The Perfect Storm Epilogue

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March 28^th, 2022
Las Vegas, Nevada
Bellagio Hotel

“Will you calm your tits?” Angela laughed. She’d quickly become one Bella’s closest friends. She taught drama, introduction to public speaking and Brit Lit. “You’re going to sweat through your dress. You don’t have cold feet, do you?”

“Hell, no! My feet are toasty warm,” Bella retorted. “I just never imagined being here. I never thought I’d be married again.”

“You’re not married yet, bitch,” Angela smirked. “Dr. Heatwave is still single at this moment. Do you think he’d go for me?”

“I don’t think so, Ang. Besides, you’re married, woman! I love you and I love that you helped me come out of my shell,” Bella snickered. “I never realized how much I hid my personality. You know?”

“You were pretty quiet when I first met you. Then, I drew you into my world. Thank you for being my assistant director for the play. You were awesome. You’re doing it again, next year,” Angela proclaimed. “If you’re not knocked up.”

“I’m not pregnant, Angela,” Bella sighed.

“Then, why the rush to the altar?”

“Because, when you know, you know,” Bella shrugged.

 

The Perfect Storm Update

 The Perfect Storm Ch. 15 on FFn

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“Mom, why do I have to wear a tie?” Riley asked, tugging at his neck. “I look like an idiot.”

“You look great, Riley James. Maggie thought you looked handsome at homecoming,” Bella quipped, smoothing her curls over her shoulder. She was wearing an elegant black lace dress as they hung out in some conference room at the movie theater, waiting before they had to walk the red carpet for this movie premier. “I happen to agree.”

“That I look like an idiot?” Riley smirked, giving his mother a shitty grin.

“You are an idiot,” Alec said, ruffling Riley’s hair. The boys smacked at each other but quickly stopped when Bella gave them both the ‘mom’ glare.  

“Be nice, Alec Charles,” Bella chided. “I thought we were beyond this behavior.”

“I am, but Alec has the maturity level of a sixth grader,” Riley teased.

“Says the boy who still sleeps with his wubby,” Alec teased back. “I’m shocked it survived the tornado.”

“What is a ‘wubby’?” Edward asked.

“His baby blanket,” Bella answered. “It was pinned underneath one of the walls. Riley was determined to get it out and he did. It’s stuffed under his pillow. He’s also not the only one who needs his security blanket.”

“Mom,” Alec whined, rolling his eyes.

“You found that stuffed clown that Grandma Whitlock gave you. That thing was so threadbare and creepy looking. I do your laundry and make your bed, Alec Charles. I know that Poppy is still crammed with your pillows,” Bella smirked. “Now, both of you. Stop it!”

“Sorry, Mom,” Alec muttered, but shot her a lazy grin.

Riley huffed out a breath, smacking at his brother and calling him a suck up. Bella gave him another harsh stare. He muttered his apologies. “Seriously, Mom. We’re going to a movie. A movie! The last time I went to a movie, I was wearing sweatpants,” Riley sighed, loosening the tie.

“The last time I was at a movie, I was watching Elsa and watched her dance with a underwater horse,” Edward chuckled, picking up a squirming Lily, eager to be in her father’s arm. She was dressed in a pretty blue dress and her strawberry blonde hair was curled, pinned back from her cherubic face. She giggled in her father’s arms, singing one of the songs from Frozen II. “Bug, please no. That song … ugh, it’s annoying.”

“Sorry, Daddy,” Lily giggled, kissing his cheek.

“I’ll forgive you, Bug. This time,” he chuckled, nuzzling her neck.

“Really, Edward?” Bella teased.

“What?” He charmed Bella with his crooked grin, kissing her cheek. “Besides, we needed to get dressed up since this the screening of Jacob’s final production as a documentary film maker. At least, you guys get to go right inside. Your mother and I have to walk the red carpet. There are reserved seats with my last name. My parents are already in there, but my mom may sneak out. She’s terrified of storms. I’m slightly jealous of them. They don’t have to walk this red carpet. It’s not like we’re famous or anything,” Edward snickered, putting Lily down and sliding his arm around Bella’s waist.

“Speak for yourself, Dr. Heatwave,” Riley smirked.

“Not you, too,” Edward groaned.

 

The Perfect Storm Teaser

 Saturday, September 25^th, 2021
5:15pm
AMC River East Movie Theater
Chicago, Illinois

“Mom, why do I have to wear a tie?” Riley asked, tugging at his neck. “I look like an idiot.”

