Disclaimer: All things Twilight belong to the wonderful Stephenie Meyer and not to me… sigh.I also don't own Sleeping with the Enemy. The book belongs to Nancy Price and the movie belongs to Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation.
Sleeping with a Monster
Previously…
"Bella, I want to know everything, everything about you. The good and the bad, remember? Nevertheless, I will not force you to tell me anything you are not ready to, but I want you know you can tell me anything. I promise I can handle it. Do you understand?" Edward said squeezing my hand before he kissed it. I nodded silently in amazement, unable to trust that my voice not to crack from the emotional lump forming in my throat. He released my hand and quickly cleared the plates before I had time to react, still reveling in what he had said to me.
Chapter 22 – Old Friends
"So, let me get this straight. You grew up in a tiny town called Forks in Washington where your dad, Charlie, was the police chief. You were painfully clumsy and spent a lot of time in the emergency room. You hated high school and loved going to college at the University of Washington where you did indeed study to become an English teacher." Edward said looking up at me from my lap. We were lounging on the couch after work a few days after our fight and subsequent make-up. Edward had his head in my lap and I ran my fingers though his hair enjoying the silkiness.
"Yes." I confirmed his brief synopsis of my earlier years.
"So you never lived in Jacksonville?" Edward asked with a smirk.
"No. I lived in Miami and that was only during my time with James – about a year and a half." I said revealing another lie.
"What about your mom?" He questioned, his brow scrunched into a pucker. Edward smiled and relaxed as I tried to smooth out his brow with my fingers.
"I was telling the truth about my parents both being dead. My mother Renee died of cancer when I was six years old. I do not have many memories of her. I have one picture of her that Charlie put in the safety deposit box for me, but the rest are in Florida." I said a little sadly. Edward reached up and cupped my cheek with a look of sadness in his eyes at the lost of my mementos. I gave him a little smile before I continued.
"Charlie was killed by a drunk driver a year ago last March." I paused to calm my voice before I continued. "James wouldn't let me go to his funeral." My steady voice cracked at the end of my statement, belying the inner ache in my chest.
"Have you been able to at least visit his grave?" Edward asked. I grimaced at him and tears started to well up in my eyes.
"I thought about it after I left Florida, but decided it was too dangerous. I could not risk someone recognizing me. Plus if James, for one minute, suspected anything amiss in my disappearance, it would be the first place he would check. James had driven a wedge between my father and me, and he knew how much it killed me not being able to go to the funeral and say my goodbyes." I my tears spilled over. In a flash, Edward was out of my lap and I found myself in his comforting arms as the sobs started to fight their way out of my body. I had not planned to get emotional while I talked about my past with Edward. I was hoping I could do this dispassionately, trying to spare him some of the heartache I had endured. However, telling him about my parents, Charlie especially, was much more difficult than I thought. Telling the man I loved about it brought out the vulnerability in me that I was not prepared for. I felt like an injured little child who could be tough for her friends until she saw her mom and then the floodgates would open. It felt good being able to surrender to the need to be comforted by someone you know loves you. After several minutes, my cries started to quiet down.
"I wasn't going to do this, you know – cry." I said, laughing a little through my tears. I looked up into his face through my watery eyes and saw Edward's look of love and sadness for my pain.
"Bella, you have put on a brave front for far too long. You need the opportunity to cry and grieve for the loss of you father." He said gently.
Edward did not ask any more questions for the remainder of the afternoon and I was grateful. The emotions from earlier in the week were taking a toll and I needed sometime to relax and not think about it. Edward took me to a local bar-and-grill for dinner and time to unwind. We had spent several days apart with me working days and Edward working nights. We felt a little like ships passing in the night.
"Before I forget – one of the doctors I work with has invited us over to dinner at his place next Tuesday. When his wife heard that someone had finally caught my eye, she insisted on meeting you." Edward said with an eye roll while we ate dinner.
"Sounds great." I said, feigning excitement at the prospect of being put under a microscope by some woman's curiosity. Edward chuckled at my response.
"We don't have to go you know." Edward offered.
"No. It's okay." I said. We fell into a comfortable silence before I decided it was time to ask a few of my own questions.
