Chapter Thirteen

~Alone With My Thoughts~

EPOV

"Hey Jazz, it's Edward returning your call. Sorry we keep missing each other. Uhh, looking forward to seeing you when you come down for the fourth. I know you said you're staying at your brother-in-law's place in Ship Bottom, but you know my number if you wanna escape and hit the bar or maybe take the boat fishing or whatever. I know you cherish your vacation week, Dr. Busyallthedamntime. So a...gimme a call back and we can figure out the schedule to get a day on the water or a round of golf, even…whatever you want. Alright man, catch ya later."

I'm pretty stoked about seeing Jasper and his family when they get down here in a couple of weeks. We haven't seen each other since my parents' Christmas open house. His life is insanely hectic with his residency and the awful hours he logs between the hospital and the research he needs to complete to stay competitive. God bless him, he deserves a medal for all he's done and seen.

Working at Cooper Trauma Center in Camden is hardly Shangri-La. He tries to spare us some of the gory details at times, but man…even my worst day doesn't remotely compare to the tragedy and heartache that he has to deal with sometimes.

He'll get quite a kick out of my current misery, that's for sure. When we'd come back to school each fall, I'd regale him with the insane shit I had to deal with at the hotel while he would tell me the sometimes hilarious and sometimes awful stories that kept him busy as a med student.

The fact that Isabe—dammit, I've gotta stop doing that; the fact that BEL-LA has manifested out of thin air will have him in hysterics, knowing our history and how twisted up I was over her for so many years.

Speaking of the devil. I'm not avoiding a talk with her on purpose, I'm just not actively seeking her out, nor am I making myself available at all times. Between a couple of opposite shifts and never having a moment to spare, even when we are in the same room, the opportunity to talk has never presented itself and that's fine by me. This is her issue, not mine. I'm not a coward. Hell, I've got nothing to hide. She's the one who has to explain herself and say her piece. My heart chased her for four years and I'm not doing it anymore; that ship has sailed.

We're working together tonight and then she has the next couple of days off in preparation for her aunt's service this weekend. Even if I escape her this evening, I know it's only a matter of time before she corners me. I mean, we're gonna be together for hours and hours between Saturday and Sunday. In all of the preparations that I've overheard her coordinate, I haven't heard her mention her parents or even her chump of a husband, not once. How is it that she alone, is in charge of this whole weekend? Shouldn't her parents be stepping up to help with these plans? My gut's telling me that something's not right.

"Hey, Edward." I spin around when I hear a soft voice calling me.

"Hi…Charlotte? Oh my God, what are you doing here?" I jump over the bar to greet my brother's first true love with a bear hug.

"I'm back! I finished my program at Polimoda a few weeks ago. I'd been considering staying on in Italy to get a job over there in one of the design houses, but when my dad got sick, I knew I wanted and needed to be back here in the States. So…here I am!"

Charlotte, James's ex-girlfriend

Oh boy. James is gonna FLIP. OUT.

"I'm sorry to hear that your dad's sick, is he gonna be alright?"

"Well, I don't know. He spent years thinking it was cool to smoke like a chimney and now his COPD and emphysema are helping him see that maybe it wasn't such a great idea. He's in and out of the hospital all the time. He's home right now, though. I don't know how long that'll last. But once I helped get him settled back at my parents' place in the city, I drove down here to say hi…—Is umm, is James around?"

"Uhhh, yeah. I mean, he's not here today. He's actually over at the B&B. You could take a ride over there if you'd like. Or do you want me to call him first?" I pick up the bar phone and hold it in the air like she doesn't know what a freakin' phone looks like. Idiot.

"No…I'd rather surprise him."

"Sure. I mean, he's there prepping for an event we're catering this weekend, but he should be available. Wow...it's really great to see you, Char."

I seriously can't stop grinning.

My brother's ex is back.

Bella may end up being yesterday's news.

Just…wow.

"Well, I'm hoping James feels the same way. Hey, how's Tori?"

"Oh, she's fine. She'll be home next week in preparation for the engagement party on the fourth."

"That's fantastic. Congratulations, by the way. My mom called me at Christmas and said you popped the question; good for you. Tori's a sweetheart."

"Yeah, she is. I'm a lucky guy. I just wish she didn't travel so much. I miss having her around here, you know? I'm hoping to convince her to open a shop on the island once her next movie gig is over. She said she's been thinking about it. So…we'll see."

