“Alice, can you go into my closet and find my cast condom?” Bella asked her friend. “I’m covered in sand, dirt and … fuck it, the beach. I’m covered in the beach.” She ran her hand through her hair, grimacing when she remembered the laceration along her hairline from her drugged clumsiness. “I can’t wash my hair. Damn it.”
“Not in the shower, but I can do it for you in the sink, Hells Bells,” Alice said. “Where was that cast condom?”
“It should be in the closet, in my underwear drawer,” Bell explained, shifting on the bed.
Alice went into her closet, ruffling through the drawers. She found the ‘cast condom’, pulling it out and carrying it to the bathroom. While she was in there, she turned on the water and cleared off the bench inside. “Come on, Gimpy. Let me help you.”
“I need a shower cap. I think I have one from my trip to the Wynn when I dumped Jake’s ass,” Bella deadpanned. Standing up, she slipped the crutches underneath her arms and hobbled to the bathroom. Bella sat down on the toilet and wrapped a towel around her body, removing her clothes.
Alice found the shower cap. With Alice’s help, they wrapped her cast in the cover. Leaning heavily on her friend, Bella sat down on the bench with her towel. Alice pulled the removable shower head, angling it away from Bella. “Holler when you’re done. I’m going to make some more coffee and we’re going to have a chat after you’re all cleaned up. It’s a lovely day. The view over the lake is just what you need.”
“I don’t know, Alice,” Bella grumbled. “Possible concussion and sunlight?”
“Work with me, Swan,” Alice said. “We need to talk.” “Okay, okay,” Bella agreed.
“Alice, can you go into my closet and find my cast condom?” Bella asked her friend. “I’m covered in sand, dirt and … fuck it, the beach. I’m covered in the beach.” She ran her hand through her hair, grimacing when she remembered the laceration along her hairline from her drugged clumsiness. “I can’t wash my hair. Damn it.”
“Not in the shower, but I can do it for you in the sink, Hells Bells,” Alice said. “Where was that cast condom?”
“It should be in the closet, in my underwear drawer,” Bell explained, shifting on the bed.
Alice went into her closet, ruffling through the drawers. She found the ‘cast condom’, pulling it out and carrying it to the bathroom. While she was in there, she turned on the water and cleared off the bench inside. “Come on, Gimpy. Let me help you.”
“I need a shower cap. I think I have one from my trip to the Wynn when I dumped Jake’s ass,” Bella deadpanned. Standing up, she slipped the crutches underneath her arms and hobbled to the bathroom. Bella sat down on the toilet and wrapped a towel around her body, removing her clothes.
Alice found the shower cap. With Alice’s help, they wrapped her cast in the cover. Leaning heavily on her friend, Bella sat down on the bench with her towel. Alice pulled the removable shower head, angling it away from Bella. “Holler when you’re done. I’m going to make some more coffee and we’re going to have a chat after you’re all cleaned up. It’s a lovely day. The view over the lake is just what you need.”
“I don’t know, Alice,” Bella grumbled. “Possible concussion and sunlight?”
“Work with me, Swan,” Alice said. “We need to talk.” “Okay, okay,” Bella agreed.
A steady beep registered in Edward’s head. Each beep was annoying and making his head hurt. He shifted and it was a lot more than his head hurting. He groaned.
“Try not to move, Mr. Masen,” said a male voice.
“Loud,” Edward croaked, trying to move away from the incessant noise. “The beeping is too loud.”
The beeping stopped and Edward sighed. He opened his eyes, groaning again at the harsh light. “Sorry, Mr. Masen. The lights are off.”
Edward blinked his eyes, trying to focus on where he was. He wasn’t at home in his condo, and he surely wasn’t at the gym. “What happened?”
The man, a doctor, stepped into his line of sight. “What is the last thing you remember?”
“Sucker punch,” Edward answered. “Fight and sucker punch.”
“Good, good,” the doctor replied, jotting his response on whatever he had in his hand. “Memory is intact.”
“Doc, you gotta tell me. What the fuck is happening? And who the fuck are you?”
“Apologies,” said the doctor. “I’m Dr. Clearwater and I’ve been on your case since you were brought in.”
“When was that, Dr. Clearwater?” Edward asked irritably.
“Four nights ago,” Dr. Clearwater answered with a grimace. “You were brought in by ambulance. Your coach, Mr. Volturi, has been overseeing your care.”
