EPOV
Watching Bella walk out my front door was irritating.
She was calling all the shots instead of trusting me, so if she wants to play it like that I'll have to show her with my actions how serious I am about her.
My determination is what got me through the death of my parents and past the finish line in med school when I had a newborn.
I went after what I wanted.
I couldn't explain why I knew Bella would change everything, but I just knew she would.
"Dad, she was so sick," Hadley tells me once the front door closes.
"Bella was feeling better," I lie because I'm pretty sure she was still slightly dying when she left.
She was pale and sweating.
And so fucking stubborn.
Hadley gives me a skeptical look which makes me have to fight not to roll my eyes.
"Bella will live," I try to reassure her.
"Bella left?" Esme asks, peeking her head out from the doorway to the kitchen.
"She has work," I bite out.
She looks surprised but doesn't comment further about Bella.
"I made breakfast," she offers.
"I need to get a shower before I have to go in," I tell her pointedly. "Have you talked to your husband?"
I catch Hadley looking between us.
"Is Uncle Carlisle in trouble?" she asks hesitantly.
I shake my head.
"Go eat your breakfast before it gets cold," I encourage Had before turning on my heel to get ready for the day.
I needed to call Senna to get more details on the restraining order she mentioned yesterday. She was waiting for me to give her the green light.
The rational side of me knew that Rose was not only a danger to herself but Hadley's wellbeing as well. She had no good intentions when she tried to take her out of school on Thursday.
My shower is quick, and I find Esme is on her phone when I walk back into the kitchen, and Hadley is absent. I can tell by the annoyed look on her face that she's talking to Carlisle.
"I threw out everything that was in the trash bin of death," she tells me without looking up.
"Thanks."
"So, Bella went into work?" she asks.
I nod.
"Carlisle is hiding out at the restaurant," she tells me.
"Because he's a coward," I throw out. "When we have a disagreement we talk it out."
"I think we both know our sibling relationship is a little different than that," she tells me.
She's right she's more like my mother whereas Carlisle and Vera are only a few years apart in age.
"I don't understand why Vera is supporting Rose when she clearly needs help," I add with frustration.
"She doesn't want a scandal and she doesn't want to admit defeat. You know how regimented Rose's upbringing was; she rebelled against it until she got sucked into the world she's in now," Esme explains solemnly.
"But why is everyone only thinking about Rose? Hadley is the one we all should be rallying behind. Our daughter has to suffer because everyone is trying to coddle her mother who is showing how poorly she cares for her child," I rant.
Esme's eyes turn empathetic which only means she's going to say something I probably don't want to hear whether it is logical or not.
"I'm going to head out," I finally say before she can get what she says out.
Es was off today. The original plan was for me to bring Hadley to her place but now I just wanted to keep her away from Vera, so Esme was quick to offer to stay with Hadley for the day.
I say goodbye to Hadley in the living room with a kiss to her head. She tells me to make sure Bella is alive, which I promise her I'll let her know.
Her concern for Bella makes me feel lighter.
Like this could one day be something great for all parties involved.
Hadley looks up to Bella and Bella is a good role model for her to have regardless of her infinity for sugary breakfast foods and overall messiness.
When I arrive at the restaurant, Mike is the only one in the lounge. He looks to be avoiding me and I remember what Bella had told me last night.
He only thinks we are casually dating.
I make sure to beat him out to the staff brunch where there is only one seat left at Bella's table. A seat right next to her.
I practically throw food on my plate so I can get over there.
Mike frowns when I settle in beside her and casually rest my arm behind her.
'Mine,' is the message I'm trying to send to him.
Not that I actually think he's a threat. Bella seems to find him irritating so that's great for me. The same goes for her pup, she truly seems to detest him.
I'm working with Jazz during the start of the day process when I hear Bella groan. I look up to see Vera and Rose enter the restaurant.
My guess is they are here for Carlisle but I could be wrong, so to be on the safe side I make my way back to his office where he has been hiding all morning.
I don't knock before I enter.
"Your sister and niece are at table twenty," I inform him.
He runs a hand over his face.
"Did you talk to them?" he asks.
I shake my head.
"I'm filing a restraining order against Rose on behalf of Hadley."