“You look great, Riley James. Maggie thought you looked handsome at homecoming,” Bella quipped, smoothing her curls over her shoulder. She was wearing an elegant black lace dress as they hung out in some conference room at the movie theater, waiting before they had to walk the red carpet for this movie premier. “I happen to agree.”

“That I look like an idiot?” Riley smirked, giving his mother a shitty grin.

“You are an idiot,” Alec said, ruffling Riley’s hair. The boys smacked at each other but quickly stopped when Bella gave them both the ‘mom’ glare.  

“Be nice, Alec Charles,” Bella chided. “I thought we were beyond this behavior.”

“I am, but Alec has the maturity level of a sixth grader,” Riley teased.

“Says the boy who still sleeps with his wubby,” Alec teased back. “I’m shocked it survived the tornado.”

“What is a ‘wubby’?” Edward asked.

“His baby blanket,” Bella answered. “It was pinned underneath one of the walls. Riley was determined to get it out and he did. It’s stuffed under his pillow. He’s also not the only one who needs his security blanket.”

“Mom,” Alec whined, rolling his eyes.

“You found that stuffed clown that Grandma Whitlock gave you. That thing was so threadbare and creepy looking. I do your laundry and make your bed, Alec Charles. I know that Poppy is still crammed with your pillows,” Bella smirked. “Now, both of you. Stop it!”

“Sorry, Mom,” Alec muttered, but shot her a lazy grin.

Riley huffed out a breath, smacking at his brother and calling him a suck up. Bella gave him another harsh stare. He muttered his apologies. “Seriously, Mom. We’re going to a movie. A movie! The last time I went to a movie, I was wearing sweatpants,” Riley sighed, loosening the tie.

“The last time I was at a movie, I was watching Elsa and watched her dance with a underwater horse,” Edward chuckled, picking up a squirming Lily, eager to be in her father’s arm. She was dressed in a pretty blue dress and her strawberry blonde hair was curled, pinned back from her cherubic face. She giggled in her father’s arms, singing one of the songs from Frozen II. “Bug, please no. That song … ugh, it’s annoying.”

“Sorry, Daddy,” Lily giggled, kissing his cheek.

“I’ll forgive you, Bug. This time,” he chuckled, nuzzling her neck.

“Really, Edward?” Bella teased.

“What?” He charmed Bella with his crooked grin, kissing her cheek. “Besides, we needed to get dressed up since this the screening of Jacob’s final production as a documentary film maker. At least, you guys get to go right inside. Your mother and I have to walk the red carpet. There are reserved seats with my last name. My parents are already in there, but my mom may sneak out. She’s terrified of storms. I’m slightly jealous of them. They don’t have to walk this red carpet. It’s not like we’re famous or anything,” Edward snickered, putting Lily down and sliding his arm around Bella’s waist.

“Speak for yourself, Dr. Heatwave,” Riley smirked.

“Not you, too,” Edward groaned. 

The Perfect Storm Update

 The Perfect Storm Ch. 12 on FFn

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Dr. Riggs

Monday, July 12^th, 2021
11:48am
Elmhurst, Illinois

“We’re looking forward to having you join our staff, Ms. Swan,” said the principal, Dr. Riggs, at York High School. “We needed some fresh blood in our building. I’m sorry that we don’t have any administrative openings, but I think you’ll fit in nicely with our English department.”

“I’m eager to start fresh,” Bella said, shaking his hand. “My license is being transferred from Oklahoma and I’m registering with the county.”

“Excellent. Have you found some place to live?” Dr. Riggs asked.

“I’m moving into a place off Mitchell Avenue,” Bella answered. “My sons and boyfriend are currently unloading a moving truck. Not that we had much … we lost everything in a tornado. We managed to find a few mementos in the rubble of our destroyed home, but we’re starting from scratch.”

Dr. Riggs looked down at the paperwork. “Oh, wow. You’re from Elgin, Oklahoma. Are you okay?”

“Physically? I’m fine. I had to have minor surgery to deal with a torn rotator cuff. I was caught in the storm and my now boyfriend, Edward, saved me from being blown away by a tornado. He held onto my hand and pulled me back, dislocating my shoulder. He felt awful, but he was my savior that day,” Bella breathed. “Mentally, I’m struggling with some PTSD, but I’m seeing someone for it and I’m grateful to be out of tornado alley.”

“We get our fair share of storms here in Illinois,” Dr. Riggs chuckled.