I counted his freckles as he slept, noticing that two more had sprung up on his forehead and another just beneath his left eye. I traced the veins of his hand, thanking God for keeping him relatively safe. Also, I needed to touch him to ensure he was real. He was real and alive and back with his family.
Unfortunately, Seth was injured because of Jacob’s ire, but thankfully he was alive.
It would take some time before we felt safe.
If ever, to be perfectly honest.
“Gorgeous, I love you, but you look like you’re about to collapse,” Edward said, walking out of the ensuite bathroom of the hospital room. He scrubbed his face, yawning widely as he smoothed his hair underneath his baseball cap.
“I have to keep him safe. Touching him, watching him, it’s the only way for me to ensure his safety. To know he’s okay,” I whispered, caressing my fingers down Seth’s cheek. He was sleeping hard from the pain medication Dr. Snow had given him, but he snuggled his cheek against my palm. “If I sleep, I won’t know if he’s safe.”
Edward crossed to me, picking me up and sitting down in the recliner with me in his lap. He cupped my face, forcing me to look at him. He was just as exhausted as I was, with dark circles under his green eyes along with heavy stubble and too long hair covered by a baseball cap. The latter was from the movie shoot and pulling some insane hours before this break for his birthday. He simply didn’t have the time to get his hair cut. “Bella, I love you more than anything,” he whispered, kissing my lips. “But, if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of Seth. You haven’t slept in nearly three days. You barely ate. I know you’re worried …”
“I could have lost him,” I hissed, looking at Edward. Panic was growing inside me. “I thought I did. I need to be here for him.”
“And, you will,” Edward murmured, sitting back, and tucking me against his body. “He’s sleeping. We have security outside of the room and on the floor. We’re okay.” He gently pushed my head against his shoulder. “Sleep, love. I’ll watch over him.”
“Edward,” I huffed, moving to get off his lap.
“No, Bella. You need to sleep. We’re both rattled, but he’s sleeping, just like we need to be,” he whispered, trailing his hands up and down my back soothingly. “Use my overly bony shoulders and let me protect both of you.”
“Your shoulders aren’t bony. They’re shockingly comfortable,” I snorted, pressing my cheek to his shoulder, and curling onto his lap. I yawned as he hummed quietly, rubbing my back and legs with his hands. I relaxed against him and closed my eyes, just wanting to get a few moments of rest. However, when I woke up, it was daytime, and I was still in Edward’s arms. He was talking quietly with Seth, obviously trying not to wake me up.
“Good morning, Mom,” Seth said as I shifted on Edward’s lap. “Or should I say afternoon?”
I rubbed my eyes. I looked up at Edward, who gave me a soft smile. “How did you sleep, Sleeping Beauty?” he asked.
“Um, really well,” I croaked. “How long?”
“It’s almost two in the afternoon,” Seth snickered.
I counted his freckles as he slept, noticing that two more had sprung up on his forehead and another just beneath his left eye. I traced the veins of his hand, thanking God for keeping him relatively safe. Also, I needed to touch him to ensure he was real. He was real and alive and back with his family.
Unfortunately, Seth was injured because of Jacob’s ire, but thankfully he was alive.
It would take some time before we felt safe.
If ever, to be perfectly honest.
“Gorgeous, I love you, but you look like you’re about to collapse,” Edward said, walking out of the ensuite bathroom of the hospital room. He scrubbed his face, yawning widely as he smoothed his hair underneath his baseball cap.
“I have to keep him safe. Touching him, watching him, it’s the only way for me to ensure his safety. To know he’s okay,” I whispered, caressing my fingers down Seth’s cheek. He was sleeping hard from the pain medication Dr. Snow had given him, but he snuggled his cheek against my palm. “If I sleep, I won’t know if he’s safe.”
Edward crossed to me, picking me up and sitting down in the recliner with me in his lap. He cupped my face, forcing me to look at him. He was just as exhausted as I was, with dark circles under his green eyes along with heavy stubble and too long hair covered by a baseball cap. The latter was from the movie shoot and pulling some insane hours before this break for his birthday. He simply didn’t have the time to get his hair cut. “Bella, I love you more than anything,” he whispered, kissing my lips. “But, if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of Seth. You haven’t slept in nearly three days. You barely ate. I know you’re worried …”
“I could have lost him,” I hissed, looking at Edward. Panic was growing inside me. “I thought I did. I need to be here for him.”
“And, you will,” Edward murmured, sitting back, and tucking me against his body. “He’s sleeping. We have security outside of the room and on the floor. We’re okay.” He gently pushed my head against his shoulder. “Sleep, love. I’ll watch over him.”