"Do either of them know this?"
"Not yet, but I need to do what's best for Hadley," I tell him. "Vera is your sister so the fact that you left Esme to deal with her—"
"We are understaffed, I can't just up and leave the restaurant—"
"Esme shouldn't have to deal with Vera," I yell, pounding my fist on his desk.
We have a stare-down until he stands, he shoves his hands in the pockets of his slacks and leaves his office without another word.
I follow him out of his office and through the kitchen but stop at the bar.
"What's going to happen?" Jazz asks from beside me.
"All hell's about to break loose," I mumble.
Rose sits defiantly, while her mother whispers harshly at Carlisle. Vera isn't one for scenes in public but it is clear that she is pissed.
"Does Carlisle have the balls to throw them out?" Jazz asks.
I hear Bella snort while she's making a drink not too far from us.
"You want to add to the great debate?" I ask her amused.
"Nothing will get accomplished," she says with a fire in her eyes. "It seems to be a pattern where Rose is concerned, it's probably the same for her mother."
"I'm working out what I need to with my lawyer, so I'm not getting involved with that," I gesture toward the show in the dining room.
I watch her bite her lip before she tells me, "I'll believe it when I see it."
Rose interrupts us when she starts screaming about her daughter being taken from her. Her wild eyes find me at the bar.
"Hideout in the lounge, Ed," Jazz suggests.
I sigh but go to the back since I don't need the other patrons to see me involved in this battle. I can also use this in the custody case against Rose.
I anxiously await their departure until Jasper suddenly walks into the lounge with a smirk on his face.
"What?" I ask.
"Your girl went off out there," he chuckles. "Rose was trying to start shit and accuse her of trying to be Hadley's mother. Bella was like a word assassin. I think she even left Carlisle stunned."
I blink.
"They left, Carlisle wanted me to come back and get you," he explains. "I think the boss man might be a little afraid of your girl."
Again I'm dumbfounded.
When we go back out to the bar, brunch is in full swing.
Even though I know Bella was practically dying this morning she is a pro working the bar as if nothing happened.
She's unbothered in her movements.
Since I'm back out on the floor, she takes the high tops and food runs.
I want to ask her myself what exactly was said between her and Rose.
To tell her how proud I am that she stuck up for herself.
She wouldn't want me to because she would say she shouldn't have to defend herself or us for that matter.
I felt like this is one more strike against my cause.
Just before noon, we get a lull in customers.
"Bell—"
"I know you are chomping at the bit to find out what happened earlier but I don't think this is the place," she says, giving me a look.
I nod in understanding.
I was learning to listen to Bella's warnings.
"Your fan club is here, Champ," Bella says with a nudge when she moves around me.
I groan.
This girl, Bree, and her work friends were relentless.
At first, I didn't mind them because they tipped well, but the past month they couldn't take a hint. I have to admit it's partially my fault since I flirted for the tip.
Bella was on the high-tops, but I wasn't going to have her deal with them. They were my problem to begin with.
"Ladies," I smile tightly.
"Oh, Eddie's here," Bree squeals.
I hold back rolling my eyes.
"The group I was with last night missed you," she pouted.
"Family emergency," I grit.
"I hope everything is okay."
"My daughter needed me," I half-lie but telling women that I have a daughter usually goes one of two ways. They either are more in love with the idea of dating a single dad or they run in the other direction.
Bree's reaction was the latter.
"Is she a baby?" one of the other girls asks.
"She's nine," I respond.
Bree looks even more put off before something flashes in her eyes.
"I hope your wife is okay," she says suddenly.
"No wife, I actually have full custody. My girlfriend has been an excellent help though," I explain dryly.
She glances over to Bella at the bar.
"What can I get you, ladies, this morning?" I ask politely.
"Uh, can we have a minute?" Bree asks unsure.
"No problem," I smile.
I walk back over to the bar where Jazz is entering an order into the register.
"You finally sent them packing," he smirks.
I glance over my shoulder to see the girls heading toward the exit.
"I just told them the truth," I say with a shrug.
"Which is?"
"That I'm a father with a girlfriend," I answer with a grin as Bella fumbles with the cocktail shaker.
Jazz lets out a hearty laugh.