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I closed the door and he pulled away as I got to my front door. When we got in Carson seemed to perk up a bit. I put Nemo on for him and he sat on the living room floor playing quietly with his toys. I decided to call my parents. My mom answered
"Hey sweetie, did you have a nice night out?" she asked
"Yeah it was great until this morning. Why did you let Jacob take Carson?"
"I didn't. He came over and spoke to your dad and asked if he could have him for a few hours because he didn't get to see him last weekend. Your dad said yes and so he took him over to Billy's. Your dad didn't think you would mind."
"And I probably wouldn't have if he hadn't left Carson alone to fall down the porch steps, breaking his arm, and then driving to the hospital while drunk. Is dad there?" I fumed.
"Carson broke his arm? Is he okay?"
"No, he's not okay he has a broken arm and a drunken ass of a father. Speaking of fathers who are asses is mine there?"
"Yes hold on." I heard mumbling in the background before my dad came on the phone.
"What's going on? Your mum said the boy broke his arm." Charlie said in his usual gruff manner.
"Yeah, your precious Jacob decided getting another beer was more important than watching his son and Carson fell down the steps. He's fractured his left wrist. To top it off he thought that after drinking all last night then topping up with two beers this morning it was a good idea to drive him to the hospital." I spat.
"I'm sorry that Carson broke his arm honey but it was an accident. Accidents happen with children I'm sure-"
I couldn't believe he was making excuses for him.
"Yeah dad accidents do happen but they can be avoided if one acts like a responsible adult instead of a frat boy. You need to listen and listen good. Jacob will no longer be seeing Carson. Unless he can prove to be a responsible dad it won't be happening. Before you butt in I will not be changing my mind. I know you have some crazy idea about the three of us being this little happy cookie cutter family but it is never going to happen. If you can't accept that, then tough. Now I have to go and look after my injured son."
"Isabella listen-" I cut the phone off before he could start.
I knew my dad thought he knew better and that somehow Carson was missing out because Jake and I didn't live together but he wasn't. I mean I remember kids at school who longed to spend time with their dad but at this point in his life Carson didn't even notice when Jacob didn't come around. In fact unless I mentioned his dad he never even asked for him. There had been a few times when I had to go and pick Carson up early because he wouldn't settle down for Jake or his dad.
My land line started ringing and I knew who it was before I even picked up the handset to check caller id. I ignored the call from my dad and started on some laundry. I could see Carson from the door of the utility room and he was quite happily chatting away to himself.
Before long Angela appeared. We got Carson fed and in bed before we settled on the couch with our pizza and a beer each. I filled her in on my visit to the Cullen's, leaving out the part about my upcoming date. I asked her about Ben.
"He is such a great guy Bella. We went back to his place and ended up talking until dawn." she gushed.
"Yeah, that's what they're calling it these days!" I laughed
"No, seriously. I mean don't get me wrong, the way we were all over each other at the club I expected us to ripping each others clothes off but once we got outside everything seemed to calm down. We got back to his and he opened a bottle of wine and we talked about everything. College, our jobs, our families. I remember him from high school but I didn't really know him then.
So, anyway, he asked me to go out with him next weekend. We're having dinner on Friday night. He's coming to Forks to see his parents in the afternoon so he'll pick me up then. I am so excited."
"About this weekend, obviously you're busy on Friday but would you be up for spending some time with Car on Saturday? I kind of have a date myself." I said quickly.
"With … Wait! No! Edward? Oh my god! I can't believe you never told me earlier! Now, spill, what happened?" she asked excitedly.
"It wasn't a big deal. He was dropping us off and he just came out with it. He kind of rambled something about it could be as friends if I didn't want a date and I said yes and gave him my number to call me. Then as he was driving away he called out from the car that he thought I was hot in high school too."
"Oh my god that is so cute. So where are you guys going?"
"I don't know. We just said we'd make plans during the week. So can you watch Carson?" I asked hopefully.
"Of course. In fact I'll have him stay overnight at my place. You know just in case!" she wiggled her eyebrows at me.
"Angela! Not a chance will I be bringing him home on a first date!"
"You don't know that Bella. And even if you don't it'll be nice to have him for the night. We'll go to my parents for dinner then watch one of his movies or something. I may even con Ben I into coming over." she smiled shyly.
"So you really like him then?" she blushed.
"I do. And I think he likes me too. I've already spoken to him on the phone for over an hour since leaving him today. He called to make sure I got home okay. I feel a connection with him that I haven't felt before. You don't mind if he comes over while I have Carson do you?" she asked nervously.
"No, I mean Carson might be a bit funny, but you know him. Once Ben's been there a little while he should come around. And he'll be in bed early anyway so it'll let you two spend some time together." I replied
We talked for a little while longer before Angela left to let me get to bed. Being that I was up at five each morning Monday to Friday I was far from the life of the party during the week. I got in bed and thought of my date on Saturday.
This week had flown by.
My mom had still come over at five forty five each morning on the dot. She mentioned my father a few times, asking me to call and talk to him but I refused. I needed him to realise that I was completely serious about this.
