Love in a Bubble
Edward and Bella are in a car accident that renders Bella into a coma. Edward visits her every day, talking to her about anything and everything. While Bella sleeps, she plays out all of Edward's conversations as though they were dates; both falling in love in a bubble.
Beta'd by the lovely and wonderful, Sunflower Fran.
Chapter eight:
BPOV
Okay, my ass hurt at first, but once the physical therapist stretches and massages my dormant muscles, I can move with ease. Holding on to the walker, my confident self skips down the walkway.
It's nice to be out of bed and out of a hospital gown. Wearing lycra workout shorts and a tank top, I feel cooler and more comfortable.
"Bella, you're a miracle," Tyler rants.
The door opens, and Edward saunters in on his crutches with a grace that almost seems musical. He's the Baryshnikov of the disabled. I laugh at my own joke.
He smirks and eyes my body from top to bottom. "You look good standing up."
I repeat, "So do you."
Tyler looks from Edward to me and excuses himself.
We automatically stand in front of one another. Two magnetic forces that pull together. His arms snake around my waist as I rub my hands up his arms to his shoulders.
He looks for permission, and I grant it with a tilt of my face. Edward is a good head taller than me, but that doesn't stop the connection. Our lips move with purpose and intensity.
He holds me close and chuckles. "Jesus, no one interrupted us."
We laugh.
"How'd everything go?" He panics. "Do you need to sit down?"
"I'm fine. I'm better than fine. Tyler, the physical therapist, called me a miracle."
He sways me carefully in his arms. "Well, you're my miracle."
I smile. "Are you released?"
"Yeah, but I'll be back tonight."
"Edward, go home and sleep in your bed. Be comfortable. Spend some time with Jasper and Alice. I'll be fine," I urge him.
He looks so sweetly at me. "But I won't be fine."
I frown. "Are you in pain? What's wrong?"
He takes in a deep breath. "This is fucking cheesy, but I don't want to be without you."
I turn beet red.
"I was trying to be unselfish, but I don't want to be without you either."
"Then, I'll come back."
I tease, "Are you going to sneak into my bed, Edward Cullen?"
"Not unless you don't want me to, Bella Swan."
"Oh, I want you to."
Tyler barges into the room. "Okay, Prince Charming, we need to finish."
I point out, "Prince Philip."
Edward questions, "Philip?"
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Edward does sneak into my room with help from Darren. We talk all night cuddling close with our lips, but an inch apart. We're lovesick, like two pining fools.
In the morning, I'm set for release. Edward says Jasper will pick us up at eleven to bring me home, where Charlie will meet us. Funny how he knows what's going on with my father, and I don't.
It's strange how plans change. I didn't want to stay with my dad for over a few weeks when I moved back to town, but until I'm one-hundred percent cleared, I need to have someone close by.
Charlie sets up the downstairs den as a makeshift bedroom. He didn't want clumsy me to walk the stairs for fear he would come home and find me prone on the floor.
When did he become such a comedian?
When we walk through the front door, we are met with the most delicious smells wafting throughout the house. Charlie greets us with a 'hello' coming out of the kitchen, and I stare at him. "You cooked?"
He laughs. "If I cooked the house would be in flames. No, I brought home lunch from the diner. Cora sent all your favorite foods and desserts. Everything's on the dining room table, so, help yourselves."
"Thanks, Dad."
"Oh, and the den is all set up for you, Bells." He shyly adds, "And Edward."
Who is this man and where is the real Charlie Swan?
"Aren't you staying for lunch?" I ask.
"I have to head out to the station, but I'll be back later before I go down to the Rez. Go eat before it gets cold. And there's ice cream in the freezer for the cobbler." He kisses the top of my head and quickly disappears out the front door.
Jasper rubs his hands together. "I don't know about all of you, but I could eat a horse."
"You guys go ahead; I want to check out the den."
I stand in the doorway in utter shock. Taking up most of the room is a brand new, queen-sized bed with purple, floral-print spread and decorative pillows. It's really nice.
I whisper, "Wow."
Edward wraps his arms around my waist and kisses my neck. "The room is nice."
I say, "He changed it. We had an old, beat up, faded-brown, pullout sofa in here with a bumpy mattress."
"He wanted you to be comfortable."
I turn to him. "He wanted us to be comfortable. What father does that?"
Edward smiles. "Bella, he wants you to be happy."
