Better Man
By Mama4Dukes
Summary: Bella is stuck in a terrible relationship with a manipulative and deceptive man. When she is shown the reality of her situation, she decides to make a change. But will she ever be able find trust in a relationship again? All Human. Status: Complete
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author-mama4dukes. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
“Just one more time, babe, please? I just haven’t been able to come up with the cash. It’s been rough since I lost my job.”
Bella closed her eyes and sighed. She had been hoping that Edward could make his own car payment this time. Next month would be a year since he lost his job in marketing and had been unable to find any work. She had been paying all the bills, from rent to utilities, even his car and credit card payments.
“Can’t you ask your parents for help?”
Edward looked aghast at the suggestion. “My parents? You want me to ask my parents? Give me a break! I can’t go sucking up to my parents now.”
“How about if you find a temporary job? I know Forks Outfitters is hiring. Or you can ask Mike.”
“Seriously, Bella!” he yelled. “You want me to go and work some two-bit job. I have my pride! I have a college degree! I shouldn’t have to schlep away at some minimum wage job.”
“At least you’ll be able to help with the bills.”
Edward huffed, “I thought you loved me, Bella?”
Bella inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. “Fine. I’ll stop at the bank and make your car payment during lunch.”
“Thanks, babe. I appreciate it.” He gave her a quick kiss and a grin. “I’m off to hit the pavement again. Hopefully, I’ll find something.” He turned to her. “I hate asking, but do you think you can spot me some lunch money. I didn’t have time to pack a lunch.”
Bella reached into her purse and grabbed her wallet. “All I have is a hundred.”
Edward snatched it out of her hand. “That’ll cover lunch. I’ll be home for dinner.”
Bella and Edward had been together since their junior year of high school. They attended the same college and were still together five years after graduation. Edward worked as an accountant until he was fired for what he called a “minor error” last year. Bella was a registered nurse at the Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles, where they lived. She wanted to go to graduate school to become a nurse practitioner. Still, it was cost-prohibitive at the moment with all the bills.
“Hey, Sam,” Bella greeted as she walked into the bank. “I’m here to…”
“Don’t say, it Bells. I will not take another payment from you for Edward’s car. He shouldn’t even be driving that car anyway. It’s too fancy for someone without a job. He should have traded it in once he couldn’t make the payments.”
Sam was more than just the bank manager to Bella. He was her brother-in-law, or more accurately, her stepbrother-in-law. He was married to the former Leah Clearwater, Bella’s stepsister. Bella’s father, Charlie, had married Leah’s mother, Sue, years ago when the girls were still in middle school. So Leah and her younger brother Seth had been raised chiefly by Charlie.
By contrast, Bella only saw Charlie twice yearly because she had been raised mainly in Arizona by her mother, Renee. That changed during her junior year when Renee remarried, and Bella moved to Forks, Washington, to live with Charlie, Sue, Leah, and Seth.
After college graduation, Leah married Sam Uley, who lived on the reservation in La Push, which neighbored Forks. She and Sam were incandescently happy, and Bella instantly gained the wise, big brother she’d always wanted. Until now-when Sam was butting into her personal business.
“You have to take the check from me, especially since I’m willing to pay,” she argued.
“Oh, yeah? Bella, you’ve made the last ten payments for him! That’s almost ten grand that you’re never going to see again. He should never have bought a completely decked-out Volvo. Besides, he was only approved for the loan because his mother cosigned it. If you ask me, it’s about time she took the fall for it.”
“I had no idea…” Bella trailed off.
“You know that Leah and I love you and only want what’s best for you, right?”
“Y… Yes.”
“Good. I want to show you something. Afterward, if you still want to make that payment for him, I’ll take it from you. But I know for a fact that you’re paying every bill on top of rent, utilities, and food. You shouldn’t be responsible for Edward’s debts, especially his fancy car and credit card. Let him default. It’ll serve him right.”
Bella knew that Sam was probably correct, but the problem was she loved Edward. They’d been together for eleven years. He was just going through a rough spell, having lost his job. They’d always agreed to tackle their problems together, and that’s what they were doing now. There was nothing wrong with that, was there?
“Come with me, Bells. Let’s take a quick walk across the street.”
“Why?”
“Just trust me, okay?”
“Fine.”
The two friends walked to Bella Italia, the upscale Italian restaurant in Port Angeles. Bella had been there twice, once with her father and stepmother when she was in high school and once when Edward’s parents took them out for dinner. She and Edward rarely ate out. Bella generally cooked dinner and took leftovers for her lunch at work.
Instead of walking into the restaurant, Sam stopped at the windowed storefront and pointed to a booth in the corner. Bella peered through to witness Edward in full view, clearly enjoying a date with another woman. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close, kissing her on the lips. The couple was soon in full-makeout mode.
Bella’s jaw dropped, and she turned to Sam in desperation with tears in her eyes. “Let’s get you out of here,” he said, pulling her close and leading her back to his office at the bank.
When they arrived at the bank, he closed the door to his office and let her cry. “I’m sorry, Bells. But you needed to know the truth.”
“How long have you known?”
“Honestly, we all suspected he was cheating on you, but there was no definitive proof until today. I happened to be having a business lunch at Bella Italia when he came in with her. He didn’t see me. But I knew he’d still be there because I left right after they arrived to meet you at the bank.”
