People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.
Lewis Cass
AMOC: Chapter 21: Incertitude
One Week Later...
BPOV
"Who was that?" I asked as I passed Jake in the entryway.
"Who?" He feigned innocence like a four year old boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. I couldn't help but smile at him.
"The very serious looking gentlemen in the three piece suit that just left our house. That's who." I rolled my eyes playfully as I went into the kitchen and put away the bag of groceries I picked up after my shift at the bakery.
"Oh him. He's just someone I hired to do a little research for me." He replied casually but the mischievous sparkle in his eyes warned me that the mystery man was involved in something I probably didn't want to know about.
Our lives had been thrown into a whirlwind this past week between the Dr. appt for Charlotte, the meeting with the police about any clues they had so far on Becca's disappearance and last but not least, our appointment with our Charlotte didn't receive any bad news about her arm. Everything was fine and would heal nicely. The police couldn't give us much news to keep our hope in learning more about what happened exactly to Becca after she left her house. They did put a trace on her bank account and credit cards but they warned her family that she was in some major debt. Billy and Rachel seemed surprised by the news. Between the hefty amount of alimony and child support she received from her ex-husband and the income she earned from working at the family company, there was no reason for her to be in a financial bind.
This led the police to wonder if she might have been involved in something or with someone whom she owed money to. Billy refused to listened to anyone that would degrade his daughter's reputation and warned the police they better start looking at different avenues with their investigation. I happened to notice Jake flinch a couple of times as they asked questions in regards to any bad habits she might have kept from them like, drugs or gambling. This made me wonder if Jake knew some small detail that he didn't warrant was important enough to tell his family or more importantly the police.
Billy decided after day five of her missing to call Bryce's father and inform him of the situation. The police of course called him in for some questioning of their own. Afterwards, he insisted on taking Bryce home with him until this matter was resolved. Billy didn't like watching Bryce leave the family's side but he understood that it was probably better if Bryce was away, should they learn something horrible had come of this situation. Simon assured the Black's he would return his son if they found that Becca was taken against her will. If she somehow did the unthinkable and abandoned her son he refused to give her another shot at screwing with his son's head. The whole family agreed to the compromise, no one wanted Bryce to have to suffer through another emotional ordeal.
The expensive lawyer that Billy hired for me was a nice man in his late fifties who kept smiling at us despite his dire warnings that we could lose this case if Jake did anything physical to any of the Cullens or if I suddenly lost my mind. We couldn't help but laugh slightly afterwards. Jake promised he wouldn't lay a finger on any of them and I swore to keep my nerves intact until the case came to court.
Jake suggested on our drive home we take a weekend sabbatical. We both needed some time to ourselves and out of the constant eyesight of the community. I debated on whether we should take Charlotte with us but Jake insisted that she should stay with Rachel and Paul. He wanted me to rest and get some well needed "me" time. I wasn't sure what that would entail but I for one wasn't about to argue with him. In fact, I let him make all the arrangements. I simply just had to pack some of my things for a two day trip.
Paul and Rachel were due to arrive shortly to take Charlotte home with them. I packed her things last night before I went to bed. We sat and talk to her about our trip and Jake assured her we would take her on our next trip. Charlotte was growing closer to Jake with each passing day. Her eyes lit up whenever he entered the room and she was starting to request he be invited to our nighttime readings. I knew Jake couldn't possibly comprehend the importance it was for her to include him . He was making an impact on my little girls heart.
Although we were getting along smoothly during this crisis period in our lives, we kept to our original sleeping arrangement. I slept in my room, alone. We even kept the physical side of our relationship at a distance. He held my hand occasionally and kissed the top of my head before I went to bed each night but we never made an attempt to kiss or do anything that might lead us back into his bed. If I was honest with myself I would have to confess that I did miss the teasing and flirting that used to drive me crazy.
Jake was a man of many layers. He wasn't boring or even predictable. He kept me on my toes. One morning I woke up to find him in the kitchen burning an entire carton of eggs and a half a pound of bacon. The other thing that blew my mind was seeing him in his boxers with a blue and white apron over his bare chest that read, "Kiss the Chef". It was a comical sight to behold and one I would always cherish. I helped him clean up his mess and insisted he go upstairs and get dressed before Charlottes arrival. When they both came downstairs several minutes later, he offered to take us out to eat. Not every moment with Jake was full of sunshine however. One evening he was playing a game of pool in his billiard room with Paul when I overheard an argument that caused me some worry.
