2

"I should go with you."

Bella sighed and shifted her attention to her father, who was seated on the other side of the small kitchen table with a cup of coffee in his hands. His eyes were dark, guarded, and she knew she had been keeping Charlie up at night with her crying.

Nights were the hardest, when she thought about Carlisle the most, the way he would hold her in his arms, kiss the side of her neck, and love her with his body. Nights were when the reality of his death slammed into her, when her loss became more real.

"You can't keep taking off work because of me, Dad."

"It's not like they need me," Charlie scoffed and leaned back in his chair. "Mrs. Cope runs that place. Make no mistake about that."

Bella laughed as she thought about the stern secretary at the local high school. Charlie had been the principal there for almost thirty years, inheriting Mrs. Shelly Cope when he accepted the position. She was a stern woman, who made her intolerance for excuses clear, but she had a passion for student success and everyone respected her. Well, almost everyone.

"True, but I've got to get used to doing this kind of stuff on my own, don't I?"

Charlie frowned, but didn't push the subject any further, which Bella appreciated.

"How about I stop by the store after my appointment and grab some stuff for dinner? I've been craving baked potatoes all week. I'm thinking maybe a couple steaks out on the grill, baked potatoes, maybe a salad. I might even make a cake."

"I suppose that would be all right," he said, winking at her, but then sighed. "I've got to go. Call if you need anything. Promise?"

"I promise, Dad."

Bella followed Charlie out onto the front porch and watched as he climbed into his black pick-up truck. He waved, which she returned before turning and walking back into the house, closing the door behind her. Tears burned her eyes as she tried to keep from crying — again. Bella walked into the kitchen and tidied up before slowly walking upstairs to her bedroom and sitting on the side of her bed. She bit the inside of her lip as she reached down and pulled open the drawer on her nightstand, her fingers trembling as she picked up the small silver picture frame she'd put in there three days ago when she arrived at her father's house.

She couldn't keep her tears from falling as she ran her fingers along his picture, him in his dark blues, having just graduated from the police academy. Carlisle was handsome and brilliant, brave and strong.

"This is the second happiest day of my life," he had told her.

"What was the first?" she had asked, moaning as his hands roamed over her nude body, dipping between her legs.

"The day you became my wife, of course," he said laughing. "Come on, Izzy, smile for me," he would whispered. "Smile just for me."

If Bella tried hard enough she could still feel his lips along her jaw, smell his cologne as he touched her, held her, and loved her. That was what he had told her every day for the twelve years they had spent together, two of those in Woodbury, and the last ten in New York. He told her that loved her, that he needed her, that his world revolved around her, just her. For most of those twelve years, she had believed him. She had believed every word Carlisle had said to her, until that night, until his lies were exposed, and everything she thought she knew turned out to be nothing, but a load of bullshit, and now she was alone.

Pregnant and alone.

Ready or not, today she had start the next phase of her life. Bella grabbed her keys and purse off the dresser and rushed downstairs and out to the small, beat-up Toyota Camry that sat in the driveway. It had been hers until she and Carlisle left for college in New York. Charlie had kept it drivable over the years, reminding her every time she called that it was ready for her, for them should they ever come back for a visit. Problem was Woodbury wasn't their home anymore, hadn't been since the night they skipped town.

She drove across town to the Women's Health Clinic, parking in front and turning off the engine. When she made her appointment with the obstetrician two days ago, she hadn't expected to be so nervous. It was silly, of course. She had known Dr. Billy Black for the better part of the last twenty years, but only as the father of their best friend. Jacob Black had been killed in a car accident the weekend before they graduated, devastating the entire community

Bella hadn't seen his father since the night they graduated from high school, the night she and Carlisle left Woodbury and never looked back.

"Stop being pathetic. This is your life now," Bella muttered to herself as she grabbed the door handle and pushed it open.

Grabbing her bag, she slid out of the front seat of her car and used her foot to close the door. The walk from the parking lot to the front of the building felt like it took years, when it only took a minute. The waiting room was eerily quiet when she stepped inside and a chill crept over her skin leaving goosebumps up and down her arms.

"Oh, my God. Bella Swan?"