"Edward?" His head whipped up. I am sure he could hear the apprehension in my voice and he cocked his head to the side as he looked at me inquisitively.
"I'd like to talk about Tanya, if that's alright with you." I said timidly.
"What's there to talk about?" Edward looked surprised as I suddenly barked a humorless laugh.
"I guess I need to hear from you what your relationship is or was with her." I admitted reluctantly.
"There's nothing to tell, Bella. I don't like her." Edward said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Do you realize I've heard that from everyone else, but never from you? And that I have heard the exact opposite of that from Rose and Tanya." The desire to defend my questions rose up causing my tone to increase in strength. Edward's eyes held a look of shock, but I could see he was thinking through the things he may have said to me in the past.
"I didn't realize. It was so obvious to me, I just figured you knew." He offered a little chagrinned that he had not clarified things for me.
"There's never been or will there ever be anything between Tanya and me. You are the only one in my heart." Edward's declaration warmed my soul to the core. However, he stopped abruptly as the other part of what I had said sunk into his mind.
"Wait, what do you mean what you've heard from Tanya? Did she say something to you? And what did Rose say?" Edward said his voice raising a little.
"Rose didn't say anything you aren't already aware of, but Tanya made sure I overheard a conversation when I visited you are the hospital. She made it sound like you two had been involved on and off for a long time and not matter who you dated, you always came back to her in the end." Edward visibly stiffened upon hearing that.
"It did worry me for a bit, but I decided she was toying with me. But later, when we went out to eat before the school open house something else happened." I said, suddenly feeling a little ashamed.
"When you were away from the table, your phone chimed with a text message. I did not mean to look; I just did without thinking. I glanced at the heading. It was from Tanya and it said –"
"Hey lover." Edward finished with a grimace. "She prefaces all her text messages to me that way. Is that why you were upset that night?"
"Yes. I was upset because even though I trusted you, her antics were causing me to doubt. I was mad at myself for that and for allowing Tanya to get to me. Plus, the fact that you had never clarified your relationship with Tanya to me only added to it. I was going to check the news that night to see if the pile-up on the freeway was for real." I said dropping my eyes in shame at my admission. "But I overheard several of the parents who came to the open house talking about the subsequent traffic jam. I felt sick inside, knowing I had allowed the mistrust into my mind." I said sadly.
"I'm sorry. I should have cleared this up from the beginning." Edward said as he gently kissed me.
**********
"Love?" Edward said drawing my attention away from the car window I was gazing through, lost in my thoughts about something he asked me to do earlier. We were on our way over to his friend's home for dinner when Edward brought it up…
"Bella? I would like you to talk to Jasper." Edward started. I looked at him waiting for him to explain why he wanted me to speak to Jasper. When Edward didn't continue, I prompted him.
"About?" I said with an 'I can't read you mind' look on my face. Edward shook his head at me and gave me a nervous smile.
"About your situation with… James." Edward said.
"What's there to talk about?" I suddenly felt my defenses rise and tried to squelch them. I did not want to get in an argument with Edward about James.
"I would like you to tell him about what James did to you. What you had to do to get free. How you can get your identity back and stop hiding? What can be done legally to extricate you from the situation your in and what can be done to protect you." He said with quiet conviction.
"I… I don't know, Edward. What if there are legal consequences for what I have done – faking my death can be construed as committing fraud? Besides, I know James. If he finds out I'm alive, there's not end to what he would do to get at me." It had been almost 6 months since I left James and yet his threat to kill me still caused the fear to well up inside of me.
"Can you at least talk to him about it just to see if there's anything that can be done? Maybe Jasper can keep tabs on him, look into James's past." Edward continued to press me.
"Edward." I sighed not comfortable with the idea of telling yet another person my secret and having to deal with all the questions.
"Just think about it. Okay?" He said giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. I looked at him and found I could not deny him anything.
"Okay. I'll think about it." I acquiesced, not quite willing to commit to what Edward asked.
[End flashback]
"Hmm?" I said, still distracted as I turned to him.
"We're here." Edward said with a smile.
"What did you say your friends name was?" I asked.
"Ben. He's a fellow doctor." Edward said as he got out of the car, shutting his door before he came around to open mine.
