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Chapter 21: Tying Up Loose Ends

EPOV

Monday morning brings along with it, a grumpy Emmett. Apparently, he couldn't sleep without 'His Rosie' as he informs us all several times, and she hasn't even been gone for twenty-four hours.

I offer to take Jasper to Mr. Jenks' office so he can review the paperwork for the sale of his company. Since the day that I made the statement to the media, we have been holed up in the house, laying low. We just need to get out of the house before we all go stir crazy.

As it is, the realtor is bringing some people by to look at the house, anyway. It wouldn't look good if so many people are in the house, basically staring at the folks as they meander through our home. I mean, we want the house to sell, so making potential buyers uncomfortable would not be a good thing. Mom is even whipping out the heavy artillery with making cookies and pies just before they arrive so that the house has that Betty Crocker smell to it.

Once we are in my car and on the road, Jasper begins a conversation that I knew was going to come up sooner or later.

"How are you doing, Edward?" he asks me, concern lacing his voice. "We're brothers and best friends. I know that something is bothering you, and it has nothing to do with the Tanya situation." I forget sometimes just how observant he is.

"I don't really know how to explain it. It's just that I feel like I'm not suppose to be here. I know it doesn't make any sense. It's just confusing to me," I tell him, flustered that I can't figure out what is wrong with me lately. "I think I will feel better once we get out of this city of hell."

"I have an idea, but I don't know if the girls will go for it," he states with a sly smile. This can't be good. When Jasper gets that look, it usually means that he is up to no good. He may be quiet, but when Jasper gets an idea, he can be just as relentless as Emmett.

"Let's hear it," I reply dryly, rolling my eyes at his excitement.

"Well, come Friday, the girls will no longer have jobs. Emmett and you are free, so once I sign the papers, I'm basically done, right?" he asks, looking for confirmation, I'm sure.

"Yeah, it'll take a few days for the money to be wired to your account, but you aren't needed for that part of the transaction," I answer and I can see the relief in his posture.

"So, what do you think of loading everything up in a U-Haul and making a road trip to Texas?" he questions, excitement returning to his voice. "Mom and Dad can drive Alice's car, since everyone else is selling theirs. They can drop it off at the donation place and fly out once they close on the house. We can take the Suburban and one big moving truck," he says excitedly, explaining his idea.

I find myself nodding along with him as I take in what he is suggesting, which confuses me. On the other hand, I am even more confused by how much better I feel with his suggestion, "It sounds like it will be a lot of fun, but I'm not helping you convince the girls," I state, smirking at his pout. "I don't think that mom and dad will have a problem with it, but they might have to move into a hotel for a while since we'll be taking all their stuff, too."

"When Rose gets back tomorrow night, we can all sit down and talk about it," he replies, not letting my answer deter him. "If I do some research, and plan out the stops so that everyone would have fun, they might just go for it. We have been under so much stress lately, and this might just be what we need."

"Yeah, just make sure that you throw some shopping in there," I tell him, laughing at his disgruntled face.

When we arrive at Mr. Jenks' office, Jasper has a ton of paperwork to go through since he is including all the company vehicles and equipment, plus any ongoing contracts with his customers. I just sit back, playing with my phone as Mr. Jenks explains everything to him. I overhear him tell Jasper that he would have the funds wired to the law office, and once Jasper has his account setup in Texas, he will wire it there for him.

Damn, I thought. I need to close out my accounts, too.

I interrupt, "Mr. Jenks? Can you contact Mr. Riley? I would rather have the bank give me a certified check. I was thinking I should go ahead and close out my accounts, too. Maybe have the check sent here, if that's ok?"

"Actually guys, I would advise you to open an account at a nationwide bank. Then, when you get to Texas, you can close out that account, and open one at which ever bank you choose to use. The last thing that you would want is to be on the road and not have access to your money," he explains to us.

"That's not a bad idea," I agree, looking over at Jasper. "And, that way we won't have to carry around a lot of cash with us, either." Jasper nods in agreement.