"That's awesome. I hope she comes home and stays. When you realize what's important in life, it's crucial to hold on to the one you love and never let that person go." I see her mood turn somber and I wonder if it has to do with my brother.

"Well, listen… I won't hold you up. I know the crowd'll be picking up soon. I just wanted to stop by and say hi. I was hoping I'd see you today."

"I'm so glad you did. Definitely go over to the B&B, James'll wanna catch up."

She huffs out what sounds like a nervous chuckle and wrings her hands.

"Yeah, I hope so. I've missed him…a lot."

I nod with a knowing smile.

"He's missed you too, Char."

"Okay," she shakes her head of the memories that must've just swept her away. "I'm outta here. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I'm sure we'll see each other again soon."

"I hope so. See ya!" I give her another friendly nod and start doing the "Carlton Dance" on the inside.

Charlotte is back? Like she's back-BACK!

Un. Freaking. Believable.

What could this mean?

Will she get back together with James?

He'll totally take her back.

Who cares that he's been seeing Bella?

They haven't even been together three weeks!

Holy crap, what wouldn't I give to be a fly on the wall at Four Seas in a few minutes.

James is gonna blow a gasket.

I instantaneously come to grips with the fact that my inner monologue has turned into a hyperactive twelve year-old girl with these rapid-fire thoughts and questions.

Yet, aside from that mildly disturbing realization, I feel like the clouds have lifted a bit. I've been so wrapped up in the resurrection of Bella in my world that I barely had time to recover when I found out she was trying to get her claws into my BROTHER!

Guess you'll have to go back to your rich-ass husband, Bella King. Hopefully he's back from the Hamptons where he keeps his other family.

Okay, so I might be reaching a bit on that one, but Alec was such a fucking snake, I would never put that past him. He certainly practiced the art of juggling women during his summers in Ocean City years ago. He only ever cared about himself.

Oh, and his whiskey. He and his old man, Royce. Those two probably bought an island somewhere in the South Pacific specifically for housing their mistresses and their high-end bottles of liquor.

Son of a bitch.

It seems all it takes is one quick memory of their pompous arrogance and I'm getting furious remembering that night and how worried I was for Bella.

"Edwaaard, Edwaaard, I neeeed you. Why don't you like meee? All the boys like meee. Don't you wanna liiiike meee toooo?" From where I enter her cabana, I see her long legs draped over the edge of the love seat before the rest of her mostly-naked body comes into view.

"Isabella, what the hell did they do to you and what are you wearing? Fuckers! Come on, get up…you need to get upstairs to your penthouse."

"Noooooo, they're coming back! We're having a partyyyyyy, don't you want to stay for the partyyyy with meee? You never want to stay with me, Edward. You just run in, do your job and run out. You're a partyyy pooper, Edward. Don't be that way…staaaay with meeee." She's waving her arms in front of her like a mental case.

"Isabella, you need to throw some fucking clothes on and let me take you upstairs, because they'll be back soon. I can hear them coming down the boards right now."

"I'm not leaving my partyyyyy, they were having a party for meee! They just went to get some pizza and other junk. They'll be back anyyyy minute." She starts laughing uncontrollably.

This is unreal.

I kneel down in front of where she's sprawled out on the love seat.

"Isabella. Goddammit, listen to me!" I shake her shoulders and she attempts to control her lolling head and focus on my face.

"Your asshole of a boyfriend and his sick father were playing a twisted game of poker earlier with their friends. I heard them, Isabella. I was in their cabana cleaning up when I heard them bet you in the game.

"Royce BET you and your sick fuck of a boyfriend let it happen all in the name of a bottle of whiskey. A rare bottle of whiskey is more important than your safety, let alone your happiness.

"He lost, Bella! He lost and when they get back, your moron boyfriend is planning to drop you off at another hotel tonight so the winner of the game can claim you as his prize." I can feel myself raging on the inside.

How dare they do this to another person? Spoiled brat or not, she doesn't deserve this. Nobody deserves this. What? Am I in the middle of a fucking slave auction?

I snap myself out of my crazed inner monologue and channel my fury toward getting Isabella out of here safely.

"Now, get up and get your ass upstairs with me. I can't help you if you don't get up from the couch!"

I close my eyes tightly, trying to erase the God-awful memory of that night and following morning from almost five years ago.

