Thank you to Iris, MidnightCougar, Ifyouweremine and SparklyMeg as always.

Thanks for your patience, guys. I hate that I missed an update AND didn't get to my review replies. I feel like such a fail. It's been a crazy week. I was delayed getting back from London and I've had 3 job interviews this week. And don't get me started on my teething / refusing to sleep baby. Fun times. Thanks for sticking with me.

Hopefully this makes up for the delay…

Chapter 19

The drive home is exactly how I remember it: long but beautiful. Trees line the road, their branches moving slowly in the gentle wind. It's a rare sunny day, and the rays shining through the gaps make shadows dance across the dashboard.

I wish I had time to stop, to pull over and admire it some more, but I'm desperate to get home. The really early morning, the long flight, and the annoying, constantly-kicking passenger behind me made for an awful journey. Right now, all I can think about is food, a shower, and a bed.

Once I'm about an hour away, I call my parents. We'd had the same old argument about whether I should drive home alone or whether they should collect me.

"Hello?" My dad answers almost instantly, making me think he's been sitting by the phone since I'd texted to say I'd landed.

"Hey, Dad."

"Bella, hon. Where are you?"

"Just outside of Forks. I'll be an hour or so. Just giving you notice to get my lunch ready."

He chuckles. "I'll… I'll, ah, get right on that."

I grin. "You mean mom will?"

"Mmm…" he hums. "Take it easy, okay? I still think one of us should have come for you. It's not a drive you should make yourself."

I roll my eyes. "I'm fine, Dad. I picked a safe rental, and I'm driving below the speed limit. Plus, I remember these roads well."

"It's not your driving I worry about it; it's those other idiots on the road."

"I'll be careful. I promise. I'll see you soon, okay?"

"See you soon, sweetheart."

ooOoo

My dad's sitting in his chair on the porch when I pull up. He has two favorite chairs: one old lounger, placed pretty much directly in front of the television, and his wooden rocker out on the porch, which used to be my grandfather's. It's old, it creaks when you move on it, and you'll always get a splinter from it. Nobody can find it in them to throw it out, though. So many childhood memories include this chair, and I've always hoped it'll get passed on to me one day, splinters and all.

He stands as I step out of the car, stopping at the top of the steps.

"What are you doing sitting outside? It's freezing!"

He points up to the sky. "The sun's out."

I laugh, stepping into his embrace. It's familiar; woodsy, warm, and all things my dad. "So? It's still February."

He shrugs. "Gotta make the most of it." He steps back to look at me. "Need anything from the car brought in?"

"I'll get it later. Let's get some lunch first."

Nostalgia hits the second I enter the house. The living room still looks as it did when I left, except there are a few more photos on the walls. A picture of the three of us outside the office of Swans White Weddings the day I got the keys hangs above the fireplace and makes me grin the second I see it. I'd felt so embarrassed at my parents needing to take a photo, but I love it now.

"You were so happy that day."

I spin around to find my mom walking toward me, and all of a sudden, it's too much. The stress, the putting on a brave front for everyone, the hurt… just come pouring out. The smile slips from her face as my first tears fall.

"Oh, sweetheart." She opens her arms, and I go willingly. "Are these tears over this boy?"

I nod, half-laughing and half-sobbing at her calling him a boy.

"He's not worth it. Nobody's worth your tears," she says softly. I can hear my dad clear his throat from somewhere in the room before he shuffles off.

"C'mon. Tell me all about it."

ooOoo

"Homemade pizza?" I question. My mom's never been much of a cook, and I'm sure the questions are written all over my face.

She sits down opposite me, handing me a mug of hot chocolate.

"I've been taking cooking classes in the evenings. It's just so I'm not sitting at home by myself while your dad's at work." She passes me some napkins and a plate. "I'm quite good, you know. It's therapeutic."

I smile, taking a large piece. The cheese goes all gooey as I try to pull it apart, and my mouth waters. It's been hours since I've eaten anything substantial, and my stomach growls. She's right; it's good − really good − so I tell her.

She smiles. "It's been fun. I never thought I'd actually like cooking." She shrugs. "Who knew?" My mom had to retire early due to health reasons, and it drove her crazy being holed up in the house all day.

"That's great, Mom." I put some of the salad she's made as a side onto my plate, and we sit in comfortable silence as we finish our lunch. My dad plates himself a few slices — leaving out the salad — before going back to his seat in the living room.

He's never been one for emotional conversations.

It's not until our plates are pushed away to the center of the table, both of us stuffed from eating one slice too many, that she asks about Edward.

It feels good to unload on her. I don't need to hide behind any facade, and I don't need to pretend I'm doing okay.

"Start from the beginning, honey. It'll feel good to let it out. How did you meet him?"

"I met him before he was officially my client. He was out with his friends, and I was out with Jess to celebrate the fact we'd possibly just secured the biggest wedding in Chicago."

"This is that Tanya girl?" She frowns when I nod.

"Anyway, he asked me to dance, we did, and he almost kissed me before he ran off. It was after that I found out he was marrying Tanya."

"You don't want to be involved with a guy like that, Bella."

I smile softly. "I know. It just took me a lot longer for me to see it. He… said some things that made me think he'd end things with her."

"Like what?"

I explain about his mom and the job working for Tanya's father. "He told me he wasn't sure he loved her anymore, that I might be the girl he wanted."

"Hmm..."

"I know. Even as I'm saying it out loud to you, I can hear the lies in it. He said what I wanted to hear, and I believed it all." I shake my head. "I can't believe I was so stupid," I mutter, more to myself than to her.

She stands, stepping behind me and wrapping her arms around my shoulders. "I'm sorry you were hurt that way. You're not the first, and you certainly won't be the last."

I sigh. "I know. It just hurts. That's all."