"Go withdraw a lump sum from your existing account, and set up a new one. The bank should have debit cards ready for you before you leave town," he answers, collecting the papers Jasper just finished signing. "I will contact Mr. Riley and determine the best course of action. You will hear something from me by this afternoon."

"Yes, Sir," I return, eager to get all of the loose ends tied up here, and move to Texas. "Should Emmett and my father do the same?"

"If they are with a local bank, then I would suggest it," he responds, shuffling the papers into a neat stack. Knowing that my family all uses the same bank, I send a text to both of them explaining what we were advised to do.

After Mr. Jenks reviews the papers and determines that Jasper is finished, we head out to to get something to eat for lunch. I sent a text to my mother earlier, and she responded that the realtor was still at the house and had another potential buyer who wanted to see the house today.

With that knowledge, Jasper and I find ourselves sitting in a booth at a small diner, not far from Mr. Jenks' office. As I am perusing the menu, a shadow falls over the table. Both Jasper and I look up at the same time as we hear the most irritating voice. This is one person I was hoping I would never have to see again.

"You guys are pretty pathetic, huh? What, are you slumming it now that you were forced to sell the restaurant, Edward? I mean, come on, really?" Tanya asks, her voice like nails on a chalkboard. "It makes sense though. I mean ever since I dumped you, you wouldn't have the means to even afford to eat at a decent place anymore," her voice carrying so everyone looks our way.

"Actually, I didn't realize that they let criminals in such a fine establishment as this," I rebut, just as loud. "I guess they let just anybody in; even those who can't read a restraining order. A restraining order which states that you aren't allowed to come anywhere near me," I seethe, knowing that she is doing this to get a reaction out of me. I turn my attention to Jasper. "Jasper, why don't you call the police? Tanya must be wanting, wait...no, needing more publicity. Who would have thought that The Tanya Denali likes showing off; bound in handcuffs," I state with venom dripping in my voice. "It's a good look on you, by the way," I state, grinning at her wide, anxious eyes.

"Oh, Edward. When are you ever going to learn? I own this city. No one, is going to touch me….," she is saying, but is cut off by a large man, leaning over the table next to her.

"Is this woman bothering you, Sir?" he asks in a firm, authoritative voice.

"Yes, Officer. I have a restraining order against her, but she seems to be following me," I tell him, smirking at her. I shake my head at her lack of awareness of her surroundings. How dumb or desperate do you have to be to deliberately make a scene when there are cops around?

"We can't have people breaking the law and thinking that they can get away with it, now can we?" he smirks, raising his voice, obviously recognizing who Tanya is. "No matter who they think they are."

"No, Sir," I answer with a smirk of my own. "It seems that a lot of people are under the impression that they can get away with breaking the law in this city."

"Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to turn around. You are clearly in violation of an order of protection," he tells her, pulling out his handcuffs.

"MY FATHER IS GOING TO HAVE YOUR JOB! YOU CAN'T ARREST ME! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?" she screams and I cringe at her shrieking, as do several other patrons nearby.

"I don't really care who you are, Ma'am. You are breaking the law, and you will pay this time," he says, snorting in disbelief as he cuffs her.

Everyone can hear her screaming all the way out of the diner. Jasper and I just sit there in shock. Tanya always had a knack for commanding attention when in a room. It's just too bad that this time it didn't go as she would have planned.

"Sir, while my partner is taking care of her, can you give me the information for the charges?" a younger officer asks of me.

As I sit there and give him all my information, along with a copy of the restraining order, Jasper calls and informs Mr. Jenks of what has taken place.

Soon after the officer is gone, we order our food. Our waitress is very accommodating and the owner even came over to our table to see if everything is to our liking. We don't talk much as we eat. I think we are both still in shock. I even leave a large tip for the trouble our presence has caused the owners, as well as the other patrons.