Bella dropped her face into her hands in an attempt to stop crying. But, for some reason, she couldn’t. She was devastated and angry at the same time. She had no idea how she felt. All she knew was that she had invested years into their relationship only to be betrayed so callously. She had thought that Edward was her forever. But, clearly, he thought differently.
“D… Do you know who the woman is?” she gasped.
“Geez, Bella. You are too polite. Call her what she is-a skank!” Sam burst.
“Tell me who she is, Sam?” Bella insisted.
“Alice Brandon,” he informed her, then looked into her eyes. This information didn’t surprise Bella at all. Alice had been salivating all over Edward since high school. She was the spoiled daughter of a dentist and felt entitled to the best of everything. So she had been insanely jealous of Bella when Edward asked her to the junior prom during high school.
Sam jogged her out of her recollections, “So, do you still want to make that car payment for him?”
“Fuck no.”
“Good girl. What are we going to do now?”
Bella didn’t have to think long at all. She knew exactly what she was going to do. “I’m moving out. The rental contract is in his name.”
“Do you know where you’re going? You’re welcome to stay with Leah and me.”
“I’ll figure it out,” she mumbled, blowing out a breath. She stood up. “I have to get back to work.”
“I’ll take you. I don’t want you driving there by yourself in your condition.”
“I’ll be fine,” Bella lied while holding back her tears.
“Bullshit. Girl, you wouldn’t be crying if you were fine.” Sam shook his head. “Bella, you just witnessed your boyfriend of what-ten, eleven years-cheating on you. That’s some major trauma if you ask me. Now, if the roles were reversed, I wouldn’t be able to drive-nor would you let me-so you’re going to let me drive you back to work like a good brother-in-law.”
“Thanks, Sam.”
After work, Bella’s apartment was packed with her friends. Edward had texted to say that he was hanging out with the guys for drinks and to not wait up because he’d be out late. Of course, ‘the guys’ he was supposedly hanging out with were all helping Bella move out of the apartment. As soon as Bella got the text message, Leah and Lauren, who both worked with her at the hospital, had rallied the troops to get her stuff out of the apartment.
All of her friends had shown up to help, and Bella had to admit it was comforting to be surrounded by their love. Their offers of violently ending Edward’s life were also oddly reassuring.
“I’m drilling a new asshole into Twatward!” Rose yelled, holding up her power drill and revving it. Then I’m going to take a crowbar and give Malice a makeover.”
“Alright, honey, calm down. Edward will get his due. I promise, but I don’t want him nor her as a client,” her husband Emmett, a physical therapist, stated, taking the crowbar from her. Rose and Emmett McCarty were classmates of Leah and Sam. They were a year older than Bella but were very close friends. Rose ran and operated an auto repair shop with Jacob Black-another one of their friends. It had been Rose and Jake’s dream to become auto mechanics ever since they were kids. This helped Bella tremendously because her ten-year-old car frequently needed repairs.
“Oh, Rose. Just let karma do its job. By tomorrow, they won’t be able to show their faces anywhere,” Lauren said. “How dare that asshole claim he’s out drinking with our husbands. “And that Alice, she’s been a jealous bitch ever since she exploded out of her mother’s womb. She’s just not nice, never has been, and never will be.”
Lauren, another classmate, was Jacob’s wife. She was a registered nurse at the hospital along with Bella and Leah. She was also a gossip of the first order, and Bella was thankful Lauren had her back because she wouldn’t want to be the subject of her chatter. She had been instrumental in gathering the gang together to help with the move.
Mike Newton and his wife Jessica, née Stanley, were also here, along with Jasper Whitlock and his wife Angela, formerly Weber. Quil Ateara also showed up. He wasn’t married yet but was dating a woman from the Makah Reservation. And, of course, Jared and Kim Cameron were here. The only people who weren’t here were Seth Clearwater and Embry Call. Seth, because he lived and worked in Seattle, and Embry, because he was at work.
“Hey, which pieces of furniture are you taking?” Jake asked.
“Just the dining set and the TV. Oh, and the soundbar! I purchased those. Esme bought the bedroom furniture, minus the mattress-I bought that. You can leave it here, though. I don’t want anything I slept on with Edward. Oh, but take the white dresser drawer that doesn’t go with the bedroom. I brought that from my room in Forks.”
“Good. That’ll make things easier. We’ll just load the whole thing up in my truck. Bellsy.”
Bella took a look around the living room. “The sofa and loveseat are used and came from Carlisle and Esme’s basement, so leave them. I bought the coffee and end tables, but I’m not sure I like them enough. They go with the sofa. You can leave them unless someone wants them. They’re cheapies from Target.”
“I like them,” Angela stated. “They’re nicer than the ones we’re using now. So I’ll take them.”
“Be my guest. I’d rather you take them than leave them for Edward.” Bella smiled. “You can’t have the lamps. Those are antiques belonging to my grandma. I love them.” She turned her attention to the kitchen. “Air Fryer, Instant Pot, and Keurig Machine are all mine. So are the pots and pans. You can leave the dishes and utensils-they came from Esme.”
“Take the K-cups,” Sam stated. “Bella has been buying the groceries.”
“For real, Sam? You’re going to be that cheap.”
