Where my Heart Lies
Chapter 12: Strength in Darkness
Bella
"Dad," I call out when I open his front door. The twins were with Carlisle and Esme for the day, and I needed to talk with Carlie. There were things that just weren't adding up about what happened with Edward. It was also a little madding to see Jessica at his grave. I knew he broke it off from her, but were they seeing each other again or was there even something there.
"Bells," he says as he comes down the steps into the hallway.
"I need to ask you something," I say as he smiles slightly. His house had been rebuilt, but with a more modernized feel. I was happy that he was able to have his home back.
"Of course you do," he mumbles as I follow him into the living room. "Where are the girls?" he questions as I just chuckle.
"They are with Esme and Carlisle. I wanted to know if Edward was seeing Jessica again," I ask as he takes a sip of his drink.
"Not that I know of, the town heard how he dumped her the moment he saw you. I believe she was at the same conference that he went to, but rode up in a group and came back with them," he says as he gives me a questioning look.
"I know it might sound farfetched, but I still stand my ground with him not being dead," I say as I watch his face fall. "I think Jessica has something to do with it," I continue.
"Bella there is nothing for you to find," he mutters as I see him stand up.
"Edward is not dead. I would know it. I had this pain in my chest for 5 years when I left him. I would know if he was dead. The pain is there, but even stronger now," I say as a few tears fall.
"You need to move on. He wouldn't want you to harbor this guilt like you are," he says as I just shake my head.
"It's not guilt. I was coming back to him. I was on the verge of picking up and moving back here because the pain of being away from him was hurting me. I watched as my daughters talked to him like it was the world, but I was a coward. I couldn't even face him after I ran," I yell as I hear something drop and turn to see Emmett standing in the doorway.
"Right now isn't a good time Emmett," I hear my dad say as I pick up my purse to leave.
"Bella you don't have to go," my dad says as I look up to see a worried expression on Emmett's face.
"Yes, I do. I have to finish my errands and get the girls," I say as I make my way to the door.
"It's nice that mom and dad have the girls," Emmett begins to say when I put my hand up to stop him.
"I have nothing to say to you. I don't think I could handle another drama event with you," I snap as I walk out the door and get into my car. I pick up my phone and dial the number for the hospital.
"Forks General how may I direct your call," a peppy voice asks from the other end.
"I was wondering if Jessica Stanley was working today," I ask.
"Yes, she is. I think she came in at 11:30 and gets off at 6:00," the woman says as I smile because I now had time to do a little B&E. I thank the woman and hang up the phone. I looked at the dash board clock to see it was a little after 1. I decided to run my errands first and then head over to the address I found in the phone book for her.
The house wasn't anything special or out of the ordinary. It was a simple one story with a nice yard and the woods in the background. It was pretty much like most of the houses in Forks. I did find it odd though that one of the front windows had blackout paper in it. It was almost 4:30. I knew I had plenty of time. I parked across the street and made my way up the walkway toward her house.
I knocked on the door which was on the far side of the house away from the blacked out window. I looked around to see if there was anyone watching and slipped into the backyard. I noticed that she had a simple lock setup. I made a quick work of picking the lock and opened the door. I noticed how dirty the place was and what caught me was the banging sound coming from somewhere in the house.
***XOXOXOXO****
Edward
I heard the door open. I knew it would only be a matter of time until Jessica would be in the room. I was trying hard to get my hands out of the binds, but I wasn't having any luck. I hated thinking about how long I had been in this room. I don't even know what day it was.
I almost had one hand out when I heard the knob on the door rattle. I braced myself for the stupidity that was going to be entering the room, but was surprised when a small figure entered.
"Bella," I question as I see the figure left up their head opening the door wider flooding the room with light.
"Edward, I knew you weren't dead," she mumbles as she comes to my side. I was surprised she flings her body into me as the jostling movement sends pain shooting throughout my body making me wince. "Sorry," she mutters rubbing her hand over my cheek.
"You need to get out of here before she comes back," I mutter as she just shakes her head and pulls out her phone.
"Dad, it's me. I need you to get over to Jessica's house. I found Edward," she says as I don't hear his response. "Dad, send an ambulance as well," she says as she hangs up the phone and looks up to my hands. I watch as she pulls out a knife and begins cutting through the rope.
"You found me," I say as I reach up my hand to her face.
"I couldn't give up on you. I didn't believe you were dead, but the evidence was so strong," she says as I see her tears falling as I pull her to me. I can hear the sirens in the distance as I hear a door slamming shut.
"What the hell is going on in here?" I look up to see Jessica standing in the doorway of the room pissed off.