Baby You Can Stop Running
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight
Chapter Twenty Six
Bella
The next three weeks passed in the blink of an eye and before I even had time to realize it, October was finished and November had commenced. I was certain that my life had never been more hectic; Charlie had been released from the hospital a week after his conversation with Edward and I spent the majority of the two weeks after that at home making sure Charlie was comfortable and well taken care of. Those were the speculations of his return: he could come home so long as there was someone around to care for him and that responsibility fell upon me. Not that I minded. In fact, after I had spoken to him about everything that had happened with Jacob and my budding relationship with Edward, Charlie had been so understanding and he seemed to almost be a different man than the one that I had left in Forks when I ran off to California. Maybe that man was there all along, maybe it was a result of the shooting, I wasn't sure, but I wasn't going to complain. I was enjoying every day that was passing, getting to know the new Charlie, the Charlie that I felt I could talk to, the Charlie that I felt listened to me, the Charlie who I knew loved me.
It wasn't until two weeks had passed that I realized that the museum was still an obligation in my life, that although I was no longer in California, my job still was and there were other people in this world who depended upon me being responsible. Though they had gladly given me time to come back to Washington, I remembered that since I had been here, I hadn't bothered to call them to update them on what was happening. Though I was uncertain as to where my future with Edward was going to lead, I knew that the last thing I wanted was to lose my job completely; it would be one thing if I quit voluntarily, being fired was a completely different thing. The words 'I'm sorry' had probably never been uttered so many times in one single sentence as I told both Gary and Janet what had happened and how, in the chaos of everything, I had failed to remember to check in. More than ever I realized that I had truly been blessed to have such understanding superiors because they just said that they would put me on a leave of absence and when I was ready to return that my job would be waiting.
Staying however did bring other things to the surface. The fact that each time I had to go to Forks Outfitters for groceries, or if I ever wanted to go to Fork's Coffee Shop for a cappuccino or a late, I ran the chance of possibly running into Jacob who, because the need for a mechanic wasn't as demanded on the reservation, owned the only mechanic shop in town. Thankfully those three weeks passed without a problem but I also knew that it was only a matter of time. The thing was, I had no idea what I would say to him if I did see him, it wasn't as though the last time we talked had gone that well; I had only allowed myself to talk and somewhere down the line, I knew that I would have to give him time to say his peace as well. I just didn't want to deal with that, and, if I was being honest with myself, I didn't really care what he had to say, still, I knew that he should have his chance, at some point.
The other thing of which that I would have to deal with was that I found myself in town for Angela's wedding shower, and I'd probably be around for her bachelorette party as well (though I was dreading that idea just as much as I was dreading this party). And I knew that the attention would not be on Angela, but rather on the events that had unfolded over the past few weeks; those being Jessica's forced resignation from the hospital, and my relationship with Edward. An involuntary chill ran down my spine as I thought about it. I didn't want the attention and I didn't know how to talk about what was happening with Edward because even I didn't know what was happening with Edward. Our relationship had taken a turn after that day with Charlie; he seemed to have mood swings that sent my head spinning and I didn't know how I could explain that to anyone.
"Dad I need to go out for a few hours do you have everything that you need?" I asked as I managed to run down the stairs without tripping. Charlie was lounging on the couch, his eyes glued to the big screen TV where he was watching a game between the Seahawks and the 49ers. Surprisingly enough, the 49ers were in the lead, something that even I never would have guessed though as I glanced at the TV I saw that they were only five minutes into the second quarter and the lead was only by seven points.
"What?" He asked as he watched Matt Hasselbeck through the ball to John Carlson for a touchdown. The game was obviously more important and I held back the chuckle that was threatening to escape my lips at Charlie's short attention span for anything other than sport and his job.
"I said that I have to head to Angela's party for a few hours and if you have everything you need."
"Oh." He said and looked around at what was resting by him.
"I can always have Rose drop by and check up on you." I continued, "Or, I mean… I don't have to go." I put as much emphasis on that part as I could. Angela would understand if I couldn't go because I needed to be around for Charlie. It was the only excuse that I could use but at the same time, if Charlie didn't want me around, I couldn't lie to her and tell her he did. She knew my tells and knew when I was lying.
"No no… I'm good." He smiled and I nodded.
"Alright, I'll be back in a few hours. I don't want to be gone for too long."
"Go have fun Bella. I'm fine."
