Edward

"Okay, I'll talk to you soon. Bye." I end the call and smile at Jess.

"So?" My sister sits patiently, waiting to hear that Bella made it back in one piece, but there's no putting off her bigger questions now. "Are you going to see her when we get back?"

I smile. "Yeah. We're going to keep talking for a bit and let you guys get together, but eventually, we will." Standing, I extend a hand and pull her up off the sand. Our family is scattered along the shoreline, building sandcastles, swimming, and lounging.

We leave in two days, and we have nothing planned except to just relax and enjoy the remainder of our time together. While I was sort of dreading all of this time with my family, I'm now dreading going home and back to everyday life. I love my family, and I see them often, but I've come to realize that maybe I don't see them enough.

I'm watching all my nieces and nephews run around, laughing and playing as my parents come to sit on either side of me.

"Did you have a nice time, sweetheart?" Mom asks as she rests her head on my shoulder.

"I did. Did you?"

She hums in agreement. "All my babies with their babies … life doesn't get any better than this."

The three of us sit together, watching everyone, before I speak again. "I just want to thank you two."

Dad turns to look at me. "For what?"

"For everything. For understanding when I had to leave Kate, for leaving me alone so much, for letting Bella crash so much of our vacation. You two are incredible people, and I don't know if Jess or Marcus or I ever tell you enough. So, thank you." I shrug, slinging my arms around them both.

Mom laughs. "Sweetie, we love you all. We do all these things because we want you to be happy." She and Dad share a look. " Have you spoken to Bella?"

"I have. We'll see each other soon," I tell them as Mom smiles before getting up to chase after the kids.

My father, however, remains quiet for a moment. "I don't know what will happen between you and that young woman, but she brings something out in you, Edward. Something I haven't seen in a long time; something good."

He claps my shoulder before going to join Mom and the rest of the family. I think she brings out something good too and I'm willing to wait for it.


A week later, after I've gotten back into my daily routine and somehow managed to dig myself out from under all the emails I accumulated while I was on vacation, I finally decide to call Bella. I'm nervous and I'm not sure why. But when I get her voicemail after only two rings, my stomach clenches a little.

"Hey, it's me, it's Edward." I sigh. "I just wanted to call and say hi and that I was hoping maybe we could talk or maybe plan to see each other soon? Um, call me back or text me … whatever. I'll talk to you soon. Bye, Bella." I end the call, leaning back in my desk chair trying not to berate myself for sounding like a moron on her voicemail.

Just as I'm contemplating calling Jess because I know she's been talking to Bella, my desk phone rings. "Hello?"

"Edward, it's Ben downstairs. You have a visitor." Ben is one of our security guards; he usually just sends my family right up to see me.

"Just send them up, Ben. It's okay, my family knows the way." I say, clearing up my desk a little.

"It's not your sister or mother; I can't send her up." Ben clears his throat, "I'm sorry, Edward. You'll have to come down."

"Oh, sure. I'll be down in a minute." Racking my brain, I can't imagine who could be here to see me as I enter the elevator until my mind settles on Bella. For more than a sheer second I hope that she's waiting for me in the lobby of my building, but when I step out of the elevator all those hopes are dashed when the only person aside from Ben is a stunning blonde woman.

Kate.

I can feel all of the air get sucked out of me as she stands from one of the cushioned seats she was occupying. When I approach Ben's desk, he stands looking apologetic. "She wouldn't leave until I called you. I didn't want to make a scene. Should I escort her out?"

Smiling at him, I shake my head. He's a 70-something retiree who works this job as a favor to us. It's a glorified babysitter for us programmers to make sure we leave on time. She'd just as soon chew him up and spit him out. "I'll handle it. Why don't you go get a cup of coffee?"

He nods and walks off to the break room on the first floor. I don't turn to face her until I hear the door close in the distance. When I do she has the good grace to look skittish, like a frightened street cat.

"It's been a long time, Kate. What brings you by?" I finally say, taking no more than two steps toward her, keeping my distance.

Her coat is draped over her arm, her handbag tucked close to her side. Hair and makeup shellacked in place all tying in with her pantsuit. She looks every part of the trophy mistress I understand she has become. The last guy she cheated on me with wanted to keep her, but only on the side.

From what I've been told by former friends, he keeps her very well in an apartment, fancy clothes, new cars, and an allowance. That's definitely more than I could have given her by far.

"I saw some pictures of you on Instagram. You went to the Bahamas with your family. Did you have a good time? I always wanted you to go on a trip like that." She laughs nervously.

Eyeing her, I take another step toward her. "You came by, unannounced because you saw some pictures of me on vacation? And what?"

"I missed you?" She shrugs.

"Is that a question or are you telling me something?" I cringe inwardly; I sound just like my father. I take a seat in the chair across from where she was seated. She hesitates for a second before she sits again.

"I saw you with a woman and I got a little jealous, I guess. I know I have no reason to, but I still have pictures from when you and I were together and you never looked as happy with me as you do in these pictures with her." Kate smiles and surprisingly, it seems genuine. "Who is she?"

Part of me wants to be spiteful and tell her to fuck off, that it's none of her business because it isn't, but I can't. Because she's right; I was happier this past week and half than I ever was with Kate.

"She's special," I smile. "Why are you really here, Kate?"

"A little too late, but … I'm sorry." She drops her head, breaking eye contact with me, "I know how you must have felt and I'm not looking for sympathy. I just … I realize how damaging it is and I'm so sorry. You're a good person and you were a good partner; you deserved better."

When she looks up her eyes aren't wet with tears, but they are red. Kate was never exceptionally emotional, but I know her tells well enough to know the truth from the bullshit. She's a demon from the depths of relationship hell, but even she can't fake this shit.

"I appreciate it, even several years late." I chuckle to try to relieve some of the tension and she gives me a watery smile. "Are you safe?"

She shrugs, "I am. And I'll be moving home soon. So, don't worry about me dropping by again."

Nodding, I stand. "Starting over?"

"Starting fresh," she stands, slipping into her coat. "Starting new."

"Good for you." I walk her to the door, "Good luck, Kate."

"Goodbye, Edward."

I watch as she walks out to her car and drives away before heading back up to the elevator and returning to my desk. I take a few minutes to collect myself before I reach for my phone to text Jessica to fill her in. When I wake it up, I see three missed texts from Bella and suddenly nothing else matters.

Bella: Hey! Sorry I missed you! I was in a meeting. Still trying to get caught up from being away.

Bella: I'd really like to see you too. I didn't know if I should text you or if it was too soon or IDK. Let me know. : )

Bella: I miss you. Is it weird to say that? I hope not, because I do.

Edward: I miss you too.