“Hell, yeah, little sis.” He brought an empty box into the kitchen. “All of the groceries are coming with us. I don’t care if the milk is half empty.”
“Okay, but leave the Lactaid milk. That’s Edward’s.”
Sam’s eyebrows shot up, and a rare mischievous smile appeared. “Bella, go and pack up all your bathroom stuff. Take one of the empty boxes. I’ll do the kitchen.”
As soon as she was gone, Sam poured the Lactaid into the sink and replaced it with the regular milk before putting it back in the fridge.
“Fucking hell. I didn’t know you had it in you, Sammy,” Jasper cackled, “That should keep ol’ Eddie on the crapper for a good two days. Speaking of which, we should take the toilet paper with us. I mean, Bella purchased all the paper products, too.”
“Excellent point. We’ll leave the cereal behind so Edward can at least have some cereal with his, uh… milk. I consider it a kindness after all he’s done to our girl.”
“You can be really devious when you’re pissed off.”
“When it involves my kid sister, revenge is my middle name.”
“Hey, I consider Bella my kid sister, too. The next time I see Cullen, he’s getting an earful from me for taking advantage of our girl. She’s even sweeter and more trusting than Angela, a minister’s daughter.”
Two hours later, the apartment was completely void of anything and everything that belonged to Bella, which really wasn’t as much as she thought. It was amazing how much crap Edward accumulated, primarily through his parents. She was sure he would be in for a rude awakening when he finally came home.
“Hey, where is all of this going?” Jake asked.
“My parents’ house,” Bella said.
“Uh, no, Sis. You’re moving in with Sam and me in La Push. If you live with Dad and Mom, they’ll coddle you with their pity, and then you’ll end up depressed and longing for Spongeward. They mean well, but they’ll baby you, which is not what you need. You need your big sis to kick your ass, so you don’t wallow in self-pity and become a zombie.”
“I am not going to become a zombie. I’m actually pissed off.”
“Good! That’s the way to handle the situation. Leave your key on the nightstand, and let’s get going.”
The following day before work, Bella called the electric company to shut off the utilities. Next, she did the same for the Internet provider. Then she went into all the streaming services and changed the password. Finally, when she went to the gym, she had them remove Edward’s name from her membership. Fortunately, his phone was still linked to his parents’ account.
While at work, she received several calls and texts from Edward, but she ignored them. She didn’t bother listening, reading, or responding to them. Instead, she blocked his number from her iPhone. She decided a clean break was what she needed. Sadly, Edward wasn’t on the same page.
After work, he was standing by her car, waiting. As soon as she caught sight of him, she turned and walked the other way, but he caught up with her and grabbed her arm-hard. The expression on his face was furious and frightening. “What the fuck is going on, Bella? I came home to the apartment, and you were gone!”
“Let go of me, Edward. Now,” she ordered.
“Not until you tell me what’s going on.”
“Let go of me!” she demanded through gritted teeth. She wondered where the hell hospital security was when she needed them.
“No!” He squeezed her arm harder. In response, Bella slammed her fist down on the offending hand, then ran back into the hospital. Unfortunately, Edward was fast. He reached out and grabbed her by the neck, slamming her into the wall.
“What the fuck is going on, Bella? You moved out without any explanation to me.”
“How’s Alice?” she gasped out. “Did you have fun taking her to lunch at Bella Italia using my money? I saw you, Edward! You were making out with her in the corner booth, plainly visible for all to see.”
“You’re fucking insane. What the hell would I be doing with Alice Brandon?” He moved his hand up to her jaw, squeezing it tightly. “I was looking for work yesterday, and you have the nerve to accuse me of cheating on you? I’m hurt, Bella. You hurt me!” His hand moved back down to her neck, his breaths becoming shallow and angry. Bella was worried he would hit her, but she was going to stand up for herself. She refused to be intimidated by him. She wasn’t in the wrong.
“Did you really think you’d get away with two-timing me here? Now take your hands off me-unless you’re thinking of strangling me here in a public place,” she choked out. It was hard to speak with his hands firmly grasping her neck.
Edward was suddenly jerked away from Bella by someone else. A guy. A very handsome, buff guy with jet-black hair and gorgeous brown eyes. The man grabbed Edward by the collar and tossed him to the ground. He turned her ex onto his stomach, put his hands behind his back, and held him there. He then used Siri on his Apple Watch to call 911.
As soon as he did that, Edward started struggling. “I’d stop moving if I were you. You don’t want to get hurt.”
“Let me go!” Edward yelled.
“No, I’m sorry. I saw you assaulting this woman, and that’s a hard no for me.”
“Bella, tell him I wasn’t hurting you!” Edward ordered. “It was a misunderstanding.”
Bella gasped to catch her breath and didn’t reply to him.
“I’m afraid the bruises forming on her arm, jaw, and neck tell a different story,” the kind stranger stated plainly.
“Bella! Fucking tell him that I wasn’t assaulting you.” After a minute, when Bella didn’t reply, Edward continued, “Alright, I’m sorry. You’re right. I was with Alice yesterday. But it was just once, only yesterday. I swear. I love you, babe. Only you.”
Bella refused to reply. She just waited calmly for the police to arrive.