I'm seriously giving myself one helluva case of whiplash.

One minute, I'm feeling nothing but disgust toward Bella and the ugly, obnoxious memories that I continue to associate with her and the summers I spent in her company working for her family.

Then, moments later, I find myself concerned for her feelings, distracted by her stunning face and spectacular sparkling eyes, remembering those very few and far between gentle moments we shared over those four years that kept me coming back for more; I'm outrageously and inappropriately attracted to her, knowing full well that she's now dating my brother.

I shake my head and busy myself checking the coolers to make sure we're well stocked for the evening's rush of bottled beer drinkers. Immersing myself in work always got me through the crazy thoughts back in the day, it'll have to be my cure-all again right now.

~~~~~L~A~S~T~C~A~L~L~~~~~

The night absolutely flies by. We're slammed from ten minutes after Bella walks in the door and we don't stop until about 12:30am. She's done a great job tonight keeping up with the quick pace and turnover of the restaurant and bar, as well as handling the specific needs of her customers.

As much as it pains me to admit it, she's really looking like a terrific waitress and is picking things up very quickly considering her lack of experience, and as far as I'm concerned, her past lack of personality and general kindness toward the human race.

Maybe she has changed. The how and the why are the sixty-four thousand dollar question, though. Make that one hundred twenty-eight thousand dollars for both answers!

I decide to swallow my pride and pay her a well-deserved compliment.

"Hey Bella, thanks again for stepping up tonight. I know it was a little crazy, but...you did well," I offer sincerely.

"Thank you." She flushes a bit and bites that smiling plump lower lip of hers causing something to start stirring in me down below.

Easy, tiger.

"So, I guess I'll see you on Saturday morning. I'll be there around 10 or 10:30 to set up and then Eric and Meredith will arrive around noon to get started. Is there anything else I should know?"

She hesitates like she has something on the tip of her tongue, but a group of college-aged girls comes stumbling through the door and she loses her train of thought in the ruckus.

"Umm, no. I think I'm set for Saturday. I guess I'll just… see you then."

She walks back to where I'm standing behind the bar and leans over so as to not broadcast her sentiments.

"I appreciate your help, Edward. Thanks again for everything you and James have done thus far. It'll make things a lot easier for me this weekend knowing you two—,"

The crowd of girls gets loud and starts demanding drinks, causing Bella to back up and grip the strap of her purse tighter against her shoulder.

I nod at her thoughtfully, with what I hope is a hint of a smile, acknowledging that she was paying me a compliment prior to being interrupted by the cackling ladies.

She turns to walk out the door and I make myself useful and start filling drink orders. This weekend may very well end up being one of the most bizarre experiences of my adult life. The thought of being surrounded by Bella's family again gives me no peace.

But I have a job to do, so it'll get done.

~~~~~L~A~S~T~C~A~L~L~~~~~

1:03 am

Ahhhhh. I'm finally able to crawl into bed. The van is packed and all of the liquor and necessary supplies are ready to go for the service at Bella's house tomorrow. I need to get over to Four Seas by 9 so James and I can load up the van with the food. If I fall asleep in the next fifteen minutes, I can still get about seven hours of sleep. I just need to turn off my brain, which has been racing at the speed of light for reasons I don't even want to dwell on.

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1:46 am

Relax, E. It'll be fine.

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2:22 am

Come on, seriously? I need sleep! This is dumb.

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2:57 am

Dude.

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3:34 am

This is madness. I huff and puff, punching the damn pillow and turning over for the 483rd time since I got into bed with the full intention of getting seven hours of sleep.

That's it! I'm popping a freaking Tylenol PM…who cares if I have to get up in four hours? This shit is for the birds.

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4:08 am.

Sleep is mocking me and exhaustion has made me its bitch. I'm jittery and stressed and I can't believe I haven't slept a wink.

How the hell am I gonna function tomorrow?

HA! Tomorrow? Try in five hours, fool!

I'm catering an event for somewhere between two hundred and three hundred people! I'm going to be standing, basically immobile, mixing and serving drinks for about five hours. And then I've gotta do it all over again the NEXT day!

You've got to be KIDDING me.

To say nothing, NOTHING of the fact that I have to face not only Bella, but her parents. Ugh, her mother? AND the Kings?

