8

At five minutes till seven, Bella found herself standing on the front porch of the blue house on the corner of Nelson and Ambers Street with a chocolate, caramel, upside-down cake in her hands. She wasn't sure why she was there, though. The last place she wanted to be right then was at Emmett and Rosalie McCarty's house, but Dr. Black had ordered her to go, and it was either go to their house for dinner or stay home where Charlie hovered. She should have stayed home; she thought as the front door opened and she found herself face to face with Emmett.

He smiled, the dimple in his left cheek sinking inward and his blue eyes sparkling. "Hey, Izzy. Come on in."

"Thanks," she whispered and stepped around him and into the house.

She looked around the living room, taking in the beige overstuffed couch, matching chair, and a square coffee table covered with parenting magazines. An oak mantle surrounded the brick fireplace, and the walls were covered with pictures of Rosalie and Emmett alone, some with Edward and others with Jacob. There were also those featuring all of them: Edward, Jacob, her, and Carlisle; pictures she could remember vividly being taken, memories of another life.

"Is that your famous chocolate, caramel, upside-down cake I smell?"

Bella tore her eyes off the photographs and looked back at Emmett before nodding. "I figured you hadn't had it in a while, so . . ."

"Yeah, it's . . . been a long time." He cleared his throat and reached for it. "Ro should be down in a minute. She, um, she was just getting out of the shower."

Bella nodded, unsure what to say, so instead, she just stood there.

"I'll be right back. Have a seat."

Emmett turned and headed into what she assumed was the kitchen, so she walked over and sat on the couch, letting her bag fall to the floor, crossing her legs at the knee, and placing her hands in her lap. She didn't have to wait long before Rosalie shuffled down the stairs. Normally, Rosalie was one of those women who always dressed to impress, yet she was wearing a pair of black leggings and one of Emmett's Army T-shirts. Her hair was wet and braided so it hung loosely over her shoulder.

"You're here!" Rosalie cheered, waddled over, and sat on the couch with a groan, her hands resting on her oversized belly. "How was your appointment?"

"It was okay, I guess. I got to see the baby again."

"Oh, I want to see!"

Bella bit her lip as she picked up her bag and slipped one of the ultrasound pictures out, holding it to Rosalie, who whimpered and said, "Awe," as she gazed at it.

"Wow," Rosalie giggled, her eyes filling with tears as she looked from the ultrasound photo to Bella. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?"

"I just . . . I didn't think about how hard this must be for you with him gone, and everything."

Bella inhaled a deep breath before she reached for the scan and shoved it back into her purse. "Yeah, hard is a nice way to put it."

"I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing." Bella scrambled to her feet, wrapping her arms around herself as she walked over and stood in front of her favorite photo of all of them.

She and Rosalie had just turned seventeen, and Carlisle, Jacob, Emmett, and Edward had surprised them with a party at the Oasis. Old Man Banner had closed the place just for them, always for them, and there were balloons, cheesy crepe paper, cardboard hats, and a big cake that said Happy Birthday Izzy and Ro. And they danced, sang, and laughed. It was the best night she had ever had. After the party, Carlisle had slipped his hand in hers and led her out to his car and whispered in her ear, "I love you, Izzy. I love you, and I promise to give you the world. The whole world."

It was the first time he'd told herhe loved her, that he wanted forever with her. He'd promised to give her the world, and for ten years, she thought he had. But then he died, and she learned that he was unhappy with their life together. How long had he felt that way, though? Weeks, months, years?

"Is everything okay?"

Taking a deep breath, Bella turned and looked back, finding Emmett standing next to the couch, his eyes flickering from her to Rosalie and back. "I, um, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come."

"Please, don't leave." Rosalie scrambled to her feet, Emmett automatically reaching over and wrapping his arm around her. "Please, Izzy. I've missed you. I've missed you so much."

"I . . ." Bella's eyes filled with tears as she shook her head. "I've missed you, too, but I can't be here with you without him. I'm sorry. I'm just . . . I'm just so sorry."

And wrapping her arms around herself, Bella hurried past them and out of the blue house on the corner of Nelson and Ambers Street. Arriving at her car, she climbed in behind the wheel, her heart aching as she gripped the steering wheel, tears falling down her face. The passenger door opened, startling her, and when she looked over, she saw Emmett slide into the passenger seat.

"I saw him about a year ago."

Bella's eyes widened, and she used her shoulder to wipe the tears off her cheeks. "You did?"

Emmett nodded. "I'd been on leave and was heading back. I had a layover in New York, but my flight was delayed due to the weather, so I texted him and asked if you both were free for dinner. I thought it would be nice to catch up. He said you had rehearsals, but that he was free. He texted me the address to this really shitty diner named Moe's."

"Moe's is not a shitty diner!" Bella exclaimed, but when Emmett scoffed, she laughed. "Okay, maybe it is, but it is . . . was our favorite diner in the city."