"Of course it does. I'd be surprised if it didn't. But it'll get easier, and you'll forget all about him."

Her words make sense, and I know she's right, but it just doesn't feel like it right now.

"Thanks, Mom."

She clears the table, throwing the leftovers in the trash and the dishes in the dishwasher. "Do you want to go for a walk? It'd be a shame to waste a nice day."

I stand, stretching as I do. My eyes feel heavy, drooping further with each passing minute. "I'm gonna grab a quick nap, if that's okay."

"Of course. We can wake you for dinner. Is there anything you want?"

I shrug. "I don't mind. No carbs, though." I laugh. "I don't think my body could cope after that pizza!"

I can hear her chuckle echoing through the hallway as I make my way to my old bedroom, and I can't help but smile, feeling freer than I have in weeks.

It feels good to be home.

ooOoo

That night, I suggest we go out to save my mom from having to cook again. She says she doesn't mind, but Dad's out the door and in the car quicker than we can blink.

"Still a fan of the diner, huh?"

She rolls her eyes. "You'd think we'd never go out, with the way he's behaving."

The diner's one of the only places to go out to eat in Forks. It's cheap, the food's good, and there's always a good atmosphere. There's a place further down the main road that's been closed down more times than I can count, and while passing it on the way to the diner, I see it now sits closed. I smile, thinking back to the time I could have my office there and plan all the weddings for the people in Forks who possibly couldn't afford to go to the city.

My mom catches my gaze, and we grin as we both remember.

The diner's bustling as we arrive. It's in the middle of peak service, and because we have to wait a few minutes for a table, we wait at the bar. We've just received our drinks when the hostess comes over to seat us.

"I can't get over how busy it is," I say when we're finally seated.

Every seat's taken, some by families and the rest by high school kids. The noise is almost overpowering, but not quite, and drowns out the music that's normally playing in the background.

"Saturday night, Bella. You remember being a teenager in Forks. There isn't much else to do."

I nod, remembering. Saturday night at the diner was as exciting as it got.

We order our meals, and I sit back, observing my parents. They're the classic story of high school sweethearts who married not long after they graduated. I surprised them less than a year later. They move with a familiarity only a couple that's been together so long can. When they don't think anyone's watching, there are subtle touches and soft smiles. When our food comes, my mom puts her tomatoes on my dad's plate and he gives her one of his onion rings.

This. This is what I want.

I want the sweet gestures, the gentle touches, the secret smiles, and the hidden kisses when they think nobody's watching. I want to be so comfortable with someone that they can take the things I don't like from my plate without even asking just because they know I don't like them.

Getting out of Chicago and being able to think clearly have made me see I can't have that with Edward. I can't be with someone who doesn't fully want to be with me. There may be other circumstances surrounding his choice, but even with the cost of his mom's care, we could've figured it out together. I could have — would have — helped him come up with a solution.

And if he doesn't realize that, then it's his loss.

ooOoo

I spend the following days unwinding and pushing Chicago to the back of my mind. Life here is completely different from living in the city, and while I don't want to move back, it's definitely a nice break.

I spend my mornings sleeping in and my afternoons just relaxing. I take walks in the woods, have lunches at the diner with my parents, and one morning — way too friggin' early — even go fishing with my dad to see if I've changed my opinion about it.

Turns out that I haven't.

I arrive back home cold, wet, and without a fish.

My mom meets me at the door with a huge mug of coffee. "Still not a fan, huh?"

I shiver, wrapping both hands around the mug. "Nope. It sucks. It's boring and quiet and... Ugh. It smells."

She giggles. "Go. Go have a shower and get changed. I have a surprise planned for both of us, and we have to leave in about an hour."

"A surprise?"

"Yes. Now go."

I do as she says, and we're leaving the house in less than an hour. My mom refuses to tell me where we're going, saying I'll figure it out soon.

"Seattle? We're going to Seattle? Why?"

She shrugs. "You needed to get out of the town, and to be honest, so did I. Plus, you'll be going back soon, and I figured we could use some girly time."

I lean back in my seat and close my eyes. "Girl time sounds good. What do you have planned?"

"You'll see."

ooOoo

I leave the Four Seasons feeling more relaxed than I have. Ever. We were looked after from the second we walked through the door, and I just didn't want to leave.

Mom splurged big time.

I spent the day enjoying the package Mom had booked for us, where I was treated to a body scrub, full body massage, foot and scalp treatment, facial, and pedicure. I felt every ounce of stress leave my body, and by the time we're ready to leave, I feel like a big, gooey mess.

"That was amazing. Thanks, Mom."

"I'm glad you had fun. I thought you could use some spoiling."

I grin. "No complaints here."

When we get off the ferry, my mom hands me her phone. "Call your dad, will you? There's a casserole that needs to be put in the oven. If he can do it now, it'll be ready by the time we get home."

"Renee?" Dad answers after a couple of rings.

"It's me, Dad. Just wanted to let you know we're off the ferry. Mom says can you put the casserole on low and it should be ready by the time we get home." I grin. "Congratulations, by the way."

"Congratulations?"

"On being able to work the oven. I knew you'd get there one day," I tease.

He huffs down the phone. "You want your dinner prepared or not?"

"Thanks, Dad! We'll see you soon."

"Uh, Bella. I, ah…"

"You're breaking up. I can't hear you. Dad?"

"I'm here. Um, I just… Ask your mom if the casserole will serve four."

"Four? Why?"

He sighs. "'Cause Edward's here."

ooOoo

Thank you for reading! See you next Sunday!

Fic Rec: Tinder is the Night by LayAtHomeMom - With thousands of potential mates at your fingertips, finding a connection is just a swipe away. Sometimes you have to left swipe a lot of Mr. Wrongs to swipe Mr. Right.