And hold the freaking phone, how is Bella even gonna pull this off? Clearly she knows that I know she's dating my brother, but I remember plain as day when she told me she's married, so I have to assume that her husband and his family will be in attendance at her great aunt's funeral.

This'll be rich.

It's no wonder I can't relax enough to get to sleep.

PLUS, I haven't crossed paths with, or even heard from, my brother since I sent Charlotte to go see him.

I wonder how that little reunion went.

He used to be a playboy a few years back, but I know that's not his style anymore. I can't imagine he'd string a girl along if another caught his eye. He would do the right thing and end things before starting up with somebody else. Especially when it comes to Charlotte. She was the only girl who ever truly captured James's heart.

What if he doesn't want to end things with Bella?

What if Charlotte is too late and James is falling hard and fast for the girl who occupied my every thought for four long years?

What if she ditches Alec and marries my brother?

How am I gonna stand at the altar as James's best man and watch Bella vow to love him forever?

How am I gonna sit across from her at Thanksgiving dinners year after year?

All I'm gonna be doing is imagining what she looks like under her clothes! And how her tongue feels when it—…

HOLY!

SHIT!

Turn off your fucking brain, Edward! If you didn't sound like a stressed-out, hyperactive chick before, you sure as hell do now.

I need to put an end to this.

And do I have to remind you, yet again, that at that same Thanksgiving dinner table you're worrying over, your wife TORI will be by your side?

At that thought, I leap up out of bed and run to the bathroom to gag over the toilet and only end up dry heaving.

What THEFUCK am I doing?

I need to talk to James. I need to pick his brain about the two girls who are now quite possibly throwing themselves at his feet.

I can't keep living like this. I found a fucking grey hair near my temple last night. Bella coming back into my life has started aging me at warp speed.

If I keep this up, I'm gonna be wrinkled and wearing dentures by the end of the summer.

I splash some water on my face and rinse my mouth out.

It's 4:19 am when I collapse back in bed.

