One Week Later
Bella sat in the Cullen's guest bedroom, all her belongings were around her still in boxes, everyone had tried to get her to unpack but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. The day she left home and her father still haunted her and she was struggling to get past it.
The night after she had spoken to Esme about getting her job, she and Carlisle had offered Bella a place to stay for as long as she needed it so that she could take her dream job. After thanking them profusely, Bella decided to head back home and talk to her father again to try and persuade him to see reason and that this job was an amazing thing for Bella to get.
Bella's father still could not see why she wanted to take the job.
"I just don't get it Bella you were perfectly happy working at the diner, through school and I even let you go to college, which I think was my mistake, because then you started to hang around with people better than you are." He told Bella honestly.
Bella whispered "there not better than me, they just realise that I can be anybody I want, and I want more for myself than working at the diner, surly you want more for your daughter as well?"
"Well I'm perfectly happy with you working at the diner and if you insist on taking this 'so called' dream job of yours then what I told you still stands you cannot live here. If you intend to take the job then I want you out today, do I make myself clear?" Charlie screamed.
"But Dad…" Bella stammered.
"That's all I'm going to say on the subject" He told Bella sternly before walking out the door.
A knock on the door brought Bella out of her thoughts.
"Sorry Bella I was wondering if you wouldn't mind giving me a hand cooking dinner tonight?" Esme asked poking her head around the guestroom door, Bella still refused to call it her room, not matter how adamant the Cullen's were that it was.
"Sure Esme, I don't mind helping." Bella told her before following her down the stairs. The two women worked silently side by side for the next forty minutes. Although Bella loved all the Cullen's dearly, it was Esme she felt most comfortable with at the minute she never tried to get Bella to talk or pushed her into doing something that she was uncomfortable with. Esme was the mother she wished she had all along.
"So, are you ready for your first day tomorrow?" Esme asked.
It took a while for Bella to think of a reply "Urm, I guess I'm just a bit nervous."
"It's perfectly understandable to be nervous, we all get butterflies before starting something new, I'm sure you'll do great." Esme reassured her.
Bella stopped cutting the vegetables and took a deep breath she had been thinking that this job was a big mistake she was has risked everything to take it, what if it didn't work out would the Cullen's kick her out as well. A single tear escaped as Bella tried to furiously wipe it away.
Esme quickly walked around the island and engulfed Bella in a tight hug, which just caused Bella to cry more.
"What's bothering you sweetheart you have not been yourself all week please talk to me?" Esme asked with such sincerity in her voice how could Bella refuse.
Taking a couple of deep breaths Bella replied "I'm risking everything on this job what if I mess up then what will I do? I've lost my home, family I'd have nothing."
"Have you not been listening to anything this last week, do you honestly think that we are not you family. We may not be blood related but we defiantly love you as such." Esme laughed gently at her stubborn daughter what was it going to take for her to realise that no matter what happened she would always have a home and a family here.
"But…" Bella tried to argue.
"No buts, you are family and as such you are stuck with us no matter what got it" Esme told her sternly.
Bella could only stare at Esme unsure how to reply. Esme smiled at Bella wrapping her in yet another hug before whispering "One day you will realise just how important you are to all of us."
After Bella's outburst a calm atmosphere descended over the kitchen as the two quickly set about finishing dinner. By the time Carlisle and Edward walked through the door a meal of chicken, fresh vegetables and potatoes were set on the table.
"Wow, this looks amazing ladies" Carlisle told the pair as he went to give his wife a hug, while Edward had taken Bella by the hand and led her into the living room.
"How's she doing?" Carlisle asked nodding his head towards Bella.
"To be honest I don't know." Esme told Carlisle, before telling him of the conversation she had just finished with Bella.
"How do I make her feel like one of the family?" Esme asked desperately.
"That's something she has to realise on her own, and in time she will you just need to be patient with her." He told Esme reassuringly.
"I know" She sighed.
While Carlisle called the others to the dining room, Esme placed some freshly baked rolls in the centre of the table. The meal was quite as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Bella was thinking back to the conversation she had with Esme in the kitchen, she knew that she had hurt Esme's feelings slightly, but love was such an alien concept for Bella that she didn't know what to do with it. She was still so surprised that Esme and Carlisle had agreed for her to live here, when she had barely known them for six months, yet in that short space of time she was always more comfortable than in any other place.
Bella was brought out of her thoughts by Edward gently squeezing her leg gaining her attention. He raised his eyebrows asking what was she was thinking about without a single word. Bella smiled her response hoping to reassure Edward that she was ok and they'd talk later, hopefully in bed. Edward had spent the last week trying to persuade Bella to spend every night with him, although she was more reluctant because she didn't want to upset Carlisle and Esme. They had given her a room after all, which surely meant that they expected her to use it. So, although Edward had come to her room every night after an hour or so Bella would insist that Edward would return to his own room for the rest of the night.
