Edward

"How did you even find this out?" I refocus on my sister and figure out how she even got this information.

Jess leans back in the chair. "I don't know if you're familiar with spas, but once you're set for a treatment, you're sort of stuck. Bella had just come out from getting a massage, and Maria and I were getting set up for our pedicures. We saw her and invited her over to join us."

"And she just happily sat down?"

Jess looks over at me and rolls her eyes. "No, we strapped her down as she was kicking and screaming. Of course, she sat down and joined us. It's a pedicure, not the chair from A Clockwork Orange!" She swats at me, and I flick her hand away.

She tells me about how once she was between them, they started peppering her with questions, and when Bella had no means of escape or distraction, she let loose and told my sisters her situation.

"She took out a loan to pay for the wedding, Edward. I feel so bad; that's why I invited her to join us for dinner tonight." Jess takes a long, hard look at me. "Are you gonna be okay with this?"

Am I? I honestly don't know. After I left Kate, I was made out to be the villain in our relationship, even if that wasn't the case. I left her at the altar, so I was the bad guy. It didn't matter what my reasoning was or what she could have done to make me do it; I was the only one at fault.

A lot of that got cleared up years ago, but is it right for me to be around someone who was just abandoned the way I did to someone else, regardless of the circumstances, and act like everything is fine?

"Did you tell her?" I ask finally, trying to settle my rambling thoughts.

My sister stands, stretching a little. "I didn't. It's not my business. I made it my business back then and look what happened."

"You saved me from marrying that nightmare and a potential divorce," I point out, and she smiles.

"I also created a lot of drama. It's also not my story to tell." She walks toward the bushes once more. "Bella doesn't know that I told you. I think she understands that we're super close, but—"

"You like her, don't you?" I shade my eyes with my hand as I watch my sister's expression soften.

"You know I love Maria, but she and I aren't close. Not in a sisterly kind of way." Jess shrugs, but I nod. They're friends but not sisters. "I could see Bella as a sister. There's just something about her."

"I'll see you later."

Later, after I've pulled on my dockers, polo shirt, and Topsiders, I walk down to meet my family in a small courtyard in our village. The smaller kids are running around in the grass while Maria and Marcus watch over them, but I spot Jess and Carmen off to the side in a heated conversation with my niece's arms crossed over her chest.

"What's going on over there?" I ask my mom as I approach.

She sighs. "Carmen is upset because she was supposed to come to dinner with us, and now, she's stuck with the kids."

I nod, looking at James. "Is Jess trying to placate her or explain how sometimes we have to be nice to people who might be lonely?"

"At this point, she might be threatening her with bodily harm; she's been moody all day because of this." He scrubs a hand over his face. "I get it; I do. But we're here for almost two more weeks. She's going to have plenty more opportunities to go to dinner with us."

"But if she's being cut out of the first one …" All of us turn around to see Bella standing a few feet away, looking sheepish. "Sorry. I saw all of you out here, and Jess said to meet down here. Is Carmen okay?"

"She'll be fine. We're glad you're joining us tonight," James says with a smile.

"Can I go talk to her?" Bella asks as we all look at each other, and then James finally gestures her over. After a moment, Jess walks over to join us, and we watch surreptitiously as Carmen slowly lets her guard down and smiles up at Bella.

The two of them are laughing by the time Carmen runs off to help roundup the younger kids, and Bella walks back over to us. "Are you magic?" My dad asks as my mom slaps his arm.

"No, but I was delegated to the kids table until I was 15, so I get it." She smiles sympathetically at Jess and James. "I may have bribed her with water sports and cheesecake brought back later."

James laughs. "We can make that happen. Thank you."

As we make our way to the restaurant, Bella tells me and Jess that Carmen was also looking forward to hanging out with her again. "I told her I'd talk to you tonight about maybe setting up a time for us to do something together, but I didn't make any promises. I know you're being kind by inviting me to dinner, but we still don't really know each other."

Jess touches her shoulder briefly. "I think that would be lovely. Thank you."

Dinner is a nice, simple affair, even if the restaurant we're eating in is easily close to five stars. The food is delicious, and I'm on my third glass of wine when it's obvious that my mom and dad are trying to match me and Bella up.

When she excuses herself to the ladies' room, I turn on my parents. "You guys have to lay off. This is not a setup. Bella isn't here looking for an island hookup, and neither am I."

"Oh, but, Edward, you two are so perfect for each other!" My mom actually swoons a little, making me shake my head. "Why don't you offer to walk her back to her room tonight?"

