Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

Give Me A Little Trust

Chapter Three: Other Ideas

Bella's POV

I had just finished cleaning the kitchen when Edward, Alice and Jasper walked in. Jasper was looking smitten at Alice as she sat down at the counter with everyone joining her.

"What you cooking Bella?" Alice asked while Edward gave me a small smile.

"I just cooked a new batch of chocolates. " She gave me a small pleading smile, trying to see if she could have some. I rolled my eyes and moved the baking tray over causing her to beam at me.

"Thank you!" She and Jasper then sparked up some conversation quietly together, giving me a chance to talk to Edward.

It had been a week since we last saw each other and I have to say he looked worse than last time. He had dark purple patches under his eyes and looked like he could do with a good sleep and rest.

"Hi." I mumbled, brushing m hair out of my face.

"Hey." He smiled but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Can we talk?" Edward asked softly. I nodded just as Alice gasped, capturing our full attention.

"I'm late! God sorry Bella, I have to go." With that she grabbed Jasper's hand and they both left together.

"Have a seat." I said motioning to the stools around the kitchen counter.

"Thanks."

"So what's been going on with you?" I asked as he rubbed his shoulders and the back of his neck.

"Marriage counselling." He frowned in pain, his hand focusing on one part of his neck.

"Here, let me help you." I walked round and started massaging his shoulders. He groaned on touch and relaxed instantly.

"She called me out on everything. She blames me for being infertile, says I'm emotionally cut off, have no feeling, and am more obsessed with my work than with her." He sighed as I moved my hands further over his shoulders.

"It's not like I want to work as much as I do. I just have to otherwise it's hard to sustain the life we lead. Everything I've done, I've done it for her. When I had the opportunity to take over a whole new financial department she insisted it would be good for me even when I told her that it would involve me working so much more." He slumped forward and for some reason I felt like wrapping my arms round him. He spun round and embraced me.

This is obviously really hard on him and he clearly has no other outlet in his normal life. His wife certainly doesn't notice the harm she's doing to her husband.

"God what would I do without you?" He questioned, laying his head in the crook of my neck.

We had become rather close friends over the past week and were now at a point were now at a point where we could share almost anything even though we are practically strangers. Neither of us knows a lot about the other's life but yet I know some things he refuses to tell his closest friends and family.

"Have you decided on what you two are going to do about having a baby or children?"

"Lauren says we need to decide if we are going to stay together or separate before we make that decision. She's still against sperm donors and to be honest so am I but I would be very happy to adopt, though she isn't. Lauren doesn't seem to think it's her responsibility as a mother to raise someone else's baby. But to me a baby it still a baby that needs parents to love and care for it."

He looked into my eyes and I could see the deep green eyes of his. They weren't my favourite emerald green however, instead they were racing green.

"We have another three weeks of marriage counselling and if that doesn't help then Lauren wants to take a break for a month. She just wants to get away from us and have fun with her friends to see if that helps things for when she gets back."

"I don't want to lose my wife Bella. Even though things are in turmoil right now I still love her. I just don't think she loves me anymore and I don't know what to do about it. Tonight though I'm going to take her to diner and I have a gift for her. To be honest I'm just trying to keep her from leaving me."

"I know things are bad right now but they will get better in time. Maybe you two are just going through a rough patch but will eventually get out of it. You two probably just need more time for the dust to settle." I said looking softly at him.

"Sorry I've been talking a lot about me. Tell me what's going on with you?" He asked.

"Nothing really. The usual, more orders for chocolates. In fact my business has almost doubled since Alice put my business cards in with the chocolates I made for her." He smiled but this time it did reach his eyes.

"What are you doing tomorrow night?" I asked, trying to keep him happy.

"Nothing, Lauren's going out with friends."

"Why not come out with Emmett, Jasper and me?"

"That would be good, thanks. Could I invite Alice and Rose?"

"Of course. I'm sure the guys would love to see them." I said while he kept smiling.

"Thanks Bella. I don't know how you do it but every time I talk to you I feel more relaxed, as though I can push my problems aside for a while." He gave me a hug before leaving.

I don't know how to help him but I couldn't understand what he saw in his wife. To me, she seemed rude, ungrateful and without any compassion, which I think Edward needs after finding out he's infertile. Even if I couldn't do anything to directly help I would be there to listen to him when he needs me.

Edward's POV

I had arranged for a table at the restaurant where I proposed to Lauren. At home I had put one box with a brand new cocktail dress on the hall counter along with one jewellery box and a new pair of shoes.

After leaving Bella's I called Lauren's personal shopper and got her to get all the things for me before dropping them off so that I could set them up. On top of the boxes I wrote a note telling Lauren that we had diner reservations for eight o'clock and that I would be at the restaurant waiting for her.

Though at eight thirty I was beginning to think that Lauren hadn't gotten said note.

The waitresses were looking at me with pitiful eyes and coming over far too often to flirt. They didn't seem put off when I waved them away, clearly showing my wedding ring. By nine o'clock I had gone through two baskets of bread and a bottle of water yet Lauren had still not shown.

"I'm sorry sir but you've been here an hour and your guest hasn't shown, we need the table." I nodded at the waiter and gathered my things up before leaving money and exiting the restaurant.

Unfortunately I was met with photographers who seemed to be relishing in the fact that I had been stood up. Luckily for me they didn't know who had stood me up. I they knew it was my wife then they would be having a field day at my expense.

Arriving home I saw the table where I place all the stuff on but it was clear. So Lauren had gotten m gifts, why then didn't she show up? Shaking my head I walked up stairs and checked the rooms only to find them empty. I called her cell phone but it went straight to her answer machine. It must have been off. Ignoring the bad feeling I had in my chest I went straight to my office and loaded up my laptop.

Five hours later I was still working when I heard somebody stumbling around in the hall. When I walked out I saw Lauren in the dress I had bought for her and she was also wearing the necklace and new shoes. She was so drunk though that she was struggling to walk straight. My husband instincts kicked in so I picked her up and carried her up the stairs to our bedroom. By the time we were at the top of the stairs she was sound asleep. I undressed her and settled her in bed before going downstairs to shut up the house.

Throwing away the remains of scrap paper I was working on I saw the note I left crumpled at the bottom of the bin in my office. So this is how things were going to be from now on then. I guess I better forget about things getting better as Lauren obviously has other ideas.

A.N.

Short but the next one will be longer.