EPOV
As I pulled up at my parents driveway I felt the feeling of dread come over me.
I hadn't exactly told them all the details about the breakdown of my marriage. They knew the basics, we drifted apart and decided to split, but they don't know the details. And tonight I would have to tell them.
I think my mom thought I was heartbroken and I was, just not in the way she thinks.
I got married two years ago to who I thought was a wonderful girl. She was beautiful, intelligent, funny, and we hit it off from the first moment we met. We would probably have lasted longer if we hadn't married.
I went to the trunk to grab my bag and looked at the rest of the stuff I had packed in here. My parents thought I was home for a few days to check out the properties my mom had lined up for me to look at. In actual fact I had everything I owned either in my car or in the process of being shipped here.
I went up to the front door slowly, try to prolong the inevitable. It wasn't that my mother hated Giuliana, she just didn't think we were right for each other and tried to talk me out of the wedding. Of course, me being the asshole that I am, went ahead anyway just to spite her.
As I reached the front door it flew open.
"What is taking you so long? You pulled up almost ten minutes ago!" she exclaimed and pulled me into a hug.
"I was getting my bag and stuff, how are you?" I asked as I kissed her head.
"I'm fine, all the better for having my boy home. Dump your bag in the hall. I've got food in the kitchen for you." she said said as she walked away.
I got to the kitchen and my dad was sitting at the breakfast bar. I took a stool beside him as my mom got me a plate of food.
"How are you son?" he asked putting down the papers he had been reading.
"I'm good. Glad to be home." I smiled as I could smell my mom's lamb stew. She had made my favourite.
"I'm sure you are. How long you are here for?" my mom asked while she fussed around the kitchen, cleaning things that didn't need cleaned.
"Well, I kind of need to talk to you guys about that. I was wondering if I could stay here a few weeks? I'll rent somewhere short term while I look for something to buy and fix up but I'll need somewhere in the meantime. Would that be alright?" I kept my eyes locked on my plate.
"Of course honey. What's with the change of plan? I mean I'm ecstatic that you'll be here sooner than I thought but I thought you were only going to be here a few days."
"As you both know Giuliana and I called it quits a few weeks ago, but were both still living in my apartment. I bumped into her best friend, you remember Paul? Anyway, we went for a few beers that turned into a long session during which I told him about us filing for divorce. He enlightened me to a few details that made me move things forward quicker than I planned."
I took a bite of my food as my mom came over with a beer for me. She sat down facing me and looked to my dad. I could see them exchange worried glances across the table. I took a long gulp of my beer.
"It seems that Giuliana was trying to string out the marriage another year to get a pay out when she finally left me. That combined with the fact that the miscarriage I thought she had last year was actually a termination. She didn't want to be 'saddled with my kid' once she was single and looking to meet someone else. I confronted her and with the look of shock on her face I knew everything Paul had told me was true.
I threw some her stuff into a garbage bag and threw her out. I decided then that I wanted out of Seattle. I wasn't sure where I was gonna go to be honest but when I heard my brother and sister were moving back home I decided to follow suit."
"Oh Edward. I know I never liked her but I would never have thought she could be so devious. I mean, how could any woman do that to their own flesh and blood? She is more of a heartless bitch than I gave her credit for. I bet your happy now about the prenup?" she said with a small laugh.
I knew my mother. The attempt at humour was to mask the fact that she was pissed but didn't want to vent while I was still there.
"So what happened to the apartment in Seattle then?" my dad asked.
"I packed up all the stuff I wanted to bring with me and have some of it in my car and the rest being shipped. It's on the market right now."
"I see. And what about the rest of Giuliana's things? Did she collect them before you left?"
"Nope. I boxed it all up the day after I threw her out and left it down on the sidewalk. I text her and said if she wanted any of it she'd better be quick. I know it was petty but I was pissed."
"I can understand that Edward. Now of course you can stay here this is your home. You can either take your old room or the pool house. Whatever you prefer. And as far as renting somewhere, don't bother. Most of the places I've chosen for you to look at will be quick sales so you can stay here until you can move in." my mom said as she ruffled my hair.
"Okay sounds good. Am I still seeing the space in Port Angeles tomorrow?"
"Yeah. The rest of the family are there this weekend looking at shops for the boutique so Alice wants you to meet them for breakfast. You'll go after there."
"Yeah Alice text me earlier about that. I'm meeting them at a diner a few blocks from their hotel. She said something about a night out tonight as well but I wanted to come straight here and talk to you guys."
