Bella

The week of sightseeing and playing tourist in New York was fun, but there was an added layer of excitement with the knowledge of the baby. Edward has always been sweet and protective, but seeing him now with the idea that we've created something beautiful between us, it's something else completely.

Whether he's pressing kisses to my belly in the morning when I wake up, or at night as we're going to sleep, he's there when I'm feeling sick, which is happening more and more. Edward even added my prenatal vitamins to my medicine regimen.

He went so far as to make sure that all my meds were safe for pregnancy by securing a Zoom call with my primary care doctor. Normally, I would find a lot of these traits overbearing and annoying, but coming from Edward, all I see is a man who cares and worries for me.

We have a whole day before we leave for Delaware, and Edward has been on the phone all day with conference calls and work. I've been uploading photos to social media and keeping up with my hot streak on TikTok with Lauren.

I'm replying to a video she sent about New York delis when I get interrupted by her ringing in with a FaceTime. We aren't close friends, but I like Lauren. We text often, and knowing what I know about Eleazar or what I think I know, I'm a bit worried about her.

"Hey, I was just texting you back," I say by way of greeting when I click accept.

"Hey! How's the Big Apple?"

"It's been so much fun. Edward and I are really enjoying ourselves. "

Lauren smiles. "And you're going to Philly or DC next?"

Thinking back to our fake itinerary, I shrug. "Edward wants to go to Philly; I want to go to DC. He says we can flip a coin and always change our plans," I finally tell her when I can't remember what I've actually said.

"He's so different with you. I'm happy to see it." Lauren glances away from the screen, and I can't help myself.

"Lauren, is everything okay?"

She doesn't look back at the screen when she replies. "Everything's fine. I'm just a little lonely."

"Where's the illustrious Mr. Donnelly?"

She finally looks at me as she snorts. "He had some work to attend to. He's also on the East Coast—Delaware."

I ask her about how long he's been gone or what business he has that she couldn't come too, but Lauren doesn't have a lot of information. She knows when Eleazar left but has no idea when he's supposed to be back. She knows he owns a home in Delaware, but she's never been there, so she doesn't know the area or if anything to do with the magazine is based out there.

"Why so interested?" she asks, and I soften my expression of suspicion.

"I'm sorry. I just thought you two were so in sync. It just seems so weird, and I don't know …"

"Can I be honest with you, Bella? Really honest?"

Nodding, I sit up. "Of course, Lauren. Are you okay?"

"I think Eleazar is keeping something from me. I don't know if he's seeing someone else, but he's definitely not telling me something." Lauren sighs deeply, tears forming in her eyes. "I'm worried. I really love Eleazar. Like I never loved anyone else. I don't know what I'll do if I'm right."

As I'm about to respond, Edward walks into the living room, but I hold a hand up off screen to stop him.

"Lauren, have you thought about hiring an investigator? Or just flying out to Delaware to confront him?"

Edward's eyebrows shoot to his hairline as we both wait for her response.

"I did hire someone to follow him. He's been in contact with some woman who lives there." Her voice cracks.

"Lauren, I'm sorry. Are you sure of anything?"

"That's the problem; there's no proof of anything he's doing. I don't know what to do." She's in tears now, wiping at her cheeks as I chance a look at Edward. Without exchanging any words, I know he's on the same page as me.

"Lauren, pack a bag. I'm buying you a red-eye ticket. We'll extend our stay in New York by a couple days," I begin to explain to her.

"Bella, I'm not going to third wheel my ex and my new friend. No, thank you." She chuckles, but the tears are still flowing.

"Lauren, just pack. I'll send you the ticket information. I need you to come to New York. We need to talk." Edward moves from his spot across the room to sit next to me.

"Lo—" She whips her head up to look at me and Edward. "We need you to trust us, please?"

"Okay." She nods. "I'll see you soon."

Edward sighs deeply as Lauren and I end the call. "Have you eaten since lunch?"

Shaking my head, I already know where this is going. "You have news, don't you?"

Nodding, he stretches his arm around me and pulls my body to his. "Felix called. I was going to reach out to Lauren this evening anyway. Why don't you order us some dinner while I find her a flight."

He moves to stand, but I keep him next to me. "Find the flight and let's get out of this room. We've been cooped up here all day. Let's go get some air."

Edward nods, already scrolling on his phone for flights. "You're right. And there's one more place I want to take you."

I walk into the bedroom to change into some more appropriate clothes for dinner than sweats. As I'm pulling a sweater over my head, Edward walks in, phone in hand. "Lauren will be on a flight in 90 minutes, if she makes it on time. But I think she's trusting us."

My phone signals with a text, and I read the banner notification from Lauren. Made it to the airport. Thank you and thank Edward for me.

"Seems like we'll be seeing her in about six hours or so," I tell him as I pass over my phone while I pull socks on. Edward tosses my phone on the bed so he can pull on a clean shirt.

"I've got a room secured for her, so she can try to get some rest when she gets here, but I know Lauren, and she'll be waiting for us to wake up so we can fill her in on whatever we know." Edward pauses in the midst of pulling his shirt on.

"What do we know?" I ask quietly.

