Chapter 15 – Trouble in Paradise
Edward was still on guard about Jake. Every time I stepped out of my room to get my next client, Edward was in my face, bugging me about getting married and moving in with him right away. Each time I deflected, he became more agitated. He didn't know Jake like I did, and he was overreacting. He might have been in charge of taking care of his family, but he wasn't in charge of my problems, at least not yet.
It started out with him saying, "I'd just rather have you close by, so I can look after you. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you." I tried to explain to him that I'd be fine, but things just got progressively worse, and his passive-aggressive side seemed to come out. He pretended to change the subject and started pressuring me to get married immediately. I was sure it was because I had already agreed that we should live at his house after we wed. For some reason, he didn't seem to think I'd catch on that the real reason he was pushing it was to get me out of my house as soon as possible.
"I want a wedding, and that's going to take time to plan. You'll just have to wait to marry me, Edward. I don't want to rush into this," I said for what felt like the tenth time.
"What do you mean, 'rush into this,' Bella? I didn't think we were rushing anything. We have the rings. We've talked about starting our life together, why wait?" Nothing I said could make him see that I wasn't going to marry him so fast, just so he could get me out of my house.
By the end of the day, he was at his wits end with me. He'd even gone so far as to tell me I was being completely unreasonable about wanting to have more than a quick courthouse wedding, because there was no one to come to it for me, anyway. That had earned him a few glares from everyone and a shocked gasp from me that he would say such a thing. Then I got mad.
"Do yourself a favor and just stop talking. I was contemplating marrying you sooner rather than later, but you just nixed that idea, buddy. I do have friends and people I consider family whom I'd like to have at my wedding, and I'll bet everyone agrees with me that you should keep your trap shut, before your foot gets stuck any further down your throat!" I didn't know where this assertively absurd, idiotic Edward had come from, but I'd had enough of him.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."
"You didn't mean to upset me? You just pretty much rubbed my parents' death in my face and told me I don't deserve a real wedding. I'm about two seconds away from throwing this ring in your face, Edward!"
"You know that's not what I meant. We don't have to get married right now if you don't want to, but you insisting on staying at your house is ridiculous, Bella. Jake could show up at any time or be lying in wait as we speak. You can't trust him."
"Jake was just mowing my lawn! It's not the first time he's done it, and it probably won't be the last time, either!"
"Why would you let him mow your lawn? You can't do that. I'm going to call Emmett, and he can help me move you out tonight. I don't want you going back there. It's not an option," he said, like he was putting his foot down."
"What?" I snapped. I was ready to hit the jerk.
"I'm sure everyone here agrees with me that you shouldn't let Jake anywhere near you. Staying at your house is just reckless behavior, Bella. Why can't you see that? You obviously aren't thinking this through. You're too emotionally attached to the house to make a sound decision. I understand that it was your father's house-"
I cut off the condescending jerk. "Edward Cullen, you shut your mouth right now! As of this moment, I'm not speaking to you. I suggest you do yourself a favor and do the same."
My day pretty much sucked after that, and once it came time for me to go home, I hesitated. Edward's talk of Jake lying in wait for me had freaked me out a little. I probably would have asked to stay with Edward, but he was driving me up the wall, and I was still pissed about the no family and courthouse wedding comments. That really cut me to the quick. I think the main reason I was going home was so I didn't have to listen to him tell me how stupid I was and how I shouldn't be going home…ever again. He was hell bent on keeping me away from Jake, and though I knew Jake was crazy and a little unstable, I was pretty sure I could handle him. He really could be reasonable, when he wasn't being a horny, obsessive dick. I wondered how Billy was, because he usually came over whenever Jake did. I needed to check in on him soon.
When I got home, I double checked the locks on all the windows and doors. I also made sure my porch screen door was locked as well, before looking in all my closets. I wanted to hit Edward for freaking me out. It was difficult to get settled into bed and fall asleep. Every little creak in the house seemed so much louder tonight than any other, and I was cursing Edward for planting ideas in my head. I really didn't believe Jake would try and sneak in. He wasn't that nuts. I'd never had problems falling asleep in my house before. I thought it silly, really, and ended up taking a sleeping pill I had left over from a trip to knock me out.
The next morning, I nearly jumped out of my skin, screaming at the top of my lungs, when Jake woke me up by shaking me.
"She's up, she's up! Bella, honey, are you alright?" Billy asked.
"Yes, I think so." I looked around confused, trying to figure out why they were in my room. I saw the time and freaked out. It was nearly noon.
