Chapter 6

"Merci," Jared said to the waiter who placed Jared's order of one espresso and freshly baked croissant on the table in front of him.

"Je vous en prie," the waiter answered with a smile and moved to serve the couple sitting at the table next to Jared's.

Jared took a sip of his espresso and winced involuntarily when tasting the bitter but delicious drink. He'd grown to love espresso while living in Paris. He never used to drink it, but it was a ritual for him now. Finding a café that made espresso as good as this would be impossible back home.

Jared was having his early afternoon break from work at the café in the corner of Square René-Viviani. He inhaled deeply the aromas around him; freshly baked baguettes wafted from the corner bakery, blending with the rich smell of his espresso. The delicate perfume of cherry blossoms mingled with the heady scent of lavender from nearby market stalls. He could not help but feel happy being here.

It was a full-on experience for all his senses. He listened to the clinking of wine glasses and the echoes of street musicians' melodies. Children running around, playing, and laughing. And as cliché it probably sounded, there were groups of older men playing a game of pétanque. The rhythmic clinking of metal balls colliding echoed through the air. One of Jared's favorite things to do was watch the game. It was probably the most iconic sight in Paris, for him at least.

The sun shone warmly over the gravel playing area, where the ground bore the scars of countless boules rolling. Jared had spent countless hours watching this traditional game that was almost like a ritual to its players. The clack of metal against metal, followed by exclamations of success of playful teasing, created a symphony of sounds that mirrored the spirited energy of the game.

Jared smiled and wrote notes in his notebook. These were the things he would miss after he'd gone back to La Push. He hadn't expected Paris to make such an impression on him, but it had. So much that his long-time dream to write a book had reappeared, and he'd been drafting it for the past six months. The city inspired him; he had already written over half the story.

Biting in the freshly baked croissant, Jared moaned. This was definitely something he would miss back at home. Swiping the crust from his chest, Jared glanced at his mobile and saw he had a message. He picked up the phone and saw a message from Raoul, his colleague. A bang of disappointment went through him as it always did when the message wasn't what he'd waited for the most over the last eight months. He was still waiting to hear from Bella; that, with some miracle, she would have gone to that café in Vancouver and got his phone number. Jared had tried to forget her, yet despite his best efforts to move on, he couldn't. Her absence was like a haunting melody, something he couldn't eliminate. Pretty fucking melodramatic, but he knew they had shared something special. It hadn't been just fucking amazing sex, it had been more.

While in Paris, he had tried to date other women, but none of them could hold his interest through one dinner. So, he'd stopped that and had concentrated on exploring the city, immersing himself in it. His friends would think he was crazy not taking full advantage of the women falling on his feet, but he just didn't feel up to it.

His work only demanded a little from him. He just ensured everything would be in working order for his boss, Peter, to move to Paris. He had initially asked Jared to stay in the city for three months, but because of a family issue, Peter hadn't been able to leave Seattle, so he had asked Jared to stay longer. And since Jared didn't particularly miss anything from home except his friends, he'd been happy to stay longer. It would probably be another month or two before he would be flying back home.

Jared finished his croissant, took his notebook, and left the cafe. He would walk back home via Notre Dame and see if the artist he'd seen yesterday would have come back to paint there. He wanted to ask him about his work, which Jared thought was the most interesting he'd seen in a long while.

Jared's boss had an apartment above the Shakespeare and Company bookstore where he lived. It was a fantastic place with a million dollars view of Norte Dame and River Seine.

The Bookstore had become his second home in Paris. The creaking wooden floors and the dusty bookshelves held charm Jared had never encountered elsewhere. The old owner, Andrew, had welcomed him to his humble home. Jared had spent many nights discussing every topic imaginable and practicing his French with him. Yes, in many ways, he was living his dream. If only Bella would be there with him.

His phone beeped again, and now the message was from Kim. He grimaced.

Do you know when you will be back? Miss you!

She'd been texting him lately. He hadn't answered any of her messages and tried to block her number, but the blocking wasn't working for some reason. Changing his number wasn't an option; he would not give up hope Bella would go to that café and get his phone number.

one month later

"Are you up to meet the guys tonight?" Embry asked as he helped Jared to carry his bags inside his home.

"I'll let you know a bit later. The flight back, with all the delays, was a killer. But if not tonight, tomorrow," Jared said, not even trying to suppress the yawn.

