Chapter 31 – Taking out the Trash

It was getting more difficult to hide my pregnancy from my coworkers. I was pretty sure they had a pool going, betting on if I was pregnant or not. It became abundantly clear that was exactly what was going on, when Tanya brought out a horrific smelling tuna sandwich. I could have made any number of lewd comments about Tanya and the fishy smell, but I was professional and kept my mouth shut. Well, as shut as I could when vomiting. It was Edward's frantic worry and his hand settling on my stomach that finally outed us. Jasper pointed out his hand's position with a grin and stuck his hand out expectantly to Tanya. Apparently, she'd been hoping I had a terminal illness that had caused my vomiting. I really had to find a way to replace her.

Emmett congratulated us excitedly and winked at Rose. I wasn't sure what that was all about, but I had a feeling I'd hear about it from Edward.

Later that evening, Edward told me that Rose had asked Emmett to be a sperm donor for her and Tanya, and that he could be part of the baby's life as well. Rose planned on carrying the baby, since they were going with inseminating the natural way, aka sex. Apparently, Tanya wasn't completely sold on the whole idea of having a baby. She wasn't sure if they were ready for that kind of responsibility. Emmett suspected that Tanya just didn't want him to be the father, because Rose and he had been spending so much time together. She had even opened up to him about her past, sharing with him that she had been attacked by a previous male date, so she had stuck with women ever since because of trust issues with men.

Emmett didn't think he had a shot at stealing Rose away from Tanya, because he didn't have girl parts, but Edward was pretty confident that his brother could easily steal her away from Tanya, since they were going through a rough patch, and the baby talk seemed be straining things even worse.

Everything came to a head late one evening. Edward and I had stayed at the shop late to do some deep cleaning, when we heard slamming doors and shouting. "Don't judge me, you've been sleeping with someone else for almost a year!" Tanya shouted.

"I'm bi, and you said it was okay. I wouldn't have invited Emmett into our room if it wasn't alright with you. You even encouraged it!" Rose countered. It was true, Tanya had flirted a little that first night they had invited him to dinner.

"It was supposed to be a game, a one-time thing. He's been over so much, he might as well live with us. He practically does now that he's across the hall."

"You were involved with every decision I made about him. I never snuck around behind your back with him! That wasn't cheating!" Rose shouted furiously.

"You're in love with him, which is even worse." I wondered where the hell Emmett was and why he wasn't trying to break up the mess in the upstairs hallway.

"I do love him, but I loved you, too."

"Loved, past tense. You want kids, Rose, I don't. You keep pushing, but I'm not changing my mind. I don't want kids, and I sure as hell don't want them with Emmett."

"I'm sorry for the way things came about, Rose," I was shocked to hear Jane cut in. "I should've insisted she break things off with you first."

I looked at Edward wide-eyed. "Are you hearing this?" I whispered.

"You think?" Rose snapped at Jane. I was really hoping a fight didn't break out up there.

"Rose," Emmett said, finally making an appearance, "Come with me. You can stay at my place tonight."

"I can't believe she cheated on me," Rose cried.

"I think things have been complicated between you two since you met me. She might've gone behind your back, but I kind of get where she's coming from. I love you, Rose, and it's hard to share you."

"Are you sleeping with someone else, too?" she sounded pissed.

"Not a chance in hell, you're the only one I want. Come on, sweetheart, let them be. It'll be less complicated, if it's just the two of us in this relationship, especially since we plan on starting a family together. Why don't you come in, and we'll work on that. I'm sure I can take your mind off of things," Emmett coaxed.

"So, that's it, you're calling it over? Are you breaking up with me?" Tanya asked.

"How can you ask me that, especially in front of Jane? That's just rude. Yes, we're over, and she can have you, that is if she still wants you," Rose snapped, and then we heard a door slam.

We could only assume Emmett and Rose had left the hallway.

"Jane," we heard Tanya coo.

"Don't touch me. I thought we had something special, that you'd get up the nerve and leave Rose for me, but even with me standing here, you asked to stay with her."

"I wanted to keep both of you. It was only fair, since she had Emmett," Tanya defended herself weakly.

"So, you were just using me to get even with Rose? Don't touch me. Stay away from me," Jane snapped, and we heard another door slam. I guess Jane was kicking Tanya to the curb, too.

"Maybe they'll make Tanya feel so uncomfortable she'll leave on her own," Edward whispered hopefully. Rose had been very civil with me and could even be nice on occasion. Tanya's bad attitude toward me had yet to change. I was pretty sure she was just a bitch by nature.

"Let's hope," I agreed. It would be so nice not to have Tanya around anymore.

A week later, Tanya gave her two weeks' notice. Jane totally ignored her, and Rose had full-on moved in with Emmett, the three of them all giving her the cold shoulder. I happily let them break their lease. Rose and Emmett thanked me for not making it more difficult for them. I honestly would've done just about anything to get rid of Tanya, especially since she upset Rose so much. It had become abundantly clear that Rose was going to be a permanent part of my family and eventually give birth to my niece or nephew. We both made an effort to get along with each other, and once Tanya was gone, I was back to looking forward to going to work.

