Chapter 3
"Eggs and bacon, Bells?"
"You gonna try your hand at cooking again, Dad?"
"Laugh it up girl, but someday you're gonna appreciate your dear ole' dad's cooking."
"I do appreciate your cooking, Dad! Or at least the trying aspect of it!" Bella yelled from the upstairs bathroom as she got ready for the day. "What I don't appreciate is the gas it gives me!"
"Har, Har!"
Bella had been staying at Charlie's, following the day after her drunken stupor when she was at Big E's Bar and Grill. Charlie had decided that he wanted to go through Renee's belongings to see what Bella wanted before she left to go back to New York. They spent the rest of the week sorting through clothes, pictures, and jewelry that had belonged to Renee. By Saturday, they hadn't accomplished a thing. The boxes sat where they were left, stacked up against the living room wall. Before Renee passed, she told Charlie that she wanted her clothes donated to a women's shelter. Neither Charlie nor Bella could find the heart to let her things go.
"Smells good and nothing smells burnt!" Bella playfully said to her father, as she rounded the corner, entering the kitchen.
"Very funny, young lady," Charlie poked at his daughter. "Sunny side up or scrambled?"
"Scrambled is good. Need some help, dad?"
"Nope. Almost done, Bells. Looks like today's gonna be a dry one. I can't remember a day when Forks was ever dry," Charlie said, looking out the kitchen's small window.
"Tell me about it. It seemed like it always rained in this place," Bella said as she flipped open the weekend newspaper. "You planning on going fishing with Harry today? Maybe take the boat out?"
"Don't feel like fishin' today," Charlie said, as he whipped the eggs. "Thought I'd just hang out here, maybe mow the yard."
Bella laid the newspaper on the table. She hated seeing her father cooped up in the house all day every day. Her mother's death had taken a toll on both of them.
"You got any plans for today?" Charlie asked.
"Nothing much. I was invited to some get-together later on tonight."
"Sounds fun," said Charlie, sliding Bella's plate in front of her. "Anyone I know?"
"Probably not. I don't think he and his family lived here before we moved," Bella said, taking a bite of her scrambled eggs. "His name's Emmett Cullen. Pretty nice guy. He owns Big E's Bar and Grill."
"Isn't that the place on Main Street?"
"Yeah. It's kind of a dump. Apparently he just bought it," Bella said. "Needs a lot of work."
"Hmm," Charlie mused, sipping his black tar. "Sounds like he needs an interior designer. You know, someone who knows what she's doing."
Bella's eyes darted up to her father. He was smiling. Well, he was smirking. Sly devil.
"What are you getting at, Dad?" Bella asked, knowing perfectly well what her father was referring to. "You have that glint in your eye. The one you get when you have something up your sleeve.
Just then, Bella realized that this was the first time, since her mother's death, that she's seen not only a smile on Charlie's face, but a spark of hope.
"Nothing," Charlie waved her off still smiling like a clown. "I just thought…"
"I know what you're thinking, Dad. If I take the job, I'd be able to stay longer. But, I wasn't offered a job," Bella reminded Charlie. "Besides, I need to get back to New York next week. I probably have tons of work waiting for me there."
"I know, Bells. I just thought that maybe I could find a way to get you to stay a little while longer." Charlie's smile faded as the words of defeat slipped through his lips. "I'm just gonna miss you, girl."
Nothing more was mentioned on the subject, as Bella thanked Charlie for a wonderful breakfast-one she hoped didn't send her to the restroom within ten minutes of consumption-and headed out the door.
Bella knew that leaving Charlie would be the hardest thing she'd have to do, considering he'd be alone. They were both still grieving, but she knew that the loneliness could very well take its toll on her father.
But Bella needed to work. Work kept her brain busy. Work kept her from crying. Work kept her sane.
"Thanks for breakfast, Dad," she said, kissing her father on the forehead. "Don't stay in the house too much today. Enjoy the sun."
"I'll try, Bells."
