Chapter 14 – Adjustments

Edward seemed a little uneasy the whole way back to Port Angeles. I convinced him to leave his stuff, so he could have a set of clothing at my house, just in case. The "just in case" thing worked at his house, because I had to come to work and was right there by his house. He probably would never "just in case" anything at my house, because it wouldn't make sense for him to randomly drive an hour out of his way. Still, I convinced him he needed to leave his stuff at my place. Turnabout was fair play.

Edward brought the weed whacker into the shop to give to Jasper. He didn't think it would be a good idea to leave it in the back of the truck, where it would be at risk of being stolen.

"Thanks, man," Jasper said, taking it. "What's with the long face? Did something happen?"

I said no at the same time as Edward said yes.

"Well, which is it?" Rose asked.

"Nothing happened," I started, and then Angela pointed at my hand.

"Is that a ring?" she squealed.

I looked at my hand and then back to Edward with a big grin. "Well, yeah, that happened."

"So, you're engaged?" Jessica asked excitedly.

I nodded yes and looked back at Edward. He was frowning at Jasper, who wore a worried look.

"What's going on besides that?" Jasper asked, pointing at my hand.

"Nothing," I stated, just as Edward said, "Jake."

"What?" Rose and Tanya were at our sides instantly.

"It was nothing," I sighed.

"He was at your house."

"Locked outside."

"Shouting and upset that we were engaged."

"Wait, this Jake guy knew you were engaged before we did?" Laurant sounded offended. "Is this the same Jake who was grabbing all over you a while back?"

"Yes," Edward said, exasperated. "She doesn't see the problem. Apparently, he comes by her house. I can't have her staying there."

"You're not having me stay anywhere, Edward. It's my house, and I'm not going to let some horny delusional fool keep me away from it."

"I thought he was in the hospital?" Jessica asked.

"He was, but only for a short time. He wasn't hurt badly, and the idiot thinks it was because 'the lady ninja's were trying to jump him into their gang, because he's so agile' or some crap like that." I added Jake's karate chop at the end like he had.

"Agile," Tanya scoffed and shook her head. I had a feeling she thought Jake was anything but agile.

"So, what are you going to do about him?" Angela asked.

"Nothing, he's mostly harmless," I tried to brush it off.

"That's bullshit, Bella, we all saw the way he was treating you here. We threw him out for a reason!" Jasper was getting riled up.

"Excuse me." I quickly slipped off into the bathroom and stayed there, trying to calm myself down. I was hoping that, if I hid in there long enough, everyone would forget what we had been talking about. I didn't mind talking about my engagement. I just wished they would drop the issue with Jake. I had my pepper spray, and like Rose, I usually had a good pair of shears on me that I could use if I had to.

There was a light knock on the door. "Bella, your first appointment's here." It was Laurant, and I was thankful that there wasn't going to be time for people to push the Jake issue anymore. I slipped out and looked around for Edward. He was busy signing someone in and didn't see me wave my client back. I did my best to relax as I worked. It was amazing how my stress could bleed into other people.

I needed to focus on anything other than Jake. I knew he was upset, but he needed to get over it. If I absolutely had to, I would talk to Billy, but I really didn't want to do that. Billy had nearly laid him out the one time I'd told him about Jake coming on so strongly. Because he'd gotten so upset, he'd ended up in the hospital with a mild heart attack. I shook my head at the memory. I just couldn't do that to him again. I didn't want to risk his health, because Jake was an idiot. It was why I'd always handled things myself after that.

I breathed a sigh of relief, when I heard the soft snores of my client. I was thankful that I was still able to do my job effectively. The massage playlist I had playing ended, and I knew the time was up. I gently roused the woman and left her to get dressed. I slipped into the back kitchen unnoticed and grabbed myself a drink of water.

I saw my client step out of the room, and I quickly greeted her and led her to the front desk to check out. I helped her set up her next appointment and checked the time. I had another massage coming in ten more minutes. I rushed to my room and got to scrubbing. I made sure the room was sanitized and freshened up myself a bit.

I glanced at my watch and saw it was time for my next client, someone who went by JP, to be there. When I stepped out to call them in, I saw Edward standing stiffly with his arms crossed, blocking the view of someone. I was curious, but I didn't want to fall behind schedule. If my client was running late, I'd see what was going on.

"Is JP here?" I called.

