Destination Date Teaser

 Over biscuits, gravy and a serving of sour dough bread, Bella, Edward, and Miss Alice devised a plan to fight JR. In order to deal with his special brand of bullshit, they needed all the carbs they could get their hands on. They even got Carlisle in on the plan, as well. Carlisle was more than willing to go to bat to prove that Miss Alice was mentally capable of taking care of herself and making decisions about her life. Even with her bout with COVID, which was mild compared to what other people were dealing with.

Miss Alice’s bridge friend had passed away.

The man who had infected Emmett was still in the hospital, deteriorating quickly toward the end of his isolation. He was hooked up to a ventilator. It seemed unlikely that he’d get off that ventilator. Even with that, his oxygen saturation in his blood was still dangerously low. They only knew that because Emmett was listed as the man’s emergency contact. Emmett was trying to get ahold of the man’s family, but if things got worse, Emmett would have to make the difficult decision of pulling the plug.

After they finished discussing and solidifying their plan of attack, Bella went back to her apartment to shower. Edward stayed with Miss Alice. He was very concerned that JR would use the opportunity to hurt his mother. He also wanted some answers about Miss Alice’s son, among other things.

“I’m sorry you’re dealing with this bullshit, Miss Alice,” Edward frowned. “Was JR always like this?”

“He always looked for the easy solution to a problem. Preferably with the least amount of work required,” Miss Alice snorted derisively. “He wasn’t as bad while his father was alive. Reason being was that my Jasper looked over JR’s work. He knew our son’s penchant to take the easy way out.”

“And, after your husband died?” Edward asked.

“He got a lot worse and buried the shipping business in bullshit,” Miss Alice sighed. “Ten years after my husband’s retirement and subsequent death, Whitlock Exports shut its doors after nearly a century of being in business.”

“If you don’t mind, I’m curious. You don’t have to answer if I’m crossing some line, but …,” Edward began. “How were you able to amass your wealth?”

“You’re not crossing any line. I’m happy to tell you, sweetie. I was a socialite, a Southern debutante, and my money is from my family. My father’s father struck oil and we wanted for nothing. After I’d gotten married, I used part of my inheritance to give my Jasper a boost to his export company. Jasper, who is honorable to his core, paid me back once he’d doubled my investment,” Miss Alice explained with a wistful smile. “So, the money that my son is trying to get his paws on is from my family. In reality, it should belong to my children, but I cannot, in my right mind, give it to them. Not after they treated me when their father died.”

“It’s your decision to give your inheritance to who you choose,” Edward murmured. “You would think that they’d be a little more endearing to you to get on your good side.”

“You would think that taking care of them for all their lives would mean they would do the same for their mother,” Miss Alice sneered. “But, no. They are more interested in their own little lives. Not mine. Do I love my children? Even when they disappoint me? Yes, I do. Do I trust them? No.”

“But, you love and trust Bella,” Edward smiled.

“If I had my choice, picking my own child, I’d choose Bella. Every day,” Miss Alice said, giving Edward a warm smile. “She’s everything I ever wanted in a daughter. She’s smart, beautiful, kind, and strong. I love Bella so much. Probably more than my own children, which is an awful thing to say. However, with her mother being the selfish, ignorant bitch she is and the loss of her father? She needed a family. I needed a family. We found it in each other. When I met her? She was so closed off. I managed to get under her skin.”

“Her mother is a piece of shit,” Edward spat. “She blamed her husband’s behavior on her and then had the gall of saying that … Renee makes my blood boil.”

“She does that to Bella, too,” Miss Alice grumbled. “Her spouting out those conspiracy theories and showing her true colors? It’s a blessing in disguise.”

“Miss Alice, since you’re the closest thing that Bella has to a family, I figured you wouldn’t mind …” he trailed off. “I love Bella more than words can say.”

“I see it in how you interact with her,” Miss Alice murmured, taking his hand. “You love her and ground her, provide stability where she doesn’t have much.”

“She gives me buoyancy where I’m usually weighted down. Miss Alice, I want to marry her,” Edward proclaimed. “I want your permission to marry her.”