"I'll tell you over dinner." He quickly pulls on his shirt and guides me out to the living room. "C'mon, we'll take the subway."

"You? You want us, you and me and your slowly developing fetus, to ride the subway?" I start to laugh as I shrug into my jacket, and Edward chuckles.

"It's all part of the experience, but we can Uber there." Edward pulls out his phone again to order a ride as we head down the elevator. I can't see where we're heading, but when Edward tells me we have almost a 30 minute ride, I sigh.

I know he won't share anything of any importance in the car, and I get it. But making small talk with someone I love so deeply is like pulling teeth. Instead, I ask him for more details about Lauren.

"I'm not sure what more I can tell you that I haven't already or you haven't learned for yourself," Edward begins as we sit in two captain chairs in a minivan. "Lauren has always looked out for herself, but even I can admit that she's changed since she's been with Eleazar. I mean, she sat me down for a 'come to Jesus' talk when you and I were on the outs right at the beginning of November."

It's so weird to think that Edward and I were barely speaking to each other just a few weeks ago; that our entire relationship was crashing down around us.

We sit in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes before he reaches for my hand. "I don't want for us to continue on the way we have; not now. We have too much to fight for."

I don't reply and share the remainder of the ride in silence. The driver pulls over on the street in front of what looks like red brick row houses with businesses scattered around. I still have no idea where we're going, so when Edward leads me down a small set of cement stairs into a small pizzeria, I consider myself truly surprised.

Edward is greeted like a prodigal son, and we're led to a small table toward the back of the restaurant. It's a lively place with a fire in the small hearth at the front, enough people to feel full, but it's not loud, and it's not overcrowded. The right atmosphere at the right time.

I look over the menu when I have no idea what to order; Edward offers to get me something he thinks I'll love.

While we're waiting, I broach the subject of Lauren again.

"I know it seems weird to think about, but I don't see Lauren as the bad guy in this situation. If anything, I'm worried about her," Edward tells me as he laces his fingers with mine across the tabletop.

"I am too, but I also think Lauren is going to do what she has to do so she remains unscathed from whatever is going on." Sighing, I lean back a little. "She's really worried about Eleazar."

Pulling out my phone, I check on Lauren's flight status. "Her flight will be here in about six hours, so whatever news you've been holding out on, you better tell me now so I'm not sitting there shocked with Lauren."

Edward opens his mouth just as our server drops off our pies.

"I must've chosen well because you usually only drool like that over me," Edward teases as I cut into my pie to get a slice out.

"Shut up. This looks amazing." I moan a little as I take a bite. I barely have time to swallow before I'm eyeing him again. "Spill."

Edward finishes a whole slice of his own before filling me in on some information. "Eleazar has a huge connection to Delaware and Maria. He's been sending her a sizable amount of money every month, and Felix tracked her down to find that she's living in one of his houses."

"Jesus, do you think they're involved?" I ask, my mind wandering to Lauren. "Oh my god, Lauren was right!"

"That Eleazar is cheating on her? I don't think that's it. He would have gotten caught a lot sooner," Edward tells me as he sips his wine. "Besides, El has been with Lauren for almost three years now. Why all of a sudden?"

Holding a slice aloft, I consider his words. "He went for Lauren, maybe he went after Jane/Maria too. Maybe he likes picking up your leftovers."

Edward looks thoughtful for a moment before shaking his head. "Even though he's with Lauren, she didn't immediately get together with him. There were months in between him and me. Plus, Lauren is the youngest woman Eleazar has ever been with. Everyone in our social group was pretty shocked."

We eat in silence for a while, enjoying our food while I turn everything over in my mind. I'm starting to feel full when a thought occurs to me.

"What if he's her father?"

Edward stops chewing, just to stare at me. "Who's father?"

"Jane. Maria. Whatever the fuck her name is. What if Eleazar is her father?" I clarify.

I watch as Edward tosses down his slice and grabs a napkin to wipe at his hands and face.

He leans back in his chair, crossing his arms and just staring at me. "Have I ever told you how smart I think you are?"

"Not today, but I'm listening." Sending him a wink, he grins.

"Do you mind if I call Felix?" he asks as he gets out of his chair.

"Do you mind if I eat some of your pizza?" He grins before pressing a kiss to my cheek.

"Order whatever you want to take back to the hotel. I'll be right back." He dashes outside, and I giggle to myself. Our server comes by to check on us, and I order two tiramisu to go. I think about getting something for Lauren, but the hotel will cater to her if necessary.

When Edward comes back in and sits down across from me, he's smiling but it's guarded. "Felix is looking into a possible familial connection, but he's sure he would have found it before."

"If Eleazar has been hiding this for this long, it's not Felix's fault that he didn't find it right away. It seems like the illustrious Mr. Donnelly has a lot of secrets. We'll figure them out eventually." I smile, reaching for his hand.

"Why don't you take me back to the hotel," I tell him as our server delivers our dessert and the check. "We can have dessert and dessert." I wiggle my eyebrows at Edward as he gives me a sly grin.

"Sounds like a plan to me. I need to take a step back from all of this anyway." As Edward drops some cash onto the table, and I slip into my coat, we exit together, ready to wind down if only for a short time; only to come back more determined than ever to sort everything out.