Chapter 18—Uncomfortable Feeling

Growth is an erratic forward movement: two steps forward, one step back. Remember that and be very gentle with yourself.

Julia Cameron

Edward's POV

The sun was low in the sky as Bella and I exited the production office. She had stayed glued to my side as we left; I didn't mind, and I liked having her near. Her silence was something I hadn't expected, though. She rested her head on my shoulder as I drove the golf cart back to where my car was parked.

I couldn't get the way James had stared at her out of my mind. It seemed to me that he recognized her. Did he mean her harm? I wanted to ask Bella what had transpired before she ran into me, but my questions stilled on the tip of my tongue. If dealing with the fluctuating moods of my two sisters had taught me anything, it was best to wait Bella out. There was something that I could do, though—I was going to have Emmett run James' name through the criminal database. I had did a basic background check when he was hired, but with how Bella reacted, I felt a deeper look was warranted.

"Bella, there is one more place I need to stop while we're out," I said once we were off the studio lot.

"That's fine."

Glancing over at her, I saw that she was playing with her fingers. "Is there something bothering you?"

Her responding sigh told me something was definitely bothering her.

"No … yes." She sighed again.

"Want to tell me?" I hoped she would share whatever was on her mind.

Bella said nothing.

"I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong."

Nothing.

Not knowing what to do, I turned off Fourth Avenue onto Yesler Way, heading toward Mom's office on First Avenue. If Bella wouldn't talk to me, maybe she would talk to Mom.

After pulling into the parking lot near the Pioneer Building, I shut off the car and turned to face Bella. "Please, Bella, tell me what's wrong," I probed again.

She huffed out breath that moved a lock of hair, but still, she didn't answer.

By the time we reached Mom's office, my worry had grown. With a silent prayer to the goddesses, I opened the door and motioned for Bella to enter.

Bella's POV

Edward and I stood in front of a glass door that read: Platt Interior Design. I was confused. Why would he come to an interior designer when his mom was one?

Before I could ask, he opened the door.

"I know it's late, but is she still here?" Edward asked.

"Yes," a brunette said from the copier. "She's in the conference room with a client."

An unintelligible sound escaped Edward. "Let her know I'm here with"—he looked over at me—"a potential client."

Was he talking about me? I loved the décor in the room he so generously offered me. So, he couldn't be.

Following him down a hall, we entered someone's office, and I finally found my voice. "Should we been in here?"

"Esme won't mind," he answered, sitting on the sofa.

"Esme?" I looked around the office. Pictures of her and Carlisle were hanging on the wall as well as pictures of her adopted children. "The name on the door?"

He chuckled. "Her maiden name. She started the business after her first marriage failed," he answered after I had taken a seat beside him. "She was only married two years before her ex-husband started cheating on her. In the divorce, she got three-point-six million."

My eyes grew large at hearing the sum.

"It was about a year later that she met Carlisle. They dated eight weeks before he proposed. They've been together almost eighteen years."

"And not a day goes by that I'm not grateful he walked into this very office," Esme said from the doorway. "What brings you two here?" She strolled over to her desk and dropped a stack of papers on it.

"We were in the neighborhood," Edward answered.

Esme's right eyebrow rose. "You were in the neighborhood? Edward, you weren't at the studio, were you?" she asked, shaking her head.

"He was giving me a tour," I answered.

Both her eyebrows shot up, and she stared at Edward. I had no idea what her look meant exactly. Was she questioning him? Or surprised?

"Don't be so surprised. Bella said she wanted to see where I worked, so I took her."

"Conference room, now," Esme said.

"What? Why?" he asked, standing and following her out. He looked at me with an apologetic expression on his face as he closed the door behind him.

Edward's POV

The moment Bella answered, I knew I was in trouble. Mom's look of surprise said it all—what has gotten into you?

With a quick glance at Bella, I tried to convey that I wouldn't explain in front of her. So, it was no shock when Mom suggested the conference room. I got up and followed. I hoped Bella would understand and know she was safe.

"Explain," Mom said once we were seated in a small conference room.

I heaved a sighed. "I love her," I said as if it was obvious.

"Yes, you said as much this morning. It still doesn't explain why you took her to the studio."

I averted my eyes, gazing out the window at the darkening sky. "I wanted to share it with her."

"And what about Jessica?"

Ah, Jessica. "She was already working at the studio before we met," I replied, turning away from the window. "But I never took her into the production studio, like I did Bella."

"You did?" There was a smile on her face, telling me that she wasn't all that surprised.

I laughed. "I saw no harm in showing her where everything comes together. It helped that the guys were working on editing a scene." I went on to explain how Eric had freaked out and how Bella had fled to my office. "I think something happened between her and James before I came to get her."

"Have you asked her?"

I rubbed the back of my neck. "No. Not directly."

"Stay in here for a few minutes. I'll talk with her, but I promise nothing."

When Mom opened the door to leave, Bella was standing outside it with her fist raised and her lip between her teeth.

"Is something wrong, dear?" Mom asked.

Bella puffed up her cheeks and blew out a long breath. "Yes. I think I've met James before," she said, her eyes meeting mine.

All I could do was stare blankly at Bella.

"I don't know for sure or when I might have met him, but he made me feel uncomfortable."

The way she had relaxed, sinking into me, should have been all it took for me to know she had been uneasy around James. Lord knows she was unnerved by my presence the first time we met. I would still ask Emmett to run the background check on James. If he had had a shady past, no flags were raised before I hired him.

"Is that what was bothering you on the way here?" I asked.

She nodded. "I was searching my memory and came up with nothing."

I stood, walking over to her. Cupping her cheek, I looked into her eyes so she would know I was sincere and said, "You don't have to keep things to yourself. I want you to talk to me, to me tell what you are feeling."

"That's why I'm telling you now. I needed you to know."

I wasn't sure if she was referring to me needing to know because I was charged with protecting her or because I was her boyfriend. Nonetheless, I smiled down at her. The reason for her sharing her fear didn't matter; I was just glad she finally told me what had her fretting.

"Well, then, now that that's settled. What do you both say to coming home with me for dinner?" Mom said, breaking into our little bubble.

A/N: I thought a short little chapter would do nicely here.