"Yes, her and Rosalie ran into Maura Webber's daughter, Angela, last week. They arranged to meet her and Bella Swan tonight for dinner. They might be there tomorrow too. It'll probably depend when Bella has to be back." she answered.
I always had a thing for Bella Swan back in the day. She was gorgeous but she never flaunted it the way the other girls in school did. Whereas they were all about caked on make up, short skirts and fake tan, Bella never tried too hard. And that appealed to me more than anything. She never dated in high school, neither did I. If I wasn't with my friends somewhere, I was taking pictures.
"Why would she have to be back? Does she still have a curfew?" I lamely joked.
"No, but she has a son to pick up. I met her mother at the store today when she was picking up a few things for him. She said that they were having him overnight."
So Bella had a son. I wondered if she was with someone or married. She didn't seem the type to get knocked up on a one night stand or anything. The again, G didn't seem the type to abort my baby or try to fleece me either.
"Is she married as well?" I could see my mother look at me with a sly grin.
"No. As far as I know she's single. You know, you could do worse than-"
"Don't start mom. At least let me get divorced before you start meddling!" I exclaimed.
"I'm not saying you have to run out and get married again Edward. There's nothing wrong with having a little company." She winked at me.
"Mom! Please don't ever wink at me like that again!" I stood from my seat and took my plate over to the sink.
I could hear my parents laughing quietly behind me and feel the tips of my ears burning. I put my plate in the dishwasher.
"I'm gonna head upstairs and get settled in. I'll be back down in a while." I grabbed my bag from the hallway and made my way to my room.
At some point I must've fallen asleep because the next thing I knew my mom was waking me up.
"C'mon Edward. You know what Alice is like if you're late." she scolded as she opened my blind.
"Mom! Jesus, you just burned my corneas. Are you happy now you've made your youngest kid blind!" I yelped.
"Stop being so dramatic! Now can I go or are you going to go back to sleep?" she asked with an arched eyebrow.
"I'm up! I'm just going to jump in the shower."
I yawned as I reached across to my bedside cabinet for my phone. I had two texts and a missed call all from my sister. She had called me at six thirty. Wasn't she supposed to be out last night? I read the texts.
Edward call me as soon as you get this you lazy bum! Ali xx message received at 06:42
Edward come on! If I've not heard from you in thirty minutes I'm gonna have mom come and wake u! Call me as soon as u wake! Ali xx message received at 07:39
I looked at the time and it was five past eight. I couldn't believe the demented elf had made my mom wake me up.
I got up and threw some clothes on my bed. I showered and came back into my room. I had just shoved my jeans on when my phone started buzzing across the bedside table. Of course, it was Alice again.
"Hey Alice, what's so important you've been stalking me since six thirty this morning?"
"Edward where have you been all morning? Half the morning is gone already! We're going for breakfast at ten thirty. It gives us time after checkout to put our bags in the car and then head to the diner. Will you be here? Have you even got out of bed yet?"
"How much coffee have you had this morning? Yes I'll be there, I'm half dressed already. I'll meet you guys at the hotel. How was last night?"
"It was sooo much fun! We had dinner at Roma and then we went to this new bar Hudsons. We were all pretty wasted. Everyone else is still asleep but you know me."
"So let me get this straight. You have five other people there within walking distance and yet you chose to bother me at the ass crack of dawn. What is wrong with this picture? And why didn't you make Jasper wake up? You know with him lying right there beside you and all!" I exclaimed.
"He needed to sleep. I kept him up last night and-"
"I so don't need to hear the end of that sentence. Now I'm going to go and have some coffee before I head up there. I'll see you soon."
"Okay baby bro. See you in a bit."
I hung up and headed downstairs. I found both my parents in the kitchen.
"Morning guys." I said as I kissed my mom then went over to the coffee pot.
"Morning son. You heading off soon?" my dad asked over his paper.
"Yeah. I just spoke to Alice. I have to meet them at ten thirty. What are you two up to today?"
"Nothing really. I'm off so I'm open all day. Did you want to do something later?" he asked as he put the paper down.
"Well if you're both free why don't you come to breakfast? Have you eaten yet?"
"No, just coffee. Did you have something to today honey?" he asked my mom.
"No, I was just going to spend some time in the garden. I could do that later." she replied.
Soon enough we were on our way to meet the rest of my family. We parked in the hotel lot and made our way into the lobby. As we got to the doors I realised I had left my phone in the car so I went back to get it. I got back to the hotel entrance and made my way inside. I had just got past the reception desk when someone crashed straight into me.
"Whoa! Are you okay?" I asked.
I bent down to pick up my phone and as I looked up I couldn't believe my eyes.
The person who had ran into me was non other than Bella swan.