Chapter 8
Two weeks later I'm making my way around the mall, more like waddling I think. It seems like I just keep getting bigger and bigger and I'm scared to think how I'll look in a few more weeks when it's time to deliver. I decided today that I'd try and get Edward's birthday present sorted before the baby comes since it will only be a couple weeks after the delivery and I don't know what condition I'm going to be in to shop. He said he doesn't want to make a fuss but I think it's important to celebrate the day, especially when it's someone you love and cherish as much as I do with Edward.
I thought that I'd get here and see something to spark my imagination but I've been walking around for a while now and there's been nothing so far that really works. I decide to look at another mall map instead of walking any further. My feet are starting to throb and my back is beginning to ache more then usual. I suppose I could get him a gift card to buy some clothes but that doesn't really seem personal enough. Jewellery won't work, or shoes, or the food court.
And then I see it. A TV show and movie merchandise store. Edward loves super hero movies and TV shows like The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones. Maybe they'll have something he'll like. As soon as I walk through the door I know I'm in the right place. I get him a few new t-shirts with different superhero symbols on the front and I even manage to get some matching baby ones so that the two of them can be twins. I also manage to get a mini Iron Throne for him and I ask the store manager to order a little Edward action figure to sit on it. It's a gag gift really but I know he'll like it. I give the manager a picture of Edward and I fill out the form with details on how I want to figure to be arranged and what I want his to be wearing. He tells me it should be ready for collection in a couple weeks. And I'm suddenly very pleased with myself that I decided to have his gift sorted in advanced.
I leave the store with my purchases, sans action figure and mini Iron Throne of course, and a huge smile on my face. I'm giddy with excitement. I organised it to be shipped to the house incase I'm too big to get myself out here when it comes in and I happily make my way back towards my car. It's slow going but I'm pleased I came out.
It's not until I'm halfway to my car that I realise I feel like I'm being watched. I look over my shoulder to see what's got the hair on the back of my neck standing up but I don't see anyone. I scan the rows of cars in front of me and I see a few people here and there but nothing suspicious. I look over my shoulder again and that's when I see it. A familiar tuft of dark brown hair under a baseball cap. I'd know that cap anywhere. It's one I bought a few years ago for my father at Christmas time. He always expected a gift, not that he ever gave any in return.
My legs have stopped moving and all I can do it stare as the cap makes its way towards me. I know he's seen me. Why else would he be here?
"Isabella. I've been looking for you."
I scramble to find my keys in my purse and continue waddling in and out of cars, desperately trying to push my body faster then it's capable of right now.
"Don't run from Daddy, Isabella." The voice mocks.
I manage to get my keys and I press the button to unlock my car. I see lights flash ahead of me but he's getting closer. I'm not going to make it.
"If you weren't so fat you'd be able to run."
Tears start streaming down my cheeks and I desperately tell myself not to listen to him. That's he's a liar, he always has been.
"Leave me alone." I cry out.
I finally reach the car but he's managed to catch up to me and he blocks my path.
"How did you find me?"
"I have eyes everywhere, Isabella. And friends in all the right places. You'll never be rid of me you little slut. Look at you. Look at your shame showing." He taunts, pointing at my belly.
"Please, let me leave." I beg, my head drops and I can feel myself submitting to him, even after all these months. Even after all the confidence my therapist and Edward and Esme and everyone else have worked so hard to build up inside me, I feel as though I should be on my knees in front of this man as he makes me ask for forgiveness.
He steps up close and strokes my hair. "You always did beg so nicely." Suddenly the hand that was being gentle pulls my hair and tugs my head back. "I thought you were going to get rid of it. And then come back. You don't deserve to be happy. No one does, but especially you. I expected you to come back and please me, to please God. But I should have known not to let you out of my sight." By the time he finishes he's screaming at me. Spit is flying everywhere and I can see the vein on his forehead begin to bulge.
