I DREAM OF RAINBOWS
Disclaimer: The Cullen's, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.
The awesome and talented dowlingnana searched out my errors and corrected them.
Bella tried several times to try to get a hold of her dad but it was always the same result; nothing but his voicemail. She didn't try his cell phone because he would only use that at work and would use his landline at home. Not wanting to talk to him to try to reassure him that she was okay while he was on the job, she only kept trying to call home.
CHAPTER 71: LAYING IT ALL ON THE TABLE
"Charlie, why are we in Rome? Bella isn't here."
"I know that, but she will be in a couple of days."
"I thought we were going to where she was?"
"Edward, I don't want Bella to be able to say that we're ganging up on her. I want her to come to us and this is the best way to have that happen.
"Besides, I know my daughter better than anyone else and I know how she would react if we just showed up at her present location and believe me when I say that her reaction isn't the outcome we're looking for."
"Okay, I can accept that, but it still doesn't answer my question fully about why are we jumping her tour schedule."
"Son, she knows that you and I stay in touch with each other off and on. She also knows that I don't discuss her with you; that we only deal with things that you feel you need a second opinion that is more objective than your family.
"So, with that being said, what would be more natural than you to ask me to join you on a quick business trip to a place that I haven't been before. That way I can explore while you take care of your business." Charlie explained with a tongue-in-cheek attitude and smile.
"Charlie, she is still going to be suspicious no matter what you or I say."
Charlie just laughs at the young man and continues unpacking in the hotel suite they are currently occupying.
Edward eyes Charlie for a moment before telling him, "I think you are deluding yourself into thinking that she's going to believe that storyline, but it seems to be the best we've got for the time being." And, with that he turned to go to his own room in the suite to begin unpacking for the time they were planning to be there.
XXXXXX
"Mark, when we get to Rome you are going to cancel the first two days of my commitments. I'm exhausted and need the rest."
"Why do you think you need to take the time? Surely the time in between signings gives you enough time to rest." Mark was sounding puzzled by why Bella was behaving the way she was.
He had observed that as time passed on this tour her attitude slowly went downhill. She wasn't showing any joy or excitement on this tour like she had done on the tour for her first book.
In fact, her attitude has drastically changed since meeting Edward Cullen and becoming involved with him. He felt like hiring someone to teach Cullen a lesson or two but knew that the odds of not getting caught in the long run made him rethink any plan that he might try to come up with.
The changes in Bella weren't for the better. It's like the life had been sucked out of her. She's still very much in control of what she wants but when she gets it, it doesn't bring her any joy.
"Mark, I'm not going to argue with you; just do it. I refuse to show up for anything until I've had my two days. And, knowing you I want you to understand that I mean two complete days, nothing less than that." Bella looked at her agent straight in the eyes as she made sure that he fully understood her meaning.
"Okay. Okay. I'll take care of everything. But after you finish this meet and greet, we only have two hours to get ready and be at the airport to catch our flight to Rome."
With that news all Bella did was to let out a heavy sigh as she prepared to leave for the book signing. She knew that she hadn't heard the last from Mark about why she wanted to cancel two days of her scheduled appointments. He was going to badger her, or at least try, until he thought she would give in. Little did he know that it wasn't going to happen.
XXXXXX
"Charlie, do you know where Bella will be staying, or, even how to find her?"
"No, but that's not going to be a problem. I have an idea of where to find her, however, right now we need to get our story straight, so we don't stumble and get caught in a lie.
"Do you have any suggestions?" Charlie asked Edward with a bit of a smirk on his face.
"What suggestions are you talking about?"
"Like you're over here due to work and I came over to see Bella. We just happened to bump into each other. How does that sound for a good storyline?" Charlie asked with a bit of laughter in his voice.
Edward had a feeling that Charlie Swan was testing him so he could gauge what Edward was going to behave toward his daughter. "Chief, we're going to get into trouble if we start to spin lies or half-truths. Why don't we just stick with the truth? I don't want any lies coming between Bella and me; there have been enough misunderstandings and look where it has gotten me.
"Let's just stick with the facts of how we ended up traveling together and see where that leads us. We can work to get things straight from that point onward if it becomes necessary."
"Where I would normally agree with you, I'm not sure your suggested approach is the right one." Charlie commented, paused for a moment and then said, "How about we play it by ear?"
"Sounds good to me, however, I still say the truth is the best route."
The next two days both men toured through Rome, but Edward noticed that several times Charlie led them pass a number of bookstores and then would check his watch before moving on to something else of interest.
He wanted to question the Chief about why he was doing that but refrained from making any comment or asking any questions.