I grumbled and grabbed my purse before leaving the house, slinging it rather ungracefully over my shoulder. I wanted Charlie to tell me not to leave, to not go, not only because I didn't want to go to the shower, but also because I knew that the fact that he could care for himself alone for a few hours was merely a sign that he was getting stronger and would no longer need me to care for him as I had been. The thought terrified me, not because I didn't want Charlie better, because I did, but rather, because I knew that my life was going to change again when he was, that there would be decisions I would have to make that I knew would shape the course of the rest of my life, or at least, shape my relationship with Edward.
Stupid wedding shower… Stupid people of Forks… Stupid, stupid… Though I knew I didn't want to go, I knew I had to. Angela was truly one of my best friends and I felt that I owed this to her. Even though we had been in the same town for three weeks now, I still hadn't been around much to see or talk to her and she had called me the night before begging me to come, telling me it wouldn't be the same without me. How could I deny her? It was the least I could do for someone who had always been there for me when I needed her to be. I felt enormously guilty as it was for leaving her behind when I ran off, though I knew she would understand if she ever did know the whole story. I just felt that I had let her down as a friend and here was my opportunity to make it up to her, to behave like the friend I should have been rather than the one that I hadn't been.
I could have thought of a million things I would have rather been doing then going: breaking a leg (for the third time), changing a hundred dirty diapers, hell, I was even to the point where I would rather face Jacob again than go to the shower where I knew I would have to see not only Lauren but also Jessica. Angela was too good of a person to not invite them and I was mentally bracing myself for the wrath of Jessica who still blamed me for her most recent short break up with Mike, who, not surprisingly, had actually tried to ask me out a few days after it had happened.
"Bella!" I heard his voice and immediately knew who it was. He was the only man whose voice could illicit the undeniable chill of terror down my back. It wasn't that Mike was a bad guy, in fact, he was as harmless as a golden retriever, it was just he was so… so… I'm not even sure I could find the words to explain it really. His endless perusal annoyed me and there had been a time in high school that I thought maybe if I told him yes, only once mind you, that we would go out and I could tell him that I only wanted to be friends with him. I thought better of it, it wouldn't matter, he would still continue to pester me.
"Hi Mike." I said, trying to keep my voice normal and not scowl at the fact that he was interrupting my Edward time. It didn't matter though because my eyes fell onto Edward before I looked to Mike and I saw that he was glaring enough for the both of us and I had to hold back the chuckle at his jealousy.
"Hi Bella!" He smiled and I smiled back in the friendliest way possible without giving him hope. "I uh…" He ran his fingers through his hair in his anxiety, an act that I had seen Edward do countless amounts of times and immediately felt turned on, but when Mike did it, it was fairly comical. "I was uh wondering if you might want to go out tonight, or tomorrow… Or well. Whenever."
He was nervous and I knew that Edward's glares were not helping matters any, but really, what made him believe that it was okay to ask someone out when they were obviously with another man. Unless of course he didn't think Edward and I could be together, which wasn't exactly a thought I hadn't had before, heck, it was something I thought about countless amounts of times.
"She's actually busy tonight… and tomorrow and well… forever." Edward barked, pulling me from my contemplation.
"I wasn't asking you Cullen." Mike retorted, his body language obviously on the defense as he crossed his arms against his chest and narrowed his eyes as though he was challenging him.
Edward however got the upper hand when he reached forward and took my hand into his own and brought it to his lips, kissing each knuckle as he looked at Mike through the corner of his eye. My cheeks had turned a bright shade of red at this obvious competition for my affections.
"It doesn't matter if you were asking me or not… I know what her plans are because her plans are my plans and they don't involve you."
Mike leaned down, placing his palms on the table, his face a few inches from mine. "Call me Bella…" He smirked and retreated through the glass doors.
"Can you go anywhere without attracting male attention?" Edward mused as he shook his head.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about."
"You are so oblivious Bella." He replied as I pulled my eyebrows together my nonverbal way of stating my confusion. "Every time I'm out with you there is some other man vying for your attention… I don't like it… I don't like Mike either."
"You are crazy… There are not thousands of men vying for my attention."
"Obviously you need your sight checked."
"Besides, Mike is harmless."
"He doesn't look harmless. He looks like he wants to tear your clothes off."
That sent me into a fit of giggles though Edward didn't seem too impressed by it.
Once I had calmed he cocked his eyebrow at me. "You're kind of cute when you're jealous you know… Besides, I wouldn't be talking about attracting attention mister. You should see all the girls who lust after you."
"That, love, doesn't mean anything… I don't see anyone but you."