"Okay. I'll tell the others. Sam and Paul had moved to that house closer to the beach and made that cool outside kitchen they'd always talked about. It's a great place to chill."

"I'm sure it is," Jared answered, too tired to get excited, so he didn't even try. There would be plenty of time to spend there in the coming summer.

"Damn, it's good to get you back, man. Get some sleep, and I see you later," Embry said and closed the door behind him.

Jared stood in the kitchen looking around familiar surroundings, unsure what he felt. He was glad to be back, if for nothing else but to return to his everyday life. His manuscript was almost ready, and he could not wait to offer it to publishers. Would he be a published author soon? It was fucking amazing thought.

He decided to go to the beach for a few minutes to get some fresh sea air and get something to eat from Ateara's store. He hadn't told his parents the right day he'd be back. He would have his fridge full of food if he had, but he wanted to get a few days before calling them. He rather fetched his own food and had an empty house for a little longer. They had visited him earlier this spring, and he was still exhausted about all the fuss.

He left his house and took the shortcut through the schoolyard.

Seeing the waves of the Ocean and James's island with other sea sacks made him breathe easier. This was what he'd been missing while in Paris. The ocean with the familiar rock formations had always been part of his life. He'd been born here and lived his whole life until these last few months.

Jared took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He listened to the waves and seagulls laughing. Sun was shining on his face. He knew he would miss Paris, and there was a possibility of returning, but he was back home right now.

Damn, he was tired. Deciding to walk to the water's edge and back, he took two steps but stopped abruptly when he saw a woman standing on the beach looking at the ocean. There was something familiar about her, but she wasn't anyone from here. A thrill of awareness rushed through him. Could it be... No. It couldn't... It would be fucking unbelievable... He pinched his eyes closed. He was damned tired, and his eyes hurt after 15 hours on a plane. He could be hallucinating. He opened his eyes, and the woman was still there. Jared's heart stopped before starting to beat faster. Could it really be … Bella? He whispered her name.

Although the woman could not have heard him, she turned around, and it was her. Jared's breath caught in his throat, and his heart quickened as a surge of emotions rushed through him – a mix of surprise, disbelief, and a profound sense of longing. Was she here because of him?

Her face lit up as she saw him, and Jared felt his face following her example.

He moved closer, not tearing his gaze off her. Her big eyes were glued to his. They held a mixture of vulnerability and longing as tears fell on her cheeks. He felt his own eyes misting over. Then his eyes caught the movement of Bella's hands as she moved them in front of her body over a tiny bundle in a wrap.

Jared stopped like he'd hit a glass wall. His heart skipped a beat, and he felt color fading in his face. Jared couldn't tear his gaze away from the tiny bundle. A little patch of ink-black hair peaked over the edge of the deep green fabric. A realization slowly dawned on him.

"I didn't know how to find you," she said softly, tears falling down her cheeks. "I tried."

Jared swallowed. He didn't know what to say. She didn't have to say it; he knew. Bella had had his baby. A cocktail of emotions from shock and disbelief to joy filled him. He was a father.

Holy fucking hell!

"His name is Noel. He's five weeks old. Birthday is 15th of April."

He had a son.

Jared swallowed hard. His eyes darted from Bella's to the tiny bundle and back. His head spun.

"How?" Jared started, but his throat was thick with emotion, and it was all he could say.

"How I found you?" She asked.

Jared nodded, not trusting his voice.

"I went to the café," she said, smiling. "Three days ago. I couldn't believe that it was true. I didn't believe I would ever find you."

Jared could not believe it either. It had worked. And he couldn't believe the timing. He had just come home from the other side of the world less than an hour ago. And there she was, the woman of his dreams, and with her was their child. A son he hadn't known anything about.

He was truly utterly speechless.

Bella smiled as she wiped tears from her face. "I tried to call you yesterday," she said, taking a hesitant step toward him, "but your mobile wasn't on, or the number is no longer in use."

"It is," he finally said, clearing his throat. "I was flying back from Paris when you tried to call," he said, stepping closer.

"From Paris? Really?"

"Yes, I've been working there for nine months."

"And you came back just now?" she asked, her eyebrows rising.

"Yes, less than an hour ago."

They both didn't say a word; it was too incredible to put into words.