"OH, MY GOSH, I'm so late!"
"Don't worry about that, sweetie," Billy said worriedly and put his hand on my forehead. "You don't seem to be running a fever. Are you feeling alright?"
I glanced around the room, as if it had the answer. Jake was at the foot of my bed, looking a haggard mess. I must have really worried them. He was holding a bottle of water and a pill bottle. "I have some pain pills for you." He held them out to me with the glass of water. I took the bottles from him, but set the pills on the nightstand.
"Thank you for the water. I'm fine, though."
Billy gave me that frown that said he didn't believe me and wished I'd tell him what I was hiding. "You had me worried sick. I was driving into town to get some groceries and passed the house, only to see your car outside in the middle of a weekday, and then we knocked and knocked, without any answer. Thank heavens I had my key on me. Jake was about ready to bust through a window. Then, you don't wake up when we call to you. Jake had to nearly shake you off your bed to get you to crack an eye open. Please, tell me what's going on, honey."
"I'm sorry I worried you. I'm fine, really. I was having trouble falling asleep last night, so I took some sleeping medicine. I must've taken it too late."
"Do you still feel drowsy?" Jake asked worried.
I yawned and stretched. "Just a bit. I'm such a dork for taking it too late."
Billy's eyes searched mine, trying to determine if I was lying. I knew he knew on some level that Jake bugged me, and that I kept it from him, so he knew me well enough to know that I wasn't keeping anything from him now.
I heard my phone ringing, and Billy handed it to me. It was Edward, and from the looks of my call and text logs, he had been frantically trying to get ahold of me.
"Hello," I answered, trying to clear the rest of the sleep out of my throat.
"Bella, why haven't you answered any of my calls? Are you alright? Where are you? I've been trying to reach you. Are you still mad at me? I wish you wouldn't be. Please, don't ignore me."
I let out an exasperated sigh, and then I answered him. "I was sleeping. I took a sleeping pill, and I've just woken up."
"You shouldn't drive if you've taken a sleeping pill. It's dangerous. Do you want me to come get you? Are you up to working or…?"
"I'm fine," I started to say, but then Jake spoke, blowing the whole mess up.
"Do you want me to get you some breakfast, Bella?" Jake asked.
"Who's that? Is that Jake? Please, tell me you're alright. If you're not and you can't say it, just tell him you'd like pancakes, and I'll know to come get you."
"I think I can get my own bowl of cereal, but thank you for the offer." With Billy sitting right next to me, I didn't want to explain to him why I had to convince my boyfriend that I didn't need to be rescued from his son.
"I can get it for you," Jake said, running out of the room before I could stop him.
"I'll be in later, Edward, what's my afternoon schedule like?"
"You had two hair appointments you missed this morning, but Angela took them for you. Only Grandpa Eddie was unofficially on your massage books, so you're not missing anything yet. You do have an appointment at one thirty."
"Can you call and see if I can push her to two o'clock? Is there any room for that?"
"Yes, I'll call and arrange it. Do you want me to come get you? I can come get you right now. I don't want you anywhere near him. Did you let him in your house? Did he break in?"
"No, he didn't."
"Why on earth would you let that man in? You obvious aren't thinking straight! I'm coming to get you now. This is unacceptable behavior, Bella."
"There's not enough time for you to get here and get me back before two o'clock. I'm just going to eat and get ready, and then I'll head in. I'll be there before my two o'clock appointment." I needed to get off this call, before I said something he'd regret.
"Here you are, Bella," Jacob said, as he brought in a tray of food.
"Thank you, Jake. I have to go, Edward. I'll see you later." I hung up, before he could freak out over nothing. They didn't see the side of Jake that was sometimes kind and caring, so they didn't understand my hesitance over their "shoot first and ask questions later" policy with him.
Billy took the tray from Jake and told me to sit up. "I know you want out of bed, but humor an old man and take it slow this morning. The food's already here, no reason to fuss about it," he said, predicting my protest and cutting it off before the start. "Can you tell me why you were having such a hard time sleeping? Is it anything we can help with?" Billy asked sincerely.
My eyes darted to Jake, but he looked back wide-eyed, completely clueless of the stress he had caused me yesterday. If he wasn't such a mindless idiot, I would've strangled him years ago. Of course, he proved his stupidity by moving onto the bed next to me, getting way too close.
"Jake, give her some space. She doesn't need you in her face."
