The First Spring

4. Uncovered

"I am truly sorry for your loss, Miss Swan." Dr. Esme Cullen said in her soft, motherly tone.

"Thank you." Bella said with a slight nod. "So, how does this work?"

"Well, given the circumstances, I'm going to suggest cremation."

Bella laughed humorously. "Because he was already buried once?"

When Esme blinked at her, Bella shook her head quickly, not meeting her eyes. "I'm so sorry. This is just... really hard for me."

"Of course it is, dear. There's no need to apologize. I only suggest cremation because of the state of the decomposition. It would be... unwise, to bury by casket."

"Right." Bella nodded in agreement. "I'd also like to keep this as simple as possible; nothing over the top or sentimental. I honestly just want to get this over with."

When he brought it up three days ago, Bella had originally argued with Jacob for the entire drive back to the reservation that she wanted no part in giving James anything that resembled a funeral; and she would be damned if she was going to pay for it. While Jacob admired her for finding her long lost sense of female empowerment, he also reminded her that they need to keep themselves inconspicuous. So after much deliberation she agreed to have a small funeral, on the condition of having no flowers and no words of kindness from a minister.

"Will there be anyone from James's family joining us?" Dr. Cullen asked.

"No, he told me he was an only child and both his parents died. I'm not aware of any distant relatives and I wouldn't even know how to contact them. So, no. Just myself and my family."

"Alright." She jotted notes down in a folder and closed it with a quick slap. "That takes care of everything. We'll be in touch, alright?"

"Sure. Thanks again."

When she stood up to leave, Dr. Cullen pursed her lips and gave her a questioning look. "Bella, if I may..."

Bella stopped and turned to look at her, keeping one hand on the doorknob of Dr. Cullen's office door. "Yes?"

"Regardless of what you went through, it's never easy burying a loved one."

Bella stiffened. "He's not a loved one, Dr. Cullen."

"Maybe not now, but he was your husband once."

"And had he lived he would have been my ex-husband from jail." She felt her face getting hot with anger as she stood in the doorway looking down at the petite older woman. "I'm sure you're familiar with the story."

She nodded. "It's a small town, Bella."

"Right." Her hand shook against the doorknob, and when they both noticed she let go of it.

"I'm not trying to upset you, I just want you to really consider if these are the arrangements you want. Sometimes people have regrets later-"

"I don't regret anything except staying with him as long as I did. I'd really just like to move on now, if everyone would just let me."

Dr. Cullen put her hand up and frowned. "You're right, I'm sorry. You are well beyond your right to move on from all of this. I hope my son catches whoever did this to him so it can bring you some peace."

"I spent the last eight months wishing I had never met James," She snapped. "Whoever killed him did me favor."

Bella's hands didn't stop shaking until she pulled into the parking lot of the diner, ten minutes later. She sighed, still angry with what Esme Cullen had said to her. Nobody had ever intentionally made her feel guilty before. Guilty for leaving James, guilty for killing James, and guilty for moving on. Living with that guilt, for murdering her husband to protect her lover had grown easy after the first few months; knowing if she hadn't stopped James both her and Jacob would have surely been killed by his own hands. She had turned her pain into strength and reminded herself every time she felt damned that she did what was needed, and nobody would be missing him, especially her.

As she opened the truck door to climb out, a police cruiser suddenly pulled in beside her. Bella looked down and noticed slender hands pulling the keys out of the ignition and opening the drivers side door. Edward Cullen's tousled hair bounced slightly as he stood up and turned to look at her. He wasn't smiling; instead had a conflicted expression plastered on his face as he walked up to her briskly.

"Hello, Bella."

"Hi, Edward. What are you doing here?"

"I was on my way back to the station when I saw you pull in. Are you getting lunch?"

"Yeah, I'm just meeting Jake inside."

"Ah." He looked slightly disappointed. "Well, when you can, I'd like you to come into the station today."