Slipping into the seat of her rental car, Bella knew exactly what she needed to do. After fishing out her cell, scrolling through her contacts, she punched in the number that she was looking for.
"Belly Boo! I have been trying to call you! What the hell? Is your cell phone shoved up your ass and set to vibrate?"
"Pipe down Alice. You're going to give yourself an aneurism," Bella said, chuckling into the phone. "I've been slightly busy."
"I know," the hyperactive pixie said, taking a breath. "How was the, you know, funeral?"
"All things considered, it was nice. A little claustrophobic, but nice. Part of me wished that my dad and I could've been alone through the entire thing. You know, to mourn. Say our goodbyes in private."
"Wish I could've been there to help out. Shit's been crazy here," Alice admitted. "We've got two new jobs and, let me tell ya, the clients are super spastic. We're talking fuddy duddy's to the nth degree! These bitches are going to give me crackheaditis by the time the jobs are done!"
Bella had wished-for a moment-that she hadn't called to check in. Two new jobs, especially back in New York, was not what she wanted. At. All.
"Jobs? Did you already accept them?"
A sound of shock came from the other end of the phone. "Of course I did Bella! You told me when you left that you wanted to immerse yourself in your work when you got back. So, immerse you will, my dear! Besides, we need the work. My wallet is getting slightly sparse, if ya know what I mean. My credit cards are lonely. They need some Benjamin's to keep them company! And by the way, Rosalie is getting on my damned nerves! That airheaded dimwit is gonna get a stiletto up her ass, and soon!"
The silence that followed Alice's chattering, and threats of death by stiletto, didn't go unnoticed.
"Uh oh," Alice murmured. "What's up? You quiet like this is never a good thing."
"Nothing," Bella replied. "Tell me about the jobs."
Alice Brandon was a firecracker to say the least. With her spiky, black hair and small pixie-like frame, Alice had a never ending supply of energy. She and Bella had become best friends since their first year in college. They both had attended NYU, taking design and business, even sharing a dorm room together the entire four years. After graduation, Alice's family gave them the start up money for their business, Breaking Dawn Designs, and stayed on as silent partners. A year later, the company had taken off at full speed. Both women were able to pay back what Alice's parents had put out, leaving both Bella and Alice the sole owners.
Just after their first year in business, Bella and Alice had hired ten employees and even expanded their business by purchasing a shop in upstate New York. It worked out well for them and business couldn't have been better.
The air-headed dimwit that Alice so lovingly referred to was Rosalie Hale. Being hired on as a personal assistant, to both ladies, was something that Bella questioned from day one. Although Rosalie was beautiful, it didn't escape Bella that the woman seemed short a few screws. But, she was always available when called. The three of them immediately became friends, even though Alice threatened to ram a stiletto up Rosalie's ass more than twice a day.
"One is for a Mrs. Siobhan. She's a piranha, that one. Anyhoo, she needs her foyer done, and the other is for a Mrs. Peterson who wants her, um, playroom remodeled," Alice said.
"Playroom? A child's playroom?" Bella had never done a child's room before so this would be a first.
"Oh no, Belly Boo," Alice said with a sigh. "This playroom has, um, how should I say it…chains, whips, and paddles," Alice said, a little too breathy if you asked Bella.
"What the fuck, Alice? Are you kidding me?"
"Nope! And I have got to see that shit!" The squeal that erupted from Alice made Bella shake her head.
"Alice, think about what that woman must be doing in there!" I don't even want to think about what that woman does in there!
"I know! Could you imagine? Naked sexy men suspended to the walls by leather straps just waiting to get their asses whipped. My vag is quivering just think about it! Oh God! I think I need some Duracell lovin'!"
"You are sick and twisted, my friend," Bella said.
"I know this, Belly Boo. But, that is some fuck hot shit!" Another squeal that erupted from Alice caused Bella pull her cell phone back. "We need to take this job! My ovaries are begging you. My vagina needs some visuals. The drought has gone on for too long!" The serious tone in Alice's voice made Bella smile.