"Yes, now, out of my way, boy," I heard Grandpa Jerry say and give Edward a little shove with his walker.

I tried to give him a pleasant smile. I didn't know what he was up to, but I really wasn't in the mood.

"Don't look so shocked. Now, where is this room of yours?" Jerry griped.

I led him back and asked him what he needed me to work on.

"Emmett said you went to school for therapy."

"Yes, I believe I told you that as well."

"Well, my hip has been stiff. If you're really educated, you'll know how to fix it."

"I'll look at it and see what I can do. I'm guessing you didn't bring your medical file with you?"

His face screwed up, disgruntled.

"I want to fully examine the hip before I work it. I'll need you to get undressed." I handed him a sheet and stepped out. Edward was standing anxiously at the door. "You should go in and help your grandfather get undressed and up on the table. I'll need him face up," I informed him.

"Bella, you don't-"

"I'm a big girl, Edward. I don't need you to fight my battles."

"I'm sorry, I-"

I cut him off with a kiss and pushed him toward the door. "Go help your grandpa, please."

He slipped in, and I waited a little impatiently outside the door. Everyone's eyes took turns darting to me. Edward finally came out, letting me know Jerry was ready. Out of the fire and into the lion's den… Today was going to be long. I picked up the form I had all my clients fill out.

"Which hip?" I asked in a no-nonsense tone.

"Left," he huffed.

"Are you in pain right now?"

He grunted.

"Is that a yes?"

He scowled at me.

"Jerry, you're going to have to talk to me if we're going to work together. Now, where are you hurting?"

"Right now, my shoulder, but my hip is my main concern. I don't want you getting distracted."

"Have you been having headaches?"

"I said you needed to focus on my hip," he snapped.

I walked up to the head of the table and looked down at him. "It's very possible that your hip is affecting your shoulder."

"Don't be-"

I poked a pressure point on his hip. "Do you feel it now?" I asked and ran my hand over the bundled muscles in his shoulder.

He grunted, "You're supposed to make it feel better."

"I need to determine what the problem is before I can fix it. Since you didn't bring your medical records, I'll have to do it manually."

He sneered at me, and I knew it was going to be a long hour. I turned on my most relaxing playlist, for me, not him, and I told him to close his eyes.

"How are you supposed to figure out what's wrong?"

"I'll be able to feel it in your body by the way it reacts to my touch. Do your best to relax, so I can concentrate on my work."

His one hip was way out of place, making his whole body sit a bit out of whack. I ignored Jerry's huffing and grunting and focused on the feel of the muscles under my hands. With a bit of work, I got his hip loosened up and shifted back into place, and then I made my way up to his shoulders and scalp. I went down his arms and paid special attention to the parts of his body that would suffer from him hunching over his walker. He really needed to adjust it.

When he started to snore, I didn't crack a smile like I usually did. I didn't feel accomplished, because I knew he would most likely dismiss my talent. The playlist ended, letting me know the hour was up, but I quickly hit repeat and stepped out to check my schedule.

"Are you alright?" Edward practically jumped on me.

"I'm fine, he's asleep. I'm just double checking to see if I can leave him for a little bit. I'll need you to help me get him off the table. I don't want him shifting his weight wrong and undoing everything I've just done."

The room was open for the next thirty minutes, and I had Edward help me adjust the walker up another notch. When I finally returned to wake Jerry, he wore a big smile in his sleep, but when I woke him, it fell away fast. "What's he doing here?"

"He's going to help me get you off the table without shifting your hip or overworking your shoulder."

I had Edward help me sit him up, and I secured the sheet around Jerry's waist. "Help him get dressed as much as possible while sitting. Don't have him shift from side to side or pull his pants all the way up, until he's standing and can do it in one movement." I nodded for Edward to get to work on that and slipped into the room's bathroom to wash my hands. I knocked lightly on the door. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah," Edward answered.

"Jerry, could you please stand at your walker. I want to see how your posture is affecting your hip while using it."

He pouted, but he did as I said. I walked around him, shifting his stance and how he held the walker. I could only guess they'd gotten the thing secondhand and didn't have it fitted to him. "Do you feel the difference in how to hold the walker now?"

He let out a huff.

"Jerry?" I prompted again.

"Yeah," he grumped.

"Can you please take a few steps across the room, so I can see your gait?"

He did so without protest.

