Chapter 24 – Location, Location, Location

Things stayed unsettled after the window breaking incident. It seemed like we were all on high alert. It had become obvious that we didn't know who had done the damage, and it was slowly driving me mad. The attack felt personal, but maybe it wasn't. It was on the shop, not my house, and I thanked heavens for that.

Eddie seemed determined to take our minds off of it. Every time we turned around, he was taking out the punch bowl, the silver or something else of Grandma Elizabeth's and suggesting we use it for the reception. I honestly didn't want a fancy wedding or reception. I had a lot of mixed feeling about it all. I really loved Edward and wanted to marry him, but it hurt to think about my mother not being there to help me get ready, or not having my father to walk me down the aisle. Billy would happily stand in for my father, but I had no one to help me dress and give me advice like my mother would have.

"I have something for you," Edward said, handing me a stack of magazines.

"Bridal magazines? Where did you get these?" I asked. He scratched the back of his neck and then looked out our new front window, where his mother was helping Grandpa Jerry into the car. She had come to pick him up, but didn't come inside. "Your mom?" I scoffed in disbelief.

He shrugged. "She heard we were engaged and thought you might like them."

I looked down at the stack, confused. "I don't understand."

Edward chuckled and kissed my head. "There's nothing to understand, they're just magazines. You can look at them or chuck them, it's up to you. She's was just trying to be nice, Bella."

I was tempted to chuck them, but for some reason, Edward felt it was important enough to pass them on to me, so I set them aside and figured I could always flip through them later.

The day was coming to a close, when my phone rang. I didn't think anything of it, until I saw the caller ID flash Jacob's name. I quickly hit ignore. Edward must have picked up by my scowl that something was wrong, so when the phone immediately started to ring again, he pulled it from my hand and walked into the back room. He did it so casually that it didn't draw attention to him.

"Hello," I heard him answer coolly. "She doesn't want to speak to you. Don't call her phone again." Jake must have said something back to him, because Edward's eyes narrowed, and his lips pulled tight. "I'm her fiancé, that's who. You've done enough damage, I will not allow you to traumatize her anymore." Edward scoffed and gritted his teeth. "You didn't damage the house or the mower, and it'll take a lot more than a little paint to make restitution for the emotional distress you've caused her. Even if she allows you to, it doesn't mean she'll be obligated to forgive you." Edward was listening to Jake, his nostrils flared. "Fine," he gritted out. "Don't call her again, and to be sure to prove I'm not a controlling or possessive jerk, I'll make sure Bella tells Billy when and if she's ready to talk to you. Don't call her again until he gives you the okay."

He hung up, not saying another word, and then he pulled out his phone and stepped out the back door. I heard him say Billy's name, before the door shut. I could only guess he was filling him in on what Jake had said.

I had a customer appointment, so I couldn't wait around to ask him what he'd said to Billy. In fact, I'd nearly forgotten about that whole mess, until later that night, when I was getting ready for bed. Edward's pocket started to ring with my ring tone. He looked down at his pants startled. I was sure he'd forgotten that he had my phone as well. He pulled it out and checked the caller ID, before he passed me the phone. It was Angela.

"Hey, Bella, I was wondering if you hired Jake to come paint your house. He's here with supplies, and I think he may be drunk, should I call the cops?"

"Paint my house?" What the heck was Jake thinking?

When I mentioned paint, Edward rushed back into the bedroom with his toothbrush hanging out of his mouth. He took my phone and wiped his mouth on the shirt he'd taken off. I probably should've been offended by the way he'd snatched the phone away from me, but his naked abs convinced me to let it slide. I had a feeling that he'd be getting away with a lot in our marriage if he ever found out they were my weakness. Of course, Edward wasn't one to get himself into trouble that often. He was a sweetheart, so hopefully, he'd only use his ab powers for good. Otherwise, I'd be doomed to a life of wifely servitude. Though, being Edward's servant sounded like it could be fun…

Edward's voice brought me out of my dirty thoughts of being his wife. "Bella, are you okay with it? We'd make sure he did it sober-"

"Who did what?" I asked, confused.

"I…um…" he looked at me like he was lost. He held up the phone, "Didn't Angela tell you?"

Right…I knew I was supposed to be focusing on something other than Edward's bare chest. The gears in my head kicked back into action. "Jake wants to paint my house?"

"Yes, he's there now, but I called Billy while you were distracted." His ears pinked, when he said distracted. I wondered if he knew what was distracting me. "Billy's going to pick him up, but we need to know what to do with the supplies. If you want to let him paint the house, then they'll just put them in the shed; otherwise, they'll take them with them when they leave."

"Why does Jake want to paint my house?" I didn't really expect Edward to know the answer to that question.

"I'm not sure what his real motives are, but I don't think he'd actually do any damage to your house. It's up to you to decide if you're willing to let him paint it."

I was stunned. I wasn't sure what Jake was playing at, but I knew Billy would know, so I called him on Edward's phone, since he was still talking to Angela on mine.

"Edward, is everything alright? I'm on my way right now," Billy answered his phone.

"It's actually me," I said.

"Oh, hey, sweetie, what do you need?"

"Do you know what the heck Jake is doing? Why does he want to paint my house?"

"I'm afraid that may have been my indirect idea. Edward told you that Jake crashed the mower into the porch. It hadn't done any damage, but it did scratch some of the paint. Jake isn't doing well. I started pushing him to do the twelve steps."

"Twelve steps?"

"To sobriety. It obviously hasn't taken, since he's harassing your tenant, drunker than a skunk. One of the steps is to make peace and restitution where possible."

"Do you think him painting my house is a good idea?" I asked, worried. I didn't want to give Jake any hope.