Bella's heart dropped. "Is everything okay?"

"Well, not exactly. Though, I'd rather discuss it at the station."

"Alright..." She said slowly. "I'll meet you there in an hour?"

He nodded curtly at her, got back into his vehicle, and drove off without another word, leaving Bella standing alone in the parking lot. Her heart was racing with anxiety as she felt her knees buckle. She knew whatever it was he wanted to tell her wasn't anything good, but if it was as bad as she thought it could be Edward would have been arresting her. So despite her frustrations and worry, she walked into the diner and gave her companion waiting a genuine smile as she sat down across from him. "Hey, Jake."

"Hey, Bells. I ordered for you. What did Cullen want?"

"I don't even think I can eat anything." Bella said nervously. "He wants me to come by the station to talk. He looked uncomfortable."

Jacob raised an eyebrow. "Should we be leaving the state?"

"No, I don't think so."

"Alright," He said between mouthfuls of a double cheeseburger. "Well you let me know when we have to run. I've already packed us a bag."

"Somehow," Bella said flatly. "In the midst of this mess you've managed to keep your appetite and sense of humor."

"Inspiring, isn't it?"

When Edward came out to the lobby to meet Bella he nodded towards Jacob, who had been lounging in the chair against the wall. "He'd better come too." Edward said quietly as he motioned for them to follow. Bella and Jacob exchanged concerned glances but followed him anyway, down the long hall and into the conference room. They sat down next to each other and Edward took the seat across from them at the large round table.

"After James was murdered," Edward began carefully. "Something appeared on our radar that we had no knowledge of before."

When neither Bella nor Jacob responded Edward continued. "Bella, were you aware that James was leasing an apartment in Port Angeles?"

Bella's jaw dropped. "What? No?"

Edward nodded, the uncomfortable expression was back on his face again. "I didn't think so."

"For how long?" She asked.

He thinned his lips before responding. "Just over two years."

Jacob straightened up in his seat. "Was that the investigation your brother was referring to the other day?"

"Yes. When the payments stopped coming through, the lease was terminated and the back-rent went into collections."

Jacob looked at Bella, who just sat still in her chair, staring straight ahead. When she made no effort to respond he nervously cleared his throat. "So, what was inside the apartment?"

Edward glanced at Bella, a look of shame crossed his face. "Aside from everyday furniture and belongings, we found men and women's clothing."

"Women's clothing?" Jacob asked, his jaw gaping open.

Bella looked up slowly from her feet. "He was living there with a woman, wasn't he?"

Edward met her eyes. "I'm sorry to say, but it appears so."

The chair squeaked against the floor as Bella suddenly stood up. "I'm done here." She stated, and turned and walked out of the conference room without another word.

Jacob stood to follow her, but Edward's voice stopped him. "Jacob?" He asked, looking down at his hands that were folded neatly on the table.

"Yeah?"

"I knew she would take this hard. No matter how much she claims to have moved on, the pain and damage he caused is still as real as it was the night I was called over."

"Why are you telling me this?" Jacob demanded, both curious and annoyed. Edward had never openly spoken to him before.

"Because you're going to be the one to comfort her."

"Is that why you asked me to come? To be her service dog?"

"To be whatever she needs you to be." Edward said simply, lifting his head up to look at Jacob in the eyes. "You'd better go after her."

Jacob resisted the urge to tell the detective where he'd better go, and instead stalked out of the room with a sour look on his face. As he rounded the corner of the hallway and came through the double doors of the station, he saw Bella climbing into her truck, a folder tucked under her arm.

"Bella! Wait!" He yelled, as he ran up to the passenger side door. She reached over without looking at him and pulled the lock up so he could open the door. When he slid into the seat he turned to look at her. "Bells, talk to me, honey."

"Close the door." She said.

He obeyed, eyes still on her as the engine roared to life. "Where are we going?" He asked.

"To find that damn apartment."