Longer than usual this time. I hope you enjoy it and thank you again for the wonderful, heartfelt response to this story.
Also, I'd like to thank Shasta53 for recommending "A Broken Hallelujah" this week! I'm so thankful to her and her readers, who hopped right over, read and reviewed. I'm very humbled. To everyone else, thank you for your continued support and if you'd like to check out Shasta's story, it's called "Stolen Dreams." (Story ID: 7360793)
…
~(~)~
Edward's next patron was a soft spoken out-of-towner looking for souvenir books on the Olympic Peninsula and its temperate rainforests. Once he was shown where to look, he happily busied himself while Bella and Edward chatted quietly in the reading area at the back of the store. A conveniently placed mirror allowed Edward to keep an eye on the door.
"Are you sure you don't need me to go?"
"Nah, I sit back here with my laptop almost all day on Mondays." He plops into a chair and gestures to the one across from him.
Bella smiles and sits. "Okay."
"So…" he says in teasing tone.
"So," she repeats, taking a strategically timed sip of her coffee.
Edward chuckles and glances up at the mirror briefly. "Did you have a purpose for stopping by? Or just to be nice and bring me coffee?"
"Um, well, mostly just to be nice, but I did kinda want to see you first before going to my dad's."
Edward raises an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Well, it's just…" Bella adds quickly. "Unless my father is completely and totally distracted by Seth all weekend, he'll probably ask about you. In fact, I'm pretty much betting on it, so I wanted to check in with you first."
"Are you worried about how he'll react?"
"No, not really. I think we've made the best decision possible. If I were counseling us anyway, I'd recommend this course, and I think he'll understand and respect that."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. I mean, we've agreed not to rush things; to seek out counseling, both individually and together; and, in the meantime, not to see anyone else out of respect for each other."
She glances up at him very briefly, her voice a bit shaky now. Edward can see she's more nervous and uncertain about that last bit than she's letting on.
He smiles encouragingly. "Definitely not."
Her eyes soften. "Exactly."
They stare at each other a while longer before she moves on.
"Anyway, I was planning on being as honest as possible with him, or as honest as you're comfortable with. I just wanted to ask first."
She looks down at her coffee while giving him time to process and respond. Edward sighs at the sight the color blooming in her cheeks and shakes his head.
"Bella, he's your father. Tell him what you're comfortable telling him. Don't worry about what I think."
She nods, smiling gratefully. "Easier said than done, but thanks."
Edward gives a lopsided grin. "You're welcome. And just 'FYI'…I'm not planning to mention anything to my mom anytime soon. In case you were wondering."
His face and matter-of-fact tone make Bella giggle. "She's your mother, E. Whatever you think is best."
He smiles, glancing up at the mirror again before continuing. "I have talked to my dad about things a little bit. That's okay with you, right?"
"Of course," she answers quickly. She immediately wants to ask him what he's told his father about them, but doesn't.
Movement near the register catches Edward's eye.
"I'll be right back."
Bella nods and watches him go. Once he's past the closest row of bookshelves, she can't see him without craning her neck uncomfortably, but she can hear him as he greets his customer.
"Did you find what you were looking for?"
"A few things, as a matter of fact," the gentleman answers.
"Wonderful. My mother will be very pleased."
Bella smiles and hears the man chuckle. "Family business?"
"Yes, sir."
There's a moment or two of silence and then Edward gives the man his total. Bella has to bite her lip and muffle a giggle as the reality of the current situation hits her. Her college educated ex-actor of an ex-husband is working retail and doing a damn fine job of it, too, from what she can tell. He's polite, warm and friendly, making his patron laugh a few more times before she hears the jingle of the door again.
Edward returns to find her smiling widely, her eyes twinkling in amusement.
"What?"
"You're adorable."
He sits down with a confused smile. "How so?"
"I just never thought you'd be so good at this sort of thing. When you told me you were helping your mom out with the store I just thought it was the business side, and maybe stocking the top shelves for her."
Edward chuckles. "Well, I do that, too."
Bella eyes him appreciatively. "You seem happy here. You sort of made it sound like an obligation when you first told me about it."
