25

After a quick breakfast, Bella and Jasper made the ten minute drive from Baker Lake to Concrete. As they made their way through the small grocery store, she almost felt normal. It was the first time in over three years that every second of her day wasn't spent thinking about her mother, what mood she was going to be in, if she was going to attack her, or try to light the house on fire. A part of her was relieved that her mother wasn't her problem anymore, but the other part, the more prominent part, felt guilty.

"Okay, I was thinking we could do stuffed peppers," Jasper said, picking up two green bell peppers and looking over at her, but before Bella could agree, her phone starting ringing, startling her.

"Sorry," she muttered, digging it out of her back pocket and looking down at her screen, feeling her shoulders tense when she saw her boss's name flashing across the screen.

James Sanders was a junior level associate in the small marketing firm in Seattle. When Bella and Renee moved from the city to Bainbridge Island, she'd been worried how she would managed the thirty minute commute. There were plenty of times when it was hard, but most of the time, the thirty minutes she spent on the ferry were the only peace she got. James knew about her mother, the struggle that came with taking care of a parent facing a major change. And always went to bat for her to get extra time off, even if that meant dealing with his boss. She had emailed him her resignation that morning, knowing that if she didn't, she would lose any little bit of courage she had built.

Bella sighed and looked at Jasper, saying, "It's my boss. Or ex-boss." She took a couple steps and pressed the green talk button, bringing it to her ear. "Hello, James."

"What the ever loving fuck am I looking at, Bella?"

"I don't know," she said. "We're on the phone, remember?"

"You can't quit."

She sighed.

"You can't quit without notice!" he snarled, and again, she simply sighed. "Why? Did you get a better job? Are they paying you more? Because I can talk to HR, see if I can get you a raise."

"It's not about money," she said, quietly as she felt Jasper place his hand on the small of her back. She looked over at him and smiled. "I'm putting myself first, James. Something I haven't done in a long, long time."

"What does that mean?"

"It means . . . I deserve better than to answer phones and direct calls. I have a fucking degree in biology and Pre-med. I was going to become a doctor, James."

"So, you're what? Going to medical school now?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "Maybe. I hope so, but I don't know."

James sighed. "You know that if I send this on, they're never going to let me hire you back. You're not giving me any notice."

"I know, and normally, I would never, ever quit a job like this, but if I stay in the city, I'll never move forward with my life. And I have to move forward."

"Well, I can't say that I'm not disappointed." He paused. "But I have to admit you seem happier than I've ever heard you."

Bella smiled and looked over at Jasper. "I am happier than I have been in a long time. A very long time."

James inhaled a deep breath. "I wish you the best, Bella. If you need a reference, or whatever, don't hesitate, okay?"

"Thank you, James. I do appreciate it."

Ending the call, Bella pressed the phone against her chest for a moment before she turned to Jasper once again. "Sorry about that."

"That was your boss."

"My now, official old boss. James was always good to me. His boss, however, is a tool, who didn't give a rat's ass about me, my mom, or anyone else."

"This means you're mine for good. You know that, don't you?"

"I've always been yours, Jay. Always."

"Yeah, you have, just like I've been yours."

—WL—

By the time, they finished their grocery shopping, buying enough food to feed ten people for a month, they stopped by the diner. Jasper had been craving their peach pie, and they decided to grab some lunch to take back to the house. When they walked inside and froze. Every table and booth were packed, and there seemed to be only one woman taking ordered. Jess, Bella remembered her nametag reading a week ago when they were last here. Her curly hair was pulled into a lopsided bun and her face was red and sweaty.

"Order for table three, Jessica. Let's get it out!" a male voice from the back called.

"I'm moving as fast as I can, Mike. Give me a break!" Jessica snarled, slamming a stack of menus onto the counter before she grabbed a pot of coffee, poured the remainder out, and started making a fresh pot. She looked at Jasper and Bella. "I'm sorry. Give me like two seconds and I'll be right with you."

"Yeah, no problem," Bella said, waving her off.

"Let's go, Cricket. We stop at that burger shack on the way out of town."

But Bella shook her head, and pulled herself out of his arm. She hurried around the counter and picked up the two plates sitting in the window.

"Hey, you're not Jessica!"

"No shit. Which one is table three?"

"You can't just come barging back here," the tall, thin man with spiky blond hair, blue eyes, and more grease on his apron than probably in the fryer.

"Just tell me which table is number three!"

Sighing, he peeked past the counter as Jess, who was now trying to clear three tables off at once, while telling another table she would have more coffee to them pronto.

"Fine, back corner is one, then two, three. Got it?"

"Got it."

"Cricket!" Jasper called out.

"Don't just stand there, Jay, help her clear off some tables." Bella hurried over to table three and set down the two plates.

Half an hour later, all the customers meals had been delivered, the handful of empty tables were clean and reset for the next group, and Jessica and the man from inside the kitchen were leaning against the front counter, trying to catch their breath. The only one missing was Jasper, who had settled in the back of the kitchen and was washing dishes.

"Who are you, and how can I ever thank you?" Jessica gushed, smiling.

Bella laughed. "Name is Bella Swan, and you don't have to thank me. You clearly needed a hand, or four of them."

"No shit. Morning girl bailed on me again. Firing her ass as soon as I see her. Fifth time this month she's called out on me." Jessica walked around the counter, holding her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Bella Swan. I'm Jessica Newton, that's my husband Mike. We own this place, and owe you and your man back there a meal and dessert, on the house of course."

"We accept!" Jasper yelled from the kitchen, causing everyone in the diner to burst out laughing.