I think Billy was right when he said that the right person made you better, and it was clear that Emmett was Rose's person. I suspected that Jasper might be Alice's, but I was going ignore that for as long as possible. There was no reason to get involved with that mess until absolutely necessary.

We were all startled, when Jake burst through the shop's front door. "I have to talk to you, Bella. I know dad wants me to go through him, but we aren't seeing eye-to-eye on this, and it's important and urgent."

Edward was at my side immediately. I was more at ease with Jake, since it was clear that Vanessa had stolen his focus. I was pretty sure I was safe with him, but that didn't stop me from keeping Edward with me, when we went into the back to talk.

"What's going on?" I asked.

Jake plopped down in a chair at the kitchen table. "I have to move in with Vanessa. She wants me to, and I want to. Dad says absolutely not, because it's your house, but Bella, someone's after her. Dad didn't say anything, because he didn't want to stress you now that you're pregnant."

"What do you mean, someone is after her?" I worried.

"The words 'cheating whore' were spray-painted across the front of your house. We cleaned it off right away. She's not a cheating whore. She can barely handle sitting on the back porch with me. Since she doesn't go outside,so she didn't see it. We didn't tell her, not wanting to scare her, but someone threw a brick through the front window. A fucking cinderblock. If she'd been anywhere near that window, it could've really hurt her. I don't want to take any chances. If someone came after her in the house…Bella, she still can't handle going outside, she'd be trapped! I know she's only got one month free rent left, too. I'll take over the lease. I need to be there for her," he pleaded, nearly in tears.

"Let me get you a lease agreement," I said, slipping out of the kitchen to get one from the office. With a vacant apartment upstairs and being short a worker, we needed to keep my house rented. I knew Jake wouldn't trash it, either. On some level, I trusted him, at least with my house, I did.

"What kind of cinderblock, do you still have it?" Edward asked Jake.

"Why does that matter? Jessica's in jail. I'm sure the two incidences are not related. We should put up some cameras around the house, though. What do you think, Jake?" Jessica had confessed to breaking the window, and she was still in jail. It seemed like, as soon as we had gotten rid of one vandal, we got another.

"That's a good idea. I don't mind putting them up," Jake said, getting up.

"I'll order them and put your name down to pick them up from the store. They should be ready by the time you get over there," Edward offered.

"Thanks, guys, do you mind if I sit back here and fill this out?" Jake asked, waving the application.

"That'd be fine. I'll be up front when you're done," I said, getting back to work.

I saw Edward nod at Jasper, asking him to keep an eye on me, and then he slipped into the office to order the cameras for Jake to pick up.

When Jake brought me the application, Jasper casually stepped beside me. If Jake noticed, he didn't acknowledge it. "I can get you a check for the application fee, or would you prefer cash?"

"I don't charge family, Jake…well, other than rent. Don't worry about the application fee."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I know you won't stiff me, and if you do, I'll hunt you down," I teased.

"Thanks, Bella," he said with a smile, but thankfully, still kept his distance.

"The order should be ready to pick up," Edward said, handing Jake the receipt for the cameras.

"Thanks, guys. Bella, if you can call dad and let him know you're okay with this, I'd appreciate it."

"Yeah, I'll let him know. Tell Vanessa I said hello."

"Will do!" he said and waved goodbye.

Billy was surprised I let Jake move in, but also relieved. He was worried about Vanessa as well. We had no clue who would be harassing her, since no one knew she was staying there other than Jake, Billy, and her counselor, Irina.

It was much later that evening, before I realized that the vandal might have meant to harass me. I rolled over and nudged Edward. "What if the message was meant for me?"

"What message?"

"The one spray-painted on my house."

"Why would anyone call you a cheating whore?" he asked, confused.

"It might've been Tanya. That's exactly what she thinks of me."

"I don't think she knows where your house is in Forks. Besides, why would she vandalize it and not the house you're actually living in? You wouldn't have even known about the message if Jake hadn't come down and told you."

I pouted. He was right, but just because it wasn't Tanya, didn't mean it wasn't someone else trying to send me a message.

I called Vanessa the next day and set up a time to come visit with her. I planned to pop in, while Jake was busy at work. Edward didn't want me going alone, with the risk of Jake being there, but I told him I'd be fine. I reminded him I had my pepper spray and left.

Vanessa was doing well. She'd gotten to the point where she could sit out on the back porch. We were out there talking, when Jake came running out the back door. He startled us both with his sudden appearance and wrapped Vanessa up in his arms. "You didn't answer the phone. I called five times, trying to get you to pick up. I was scared out of my mind," he fussed over her. He had unshed tears in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Bella came to visit, and I forgot to bring my phone out with me."

Jake patted her down, like he was checking for injuries.

"I'm fine, I promise," she tried to reassure him.

He leaned down and started kissing her.

"I'm gonna go get myself a drink," I said, trying to escape their make-out session. I didn't think Jake even gave me a second look. He was definitely over any delusions of us being together and firmly fixated on Vanessa. Thank heavens she liked the attention.