I don't remember seeing 4:20.

~~~~~L~A~S~T~C~A~L~L~~~~~

"Dude. We need to talk." The keys aren't even out of the ignition when I accost James in the driveway of Four Seas.

"Okay. What's up? You wanna cup of coffee? You don't look so hot." I follow him up the porch's back staircase and through the kitchen door.

"Ya think? I got about four hours sleep and that's ONLY because I popped a sleeping pill at 3:30. I'm like the walking dead right now. It'll be a miracle if I make it through the day, mark my words."

"Jesus. Alright. So—what's going on?" He grabs a fresh mug, pours my cup and passes it to me. As I sit at the kitchen table, I see him grabbing his cup to top it off.

"Well, first off, how did it go with Charlotte the other day?"

"HA! Well, it was good. Too good, actually. I can't believe she's back permanently. I never thought I'd see her again, E. I mean, a year ago she drops the bombshell about studying in Italy and staying after graduation to work in their high-end fashion design houses, making it very clear that her dreams and aspirations are much more important than chasing a childhood crush. Yet, here she is." He shakes his head in resigned confusion.

I snort sarcastically, knowing all too well the feeling of thinking you'd never see that somebody again and suddenly she appears out of nowhere, only to create complete havoc, whether she knows she's doing it or not.

"So, what are you gonna do? I know you're seeing Bella here and there. How's that going by the way?" I'm trying to be as casual as possible, but my brother's not dumb. He's cocking an eyebrow at me right now, seeing through my very transparent veil.

"Edward. What are you asking me?"

"I just wanna know how your reunion with Charlotte went and what that ultimately means for you and Bella. I mean, you are dating her, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I'm dating her. And I like her. I like her a lot. Bella's pretty fantastic. I know you don't think so, but there are things you don't know and once you do, you might be able to see her for who she is."

My spine stiffens.

"What the hell does that mean? Things I don't know? I just want to make sure she's treating you right. I have my doubts about the kind of person she is and I'm worried about my little brother getting involved with a girl who clearly told me less than two weeks ago that she's married."

"E, let it go, man. I'm fine."

"No, hang on. If you're getting involved with a married woman, something's not right. Think about it! What would Mom and Dad say?"

"Edward, she's not married. I'm not a complete ass. Just leave it alone, okay?"

"Well, then you might want to check with her to be sure. I mean, two weeks ago she told me she was married. And hey, maybe she just wanted to get rid of me 'cause she already had her eye on you and that's fucked up in a way, but whatever. I'm just worried about you. I knew her a long time before you did and she was a pretty awful person. I just don't want to see you get hurt."

He's vehemently shaking his head back and forth. "I'm not gonna get hurt. She's not an awful person and she's not married. Just…just talk to her, man. I can't say anything else. Just talk to her. She wants to clear the air with you."

"There's nothing that needs to be cleared. I'm good," I spout, hoping that the lightning bolt God's about to hurl at me for lying kills me dead and ends my suffering.

James starts to lose his patience, his voice rising. "Bullshit, you're good! You're acting like a fucking lunatic and have been for the last three weeks, ever since she walked through our doors. You need to get it together! Whatever it was that happened between the two of you needs to be worked through, so you can both move on."

"So you're moving on with her, then? Charlotte isn't gonna be a factor?"

James chuckles and looks me dead in the eye.

"I have no idea. Charlotte showed up on this porch three days ago telling me she still loves me and she's back in New York City. She's not going back to Italy and has already set up a few interviews with some pretty prestigious brand names looking for new blood. I'm not ready to end things with Bella, though. I'm liking the direction we're heading. And even though Charlotte was the first girl I ever really loved, I don't know if I'm ready to go back there. It hurt when she left."

"So umm, you and Bella are getting serious, then? Have you taken it that far?"

"Edward, I'm not talking to you about sex with Bella. I know what you're fishing for and I'm not biting. If you have something to say to me about me being with Bella, then say it. I'm your brother and I love you. I told you last week that I would step away if you thought this would be too weird. You said 'go for it' so that's what I'm doing.

"Now. Is there something you want to say to me? Do you want to change your answer? Cause I'll do it for you, Edward. I will. You're not just my big brother, but you're my best fucking friend and this shit isn't gonna fly. Tell me what you want from me." James's voice is clear, his thoughts concise, and once again, I'm left stumped.

"Honestly? I— I don't even know what I want, J. I've had no sleep and I KNOW I'm acting like an escaped mental patient. Just let me figure out which end is up and I'll talk to you after this weekend, okay?"

"Alright, man. But can I just say one more thing before we load up this van?"

"Yeah, go ahead."

"You do realize your fiancée is coming home next week, right? Did you ever think that maybe you're just confused and beyond sexually frustrated and THAT'S why you're going nuts?"

"Trust me. It's the first thing I consider when I wake up and the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. I just need Tori back here. Once she's back, I think I'll be able to function again."

"Think so?" James questions.

"Yeah. I do."

"Okay. Just…please talk to me when you're ready, alright? You haven't been yourself for the last few weeks and it's worrying me."

"Nahh. No worries. I'm gonna be alright. I just need to clear the air with Bella, I guess."

"Yeah, you do. And as far as Charlotte goes, it's too soon to tell. I mean, it's great that she's back. And I'm not gonna lie and pretend like I haven't thought about her this past year. But I don't know if I should take a step backwards. That might be the wrong direction for me to go, y'know?"

"No, I get it. Just do what feels right. I know you'll make the right decision," I add with a confident nod.

"Okay…is our little 'Afterschool Special' all done here? Can we get this van loaded now?" James is smirking, trying to lighten the mood.

"Hahaha, yeah, smart ass. We're done. Let's get moving."

~~~~~L~A~S~T~C~A~L~L~~~~~

Bella's home is enormous, but I came to find out early in the day that it's only recently hers. This was her aunt's home, which explains the decorating and the museum-like feel of the furniture and artwork throughout the main level.

It's almost seven and the crowd has finally thinned out a bit. Aside from the fact that I'm beyond exhausted and I've been seeing double for much of the day, I can safely say that I've never seen anything like what went on here today. There were hundreds of people coming through the door to pay their respect to this lady. And we have another day of this tomorrow! She could have been lying in state, for all of the attention this woman garnered over her 73 years!

I heard them singing her praises all afternoon. The causes she championed, the charities she supported with her love and time and money. The respect she earned was quite obvious. She was a true philanthropist.

Bella was inundated with mourners from all over the world. Multiple members of Congress, the governors of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York were all here as well as several senators from New Jersey and its surrounding states. The leaders of many of the international organizations that Mrs. Harrington worked tirelessly for, not to mention so many friends, clergy and some distant relatives from her late husband's side all arrived today to grieve with Bella.