After we finish our lunch, we head home. Maybe getting out of the house wasn't such a great idea today. Didn't anyone think that it was important to tell me that Tanya had made bail?

By the time we make it home, Tanya's arrest is already headlining the news. As soon as we walk in, my parents and Emmett are in sitting front of the television. I catch the end of the broadcast as I sit down on the couch next to my mother.

"... since it seems Tanya Denali can't seem to stay out of trouble. This time, the Mayor's daughter, was arrested earlier this afternoon, for violating the order of protection that her ex-fiancé', Edward Cullen, has against her. The order of protection has been in place since the beginning of the criminal case back in October of last year. Allegedly, she followed him into a diner, while he was apparently having lunch with one of his brothers. From what we have been able to gather from witnesses, she approached his table, creating a scene when two off-duty officers, having lunch at the same diner, stepped in before she could become violent. She was heard by the patrons at the diner to be screaming that she, and I quote, 'Owns this city' and that 'Her father would have the officer's job for arresting her.' I guess we need to ask ourselves, with behavior like this, how often has the mayor abused his power of office to get his daughter out of trouble? We will keep you informed as soon as more information is made available."

"Damn, Bro. Was she high or something? What is she thinking, causing a scene like that when she already has federal charges against her? More importantly, what is she doing out of jail, anyway?" Emmett asks, laughing as he mutes the TV with the remote. "They should really have enough to lock the cuckoo bird up for good this time."

We are all laughing when the doorbell rings.

"Oh hell. Not again," Emmett swears, getting up to answer it.

Emmett is talking as he answer the door, "We are not interested...What the hell do you want?" We hear him growl out. The contrast between his two tones gets our attention.

"I need to talk to Edward," a voice, I would recognize anywhere, demands.

"Don't you think your daughter has caused him enough trouble?" Emmett rebuts not moving from his spot in front of the door. My dad gets up and goes to the door before Emmett can get himself in trouble.

"What do you want, Eleazar?" my father asks, clearly annoyed. "You are not welcome in my home. Anything that you think you need to discuss with my son is irrelevant. You will need to go through his attorney in order to speak with him."

"Carlisle, you need to stay out of this or you will regret it," he threatens my father.

I look over and Jasper is holding up his phone, recording the whole scene on video. I walk to the door to see what he wants.

"As you were previously asked, Eleazar, what is it that you want? I have nothing to say to you, or your family. And, I would suggest that you never threaten my father or any other member of my family, again," I tell him, tired of him and his family.

"You little shithead. You will drop the charges against my daughter or I will ruin your life," Eleazar growls. "Do you hear me? You have one hour in order to drop the charges, or you will regret it," he yells at me, his face distorted with anger.

"Are you threatening me? Really?" I ask with a smile on my face.

"You're damn right it's a threat! One that you better take seriously before I permanently wipe that smile off your face," he spits out, his face turning red.

"Well, I guess we will have to see about that," I say, looking behind him seeing that thereporters that had just pulled up were recording the scene, also.

"I'm the Mayor of this city, and I will have your ass for what you have done to my daughter! She should have wiped you out, instead of only taking what little money she did. But make no mistake, I will completely ruin you for this," he yells at me, my smile never wavering.

"I wonder what the good people of Seattle will think of your threats and the admission of your daughter stealing from me?" I question, smirking at him.

"They will never find out, if you know what is good for you," he growls at me.

"Well then, you might want to turn around and leave before you give these nice reporters behind you more information than you intend, or before you admit to breaking anymore laws," I tell him, as I watch the color drain from his face. "Oh, and Eleazar? You will be hearing from my attorney. I have this whole visit on video," I say as I slam the door in his face.

Emmett runs to the window to watch the scene play out, as my mother walks in hanging up the phone.

"I called the police and Mr. Jenks. They're on their way," she states with tears in her eyes. "Why won't they just leave us the hell alone?"

I wish I had an answer for her.

I shake my head in amusement. "Mom, I think that we are now starting to see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel."