Chapter 13

Thanks once again to the gracious and lovely aurellacullen for her beta/prereading work.

Still a continuation of the year in Bella's life which started in chapter 9.

You may need to buckle up for this one.

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Chapter 13

-Summer-Bella, age 16 years…

"I call 'em snowbirds." Wanda's southern drawl made me smile. It reminded me of my Nana. I gave her a questionin' look. "These customers." She explained while gesturin' toward the tables closest to us.

I'd gotten a summer job at the diner and even though I wasn't scheduled to start for another three weeks, Wanda, the senior waitress, was showin' me the ropes.

Chapter 12

Thanks once again to the gracious and lovely aurellacullen for her beta/prereading work. Her assistance, as always, has been invaluable. Muah! My dear.

Still a continuation of the year in Bella's life which started in chapter 9.
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Chapter 12

-Spring-Bella, age 16 years…

Durin' the next month, I attempted to keep busy. It wasn't difficult seein' that I had school work to do, as well as applyin' for a summer job whilst also studyin' to get my driver's license. The day I received my license, Daddy had surprised me with a car he'd purchased a couple of months before, but had kept hidden at my Aunt and Uncle's house.

It was an old Subaru wagon, pale yellow exterior with tan seats, and although it had over a hundred thousand miles and more than a few dents in the body, I loved it from the moment Daddy handed me the keys.

There was no way that little car could ever compare to the vehicles that Edward and Alice owned, but I didn't care. All that mattered was that it was mine.

Chapter 11

Thanks once again to the gracious and lovely aurellacullen for her beta work on this story. My betas go above and beyond with their assistance and advice. I am very blessed.

This chapter is still a continuation of the year in Bella's life which started in chapter 9.

Beginning with this chapter, we will have a little EPOV at the end, usually in the form song lyrics.

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Chapter 11

-Spring-Bella, age 16 years…



The closer it got to spring break, the more anxious I felt. I wasn't sure exactly why.

Well, I had a suspicion.

Even though it was almost April, there was still a chill in the air; and as I sat on the porch, I clutched my cup of hot cocoa for warmth. Next week was spring break and I had a whole week off of school, the entirety of which I would be spendin' with Edward and his family.

I thought back to the last time I was in Pennsylvania and swallowed hard when I remembered havin' sex for the first time.

The only time...

I shook my head in an effort to clear those thoughts away.

I had returned from that visit, a nervous wreck. My attention wandered in class, I burned more than one dinner because I was distracted and not payin' attention, and I didn't finish a single conversation with my Daddy because I couldn't stand to be in his company for long. The guilt of what I'd done was almost cripplin'; and all I could think of as I looked at his face, was how he would react to news that his sixteen year old daughter might be pregnant.

In the end, I think he chalked my odd behavior up to havin' spent a very emotional and distressin' Christmas with the Cullens.

Eight days.

From the time my plane touched down in Richmond, until I finally got my period, I had to live through eight long, miserable days.

Durin' that time, Edward phoned me every mornin' and every night before I went to bed. He told me over and over how much he loved me; reassurin' me that everythin' would be okay.

Chapter 10

Thanks once again to the gracious and lovely aurellacullen for her beta/prereading work. I'd be lost without her! Muah!

Are you still with me? I hope I didn't lose anyone last chapter. I wish I could say that the angst is over…

This is the last time we will have a 'present day' to open the chapter. (I will explain next chapter)

Here is a continuation of the year in Bella's life which was started in chapter 9.

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Chapter 10

- Present Day -

"Have you been crying?" I could tell he was worried even though I couldn't see his face.

I sniffled. There was no point trying to deny it. "A little."

Chapter 9

Thanks once again to the gracious and lovely aurellacullen for her beta/prereading work. I'd be lost without her help! Muah!

This year in Bella's life is so long and involved, that I found I had to split it into three chapters.
Here is part 1. (Aurellacullen has suggested a tissue warning).

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Chapter 9

- Present Day -

"Bella, how are you doing, really?" Alice asked from her comfy seat across the table from me, where she sat sipping her giant cup of coffee, "I want the truth please."