"Well the feelings mutual."
"You you won't be calling Mr. Newton then?"
"Never." I grinned and he leaned across the table to kiss me softly.
Though that exchange had happened almost two and a half weeks ago, I knew Jessica would still be angry about it. Word had circulated around town be the end of the night and even Angela had called to ask about it. But going to this shower also meant I would be without something that I so desperately wanted. Edward. I just wanted to see Edward who I felt had almost become a ghost over the past few weeks. When he wasn't at the hospital and when he had time to drop by, it was almost as though he had been so distant that he wasn't really there. I was growing frustrated with him and beginning to wonder if we had moved too quickly in the beginning and he was finally seeing how mismatched we were for each other. I still couldn't figure out what he wanted with me, surely he was finally starting to get that, to understand that we didn't belong together.
Thankfully, I didn't have the time to contemplate that thought for very long because my vendetta against gravity took control and I managed to trip while walking down the steps on the front porch. Instinctively I threw my hands out in front of me and squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable meeting I would soon have with the ground, but it never happened. Instead I found myself hitting something that was both hard and soft at the same time while a pair of strong arms quickly wrapped around my waist and I heard a soft, musical chuckle.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, looking up at him with confused eyes. Recently, he had taken to calling me to let me know if he was going to stop by and I had only checked my phone a few minutes ago and there had been no message from him. I found that I was both surprised and annoyed that he was there. Surprised because I craved his presence and had not been expecting it, and I was annoyed because I knew that I couldn't stay with him for very long if I was going to make it to that damn party.
"I came by to see you." He responded as I felt his fingers brush against my forehead, pushing a few strands of hair out of my eyes. Knowing that if I continued to rest in his arms I would never go anywhere, I wiggled away from his embrace and crossed my arms over my chest as I watched him eye me intently. I was, for the first time, thankful for my choice of an outfit; Alice had, only a week ago, forced me to buy a skirt for the event when I told her about it and though it wasn't exactly something I would have picked for myself but I couldn't deny that it looked good. So she made me purchase it: a tight black pencil skirt that, although it hit my knees, had a slit that went to the middle of my thigh (my one complaint). Her persuasion didn't end there though because I also managed to walk out of the store in the other articles of clothing that I wore: a white empire waist shirt that dipped low down my chest and exposed more skin then I was use to and also, thankfully, the dark blue sweater I had convinced her to let me get as well to alleviate my discomfort with showing so much skin.
"I was just on my way out." I replied after a long lull in the conversation and I smirked at how his eyes had widened when he allowed his gaze to travel over my body.
"I can see that…" He looked like he was struggling with some internal battle for a moment before his eyes met my own. "Where exactly are you going?"
I shrugged. "Oh you know… On a date."
"Very funny." He replied with a mock chuckle though his eyes had darkened like they usually did when jealousy flashed through him.
"Angela's wedding shower."
"Where is it at?"
"Lake Crescent Lodge." I replied and he nodded.
"Can I drive you?"
"And how am I going to get back?"
"I'll stay there until you're ready to go home. I can sit in the lounge and have a drink or something."
"By yourself?"
"I don't mind… Besides, at least then I can be proactive in my attempts to deter young, hormonal waiters from pursuing you." He grinned his crooked, dazzling grin and I felt my knees weaken.
He leaned closer, his lips against my ear and his warm breath tickling my neck and soft, pleasurable chills ran down my spine and I imagined that my hair was standing straight up on the back of my neck, "You are too tempting to be left alone. I don't trust men to be sane around you, hell, I can barely trust myself right now"
Internally I cursed Angela for this stupid wedding shower. Right now, I could only feel my desire for him and he knew it. He knew exactly what he was doing to me and that stupid grin on his face only showed me that he was enjoying it and that, above all else, made me even angrier with the situation. His moods had been like this for the past three weeks, happy and enjoyable one minute and cooler and distant another. I wanted to savor the warm, content Edward before the cool one reappeared and now I was going to be stuck in a wedding shower, uncertain as to what mood would be awaiting me when it was over.
"Stop doing that! It's hardly fair." I chided.
"What?" He smiled and took my hand in his practically pulling me towards his car.
"You know what."
"I assure you Isabella, I have no idea what you are talking about." His green eyes sparkled as he opened the door and I was doing all I could to keep my knees strong.
"Stop dazzling me into submission." I glared and he chuckled, leaning down to place a kiss against my forehead before closing the door. I would have no choice as to whether or not I wanted him to come with me, though I knew the answer well. I wanted him to come and nothing would change that.
