Chapter 15: Unsettled

The apartment was pretty cozy. Bella didn't mind it at all except for that front window view. She stared down the short driveway at the main house. Thirty feet was her best guess. That was the distance between Bella and Jacob and his real life, but she suspected there was far more than a few feet separating them. They'd gotten along fairly well for the past week, but she wasn't fooling herself, he still didn't trust her and she didn't much like this new Alpha, my way or the highway Jacob.

Jacob made sure, she had everything she needed including a stocked fridge, but he didn't stick around much the first evening. The delivery crew set up the crib and changing table for her, so there wasn't anything for him to do except play with Atticus for a bit. He told her he'd like to introduce Atticus to Kaleigh sometime today. They'd both be working early Monday. Her father took her to dinner, but he didn't stay long in Seattle. She could tell he was having difficulty keeping his opinions to himself. He kept asking if she was alright and then when she'd say she was, he'd shake his head and mumble something under his breath. Charlie said the door was always open for them to come stay with him. She knew Jake would say no again and she honestly didn't have the will to argue.

Of course, her computer dinged as soon as she booted it up the first time. Aro sent several messages. Bella figured she might as well smooth his ruffled feathers. Jake only saw a threat when she spoke of Aro, but Bella learned over the years it was all about the game to him and she had developed some skills. She felt like a worthy opponent even if that was an absolute false sense of security.

She typed, "Hello" first and that was it. She never divulged too much information.

He was engaging with her only minutes later, "Bella dear, you've moved and I've searched the mail high and low for a change of address card, but I can't seem to find it. You aren't trying to hide from me, are you? I simply detest hide 'n seek. I always lose my temper and act foolishly when I can locate something that's lost."

She waited, so he responded again.

"You wouldn't like to see me ill tempered around the wee one, would you?"

Oh, God. If Jacob ever saw this chat, he'd come unhinged, probably buy a plane ticket to Italy and end up getting himself tortured and killed.

"Relax, Aro. You knew I was job hunting and might undergo a change scenery soon. It was a rash decision. I didn't have time to send out notices."

He went on to say things about poor parenting, running out on her regular life and even asked if mothers should make rash decisions when their sole purpose was protecting their young ones. She swore he could add a threat against Atticus every few words, but always make it seem civil.

"We are perfectly safe and fine. I would've sent word. I know you like to stay in touch."

"Are you sure about safe, because a little birdie whispered in my ear you might be keeping company with the most wretched of creatures these days."

Crap.

"Nope, not sure what birds you have over there, but he's mistaken."

"Well, I could ask again, but it seems like my pets were viciously mauled by a wild animal. I haven't heard a peep in two days. You wouldn't be spending time around untamed beasts, would you, because that seems frightfully dangerous for the wee one."

It was obvious the spies reported what they'd seen. It could be from monitoring her comings and goings recently or from the airport. They saw Jacob, scented him, perhaps Atticus as well. She still continued to act blasé. Bella could always tell when Aro was getting bored.

He said he'd be in touch and reminded her he detested secrets.

"Of course, as do I. Have a pleasant day, Aro. Thanks for your concern. I'm doing what I promised... staying under the radar, keeping my circle of friends small and never ever divulging the secrets I know. Please keep your promises as well. You said I could live a normal life if I abide by the stipulations."

"Hmm, okay for now deary, but you know one in your new circle might cause a problem. I'll be in touch."

She knew he would check in again soon. He knew. He knew she was with a shape-shifter and that Atticus was his son. Bella worried, Aro would want to play an entirely new game now.

She saved the chat like normal, but hid it away in a password protected file. Bella and Jacob might have sworn no more secrets, but she knew he still held onto some. She didn't feel the least bit guilty for protecting him for now. He was far too stressed and she figured they had some time as far as Aro was concerned. She and Alice had discussed it at length the night before. She was closely monitoring his decisions and nothing was coming up that was alarming.

The apartment was tiny, only a bedroom, kitchen/dining/living room combo and a small room that was supposed to be an office, but would suffice as a nursery. She was used to the baby crib inches away from her bed, but now he had his crib in the other space. She still set up the pack n play close to her, but he slept in his new room which had a sliding door that was left open. It was almost like being in the same room. She definitely felt more comfortable than the hotel as long as she didn't dwell on Kaleigh so close. The day would eventually come that they crossed paths. She heard the garage doors beneath her open and close a few times the past 24 hours she'd been there, but Bella never looked out when that occurred.