Turning her attention to the right, Bella groaned inwardly when she spotted Leah Clearwater perched behind the receptionist's deck. The tall, thin russet skin girl had been a thorn in her side since the sixth grade when boys stopped looking at her and started noticing Bella, or mainly that Bella had boobs. Except for him. Carlisle saw beyond the boobs, saw the real Bella, and he had loved her. He told her he had fallen in love with her when they were twelve years old, and had never stopped.

"Wow," Leah added, smirking as she stood up and reached through the square window for her to come closer. "I haven't seen you since we graduated high school. You look . . . Well, I ain't gonna lie to you; you kind of look like crap."

"Gee, thanks, Leah," Bella gritted out. "Nice to see your acne finally cleared up."

"Yes, well, whatever." Leah cleared her throat. "Do you have an appointment?"

"Yes," she said. "Under the name Cullen."

Leah smirked as she slid her finger down her list, stopping outside of her name. "I don't know why I didn't put two and two together. Thought you were still living in New York. What's the matter, Bella? Carlisle finally trade you in for something better?"

Bella gasped as tears filled her eyes, and she felt her lips trembling, but before she could tell the skank to go to hell, or turn and run away, the door to the waiting room opened and they heard, "Ms. Clearwater!"

Leah's eyes widened as she looked over the front desk and the color drained from her face as she spotted Dr. Black standing a mere five feet from her. Tall, thin with the same long, jet black hair that his son had had, he shifted his black eyes from Leah to Bella, his eyes softening, before he looked back at Leah, his eyes hardening in an instant. Dr. Black was insanely protective of his kids, and make no mistake, he considered Bella and Carlisle to be two of his kids.

"Sorry, sir, I didn't see you there."

"Clearly. Otherwise, I'd hate to hear how you speak to my patients when I'm not right here," he quipped. "You and I will be discussing this later. Right now, why don't you make yourself useful and get me Mrs. Cullen's chart?"

"Yes, sir," she whimpered, and Bella almost felt sorry for her. She would have if Leah hadn't just ripped open the hole in her heart. Who was Bella kidding? The hole in her heart hadn't even begun to heal.

"Bella."

She shifted her attention to Dr. Black, who had his hand stretched out toward her.

"Come on, sweetheart."

Nodding, she tried to be discreet as she wiped the tears from her face and walked through the door leading to the patient's room. However, Dr. Black led her into his office, closing the door behind him. He gestured for her to have a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk.

"Are you okay? Do you need some water? Juice? A lollipop? I'm sorry, I don't know how to look at you and not see the little girl who would run around my house with Jake."

"Thank you, but I'm . . . Well, I was going to say okay, but if I'm being honest, I am not okay. The last few weeks have been a nightmare," she said, quietly. "And I guess I wasn't expecting Leah of all people to be here."

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. She's worked here for a while. Normally, she's not such a . . ."

"Bitch?" Bella supplied.

Dr. Black smiled before he walked around and sat behind his desk, leaning back in his chair. "Basically."

"Yeah, well, you didn't go to school with her. She's always been like that to me, Carlisle, and Jake." She whimpered. "Sorry."

"Don't be sorry, dear." Dr. Black frowned, but opened her file. "So, you're pregnant."

Bella inhaled a sharp breath. "Nine weeks, according to my doctor in New York."

"Yes, Dr. Gerandy sent me your file, including the results of your blood work from five weeks ago. I'd like to do my own test, though, if you don't mind."

"That's fine."

"How have you been feeling?" he asked while standing. He turned to the cabinet behind him and grabbed a needle, tourniquet, empty glass vile, and several alcohol wipes.

"Okay, I guess. Queasy in the morning, but it usually lets up after a couple of hours. I'm exhausted, but I have a hard time sleeping. Though, that might be due to the dreams, more than the pregnancy."

"Losing someone you love is never easy," he said, sitting in the chair next to her. "Relax your arm."

She did as she was told. "So I've heard."

Dr. Black wrapped the blue tourniquet around her upper arm and cleaned her skin with two of the alcohol pads. Opening the needle, he carefully guided it into her skin before removing the tourniquet. Bella tried to contain her wince, but she'd never been good with needles.

"Sorry, I don't do this as much anymore. Usually let Leah handle this part, but, well, I figured you wouldn't like that."

"Not so much."

He filled the vial and slid the needle from her arm. He held a cotton ball against the tiny puncture wound for a moment before he applied a Barbie band aide.