"He and his wife just had their first baby about a month ago." Edward continued to say after he helped me from his car and shut the door. Edward rested his arm around my shoulders as we walked up to the door and rang the bell. Edward leaned down and kissed me softly just as the door opened.
"Edward!" A strangely familiar voice said. Edward pulled away with a grin on his face.
"Ben!" Edward returned Ben's greeting as they shook hands.
"Ben… Cheney?" I said slowly as it started to dawn on me that I knew Edward's friend.
"Bella? What are you doing here?" Ben said his face looked shocked before it broke out in a huge smile.
"Hey Ang! It's Bella!" Ben yelled over his shoulder to Angela who was rounding the corner. She had her ear to the phone, but when she saw me, she quickly said her good-byes as she rushed forward, her smile matching her husband's.
"You two know each other?" Edward said confused.
"Oh my God! Bella!" Angela squealed as she lunged forward and caught me in a tight hug. I laughed, delighted that my long-time friend remembered me and was excited to see me.
"Angela! How are you?" I cried enthusiastically as I hugged her back.
"Yeah, we all went to high school together." I heard Ben say to Edward as Angela and I embraced.
"I didn't know you were from Forks." Edward said clearly amused at our little reunion. Angela and I broke out of our hug as she flung her arm over my shoulders and pulled me into her home.
"Yeah, both of us." Ben replied as he ushered Edward in the house and closed the door.
"How long have you been in Arizona?" Angela asked.
"Since July." I said.
"Hey whatever happened to what's hi–OUCH! What was that for?" Ben yelped when Angela pinched him hard. Nevertheless, she gave him 'the look' and he immediately shut his mouth. I could feel the corners of my mouth threatening to turn up at the humor of Angela's attempt to keep Ben from putting his foot in his mouth. I looked back at Edward and smiled as Angela and I walked a head of him and Ben.
"I left him last spring." I firmly answered Ben's unfinished question about James. They had both attended the wedding, so my marriage was not a secret. My death however was. An uncomfortable silence followed my statement, but it did not last long.
"Well that's a relief! I couldn't stand him." Angela blurted out. I looked at her a little surprised at her frank admission.
"Neither could I." I grinned back. Edward's sudden bark of laughter behind me caused my heart to fill with relief that Edward could laugh at what I said about James. Angela steered me into the living room as she dropped her arm on my shoulders and motioned for Edward and I to sit on one of the couches. She went to Ben's side and they took a seat on the other couch in the room.
"So you and Edward." Angela mused for a moment with a knowing tone in her voice. "How did you two meet?" She continued. I glanced up at Edward to see him beaming at me like an idiot and I returned his look.
"He's my landlord." I said coyly as Edward nudged me in playful annoyance.
"Is that what I am? And here I thought I was your boyfriend." He said feigning hurt. I stifled a giggle as I kissed him on the cheek. He pulled me close into his side, telling me he wasn't offended.
When the timer went off in the kitchen, Angela got up to excuse herself. Ben and Edward started to talk about the hospital, so I whispered to Edward that I was going to help Angela in the kitchen. I made my way into the kitchen finding Angela by following the sounds and smells of cooking.
"What can I do to help?" I asked Angela motioning in front of me.
"Would you like to slice up some bread?" She said pointing to the French bread loaf on the counter. I quickly got to work as we fell into an easy conversation, talking about safe subjects while we skirted the issue of my 'failed' marriage. After a few minutes of playing catch-up, Angela's curiosity got the best of her.
"Bella, what happened with James?" She asked, but quickly backpedaled. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"It's okay Angela. James was very… controlling and possessive." I offered, trying to find the right words without giving too much away. I knew I could tell Angela everything and she would listen and keep it quiet. She had always been a good friend.
"Yeah, I could see that when you were dating." She said. I was surprised at that.
"I wish I could have seen it more clearly while we dated." I mused sadly. "He changed drastically after we got married." I said, my voice sounding a little hollow.
"How so, if you don't mind my asking." She asked, clearly intrigued, but I shook my head.
"It doesn't matter now. It's over and I've moved on." I said trying to evade the question. "I do have a favor to ask you?"
"Anything." Angela consented quickly.