“Edward,” I huffed, moving to get off his lap.
“No, Bella. You need to sleep. We’re both rattled, but he’s sleeping, just like we need to be,” he whispered, trailing his hands up and down my back soothingly. “Use my overly bony shoulders and let me protect both of you.”
“Your shoulders aren’t bony. They’re shockingly comfortable,” I snorted, pressing my cheek to his shoulder, and curling onto his lap. I yawned as he hummed quietly, rubbing my back and legs with his hands. I relaxed against him and closed my eyes, just wanting to get a few moments of rest. However, when I woke up, it was daytime, and I was still in Edward’s arms. He was talking quietly with Seth, obviously trying not to wake me up.
“Good morning, Mom,” Seth said as I shifted on Edward’s lap. “Or should I say afternoon?”
“I don’t know if eating food with chopsticks was the wisest decision,” Bella said, scowling at her bowl of fried rice and beef and broccoli. She growled lowly at the chopsticks next to the bowl. “I’m also not very adept at eating with my non-dominant hand. Add in two pieces of wood to try and shovel this into my mouth? Yeah, no.”
“You’ve got this, Bells,” Rosalie said, handing her a spoon. “I could always spoon feed you.”
“I’m going to drop kick you,” Bella grumbled. “This is so humiliating.” She sighed, picking up the spoon and began eating.
“I bet you don’t feel this self-conscious when you’re with Edward,” Alice chirped, slurping up her lo mein. “God, this is so good.”
“I don’t feel self-conscious because he’s been with me every step of the way while I’ve recovered. I’ve got a long way to go, unfortunately,” she sighed.
“How so?” Rosalie asked.
“My broken wrist … I’ll have to have surgery on it,” Bella explained, scowling at the aforementioned wrist. “I went to a specialist, at Edward’s insistence, since my wrist is still hurting. It shouldn’t be this painful, almost two weeks post break. My ribs feel better, but I’m still taking pain meds for my wrist. I tried to use something over-the-counter, but it didn’t help. It barely scratched the surface when it came to pain management.”
“What are you on?” Alice asked.
“Tramadol,” Bella said. “I didn’t want to be on anything stronger, like oxy. If I stay on a schedule, my pain is manageable.” She dipped her spoon into her meal and managed to not spill it all over shirt. “Speaking of which, I need my pain pill. Rose, next to the stove, there’s my prescription bottle. Can you grab my meds for me?”
“Got it, Bells,” she said, hopping up and opening up the medication. She handed Bella two pills. “So, I heard that you went to the police station today. How did that go?”
Bella swallowed her medicine, grimacing. “It’s over. They just needed some information about what happened in the apartment, to close up the case, since my mom was a little confused. When she’s stressed, she gets very scattered. She lost some time. Her memories were fuzzy.”
“You also lost some time. You were knocked unconscious,” Rosalie said, her lip curled into a snarl. “I also cannot believe that Peter fell in with Aro.”
“Peter is a douche … was a douche,” Bella said. “My dad had every right to fire him. He obviously couldn’t cope with that.”
“I looked into Peter, specifically into his psychological evaluation,” Rosalie smirked. “He applied several times to the fire department. He had a history of mental health issues and he wouldn’t be accepted until he had his issues under control. He didn’t like to be on medication. Well, that’s what was said in his file.”
“Is that allowed?” Alice asked.
“What? Me looking up his psych evaluation or him not being approved to work for the fire department until he got his shit together?” Rose snorted, arching a brow at Alice.
The ambulances rushed through the busy streets as the blue and red lights flashing brightly through the dark night while they traveled to Virginia Mason Hospital. All of the patients were in stable condition, though they all needed blood work, oxygen, and chest X-rays. The EMTs had their hands full with Edward and Renee, who wanted to ride in the same ambulance as their loved ones.
Charlie had the most serious injuries with a dislocated shoulder, practically torn from his body, and facial burns. The EMTs heard how he had run through a wall of fire with only his turnout coat and came through with only minor burns to the skin that was not protected by the coat.
Bella was the next in line for serious injuries. Though Bella’s injuries were from the physical altercation with Aro and Peter. Her face was covered in bruises, scrapes, cuts, and a deep laceration at her hair line. She also complained that it hurt to breathe, like something was poking her on the inside. More than likely, she had several broken ribs, and one was pressing against her lung. They needed to move her carefully, preventing the rib from piercing her lung and causing it to deflate. Bella also had a splint around her wrist from a broken wrist.
