Sitting on the beach behind my parents’ home, I stared out into the ocean. The waves crashed against shore. The ocean was rocky, like the thoughts in my brain. My mind was swirling out of concern for my Bella. Seeing her curled up and so afraid in my bedroom? It shattered me. I knew she was damaged – I hated using that word; she wasn’t a broken piece of technology – but, she needed help. I wanted to show her how much I cared for her. How much I loved her. Her fears were preventing me from doing that.
I meant it when I told her that she was the one in control. I would never force myself on a woman.
“Penny for your thoughts,” my mother said, sitting down next to me. She handed me a beer. “You seemed distant at dinner.”
“I’m worried about Bella,” I whispered. “It’s her story to tell, but she hasn’t had the easiest life. Before she left this morning, she had a massive panic attack. Then, after she got home, I got a phone call from her friend, Jasper.” I blew out a breath, running my hands through my hair. “Bella’s, I guess you would call him an ex, but he’s not … anyway … he’s trying to gain custody of their son. On top of that, Seth, Bella’s son, was upset and I spoke to him, trying to calm him down.”
“He’s her ex, but not?” Mom asked, arching a brow.
“Their relationship was one of power and control. Bella didn’t have any choiceswith him,” I explained, hoping that she’d understood what I said.
“Oh, my … OH! How awful,” Mom gasped, pressing her hand to her chest. “And now, he’s trying to take her son away?”
“Yep,” I sighed. “She told me that she’d had his parental rights removed, but he’s trying to pull some bullshit to steal him away. I think it has to do with her novel and the movie being made. He wants her money and he’s using their child as a means to get it.”
“He sounds like a complete monster,” Mom snarled. “I bet you want to fly up there and make things easier for her, right?”
“You have no idea. Unfortunately, I have a couple of meetings scheduled regarding the movie. We need to finalize locations and get the appropriate clearance. I also need to figure out options for the actors, sending out copies of the script for them to audition. So, tomorrow, I’m meeting with Elliott and Demetri to go over that information,” I shrugged. “I never hated my job more than right now.”
“The nice thing is that you can delegate,” Mom offered.
“Not this,” I growled. “It needs to be done and being the director, the one in charge, I have to make these decisions. We have a timeline. Filming locations need to be set if we want to begin filming in the spring. We have to cover a lot of time within the movie. Aro wants a rough cut by next holiday season. Then, the film will be released at the beginning of the blockbuster season, beginning Memorial Day weekend.”
Mom squeezed my bicep, giving me an understanding look. With a kiss to my cheek, she stood up. “Come on, Edward. Your dad and I have dessert. I’m certain he wants to hear all about your Bella,” Mom suggested. “Brooding on the beach won’t solve the world’s problems, kiddo.”
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