XXXXXX
Bella and Mark landed in Rome and quickly got settled into their hotel rooms. For the next two days Bella closed herself off from anything that had to do with obligations and Mark. She refused to meet with him, discuss anything over the phone with him, or even let him know what her plans might be. She totally shut him out because he had spent the entire flight to Rome nagging her about why she needed to cancel two days' worth of appointments.
There were times that she went to bed early and was late to rise but she did manage to get dressed to go out to eat and explore the "City of Love". Something she hadn't had time to do anywhere else this tour had taken her. And it was on the second day of her declared vacation that Bella was at an outdoor eatery when Edward happened to see her from across the street.
He was by himself for once and had no idea where Charlie was, so without Charlie's advice he wondered if he should cross the street and approach her or if it would be a bad idea.
'Get a grip, Cullen. What the hell do you have to lose by crossing over and trying to talk to her?' Edward argued with himself. So, without further ado Edward started across the street so he could try to speak with Bella.
He gets to the entrance of the outdoor café the whole time keeping an eye on her but turns to one side as a couple appears to exit the café. The small commotion attracts Bella's attention, and she looks up only to receive a shock.
As he turns back to face Bella's direction he comes to a sudden stop as he notices that she has looked up and locks eyes with him, looking him straight in the eyes with a very surprised look being apparent on her face.
With some hesitation Edward slowly walks over to her and silently asks with a motion of his hand to sit down at her table. He waited with bated breath for her to indicate whether she would allow him to sit and talk with her or not. And what seemed like forever, she finally nodded her acceptance and like him, she motioned for him to be seated.
The silence seemed to stretch to an uncomfortable length to where finally Edward after running his fingers through his hair, moving around the back of his neck and then to the pinching the bridge of his nose, he smiled at Bella and simply said, "Hey."
Bella looked at him a little funny and then with a slight tilt of her head she nodded her head in response but never said a word. It seemed that she was going to remain silent until she had some indication of what he was wanting with her or had to say to her.
Finally deciding to make the first move, Edward asked, "How are you doing?"
"Why, Edward? After all this time and all that you did, that's all that you can ask me. What difference does it matter to you? In fact, why are you even here? Are you following me?" Bella started asking her questions very quietly, almost in a whispering tone, then she started getting a little louder with each question although she wasn't shouting.
"I'm not going to lie to you, but I'm going to ask you to please hear me out. If after you hear all that I have to say to you and you want me to leave you alone; then I'll do as you wish." Edward answered. He paused just long enough to catch a breath then he began explaining how he came to be in Rome with her father.
"My dad is here?"
"Yes, he was determined to try to help you in whatever way was needed but he wanted to make sure that you knew the truth of what caused this misunderstanding in the first place." Edward answered her.
"Edward, you can tell me anything that you want but I know what I heard after being ignored by you all the time before I came to your office." Bella told him with a bit of a catch of sadness sounding in her voice. At the same time her eyes were shining with unshed tears appearing and she was fighting to keep them from falling.
Edward wanted to get up and gather her into his arms; he wanted to take away the hurt she was feeling because of him but wasn't sure if what he was going to explain to her would do it. He did know that all that he was about to tell her in the next few minutes would determine the direction that both of their lives would take.
"Bella, please just listen to me. And, if you really wanted to be fair, please remember that I did tell you that I would be extremely busy during that time that it would be hard to talk or see each other." He pleaded and then went ahead to tell her about the conversation that she had overheard and misunderstood. After he finished speaking, he didn't have long to wait for her reaction.
With teeth gritted, she asked, "Why the hell should I believe that bullshit? How do I know that you're not lying?"
Her heartless reaction to what he had just told her took his breath away for a moment then he reacted in the same tone as she had. "I'm not lying and have no reason to lie.
"Damnit, woman, don't you understand? I'm in love with you. It's not something that I was looking for and it wasn't something that I realized or recognized when it happened.
"I love my mother, my family, but I've never felt about any woman what the hell I feel about you.
"I've been missing part of myself without you. You hold my life in your hands; my heart is in your possession, and you have the ability to make me the happiest man or to tear me apart.
"I'll do whatever you want me to do to prove this to you. There are some people that have no idea how important that misunderstood conversation could be if you wanted to talk with them to confirm all that I've told you about that day.
"Please, please, just think about what I've told you. what happens next between us i leave in your hands. In other words, the ball's in your court." And, with that said Edward got up and walked away without looking back.
Bella just sat there in stunned silence.
AN: Well, Edward laid it all on the line and as it turned out he didn't even need Charlie's help. What is Bella going to do? Will she let Edward walk completely out of her life? If Bella doesn't seek him out will Edward stay away from Bella or try again to get her back into his life.
One chapter left and that will be the epilogue and it will be posted before the New Year. What will it reveal?
Thanks for reading and commenting.