Within minutes, both the police and hospital security arrived at the scene. “Oh, geez. Bella, are you okay?” It was Jared Cameron, one of her friends. He was a police officer in Port Angeles. He and his wife Kim had helped her move out of the apartment last night.
He noticed Edward being subdued on the ground by the man. “Hey, Paul, how are you?”
“I was leaving work, and this guy had this lady in a chokehold. I intervened before he hurt her more than he already had. Look at her arm, jaw, and neck. She’s already forming bruises.”
“Thanks, Paul. We’ll take over from here.” Another officer kneeled down, read Edward his Miranda rights, cuffed him, and led him to the squad car to question him.
“What happened, Bellsy?” Jared asked as soon as Edward was separated from her. “Edward was waiting for me at the car. I tried to run away, but he grabbed me and wanted an explanation for last night. I demanded he let go of me, but he squeezed my arm harder. I finally hit his hand and made a run for it. He caught up to me just as I entered the building and slammed me against the wall. This time he started squeezing my neck. Fortunately, this man stepped in to help. She turned to him. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’m just glad I was able to help. My name is Paul Lahote.”
“It’s a pleasure. I’m Bella Swan.”
Jared took a statement from Paul and then took photos of Bella’s bruises. “Do you need to be seen by a doctor?”
“I don’t think so,” she replied.
“And I think you do,” Paul stated. “You said the Edward guy slammed you into the wall. You need to at least get checked out for a concussion.”
“Oh, no. I don’t like seeing doctors,” Bella protested.
“Bells, just ask one of the doctors on your wing to check you for a concussion,” Jared insisted.
“I’m fine. I can tell that I don’t have a concussion. I’m not dizzy, my speech isn’t slurred, and my vision is fine.”
Before any other words crossed Bella’s lips, Paul reached into his bag and grabbed a penlight and a stethoscope. He asked her a series of concussion-related questions, then checked out the bump on the back of her head.
“She’s fine,” he told Jared, then glanced at his watch. “I have to go. I’m going to be late for my other job. You know where to find me if you have further questions.” Paul turned to Bella. “I hope you feel better.”
“Thank you!” Bella stated to his retreating form.
“I am so happy that Paul happened by. Jesus! Has Edward ever been violent towards you, Bella?” Jared questioned.
“No, never. I was completely taken by surprise. It was like he suddenly lost control of himself.”
“Bells!” Sam yelled, rushing towards her. He reached out and pulled her into his arms. “Oh, my God! You’re hurt.”
“You called him?” Bella asked Jared.
“He’s my best friend. He would have killed me if I didn’t let him know. I have a healthy sense of self-preservation, I’ll have you know.”
Bella simply rolled her eyes.
A few minutes later, it was even worse, Police Chief Charlie Swan of Forks, Bella’s father, walked into the hallway together with the chiefs of the Port Angeles Police Department, the La Push Tribal Police Force, the Sequim Police Department, and the Olympia Police Department. Those were the men she could identify. There were also others, all dressed casually in polos and golf slacks.
“Damn,” Jared muttered under his breath. “It looks like the whole brigade is here. Maybe I shouldn’t have sent a text to Charlie.”
“Where is she? Baby girl, are you okay?” Charlie immediately spotted the bruises forming on her arm, jaw, and neck. “Someone, bring a gurney!”
“Daddy! I’m fine! I don’t need a gurney.”
“You are not fine! You were manhandled and assaulted.”
“Charlie, she’s fine,” the Port Angeles police chief assured him. Officer Cameron just explained what happened. “Officer Cameron has already requisitioned the security tapes, and we have statements from her and the witness. So she’s actually free to go.”
“I want a restraining order filed against Edward Cullen,” Charlie demanded.
“I’ll take care of it personally,” one of the gentlemen stated. Bella recognized him as a judge in Forks.
Charlie Swan breathed a sigh of relief. As soon as Jared texted him that Bella was in trouble at the hospital, he hopped into the squad car and rushed over. Fortunately, he had already been in Port Angeles at a golf tournament/luncheon between the police chiefs and judges of the Olympic Peninsula. The luncheon had just been wrapping up when he got the text, and most of the men had rushed over to assist. One thing was for sure: Edward Cullen would be raked over the coals for this. None of these men liked when one of their own was assaulted, and the bruises forming on Bella were proof that she had been attacked.
By the time Bella got home, she was both exhausted and frustrated. Neither Sam nor her father would let her drive home on her own, so she left her car in the hospital parking lot. Charlie drove and ordered a thorough explanation on the way home. Then, instead of taking her to Sam and Leah’s, he brought her home to his house in Forks, where Sue went over the top, mollycoddling her as if she were made of spun glass. First, she iced the bump on her head and applied arnica to her bruises. She even cut her dinner into bite-sized, manageable pieces like for a toddler. Then she insisted that she stay overnight in her old bedroom until Leah came to get her and brought her home.
Eighteen months later…
In the following months, Bella’s family and friends supported her and ensured she didn’t become depressed. Truth be told, she was angry with herself for hanging onto a doomed relationship rather than depressed. She had become complacent because she had been comfortable with Edward. In the beginning, when it was new, she had been swept away by the romance of it all. Bella had never had a boyfriend before. She had just moved to Forks from Arizona and had been painfully shy. So when the handsome and popular Edward Cullen asked her out, she was grateful and practically worshipped him at his feet.