I went about my normal routine with a smile on my face, looking forward to the weekend. Edward called on Monday night and each night after. We talked about everything from my work to his photography, to Carson and his family. I felt like we were really getting to know each other. It was now Friday and I was just about to finish my shift when Luciana came back and told me I had a visitor. I went out front to find Edward at the counter.
"Hey I wasn't expecting to see you until tomorrow" I smiled.
"Hey, I was passing by and thought I'd drop in. I wasn't sure if I'd have missed you or not."
"I'm finishing in ten minutes. Do you want to wait and we can have coffee?" I asked before I could stop myself.
"Yeah that'd be good. I'll grab a table." he grinned and wandered over to a table at the window.
I walked back out to the kitchen slowly and went back to the counter I had been working at. Luciana came over to me and glared at me.
"Now, I know if you were dating Edward Cullen you'd have told me asap right? I mean you don't keep shit like that to yourself." she fumed with her hands on her hips.
"We're having our first date tomorrow night. Angela and I were out with his family last weekend and he drove me to the hospital when Jacob called. We've talked on the phone this week but I really don't want my parents getting wind of this until I see if anything happens. I mean we could go out and it could be a disaster." I rambled.
Luciana had become a good friend over the past few years. I knew she would be excited for me but she was one of those people who wanted to know every single detail about everything. This was why I had stayed quiet.
"Bella, the way he looked at you out there you'd think you guys were already together. He is one smitten guy. And you weren't much better. Now go get him and I'll finish up here. Grab some coffee and cake on the house."
"Thanks. I'll see you Monday okay?"
"Yeah and be ready to spill, I want details!" she winked and got to work on the wedding cake I had been working on.
I cleaned up as best as I could and made my way to the table Edward was sitting at.
"Hey," was that really the best I could come up with?
"Hey you, so what do you want to drink?" he asked as he went to stand.
"I'll get them. Luciana is treating. What would you like?"
"Just a white coffee please."
"Would you like a pastry or cake or something?" I asked.
"Yeah sure. Something with chocolate would be good." I smiled at him and then went over to the counter to order from Leah.
Leah lived on the rez beside Billy and Jake. She could come off as rude and ignorant but if she was your friend she was loyal to a fault. She had started her shift earlier but I was busy and never got a chance to speak to her.
"Hey Leah, how are you?"
"I'm good. How are you? I heard about the little guy is he okay?" she asked, concerned.
"Yeah he'll be fine. He has a cast on for at least another three weeks. I take it everyone down there knows about it?" I asked.
"Of course. You know what it's like. Everyone knows everyone else's business. Add that to the fact that Jacob is playing the wounded father act perfectly so I'd say it was spread around before you got Carson home from the hospital. Billy's pissed by the way. Just a heads up."
"Billy's pissed? His son caused his grandson to get hurt and what, he's pissed at me because I won't put up with Jakes bullshit any more? They can both go to hell. Jacob deserves everything he gets." I seethed.
"I hear ya. Seth said to tell you it's about time."
"Tell Seth I know. Anyway, can I have two white coffees and two chocolate fudge brownies please?"
Leah chatted while she got my stuff and then put it all on a tray for me. I headed back over to the table and sat down. Edward took a huge bite of his brownie and moaned. It was the hottest sound I ever heard.
"This is amazing! It's even better than my mom's brownies, although don't tell her that!"
"Why thank you."
"You made these?" I nodded, "They are soo good."
"Thanks again. I'm glad you like them. So what have you been doing today?" I asked.
"Not too much. I went and saw the studio space and signed the lease for it. I was just actually on my way back when I decided to pop in. How's your day been?"
"Good. I've been working on a wedding cake for most of the day. I had to make all the gum paste flowers to decorate it and then pipe some on. It took a lot of time but it was worth it. Luciana is just adding the final touches and it'll be ready for pick up tomorrow. I'm really proud of it. Listen to me going on, you shouldn't ask me about my work I'll bore you to tears!"
"Not at all. It's nice to see you talk so passionately about it. You obviously love what you do and that's something a lot of people don't understand."
"Tell me about it. When Jacob came home and I told him about the baby he wanted me to be a stay at home mom. When I said no he told me that I was the worst kind of mother, not willing to be there for my son."
"That is ridiculous. It's clear to anyone who's seen you with your son that you are an amazing mother. Jacob was just jealous that you got to do something you genuinely love instead of being stuck like him."
"I know. To be honest I couldn't care less what he thinks of me. I mean don't get me wrong, I loved Jacob like a brother, we were always close. But the way he is now just makes me hate him."
"Well let's stop talking about him for now. So I thought if it was okay with you I would pick you up at seven tomorrow night. I wasn't sure what time you would be able to go with the baby and all."
"No, seven would be fine. Angela is going to pick him up around five, they're going to her parents for dinner. Seven means I have time to get ready, it takes a lot for me to look decent enough to leave the house" I joked.
"I don't believe that for a minute. You are gorgeous no matter what you have on." he said sweetly.
"Yeah, you obviously haven't seen me at six in the morning when I start work then" I laughed.
"I'll bet you're still beautiful" he took my hand in his and gazed intently into my eyes.
I got lost for a moment before the silence was broken.
"Well this looks awfully cosy"
Next chapter up in a couple of days.