Bella sighed. "Then you take it. I don't want to touch anything that might or might not have spooge caked on it." Bella shuddered at the thought.
Alice was in full-on squeals. "Spank you very much my dear best friend. So, when are you coming home? Since I'm taking on the pleasure palace, you're gonna need to get with the piranha about her foyer. Take a can of mace with you for that one. You might need to beat a bitch."
Bella took a deep breath. "I don't think I'm coming home anytime soon."
Bella waited for the inevitable shriek. She didn't have to wait long for that one.
An ear busting screech from Alice caused Bella to jerk in her seat, almost making her run off the side of the road, as she pulled into the parking lot.
"What! What do you mean that you aren't coming home? Are you fucking with me? Am I being punked? Ashton! Where the fuck are you!
Bella placed the car in park and settled into her seat. "No I'm not coming home. And no you're not being punked. There's a potential job here in Forks. If I can land it, I'd like to take it. Help the owner out."
"First of all Bella, and without sounding like a fuddy duddy myself, we only take on high end clientele. That's where the money is," Alice reminded. "You, my dear friend, are in BFE which, from my understanding, has no money."
"I know Al. But this is something that I could do and I'm pretty sure that it would help out the owner. The place is an eyesore inside and out. It might even help the community business' if it was fixed up. Not to mention, I could spend more time with Charlie. You should've seen him this morning when I talked about going home next week. It broke my heart. Plus, I'm not over this shit. I need more time."
There was a moment of silence, followed by a sigh. "Well, since you put it that way, you might as well do it. Besides, I know your dad needs you right now. I'll just get Maria to help out with the foyer job. I'm sure she can handle it. What about an assistant? Oh, wait! I'm sending Rosalie out on the first flight to Forks. I think I can even get her on the redeye. You take her. She's bugging the hell outta me. I swear to any God that will listen, that woman needs a lobotomy! Sometimes I just want to shove her up my ass and bust a wet one!"
"That last part was wrong on so many levels. It ranked high on the gag-o-meter."
"Whatever. But Bella, I can only take so much of that woman. When she's drunk, I can deal with her better. She just stares off in space and doesn't speak. The sad thing is she gets drunk just off Boone's Farms. Who does that? Whatever, she's a drunk mute. That shit works for me, Bella. It works."
"Oh, you love her, Al."
"You know that and I know that, but let's never, ever tell her that."
"Well, thanks for understanding, Alice. And please have Rosalie come out here as soon as she can catch a flight. I could use her help."
"Sure thing, Belly Boo. So, how long do you think that you'll be out there?"
"Not sure. I need to talk to the owner first and see what he says. What I do know is that this place needs a lot of work. The inside is horrible looking. The outside looks just as bad. I felt like I needed to be smoking a big fatty just to be able to deal with the decor," Bella said as she stared at the deteriorating building in front of her.
"Well, get on it blue bonnet! I'm sure that when you're done with it, you'll make it look like a million bucks. Call me if you need anything. Gotta run! The pleasure palace is calling my name! Alice! Alice! Plus, I gotta blonde to ship off! "
Bella giggled. "Love you, Alice."
"Love ya too, Belly Boo!"
Bella found Emmett standing behind the bar, with his back toward her, drying off some glasses as she walked up and slid onto a tattered stool.
"You said that you're looking for a professional."
Emmett quickly turned on his heels, dropping a glass as he did. "Fuck!"
Bella immediately wished she hadn't scared the guy.
"I am so, so sorry! Here," she said, swiftly getting up from the stool, walking behind the counter, "let me help you."
"You scared the shit outta me, B!"
"Yeah. I guess I have the effect," she said, chuckling.
After the glass was cleaned up, Bella returned to the stool she was sitting in, while Emmett joined her.
The place was once again dead.
"You were saying, B?"
"I'd like to offer my services, for a small fee, of course. Nothing major, but we can discuss that later."
