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"What is your problem with him?"
Bella had both hands on her hips, staring daggers at Jasper.
They'd been working side by side, setting up the coffee bar early on Wednesday. They'd chatted about this and that, and then, Bella had made the monumental mistake of mentioning Edward. She'd just wanted to find out why Jasper had been warning her of him. Now that she was getting to know the real Edward, she didn't understand it.
"It's just that I don't think this… whatever is going on between the two of you is not good for you, Bella."
"Yeah, I get that, but why?"
"He's so much older than you, and he has serious issues."
"Okay, tell me what you know about him!"
She continued to place cups and saucers on the bar.
"You know that his wife died, don't you?"
"Yes."
"And do you know how she died?"
Bella didn't want to admit that she and Edward hadn't yet covered that subject.
"Yes. In a car crash."
"And do you know the circumstances of that accident?"
She looked up, dozens of horror scenarios playing through her mind.
Had Edward been the driver?
Oh, God, he'd been the drunk driver!
"Well, what do you know about them?" she replied heatedly.
"Just what Emmett told me." Jasper frowned, suddenly not so sure any more.
"Which is?"
"He's irresponsible." Jasper's blue eyes were fixated at a point behind Bella's back.
"What does this mean?"
"He made her drive despite a storm warning, Emmett said."
"Excuse me, Jasper, but do you possess any first-hand knowledge? Or is it all Emmett said?"
Jasper stopped what he was doing and looked at her.
"Bella. What is your problem?"
"You're being quite overbearing, presuming things. I get it that you're trying to protect me, and that's very sweet of you. But I don't think you're seeing Edward as he really is."
"Oh? So what's he really like, Bella?"
"He's just… caring, and… nice." She sighed. "Why, do you think, does his brother-in-law have such a bad opinion of him?"
"I don't know." Jasper shrugged, arranging water bottles and glasses. "I mean, I guess he and Rosalie, they know him pretty well. Don't get me wrong, it's not like Emmett ever talks bad about him. He just seems sorry for him, and told me a couple of times that Edward has been through so much. And that he's drinking too much."
Bella just shook her head.
"I'm going to form my own opinion, Jasper. I think he's a very special, very passionate person."
Jasper raised his eyebrows, but didn't say anything. It was time for them to brew coffee and tea, anyway.
.
The day passed slowly. After the conference started, they put plates and cutlery and chafing dishes on the lunch buffet. Alice and Demetri arrived with the van at eleven, delivering the food. The four of them set up salads and pasta and an Italian beef dish. Bella and Jasper were busy collecting plates once lunch had started, and by the time they could eat something themselves, it was after two. A coffee break followed, and when Bella opened the door to her apartment, it was dark.
She plopped down on her loveseat and slipped off her shoes. Her phone beeped from her bag, and she opened it.
"Dearest Bella, I hope you had a nice day. I was thinking of you earlier, when I was at the greengrocer's. I usually only buy apples and bananas and the odd tomato. Today I got ginger and an aubergine and zucchini and avocados. Now, I don't feel so clever. What do I do with it? Your Edward."
It was the happiest Bella had felt all day.
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