"You get her order, I'll grab his," Mike snickered before busting through the door leading to the kitchen.

"You really don't need to go to the trouble," Bella mumbled.

"It's no trouble. Now what would you like."

"A job. Heard you have one open."

Jessica's eyes opened. "Are you serious?"

"Very."

"Do you have any experience waiting tables?"

"Nope, not until about half an hour ago."

"That's fair."

"Look, I'm new to Baker Lake, and I need a job. I'm willing to work any shift, too."

Jessica folded her arms in front of her. "I mean, I am firing my morning girl. When can you start?"

"Tomorrow."

"Then you're hired."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. I pay ten an hour, plus you get to keep all your tips for yourself. I have thirty hours available. No benefits, sorry, but I will allow you one employee meal while on shift."

"Sounds fair."

"Okay, well, I guess I'll see you at six in the morning. Jeans, T-shirt. Nothing graphic, and closed-toe shoes. Comfortable shoes."

Bella nodded.

"Good, good, now what would you like eat?"

"Burger, fries, and peach pie. Please, of course."

"Sure, thing, Bella."

Jessica scribbled down her order and gave it to Mike before she started passing out checks, refilling coffee, and clearing off tables. Jasper walked out of the kitchen, looking like he lost the fight with the water spout, and glared at her, though the twinkle in his eyes made it clear he wasn't really angry with her.

"I would ask you why, but I already know why."

"They needed help."

"They did," Jasper pressed his lips against hers. "You're an amazing woman, Cricket."

"Thanks. She's giving me a job."

Jasper's eyes widened as he looked at Jessica, who nodded. "Oh, okay."

"Anyone who would step up and help when she's not even getting paid, well, that's enough for me," Jessica hurried around the counter and picked up two foam boxes and placed them inside a plastic bag. She walked to the pie case and grabbed an entire peach pie, placing it inside a cardboard pie box, and handed her the pie and him the bag. "Thank you again. We appreciate it."

"Yes, we do!" Mike yelled from the kitchen. "Even if you did get water all over the floor."

"Ignore him," Jessica laughed, and gestured toward the door. "I'll see you in the morning, Bella."

"Six am. Thanks again."

—WL—

Half an hour later, Bella and Jasper had unloaded all their groceries and eaten the most amazing burgers and fries she had ever had and were sitting on the back porch with a couple of beers and the pie in the middle of the table. Jasper had question her several times about why she had asked for the job, if she was sure that was the job she wanted, and told her again that she didn't need to work.

"I need to feel like an equal partner, Jay. It's important to me."

"Okay, okay, if you're sure." He picked up his beer. "We need to talk about something."

"What?" she asked, warily.

"Next Wednesday is my court day with Maria. I'd like you to be there."

Bella inhaled a deep breath. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean the bitch hated me, Jay. If she shows up and I'm there, she's even more likely to refuse to sign the papers, right?"

"If she shows up," he quipped. "Seeing as she's missed the last three, I'm not holding my breath. My attorney is confident that the judge will finally grant me the divorce, regardless if she's there or not, but I'd like you to be there. If you don't want to, I'll understand, of course."

"Do I want to? No, I don't, but . . ."

"But what?" he pressed.

Bella sighed. "If she shows up, I can't guarantee that I won't kick her ass, Jay. I hated that bitch before I heard about her putting her hands on you. I might kill her, and I just don't think I could handle prison. Orange isn't my color."

Jasper laughed. "Well, I don't want you to end up in the pen, Cricket. Seriously, she doesn't matter. I made myself a promise when I left her that I would never put myself in that position again."

"I'm sorry I drove you into her arms in the first place."

"No, Cricket, no. You did no such thing."

"Didn't I?" she counted. "If I hadn't thrown you out, you would never have looked at her like that."

"Okay, so maybe you're right. A little, but I'm a grown ass man, Bella, who shouldn't have let losing you cause me to lose my shit like that. I just . . . Look, we're together again, and I am never, ever letting you go again, so she doesn't matter."

"No, she doesn't." Bella stood and straddled him, causing him to smile her favorite smile as his hands gripped her hips. "You know I love you, don't you?"

"I do," he said, softly. "You know I love you more."

"No."

"Yes."

"No," she laughed.

"Yes," he growled, wrapping his arms around her waist before he pressed the fronts of their bodies together. "And I can prove it."

"Oh?" she asked.

Jasper nodded.

"Then I dare you."

Tilting his head backward, he laughed before he stood, her legs wrapping around his waist and planting one hand on her ass and the other keeping her close to him. Jasper carried her into the kitchen, through the dining room, and to the stairs, but stopped when they heard a car stop outside, followed by another.

Jasper groaned and pressed his forehead against her shoulder. "I forgot they were bringing your stuff."

"We could pretend we're not here?" Bella suggested.

He laughed. "Ben has me on Life 360, Cricket."

"He does?"

Jasper nodded. "He insisted on it after I left with . . . with her. When I came back, he said he didn't trust me not to bail again. I humor him. It's become a game, though. Stalking each other's whereabouts."

"That's . . . interesting." Bella placed her hands on his shoulders. "You should probably set me down."

"Don't wanna."

But when they heard car doors opening and shutting, he set Bella onto her feet. "Fine, but later, I'm going to fuck you hard."

"Is there any other way?" she challenged, but pulled herself away from him as he tried to grab her again. Laughing, Bella hurried over to the front door and opened it, walking onto the porch as her friends — no her family — once again showed up for her.

As they always said they would, she thought.

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