Where the Streets Have No Name
Chapter 109
That night, after putting Ella down in her crib, Edward retired to his room. He had work the next day and sleep was a precious commodity that he could ill-afford to lose. As he climbed into the bed and closed his eyes, he found himself pondering the events of the day.
He had met Renee's daughter.
She seemed... nice. Albeit troubled.
He recalled her coffee brown eyes and how scared she looked for one fleeting moment in the kitchen that morning.
He wished he knew what was bothering her.
All day, he had tried his best not to dwell on the mysterious predicament that was Isabella Swan. But in the quiet respite of the night, it was far harder to keep his thoughts from wandering into the unwanted alleyways of his mind.
She's just a kid. What can possibly be so wrong?
Has someone hurt her? A violent boyfriend perhaps? Does Renee know?
He knew he had no reason to concern himself with Bella Swan's problems. She was here to visit her mother and would be gone in little over twenty-four hours. Even if that wasn't the case, it wasn't his place to solicit assistance that was in all probability not wanted or welcome.
Though he couldn't deny that he wanted to.
He had offered to drive her to the airport. He wondered now whether that had been a wise decision. At the time, when Renee told him why she needed to coordinate the early morning hours to see her daughter off, it seemed like the most logical solution.
Then he noticed the shadow of the same trapped look on Bella's face that he had noticed in the morning and regretted his words immediately. She wasn't comfortable in his presence. Yet he had proposed to subject her to his company for a prolonged period of time.
He had tried to let her out of the dilemma, but much to his surprise she had agreed to accept the ride.
He didn't know what to make of that.
He wished he could somehow fathom the depth of her despondent heart and take away all her troubles.
A girl her age shouldn't have to shoulder such weight.
Like he had to.
He didn't have a choice.
But she should.
Why was he even thinking about this girl?
Yes, she was beautiful in a... vulnerable kind of way.
And yes, she was very... attractive.
But that could never have any bearing on his actions, or thoughts.
Even if she wasn't merely a child, even if she wasn't Renee's daughter, there was absolutely no way he could allow himself to think of her - or any woman for that matter - in a non-platonic light.
He was a married man.
He was a father.
Nothing would change that.
Not that he would want to change the past.
Of course, he would do anything to prevent what had happened to Carmen, but the tragic twist of fate that had brought him to this barren landscape had also brought him Ella.
He could never regret that.
Nor could he let foolish hope take root in his heart.
He couldn't ever let himself forget that he had nothing to offer to a girl like Bella.
Not even himself.
Thank you Lulabelle98, HeidiJoVT, and Dinx.