In hindsight, Bella suspected he stayed with her because she had been easy to manipulate. She always took him at his word, even if his story had holes. When her friends said the same, she dismissed them, insisting she had faith in Edward. And then Sam had shown her incontrovertible proof that Edward was cheating on her. She’d finally seen his true colors. And when she moved out, what did he do? He became agitated and violent towards her.
One thing was for sure: she would never fall for the fantasy again. She wanted a real man. Someone who was honest. And most importantly, someone who had a job and wasn’t afraid to work.
There was one very positive development after the breakup. Bella’s parents and step-parents had encouraged her to apply to graduate school so she could become a nurse practitioner. The hospital she worked for would foot the bill for her if she agreed to return to work for them for a minimum of five years; otherwise, she’d have to pay them back.
Bella attended a one-year program at the University of Washington. She moved in with her little stepbrother Seth who made gads of money working as a computer engineer, and insisted she didn’t need to pay rent. All she had to do was cook, which she had no problems with. Still, she found a part-time nursing job to support herself while attending school. She graduated with honors within one year and moved back to the Olympic Peninsula. She was living with Leah and Sam again while looking for an apartment.
The one thing that frightened her about living on her own was that Edward had been released from jail and was now on probation and living at his parents’ home in Forks. He had been ordered to stay far away from Bella by the courts. Word was he was still dating Alice Brandon.
Bella, on the other hand, hadn’t dated anyone. It was sad, considering Edward had been her first and only boyfriend, and she had never been with anyone else. But, truth be told, she was worried about putting herself out there. Her friends had all offered to set her up with one guy or another. Heck, even Reverend Weber, Angela’s father, had offered to set her up with one of his parishioners.
No, Bella was going to be extremely cautious this time. She didn’t want a deadbeat sponging off of her, nor did she want someone who worked all the time and had no time for her. She didn’t need to be wined, dined, and romanced. She’d been there and done that. She just wanted an honest and faithful man with whom she could share her life. Was that too much to ask?
On Monday night, Bella arrived home from work to find all her friends gathered to watch the Superbowl. The dining table, kitchen island, and coffee table were all laden with food, and several coolers filled with drinks dotted the house.
“Bella! You’re home. Come and watch the game with us!” Jacob called.
“I will. Just let me take a quick shower and get changed.” She always showered as soon as she got home after a shift at the hospital. It was a habit drilled into her by her stepmother, a registered nurse at Forks Hospital. Who knew what kind of germs they’d been exposed to at the hospital?
A few minutes later, she was dressed casually in leggings and a hoodie and about to watch the game when she heard knocking on the door. Since it appeared that she was the only one who heard the knock, she went to answer the door. On the doorstep, she found Paul Lahote, her rescuer from a year and a half ago, standing with a case of beer in one hand and a cheesecake in the other. Bella loved cheesecake.
She stared for a moment in awe. She wasn’t sure if she was ogling the cheesecake or the man holding the cheesecake. The cheesecake looked mouthwatering, creamy, and delicious. And the forearm holding the cheesecake was perfectly chiseled and led up to a beautiful bicep that filled out a tight, white t-shirt. She looked into his eyes, and he smiled.
She smiled back but didn’t move. She just wanted to keep staring at him, which was odd because she usually wasn’t affected this way. Perhaps it was his scent. He smelled like a man should-all clean and soapy-with no hint of cologne. Edward used to douse himself in cologne.
“Are you going to let your guest in, or are you going to keep eye-fucking him, Bells?” Jasper hollered, much to Bella’s embarrassment.
“Jesus Christ, Jasper! Fucking leave Bella alone!” Angela reprimanded.
Bella smiled at Paul. “Believe it or not, that’s Reverend Weber’s daughter Angela and her husband, Jasper, in case you didn’t know. They curse more than all the citizens in Forks, and La Push combined.” She held the door open for Paul to enter. “Would you like to come in?”
“I brought beer and cheesecake,” he said.
“Uh… I’ll take the cheesecake. You can put the beer down by one of the coolers. It won’t last long at this party.”
Paul laughed. “Don’t eat the cheesecake by yourself. I want a piece, too.”
“Come with me to the kitchen, and I’ll slice a piece for you.”
“Dessert before dinner?” he questioned.
“Of course, you want to eat the good stuff first. Is this cheesecake from Mrs. Ateara’s diner?”
“Only the best.”
“How about if we have one big slice each?” she suggested. “It would be wrong to not share with the others.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
They chatted for a bit, then joined the others in watching the game. Bella fell asleep during the third quarter. She had been putting long hours in at work. At some point, the game ended, she had no idea which team won, and she didn’t care. Instead, she dreamt about a chiseled man in a tight, white t-shirt carrying a cheesecake.
Two weeks went by, and she was home alone. Leah and Sam were vacationing in Hawaii for the week. According to Leah, she couldn’t wait for a romantic stroll and some lovemaking on the beach under the moonlight. Bella couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to do that. They’d be washing sand out of their cracks for days. Besides, what if they were seen?
That thought had her considering Valentine’s Day, which had been the day after the Superbowl. All the couples she knew made a big deal about it. She just couldn’t understand why. Why was it necessary to validate your love on a holiday? Shouldn’t love be a given-proven daily by mutual respect between partners on a daily basis.