All of them dealt with smoke inhalation, ranging from minor sore throats to deep, body-wracking coughs. It appeared that Bella and Charlie suffered the most in that regard with their other injuries causing them to breathe in most of the noxious fumes.
Arriving at the hospital, Charlie was brought into a trauma room, while the other three were placed in the emergency department on gurneys that were all in the same relative location, close to Charlie’s trauma room. Edward refused to lay down on the gurney, choosing to sit next to Bella. Renee was arguing with a nurse, pleading to be with her husband. Unfortunately, her oxygen levels were too low to abide by her desperate pleas. She was coughing deeply, which caused the doctors concern that she’d had more physical injuries than she led on.
Esme and Carlisle arrived at the hospital shortly after they’d arrived at the emergency department. Rose had called Emmett, who had reached out to his parents, informing them of the incident that happened at The Stockyards. Upon their arrival, Esme threw her arms around Edward, sobbing in relief.
“You’re okay,” she cried, pulling back, and looking at her son. His face was covered with soot, and he had an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose. “Edward, you’re okay. Thank GOD!” She turned to Bella, who looked worn out and her pale skin was almost translucent. Esme was deeply concerned about her son’s girlfriend and her former doctor. Her eyes were closed, but her rest was clearly not relaxing, and she was shivering, almost uncontrollably. Her face was also covered with soot and every inch of her skin was covered in bruises. “Bella …”
“She’s sedated,” Edward said, picking up Bella’s tiny hand. “She was … it was a nightmare for her, Mom. For both her and Renee.”
“What happened?” Carlisle asked, giving his son a hug before stepping back.
“Renee and Bella were lured into an unfinished condo at the new condo complex, The Stockyards. Renee had been seemingly hired by a supposed owner and that was a complete ruse,” Edward explained. “The owner turned out to be Aro Volturi.”
The ambulances rushed through the busy streets as the blue and red lights flashing brightly through the dark night while they traveled to Virginia Mason Hospital. All of the patients were in stable condition, though they all needed blood work, oxygen, and chest X-rays. The EMTs had their hands full with Edward and Renee, who wanted to ride in the same ambulance as their loved ones.
Charlie had the more serious injuries with a dislocated shoulder and facial burns. The EMTs heard how he had run into a wall of fire with only his turnout coat on and came through with only minor burns to the skin that was not protected by the coat.
Bella was the next in line for serious injuries, though hers were from a physical altercation. Her face was covered in bruises, scrapes, and cuts. She also complained that it hurt to breathe, like something was poking her on the inside. More than likely, she had several broken ribs, and one was pressing against her lung. They needed to move her carefully, preventing the rib from piercing her lung and causing it to deflate. Bella also had a splint around her wrist from a broken wrist.
All of them dealt with smoke inhalation, ranging from minor sore throats to deep, body-wracking coughs. It appeared that Bella and Charlie suffered the most in that regard with their other injuries causing them to breathe in most of the noxious fumes.
Arriving at the hospital, Charlie was brought into a trauma room, while the other three were placed in the emergency department, on gurneys that were all in the same location, close to Charlie’s trauma room. Edward refused to lay down in the gurney, choosing to sit next to Bella. Renee was arguing with a nurse, pleading to be with her husband. Unfortunately, her oxygen levels were too low to abide by her desperate pleas. She was coughing deeply, which caused the doctors concern that she’d had more physical injuries than she led on.
Esme and Carlisle arrived at the hospital shortly after they’d arrived at the emergency department. Rose had called Emmett, who had reached out to his parents, informing them of the incident that had happened at The Stockyards. Upon their arrival, Esme threw her arms around Edward, sobbing in relief.
“You’re okay,” she cried, pulling back, and looking at her son. His face was covered with soot, and he had an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose. “Edward, you’re okay. Thank GOD!” She turned to Bella, who looked worn out and her pale skin was almost translucent. Esme was deeply concerned about her son’s girlfriend and her former doctor. Her eyes were closed, but her rest was clearly not relaxing, and she was shivering, almost uncontrollably. Her face was also covered with soot and every inch of her skin was covered in bruises. “Bella …”
“She’s sedated,” Edward said, picking up Bella’s tiny hand. “She was … it was a nightmare for her, Mom. For both her and Renee.”
“What happened?” Carlisle asked, giving his son a hug before stepping back.
“Bella!” I yelled as she slumped onto the floor. Her face was
devoid of all color and she was panting so quickly. I hit the call button.
Rhonda ran inside and pointed to the ground. “She had a panic attack.”