Sighing, I look at my sister, who just shrugs. "I will because I'm nice, but you guys have to let this go."

When Bella comes back, my parents let up slightly, but they switch things up. "Bella, if you aren't here with anyone, does that mean you're single?"

Mom means well, but her question causes both me and Jess to choke on our Crème Brûlée. If Bella notices, she doesn't let on. "I'm newly single. Like, within the last week."

Her face pinks, and she ducks her head. Jess clears her throat.

"You don't owe anyone an explanation, Bella. My mother, while she means well, is nosy." Everyone laughs lightly as Bella shakes her head.

"It's fine. I really like you all, and I feel like I wouldn't be able to say no to you if you asked me to hang out again, so I'll give you the sad but short version. My fiancé left me at the altar, and I haven't heard from him since."

The table goes silent for a few minutes before Bella tries to crack a joke. "I'm really fun at parties."

We all laugh, but I see the look my mother sends me, and I sigh. By the time we exit the restaurant, cheesecake for Carmen in hand, I'm feeling apprehensive about this obvious new addition to our group.

Bella is nice and funny, but I don't know if I want to be around her when she's raw from what's just happened to her and what I've done in my past.

Dad sidles up to me as we're walking. "Are you thinking about Kate?"

"Yes, but more about what Bella might think about the situation."

He slings an arm around my shoulders. "I just heard her telling your mother about how she knows deep down that she did everything she could to make her former fiancé happy, and while it would be great to have closure, as long as he's alive and healthy … well, she can live with it."

Stopping in my tracks, I gawk at my father. "But she shouldn't have to. No one should have to just grin and bear it. When I left Kate and she made me out to be the bad guy, I didn't want to air all of our dirty laundry. But it got to a point that I had to take stock of everything and start telling people the whole story."

"And that worked for you, Edward. That's not how it's going to work for everyone else." He pats my back and takes the cheesecake from me. "Walk her to her room; she's on the other side of the building."

Bella is saying goodnight to everyone else and agreeing to make plans for later in the week. We're taking a boat excursion later this week for dinner, and she's going to join us.

"I'll walk you to your room," I say, and she smiles.

"I know the way." And she leads the way as my family calls out their goodbyes.

"My parents insisted. I'm glad you came tonight; although, I'm sorry my mom was so intrusive." I wince; I hadn't intended to bring this up.

"It's okay. I told Jess earlier today, so it was bound to come up at some point," She stops in front of her door. "It's still early; do you want to come in for a drink or coffee?"

I hesitate for a moment longer than necessary.

"You can say 'no', Edward. I'm not looking for anything. I just know I'll be up for a few more hours and—"

Cutting her off, I nod. "You don't have anyone to talk to? Yeah, I'll come in for a bit."

She opens her room to one almost identical to mine. "I have a good-sized terrace we can sit out on, if you want."

"Sure. I'll have coffee or tea." I move to the terrace and look out. She's on the third floor, so her view is nicer than mine, but it's still the same resort. "I'm by myself in my room, so I get it."

She's slipping off her sandals. "Yeah, I have some books on my iPad and movies, but … well, Garrett, that's my ex, he and I lived together. So, it's weird to be alone."

I turn away as she busies herself with the coffeemaker. "How long were you two together?"

"Hmm? Oh, five years altogether, but we were engaged for two years." She walks over with two cups and sets them down on the table before walking back inside and coming back with some creamer packets and sugar.

"This was supposed to be your honeymoon?"

She isn't looking at me, just adding condiments to her coffee. "Yeah. Two weeks on a tropical island. It was already paid for. That's why I had the reception; I wasn't going to get a refund on anything, so why not still have the party?" She shrugs and looks up at me. Her voice is one of indifference, but her eyes are swimming with tears.

"I'm sorry; we don't have to talk about this." I close my eyes, taking a sip of my coffee.

"I just … Never mind." She waves the thought away.

Curiosity gets the better of me. "What is it?"

Bella sets her cup down with a sigh. "Garrett was my life. I had based my whole future around him, and I'm just wondering if he ever saw that with me, ya know? Like, was I his 'end all, be all'? Because if I was, why didn't he stay?"

That's the kicker because while I don't know Garrett, or even Bella for that matter, I do know that there are a million reasons why he may have left. For better or for worse.

I'm about to try to wax poetic, but Bella softly, quietly breaks down into sobs on the terrace, and I scoot my chair closer to wrap an arm around her as she lets it out.