Thanks to all my readers. Everything is going better for our home. My 3 kids, my husband and I are all ok. He had an asthma attack and couldn't breathe because of the carbon monoxide. After a trip to the emergency room and everyone being displaced and off routine we are finally getting a new furnace put in tomorrow. So hopefully after inspection from the city after it's done we will be back home on Thursday or Friday. We are so on top of each other right now and I am trying to make it ok for the kids to be a little more normal but it's hard. This is my little escape. So on to the next chapter.
Chapter 9
It's been 2 weeks.
2 weeks of frustration, confusion, and trying to figure out what is going on.
I was basically stuck in Edward's home because no one could figure out how anyone knew where we were going to be. There were no bugs. In any of the houses.
Edward first thought maybe they didn't do a good enough job searching so he combed the house backwards and forwards but nothing.
He was scared for me leaving. It was kind of cute kind of maddening.
I get it, I do. He is worried about me after the incident. I love him for it. He is protective and wants nothing but the best for me, so I just deal with it and sit here. I read a lot and cook Edward is my guinea pig when it comes to new recipes but he told me my cooking is better than his mothers. Quite the compliment I must say.
I had seen Alice the most out of the women. She seemed to love it here, whether or not she was told to watch me or not is another question. But she was quickly becoming my best friend.
Rose, I heard, had been placed on bed rest because of all the stress. So I haven't seen her at all in these past 2 weeks. Alice has been taking food over to her that I have been cooking up so that she doesn't have to worry about getting up to make dinner and so that she doesn't have to call out for meals.
Now the strangest one would have to be Esme. Something seems to be slightly off about her. She comes over all happy faced to see her son but the minute he leaves the room she loses the fake smile and, isn't mean per say, but she has this air about her that she doesn't truly like me maybe.
Or maybe she is wary of me? It seems to be the strangest thing.
Also things seem to be tense between her and Carlisle. He is very welcoming to me and has no problem with talking to me or showing genuine care towards me. The minute those 2 are in the same room she tenses and seems to almost hate me. I don't get it. It almost seems like resentment for something. Something I'm not sure I will ever understand.
I'll have to keep my eyes open.
Knocking those thoughts away I sit up in bed and stretch.
That's another thing that has changed. I am loving it here in this house and honestly I love Edward. I can't wait to tell him. I am just trying to wait for the best time.
Slipping out of bed and into some of the clothes that Alice brought me from her line. I went down the stairs to the kitchen.
"What to make, what to make?" I asked myself while staring into the fridge.
Deciding on making sweet croissants and bacon I set off to make the croissant dough.
I was on my third batch of croissants when I felt a pair of warm arms surround me and a pair of familiar lips kiss my neck.
"Good morning love" He told me in a seductive sleepy voice.
"Good morning" I turned and kissed him long and slow "What is on the agenda today? Am I in for another day alone while you work or is your sister coming over? By the way why are they let out but not me?" I frowned at him. Besides Rose, Alice and Esme have been able to go about normal after a week.
"I was just being cautious baby." He pecked me "But no I will be releasing your chains today. I have set up an appointment with a designer to help you design the new bookstore and she will be there around 11:30." He patted my butt as he walked away.
I swatted his butt with a towel and laughed, "Such a child".
After breakfast I was free. I had Felix as my new personal bodyguard. That was cool with me because He was an awesome person.
"Felix who are we meeting today? Edward just told me a designer" I asked him as he weaved in and out of streets.
"Her name is Tanya Denali. I have never met her but I have heard she is one of the best designers here in Chicago." He told me with a glance.
"How do Edward and her know each other" I tried to act all nonchalant but with the look Felix gave me I know that I had failed horribly.
"You should ask either one of them ma'am." I slumped in the seat prepared to meet an ex of the man I loved and I could feel the jealousy over it. I was being ridiculous, "But I know there has never been feelings between the two of them" He sighed.
"How do you know that?" I asked intrigued now.
"She is his second cousin" He laughed after I turned beet red in the face and smacked his arm.
"Don't do that to me. How would you even know that about her if you haven't met her?" I asked after I had settled down and relaxed slightly.
"He told me you were going to meet and when I asked if I should be prepared for a catfight between you two, because of him, he told me no she was his second cousin and I quote, that is sick."
He seemed to be getting too much enjoyment out of this so I hit his arm again and sat back.