We arrived at the lodge thirty minutes later and though I had brief memories of what it had looked like from going there a few times when I was younger, I was still taken back by the beauty of it. It looked more like a large, lake side mansion than it did an actual hotel, but the glimmering blue waters of the lake that it rest by made it look almost like it was something out of a book. Angela had mentioned that the wedding was going to be held there as well and I understood that, it was perfect for them in the natural beauty.
Edward took my hand as we walked to the front door and I barely had time to kiss him chastely on the lips before Angela grabbed my hand and pulled me away. I glanced over at him my eyes pleading with him to take me away from there but he merely chuckled and shook his head before walking into the bar to order a drink, probably a single malt scotch.
"You have to tell me everything about that man Bella." Angela grinned and I rolled my eyes. This was what I was dreading.
"Is Jessica here?" I asked timidly, stopping Angela in her tracks before we entered the room where everything had been set up. She nodded and I groaned. "I take it she has been spreading word about what an evil person I am."
"Oh don't worry… If she says much of anything I'll just tell her that she knows where the door is and she is more than welcome to leave."
"You would never say that."
"True… But I can still make her feel uncomfortable… You know she has been trying to sink her claws into Edward since he moved here… Well… Her and Lauren." She grinned and I knew that grin. It was the calculating, plot forming one that she often used when expressing her plans to get under Jessica and Lauren's skin.
Edward
That letter changed everything for me. Though Carlisle, Esme and Alice tried to assure me that everything was going to be okay, I couldn't help but worry that it wouldn't be. I had no other life experiences to tell me otherwise. Everything that revolved around James was seemingly designed to punish me and this, I knew, would be nothing different. Still, though they had pushed me to tell Bella about it, I didn't want to alarm her just quite yet. I wanted to be absolutely certain that danger was imminent and right now, I wasn't certain about that. Besides, she had enough to deal with and this would only add more to the weight she was carrying.
Though I longed to spend time around her, I also was afraid to continue to allow myself to get attached. It was helpful that Carlisle had my ban from the hospital lifted, so I once again, found myself immersed in my work. I would make the effort, if you could call it an effort because I fed on her voice, to call her when I had small breaks; I longed to hear her speak my name and calling her was usually the highlight of my work day. I made a strict rule for myself that I would see her no more than four times a week, which, because of my work schedule, was something I could pull off, but even though I set the rule, I still found myself looking for her on my self induced banned days, not that she ever saw me. I was basically becoming a glorified stalker, and it sickened me, but I just wanted to be sure that she was safe; it was the only way I could sleep with relative peace at night.
I sat in the bar with my scotch in one hand while I looked around. The bartender was trying to get my attention but I didn't want to deal with her. She was mildly attractive, though, had my mind not been clouded by Bella, I probably would have considered her to be attractive, but her constant questions were beginning to wear me thin. I had thought that as a bartender she would have been able to pick up the fact that I didn't want to be bothered, that I wanted to be left alone with my drink and my thoughts. Mainly because there were so many of them swimming around my mind and I didn't know how I wanted to deal with them.
I was thankful that Emmett was finally starting to warm up to me. Though I knew he wanted to talk to me, Bella always seemed to stop any conversation from happening; something that both thrilled and annoyed me. I knew that somewhere down the road I would have to tell him what my intentions were with her and she was merely delaying the inevitable. The last thing I wanted him to think was that I was scared of him. I wanted him to think of me as an equal and someone that would be worthy of his sister, even if I wasn't sure I was. Still, I couldn't help but be excited about the fact that he would talk to me pleasantly, something that he hadn't been able to do that first week.
Emmett was much more perceptive than I had originally given him credit for. And there were a few occasions when Bella had left the room and left us alone that he had begun to question why I hadn't been around quite as often as I was in the beginning. I wondered if he had been able to sense my growing concern that another letter was on the way declaring the fact that they knew about Bella and how happy she made me and that they were going to do something to change all that. And true, I didn't know it was at all connected with James or James' family, but there wouldn't be anyone else in the world out there who would have that kind of vendetta against me. Still, I kept mum on the topic and merely told him that work had kept me busy. He didn't think to question it.
