My phone was ringing for the fifth time today. I liked when I lived in isolation with my child, no one called or bothered me except for my family.

"Hello," I snapped.

"Baby?"

"Hi mom," I sighed stirring the chili I was making for dinner.

"Bella what's wrong?" she asked.

Renee might be flighty at times, but she was too observant for her own good. She left with Jasper and I when I was six months old. We spent the remainder of our young life going back and forth between them.

Charlie's argument was we needed stability he finally was able to get full custody of us when my mother moved us to a nudist compound in Phoenix when I was ten. Jasper was fifteen and as soon as we pulled up to the compounds gates he had Charlie on the phone.

Renee stay on the compound for two years and then moved onto her next phase, surprisingly she settled down and got married when I was sixteen. Phil was a minor league ball player and overall great guy. They've been married for six years and I've never seen my mother as happy as she has been with him.

"Nothing," I mumbled because I knew Alice probably had talked to her.

"Fine I know I won't get it out of you," she paused. "How's the baby boy?"

"He's great," I smiled thinking of Rylan.

"Is he getting into everything yet?"

"No but he is a chatterbox."

"Oh baby, I want to visit soon," she whined.

"He'll still be talking mom," I teased, as I tasted the chili to see if it was ready.

"He going to be so big by the time we can come up. Your dad gets to see him so much I just…" she rambled and this was typical Renee she did it when Jazz and I were teenagers. She loved us and I would never question that it was more like she was a free soul that had no clue what to do with herself.

"Mom, dad only gets to see him because he lives an hour away, I might even come down there to see you, we could use a vacation," I offered, it didn't sound like a bad idea we could get away.

"Really?"

"Yeah," I replied, hearing a knock at the front door. "Mom I got to go, I'll call you later?"

"That's fine tell your brother and Alice I said Love you."

"I will, love you," I repeated back, turning off the stove.

Everyone was at work; I had no clue who it could be. I hurried to the door so the knocking wouldn't wake up Rylan who was napping in the living room. I opened the door to Carlisle.

"Uh…"

"Bella," he smiled warmly, but I could see the hesitation in his eyes.

"I… how do you know where I live?"

"I stopped by the store to talk to you and Alice gave me your address when I explained who I was," he informed. Good to know Alice like giving away where we live to strangers.

I didn't say anything because I had nothing really to say. It had been a week since Edward tried talking to me and I felt embarrassed that Edward's family wanted me as a friend because they felt sorry for me. Poor single mother that's what everyone thought when they saw me I knew the looks people gave me.

"Rose has been trying to get in touch with you," he said quietly looking at me with sad green eyes. Why must he and Rosalie share the same eye color as Edward?

"I've been… busy," I stammered.

He looked at me as like he was trying to get a read on what I was thinking. "Today is a Queen day?" he asked.

I furrowed my brow trying to understand what on earth he was talking about. He nodded towards my shirt and I smiled slightly. "I guess," I shrugged.

"I'm more of a Bowie fan," he winked and I giggled remembering what Rose told me about Carlisle.

"I never would have taken you for the Glam Rock type," I teased.

"I love all music," he said sincerely.

"Ma…mama…MA!" We heard coming from the living room.

"Sounds like someone needs you," Carlisle smiled.

"He was taking a nap, you can come in," I offered and he nodded following me.

"Mama," Rylan pouted holding his arms out. He hated naps and was always grumpy after he had one. Weren't naps supposed to refresh him or something?

"Aw baby," I fussed dramatically over him making him play up that his nap time was just horrible.

Carlise was chucking in the doorway. "Should I be feeling sorry for him?"

"He's not a napper."

"I see," he said. "You are wonderful with him."

"Thank you?" I said not used to the compliment.

"Bella you don't need to answer this and can be upset with me for asking, but what happened with his father?"

I took a deep breath, no one except my family knew the delicacy of my situation.

"He died… it was cancer," I whispered.

"I'm very sorry," he sighed wrapping his arms around us.

Should I tell him he shouldn't feel sorry for me? I didn't love Jake and in the end he loved me much more then he should have. He had no idea he was a father before he took his last breath in this world.

I shook my head, pulling away from him. "Please, don't…" I trailed off, drifting over to sit on the recliner.

"Bella?"

"I'm terrible."

"Why do you think that?" he asked gently, kneeling in front of us.

"Jake… he… was only my best friend, that was it," I sniffled wiping at the tears under my glasses. "We grew up together he was in remission and then just not… it was an accident on my part he loved me. I mean was in love with me, but I didn't love him like that. He was more invested, he was here and then he wasn't. I found out I was pregnant and he died a day later not even knowing."

Carlise this person who didn't know me was sitting in front of me listening to how fucked up my life was. His face was kind and understanding and he brush my hair behind my ear as I hold my baby close to me. The only thing I regretted was Rylan would never have a father because his was unable to be with us.