Why did couples need to prove their love with heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, flowers, and other grand gestures? Edward used to make a big deal about Valentine’s Day. Perhaps he had soured it for her? Flowery words and romantic gestures were nice, but she would take a plain-spoken, respectable, hard-working man over one who thought over-the-top gestures were necessary to prove himself.
There was a knock on the door, and she went to answer it. Again, Paul Lahote was standing on the doorstep. This time, he was carrying a lemon meringue pie. Bella loved lemon meringue pie.
“Hey,” he greeted.
“Hi. Sam isn’t home,” she informed him. “Do you want to leave a message for him?”
“I know. I came to see you. I thought we could have some pie together.”
“Oh, sure… Come in. I love lemon meringue pie.”
“More than cheesecake?”
“It depends on what I’m presented with. I love them both equally.”
“Me, too.” They sat together at the dining table. “So, I heard you ended up going to graduate school after… after the day we met,” Paul prompted.
“I did. I’m a nurse practitioner now. How about you? How many more years of residency do you have left?”
“I have a little over a year left.”
“Really? What’s your specialty?”
“I specialize in Family and Community Health with a concentration in Indigenous Health. I’m actually doing my residency in Port Angeles and finishing my additional qualifications at the tribal clinic right here in La Push.”
“That’s impressive. Is that what brought you here to La Push? If you don’t mind me asking, what nation are you from?” Bella knew he was Native American, but she wasn’t sure what tribal affiliation he had.
“I’m actually Quileute.”
“Really? How come I never met you before you saved me last year?”
“Well, I was born in Seattle and only spent four years in La Push, from second thru fifth grade, when my parents moved back to the big city after my grandparents passed away. I finished high school in Seattle and went to college and medical school in North Dakota. So when it was time to find a residency program, I looked in this area and found one at the Port Angeles Medical Center. Once I got here, I simply asked the tribal clinic if I could complete my qualifications, and they happily accepted me. Otherwise, I would have had to apply at another reservation after finishing my residency instead of finishing both concurrently.”
“Wow! That’s pretty cool. How are the qualifications different from a residency?”
“Basically, there’s a checklist of qualifications for running an indigenous health clinic that you must master, while the residency is all medical.”
“I get it. What made you want to concentrate on Indigenous Health?”
Paul laughed. “You’re the first person who has ever asked me that. Most people assume it’s because I’m Native American, but it isn’t true. My grandparents, aunts, and uncles all passed away due to complications from Type 2 Diabetes and inadequate health care. I realized we have to do better. So my plan is to modernize and upgrade our tribal health facilities here. Healthcare on the reservation needs to be holistic and encompass all aspects of well-being.”
“By that, I assume you want to include mental and physical well-being, nutrition, and social services.”
“Bingo. As someone in health care, how do you feel about the tribal health program here?”
“Hmm… I agree that there can be improvement. To do that, nutrition education and the importance of exercise must be stressed from a young age. It means branching out to the school system in Forks via community outreach. As a Forks High School graduate, I can 100 percent tell you that neither nutrition nor exercise is stressed. We had more of an outreach program in Arizona. It wasn’t much better, but it was still stressed.” Bella laughed. “Mind you, I grew up with a Paleo-loving, yoga-nut school teacher, so I may not be the best judge of things.”
“You grew up in Arizona? What was it like there?” Paul asked, and that’s when it dawned on her that Edward had never asked her about her life in Phoenix. Wow! She had wasted eleven years of her life with a guy who talked about himself and only himself.
“Arizona-it’s hot and dry.”
“I can get that information off of the Internet.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s just that I’ve never really talked about Arizona.” She cupped her chin while thinking and staring into Paul’s beautiful face. He had a gorgeous, chiseled jawline and a panty-melting smile. He was kind. She already knew that. And he was unafraid to stand up for what was right. There was solid proof of that when he defended her from Edward.
“Well, let’s see. Arizona is a fun place to live, mainly because it’s ethnically diverse. It’s like a multicultural melting pot, and we’re exposed to many different foods from many cultures. For example, we had tamales for school lunch because of the large Latino population. Of course, you know that Arizona and Mexico share a border. But there’s also a large Native American population, so we’d have Indian Tacos for lunch. Neither are suitable nutrition-wise, but dang, they taste good.
“Then you have people with a nutty mother like mine. She’s into natural health care and holistic everything. She calls anyone who practices standard medicine ‘butchers,’ and she’s pretty sure that yoga and meditation will heal anything and everything.”
Paul guffawed. “Ah, one of those types. What does she think of her daughter making her career in the medical field?”
“She’s ecstatic. She’s also from the school of following your dreams. Since I grew up with such a free-spirited mother, I was always impressed by doctors and nurses. Actually, I was fascinated by anything that didn’t involve curing colds with Manuka Honey and Black Elderberry Syrup.”
“Ha-ha-ha. You had an interesting childhood.”
“I did. What about you?”
Paul studied Bella’s face. She was pretty in an unconventional way. It was breathtaking when she smiled, and he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. She was witty, and he knew she was unafraid to stand up for herself. Truth be told, he had been impressed by how she said her ex-boyfriend off despite being assaulted by him. It was an odd way to meet, but maybe it was kismet. He had never been so fascinated by a woman.
