Chapter 26: Past Meet Present

The trip took a lot longer with a baby. She had to stop three times. Edward hovered somewhere in the distance each time. She was thankful he wasn't trying to engage her in conversation or come close to her car.

Damn Jacob a million more times. She was furious at herself for allowing him to get under her skin. The nerve of him saying she was his when he never wanted her. They obviously had one of those sick, twisted relationships. He didn't want her, but he didn't want anyone else to have her either. Countless women died or were abused in those types of relationships, but she knew Jacob wasn't capable of hurting her like that. However, the push/pull between them was incredibly unhealthy and her heart hurt plenty.

The problem between them always came back to trust. She would never get over him burying the truth about the imprint and he couldn't get past the fact she tried to bury herself. Jacob wanted Bella to trust him, believe in him all those years ago. She said she did, but regretted none of her actions indicated that was so. Perhaps, all that was left was a never-ending blame game. Atticus babbled from the backseat to remind her blame couldn't be all that remained.

Bella entered the garage. She was shocked Edward pulled in the driveway. Alice and Jasper always stayed hidden. She was distracted unbuckling Atticus when he walked up behind her.

"Need any help?"

"Um, I'm going to take the baby in, change and feed him. Just leave it all on the porch. Then you can go. I'm sure Alice told you how they handle things. Goodbye Edward."

He shook his head. "No, I'm not comfortable with that. You've been gone for days. This place sat empty. I'd prefer to go in first and make sure it's safe."

"Fine, but hurry. My son is wet and hungry."

Bella stood in the doorway. It didn't take Edward a minute to cover the small space.

"Happy? I knew it was fine."

"Are you sure? Someone's been in here, recently maybe two hours ago."

"A vampire?"

"No, gracious no, we'd already left if that was the case. Female." He sniffed the air deeply. "Expensive perfume," he knelt down and picked up a long strand of blonde hair. "Chemically dyed hair. A friend of yours?"

"Not hardly. Oh my God. Jacob's wife has been in here. What do you think she was doing?"

"Hard to say. I guess she's curious. Who wouldn't be under the circumstance? He's forcing two women to share him. It's beyond reason. I think it might be criminal in the state of Washington."

"Knock it off. We aren't sharing. He and I have a son. He's married to her. That's it."

"You and love triangles. I'm surprised you were so eager to try it another way."

"I'm not in a love triangle!" She whined.

Atticus fussed loudly, she couldn't put him off any longer. Bella told Edward to leave for the second time before going to the bedroom to take care of her son.

She emerged thirty minutes later to find him sitting at the bistro table. Bella put her happy baby in the swing. "I know you missed this. It's your favorite." He smiled back at his mother and she set the swing in motion with the mobile and music going. She pointed at Edward, "You, outside now."

They stepped out on the porch. Bell fussed at him for sticking around. "Jake doesn't want you inside. We don't know how it'll affect Atticus."

"Nonsense, he's far too young. The gene wouldn't ignite before puberty. I'm shocked how Black dictates so much to you now. I thought you said it was I that tried to control you."

"Shut up. I don't want you inside either and I have the final say so."

About that time, Kaleigh started down the drive. "Crap, get out of here. I don't want to deal with her."

"Don't speak in haste, love." She frowned at him. Really, that term again. "I might be of service. If she comes up, I'll read her for you, see why she snooped around your place." Bella hadn't thought about that, Edward butted in again. "But of course you've asked me to leave several times, perhaps I should go."

She grabbed his arm, "No stay, but don't engage her in conversation, just listen for me."

Kaleigh might go inside since they had a walkway from the garage that led into the main house. However, Bella suspected if she noticed her on the steps with a man, she might be inclined to check it out. Sure enough the garage door closed and Kaleigh appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

"Where's Jacob?"

Bella shrugged, "How should I know?"

"He didn't come back with you?"

"We didn't go together, so of course not."

She rolled her eyes at Bella three different times. Bella glanced at Edward, he was intense. He was picking apart Kaleigh's brain and she kinda loved it. Mean bitch. Sneaking around, she was getting what she deserved.

"Who are you?"

Bella quickly replied, "Oh, just an old friend."

Edward stood up and walked down the steps. The whole time Bella wanted to scream for him to stop. What was he doing? He shook her hand... miserable bastard. "Hi, I'm Edward Cullen, Bella's first husband."

What? First husband, like there were more. What the hell was he up to?

"Oh, Kaleigh Black. So exes and still friends, huh? Tell me, did you come to get her back because you two actually make a really nice couple."

Edward did some stupid charming laugh and Kaleigh was immediately under his spell.

They said a few more pointless things to each other before Jacob's wife turned around and headed into her house. Bella waved him back up to her small porch.

"Well, did you get anything?"

"I got quite a bit."

"Do you know what she did in my apartment? Oh no, what if she planted a bug or a hidden camera?"

"No, nothing like that, she peered in some drawers and smelled a baby blanket is all I witnessed in her thoughts."

"A blanket?"

"She's so jealous, it seeps from her pores. She sees you as a huge threat and she desperately wants her own baby, but the dog refuses her." The thought of them having children together did crazy things to Bella. "Don't worry. It'll never happen. They don't even share a bed."

"Wait, they don't? I can't believe she was thinking about that."

"Nope and when they did, there were problems. You'd be surprised what all runs through a person's mind when they're threatened or upset."

"Anything else?"

"She lying."

"About what?"

"Not sure. Usually after a few minutes of my intense gaze, the mind gets jumbled, but she's definitely hiding something and it's crucial. The guilt is eating at her, so she isn't all bad. It's those with no remorse that are the worst."