I grabbed my drink to get away from the bartender and began to walk about the place. I had never been to this particular location and I figured that since I had some time, that I should check it out. It was large and beautiful and it seemed like the perfect place to maybe take Bella out to dinner some night. I could only imagine how romantic the scene would look with a full moon reflecting over the lake. My thoughts wandered to Bella and I imagined her beside me in a short blue dress, sipping from a wine glass and her eyes looking at me like she often did; lit with that beautiful sparkle that made me overjoyed to know I had put it there. I imagined leaning over the table to kiss her every so often and the smug looks that I could shoot at the other men in the establishment who would look on with envy.
"I don't know who you think you are to just march back into town and take over!" The loud nasally voice that I immediately recognized as Jessica's broke through my day dream and I walked closer to the commotion of twenty or so girls bickering.
"I don't know what you are talking about Jessica." My angel's voice spoke calmly though I could imagine that she was anything but.
"Because of you I don't have a job!" I clenched my hand into a fist as I listened to the exchange. There were multiple reasons for my anger. The strongest being that she were accusing my father and myself of merely firing her because of Bella's insistence. That couldn't have been farther from the truth because in reality, Bella had begged me not to have her fired but I assured her that had it been any other patient the same actions would have been taken. My second reason for my anger was because this party was supposed to be about Angela. I didn't know her well, and almost everything that I did know about her came from Bella's lips, but everything that I knew was good and the fact that Jessica was doing this on a day that was meant to be about Angela, aggravated me as well. Some people didn't know went to just leave things be; social tact was obviously not something that Jessica possessed.
"I didn't fire you Jessica."
"No you got Edward and his father to fire me!"
"Maybe if you had followed hospital procedures that wouldn't have happened Jess." I looked around the corner and saw Angela piping in. "Besides, you're just jealous that Bella landed Edward before you did." I held back the chuckle that was urging its way out at Angela's candid behavior and the stunned look on Jessica's face.
"Well I landed Edward before Bella did."
"Lauren stop lying." Angela continued. I found my heart race at what Lauren might have to say.
"I'm not." My eyes darted to Bella who looked at her with an expression that I had never seen from her before. Jealousy? Anger? Hurt? I wasn't quite sure. "Edward and I were together a few days before Bella showed up."
"One date doesn't account for landing someone Lauren and you know it."
"I'd say what happened after the date did."
"You slept with him?" Bella was trying to blink away the tears that knew were threatening to spill and I had had enough of what was happening in there and walked into the room.
"Lauren." I said, my voice thick with venom. "I think you should tell the truth."
Her jaw dropped and I walked over to Bella and kneeled down in front of her, taking one hand into my own and lifted her chin up with the other so that she was looking straight into my eyes.
"I did not sleep with Lauren. I would never, ever do that Bella." She nodded but I could see the apprehension in her eyes. "I did take her to dinner before I met you but I realized while we were out that there was no attraction at all but she didn't understand that. When I dropped her off she tried to kiss me and I told her that I only wanted to be friends with her." I looked away to glare at Lauren who was still sitting there, presumably in shock because she didn't know that I had been the one to take Bella to this party to begin with. My attention was back on Bella in the blink of an eye. "I promise you that nothing at all happened. You believe me right?" She didn't speak, but instead merely nodded and I moved closer to her and kissed her softly.
"Angela I'm so sorry that some people in this room do not have the social tact to understand that there are certain things that are not to be discussed at a party." I started as I pulled myself off my knees and to my feet before turning my attention to Jessica. "As for your termination from the hospital… Bella had nothing to do with that decision at all, in fact, she begged me to tell Carlisle to over look it. You went against protocols and you knew exactly what you were doing when you failed to make that phone call; you did it based solely on your personal feelings for her. Your firing was nothing more than what you should have expected and I suggest that you apologize for your accusations against Bella."
"I'm… I'm sorry." She stuttered and I turned to see that Bella's cheeks were a bright red.
"It's okay." Bella responded softly.
"I'm sorry for intruding Angela… Please carry on. I just couldn't sit there and listen to these girls berate Bella for something that she had no part in."
"Oh don't worry about it Edward. You are welcome to stay here if you like so you aren't off by yourself."
"No no… This is your party. I'll just be in the lounge." I smiled before leaning down and kissing Bella's head lightly. She would probably be furious with me for intervening but it just wasn't in my nature to allow the woman I love to be scolded for something that she had no part in.
Bella
I stayed behind to help Angela gather her things and I couldn't help but smile a slight smug smile when I watched Jessica and Lauren dart out of the room when the party had come to an end. I knew that it was because after what Edward had said to them, they both had retreated inwardly with embarrassment and though I didn't enjoy being the center of attention, I was thankful for his coming to my rescue. For the most part, it really just showed me what kind of man that he was.