“Nowhere near as bad as Oklahoma,” Bella snickered. “Anyway, this is a new start for me and my children.”

“Well, I’m grateful that path led you to us,” Dr. Riggs smiled. “If you need anything, please feel free to call me and I’ll see you at new teacher orientation.”

They shook hands and Bella walked out to her new car, a Toyota Highlander. She grinned widely as she turned it over, driving to her new home.

Since that day, that disastrous day where Elgin, Oklahoma had been erased from the map, so much had changed. Bella had stayed at the Holiday Inn Express for a couple of days to let her arm heal as much as it could. Then, after Memorial Day, Edward drove them back to Elgin to see the devastation of what was left of their home.

Nothing.

There was nothing.

Their home was a pile of rubble. 

The Perfect Storm Update

 The Perfect Storm Ch. 11 on FFn

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Thursday, May 27^th, 2021
7:47pm
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

The survivors from the Elgin tornado sat in the lobby of Holiday Inn Express and Suites while rooms were being prepared. The buses came back to what was left of the high school after the tornado blew through the town, obliterating everything in its wake. The entire town had been wiped off the map. All that was left Elgin, Oklahoma was a two-mile-wide gouge in the earth that spanned from near Clinton to Duncan before dissipating completely.  

The storm lasted an hour, but in that hour homes were destroyed. Lives were changed.

Irrevocably.

In the lobby, there was a small triage center with nurses, paramedics, and off-duty doctors. Bella was being checked out by a paramedic, having her shoulder assessed. It was being determined if she needed further care from a doctor or if a nurse and paramedic could fix her injury. Edward was staying by her side, hovering near the boys. After the storm, once cell service had been restored, he’d talked to his mother, telling her about the tornado and how he was going to stick around for a couple days before flying home to Chicago. He managed to get that conversation before his cell phone battery completely died.

All for Bella and the boys.

This family that had wriggled into his heart.

“Dr. Cullen,” Riley asked, sitting down next to him, giving him a bottle of water. “Thank you for your help today. You saved us. All of us.” He looked at him, smiling shyly. “You saved my mom. That was something.”

“I would have done it again in a heartbeat,” Edward chuckled, leaning back on the stiff chair in the lobby. He was sore as fuck. Every muscle screamed from all the action he’d seen, along with trying to keep Bella and her sons safe. All he wanted to do was sleep for days, but there were too many people and not enough rooms.

“Can you stay with us?” Riley asked. “We have a suite. Alec and I are sharing a sofa bed, but I’m certain that you’d like a place to crash, yeah? I kind of said you were my dad …”

“What would your mom say?” Edward quipped.

“She was okay with it. She really doesn’t want you to leave the hotel. She kind of likes you,” Riley blushed with a shy grin.

I kind of like her, too, Edward thought, blinking back at where Bella was having her arm strapped into a sling. I more than like her. Despite being through hell and back, she was still beautiful and gracious, with a kind word and warm smile. “I’ll stay with you,” Edward smiled. “I really don’t want to sleep on the bus.”

The Perfect Storm Teaser

Thursday, May 27^th, 2021
7:47pm
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

The survivors from the Elgin tornado sat in the lobby of Holiday Inn Express and Suites while rooms were being prepared. The buses came back to what was left of the high school after the tornado blew through the town, obliterating everything in its wake. The entire town had been wiped off the map. All that was left Elgin, Oklahoma was a two-mile-wide gouge in the earth that spanned from near Clinton to Duncan before dissipating completely.  

The storm lasted an hour, but in that hour homes were destroyed. Lives were changed.

Irrevocably.

In the lobby, there was a small triage center with nurses, paramedics, and off-duty doctors. Bella was being checked out by a paramedic, having her shoulder assessed. It was being determined if she needed further care from a doctor or if a nurse and paramedic could fix her injury. Edward was staying by her side, hovering near the boys. After the storm, once cell service had been restored, he’d talked to his mother, telling her about the tornado and how he was going to stick around for a couple days before flying home to Chicago.

All for Bella and the boys.

This family that had wriggled into his heart.

“Dr. Cullen,” Riley asked, sitting down next to him, giving him a bottle of water. “Thank you for your help today. You saved us. All of us.” He looked at him, smiling shyly. “You saved my mom. That was something.”

“I would have done it again in a heartbeat,” Edward chuckled, leaning back on the stiff chair in the lobby. He was sore as fuck. Every muscle screamed from all the action he’d seen, along with trying to keep Bella and her sons safe. All he wanted to do was sleep for days, but there were too many people and not enough rooms.

