 ball.

Emmett had rooted Edward out of his apartment knowing the only time his friend left was to go to class, the library and for something to eat at night. "She's at Bella's decorating the house for Christmas, and I haven't seen you in a coon's age." Emmett stood watching Edward sink one ball after another, leaning against the pool cue. "How ya' doing?"

That question caused Edward to miss his shot. He looked up at Emmett, "I was doing fine until you asked me how I was doing." He was exasperated and hurting. He just wished people would stop asking him that question.

"Have you talked to her lately?" Emmett asked.

"Yes, I call her at least once a week," Edward laid the pool cue on the table and leaned on his arms and looked down at the floor. "I keep hoping she'll tell me that all is well and that she can start seeing me again." Shaking his head and scoffing, "I wish Conner would talk to me, but..." He didn't finish the thought. In the beginning of this mess he'd asked Bella if he could talk to her son, but she'd flat out told him it wouldn't do any good at all.

"Okay Edward. I'm sorry. It's just that...that Rose says Bella's hurting as much as you are. I don't understand what the deal is, but..." Emmett handed Edward the pool cue he had been using and set up for his own shot, which he didn't sink.

Two days later

Bella heard Carly Simon singing, "You are My Sunshine", and rushed to find her cell phone, "Hey Sunshine! Good to hear from you."

"Hi Mom, hey can I come home this next weekend and bring a friend with me?" Conner asked.

"Of course Baby! You don't have to ask." Bella replied.

"Well," Conner began, "It's a girl Mom. I've met someone and I want you to meet her."

For the space of two breaths Bella felt her heart stop beating. Then she got hold of herself. "Really? I'd love to meet her Conner. What's her name?"

"Sophia," Bella could hear the smile in his voice. "She's an exchange student from Mexico."

Mexico? She's a Mexican? Oh Conner the problems you're gonna have to endure.

Bella was not prejudiced at all, in fact she'd fought with her second husband all the time about his racial slurs, and it was still frowned on in Texas. "Of course you can bring her with you Conner. Is it serious?"

"Yeah, I think it is." Conner replied.

"Then I really want to meet her. I look forward to seeing y'all this weekend."

"Thanks Mom. I knew you'd understand," Conner beamed. "See you Friday night," and the call disconnected. Bella sat down hard still holding the phone to her ear.

Conner had never brought any girl home before, or even wanted his mother to meet any girl.

Bella felt a flash of jealousy and then of longing. The weekend should be interesting.

~o0o~