He was swamped in the first year of his residency, but when the time finally freed up for him, and he went to visit her at Sam’s house, she was gone. He learned that she had gone to Seattle to become a Nurse Practitioner. He knew the program wasn’t easy, so he gave her kudos. He also discovered through the grapevine that she’d return to work in Port Angeles.
So, he waited-patiently. Well, not so patiently. But he waited. And when she returned to La Push, he went to visit her. He figured the Superbowl Party at Sam’s house was the perfect way to break the ice. And this was their first date. But, unfortunately, he really sucked at wooing women. He was not the type of guy to bring flowers; they made him sneeze. And he hated to dress up and go to restaurants. Ties choked the hell out of him, and dress shoes made his feet blister. Part of the reason he enjoyed being a doctor was that he could spend the whole day in scrubs and Crocs.
He got back to the conversation. “Well, like I said earlier, I grew up in La Push until my parents moved to Seattle for more job opportunities. They still live there. My dad is an electrician. He owns his own business.
“And my mom, well, she’s had a very eclectic lifestyle. She is gorgeous, and right out of high school, she moved to New York City and then to Paris to become a fashion model. When she lived in Paris, she realized modeling was not as exciting as she thought, but she didn’t want to leave France. She loved the food there, so she enrolled in culinary school. After graduating, she returned to Washington State and lived in Seattle, where she met my dad. When they discovered they were both Quileute, they hit it off; the rest is history. They moved back to La Push from when I was seven until I was eleven to take care of the family, but their hearts remained in Seattle. They love it there.”
“So, what does your mom do in Seattle?”
“Oh, she’s a pastry chef. She owns her own bakery.”
Bella’s eyes lit up. “Oh, really? Is she better than Mrs. Ateara?”
“You can’t really compare the two. Mrs. Ateara does diner-style desserts. My mom does French pastries.”
Bella held her chest and gasped. “Oh, my God. Does she make Chocolate Croissants and Napoleons?”
“Yep.” Paul grinned. “And baguettes.”
“Oh, wow! You must be the luckiest guy in the world to grow up with a mother like that. My mother is the lousiest cook in the world. Even worse, she believes she’s a fantastic chef. I learned how to cook at a young age due to necessity. But I interrupted you. Tell me more about yourself.”
“I told you about my parents and why I went to medical school. Besides that, I don’t like big cities other than visiting. The four years I spent in La Push as a kid were my best childhood years. I prefer the slower-paced lifestyle here. I can’t hunt or fish to save my life like the guys around here, nor can I repair cars. But I do have a black belt in karate, and I enjoy hiking and skiing.”
“Do you play golf?” Bella asked hopefully. She loved golfing, which would be a terrific activity to share. She learned from her father who loved having her tag along with him to the golf course.
“Not well, but I’m learning.” He paused and made a decision to fess up to her. “Bella, I’m here because I’m interested in you. I want to get to know you and see if things will work out between us. And to be honest, I suck at dating and romance and all that fuu-fuu stuff. Am I making any sense?”
“You do. And… I’d like to get to know you, too. But, I’m taking things slowly because my last relationship kind of sucked.”
“Hey, you don’t have to tell me anything about him. I don’t want to get to know him. I want to get to know you. Your past relationship doesn’t define who you are. I’ve been asking around about you, and I can one hundred percent say that I don’t think anyone is as universally liked as you are. Actually, I’m not sure if people like you or your lasagna better. I think I’m the only person in Forks and La Push who has never tasted your lasagna.”
“Come and have lasagna tomorrow night then,” Bella offered. “I have the day off, so I have time to cook.”
“I’m not going to say no to lasagna.” He stood up. “See you tomorrow then?”
“See you tomorrow,” she replied and walked him to the door.
It was a promising start to a new relationship. Already, she knew he wasn’t like Edward. Instead, Paul was simply a better man.
The following day, Bella drove to the grocery store in Forks to pick up ingredients for the lasagna she was making for dinner. She was in the pasta aisle when she spotted Edward shopping with Alice. As soon as they saw Bella, they started slobbering all over each other in an attempt to make her jealous. Bella simply rolled her eyes.
She grabbed the package of lasagna noodles that she needed and turned to leave the aisle. Edward didn’t dare approach her, but Alice Brandon was stupid enough to do so. “Just so you know, I won my man in the end. You weren’t woman enough to hold on to a good thing. So I won and you’re just a loser,” she sneered.
“Good luck to you, then. I wish you both well,” Bella stated sincerely. This threw Alice for a loop, and she stood gaping at her with her jaw hanging open.
As she walked away, she realized that seeing Alice and Edward didn’t affect her one way or another. They simply didn’t matter. Alice was never a part of her life, and Edward was in the past. But, as Paul said-her past relationship didn’t define who she was. Bella was stronger by her experience with Edward, and for that, she was grateful. She learned a harsh and vital lesson but gained confidence and independence in the end.
Paul and Bella got to know each other-slowly. By and by, they started dating. They had no when they actually became a couple, but they did. The only thing they knew was that they became solid friends first. After that, they were told not to worry. Apparently, Lauren and Leah were keeping track of all the important dates.