“Can you stay with us?” Riley asked. “We have a suite. Alec and I are sharing a sofa bed, but I’m certain that you’d like a place to crash, yeah? I kind of said you were my dad …”

“What would your mom say?” Edward quipped.

“She was okay with it. She really doesn’t want you to leave the hotel. She kind of likes you,” Riley blushed with a shy grin.

I kind of like her, too, Edward thought, blinking back at where Bella was having her arm strapped into a sling. I more than like her. Despite being through hell and back, she was still beautiful and gracious, with a kind word and warm smile. “I’ll stay with you,” Edward smiled. “I really don’t want to sleep on the bus.”

“I don’t blame you there,” Riley laughed. “I just want to shower, but with no clean clothes? Yeah, gross!”

“Ask and ye shall find,” Alec said, holding up a couple of bags as he stroll. “The Red Cross kind of figured we needed everything since our homes, clothes, cars and everything else … well, it’s gone.”

“Where’s Mom?” Riley asked, looking back at where Bella was sitting. She was gone.

“A nurse is helping her change into something more comfortable after she showers,” Alec explained.  

   

The Perfect Storm Update

 The Perfect Storm Ch. 10 on FFn

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Thanks, Clo, for the beautiful manip!

Thursday, May 27^th, 2021
1:21pm
Elgin High School Gymnasium

“Where have you been, Mrs. Whitlock?” hissed Dr. Abraham angrily. He saw her disheveled appearance and arm strapped to her chest, but thought little of it. “We needed you!”

“And my sons needed me more,” Bella argued. “But, that’s irrelevant at the moment.  There’s a huge tornado heading this way …”

“We’d hear the sirens,” said one of the board members.

“The alarm system is down,” Edward explained. “This tornado is bigger than anything ever registered. The most intense tornado was an EF-5 with sustained winds at greater than 200 miles per hour. According to the radar returns, the winds are registering at greater than 300 miles per hour with the width of the base being over two miles wide.”

“The high school is a tornado shelter,” Dr. Abraham argued.

“Not for this,” Edward replied. “This high school is in the direct path of the destruction and will not survive this tornado. If you stay here, all these people will die. I saw buses. If we load everyone up, we can evacuate.”

“I don’t know,” Dr. Abraham frowned.

“The longer we sit in here, the more than likely everyone will die,” Bella said. “Come with me, Edward.” She tugged on his hand, running down the hallway. She used her keys to open the transportation office. She swiped the bus keys and arched a brow. “I can’t drive one of those things, but …”

“Right,” Edward nodded. He took the keys, and they ran back to the gym.

Bella grabbed the bullhorn they used for PE and held it up. “Everyone, can I have your attention please?” she said. People were milling around, still having conversations. Bella couldn’t handle their bullshit, so she shouted, “LISTEN UP!” The crowd stopped. With a smirk, she handed the bullhorn to Edward. “Explain, please.”

“I’m a scientist, not a public speaker,” he blanched. Bella gave him a look and he took the bullhorn. “There’s an extremely dangerous and deadly tornado heading in this direction with winds exceeding 300 miles per hour. The warning system is broken and if you stay here, you will die. We need to load up on the buses outside and get out of here. It’s your best option for survival.”

“If you have a commercial driver’s license, come see me for a set of keys and everyone head out the back entrance of the gym,” Bella shouted. “The bus number is on the key chain.”

“You need to head south, away from the high school and toward downtown. The tornado is traveling in the opposite direction, coming from the airport,” Edward said, looking at his tablet, tracking the storm system.

 

The Perfect Storm Teaser

 Thursday, May 27^th, 2021

1:21pm
Elgin High School Gymnasium

“Where have you been, Mrs. Whitlock?” hissed Dr. Abraham angrily. He saw her disheveled appearance and arm strapped to her chest, but thought little of it. “We needed you!”

“And my sons needed me more,” Bella argued. “But, that’s irrelevant at the moment.  There’s a huge tornado heading this way …”

“We’d hear the sirens,” said one of the board members.

“The alarm system is down,” Edward explained. “This tornado is bigger than anything ever registered. The most intense tornado was an EF-5 with sustained winds at greater than 200 miles per hour. According to the radar returns, the winds are registering at greater than 300 miles per hour with the width of the base being over two miles wide.”

“The high school is a tornado shelter,” Dr. Abraham argued.

“Not for this,” Edward replied. “This high school is in the direct path of the destruction and will not survive this tornado. If you stay here, all these people will die. I saw buses. If we load everyone up, we can evacuate.”