"Because of James's controlling nature, I have not told him where I live. If he knew where I was, he would continue to meddle in my life." I said down playing what James would really do if he found me. I hesitated before I continued. "I also changed my last name to Thomas so he can't find me." I cringed on the inside at the possible avalanche of questions I imagined my statement would bring on.
"Okay." Angela said drawing out the word longer than necessary.
"Please don't tell anyone you've seen me here." I guess I must have let some of my fear leak through because Angela gave me a strange look.
"What really happened?" Angela pressed. It was so unlike her, but I knew it was just stemming from her concern for my well-being. I sighed as I kept my eyes on the cutting board.
"James was… abusive. I left and he does not know where I am. I'm not going to go into the details; I just need to you keep my presence here a secret." I admitted softly and feeling ashamed all over again.
"Oh Bella. I am so sorry. Of course I'll keep it quiet." She pulled me into a hug, but then she stiffened. "Oh shoot. I was on the phone with Mom when you arrived and I may have mentioned your name. I'll call her right now and let her know to keep it quiet." She said extricating her from my arms as she pulled out her phone and hit the send button.
"Mom? Hi, it's me… Yeah she's here. Listen, can you please keep Bella's presence in Phoenix quiet?... Her ex is a real jerk and she just wants to live her life in peace… yeah, I love you too. Thanks!" Angela pushed the end button on the phone and turned back to me. I smiled in response.
"Let's eat!" She said, changing the subject and the mood quickly. That's one of the things I loved about Angela. She did not grill you for all the details. She took you at your word letting you come forth with the details if and when you were ready to do so.
We spent the evening eating a wonderful dinner, talking and playing with Ben and Angela's beautiful son, Ben junior. Ben and Angela regaled Edward with stories of my childhood, about my inability to walk on a flat level surface without falling, about Charlie's constant vain attempts to instill in me a love of fishing and sports. They told Edward about the 'special date nights' Charlie and I would have, until I discovered boys. This of course led Angela to layout the details of my first date, first boyfriend, and first kiss all for Edward who was smiling fondly at my pink cheeks. Being with Angela and Ben made me realize how much I missed my old life, my old self before James.
However, all too soon it was time to go. Angela and Ben walked us to the door before she pulled me into another hug.
"I'm so glad you came!" Angela said as I hugged her back. "Edward is a great guy and I'm so happy for you." She whispered in my ear.
"Thanks and I know." I whispered back, glancing over at Edward who was shaking Ben's hand. Angela pulled back and opened the front door.
"Let's get together, just the two of us – soon!" She grinned.
"Soon." I returned her smile as Edward took my hand and led me outside. Ben wrapped his arms around Angela's waist and placed a tender kiss on her neck as they watched us leave.
*********
"What time are we meeting them?" I said nervously. I was still unsure of my decision to tell Jasper about my situation. After spending time with Angela, I realized how much I missed being Bella Swan and I wanted it. I knew I could not turn back time and undo my marriage, but I also did not want to keep hiding, denying whom I was. I could share myself with those closest to me, but to the rest of the world I still had to keep up the pretenses of my fake life. Now that Edward knew the truth, I found myself not wanting to keep up appearances as much. I knew this new attitude would put those closest to me in danger if I slipped up, so I needed to know what my options were.
Edward turned away from his stereo to face my pacing form and gave me a calm smile. 'Oh sure! He can be all calm about this.' I snarled in my head as I tried to smile in return, but it felt more like a scowl. Edward let out a sigh before he walked over to me and grabbed my hand.
"You don't have to do this, Love. We can just spend a nice evening with Jasper and Alice and not mention it. Okay?" Edward offered but I shook my head in disagreement.
"It's fine Edward. I want to know what Jasper has to say about it. I suppose I'm just nervous about telling more people." I said. "I guess it just makes me feel like with every person that knows about my secret, a little bit of my security goes out the window."
"I did not know you felt that way. I'm sorry." He pulled me into his arms and I felt safe.
"You know, having Jasper in your corner isn't such a bad thing. He might be able to keep tabs on James's whereabouts just in case…" Edward stopped what he was saying when the doorbell rang. He looked towards the entryway and back at me.