I'm suddenly transported back to my house in forks. I'm a 16 year old girl again and my father is beating me with his studded belt because my report card had a B on it. I remember him screaming at me that I was an embarrassment and that God would be ashamed to have someone waste what he'd given them. I remember that vein looking as though it might explode at any given moment and wishing with all my might I could make it pop.
"Sir?" A guff voice asks from behind me, bringing me back to the present. "Sir. You need to let go of the ladies hair and step away."
I hear him approach carefully. I think he can see the deranged look in Charlie's eyes. But before either of us realise what he's going to do he yanks my head back harshly and then pushes my roughly to the ground.
My baby!
When I land I hold my stomach tightly, hoping to protect peanut, and I try not to move too much once I feel pain shot up my spine from my tailbone. The man, who I now realise is a security guard drops to his knees beside me and asks if I'm alright. I'm having trouble forming words though. After everything my father said and the words he spat at me there's a lot going through my mind.
"Ma'am? Ma'am? I've called an ambulance and another guard is detaining the man who assaulted you. Ma'am? Can you hear me?"
I somehow manage to nod my head and squeak out a thank you.
Edward.
I need to call him. And Esme.
I try to move to get my phone but my hands are shaking so badly that I can't even pick it up.
"Let me help." He offers. "Who do you need?"
"Edward, please. Get Edward."
I try my hardest to concentrate on the conversation but all I can think of is peanut. I hope the baby is okay. I know people fall all the time but I don't think I could ever forgive myself if he or she were hurt by the confrontation I had with that awful man. I beg, to the universe, to a God I'm not sure I even believe in, to anyone that will listen, that my baby will be okay.
I'm loaded onto a stretcher and then into an ambulance. The security guard holds my hand the whole time and I quickly read his name tag before we part ways.
"Thank you, Marcus." I offer with a small hand squeeze.
He gives me a gentle smile and helps close the ambulance doors, and then we're off. The paramedic asks me a few questions and I've thankfully got past the worst of the shock. So I'm able to respond. By the time we make it to the hospital the paramedic is almost sure I'm okay, but still asks for a few scans. Edward and Esme are waiting in the emergency room when we arrive and they follow me as I'm rolled throughout the hospital.
"Sweetheart, are you okay?" Edward asks, pulling me into his arms and softly caressing my bump as soon as we're alone and I'm settled in a room. "What happened? Who was that man that pushed you?"
"It was my father. He found me."
I retell my story to Edward and Esme, starting at the beginning and why I was at the mall, all the way up to the confrontation with my father, the things he said and why I needed an ambulance.
"The security guard, Marcus, said they managed to detain your father, he told me on the phone and asked for your contact details. He's going to pass your information along to the police. And they'll get in contact with us. Please, tell me you're going to let them do something about him, Bella. "
I sob into my hands when I realise what he's asking. I'm terrified of my father but I'm more terrified but what he said. I have eyes every where. He'll always find us if I don't do something about him. He'll hurt me again, or worse peanut or Edward. Reluctantly I nod my head. I know what I have to do. When the police call I'll tell them everything. It's time he paid for the misery he inflicted.
After a thorough exam by my doctor and Edward I'm finally released from hospital. It's slow going but we make it to Edward's car and then home. He helps me change into something more comfortable and then into bed. He then gets in behind me, with a heating pad, and spoons me while holding the warm pad on my tail bone.
"It's going to take a little while to heal." He informs me softly. "Especially if you fractured it."
I nod my head in response but I don't say anything. I'm not even aware of the tears that have leaked from the corners of my eyes until Edward asks me why I'm crying. I'm not completely sure why. Maybe it's the last of the adrenaline coming out of my system or the shock wearing off completely. Either way, I can't control the sobs that wrack through my body. I shudder in Edwards arms and do my best to not panic.
"Shh. You're home and safe. Both of you are." He soothes. "Im going to look after you, sweetheart. I promise you're going to be okay."
He manages to calm me enough into sleeping. It's not particularly restful, and I know I'll have nightmares but I know I'm safe with Edward. He won't let anything bad happen again. I don't doubt it for a second.
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