Emmett laughed. "They did seem to know him."

She smiled but didn't reply.

"He talked about you the whole time, Izzy. Said you were working your ass off for a production of Valley of Shadows, I believe it was called."

She nodded. "It was my first lead role in almost three years. I'd been plagued by injuries, and it's so hard to come back. Once word gets out that you're down, directors don't like taking chances on you, but I'd finally landed a lead, and I was determined to be the best."

"He was so proud of you, Izzy. He loved watching you dance."

She sniffed and looked out the window. "He sat in the front row . . . On opening night, he sat in the front row, and I could feel him watching me. Felt like I was dancing just for him, always just for him. When the show was over, when the curtain had been drawn, he was the first person I heard yelling encore, encore. He came backstage, wrapped his arms around me, and kissed me, and for a moment, it was just me and him."

Bella released a breath before she lolled her head toward him. "Sorry."

"Don't apologize, Izzy."

"I miss him, Emmett. I miss him so much."

"Me too." He pushed open the door to her car. "And we've missed you."

Bella frowned. "I just . . . I need more time. I just . . . Tell Ro I'm sorry, that I'll text her later. I promise."

"I'm going to eat every bite of that cake. You realize that, don't you?"

Bella laughed and nodded. "It was always your favorite."

"We love you, Iz."

"I love you, too," she whimpered. "I do, Em. I really do."

Emmett leaned across the front seat and kissed the side of her head before he climbed out of the car and closed the door behind him. He walked backward and stopped on the sidewalk before giving her a small wave. Then, he turned and headed back into the blue house on the corner of Nelson and Ambers Street to his pregnant wife and perfect life.

—RtW—

Bella didn't go home. Instead, she made the half-hour drive from Woodbury to Minneapolis and parked in front of the large, red brick townhouse in the middle of Van Buren Street. The townhouses around it had boring brown wooden doors with the same generic white numbers on them, but the one she watched was painted the brightest purple she had ever seen. There were large clay pots on either side, overflowing with beautiful red and yellow gaillardias.

The purple door opened, and Esme Platt walked out. She was taller than Bella expected, her hair longer than shown in her pictures, and almost the same auburn color as Edward's. She laughed and turned back toward the door as a man with sandy blond hair followed her out. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pressing his face against the side of her neck, and she again laughed. Her laughter echoed through the small opening where she'd rolled her window down.

Bella wasn't sure why she found herself climbing out of the front seat and following them. They walked three blocks before turning right and walking another four blocks before stopping outside of a small pub. The man walking with her wrapped his arm around her, pulling her against him before he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers once, twice, and then a third time — this one lingering for a solid twenty seconds. But while he turned and walked into the pub, she walked over to the curb and threw her hand in the air, her head tilting in Bella's direction, their eyes meeting for the briefest of moments before she yelled, "Taxi."

Bella started walking, but before she could reach her, a yellow and black taxi pulled up next to the curb, and she climbed inside and was gone. Stopping outsidethe pub, Bella wrapped her arms around herself. She turned to head back to her car but stopped when she found herself facing the door to the pub.

Biting the inside of her lip, she reached out, pushed the door open, and stepped inside. It was dark and hazy, but there weren't many people, given the lateness of the evening. There were only about ten, maybe fifteen, customers seated throughout the small space.

"Hey, have a seat anywhere you want." Bella turned and looked at the man who had been walking with Esme. He smiled, his light blue eyes crinkling at the corner. "I'll be with you in just a second."

"Okay."

Though her instinct told her to leave, Bella looked around before sliding into a booth next to the door. She placed her keys on top of the table next to her cell phone. She looked back at the bar, watching the man with sandy-blond hair fill two glasses with beer and place them in front of two men before grabbing a towel, wiping his hands, then draping it over his shoulder as he walked around the bar, stopping at her table.

"Sorry about the wait. I just came on shift, and I'm trying to get caught up." He smiled. "Can I get you a drink?"

"Um, I'll take a water."

"Just a water?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Bella nodded.

"Water is it. You want some cheese sticks. Maybe an order of fried pickles."

She shook her head. "Do you have cheeseburgers?"

"Only the best cheeseburgers in Minneapolis," he scoffed. "How do you want it cooked?"

"Well done."

"Want everything on it?"

Bella nodded. "Do you have jalapeños?"

"A woman after my own heart," he teased. "It comes with fries. That okay?"

"Perfect. Thank you."

"No problem. Be back with your water, and I'll turn this into the kitchen. Just holler if you need anything else."

Bella mumbled a "Thank you" before he turned and walked into the back. She tucked her hands into her lap, her eyes never leaving him as he made his way around the bar, greeting other customers like they were family. A few minutes later, he dropped off her water and then her burger and fries about ten minutes after that. While she picked at her food, managing to eat almost half her burger and a quarter of her fries, she watched him. He was friendly and polite, and she wondered if he was in love with Esme Platt. And if he was, did he know that Bella's husband had been paying her rent for the better part of the last five years?