"Um. I might be a little outta the loop, but what kind of services are we talking about here?" Emmett asked, perching a brow. "Cause it almost sounds like you're offering paid sex, B."
Bella gasped. "No! No, no, no! Shit, it did sound like that, huh?"
Emmett let out a huge guffaw. "So I take it sex isn't the service that you were offering."
"No, actually it's something better than that," she said, fishing through her bag for a business card. "Here."
Emmett took the card and perused it. It took a moment to click but, as soon as the pieces fell into place, he shot her a knowing look.
"You're an interior designer?" he asked, a smile growing on his lips.
"I own Breaking Dawn Designs in New York. Well, I co-own it with my friend Alice. But, yeah, I am an interior designer. And, I'd like to offer my services to get this place to where it should be," she said.
"Breaking Dawn Designs, huh?" he asked, still looking at the business card as he chewed on his bottom lip. "I dunno, B. I don't think I can afford what you'd probably charge me. I've heard some pretty good things about your company from my mom's circle of friends, but I also heard that you're pretty steep on your prices. I do appreciate the offer though," he said, handing the card back to her.
"You're right," she said, holding her hands up. "Our prices are pretty steep. But, to be honest, it really isn't about the money here."
Emmett eyed Bella with vast curiosity. "If it's not about the money, then what's it about?"
Bella smiled. "Helping out a friend who's trying to make a living. You're trying. That's a good enough a reason for me. What's your budget like?"
Emmett blew out a breath. "Budget? I really haven't thought about a budget. I mean, I was looking at around twenty thousand and nothing beyond that."
Bella thought about this. Twenty thousand wouldn't get this dump very far. Hell, she wasn't even sure what little it would cover, especially with the team she'd need to hire. But ultimately, she'd make do.
"I could work with that amount," Bella said. "I think we could get this place looking real good by the time I'm done with it."
"Are you fucking serious?" Emmett couldn't contain the excitement building in his chest.
"As a heart attack. Besides, I have some extra materials in New York that are just sitting around, collecting dust, so, I'll just have them shipped here. That will cut some of the costs. Plus, I know someone who owns a construction company in Seattle that owes me a favor. I can get a work crew out here for nothing. I can make this work."
"You are an angel, you know that!" Emmett was out of his seat before Bella noticed, gripping her by the waist and pulling her in for a bear hug, swinging her tiny body around in a puke inducing twirl.
"Jesus!" she squeaked, trying to catch her breath. "Need. To. Breath. Gonna. Puke."
Emmett set Bella on her feet, as he released her from the bone crushing hug. As Bella tried to stop the onset of vomit that was threatening to release, she noticed tears forming in the corners of Emmett's eyes, just before he placed his hands on her cheeks and spoke.
"You will never know how much this means to me, B. Never," he said, placing a chaste kiss on her forehead. "You are absolutely heaven sent."
"Well," she said, straightening out her shirt, "don't thank me yet. There's a lot of work to be done."
"Sure. Of course," said Emmett, as a thought crossed him. "Will we have to close down while you're making the place pretty?"
"Nope. We'll just work around the customers. Probably do more of the construction work at night. I need to hire some guys and get a crew in here. Come up with some ideas, Emmett. Let me know what you want and I'll work out the rest. But I gotta run. I think I have an assistant to pick up from the airport later."
"How can I ever repay you?"
"Um, free dinners and drinks. How does that sound? A girl's gotta eat!"
As Bella made her way toward the door, Emmett hollered, "We'll do! Hey, you coming to the party tonight, B?"
"Wouldn't miss it!"
"Hey, B?"
"Yeah, Emmett?"
"So, does this mean you're staying in Forks?"
Bella smiled. "I guess it does."
So, there ya go...
How many of you expected the reunion to happen in this chapter? For those of you in class who raised your hands, did you really think that I would make it happen that quick? Okay, so maybe I am that obvious!...=)
I'd like to tank you all for reading, reviewing, rec'ing this story, and throwing it on your alerts lists. I have such awesome readers. Love you all!
Until next time...
OzellaMarie