"I'm just worried about her. I think if I was closer and could hold her, she'd feel better."
He went to put his arm over my shoulder, ignoring my glower, but his father stopped him in his tracks. "Jacob Black, you get off that young lady's bed right now." Billy's glare left no room for argument. When it came to his dad, Jake was obedient and moved, pouting.
"Thank you, Billy. I really am fine."
"I know you think so, honey, but Jake and I are going to drive you in to work once you're ready."
"You don't have to-"
I was cut off fast. "Bella, I won't risk losing you over something as dumb as a bad night's sleep. I'm taking you in, and Jake will follow us in your truck. I'm sure you'll be fine by the time you're ready to come home, but if you're not, please don't hesitate to call me. You know I love you like a daughter, and you're always worth the drive to keep you safe."
I burst into tears and hugged him hard. He made me miss my dad so much.
I was nearly done eating, when the doorbell rang. It turned out that I'd accidentally had a new set of towels for the salon sent to the house, along with the cabinet I'd ordered to hold them.
"This box is flat," I said, looking at it bewildered.
"Was it not supposed to be?" Billy asked me.
"No, it's a cabinet. It should be a big rectangle."
"It looks like assembly is required," Jake said, squatting down next to it.
"We can help you out with that," Billy offered.
"It was supposed to go to the shop. I made the mistake of not marking the right address, when I ordered it online."
"Don't worry, I've got it, Bella," Jake said, picking up the cabinet with a grunt. I had a feeling it was heavier than it looked. I had planned on having Edward, Jasper and Laurant move it into place when it came, but unfortunately, it had not been shipped to the right address or put together like it was in the picture.
"I'll grab some tools." Billy headed for the storage closet with my dad's old tools. The guys put everything in the back of my truck, and once I was ready, we headed off to the shop. I worried at how Jake would be received when we got there. They weren't his biggest fans. I hoped Billy's presence would keep them all under control.
The drive seemed to go much faster than usual. I think it was my nerves that sped it up, though Billy did tend to speed.
Billy and I entered the shop first, carrying the boxes with the towels, and I gave everyone a nervous smile. "You all remember Billy."
"It's nice to see you again," Edward said with a smile, but it turned to a grimace, when Jake came in the door.
"Do you need a hand with that? I'm sure the guys could help you carry it," I said, offering up some help for Jake.
He grinned widely and seemed to do a little more flexing as he passed me. "No, I've got it. Do you want it in the back room?"
"Yes, by the washer, please."
"No problem, babe."
Everyone's eyes narrowed at him. Thankfully, Billy's eyes worriedly followed his stubborn son, so I was able to shake my head at them and signal for them to cool down.
"I'm going to go get the toolbox, honey. I'll be right back, and then Jake and I can get that thing put together for you," Billy unknowingly explained their presence.
I rushed to the back room where Jake was, to make sure everything was out of the way. He came up behind me and ran his hand down my back, when I bent over to move a laundry basket.
"Jake, do you remember what happened when you touched me here last time?"
I turned around and saw him pouting. "There's no need to get so defensive, babe," he brushed my hair back from my face.
"Please, just keep your hands to yourself. I don't want to yell at you in front of your dad, and you know why."
Jake sighed and nodded, but then he pulled me in for a quick brotherly hug, as Billy came back into the room.
"Alright, you two, enough of that. Jake, we've got work to do. I believe you do, too, young lady," Billy teased.
"I do, thanks for this," I said, hugging Billy and then leaving him with a huge smile. Jake was well behaved around him most of the time and could even be nice and helpful. I knew no one else in the shop would see it that way, though.
I made it to the front counter, before I was accosted. "Bella, what the heck are you doing with him, and why was he at your house this morning?" Edward demanded.
"He and Billy stopped and checked in on me, when they saw I was still home. They're all I have left in the way of family, and I know you don't like Jake, but he comes with Billy, and I'm not giving Billy up." Edward glared toward the back of the shop.
Tanya crossed her arms. "I heard what you said to Jake. I don't know what you're playing at with him, but it needs to stop."
"It's none of your business. I didn't ask you guys to butt in," I growled, frustrated. "You all had better treat them nicely, since they're here doing me a favor. Now, get back to work," I snapped and tried to calm myself down. I looked up who my next client was and called them back, ready to get out of everyone's sight. I was tired and cranky and ready to bite someone's head off. They just didn't understand my family dynamic with Jake and Billy, and right now, I was in no mood to explain it to them or defend my position.