"It is an obligation, but when it's just me, and the books, and the occasional customer? I don't mind it so much. Plus, I'm only here two or three days a week tops."
"Just you and the books, huh?"
He smirks and shrugs. "Yeah, well, you know… They're quiet when I want it quiet and very insightful once you get them going."
She laughs, her head tipping back in her enthusiasm. "That's good."
He dips his head, smirking. "Thank you very much."
When she has her amusement under control, she asks, "What was the last book you read?"
He inhales slowly, his smile turning slightly embarrassed after a moment. "Uh… The Hunger Games."
She blinks at him. "Seriously?"
"Well, every time I called it seemed like you were reading it. Not to mention it's one of our top-sellers these days."
"I get it. What did you think of it?"
He sits back and shrugs. "It was decent. I'll be interested to see whether or not they botch the screenplay for it."
She laughs. "You would be concerned with that."
"Old habits die hard."
She shakes her head. "Well, you won't have to wait too long to find out. The movie comes out in March, I think."
"Yeah, I Googled that." He seems like he wants to say more.
She shrugs, perhaps a little too casually. "We could go together if you want to? To see it?"
He nods, also very casually. "That might be fun."
"Really?"
"Really."
They're both quiet a beat. Bella checks her watch.
"Do you have to go now?"
"Not yet. My dad won't expect me for another half-hour or so."
Edward nods and checks the mirror, just to be sure he didn't miss anyone coming in.
"How's your screenplay coming along?" Bella asks when he looks back.
He sighs. "It's done, but… I don't know. I'm not sure I like the way I ended it. Or, rather, I'm not sure an audience will like the way I ended it."
"Have you had anyone take a look at it yet?"
"No, not yet. I thought it might be easier to get an adaptation looked at first. I know I have a name in the industry that might open a few doors, but I'm not sure how beneficial that will be beyond that point. I want to show them something I know they'll want to make."
The sound of jingling bells interrupts Bella's reply. Edward looks up and then glances back at Bella. "Stay here a minute. It's Mrs. Cope."
Bella's eyes widen and she nods in agreement. As long as either of them can remember, Mrs. Cope has been one of the most notorious gossips in town. She's also, unfortunately, friends with Esme Cullen.
Bella listens as Mrs. Cope pretends to be disappointed that her old friend isn't in today, but as Edward interacts with the woman for the next ten minutes or so, she gets the idea that the old bitty knew perfectly well who was manning the shop today. It's a little bit amusing, but she can tell Edward is annoyed with the continued attempts to draw out their conversation.
At one point, Bella even has to rush to the restroom when Mrs. Cope feigns interest in something "over by the reading area." Edward's voice is fortunately loud enough for Bella to realize it's a warning.
She hears the sound of the front door opening and closing a few minutes later, but stays in the bathroom until Edward knocks.
"Bella, it's me. You can come out now."
As soon as she has the door open, they both burst into a fit of laughter.
"Wow, E. I think she still has a little thing for you."
Edward tries to look affronted, but fails. Instead, he smiles rather deviously.
"Careful… I might have to go find Mr. Varner and tell him you're in town for the weekend."
Bella gapes at him. "You… you are horrible."
Edward laughs. "Turnabout is fair play, my dear."
"Eww," Bella says, even the thought of their old math teacher grossing her out. "Is he still working at the high school?"
"Believe or not, I think he is."
"How is that possible? He was just…completely inappropriate."
Edward has another laugh at her discomfort, but sighs when the front door opens again.
"I should probably go," Bella says softly.
"I guess so. It's Saturday, it'll only get busier from here on out."
Bella nods. "I'm sure it will."
"Thank you so much for the coffee, and the surprise. It made my day."
Once again, she gets more than a little caught up in his gaze. "Mine, too."
He smiles—that smile—and offers her his hand. "Come on, I'll walk you to the door."
~(~)~
No need to panic. That last patron was not Esme either. We won't meet her for a while, I think.;-)
FYI- There will not be any updates the rest of the weekend. I'll be attending a dance competition both days with my kiddos. See you next week!
~Ginnie