"If you don't want him to do it, I'll stop him. Otherwise, I'm willing to keep an eye on him while he works. Your house could use a fresh coat, honey."

"I know, but I don't want him painting my house and then showing up here, thinking we're best friends again. I don't want him to touch me." My breath hitched, as I said the last part.

"He's not going to touch you. I won't let him, and I'll make sure he knows that his painting your house doesn't take him off your shit list. I think you should let him do it. I'll keep an eye on him while he works. I know you don't owe him anything, but I think it might be good for him to do it."

"Okay, if you keep an eye on him and make sure he knows to stay away from me, he can do it."

"Alright, Little Bell, he knows he's not allowed to call you until I give him the say so. I won't until you tell me, and I don't want you to feel pressured. I think a little space is a good idea. I'm hoping I can get him through the twelve steps and into counselling. I don't want you to worry about trying to make peace with him. In fact, instead of you calling me, why don't I call you and let you know when I think contact will be okay. Once I give you the all clear, then you can let me know when or if you're ready, okay, sweetheart?"

"Thank you," I whispered, holding back tears.

"Just because you won't be calling Jake, doesn't mean you can't call me. I expect lots of updates on the wedding and shop. Edward told me it was vandalized. Is there any progress on that case?"

"No, unfortunately not. We have no clue who did it."

"You need to install some security cameras, Little Bell. No one gets away with hurting my little girl. I'll get on the phone with the police department and make sure they know who you are."

"I don't-"

"No, Bella, you should've told them you were Charlie Swan's daughter to start with. There's a code among officers. They don't become public servants for the money. They look out for their own, especially the ones who've been left behind. It's not up for discussion."

I let out a sigh and looked over at Edward, who was pulling a shirt on. "Hey, Edward, where are you going?"

"I'm going to meet Billy at the house," he answered.

"Do you need Edward to help you?" I asked Billy.

"No, I'm almost to the house as it is. I don't think Jake will give me too much trouble, once I tell him you've agreed to let him paint the house when he's sober."

"Thank you, for dealing with this for me."

"We're family, honey. I just wish it hadn't gotten so out of hand. Promise to never keep something like that from me again," Billy pleaded.

"I promise."

"I love you, Bella, have a good night."

"I love you, too, goodnight," I said and hung up.

I walked across the room and tugged on the bottom of Edward's shirt, asking him to take it off. "Billy said he'd handle it on his own."

He gave me a soft smile and pulled his shirt off. I ran my hands down his chest, stepping closer to him. His arms came up around me, and he kissed me softly.

It was nights like this I wished we were married already.

The next morning, I sat at the breakfast table, skimming through the magazines that Esme had sent for me. I really didn't need anything out of them. I didn't plan on having a big reception. There wasn't anyone to invite, except for Billy and Edward's family, and we weren't on the best of terms with half of them. We'd invite Laurant, Tyler and Jessica, as well as Jasper and Angela, of course, but that was it.

I came to an ad for something that featured a mother and daughter dressing before a wedding ceremony. The mother was primping the daughter's hair and smiling at her in the mirror. I must have zoned out on it, because I didn't even hear Edward come into the kitchen.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, sounding worried. I didn't know why, until he reached over and wiped a tear from my cheek. He looked at the picture I was focused on and frowned. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Can we just get married at the courthouse? I really don't need anything else, just you and a judge. We could do a little luncheon with your brother afterward," I pleaded.

He cupped my cheek and kissed my lips. "If that's what you want, then that's what we'll do. Now, we have to come up with a date to do the deed…"

"Oh, no you don't!" Eddie snapped from the doorway. "I haven't hung on this long and watched this boy grow up, dreaming of the day I'd get to see him waiting at the altar for his forever love, just to have you do some tacky courthouse wedding, where I'll lose out on the whole thing!" he huffed. "Do you really want to be so selfish and have the guilt of knowing your grandma is watching down on you, crying her heart out that you didn't use the beautiful things she left you to make your day special?" he growled at Edward. Talk about guilt trips!

"We can still do something small after. Bella mentioned a luncheon, we could use the punch bowl and serving trays then," Edward tried to bargain.

"This isn't just about punch bowls and silver trays, Edward. You need to give that girl a proper church wedding. I won't push you to invite the whole state of Washington, but it should be done at a church, before God, not in a courthouse. It's just bad karma to get married where people get divorced," Eddie pushed.

It didn't look like he was going to back down. Edward grabbed his elbow, pulling him out of the kitchen and what I assumed he thought was out of earshot.

"Please stop pushing her on this," Edward hissed. "She's missing her parents, and every little piece of the wedding is rubbing their absence in her face. She was in tears over a picture in a magazine of a bride and her mom, when I walked into the kitchen this morning. She wants small and fast, and I plan to give it to her. You will not make her feel bad about it."

"I understand she's hurting now, Edward, but you don't want her to regret it later in life. She should have the wedding in honor of her parents."

I didn't think I'd regret anything, and if I thought too much about my parents while I was getting married, I'd be a bawling mess and ruin it. I did understand where Eddie was coming from, though. Maybe a small church wedding would be better than one at the courthouse.

I stepped into the hallway where they were talking. "Fine, a small church wedding, and I mean small. I don't have anyone to invite. I just have our few coworkers, and of course, Billy will be walking me down the aisle, but that's it. Who did you want to invite?" I asked, turning to Edward.

"Emmett, Grandpas Jerry and Ed, and my mom, maybe?" he said the last bit like he was cringing away. If he wanted to invite his mother, he could.

I wasn't surprised by Edward's shock, when I said yes to his request. Eddie had a point about doing things right, so we wouldn't have regrets. I didn't particularly like Esme, but she was still important to Edward, so I wouldn't let it ruin my day. At least one of us could have our mom there.