Chapter 30:

Bella POV:

Jacob went back to work, but only if I promised not to venture out alone. He had four werewolves on patrol, all hours of the day and night, and they were patrolling our house in case the vampire decided to pay a call. Gee, that's not creepy at all.

I called Mrs. Newton to see when I was scheduled to work again. She had been very understanding of my situation, and had no problem giving me the two weeks off. She let me know that she had scheduled me for only three days this week, as she wanted me to ease back into work. She was very sweet.

So, I didn't work until Wednesday, and it was Monday. What to do with myself for the next two days? The house was clean, and I didn't have a whole load of laundry to do yet. I looked in the fridge and decided I did need some groceries. I went back to the bedroom and took out the bag of clothes that I borrowed from Emily. There was another pair of jeans in there, and I found a green shirt that buttoned up. I could wear my white tank top and put the shirt over it. I got dressed and looked in the mirror. Not bad. I put my hands over the baby and smiled. I grabbed my purse and keys and decided I had better call Jacob so he wouldn't worry.

"This is Jake," he answered.

"This is your wife," I said sweetly.

"Hey, Bells. What's up?"

"I need groceries, so I am going to get in my car and go to Forks. That OK with you? I thought I might get Dad to have lunch with me."

"Sure, sure. Might be good for you to get out of La Push for awhile. I'll let the pack know. Just be careful, OK?"

I promised him I would be good, and that I would call him later. I had always felt so safe in La Push. I really hated the fact that someone had invaded my sanctuary.

I locked the door behind me and walked out to my car to drive to Forks. I realized as I headed out of La Push that it had been a long time since I drove my car. It felt good to fly down the road with the window down. I even turned on some music and hummed along.

I drove to the station to see if I could get Sheriff Swan to take a break and eat lunch with his daughter. I walked in and greeted everyone then knocked on Dad's office door. "Yeah! Come in!" he barked.

I opened the door and stuck my head and said, "Hey Dad. Is it safe to come in?"

He looked up from all of the paperwork on his desk and smiled at me. "Bella! Hey this is a surprise. Come on in." He stood up and came around the desk to wrap me in a hug. He had taken the habit of doing that more and more lately. I couldn't say I didn't like it.

"Here, sit down, sit down," he said as he pulled over a chair.

"No, Dad, that's OK. I wondered if you could take a break and go to the diner for some lunch," I said with a smile.

He looked down at his desk. It was a mess. There were papers everywhere. I could see he was pretty busy. "Look, Dad, I can see you're pretty busy. I should have called . . ."

"No, honey, I was just thinking how happy I would be to get away from this for awhile. Lunch sounds great. Let's go!"

We walked across the street to his favorite diner. It was an old place. Probably built in the 40's. It still had a lunch counter and a lot of the locals ate breakfast and lunch here everyday. We walked in and took his usual table in the corner close to the door. Nora, the waitress walked over right away with the coffee pot and poured Dad a cup. "Hey Charlie. And Bella! It's been awhile since you've been in here with your dad. How are you? Want some coffee?"

"No, thanks. Just water, please. And I'm good," I answered.

"You know, she's a married lady now, Nora," Dad said, puffing out his chest a little. I laughed at him.

"No! Bella? Are you old enough to be married? My how time flies!" Nora exclaimed.

"Yep. Married a good boy from La Push, Jacob Black, just a couple of weeks ago. Known each other since they were little kids. He recently bought Collins Auto Repair shop just outside of town," Charlie bragged. "He has a partner – both of them only 19, but they are good mechanics and hard workers. You know anyone that needs a car or truck looked at, you send them that way, OK Nora?"

Way to pour it on, Dad. I smiled at him as he talked. Maybe Jake would have this loan paid off in no time.

Nora smiled and nodded. "I sure will, Charlie. You want the usual?"

"Yep," Charlie answered.

"How about you, hon. What can I get you?" she asked me.

"Chef salad . . . no, wait. Grilled cheese sandwich, please, and fries." She nodded and walked off to place our order. I looked at dad. "What? I guess I feel like being bad today," I said as he chuckled and commented that "it was about time."

We sat and talked and ate. It was good to spend time with my dad. I looked at him as I dipped a fry in the ketchup and asked, "So, what do you hear from Mom, lately?" I popped the fry in my mouth.

He gave me a look that said I was being nosy. "Not much. How about you?" He took a sip of his coffee.

"Well, she calls me about every other day asking me how I'm feeling, and if I am taking it easy, and reminding me to let Jacob do things for me. I swear, I'm just pregnant. It's like she thinks I can't handle this," I told dad while dipping another fry.

He smiled. "Well, Bella, you have had a certain reputation for being a little klutzy. She's just worried about you, that's all."

"I know. I don't mean to complain. I suppose she calls you and tells you I'm being stubborn," I hedged.

He looked at me again. Nosy, yeah, I know. "What exactly do you want me to tell you, Bells? Just say it."

I rolled my eyes. "OK. I'm sorry for being nosy, Dad. It's none of my business what you and Mom talk about." I hesitated for a moment then added, "You do talk, don't you?"

He laughed and shook his head at me. "Yes, Bella, we have been talking, OK? Is that what you are so desperately trying to find out? Yes, we talk on the phone a couple of times a week. Satisfied?"

I smiled at him. "Yes, I'm satisfied." I drank the last of my water.