"I'm sorry but I don't believe you. I know what my gut tells me and it is screaming at me that you are hiding something from me and Dad. What do you know?" Jake asked with a stern voice.
"I'm telling you for the last time Jake I don't know anything. Becca came to work everyday and did whatever it is she did and then went home. That's as much as I know." Paul replied with less conviction than Jake.
"Why weren't you as shocked as we were about her piling amount of debt?"
"Did you not see all the brand new furniture in her house? The girl drives a BMW. She likes to live larger than her limits. I'm really getting tired of your accusations." Paul sighed heavily.
"I want to believe you Paul, I really do but I can't." Jake sighed in return.
Paul left shortly afterwards and when I tried to make small talk with Jake later about his game with Paul he barely spoke a word and then abruptly went upstairs to bed for the night.
"When are Paul and Rachel arriving?" I asked as I emptied the dishwasher.
"I told him to be here by five so we could get on the road." He replied while leaning his lower back against the counter. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared forward as I completed my task. Closing the dishwasher I turned toward him and was captured in his eyes that looked straight into my soul as his lips curled up on the sides.
"What's wrong?" I mumbled in a hush tone.
"Nothing. I was just thinking how lucky I was to have such an understanding wife."
Something about the way he was looking at me caused such a stir that I was unprepared for my bodies reaction. My stomach sucked in, my breath hitched in the back of my throat, and my panties grew damp with desire.
"You say that today but trust me before our contract expires you won't always feel that way." I joked.
I saw a flicker of sadness dart across his face before he regained his composure and smiled in that way that made me feel like a teenage girl standing in front of her High School crush. His gaze made my body tremble between uncertainty and excitement. The man had more sex appeal with a simple smile than all of my favorite male celebrities combined.
The doorbell rang breaking up the awkward moment and gave me a well needed reprieve to gain my senses.
"I got it." He said as he pushed off the counter and strolled casually out of the room.
Wiping my face with the palms of my hand I took a few steady breaths before I set out to get Charlotte. My little angel met me at the stairs. She was struggling to bring down her overnight suitcase along with a couple of stuffed animals. I skipped up the steps and took everything from her arms and helped her down the rest of the stairs before we met Jake and the others in in the living room.
"Here we are." I announced before I noticed the odd mood between the three of them.
"Is everything okay?" I asked.
"We're fine." Rachel chuckled uneasily as she nudged Paul. Paul gave me a half excuse for a smile before returning his glare at Jake.
"Good. Did Jake give any information on where we are staying in case of an emergency?"
"He said he would call us once you guys arrived." Rachel replied and this time her tone was lighter.
"Good."
I knelt down in front of Charlotte and placed kisses all over her face before I gave her up to Rachel. I watched as they started to leave and felt a sudden attack of gloom hit me like a freezing winter wind.
"Don't you dare cry." Jake warned me as he took my hand and pulled me away from the front door.
"It's hard not too." I replied as a sob broke loose.
"Bella, she is going to be safe with my sister. You trust her enough to baby sit on the weekdays, so I feel confident she will do an adequate job on the weekend as well." He chuckled but I didn't like his sense of humor at the moment.
"You can't possibly understand how I feel, you don't have children of your own." I pouted before storming up the stairs.
Jake stomped loudly behind me as he reached me before I could escape to my room. Grabbing me by the arm he pulled me around and forced me to look at him as he held my face in his tight grip.
"I might not have children of my OWN but I understand a mother's love. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings or make light of your worries."
"Well, it felt that way." I huffed.
"I apologize. Can we please get our things and go on the trip I planned for us?" He pleaded with me.
"Fine." I nodded my head as he released my face.
"Good. Now you have five minutes to get your cute little ass in my truck or I will be forced to leave you behind." He winked at me as he took off toward his own room.
I quickly grabbed my bags and met Jake in time to depart and as we drove out of the city limits, I couldn't shake this foreboding feeling that something terrible was drawing closer to me and the family that I finally found happiness with.