We pulled up to the store and after Felix secured the area he let me out of the bullet proof car.
"Ah fresh air" I joked while I opened the door.
"When is she supposed to get here?" I asked Felix as he secured the back of the building
Just then a nice white Escalade parked in front of my building and a gorgeous strawberry blonde got out. Felix walked up beside me.
"Oh come on do all the Cullen's have to be freaking gorgeous?" I looked at Felix who had yet to look up at her. He was busy texting I'm assuming Edward.
As soon as she stepped through the door though, Felix looked up and seemed to be dumbstruck. Looking at her it seemed she felt the same. Aww I am so happy. They would be such a cute couple.
"Hi I'm Bella" I broke their staring contest.
"Oh how rude of me" She shook my hand "I'm Tanya your designer and you are?" She asked in a slightly breathless voice
"Felix ma'am" He bent and kissed her hand while she blushed.
I left them to talk and started to think about what I wanted for the space.
"I'm thinking about a light calming blue I think" I told Tanya as she walked up beside me "And I want this little area over here to be a sitting area" I informed her as she started to sketch my idea onto paper.
"Then over here I think I want to be the register and shelves of books. I was thinking a small Café nook over here at the back so people can get a scone or something while they sit in the seated area. No coffee though since Starbucks is next door. How about tea, lemonade, water and things like that"
She interrupted me for a moment, "I think you should have coffee too. Just because there is a Starbucks next door doesn't mean anything. Sell better coffee at better prices."
I nodded and continued "What color floor should I do?" I asked her.
"Well since this is on the smaller side I would keep it bright but also easy to clean. How about this color hard wood with the light blue walls would look amazing. Also I think you should have a feature wall along the back to make the store seem bigger. I also think you should add a bath right here" She walked me over to a big back closet that held a broom right now. "It's big enough to hold a toilet and a sink." She told me as I nodded.
"Let's do it" I told her after she showed me her design sketches" We shook hands and departed the store.
"Can we stop to get something to eat please Felix" I practically begged and he chuckled while pulling into Aro's restaurant.
When we were seated I got a weird number that called my cell phone.
"Hmm that's weird" I had been talking to myself but Felix heard me and took my phone.
"I don't recognize it but I'll put it through the database and find out who it is." He told me after logging the number into his phone and handed mine back to me.
"It could just be a wrong number" I laughed at him. But then I got a voicemail.
Aro was walking over to us so I decided to leave it for now and listen to it later.
"Ah Mia Bella" He kissed my forehead "You have been missing for weeks. Why have you not come to see me eh? I have been very worried about you. You give an old man a heart attack" He joked at me.
"I'm sorry Aro" I told him "Some things have been going on and I was on a little bit of a low key thing for a while" I stood and hugged him.
Aro turned to Felix and started to speak in Italian when the glass of the front of the restaurant shattered and Aro grabbed his chest. I screamed as Aro fell back into me and Felix drew his piece while covering my body with his.
"Aro" I held his head in my lap on the floor "Don't leave me. Please" I sobbed "You are the closest thing to a dad I have. You can't leave me too."
He brought his hand up to my face and cupped my cheek with a bloody hand. "I have loved you like a daughter mia bella" He coughed "Tell my beautiful wife I love her. That I will always look after her." He was gasping now."
"Please don't leave me Aro" I shook his body as his eyes were starting to close.
He opened his eyes but they looked glassy "I love you too Bella" and I felt the air leave his body.
It was then that I heard Felix on the phone with 911 giving information. Then he called Edward and I tuned out as I stared at Aro.
His eyes were still open so I brought my blood covered hand and slowly closed his eyes. Leaning forward I gave his forehead a kiss and broke down.
"I love you too" I whispered into his chest.
My tears were silent but I continued to lay my head on his chest. Felix picked up my blood stained body and Paramedics attended to Aro's body.
Felix was holding me in a hug when I got the urge to tell him something "I can't love anyone Felix"
"Why is that Cara?" He asked picking up a napkin and tried to wipe off the blood on my cheek near my eye.
"They always die" I told him.
He continued to hug me until I saw Edward's car pull up.
He ran into the restaurant and over to us taking me into his arms here I broke down after feeling completely numb since I had told Aro I loved him.
"I'm here baby" He held me then picked me up and started to walk out. "Meet me at our place to debrief" He told Felix.
With a nod Felix disappeared.