"Well that was an interesting party." Angela smiled as she gathered up some of her gifts and began to place them in a neat pile to the side.
"I'll say."
"I don't think I've ever seen a man do something like that. God knows I love Ben but I don't think he would ever have the balls to stand up to Lauren and Jessica."
"I wouldn't say that."
"You obviously don't know Ben like I do." She laughed. "So… What is going on with Dr. Dreamy out there?"
I didn't know how to answer her question so I shrugged.
"What do you mean you don't know Bella?" She asked, her hands on her hips as she looked at me. "What is going on with you guys?"
"Well… I mean we haven't had that official talk or anything but I guess we are dating."
"Do you like him?"
"I think that's pretty obvious." I retorted and watched as she smiled.
"I like him too Bella. Actually… If Ben wasn't around I'd probably be trying to wiggle my way into those pants!"
"I don't think I've ever heard you say something to vulgar Angela!"
"What can I say…? He brings that out of me." I threw a wadded up piece of wrapping paper at her as we both laughed.
"How was the rest of the party?" I heard his voice break though our laughter and I smiled even wider as I turned to look at him.
"It was great Edward." Angela replied getting back to work and collecting more of the gifts.
"I know I wasn't invited to this party or anything but I wanted to get something for both you and Ben so I hope you don't mind." He made his way over to them and handed her a large package that was beautifully wrapped.
"Oh you didn't have to do that!"
"I wanted to." He smiled and held his hand out towards me, beckoning me over and I couldn't resist. My feet carried me to him and before I knew it, his arm was wrapped around my waist and he pulled me into his side.
"Wow Edward, I never knew you were such a good wrapper! I don't think I've seen a present wrapped so nicely from a man before." I teased and he pinched my side, effectively tickling me.
"Ah… The joys of living with your mother," He said as he buried his nose in my hair. "Esme wrapped it."
Angela delicately tore the paper from the box revealing a rather expensive Kitchen Aid mixer to which her eyes widened.
"You really didn't have to do this Edward!"
"Seriously Angela, I wanted to do that for you." He smiled and I felt my heart flutter at what a wonderful man I had somehow managed to find. "Any friend of Bella's must be worth it."
"Well thank you. I love it and I'm sure Ben will too!" She grinned. "Well I have everything taken care of here so why don't you both head off."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"How are you going to get all this stuff to your car?" I asked, wrapping my arm around Edwards waist, bringing my nose against the front of his shirt so I could catch his smell.
"Ah… I've got some of the waiters to help." She replied. "Really. Go! I'll call you later."
I nodded and pulled away from Edward, taking his hand into mind. "Bye Angela. I had a great time."
"Haha… What was the highlight? Being yelled at by Jessica or Lauren?"
"Probably when my knight came in and saved me." I grinned as I looked up at him and his eyes met my own.
"Yeah, that was probably my favorite part too." She replied wistfully. "Take care of our girl Edward!" She shouted as we began to walk out.
"I'll do my best." He called back, his arm once again around my waist as we walked out.
A/N:
Wow… Long chapter. So… There have been some conclusions again with this chapter. We know see that things with Emmett and Edward ARE improving… Always a good thing. And we know that Bella and Charlie's relationship is improving and we know that Jessica was fired from the hospital for not calling when Charlie had his heart attack in the hospital.
Now… Please don't kill me for making Edward a little more distant. The next chapter will discuss in more detail the letter that came. I think it's safe to say that we know that it is about James… But what I'm not going to say is who it was that sent the letter… Might be Victoria… It might not be… Only time will tell because I do have some ideas brewing in my mind.
As I always like to do, thank you to everyone who is sticking with this story and reading it for the first time (it's a lot to take on because it's gotten rather long!) and for those who continue to add this to their alerts and their favorites! You all are amazing!
I'd also like to thank my reviewers!
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What it comes down to is, you all don't have to review but the fact that you do makes me so happy! You have no idea how happy I am when I see review alerts in my inbox! Seriously, I smile every single time!
On another note… I do have another Bella/Edward story going on… It's going to be short, a few chapters at most so if you're interested check it out, it's called Isn't It Romantic… It's kinda like the movie Sabrina and I've love to know what you think so please check it out!
If I don't get to post again by Friday, have a WONDERFUL weekend! I'm getting on a plane to head back to WA and once I'm there I'll be pretty bored since my friends won't return for another week so I'll hopefully have some time to get some writing done!