"Come on." I said before I gave him a quick kiss. "We have guests." I pulled him to the door. As soon as Edward opened the door, Alice rushed in, hyperactive as ever.
"Bella, Bella, Bella! We have to go shopping!" Alice squealed jumping up and down. I just laughed and shook my head.
"Sheesh, Jasper. How much caffeine did you give her?" Edward laughed at the over-exuberant pixie as he slapped Jasper on the shoulder.
"Alice, why shopping?" I groaned in fake annoyance.
"It's not caffeine that has her excited. It's the…" I could not make out the rest of what Jasper said because he leaned in a whispered something to Edward, to low for my human ears to hear. Edward's face fell a little in reaction to Jasper's whisperings as his eyes narrowed at Alice. He opened his mouth to say something, but Alice cut him off.
"We have to get you a dress for the annual hospital fund raiser." Alice blurted out as I looked at her. I heard Edward groan.
"Alice! Why are you always stealing my thunder! Can't you be patient enough to wait for me to ask her first?" Edward's tone was full of his annoyance with her. I stifled a laugh as Alice poked out her bottom lip at receiving a scolding from Edward.
"How was I supposed to know?" Alice sounded indignant as she folded her arms across her chest.
"You could have asked me first." Edward said, as we moved into the family room. Edward gave me a sidelong glance before he took my hand and pulled me down to sit with him on the couch.
"I would be honored if you would accompany me to the hospital's annual charity fund raiser ball next month." Edward whispered in my ear, sending a thrill down my spine as his breath tickled my ear.
"I would love to." I whispered back before I kissed his jaw, causing him to tighten his hold on my hand. Alice cleared her throat, thus ending our hushed whisperings. We turned to look at her and she rolled her eyes.
"So? Are you going?" She said to me impatiently.
"Yes, Alice I'm going." I chortled, but then let out a sigh of defeat as I asked. "When do you want to go shopping?"
"Try not to sound like I'm going to pull out your wisdom teeth." Alice muttered. "I'll call Rose and see if she needs to go too. We will figure something out. " I grimaced at the mention of inviting Rose along. Before Alice could plan any other shopping trips, Jasper interjected.
"Bella, what did you need to talk to me about." He offered. I felt like I would rather go shopping with Alice everyday for and entire year than reveal to Jasper and Alice the true nature of what I experienced. I looked down at my hand entwined with Edward's.
"It's okay, love." Edward whispered as he gave my hand a gentle squeeze. I looked up at him and gave him a little smile that bordered on sad, took a deep breath and turned to face Jasper.
"Jasper…" I began, but stopped, unsure of how to present my story. I searched for the right words and decided the best place to start was the beginning. I knew it would be the first time Edward would hear some of the information I was about to present. I was nervous but I plunged ahead anyway.
"Almost three years ago I meet a man named James Cook." I said.
A/N: Wow. It has taken me longer than usual to get this chapter out. Sorry. Life has just been busy and I have been really tired lately. Maybe it's the winter blahs or the cold temp and all the snow. :( Anyway, since I had deviated from one of my original tangents in this story, I had to revamp my outline and that took some time to work out. But now I'm back on track! Yay!
I know I did not respond to everyone's reviews this time around (see note above ;). Therefore, here is my big THANK-YOU and SHOUT OUT to those of you who reviewed. Thanks to…
Alice Cullen 24.4, junebug84, TWILIGHTLOVER909, ThePurpleDragonOfAmazingness, KalliCullen, Transfiguration, Loulabelle, blackgem88, ilovemclife, itMUSTbeLOVE53, VanessaGirl123, iloveedwardanthonymasencullen, livinit999, purple is my color, Bennyjo4, orlibluver, hiscrookedsmilehisgoldeneyes, jvanshuff, twilightobession, skhdance11 (twice), bitmeplease235, Angels And Airwaves, FRK921, Pup-of-Power, bga1974, Sylah, ThisIsMyDisguise, Invisible Dani, and one anonymous reviewer!
I also have to mention that I was added to a C2! My first – "Forever 17". So thank-you to ForeverYoungInLove!
Thanks for everyone who has read without reviewing. I appreciate that you keep reading my story. Okay that is the end of my long Author's Note. :} - SavageWoman