She had already cooked a meal that she could eat off a few days and she was baking because she might get a visitor later. She had enough to send inside with Jacob when he came to visit Atticus, but that might not sit well with Kaleigh, so she better not even offer. Since Atticus was still napping, it gave her an opportunity to miss Monica and Barry. Bella decided to call.

"Hey guys."

They were on speaker. "Hi B. We miss you. We miss Ace. Are you ready to come home?"

She laughed, but they were serious. They said they'd put their money together to buy them tickets. Bella kept quiet that she already had two open ended tickets on standby. That was one of the reasons her bank account was low and one of the many reasons, she really needed a job. The plane tickets made her feel safer for some reason, like she still had some control left in this out of control situation. She might be waiting tables again, if she couldn't find something in her field, but she'd actually found one position with at the Native American health bureau that she might be a fit for. She was definitely looking into it further.

Monica and Barry asked all the questions she expected. They were not at all happy to hear about her shopping excursion. "What did I tell you?" Barry asked. "She's a psycho."

"I doubt it. She was angry and Jacob swears she's not."

"Oh come on, he's a world-class prince of denial. I feel it in my bones, girl. You are not safe around this woman. Do you remember all the self-defense techniques I taught you?"

"I'm not fighting Jacob's wife, Bar. Jesus, get a grip. She and I will likely avoid each other until I can get my own place."

Bella asked if they noticed anything weird since she left and they said no, but Monica interrupted, she had a date.

"Good luck, babe."

"Thanks, but he's probably a dud like all the other recent ones. I'll text you later unless I get lucky, then I'll call tomorrow to brag. Bye B. Love ya."

"Love you too. Be safe."

"Okay, it's just me and you, girl. Spill, you're miserable, aren't you?"

"No, I'm not. Atticus keeps me busy, I don't dwell on misery." He asked if something else was up. She barely commented. "You know, just that pesky problem I have."

"That creeper that your ex got you mixed up with again?"

"Yeah, but it's fine. How's business?"

"Meh, okay, same ole clients. I'm kinda bored. Can I be honest?"

"Are you ever anything but?"

"Bella, I've sent some conflicting messages about Jacob, because let's face it, you two are a walking talking contradiction, but maybe you should fight for him after all."

"No, he's married. That's what he wants."

"Is it?"

"He says so."

"He's full of shit. He is so in love you, it's ridiculous. He might think he loves his wife, but there's no way he loves her like he does you and before you say it, it's not only about the kid. He lives and breathes for you. I saw it last week and it scared me. I wanted you to distance yourself from it to protect you, but I think it would only take one word from you to end this purgatory the two of you have established for yourselves."

"Barry, I can't be with Jacob. Like you said before, it's too late."

"Since when do you pay such close attention to me. Pshaw, it's never too late. Okay, enough chit chat, let's get down to business. What's the competition look like? Don't lie, I know you've researched her."

Barry knew her almost too well. "Like Barbie's better looking, smarter sister."

"Ha, I doubt that. Tell me where I can find her."

Bella told him how to pull up the Realtor page. KDBrealty .com "It's so precious, I gagged. Kaleigh Dawn Langston-Black. Of course, she hyphenated."

"Classy bitch."

"She's gorgeous."

"You're prettier."

"Have you even pulled up the page?"

"No, it's loading the pics now. Damn, Mr. Jaffri's slow wi-fi." They borrowed the neighbor's Internet. Monica figured it out easily. The password was the man's Persian cat's name.

"Just wait, you'll see."

"I still say you're the prettiest woman in the world and if I didn't love hot men so much, I'd make you mine. We are practically non-sexual soulmates."

"Yes, indeed we are."

"Oh shit."

"You saw."

"Yep."

"Told ya."

"Now, wait a minute, she isn't all that without the perfect clothes, piercing blue eyes, luscious lips, high cheek bones and my gosh, that hair. I can practically feel the silkiness through the screen."

"Are you done? My gosh, you're not even hetero and you're aroused."

"Maybe, but only because of the hair. I promise you're still better. No lie, I swear it, she's just different."

"I never imagined Jacob with a woman like that."

"Because you only saw yourself?"

"No, I pictured an exotic, Quileute woman with long raven hair, dark green eyes and a perfect complexion. She would be his one."

"Nonsense, where'd you get that idea from, just because he's Native American? You're his one and you know it."