XXX
LPOV:
It didn't take me long to get the money that we promised I would deliver. Edward was more than happy to pay off the jerk who did a lousy job of retrieving information we needed on Jake and his farce of a marriage to Bella. I didn't think we should give them one dime but Edward insisted that he got plenty from the break in to help his case. Since it wasn't my money being wasted I agreed to make the drop off.
Pulling up to the sleazy pay by the hour motel I took the envelope stuffed with cash, made my way to the room number he gave me and knocked on the door. There were no sounds coming from within the room. I knocked again, still no answer. Pulling out my phone I was about to call Edward to double check the information he gave me when the door cracked open a bit and a hand was shoved out of it.
"Damnnn!" I cried out as I covered my chest with my other hand.
I couldn't see the face of the person behind the door, only a hand that waved back and forth in front of my face appeared.
I handed the envelope to the hand and then the door was slammed shut. Frowning I made my way back to my parked car and sat in it for a few minutes staring at the place with some concerns. I hoped like hell I gave the right person the money. Five thousand dollars was chump change to a man like Edward. I won't lie and say that I didn't consider taking a small lump for myself but I knew if I betrayed Edward he would come after me and I didn't need anymore enemies.
Turning my car on I left the Motel and headed to my meager apartment. It was Friday and once again I would be sitting at home alone wondering why my life was so terrible and how I could one day get back the kind of love that I only found in the arms of Jacob Black.
XXX
RPOV:
It wasn't lost on me how tense things were growing between Jake and Paul. At first I assumed Paul felt threatened with Jake assisting Dad with the company business but now I was starting to wonder what else was causing a rift between my little brother and my husband.
"Do you know where Jake is taking her?" I asked curiously as we arrived home.
"I think he mentioned some spa he read about. He mentioned to your father that it sounded like a place of serenity and he feared Bella was going to unravel before the case came up in front of a judge." Paul replied as he carried Charlotte's things into the house in front of me.
"I think she is handling things pretty well. Don't you?"
Charlotte took off to PJ's room where he was playing when Dad entered the room with a frown etched on his forehead.
"Bella acts like she is content but I can tell that everything is starting to take it's toll on her." Dad answered my question.
"I suppose she does look a tab bit tired but I don't think she is going to lose it. She is too strong." I defended her as I made my way to the kitchen and prepared me an evening glass of wine to steady my nerves. Returning to the living room I found my Dad staring at my phone that was ringing nonstop since I reentered the room.
Setting my glass down I picked up the phone to check the messages that were flashing on the screen. I gulped for air as I saw the name of the caller to be that of Becca.
I'm fine. I needed to take a break from life. I promise to see all of you real soon. Becca.
I felt the blood drain from my face as my hands trembled.
"What is it?" Dad asked as Paul made his way over to my side and took the phone from hand.
"It's Becca. She says she is fine." My voice cracked as I saw my father's face turn almost ash white.
"Are you kidding me?" He growled.
"No. Look."
Paul gave him the phone after he read it and once my Dad did the same, he thrust the phone into my hands, grabbed the keys and stormed out the house.
"Dad...wait..." I called out in alarm as I tried to catch up to him. He was already in the driver side when I got to him.
"I can't believe her. How could she abandon her son like that? It doesn't make sense." Dad shouted as tears crept out of the corners of his eyes.
"What if this isn't really her but the person who is holding her hostage?" I suggested frantically.
"Who would do that and why haven't they contacted us before now?" Dad argued.
"Maybe they wanted to calm us down and get the police off the case before they ask us for a ransom."
"I doubt it but you should still let the authorities see it. Not that it will do them any good." He sighed heavily.
"Don't give up hope yet Dad. I know we will find her and then you can threaten to disown her." I tried to joke but I saw the anger that was boiling in his eyes.
"I hope for your sake and Jake's that she is being held against her will. If I learn otherwise I won't make threats. I will take her out of the will and nothing you can say will stop me this time."
I nodded my head in agreement and took a step away as he put his vehicle in reverse and sped out of the driveway. My heart was pounding and I could already feel a pending headache on the horizon.
Paul met me at the front door with my glass of wine in his hand.
"I'm sorry Rachel. I know this sucks big time." He mumbled as he pulled me into his arms and allowed me to weep for my family that was slowly coming unraveled at the seams.
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