We go into the dining room and stop short, staring at the table. There are platters of steak and gravy, turkey and stuffing, and burgers on buns and hot dogs in rolls; plus three large bowls of mashed potatoes, French fries, plus mac and cheese. On a lazy Susan, we find catsup, relish, mustard, mayonnaise, and salt and pepper.
The table is set with paper plates, plastic forks, knives and spoons. On the buffet, there are plastic cups, two, 2-liter bottles of Coke and Sprite and a full ice bucket.
No, I know he didn't do this himself. The napkins were folded too neatly. Hmm, Charlie has a secret and I think I have my answers which I will save until later.
We join Jasper and Alice and chow down. The medium rare steak melts in my mouth. Gravy is great, but give me my A-1 sauce and I am one happy camper.
Edward and I share the same tastes. steak, a burger with mustard, catsup and pickles, and fries. We are good to go.
Once we clean up the main course, we bring out the still warm peach and blackberry cobblers with a gallon of vanilla chocolate swirl ice cream. After my last bite, I lean back in my chair and moan. "That was so good."
Alice giggles, "Your dad really amazes me."
I grimace, "Don't be so impressed Alice. I do believe my father was up to something."
Jasper smiles, cups his hands over his jaw and leans on his elbows. "Oh, do tell. That man was on my ass all four years of high school."
Edward loudly announces, "Be watchful what you say because Jasper will hold it against your dad."
He and Jasper laugh.
Alice asks, "So, what do you think he's up to?"
I smile. "I believe Charlie has a girlfriend."
Jasper gasps, "No, not the stache!"
I laugh.
"C'mon, Jasper," I hold up a folded napkin. "Do you honestly think he did this?" I wave said napkin around.
Alice shakes her head in agreement.
"No, the Chief is no fru-fru guy," Jasper moans. "He's got a lady."
"And he bought a new bed with a very nice bedspread and pillows. He doesn't know nice."
Edward defends, "What's wrong with him having a love interest? He's not dead."
"What's wrong is that he's keeping it a secret," I argue and cross my arms over my chest.
"Well, maybe he's not ready to tell you," Edward suggests.
"Well, why is he making such a big deal out of this?"
Alice smiles. "Unless there's more to it. Didn't you say that his case was going to take him away overnight … at the Rez?"
I nod and tap my chin "... I may have overnights … Right, Edward?"
"Yeah, he did say that."
"Well, it looks like the chief has plans for a romp in the hay," she says with satisfaction.
I shake my head. "Oh, my." I bite my lip. "I wonder how long this has been going on?"
Edward insists, "I've not heard anything about him dating."
Alice points. "But if he's down at the Rez, how would anyone know here?"
I nod. "Good point. If anyone goes to La Push, they go to the beach."
"Then, no one would suspect anything," Jasper mumbles, "Imagine that ... he has a girlfriend."
"Maybe, you can get him on a citizen's arrest for violation of curfew, Jazz?"
He huffs, "I can't tell you how many times he did that to me. I should follow him and catch him in the act."
Edward grouses, "Don't be childish. I was kidding."
I ponder, "I wonder who she is?"
"Deductive reasoning. If he's going to La Push, then she must be part of the Tribe." Alice relays. "Who do you know that's single?"
"I just moved back, so I don't know who's available."
Alice pushes, "But what about before? Anyone your dad would want to date?"
"Well, there were a few ladies," I say.
"Hey, Mrs. Cope is single," Jasper adds.
Edward stares at him, "The woman has always been single. She has to be in her sixties, Jazz. And how would you know?"
He shrugs. "I saw her a few days ago at the grocery store. She grabbed my ear."
Alice giggles, "Jazzy doesn't see age."
I ask, "She's still working at the high school?"
Jasper answers, "Yeah, she still runs the office. I told her about the store, and she said for you to go visit her, Edward. He was her pet."
"I was not," Edward protests.
"Naw, Edward could do no wrong according to her. He could get out of any class, as long as Copey was there."
Edward rolls his eyes.
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After cleaning the kitchen, we sit in the living room. Alice is on Jasper's lap in Dad's recliner, while Edward and I curl together on the sofa.
We hear car doors slam and Dad walks in with Sue Clearwater behind him. Jasper jumps up throwing Alice onto the floor.
All I can do is stare at Sue.
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Whoo hoo. It all makes sense. Charlie has a girlfriend, and he wants Bella to have a boyfriend. What do you think?
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