He picked up the check and said, "Well, I better get back. That paperwork isn't going anywhere." He stood up and moved to the register to pay the bill. I stood up just as my phone rang. I took it out of my pocket and went outside to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Bella! Jasper tells me you are ready to shop. Yay! How about today? Are you busy?" Alice asked excitedly.

"No, actually, I'm not. I just ate lunch with my dad, and we are getting ready to head back to his office."

"Good! Stay there, and I'll pick you up. Bye!" She hung up.

I laughed. What have I gotten myself into?

Dad had walked up beside me while I was on the phone. "Who was that?"

"Alice. She wants to take me shopping for maternity clothes. She's going to pick me up at your office." I rolled my eyes. "It's going to be hard to keep her contained on this one, I can just tell."

He chuckled, knowing Alice's reputation as a super-shopper. "Well, good luck on that one."

We walked back across the street and I said good-bye to Dad telling him I would just wait outside as I knew it wouldn't take long for her to get there the way she drove. He hugged me – again – thanked me for inviting him to lunch then went inside. About three minutes later, Alice cruised up in her Porsche. I climbed in, fastened my seat belt and we were off toward Port Angeles.

On the way we chatted. She wanted to know all about the baby. I told her the names I was thinking of and how amazing it was hearing the baby's heartbeat in Carlisle's office. Then we got quiet, and I asked her if she thought Irina was coming for me because of Laurent.

She looked over at me. "I don't know, Bella. I don't know her well, but she just doesn't seem like the type. I thought it might help to spend some time together today, just you and I, to see if . . . well, if I could see anything."

I nodded. I hoped she saw something that would help.

"But, of course, our main objective is to shop," she said with a grin.

I shook my head. Yes, we need to have our priorities . . . creepy vampire lurking around or shopping?

Alice parked her baby, and we headed for the first shop. Alice was in her element. She pulled out hanger after hanger after hanger from the racks and sent me into the fitting room.

I unbuttoned my shirt and pulled the tank top off and reached for he first hanger when my phone rang. I answered, "Hello?"

"Hey, Mrs. Black. How's your day going?" Jacob asked.

I smiled. "Fine, Mr. Black. How about you?"

"Good. I just talked to three more people this morning about working on their cars. Man, we really need to get moved to the shop this week."

"Well, I just had lunch with my dad, and he talked you up at the diner. You're right, Charlie is trying his best to help you pay off that loan."

He laughed and said, "I know, right? The last guy I talked to today said that Charlie told him to give me a call. I guess I should be paying him a commission or something." We both laughed then he asked, "So what are you doing?"

"I am in the fitting room of a shop in Port Angeles. Alice has me loaded down with stuff to try-on. She called me right as I finished lunch with Dad and asked if today was good to shop, so here we are," I told him.

"Bella? Have you tried anything yet?" Alice called from outside the door. "Do you need any different sizes?"

"Sorry, Alice! Give me a minute, OK? Look, Jake, I gotta go. Alice is on a mission."

"OK, Bells. I should be home around six. See you then. Be careful, OK?" he said.

I smiled. I secretly loved the way he worried about me. "I will. Love you," I said.

"I love you, too. Bye."

I hurried and undressed and tried on the first outfit. The top was huge! I turned to the side and held it out. Wow! Am I going to get that big? I opened the door to show Alice. She tilted her head to the side and looked me over. She had me turn around.

"I think we need a smaller top. Unless you have triplets in there, you'll never fill that up."

"Good, I was worried," I said with a laugh.

The sales clerk came over and tied a baby bump pillow to me that would show me what I would look like at around 6-7 months along. I tried another top on with the pillow and turned sideways to look in the mirror. I smiled and rubbed the pillow. This is really happening. I'm going to have a baby. Jacob's baby. I smiled as I realized . . . I was glowing. Just like Emily.

We spent the rest of the afternoon that way. Of course she insisted on buying everything. I told her I didn't want her to do that. Before when she would buy me an outfit, it was usually for a special party that she was throwing . . . and I thought we were going to be sisters and I wanted to fit in with the family. But, things didn't work out that way. Now I just felt guilty for her spending money on me. Before we left the last shop, she actually bought a few outfits for the baby, too.

We put the bags in the trunk of her car, she put the lid down, took my hands and said, "Bella, please don't feel bad about this. I WANTED to buy these things for you. You know that I will never have this experience that you are having. I will never be pregnant, have a baby, or be a mother. I guess in a way I am using you to try and see what it would be like."

I hugged her and said, "Thank you, Alice. I will be happy to share this experience with you." I pulled back and she flashed me her beautiful smile. OK, I guess I could let her spoil me a little if she was going to use that old "I'm a vampire and I can't have a baby" excuse.

"Thank you, Bella. OK, let's go!"

We got into the car and she drove me back to Forks. She pulled up and parked beside my car and as I turned to thank her again, I noticed she had that stare. I knew she was seeing something. I sat and waited.

She blinked her eyes and looked at me. "Bella? Did you notice anything missing yesterday? Anything?"

I thought back. Jake had picked up everything and brought it home. He didn't say anything was m . . . the picture! "Yes. I had the ultrasound picture of the baby with me. But when I got to Sam and Emily's, I discovered it was missing."

"Whoever was there, Bella, took that picture. Soon, Aro will contact Carlisle and ask him whose baby you are carrying. I see him holding a small ultrasound picture."

It was a good thing I was sitting in the car, because when she told me about Aro holding my ultrasound picture, I blacked out.