The expression on her face, one I'd seen many times before, told me that she would brook no argument.

Chapter 8

Thanks once again to the gracious and lovely aurellacullen for her beta/prereading work. I'd be lost without her help! Muah!

*Enjoy

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Chapter 8

- Present Day -

Dinner was over, dishes were washed, and baths had been taken. A calm stillness had settled over the house once more. I curled up in bed with a book I'd been attempting to read for days. It wasn't holding my interest and, as of yet, I hadn't made it past the first chapter.

Chapter 7

Thanks once again to the gracious and lovely aurellacullen for her beta/prereading work. I'd be lost without her help! Muah!

A bit of a time jump in this one.

*Enjoy

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Chapter 7

- Present Day -

"It's all settled Bella. We'll arrive early tomorrow, and then Uncle Jazz will babysit while you and I have a spa day."

"Alice…" I whined.

Chapter 6

Thanks once again to the gracious and lovely aurellacullen for her beta/prereading work. She makes this story sooo much better!

*Enjoy

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Chapter 6

- Present Day -

Even though it was an hour before noon, the temperature was already quite warm. I knew we wouldn't be staying on the beach much longer. I laid back in my chair to soak up some of the sun's rays as I listened to the laughter of happy children all around me.

Chapter 5

Thanks once again to the gracious and lovely aurellacullen for her beta/prereading work. She makes me my words much purtier…believe me. Mwah!

*Enjoy

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Chapter 5

- Present Day -

Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight

Chapter 4

Thanks once again to the gracious and lovely aurellacullen for her beta/prereading work.
There's a bit of a time jump in this chapter.

*Enjoy

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Chapter 4

- Present Day -

"You feeling okay Bells?" Dad asked; his voice not gruff enough to mask his worried tone.
"Oh you know, same as usual."

Chapter 3

Kudos to msjaxteller for dubbing our sweet Edward as 'Popsicleward' : ) That's me smiling.

Thanks once again to the lovely aurellacullen for her beta/prereading work on this, I have come to rely on her help more than she probably realizes. This chapter is a lot purtier because of her help. Thank you so much my dear!

*Enjoy

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Chapter 3

- Present Day -

"I think you should come down to Pensacola for a couple of weeks. Honestly Bella, school doesn't start for another month, and it would do you some good to get away from Virginia for a while." My mother's voice sounded over the phone line.

Chapter 2

Thanks once again to aurellacullen for her wonderful beta work on this…

**Enjoy

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Chapter 2

- Present Day -

Laundry, dishes, vacuuming.

It wasn't even mid-morning before my back began to ache. More proof that the single parent gig was not for me. As I let out a gust of air, I realized I had no one to blame but myself for making that choice.

Chapter 1

 

Again, thanks to aurellacullen and pixiekat7 for their help with this chapter. You ladies are the best!

*Enjoy

 

Chapter 1

- Present Day -

I slipped silently from the bedroom, keeping my tread as light as possible as I made my way to the kitchen. Mercifully, I'd remembered to set the coffee maker the night before.

With a hot just-brewed mug in my hand, I slid open the patio door, and took a seat on one of the old wooden deck chairs. I sipped at my coffee, relishing the taste of my first and only cup of the day, while gazing across the inlet to where the sun was just beginning to rise above the distant horizon.

Prologue

Prologue-Popsicle Sticks

I was unconscious, half asleep
The water is warm 'til you discover how deep
I wasn't jumping, for me it was a fall
It's a long way down to nothing at all

-U2 Stuck in a Moment

I felt nothing as I floated. I knew that I wasn't asleep because there were no dreams.

Only darkness.

It was as if I temporarily existed in a void, leaving me sensory deprived, and isolated from all memories, especially those which would bring sorrow or pain.

Briefly, I wondered if this is how it felt to be dead. No physical pain, no feeling of hot or cold, no emotions, no memories, no gnawing worries, no matters demanding attention, no concept of time, no sound of life, not even the sound of one's own breaths.

Silence.

And with it numbness.