"Is that it? I mean were there any other details as far as the lie?"

"Just one, she's lying to her husband specifically, not anyone else."

Bella should be saying, serves Jacob right, but she was consumed with worry. What if Kaleigh's lie affected Atticus in some way? Maybe having Edward around occasionally wouldn't be so bad. He was still annoying to her, but he'd been more helpful than anything.

One more thing nagged at her after witnessing Edward read Kaleigh's feeble mind. "You knew, all this time. Didn't you?"

He crinkled his face but didn't look away from her. "We were a force of nature. Would it had made a difference?"

"Hell yes, I know it would have. I can't believe you and Jacob have so much in common. You're both miserable liars."

"I withheld a truth that no one ever asked me about. I'd hardly call that lying."

She wanted to know when he first knew. Edward asked why she wanted to rehash ancient history. It served no purpose in his opinion and only seemed to upset her.

"It's not ancient to me, I just found out. Tell the truth, dammit. When?"

"The day he stepped in the road after our return from Italy."

She didn't need to hear another word. Edward could continue to try and convince her otherwise, that he was only protecting her, but she saw through that now. Edward made his choices based on his own selfish desires. No wonder, marriage was pushed so often, so frequently like it was their only option.

She was happy to give him the boot after the fourth or fifth "please leave." She got one text from Jacob before bed making sure they were fine, but that was her only contact with him all day and she hated to admit, it kinda sucked.

Jacob knew exactly what he was doing by calling the Cullens back. As mad as she was at him, she was more likely to flee. There was one place she could go and be protected, but by bringing them back to Washington pretty much squelched her options. Jacob seemed to always be one step ahead of her, but she still had her best friends. They weren't exactly vampire slayers, but Barry and Monica had her back. She opened her laptop to see if Aro had tried to make contact, but he was silent. She eyed that ticket back to LA and wondered if Jacob thought about that fact she disclosed to him. Bella liked to believe she still had some options and was in control of her own life even if it didn't seem so any longer.

Bella slept great for a change so she was able to wake up ahead of her alarm and get to work early. She needed to set up a space for the baby that was out of the way. She had no idea what Jacob might have said to the day care owner. "Poor Atticus, your Daddy has you blacklisted already. None of this your fault, my sweet boy."

She kissed his full cheek and sat him on her leg so she could start reading over Collin's checklist again. A couple of people came through the back. The new chiropractor and the acupuncturist were getting their areas ready for clients. The bell rang. Bella asked if they normally let people in early and they told her it was fine, so she put the baby over her shoulder and walked to the front door. The bell rang a second and third time back to back.

Goodness, that was a bit rude seeing how they weren't even open yet. She unlocked the door as fast as possible.

The eager client pushed it open before she could back up two steps. Were her eyes deceiving her? How was it possible? The annoying bell ringer wasn't a client after all.

"Well, you just going to stand there and stare? I know I look fabulous despite the early hour and grueling drive, but I expect a hug. Gimme that boy. Hey there, Ace? You missed your Uncle Bar, didn't you? I sure missed you."

"Barry!" Finally came out of her mouth. "What are you doing here?"

"Meh, LA was suddenly a bore. Mon left for an extended stay in Portland. I was extremely lonely, so when the big man made me an offer I couldn't refuse, I up and quit my job and officially moved to Seattle as of this instant."

"Jake told you to come here? I'm speechless."

He pulled her in with his other arm. "I know it's only been a few weeks, but damn I missed you, little girl. This kid is putting on weight too. You still only feeding him booby milk?"

"Exclusively. What did you mean by 'offer you couldn't refuse?'"

He held up Atticus and blew kisses on his belly. "First off, he said I can stay on your couch. I hope it's comfy, if not, I'm sleeping with you. I told him that and he said he'd buy a new couch. When's that big oaf going to admit his true feelings? He doesn't even trust your gay boyfriend. Anywho, the other part is a brand new title I'm honored to have. I'm still going to cut hair on weekends as soon as I find a decent salon." Barry offered his hand, she shook it like they were meeting for the first time. He went as far as an introduction. "Ms. Swan, you are looking at your brand new Manny. Get it, I'm a man and a nanny. I'm going to be babysitting Ace while you work. This is going to epic!"

Once again, she should be pissed at Jacob. He made executive decisions without consulting her, but this one really was a blessing. She missed her friends more than she admitted. She always was a little hesitant leaving the baby at the daycare, but she had been trying to prove a point to Jacob. The idea that their child would be with someone that loved and adored him was more than she could hope for. Bella had no idea what Jacob did to get Barry to leave his job and house he loved so abruptly. It seemed like that man had persuasive tactics even for people that were immune to his alpha powers.

Her phone buzzed from her back pocket.

U r welcome

Stupid jerk. She wasn't responding to him, because if she did, she would say what had come to mind far too many times lately. Well played Mr. Black, well played.

She should be madder than she was. In fact, Barry in Seattle with her did nothing but make her smile. Of course, Jacob went about everything in the worst way, but she was thankful for this. He had done whatever necessary to make her stay put, first the Cullens, now Barry, but in doing so, he also saw to some of her needs. She wouldn't feel so isolated and alone now and Atticus would have the greatest Manny in history. She worried for her friend a little bit, since he was starting over, but he was from Texas and had been moving around since he turned 18. Their little bungalow was the longest he'd ever stayed in one area. Perhaps, Jacob was giving him a welcome change of scenery. Bella hoped he liked Washington and would stay a while, because it was definitely looking like she was there for the long haul.

~Thanks for reading.