There was a tiny whimper, and Bella glanced down at her baby, tapping his bottom softly.

Jared moved closer still. He was now close enough to touch her, to touch his baby. He lifted his shaking hand and brushed his finger over his son's head, touching his silky soft hair. Jared's eyes simmered with tears. Noel was sleeping, his pinched fist was tightly against his cheek, and he was drooling over Bella's shirt. An emotion too strong to describe filled him.

He moved his other hand over Bella's on Noel's bottom. Their fingers entwined together. They stared at each other. She was even more beautiful than he'd remembered, even though she looked tired, as every new mother of a few weeks old baby did, he guessed. He itched to tuck the loose strand of her hair flying in the wind behind her ear. But he didn't.

"I can't believe it really is you," he said, his voice cracking. "I've been dreaming about you all this time, wanting to see you again. And now..." he swallowed.

"I'm so sorry. I..." Bella whispered but was interrupted by Noel's whimper, which soon became a loud cry. Jared watched his son in awe; he had big lungs for someone so tiny.

"Do you live nearby?" Bella asked. "I think Noel needs his diaper changed and wants to feed."

"Yeah. Just there," he showed his house behind the bushes.

"I left my car over there," Bella said, showing the parking lot beside the general store. "I need to get Noel's bag first."

They walked to the car, neither of them saying a word. Noel's cry had settled back to whimper. Jared's mind was whirling with questions.

"How did you come here?" It was an easy enough question to start with.

"I drove from Forks. My father and I flew to Seattle and drove to Forks yesterday, where his twin brother lives. I couldn't believe it when I got your address with your phone number. That you lived here."

"Your father's brother lives in Forks?!"

"Yeah, tell me about it," Bella chuckled.

"So, you must have been here in La Push before?"

"Only a few times. My uncle has a cottage by Ozette Lake, and we mostly visit him there."

"Who is your uncle?" Jared most likely knew him; Forks was such a small place, and Jared did have many friends from Forks.

"He's the chief of Police, Charlie Swan."

"The Chief is your uncle?" Jared couldn't believe it. The possibility of finding Bella had been so close all this time: all he should have done was to visit the chief and ask him about his niece. Un-fucking-unbelieveable.

"Yeah. You know my uncle?"

"Everyone knows him. He's a legend around here."

"Oh," Bella blushed.

"So what does your father do?" Jared was interested in knowing and wanting to keep his questions light for now.

"Umm, he owns a publishing house in Vancouver."

"Swan's publishing house?" Jared asked. Every detail about this woman was incredible.

"You know my father?"

"No, I don't know him. But I work in the business, and everyone knows Swan's publishing house."

"I work in the business, too," Bella said.

Jared laughed, shaking his head. Bella joined him. They reached her car, and Bella got the bag.

"What were you doing in Paris?" Bella asked.

"My boss Peter Flounder is moving there. I was setting up an office for him."

"Are you a journalist?"

"Yes. I've worked with Seattle Stranger for two and a half years."

"Oh, I've probably read some of your articles then? It's famous for it's ..."

"Perhaps. Are you a journalist as well?"

"I write articles and such, but I mostly do the editing. I've been working with my father ever since Edward died."

Ah, yes, her late husband. He'd forgotten all about that.

They reached Jared's home. Opening the door to Bella and his son - his SON - felt monumental. He'd left this place half an hour ago as a single man without any future plans, well, not one, including a tiny baby, and now he was a father. It was a heady feeling and not at all bad or distressing. Fucking scary, yes, but all he could feel at the moment was immense joy.

He showed Bella around his home. "The bathroom is over here, and the living room is here. I just walked home, dumping the bags before coming to the beach, so it is a bit stuffy here. And I don't have anything to drink or eat. I'll leave you to take care of Noel and fetch us something. I'll be back in a flash."

But he didn't move. Thanking him, Bella took off her jacket and started to unwrap Noel from her body. He'd started to cry again, and his face was red, and he looked grumpy. He was so tiny.

"You want to hold him after I've washed and fed him?" Bella asked.

Jared felt his throat tighten again, and he just nodded. Bella smiled and, grabbing her big bag over her other shoulder, left for the bathroom.

Jared stayed put, staring at the closed door, a huge grin slowly spreading over his face. Bella had found him.