"Do you want a to-go box?" he asked, stopping at her table again.

"No, thanks."

"That's a lot of burger left."

"Guess I wasn't as hungry as I thought."

He nodded and picked it up. "You want dessert? We have a killer fried ice cream."

"I'm okay. I'll just take the check."

"All right, but don't get mad at me when you regret not indulging later."

Bella smiled. "I'll try not to."

"They always say that and then it's 'Garrett, why didn't you make me eat it'?" He laughed and pushed away from the table with her plate in his hands. "I'll be right back with your check."

"Thank you."

She slipped her debit card out of the back of her phone case and watched as he dumped her uneaten food in the trash can before walking to the register, printing up her check. One of the guys at the bar ordered another beer, which he filled, before he hurried over and placed her check on the table. She didn't even look at it before she handed him her card.

"Want a cup for your water?"

"Yes, please."

Garrett hurried back to the bar and ran her card before he pulled a Styrofoam cup and plastic lid from under the corner. He laughed at something one of the other customers said before he filled the cup with ice and walked around the bar before arriving at her table.

"One cup of ice, and your receipt, ma'am." He smiled, his head tilting to the side. "Are you okay?"

"Of course I am," she lied.

"Sorry, I guess I just . . . You seem kind of sad."

Bella nodded.

"I'll stop being nosy. Thank you for coming by. Hope to see you back soon."

"For the fried ice cream."

Garrett laughed. "I'm telling you you're going to regret not ordering it."

"Probably, but it's a chance I'm just going to have to take, I guess."

Bella slid out of the booth and picked up hercard and receipt, sliding them into her back pocket before she poured her water over the cup of ice, sticking the plastic lid on top and inserting her straw. She turned back to Garret, noticing he was a solid foot and half taller than her. Bella dropped a twenty dollar bill onto the table before she said, "Thank you. I'm sure I'll be back."

"That's too much!" he said, trying to shove the money back into her hand, but Bella simply stood back and shook her head. "I can't accept this."

"Buy yourself a fried ice cream on me."

Bella clutched her foam cup of ice water against her chest and hurried out of the pub, turned left, walked four blocks, turned left again, and walked another three blocks before she climbed into her car and drove back to Woodbury.

—RtW—

When Bella returned to the house, she was not surprised to find the front porch light on, as well as the one in the living room. She climbed out of her car and headed up the front walk, but instead of going inside, she found herself sitting on the front steps and wrapping her arms around her knees. A minute later, she heard the front door open, and when she looked back, she saw Charlie standing there. He gave her a look before he walked out and sat next to her, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her against him.

"Oh, kiddo."

"How'd you do it, Dad? After she left, how'd you raise me and Jay by yourself?"

"It wasn't easy," he admitted. "You weren't babies, so you were fairly self-sufficient. You were angry then, too, Izzy. So angry, and I wasn't sure you would ever stop being so angry."

"Carlisle made me feel better," she admitted. "He'd hold me when I let myself cry over her. He was always there, always there to hold me together. He could always get me to laugh; even when I was sad, he was always there to make me laugh. And now he's not, and I don't know . . . I don't know how to be here without him anymore. I don't know how to live without him, Dad."

"He was a good man, Izzy, a good man, but he's gone. He's just gone, Iz."

Bella brought her hand up to her mouth, trying to muffle the sob.

"Izzy."

Dropping her hand to the top of her shirt, she lifted it to her face, trying to hide her tears . . . to hide her humiliation.

"It's okay, Izzy."

Charlie tightened his arm around her, holding her against him as she cried, overcome with sorrow and grief. Because once upon a time, Carlisle had been a good man, a good husband. She thought he still was, but it turned out he'd been hiding a secret sister and undisclosed money, as well as the fact that he wasn't happy with her anymore. But maybe, just maybe, it wasn't that he wasn't a good man anymore. Maybe it was her. Maybe she had stopped being a good wife to him.

Somehow, Bella found the strength to pull herself out of her father's arms and hurried into the house, upstairs, and into her bedroom. She closed the door behind her, leaning against the thick wood, her eyes locked on the nightstand next to her bed where three new sunflowers sat in a crystal vase. Folded in front of it was another note, and Bella pushed herself away from the door, walked over, and picked it up.

She sat on the side of the bed and unfolded it, biting the inside of her lip before she read, "You deserve better than someone who made you feel less than the most important person in the room, Izzy. Edward."

Thank you for all the AMAZING (I do mean AMAZING) reviews. I know alerts are hit and miss at the moment, but if you are getting this, thank you for coming back. I want to thank Sunflower Fran for being my sounding board, and cleaning up my mess. She's a lifesaver, y'all. A lifesaver! Do me a favor, and leave me a few more words for this chapter and our Izzy.