In fact, the only notable people who were missing were Bella's family. I certainly never saw Alec or his parents. Nor did I see Charles or Renee. I couldn't explain it at all. There must've been some type of falling out in the recent past. Why else would all of those people be absent from a family event, making it appear that Bella was the only living relative of this woman, when I know damn well that she has parents and a family by marriage?

None of it made any sense, but I would just add it to the long list of things that made little to no sense where Bella was concerned these days.

Eric, Meredith and I are boxing up the remaining food from today and storing it in Bella's refrigerator. What doesn't fit here will come back to Four Seas with me and I'll bring it back tomorrow morning. The liquor needs to be inventoried, but I'll save that for tomorrow and instead just make a list of anything I ran out of today.

I thank Eric and Meredith for their help today and we all agree to meet back here at noon tomorrow for another round of setting up and ensuring things are warming properly before the guests arrive. I haven't seen Bella for over an hour. I don't know where she disappeared to.

As I watched her throughout the afternoon, she kept a smile on her face and appeared to make pleasant conversation with those who approached her. She came up to me only twice with a thoughtful look in her eyes.

"Hi."

"Hey. You doin' okay? Need a drink?"

"My usual if you don't mind."

"Not at all."

And that was it. I'd hand her the Shirley Temple and she'd just smile and walk away solemnly. It made my heart feel heavy.

For all the bitching and moaning I've been doing for the last three weeks, it's only now striking me that this girl is saying goodbye to her aunt. Somebody Bella clearly cared about. Apparently nobody else in Bella's family felt it necessary to be present for this memorial.

After filling the dishwasher for the final time and seeing that it's 8:45, I decide it's time to head home. Still Bella is nowhere to be found, so I attempt to seek her out to say goodnight.

Knowing full well that she's not on the ground floor because it's just been scoured by Eric, Meredith and me, I decide to head up the back stairs out of the kitchen to the second level. At the top of the stairs, I take a right and go all the way to the end of the hall where I see one door mostly closed, in contrast to all of the other doors which are wide open.

I approach quietly, in case Bella has fallen asleep from exhaustion, 'cause, let's face it, I can totally relate. I knock on the door after a quick peek tells me she's perched on the side of the bed, facing the open French doors.

The night breeze is pushing the white curtains all around as if they're dancing for an audience.

"Bella?"

No response.

"Umm, Bella. We're all set downstairs. I sent Eric and Meredith home and I was gonna go ahead and take off."

Still nothing.

I roll my eyes knowing that she can't see me and simply add, "I'll be back at the same time tomorrow morning. Goodnight."

I turn and start back down the hallway.

At the top of the steps, my inner angel (or is it the devil?, the jury's still out on which voice I'm actually hearing) sends me back toward her bedroom.

Hey, jerkface. Go back and check on her. You know she's alive, but you clearly didn't see her with any close family or friends who might've consoled her today. At least go ask if she's alright.

Damn it.

My conscience gets the better of me and I knock on her bedroom door for the second time in five minutes.

Bella's bedroom

Getting no response, I decide to walk into the room and over to where she's sitting. When I approach, I see her tear-stained face, with a fresh set of salty moisture pooling in the corners of her eyes, ready to spill over.

Pushing aside every bad thought and memory of what went on years ago, I kneel down in front of her, attempting a temporary truce with this clearly broken girl.

"Are you alright?"

She looks directly in my eyes and the threatening tears tip over the edge.

"Bella. Where's your family?"

"They're gone." I hear her rasp out with no emotion evident, except for the repetitive dripping of tears.

"Oh! I must've missed them. Will they at least be able to stick around a bit longer tomorrow?" I question, a bit fearful of the answer.

"No, Edward. Nobody's coming tomorrow. Rose and Emmett will be back from their emergency trip to Maryland. And I think Alice and Jasper got a babysitter, so they'll be here, too, but no family."

"Hang on, Alice and Jasper? And why no family? I don't get it. Why isn't anyone here to help you… to grieve with you?"

She looks back up at me with fresh tears silently pouring.

I take it as my cue to get up from my kneeling position and sit down next to her on the bed.

"Talk to me, Bella. Where is everyone?"

She follows my movement to the bed, making eye contact with me at the sound of my question and then looks away; staring out her door to the deck and the ocean beyond.

"They're dead, Edward. They're all dead."