For Paul, of course, dating Bella meant expanding his friend group. It also meant he had to deal with all the overprotective men in her life. He knew it was no coincidence when they went on their first actual date together-hiking the Wagonwheel Lake Trail-and they ran into Chief Swan, Sam Uley, and Jasper Whitlock-all carrying rifles. Supposedly, they were hunting in the area. Bella called bullshit on that one. There was no hunting allowed on that particular trail. Besides, it was fishing season.
They continued to date-slowly but surely falling in love with each other. Bella eventually moved in with Paul. He lived in his grandparents’ house, which his parents had inherited but signed over to Paul. They had kept it, knowing he’d return to the area.
When Paul finally completed his residency program, he became a full-fledged physician. He received many lucrative offers but instead chose to work full-time at the La Push Tribal Clinic. Within five years, he ran the entire clinic, implementing many positive changes that benefited both the tribe and Forks as a whole.
Bella did not move into her own apartment in Port Angeles. Instead, she stayed in La Push at Sam and Leah’s house for another year and a half. This happened due to a plea from both Leah and her friend Lauren. They had decided to take a page out of Bella’s book and further their educations to become nurse practitioners, taking advantage of the same program Bella did. They did so with the blessing of their husbands, Sam and Jacob. The two couples decided a sacrifice of one year of living apart so that their wives could pursue their dreams was better done sooner rather than later when they had children. After all, Leah had set aside her advanced degree so Sam could earn his MBA, while Lauren had helped put a down payment on the shop Jacob owned with Rosalie. And so, they moved to Seattle for a year, while Bella ‘babysat’ both Sam and Jacob for a year.
When Leah and Lauren returned to La Push, Bella was ready to wring Sam and Jacob’s necks. They hovered over her worse than Charlie, usually with the rest of the guys in their friend group. They frequently joined Paul and Bella on their dates-usually unexpectedly.
Fortunately, Paul asked Bella to move in with him, which she did-happily. Of course, it didn’t help that he lived right across the street from Sam and Jacob. But she was happy to be with the man she loved.
As for Edward Cullen, Bella didn’t really think about him until, one day, a wedding announcement was placed in the local paper. Edward and Alice had tied the knot in a small civil service held at the town hall. Word in town was that she was pregnant. Alice would forever resent that she never got to have the wedding of her dreams. On the other hand, Edward would regret not appreciating and loving Bella for the rest of his life. He was stuck in a hellish marriage with a self-centered witch. Of course, it never occurred to him that he was selfish, too.
In happier wedding news, Paul asked Bella to marry him about a year after he completed his residency. By then, she was already living with him. The couple tried to tie the knot quietly with no fuss but to no avail. It seemed all of Forks, and La Push immediately began planning their wedding. Even Reverend Weber was in on the action, reserving the church and selecting the perfect date for a summer wedding.
Paul’s mother flexed her culinary skills and catered the entire wedding using Mrs. Ateara’s diner as a base. Not to be outdone, Mrs. Ateara baked the wedding cake, which was ironic because Mrs. Lahote actually owned a bakery.
It became the most prominent society wedding ever held in the area with almost no planning by the bride and groom. Instead, they simply showed up for the festivities. Bella wore her mother’s old wedding gown, which had been perfectly preserved in the attic of her father’s house. Paul simply wore the only suit and tie he owned.
Sam and Leah stood up for the bride and groom, and there were a ton of bridesmaids and groomsmen, all members of their extended friend group. Almost the entire population of Forks and La Push showed up to the wedding, with the exception of the incarcerated population and Edward and Alice. Ironically, even Dr. and Mrs. Cullen and Dr. and Mrs. Brandon came to the wedding and the reception that followed, celebrating with the entire town.
In the end, Bella and Paul Lahote enjoyed the big celebration their friends and family held for them. They recognized and appreciated the efforts put forth by their loved ones.
The only part they had planned was the honeymoon. They journeyed to Australia and New Zealand because Paul wanted to study how their indigenous healthcare system operated. Bella wanted to go because Keith Urban and Chris Hemsworth lived there.
Bella and Paul had an incandescently happy marriage and, in due time, raised four children together. Their genuine love and respect for each other shined through their actions. Eventually, after fulfilling her five-year commitment to Port Angeles Medical Center, Bella decided to work with Paul at the tribal clinic. Together, they implemented changes to the tribal healthcare system-not only in La Push but throughout the United States. Yet, despite their many successes, they stayed humble, maintaining good relations with their friends, family, and community with kindness and compassion.
And so, we come to the end of our tale. Bella and Paul Lahote, both of whom abhorred romance, were, in truth, the most romantic couple in La Push. They were frequently asked what the secret to keeping the romance alive in a relationship was. Paul had no idea how to reply to such a question; he knew that he simply loved his wife and never regretted intervening to save her the day he met her.
And Bella? She loved Paul. She was eternally grateful that a better man had walked into her life at the right moment.
The doorbell chimed, and Bella went to answer it. On the doorstep stood her husband, holding a cheesecake in one hand and a lemon meringue pie in the other.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” he said to his wife.
“You know, for someone who hates romance, you sure do an excellent job at it.”
Paul put the desserts down on the coffee table, swept Bella into his strong arms, and melted her lips with an earth-shattering kiss. In truth, the two professed romance haters were, indeed, the world’s biggest romantic fools.
And they lived happily ever after…
The End
Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction 
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