CHAPTER 10

08/10/2016

To Bella,

Even though I have some major changes to make within myself, I am quite pleased I still have you to write to. Anger management was good for me, so I have started seeing a psychologist, not just for my anger issues, but I have other demons to sort through too. It is something I should have done years ago, but it wasn't until I had too much time to think that I realised that I was being haunted.

Bella, I am not an innocent party here, I do need to beg for forgiveness. So how about we admit we both handled things irrationally and move on, what has been done is done. Let's stop begging each other for forgiveness, deal?

So, I am pleased to read what you say about yourself, but I'm certain there is more to you than just being a crazy cat lady minus the cats. I'd really love to read your writing too, but I suppose that is up to whether you're a leap of faith type of woman, or a baby steps. Either way, I really enjoy reading your letters, so I know I'd really enjoy reading about a universe you have created.

So I've resettled in Seattle just fine, just like before I was sent to prison, I own a house here, so it wasn't too hard. But after experiencing the toxic nature of this city first hand, I am considering moving. I'm not sure where, or even if for that matter, I'll keep you informed of my decision anyway.

And my file… well. I distinctly recall you mentioning you will hand it to me upon my release, but I'm not sure if I'm ready for a face-to-face encounter. Like I said, I'd just like to work on me for a while, and I'd like to savour our rapport for as long as possible. Don't take that to mean I want you to send it to me either, it just means, hold on to it.

Waiting excitedly,

Jasper Whitlock

I smile once again at his written words. It is the seventh time I have read the since receiving the letter yesterday, but I just can't seem to help myself.

"Hurry up woman, time to go."

I run down the stairs and fly out the front door, sliding into the front seat of her car in record time.

"About time."

We wave bye to Emmett, and take off down the street. "So, has Emmett mentioned anything to you lately?"

"About what?" I ask.

"He's just been really stressed and uptight lately, I just wanted to know."

I raise my eyebrows at her, "do I look like I consort with criminals?"

"Please bitch, I know you write to Jasper," she retorts smug.

"Actually, bitch, Jasper was cleared of all charges and was found innocent, he was released four months ago."

"Really?" I nod, "that's great news. So have you met him yet?"

"No," I scoff.

"Why the hell not? he's a good person, you wouldn't be writing to him if he wasn't, so what's the problem?"

"We just want what we have going now, that's all."

"You have too many hang-ups Bella."

"Actually, Jasper has just as many as me."

She doesn't bring the subject up again, which is fine by me.

She pulls up at the front of her old building and waste no time in approaching the man, Felix at his bulletproof window.

"Hi Felix," she greets cheerily.

"Hi Rose, on time as usual."

"Well, you know me, I'd rather starve than not pay my bills."

"C'mon Rose, I'm not a Nazi, if you need to put a payment off, we'd understand."

"Well, luckily for me, business is great and I'm neither starving, or in need of a month off." She places a wad of green in the drawer and pushes in to the other side.

He writes up a hand-written receipt and pushes it back to her, "see you next month Rose."

We walk back to her car silently and it isn't until we are nearing the bookstore that she speaks. "He gives me the creeps, I don't trust him one bit."

"Felix?" she nods, "then why get a loan through them?" I ask, genuinely curious.

"Because I had a plan, and the banks denied me. I missed you and I wanted to come back home. Emmett was due to be released, so I wanted to have a nice, stable environment set up for him and I was sick of having a boss. I am a fully qualified mechanic with a degree in business, I shouldn't be working under someone, someone should be working under me."

"And I'm glad you are back Rose, but we could have taken out a mortgage on the house to pay for it. The interest would've been cheaper and you wouldn't have to put up with skeeze-balls like Felix."

"I could have Bella, but that is home, our home… your home. I couldn't take that from you Bell, especially if the business went south, I couldn't risk it."