“I don’t know,” Dr. Abraham frowned.

“The longer we sit in here, the more than likely everyone will die,” Bella said. “Come with me, Edward.” She tugged on his hand, running down the hallway. She used her keys to open the transportation office. She swiped the bus keys and arched a brow. “I can’t drive one of those things, but …”

“Right,” Edward nodded. He took the keys, and they ran back to the gym.

Bella grabbed the bullhorn they used for PE and held it up. “Everyone, can I have your attention please?” she said. People were milling around, still having conversations. Bella couldn’t handle their bullshit, so she shouted, “LISTEN UP!” The crowd stopped. With a smirk, she handed the bullhorn to Edward. “Explain, please.”

“I’m a scientist, not a public speaker,” he blanched. Bella gave him a look and he took the bullhorn. “There’s an extremely dangerous and deadly tornado heading in this direction with winds exceeding 300 miles per hour. The warning system is broken and if you stay here, you will die. We need to load up on the buses outside and get out of here. It’s your best option for survival.”

“If you have a commercial driver’s license, come see me for a set of keys and everyone head out the back entrance of the gym,” Bella shouted. “The bus number is on the key chain.”

“You need to head south, away from the high school and toward downtown. The tornado is traveling in the opposite direction, coming from the airport,” Edward said, looking at his tablet, tracking the storm system.

Thank you to Clo for this beautiful manip!!

 

The Perfect Storm Update

 The Perfect Storm Ch. 7 on FFn

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Thursday, May 27^th, 2021
11:30am
Elgin High School, Football Field

“Today, we begin the rest of our lives,” said the class valedictorian, a mousy girl named Brookes. “Today, we walked in here as high school students, but leaving as high school graduates. Tomorrow, we take the first steps toward our futures. Whether that future is to be a college graduate, a stay-at-home mom or dad, or a mechanic, we got our start here, in high school.”

Bella was sitting next to the principal and the board members, wrinkling her nose as thunder rumbled in the distance and rain began to fall. She leaned over to the principal, a man who should have retired years ago, and whispered in his ear. “Mr. Banner, I think we need to speed things along.”

“We’re going to get through this commencement ceremony, Mrs. Whitlock,” Mr. Banner hissed back. “Now, sit back and smile.”

As he said that, there was flash of lightening and clap of thunder. Bella jumped in her seat. The students were shifting and the parents were beginning to pack up. Mr. Banner was pursing his lips, but he wasn’t moving. Bella looked at the superintendent who was shifting anxiously.

Fuck this.

Thank you to Clo for this beautiful manip ... "We've got cows."

 

The Perfect Storm Update

 The Perfect Storm Chapter 4 on FFn

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Thursday, May 27^th, 2021
9:20am
Elgin High School, Football Field

“Okay, move the floral arrangement over about five feet to the right, on the edge of the stage,” Bella said to the flower delivery driver. “Perfect! Thank you!” She turned and checked her cell phone for the time. When she turned, she saw Riley coordinating with the AV Club. Checking her list, she frowned and walked over to her younger son. “Where’s your brother?”

“He’s working on a project for one of his classes. He asked me to help out,” Riley stammered.

“And you stutter when you lie,” Bella said, sighing heavily. “Where is your brother? Tell me the truth, Riley.”

Which truth? Riley thought angrily. He didn’t know how Alec kept his mouth shut. He wanted to blurt out to his mother about his dad, but it wasn’t his place. He could, however, tell her the truth about where Alec went. “He left with Jane. I saw him get into her car.”

“Where is he going? Talk, Riley,” Bella said, pulling Riley toward the bleachers. “What was he thinking? Tell me everything, Riley.”

“Mom, he’s fine,” Riley explained. “I think they were going to get some pictures and the come back to school. Text him, Mom.”

Bella looked at her son, but didn’t reach for her phone. She closed her eyes and said her mantra, reminding herself to breathe. In with the good and out with the bad. When she opened her eyes, she pulled Riley into her arms. Normally, her sons would try to wriggle out of her arms, but Riley shocked her by returning her embrace. She let go, keeping her hands on Riley’s shoulders. “I’ll text him later. Thank you for telling me, but he’s grounded until he goes to college,” Bella smirked. “For now, finish setting up the video equipment.”