"Ok you guys cooked dinner so me and Edward will wash up, go relax." Carlisle said ushering Esme and Bella into the living room.
Both women headed towards the living room and Esme pulled Bella onto the couch. "Feeling any better honey?" Esme asked concern evident in her voice.
"I guess it's just weird for me being here you have accepted me so fully into your home and lives. I haven't really felt that before it's …" Bella began but didn't know how to finish her sentence. She sighed all of a sudden feeling completely exhausted from the lack of sleep this last week.
Esme pulled Bella closer putting all her reassurance and love into the hug, after 10 minutes she finally spoke. "I think you need a hot bubble bath to help you relax, why not ask Edward to keep you company open up to him it will help." Esme said smiling at Bella before leading her towards the bathroom.
Esme sat Bella on the toilet lid then proceeded to fill the tub with hot water added in some bath salts and a gorgeous smelling strawberry bubble bath. Bella had never felt so taken care of before she gazed up at Esme marvelling at the strength of the women in front of her and how she was able to make Bella feel so loved and whole just by running a simple bubble bath.
"Now you get into that bath and I'll send Edward up in five minutes." She told Bella kissing her forehead before heading out the bathroom. Bella smiled after Esme before doing as she was told stripping off her clothes and getting into the bath laying under all the bubbles ensuring she was covered before Edward came in. She let her eyes close letting her body completely relax thinking about nothing.
Edward knocked gently on the door before letting himself in and sitting on the floor by the tub, placing a kiss on Bella's nose.
"Hey my mum said you needed some company, how you doing?" He asked looking into Bella's eyes for any signs of hurt or pain.
"I'm ok Edward, there's so much going on right now that I don't know how to handle, you've all been so good to me and your mum is a wonder, I just struggle accepting what you are all offering me." Bella told him honestly finally looking away from me.
"We all understand that you needed some space and we don't think anything less of you because of it. You've had to make so many adjustments this last week of course it's going to take you a while." Edward replied causing Bella to shed a couple of tears.
Edward wiped them away before gently massaging her scalp, causing Bella to close her eyes and sigh in contentment. As the water began to get cold Bella insisted Edward leave the bathroom so she could get out. Bella found a think white towel and wrapped it around herself inhaling the lavender sent on the towel making her smile. She headed down the hall towards the guest bedroom. Bella had just begun towel drying her hair when a gentle knock told her Esme was standing in her door way.
"How was your bath feeling more relaxed?" Esme asked, hoping that it had helped to calm Bella down some.
"Yes thanks, it was just what I needed. How did you know?" Bella replied with a small smile towards the older women.
"How did I know what?" Esme asked repeating Bella's question.
"That I needed a bath so much, how much it would help me to relax and feel slightly normal again" Bella told her a slight blush on her cheeks.
"Because I'm a mother and I always know what my children need." Esme told Bella simply. She then pulled Bella towards the bed wrapping a robe around her shoulders so she didn't get cold. Esme then proceeded to finish towel drying and combing out Bella's hair. No other words were spoken between the two women Esme was just finally pleased that Bella had finally accepted some help and was allowing her to do this.
"All dry, go and put some PJ's on then we can decide what you're going to wear tomorrow for your first day at work." Esme told Bella firmly handing Bella a clean pair before heading towards Bella's closet looking through the few cloths that were unpacked trying to find something appropriate.
Once Bella had followed Esme's orders she said feeling rather guilty "Esme you don't have to help you know"
"I know I don't have to but I want to that's the biggest difference Bella. We only do things because we want to in this house please remember that." Esme replied scolding Bella slightly though still smiling.
Esme went back to rummaging through Bella's closet while Bella went over to the suitcases still unpacked, and began looking for something smart to where. Between the two women Bella finally found the perfect outfit, black dress pants with a purple shirt. It was smart but casual and would be ideal for Bella's first day.
"Just perfect Bella you will look great and you will be great." Esme told Bella wrapping her in a tight hug.
"Thank you, Esme, for everything, I don't know what I'd do without you Carlisle, Edward and everyone else you're amazing I don't deserve your love and support." Bella replied wrapping Esme in a tighter hug.
"Hey none of that you deserve everything, you're the sweetest person I know, now get a good-night's sleep you need to be refreshed for work tomorrow." She scolded before tucking Bella into bed kissing her forward.
"Oh and Bella." Esme called causing Bella to open her eyes and glance at the older women.
"I don't mind you and Edward sharing a bed, after all you're both adults." Esme said smiling.
Bella had a stunned look on her face which caused Esme to laugh before leaving the room.
Ten minutes later Bella heard Edward sneak into her room and curl up behind her in bed, she sighed happily as he kissed the top of her head. Perhaps living her won't be that bad after all Bella though before sleep finally took her.