"You want to know what I think?" He asked softly as I nodded. "You're an amazing mother and Rylan is very lucky to have you. It is devastating that he will never know his father, but you can tell him about him. No matter what I think Jake has an idea of what he left behind."

I stared at this man automatically trying to think of what I did to deserve him and his kind words in my life.

"Why are you here?"

"Rosalie and I are desperate for friends," he replied giving me a familiar crooked smirk.

I brought my hand to his face I brushed the corner of his mouth with my thumb. "Edward didn't want to be my friend," I added sadly.

"Edward is a complicated soul," he sighed, but I gave him a look saying 'Explain further'.

"He and Rosalie came to live with me when they were ten after our parents died in a car accident. With them being twins for the longest time it was like they would have these silent conversations and I had no idea what they were feeling and thinking. Rose though finally came around expressing her emotions for the longest time I think Edward had felt she had left him behind.

When they entered high school Rose excelled, but it was like Edward gave up. He started fighting and doing drugs. I tried to help him, but he didn't want help he wanted to stay in his numb haze.

I finally was able to get him to agree to rehab and after a couple of stays it turned out to be successful. He ended up going to college completing his degree, which I knew he was more than capable of," he said wistfully.

"He's strong willed," I added quietly.

"Like someone else I have come to know," he said pointedly.

"I'm sorry I've ignored Rosalie."

"Was it because of Edward?"

"I don't know…"

"Bella,"

"He really hurt me. He had been coming into the store to see me and he gave Alice his number for me to call. I called, but he never called back. He was at the bar that night with another woman…"

"Bella I believe Edward feels disgusted with his behavior," he said.

I looked down at Rylan who was playing with my hair. He obviously went back to his shyness with Carlisle here.

"I believe you, but I can't be around someone like that. I need to be around positive people."

Before he could say anything else the front door opened.

"Bells why is that hot car in that drive way?" Jasper said placing his bag by the door.

"Said hot car would be mine," Carlisle chuckled standing up.

Jasper's cheeks turned red with embarrassment causing me to giggle. "Jazz this is Carlisle Cullen."

"Uh hi?" he said because he never heard that name before.

"Carlisle this is my brother Jasper."

"Jazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz," Rylan squealed.

"Uncle little man…say Uncle Jazz," Jasper corrected him scooping him out of my arms throwing him up a couple of times.

His carefree little giggles made me smile.

"I really need to get going, will you be calling Rose?" Carlisle asked as I stood to walk him out.

"Yeah I'll call her," I said in defeat because Rosalie didn't deserve to be ignored.

Carlisle pulled me in for a hug and for some reason I felt like I gained another brother. After he left Jasper decided to get all district attorney on me and let the integration begin. I told him the truth he said I could use more friends leaving it at that.

A couple days had passed and Rosalie and I made lunch plans to take the boys out. It was kind of weird having a friend that was a mother too. She understood a lot of things that I went through with raising Rylan.

I was in the back office sifting through paperwork and was shocked to her a familiar velvet voice talking to Alice out front.

"Well, well, well," she snipped. I tried not to giggle but her pregnancy hormones were funny.

"Is Bella here?" Edward asked quietly.

"And why would I tell you if she was?"

"I would like to apologize to her for my behavior."

"I don't think you deserve to be in the presence of Bella," she said bluntly.

"I know," he said brokenly.

"Bella didn't tell me what happen, but your sister did," she began, but he cut her off.

"Rose doesn't understand," he argued.

"Stop and you will listen to this," she ordered I guess he was complying because he didn't say anything else. "Bella is the most amazing girl you will ever meet. I was really routing for you until you pulled the shit you did. Why would you want her to have your number if you wanted to see another woman?"

"I can speak now?" he asked fearfully.

"I asked you a damn question what do you think?" she snapped. Did I mention how much I loved Alice?

"I want Bella as a friend I agree that she is amazing and I would be a fool to not have her in my life," he finished.

"Just a friend?"

"I think that is all I would be good as."

"I'll talk to her, but you will have to work for her friendship," Alice said seriously.

"I'm more then ready to prove to her I want her in my life."

"Good."

"I'll come back," he said softly and I could hear the bell on the door ring.

I went out to the café where Alice was sitting up on the counter.

"Did that just happen?"

"Good I was loud enough," she smiled clapping her hands.

"You're bad," I said shaking my head.

"I try."

"Who says I want him to be my friend?" I asked because he talked to her and not me. Did he think I was that forgiving?

"Trust me you do," she said knowingly.

"I'm so happy you're so sure of this," I said dryly.

"I'm Alice," she shrugged going into the room I was just in.

Now I had to be prepared for Edward and what he would do to earn my friendship, but I think his major hurdle would be earning my trust.