I own nothing.

I'm still introducing characters so bare with me. This story is really starting to come together in my head. My pen is just having a hard time keeping up. Anyway, I was going to post this chapter last night but I got high instead. So, good morning and happy reading folks!

This job isn't cutting it. I'm not making enough money. Between the mortgage, day care, car note, groceries and utilities I have nothing left. My credit cards are well on their way to being maxed out. I can barely make the minimum monthly payments, and now my car needs new brakes. Bills keep sprouting up out of nowhere, like weeds.

With my head on the edge of the kitchen table, I sat there with all my bills scattered out in front of me and tried to hold back the tears. You're not going to cry Bella. Stop it! Stop feeling sorry for yourself! Figure it out! You have to.

I've been working for Fran for four months and I'm barely getting by. I went to her for a raise a few weeks ago. I knew it was too soon to be asking for one but I was running out of options. Though she listened to my dilemma and was very sympathetic, she just couldn't afford to give me the raise. I thanked her for her time. She is really a good employer. She always understands whenever I need to leave early to get Sheridan when she is sick, which isn't very often, thank goodness.

Charlie constantly asks if he can help me out with any bills, but I couldn't live with myself if I took his money. He's already helping so much by taking Sheridan on Saturdays. He's such a good grandpa too and Sheridan loves driving him crazy with all her questions.

I'm always on the look out for a better paying job. I'm just not having any luck. I ran into Emmett again at day care and even went as far as to ask him for a job. He had just hired a girl in his office a month before. If I had only asked sooner he said he could've hooked me up. He did tell me to check with his good friend Carlisle Cullen, who is an attorney in town. I knew of Mr. Cullen but I didn't really know him. I knew that he played poker at Emmett's because I remembered Jeff mentioning him before, but he never said anything other than he reminded Jeff of a younger Hugh Heffner. When I finally got the interview with Mr. Cullen he was nice like everyone else, aside from his not so subtle glances at my tits, but he couldn't offer me the amount per hour I needed. However, during the interview he learned that I was a single mom and offered the babysitting services of his daughter, Katie, who would be starting classes in the fall at the nearby community college, much to his dissatisfaction. I told him that unless she worked for free that I couldn't afford her. He gave me her number anyway.

I'm so desperate for a better paying job, that yesterday before I went to get Sheridan from Charlie, I drove to La Push to a strip club. They were looking for new dancers. Topless dancers. I was going to apply, but as I sat there in the empty parking lot I couldn't make myself get out of the car. I was startled when I heard a soft tap on my window.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you," a very large Native American young man said through the window. "Are you ok?"

"No…I mean yes, I'm fine. You just caught me by surprise," I said nervously.

"A pretty lady like you shouldn't be sitting out here alone. This isn't exactly the best part of town." Coming from someone else that might have sounded scary and kind of creepy, but there was something about this guy. He seemed sincere, not to mention cute.

"I was just about to head inside actually," I said as I opened my car door.

"Oh. Well, ummm…we're not actually open yet," he said with a confused look on his face.

"I know. I'm here to apply for a job…as a dancer, or maybe a waitress. Whatever I can get," I said hoping that just maybe I wouldn't have to take my clothes off. If it weren't for the strange calming affect this guy had on me I probably would've puked on myself, I was so nervous. "You work here?"

"Yeah, I'm Jake, the manager," he said proudly slightly puffing out his chest.

"Bella. Nice to meet you." I reached out and shook his hand.

"You too. How bout we go inside and talk about this job."

I followed him into the club, which was actually quite nasty and dingy with the bright lights on. I'm sure that during working hours with the lights low it looked fine, but now it was gross. He lead me to the back into a very small office where the interview ended as quickly as it began when Jake said that he would need to see the goods.

I don't know what I was thinking. I'm way too shy and Charlie would surely find out eventually and probably have a heart attack.

When I pulled up to Charlie's, he and Sheridan were outside kicking a ball around waiting for me. So of course, when I pushed on the brakes before putting the car in park Charlie noticed the horrible grinding noise my brakes were making. I was finally allowed to leave with my daughter to go home, after repeatedly refusing money from him to get them fixed, once I promised to let him follow me out to the mechanic's shop tomorrow to drop off the car.

So here I sit. I wasn't sure how I would afford it, but I know I can't drive around with bad brakes and a baby in the car. So I gave up on trying to make the numbers magically work, lifted my head off the table and went to bed.

Charlie showed up bright and early the next morning in his police cruiser. Once we were ready to go I strapped Sheridan in her car seat in the back of the cruiser, which was one of the strangest things I've seen. Sheridan liked it though, she said she was a monkey in a cage and continued to squeak like what she thought a monkey sounded like. It was cute.

Fran told me about a new shop this side of Port Angeles when she heard my brakes last week. She said that I could get a better deal there than here in Forks. So, off I went with Charlie not far behind.

Masen Automotive was exactly where Fran said it was. The shop looked so clean and brand new on the outside. There were cars placed randomly throughout the small parking lot and a few in the bays being worked on, but I didn't see anyone working. I parked in front of the office and made my way inside while Charlie pulled in behind me to wait.