Rhonda’s eyes widened and she jumped into action. She
straightened Bella and placed an oxygen mask over her face. “Has she had a
history of panic attacks?” Rhonda asked.
“No, but things have been a bit extraordinary lately,” I
mumbled. It was my fault, really.
Rhonda stayed by Bella’s side and I saw Bella move, trying to
remove the oxygen mask. “Calm down, Bella. You had a panic attack,” Rhonda said
calmly. “Take deep breaths. Slowly, in through your nose and out through your
mouth.”
I wanted to be by her side, but the mountain of plaster on my
leg prevented me from doing so, along with my injuries to my hip and ribcage. I
nervously twisted my hospital bracelet as Rhonda quietly helped Bella and got
her back onto the chair. “Keep that oxygen on and focus on your breathing. I’m
going to get you something to eat. You’re far too skinny,” Rhonda chided. “Your
blood sugar probably bottomed out along with your panic attack.”
Rhonda scurried away and Bella closed her eyes. I looked at her,
seeing how much she’d changed since I’d last seen her. “Bella, I’m so sorry,” I
whispered.
“It’s not entirely your fault, Edward,” she said, removing the
mask. “It was a perfect storm of bullshit. Normally, I could handle it, but it’s
been a lot.”
“You shouldn’t have to handle it,” I sighed. “Keep the mask on,
angel. Please?”
Her eyes fluttered closed and tears fell. She put the mask back
on. “All I wanted was for you to talk to me, that night, now, and in the
future. I had support from Alice, my old boss, Linda and Emmett, but the one
person I wanted to make it all better hurt me so very deeply.”
I blew out a breath, trying to not cry. “Bella, angel, please
come by me. I want to help you,” I whispered, moving so she could lay down on
the bed with me.
She looked up at me, her eyes brimmed with tears and she looked
so torn. With a huff, she got up and sat down on the edge of the bed. I took
her hand, gently tugging on it and she lay down. Her tears soaked my hospital
gown and she gripped it so tightly. I held her as close as I could. Every inch
of my body was on fire with pain, but it didn’t matter because I was holding my
Bella.
Her cries eventually quieted. I looked down at her, seeing that
she was down for the count. Rhonda walked back in, carrying a tray. “Apparently,
you’re better than Xanax,” she quipped.
“It’s my fault,” I frowned, turning to kiss her forehead.
“Edward, if it were your fault, she wouldn’t be curled up in
your arms,” Rhonda smirked. “Though, that’s not good for your injuries.”
“Don’t move her,” I whispered. “I think that this is the first
time she’s relaxed in almost two weeks.”
“I’ll give her an hour. That’s when I’m off shift. The woman who
will relieve me … she’s a bitch and will throw her out for being in your bed,” Rhonda
explained, smiling at me. “When she wakes up, encourage her to eat.”
I nodded, pressing my lips to Bella’s forehead. As she slept, I
took a closer look at her. She said I looked awful, but when in reality, she looked
like a ghost. Her skin was almost translucent and the stitches under eyebrow
were a stark contrast to her pale skin.
Even though I was hurting, it felt like heaven having her back
in my arms. I just reveled being able to hold her.
“Bella!” I yelled as she slumped onto the floor. Her face was
devoid of all color and she was panting so quickly. I hit the call button.
Rhonda ran inside and pointed to the ground. “She had a panic attack.”
Rhonda’s eyes widened and she jumped into action. She
straightened Bella and placed an oxygen mask over her face. “Has she had a
history of panic attacks?” Rhonda asked.
“No, but things have been a bit extraordinary lately,” I
mumbled. It was my fault, really.
Rhonda stayed by Bella’s side and I saw Bella move, trying to
remove the oxygen mask. “Calm down, Bella. You had a panic attack,” Rhonda said
calmly. “Take deep breaths. Slowly, in through your nose and out through your
mouth.”
I wanted to be by her side, but the mountain of plaster on my
leg prevented me from doing so, along with my injuries to my hip and ribcage. I
nervously twisted my hospital bracelet as Rhonda quietly helped Bella and got
her back onto the chair. “Keep that oxygen on and focus on your breathing. I’m
going to get you something to eat. You’re far too skinny,” Rhonda chided. “Your
blood sugar probably bottomed out along with your panic attack.”
Rhonda scurried away and Bella closed her eyes. I looked at her,
seeing how much she’d changed since I’d last seen her. “Bella, I’m so sorry,” I
whispered.