Bella shut her computer. Barry didn't know the whole story. She heard Atticus crying, so she had to go. He told her not to roll over and play dead. They made plans to talk again the next day. Bella grabbed her cookies out of the oven and then spent some time taking care of her son.

Right after dinner, there was a knock at the door. She opened it up. She couldn't hide her happiness. He was a man now, not the boy she remembered. "Seth."

Seth came in, lifted her high and kissed her cheek. "I'm so happy you're alive."

"I'm so happy to see you again. Come in, have a seat. I baked cookies for you." Seth zeroed in on the blanket on the floor.

"There he is. May I?"

"Yes, of course, you're an honorary uncle now."

Seth doted over Atticus. He couldn't get over how much he resembled Jacob. He said the three of them had been the topic of many conversations as soon as Jacob told Billy, who told Rachel, who spilled to her husband. Once Paul knew, all of La Push knew. The old friends had tons of catching up. He told her all about his job and his fiance. She sounded great. Bella was so happy for him. They talked about their parents. Bella had no idea something was going on between Sue and her father.

"He never uttered a word."

"Yeah, trust me, I caught them in a compromising position."

"Oh no, like naked?"

"No, but I swear they were role playing cops and robbers or something. It was creepy as hell. I couldn't have sex for a week."

She and Seth laughed like crazy together. They had no problem picking their friendship back up from where they left off. It felt good to laugh again.

"That makes me happy for him. Why's he so secretive?"

"Who knows. Mom's the same way. Maybe in another decade, they'll actually allow themselves to be seen in public on a date."

Bella asked about Leah. She was in Oregon. Seth said she was good, but tried not to come home too often. She was dating, but nothing serious.

He admitted Jacob was calling a meeting soon with all the guys.

"No, I told him not to."

"It's done. We all know enough now. I'm already feeling it, just being around you."

"Then leave, Seth. That's why Jake tricked you into coming over here. If you are happy the way you are, then don't do this just for me. I swear, I know how to take care of myself after all these years." She put her hand to his forehead and it felt normal. That was a relief.

He grabbed her hand. "You can't stop it. We were born for this. I want to help. I don't want anything to take you away from us ever again and it's my duty to protect the Alpha's pup."

Seth was too good to be true and he and Collin were the only ones that actually lived in the Seattle vicinity. Collin never really knew her. He was loyal to Sam, not her. Seth explained Collin was very bitter. He broke up with his partner of almost three years. He probably would easily phase. It was a big mess.

"Cheating?"

"No, worse perhaps... it was over money. Collin put his heart and soul in this alternate healing clinic. His grandmother was known to be a healer, so it's in his blood. He hired a licensed chiropractor. They hit it off immediately, so Collin soon made him a partner in life and business, but the asshole was skimming money wherever he could. It had been going for years. Who knows how much he actually embezzled. The police got involved, there's a looming civil case. Collin might have to close the clinic."

Bella didn't know him well, but she felt really bad for him and wondered if there might be a way to help.

Jacob let himself in about an hour into the visit. He said Kaleigh was ready to meet Atticus if it was a good time. Seth said he was leaving anyway. Bella gave him a small bag of cookies and began to pack up a few things in a diaper bag in case their son needed anything like a change or his binky. Seth and Jacob stepped outside and talked a few minutes after he said goodbye

Jacob came back in. "Ready buddy?"

Atticus grinned at his father. He might be ready, but was she? Jacob was going to introduce him to another woman. The reality was, things felt extremely wrong . Why was she so jealous all of the sudden? She stopped him at the door. "Just a little while. I don't want him to tire out and get cranky."

"Sure, sure, Bells. It'll be fine. I'm only a few feet away." She stepped back and allowed him to close the door. It felt like he was stealing a piece of her heart that he intended to loan to someone else, someone she was pretty sure she didn't even like.

Bella knew if she lived close to Jake, then his wife would meet Atticus, but now that it was happening, she regretted ever coming here at all.

Damn him, she wasn't ready to share her son. Bella grabbed the baby's blanket and wrapped herself in it as she fell back on the sofa. She inhaled her son's sweet scent. When she turned her head to sob into the couch cushions, she noticed another smell. The sofa smelled like Jacob. Double damn him, because no matter how much she denied it, Bella didn't want to share him either.

~Thanks for reading.

Thoughts, comments, questions? Next chapter is a meeting between two ladies. Any guesses?