The bell on the door jingled as I pushed it open and walked into the office. Just like the outside, the inside was just as clean and new.

I was immediately greeted by the young girl at the desk.

"Hello. Welcome to Masen Automotive. I'm Alice. What can we do for you today?"

As she said this she stood up to reveal her petite frame. If it weren't for how she dressed and presented herself, I would have guessed her to be sixteen years old. She wore a black button down ruffle collared top with a black leather belt worn high on her waiste and white pants with some dangerously tall heels. She wore her brown hair in a cute pixie cut and straight as a board. Though I knew this place was brand new and I had never been here before, I felt like I knew Alice from somewhere.

I reached my hand out to meet hers. "Hi. I'm Bella." There was not a hint of recognition on Alice's face as I shook her hand. Maybe I don't know her. "My brakes need replacing."

"Alright, well, our mechanic had to step out of the shop for a little while today so it maybe later this evening before they're done."

"That's fine," I said quickly. "My dad followed me here and he can bring me back later." I gestured to the police car out the window as I said this.

Alice hurriedly took all my information and my keys in what seemed like a way to get me out of there quickly, while I raked my brain as to where I might know her.

"Ok Bella. Here's our card, just in case you need it, and we'll call you today when your car is ready."

"Thanks." I slipped the card in my back pocket.

"You're welcome. Have a nice day" she called politely as I turned to leave.

Later that day, after feeding Sheridan and putting her down for her nap, my cell rang while I was lying in bed resting. Looking at the screen of my crappy cell, I didn't recognize the number.

"Hello" I answered groggily.

"Hello. Is this Bella Whitlock?" the velvet voice on the other end asked.

"Uh huh," I replied like an incompetent idiot.

"Hi Bella, this is Edward with Masen Automotive. I was calling to let you know that your car is ready. I was able to change the brake pads, which fixed the problem you were having."

"Oh. Ok. Thanks." Wow. His voice is heaven. I found myself becoming aroused for the first time in months by his voice alone. Geez! I don't even know what this guy looks like.

"No problem. So, whenever you're ready…you can come by and pick it up. Unless you need me to drop it off to you. I could do that. It wouldn't be a problem."

"Umm…no, that's not necessary, Edward. Thanks though."

"You're welcome Bella." Oh my God, I think I just came in my panties. The way he says my name!

"So, how much do I owe you?" I squeaked out embarrassingly.

"Actually, it has already been taken care of, so…"

"What? What do you mean? Who paid my bill?"

"Umm…I'm not sure."

"You don't know who paid it?"

"No, whoever it was, Alice dealt with them."

Who the hell would pay my bill? I don't need anyone's help. Who do they think they are going behind my back like this? Charlie. Had to have been him.

"Alright Edward. I'll be by as soon as I can. Thanks again."

"Like I said, not a problem. Just call me if you need anything…with your car, I mean."

"I will."

"Good bye Bella."

"Good bye Edward."

I immediately called Charlie on his cell. He didn't answer. So I called the station. Lori, the dispatcher, said that he got called out to La Push for emergency assistance. Great. I need my car. Shit! I could call Edward and have him bring it to me like he offered to do. No. I can't. I don't even know him.

So I fished out my old address book from the night stand and found Emmett's number.

So for the second time that day, I strapped Sheridan in her car seat in the back seat, but this time it was in Emmett's jeep.

"Thanks for doing this. I really appreciate it Emmett."

"Don't mention it!"

The drive to Masen Automotive was spent talking easily with Emmett. It wasn't hard to like him. He's actually a lot of fun to be around.

When we arrived at Masen Automotive I was hit with a wave of nervousness. I was going to get to put a face to that beautiful voice. I was going to meet Edward. Emmett waited with Sheridan while I went in. Like earlier that day the door bell jingled when I pushed through the door and I was greeted by…

"Alice."

"Hey Bella. Nice to see you again. I have your keys right here, and you're good to go." She said handing over my keys.

"Thank you. Look Alice, about my bill…"

"Don't worry Bella. It's been taken care of already."

"I know but, you see, I don't know who paid it, so I still want to pay you myself."

"But Bella…"

"No Alice, please, just let me pay."

"I can't Bella. Please, you'll just be making more work for me. I've already entered the payment into our system and if I have to change the payment info it will take me all night and I'm sort of new at this, so please just let someone help you" she finished knowingly.

"Fine. Just to save you the extra work. But you have to tell me who it was."

"Umm…I didn't get his name actually."

"Well, what did he look like?"

"Humm…let's see. He was kind of tall, middle aged, with darkish blonde hair, sort of good looking. I'm not really sure though."

"That sounds like no one I know."

Just then there was a loud honk from the parking lot. Emmett.

"Oh ok. I have to go. Thanks anyway Alice."

"Anytime Bella. Come Again!" she called after me.

As Emmett and I were loading Sheridan into my car I asked him if he paid my bill. He said that he had no idea I was having my brakes done until that evening. Only Charlie and Fran knew about my brakes and where I was taking my car. But Alice said it was a guy, but the guy she described didn't sound like Charlie.

I thanked Emmett for the ride and headed home. I still had no idea who paid for my brakes or what Edward looks like.