"Need a urine sample, too," he said. "Cups are in the bathroom. Use the black felt tip marker to write your name on it first. You can leave it on the back of the tank. When you're done, I'll meet you in exam room two. Change into one of the gowns. You know where they are."

Bella thanked him before slipping out of his office and rushing into the bathroom. A few minutes later, she found herself sitting on the edge of the table with a cotton gown on and sheet draped across her legs. She'd always hated coming to the doctor, especially once she got old enough to get a vaginal exam.

The door behind her opened and when she looked back, she saw Leah Clearwater standing there, a scowl on her face and her arms crossed in front of her.

"I'm sorry," she said, dully.

"Okay." Bella turned back around, but when she didn't hear the door close, she looked over her shoulder again. "Was there something else?"

"I'm really sorry," she said, this time her tone softer and almost believable.

"Okay," Bella said again. Still, Leah just stood there. "What are you expecting me to say?"

"Nothing. I'll just go now."

Leah stepped out of the room, but before the door could close, Dr. Black pushed it back open.

"Well, I see that didn't do much too smooth things over."

"It takes more than a fake apology to undo the years of torment that girl put us through," Bella quipped.

Dr. Black frowned, but didn't ask for more details, which Bella was grateful for. Instead, he placed her chart on the counter and turned to the sink, washing his hands.

"The blood tests confirm what the urine test said. You are pregnant." Dr. Black dried his hands, tossed the paper towel into the trash, and turned to face her. "I feel weird asking this, given the circumstance, but are you planning on continuing on with the pregnancy?"

Bella inhaled a deep breath. "I . . . Yes. Yes, of course I am."

He nodded before gesturing for her to lay back. "I'm going to do an exam, and then we can do an ultrasound, if you would like."

Nodding, Bella wasn't sure she wanted to see the baby. Visual confirmation would just add to the anxiety that had plagued her for the last month. Tears filled her eyes, though she managed to keep them from falling as he examined her. Carlisle was supposed to be there, holding her hand, promising that everything was going to be okay. He had always talked about what it would be like when they had a baby.

"Everything seems in order. I'll be back in a few minutes," Dr. Black said and then quickly walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Bella held the sides of her gown together, but stayed laying down. A few minutes later, the door to the room opened once more and Dr. Black pushed a large machine inside. He used his elbow to dim the lights. While the machine hummed to life, he squirted a cold gel on a long wand.

"This shouldn't hurt, but it may be uncomfortable."

"Nothing about this is comfortable," she said before she could stop herself.

"No, I suppose you're right, dear."

Bella whimpered as the wand slipped inside her, her head automatically titling to the side so she could see the screen. A few seconds later, a small, grayish blob appeared. No bigger than a nickel, there were little buds were the baby's arms and legs were. In the middle was the flashing of the baby's heart. Their baby's heart, she thought her eyes filling with tears.

"Is that . . ." She shook her head. "I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't little arms and legs."

"I don't think any expectant mother does," Dr. Black said with a chuckle. "The baby looks to be about eight to nine weeks along. Hard to know for sure, though. According to my calculations, you're due around the middle of May."

"About when I figured."

Dr. Black removed the wand and helped Bella sit up. "Do you want me to continue with your pre-natal care?"

Bella nodded. "If you don't mind. This is hard enough without him. I don't know that I can handle finding a new OB, too."

"Of course I don't. I'm going to call you in a prescription for pre-natal vitamins, and I'd like to see you back in four weeks. If you need anything, you have all of my numbers. And, you know you're always welcomed at the house. Sue would love to see you."

"Soon," she said. "I promise. Thank you, Dr. Black."

He smiled. "Billy, dear. You can call me Billy."

Bella nodded knowing she had no intention of ever calling him by his first name. She stopped by the front desk and set her next appointment, ignoring the glare that radiated off Leah's face. She had long gotten over what she thought of her. Besides, she had bigger problems to worry about, like how she was going to raise a child all on her own.

As Bella pushed the glass door open, she stopped short when she saw the man standing in front of her with a wary smile on his face and fear in his deep green eyes. The man who had once been the older brother of her now dead husband.

"Hey, Izzy," said Edward Cullen.

Thank you for all the AMAZING reviews for the first chapter. Do me a favor and leave me another.