The Perfect Storm Teaser

 “Okay, move the floral arrangement over about five feet to the right, on the edge of the stage,” Bella said to the flower delivery driver. “Perfect! Thank you!” She turned and checked her cell phone for the time. When she turned, she saw Riley coordinating with the AV Club. Checking her list, she frowned and walked over to her younger son. “Where’s your brother?”

“He’s working on a project for one of his classes. He asked me to help out,” Riley stammered.

“And you stutter when you lie,” Bella said, sighing heavily. “Where is your brother? Tell me the truth, Riley.”

Which truth? Riley thought angrily. He didn’t know how Alec kept his mouth shut. He wanted to blurt out to his mother about his dad, but it wasn’t his place. He could, however, tell her the truth about where Alec went. “He left with Jane. I saw him get into her car.”

“Where is he going? Talk, Riley,” Bella said, pulling Riley toward the bleachers. “What was he thinking? Tell me everything, Riley.”

“Mom, he’s fine,” Riley explained. “I think they were going to get some pictures and the come back to school. Text him, Mom.”

The Perfect Storm Teaser

Thursday, May 27^th, 2021
6:45am
Home of Isabella Whitlock, Assistant Principal of Elgin High School
Elgin, Oklahoma

“Alec Charles Whitlock and Riley James Whitlock, get your butts down here,” Bella yelled as she poured herself a cup of coffee in her travel mug and checked the weather forecast. “The Mom-Mobile will be leaving in five minutes. I’ve got to set up for the commencement ceremony that was rescheduled about a hundred times. Let’s go!”

The loud stomps upstairs gave Bella proof that her two teenaged sons were up and about. She checked her watch and packed her work bag with her files and work computer. Riley came downstairs, his shaggy brown hair hiding his handsome face. He looked so much like his father that it made her heart lurch – not in a good way - but she plastered a smile on her face. “Where’s your brother?” she asked, handing him a plate of eggs and bacon.

“He’s vlogging,” Riley said, rolling his eyes. He stuffed his face, spraying food everywhere. “Something about the video time capsule or whatever.”

“Chew, then talk, child of mine. Alec, let’s go,” Bella barked.

“I’m walking,” Alec grumbled, ambling downstairs. He held his ever-present camera in his hand.

“No, you’re not,” Bella argued, taking the camera away. “We’re already late and if you walk, you’ll be late to school. We’ve got to maintain …”

“Whatever, Mom,” Alec said, swiping the camera back. “Can we go?”

     

A Single Step Update

And that's all she wrote, here's the final update for A Single Step.

A Single Step Epilogue 3 on FFn

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A Single Step Epilogue 3 on Wattpad

A couple of days after the half-marathon, Renee and Charlie flew back to Washington with Jake, Seth and Gianna. Bella and Edward were flying to Los Angeles for the premier of the movie, A Single Step. Bella was sitting in the first-class lounge, paid for by the movie studio, checking her email. “Holy crap,” she breathed.

“What?” Edward asked, putting down his book.

“Riley emailed me,” she whispered. “He saw my picture on Instagram and he … he wants to meet up. He knows that the movie is premiering this week.” Edward pursed his lips. He abhorred Bella’s ex-husband. He never lied about it. His feelings were apparent and he never denied that he couldn’t stand how he treated Bella and the kids. Bella took his hand, staring at her very upset husband. “You’re coming with me, Edward. You’re my husband.”

“And I take my vows seriously,” he said, picking up Bella’s hand and kissed above her wedding set. “Unlike that asshole.”

“He invited me to his home in the Hollywood Hills,” Bella said. Edward’s mouth thinned. “I know you hate him.”

“Hate is too kind a word,” Edward growled.

Bella threaded her fingers with Edward’s and closed her laptop. “Edward, I’m with you and I will stay with you. You’re my best friend and my personal hero. If you don’t want me to go, I won’t.”

“You’re never leaving me, Bella. Forever, right?” Bella nodded and pressed a kiss to his soft lips.  “Now, what did he say?” Edward asked.

“He congratulated me on the publication of my book and the upcoming movie. He asked about Jake and Seth, asking how they were doing. He even asked about Gianna,” Bella murmured. “It was a very generic message, but he wanted to see me, see us. We have a few days before the premiere of the movie. I think it would be a good idea to see him. To rub it in his face that he lost and you won.”

“Damn right,” Edward snorted, kissing Bella’s temple and holding her to his side. “If he says one thing … anything that is disrespectful to you or to the boys, his face will become personally acquainted with my fist.”

“I have no doubt. Your protection of me is quite apparent, Edward. I love you so much for it,” she smiled, snuggling closer to him.