“It’s not entirely your fault, Edward,” she said, removing the
mask. “It was a perfect storm of bullshit. Normally, I could handle it, but it’s
been a lot.”
“You shouldn’t have to handle it,” I sighed. “Keep the mask on,
angel. Please?”
Her eyes fluttered closed and tears fell. She put the mask back
on. “All I wanted was for you to talk to me, that night, now, and in the
future. I had support from Alice, my old boss, Linda and Emmett, but the one
person I wanted to make it all better hurt me so very deeply.”
I blew out a breath, trying to not cry. “Bella, angel, please
come by me. I want to help you,” I whispered, moving so she could lay down on
the bed with me.
She looked up at me, her eyes brimmed with tears and she looked
so torn. With a huff, she got up and sat down on the edge of the bed. I took
her hand, gently tugging on it and she lay down. Her tears soaked my hospital
gown and she gripped it so tightly. I held her as close as I could. Every inch
of my body was on fire with pain, but it didn’t matter because I was holding my
Bella.
Her cries eventually quieted. I looked down at her, seeing that
she was down for the count. Rhonda walked back in, carrying a tray. “Apparently,
you’re better than Xanax,” she quipped.
“It’s my fault,” I frowned, turning to kiss her forehead.
“Edward, if it were your fault, she wouldn’t be curled up in
your arms,” Rhonda smirked. “Though, that’s not good for your injuries.”
“Don’t move her,” I whispered. “I think that this is the first
time she’s relaxed in almost two weeks.”
“I’ll give her an hour. That’s when I’m off shift. The woman who
will relieve me … she’s a bitch and will throw her out for being in your bed,” Rhonda
explained, smiling at me. “When she wakes up, encourage her to eat.”
“Esme … it’s Edward …” I sniffled. “He’s been in an accident.”
“What happened?” Esme breathed.
“I don’t know exactly, but he’s been brought to Olympia Medical
Center. His entire left side is beat to hell,” I cried. “He’s going in for
surgery because his left leg was pinned or something. He put me down as his
next of kin. I should have called you. I’m sorry.”
“Bella, honey, you need to breathe,” Esme said. “You’re getting
hysterical.”
“This is all my fault, Esme. My fault. All of it. He’s in here
because of me,” I sobbed. Esme did her best to calm me down over the phone.
“I’m sorry, Esme. You shouldn’t have to deal with my bullshit.”
“It’s not bullshit. You’ve been through hell and back. So has my
son,” Esme said soothingly. “It’s understandable that you’re overwrought. When
was the last time you had a good night’s sleep?”
“Not since before I left,” I said.
“Sweetheart, that’s over a week,” Esme chided.
“Look, I wanted to let you know that Edward was in a car
accident,” I sighed. “I’m going to stay here at the hospital …”
“What about Katie?”
“The police chief, Mark, his wife is watching over Katie,” I
explained. “I’ll probably go back when Mark drives to Forks. I … I just wanted
you to know.”
“I’ll call you when we get our travel plans finalized,” Esme
said. “Bella, please, take care of yourself. I love you and Katie as much as I
love my son.”
“Let me know if you need me to pick you up,” I murmured.
“We’ll make arrangements for everything. Thank you for calling,
Bella,” Esme whispered.
We said our goodbyes and I curled up in the conference room. Tears
streamed down my cheeks and I allowed myself a few moments of grief. Mark poked
his head in the conference room, giving me a sympathetic look. “Are you okay,
Bella?”
“Today has been a banner day. First, I get fleeced by Lauren
Crowley, my boyfriend with whom I had a huge disagreement blind-sided me and my
heart was cracked into a million pieces when you were on my doorstep tonight. I
can’t take anymore,” I sniffled.
Mark sat down next to me, taking my hand. “I know I’m your least
favorite person,” he said.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” I snorted humorlessly.
“I hated walking up to your door when I got the call over
dispatch,” he sighed. “I do have some good news for you.”
“What’s that?”
“Lauren will be going to jail for a long time,” he snickered.
“You’re not the only one who got fucked over.”
“Beverly said that she’s going to try and pay me back all that
Lauren stole from me. She gave me a $25,000 check today,” I mumbled. “The rest
she’ll pay back in installments. Beverly also said she’d sell my home, without
me having to pay for commission.”
“Beverly is good people. Her son and daughter-in-law? Not so
much,” Mark sighed. “She’s washed her hands of both of them. They were both
sent to county lock up, unable to pay the bail set forth by the judge at
arraignment.”
“I’m shocked that they were arraigned so quickly,” I said.