I adjusted his body and told him to make note of how he was standing and moving, and it would help. "I should see you back in two days to readjust you."

He let out another huff. "Ready to rob me blind," he fussed.

"I treat family for free," I said, not looking up from my file.

"Family?" he sounded shocked. I looked up at him and smiled. His eyes settled on the ring on my hand, and he shook his head. "You two don't know what you're doing."

"That may be, but we're doing it." I opened the door for him to go out. "Edward, could you get him scheduled for me? I need to get the room ready for my next client."

"Sure thing," he said and leaned over, kissing me lightly.

Jerry's eyes darted back to me several times, but he held his tongue. I had a feeling that was a bit of a miracle.

I was just finishing up, when I heard Alice's voice. I rushed out of the room to see her pouting at Edward, and Jasper was shaking his head behind her.

"Please, Edward, mom said the bidding is up to forty-eight thousand dollars."

"What's going on here?" Jerry asked, sounding annoyed. I was sure he was ready to get out of the girly salon, before anyone else saw him.

"Alice posted pieces of Elizabeth's jewelry for sale online, and Edward refuses to let her have them," I informed him.

"They're sentimental heirlooms," Edward snapped. I think he thought Jerry was going to take Alice's side. Honestly, there was no way to tell.

"You selfish little-" Jerry started, with his eyes focused on Alice.

"It's forty-eight thousand dollars for something he'll never use again!"

"I beg to differ," I held up my hand, waving my engagement ring at her.

She gasped in shock. "No, you have to give it back!"

"Alice, I think you should leave," Jasper cut in, and you would have thought he'd slapped her.

"But-"

"I'm the one bidding. It's bogus, to keep you from selling anything. You should go, now," he said, shaking his head at her, and then he went to call back another client.

"So, there's no money?" she whimpered.

"No, there isn't," Edward reaffirmed.

"My car," she nearly cried.

"Will be repossessed," I might have said that a little too smugly. "You need to buy within your means," I added, so I sounded less like a bitch, but I didn't think it worked.

To make things even more fun, Eddie decided to show up. "What's he doing here?" he said, glaring at Jerry.

"He came in for an appointment with me."

"He better not have given you any trouble."

"He didn't, aren't you supposed to come in this afternoon?"

"You see her, too?" Jerry asked shocked.

"No," Eddie said defiantly.

I giggled. "I don't keep him on the books, but he clocks time with me, too." I gave Eddie a little hip bump. "I like to take care of my family. Edward is my next mark. He's got those tense shoulders that seem to run in your family."

Edward rubbed his own shoulder, as if checking what I'd said was true. I took over where his hands were and kissed his neck.

"What do we have here?" Eddie said, catching sight of my ring.

My grin hurt my face, as Edward pulled me into his arms.

"I hope you don't mind, but I've decided to use Gran's set for Bella's engagement ring."

Eddie's eyes looked glassy for a minute, and he pulled me into his arms tightly and kissed my cheek. "I don't mind at all. It's nice to see it on a pretty hand again." He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket. "Look what you're doing to me," he said with a chuckle and then turned to Jerry. "You'd better not give these kids any trouble."

Jerry shocked us all by shaking his head no. "She's fine. This place, though..." he glared at the walls.

"It makes him happy," I pointed out and wrapped my arms around Edward's waist. "I won't let him feel like he's stuck here. If he ever wants to do something else with his life, he knows he has my support. I've made that clear, but for now, he's happy here, and that's all that matters."

Jerry frowned, but he didn't say anything else. I think it shocked us all that he was being so accepting…well, as excepting as Jerry could be. "Come on, I'll walk you out," Edward said and waved him toward the exit.

As soon as he was out the door, Eddie pulled me into a hug again. "I'm so happy for you both. I knew you were the one for him. I'm just glad you had enough brass to make a move."

"Well, you scared me with that threat of your nurse making a move," I scowled playfully.

"It worked, didn't it?"

"Yes, thank you for the push."

Edward came back in and checked his watch. "I'm sorry I'm running late. I didn't want to leave Bella alone with-"

"No need to explain. It looks like she's worked her charm on Jerry. Let's go, I can't wait to brag about my grandson getting engaged." I laughed at the giddy step he did heading for the door.

I kissed Edward goodbye and rushed to get my next client. I'd have to give them a discount to apologize for the delay. Keeping our customers happy was the best way to keep them coming back, even the cranky ones.