Southern Comfort: Chapter 25

Chapter Twenty Five

Maggie called at six thirty this morning hysterical. Jake was colicky and she couldn't get him to stand. I offered to go be with her while Edward and Jasper worked with him, but he wouldn't let me, seeing as we only went to sleep two hours before the phone rang. He told me to go back to sleep and head out when I woke up well rested.

I was asleep the second he ended our good morning and goodbye kiss rolled into one.

And at ten my cell phone rang.

"Hello?" I answered, eyes still closed and head shoved under the pillow to block out the evil light.

"Yes, I'm calling to speak with a Bella Swan?" the voice sounded agitated. "She used to hang out with Jessica Stanley all the time and hasn't given her the time of day or even a phone call in over a month. Would you happen to know where I can find a Bella Swan?"

"I dunno, but tell Miss Jessica Stanley that the phone works both ways and mine hasn't rang in over a month either," I yawn.

"Whatever bitch!" Jessica cackles into the phone. "I've been knocking on your door forever. Okay, really, it's only been like a minute, but still. Come let me in!"

"Give me a minute," I chuckle, climbing out of bed and tripping over a stray boot on the way to the bathroom. "What are you doing up at this hour? Jessica doesn't do mornings."

"Well I got some news for you. ARE YOU PEEING WHILE YOU TALK TO ME?" she screams.

"Well, if I wasn't before, I am now. Jesus, Jess, you might be outside, but I'm inside. Let's use our inside voices please."

"Ew Bella! That's just nasty. Come on, open up."

I take my time washing my hands and then brushing my teeth, which pisses her off even further. By the time I swing the door open, the coffee is brewing and there are Eggos in the toaster. Jess gives me a dirty look.

"What? I have to offer food and refreshment or I'd be a bad hostess."

"Slut," she mutters, walking past me and into the kitchen. "When did Felix get a brother?"

"Huh?"

Jessica points to the wall above the dining room table where my Felix clock hangs on the wall. Next to Felix is Edward's beloved Garfield clock. We both refused to part with our kitchen clocks, so now we had two.

"Oh, when Edward moved in."

Jessica stares at me for a second, looking me over. "AW HELL! No wonder you've been hiding out. Shit girl! I thought I'd done something to piss you off. All this time you've been shacking up with your dream boat." She catches sight of my engagement ring and snatches my left hand up to see. "When the hell did this happen?"

"Recently." I take my hand back. "Coffee?"

"Sure." She sits down, but doesn't stop staring at me. "How does it feel?"

"Feel?"

"Yeah, to be in love?" She rests her chin on her hand. "You've loved Edward since forever and now that you have him and you're getting married and all. How does it feel?"

Jessica's being weird. Not that she wasn't always a little off, but this topic of conversation isn't something we've ever covered.

"It feels wonderful, Jess. Magical even," I smile, handing her a cup of coffee. "I can't explain it in any other way but completion because that's how I feel. Complete."

"I'm glad for you, Bella. I tried to keep my distance because I thought you'd be livid about me asking him to the carnival, but there wasn't another way around it. You both were too chicken." She reaches over and grabs my left hand. "And now look at you. Three months later and you're getting married."

"You really only invited him to the carnival because you wanted to force us together?" I ask. "Because I was pissed up until Edward told me what you had said to him. I was hurt because you knew how I felt about him."

"I had to do what I had to do, Bella. You're welcome." She fingers my ring and I'm not sure if I believe her or not. "I came by to talk with you and catch up. Maybe even take a punch or two if you were pissed."

"I'm not gonna hit you," I laugh.

"Good. So you know Sam? The mechanic by the Cuban shop?"

I nod around my cup.

"Well we've been seeing each other since January and I think I might be in love. He's all I think about all the time and it's not even the sex; it's everything about him."

"Jessica, are you feeling alright?"

"Yes! I just told you I think I'm in love. I'm sort of freaking out, but I'm alright."

"I'm just checking to make sure because the Jessica I know has always been dead set on screwing her way through life. The Jessica Stanley I know was incapable of loving someone other than herself."

"People change, Bella." Her eyes well up. "I know I've fucked up in the past, but Sam doesn't care about that. We've talked about everything and he's heard of all the skeletons in my closet. He has a few of his own."

"That's good."

"He used to be married. To a woman named Leah. She lives in the next town over. They have two kids. Stop giving me that look, Bella. I know I said I'd never want to have a kid of my own, but that's just because I'm afraid of fucking it up worse than I am. Paul and Jared are older, like seven and eight, so they are already potty trained and they really like me."

"You met them?"

"Yeah, Sam took me to meet them before they come to stay with him for the summer. Leah and her girlfriend-" My eyes bug out when she said that statement. "Yeah, she left him for another woman, but she and Emily wanted to meet me before I spent time with the boys."

"What did she think of you?" I wonder.

"At first I thought she was gonna gut me or something, but the boys warmed up to me and eventually she did, too." Jessica grips my hand. "Sam asked me to move in with him before the boys come for the summer."

"And?"

"I'm fucking terrified, Bella! I've never done anything beyond casual fuck buddies, and now I'm in a monogamous relationship and being asked to move in with him and help take care of his two kids."

"What did you tell him?"

"I didn't. I left him at City Diner," she laughs nervously. "I should probably head back, but I wanted to talk it out with someone and you're the first person I thought of."

I take a deep breath before entwining my fingers with hers. "Jessica, you don't want to look back seven years from now and wonder why you waited so long. If you love Sam and see a future with him, then go for it, hon. I've never seen you like this before, but I can tell you're being sincere."

"I'm scared, Bella," she murmurs, eyes swelling up with unshed tears.

"Well then, talk to Sam about it. Tell him what you're afraid of and see if maybe the two of you can come up with a compromise." I glance over at Felix. "Maybe you can keep your apartment for a little while just in case the two of you decide to take a step back."

"Yeah," she mumbles. "I better get back. He's probably wondering where the hell his car went by now."

"I gotta get ready to head out to the ranch anyway. There's a problem with one of Maggie's horses and Edward's been out there all morning."

I walk Jessica to the door and give her a hug. "Thank you, Jessica. You might have gone about it the wrong way, but you're the reason behind me having everything I ever wanted. I want you to be happy, too."

"Thanks, Bella." She hugs me tightly. "Your boobs are bigger. Lucky bitch."

I smile and wave to her as she pulls out of my driveway in a beat up Volkswagen Rabbit.

Edward calls as I'm stepping out of the shower and asks me to bring food for everyone because no one is willing to leave Jake for a moment. I promise to bring lunch and tell him I love him before getting dressed and stopping by City Diner.