Buying Love Teaser

Working with Jenks, I got everything set up for the life insurance policy, transferring ownership of the house and getting the money from Jared’s accounts. Little did I know that Jared was quite well-off, thanks to his time with Volterra Technologies. From the life insurance policy, the expenses of the house were paid for and the accounts in the bank were for me and my needs. I wanted to use the money to pay for college, but Bella was insistent that she pay for my college education, but I still didn’t know what I wanted to do.

I just couldn’t look past this trial. Once Esme was gone for good, then I could focus on my future and what I wanted to do with my life. Though, that didn’t stop Bella from researching colleges and sending me texts about college life.

Jared’s memorial service was beautiful and intimate, just as he requested. Meeting a nearby funeral home, we listened to a short service by the priest in Jared’s neighborhood. Marcus was with his wife, who was tall and elegant, and a former client. Her eyes widened when she saw me, but didn’t say anything. I was just her date to a charity dinner since Marcus was out of town, but she wanted more and I almost obliged her because Esme was in a particularly bad mood that aday. Thankfully, I didn’t because that would have been very, very awkward between me and Marcus.

Not that it wasn’t in the first place. He totally flirted with my girlfriend and I didn’t like it. I wanted to ram my fist into his dimpled jaw and break his perfect nose. He was more subdued at the memorial, but he still looked at Bella like she was something to eat and I had to give him a few nasty glares.

Down the road from Jared’s home on a cloudy, blistery day, we met at a nearby marina to spread Jared’s ashes before going to Canlis for a late lunch to celebrate Jared’s life. I held the urn, standing at the end of the pier. Marcus, Bella and Carlisle were with me while the rest of our group was heading to the restaurant. Opening it up, I took out the bag and wrinkled my nose. Such a small bag for some a big man. I handed the urn to Bella and quietly read the poem he wrote in his letter to me. Together, Marcus and I poured the ashes into the sound and said our quiet prayers.

“Can I get a few moments?” I asked.

“Do you want me to stay?” Bella asked.

I shook my head, kissing her cold lips. She latched onto Carlisle’s arm and the three of them walked back up the pier. I shivered in my coat, wrapping my scarf around my neck. “Jared, I know that you are still out there and I appreciate all you did for me. It was too much, old man,” I snorted. “What the fuck am I going to do with a house?” I blew out a breath, smiling. “I know, live in it. That’s my plan, but I need to get past this trial with Esme. I pray that she gets the maximum sentence, Jared. Hopefully, you’ve got some pull with the big guy upstairs and he can make things happen.” The clouds parted, a ray of sunshine shining down on me and I looked up, smiling. “Thank you, Jared. I love you and I’ll miss you. Don’t be a stranger, okay?” The sun ducked behind the heavy cloud cover and I walked to the waiting limo. 

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The day after Christmas, Edward and I spent time just hanging out and watching movies. Carlisle and Uncle Peter got Edward several BluRay discs that he might like. He watched them, happy to see the movies. However, he was more anxious to read the various books he’d received. He was eyeballing the paperback version of The Martian, which we had just watched on the flat screen in our bedroom. As I made dinner, he devoured the book, and couldn’t stop talking about it.

I think he was just trying to keep his mind occupied. I knew that the death of Jared had hit him hard. Jenks was coming over the next day to go over the will and to meet up with Marcus Volturi at Jared’s home. Marcus had the keys to Jared’s house, as well as to the car and the safety deposit boxes. Rose had arranged for Jared’s memorial service, using my credit card to fund the whole thing. It would be a couple of days before we could have the service. Edward wanted to get a few mementos from Jared’s home to celebrate his life.

Just before we went to bed, Edward put down his book. “It’s weird,” he whispered.

“What’s weird?” I asked, putting my paperwork from the hotel on my nightstand.

“Everything,” he said, rolling on his side. He was wearing a tight t-shirt, teasing me with his muscles. I was drooling at how much he’d filled out since he started to live with me. Plus, the almost daily workouts while I did my physical therapy helped, too. “Bella? Bellissima? You’re spacing out.”

“Sorry. I was just ogling your bulging biceps,” I quipped.

“Yeah, they’re huge,” he deadpanned. I rolled my eyes, brushing my hand through his messy bronze locks. “Anyway, since I got away from Esme, everything has changed, so much. First was your stupid idea in trying to save my mom.”

“It was stupid and I’m sorry,” I frowned.

“Bella, you could have been killed,” he said, pulling me into his arms. “I thought I’d lost you, bellissima. Seeing you on that floor …”

“You didn’t lose me,” I murmured. “I just couldn’t let her take you away from me.”

“I was protected. Underneath my coat, I had on a bullet proof vest,” he sighed, kissing my forehead. “But, you didn’t know that and I love you for wanting to save me, but I was so close to losing it because of your little stunt.”

“You had a vest on?” I squeaked. Well, crap. He tightened his arms around me, nuzzling my hair. “I didn’t know.”

“And then, my mom miraculously getting better, your injuries, Charlie’s apparent hatred of me, Esme’s indictment and Jared’s death … it’s all weird. I don’t know how to react to all of it. I’m thrilled that you’re getting stronger and that Esme is going to go to trial. I’m still coming to grips about my mom’s illness. What bothers me the most is how much your father hates my guts and Jared’s untimely death,” he sighed. “Plus, wrapping my head around the fact that he left me everything.”

“It’ll be a fresh start for you, Edward,” I said.

Jared's Home (Now Edward's)

Front Foyer

Living Room

Dining Room

Kitchen

First Floor Bathroom

Office 

Guest Room

Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom

Jared's new Silver Volvo

1966 Red Ford Mustang

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Buying Love Chapter 78 Update on FFn

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I was chilled to the bone, thanks to my hasty exit to get to Edward after he ran out of the conference room in the Seattle courthouse. Despite taking a long, scalding hot shower, I could not stop shivering. I was wearing leggings, loose pajama pants, a long-sleeved t-shirt, hoodie and covered in a blanket. Edward was in the bathroom and I could hear him crying inside of the shower. The loss of Jared had hit him to the core.

“Here, Bells,” Rose said, handing me a large cup of tea. “Hold it for a few minutes. Maybe it’ll help warm your hands.”

“Thanks,” I replied, taking the tea and wrapping my fingers around the mug. I inhaled it, smiling at the spicy orange flavor she’d chosen. “Rose, I want you to do some digging about Jared. Find out if he has family.”

“Already on it,” Rose smirked. “Carlisle actually beat me to it, using Emmett and his contacts at the Seattle PD. The preliminary findings indicate that Jared was alone in the world. His wife left him when their son died. She disappeared, it seemed. My guess is that she went back to her maiden name and flew across country.”

“What about that family he worked for? The Volturis?” I asked. “Do we know why Jared stopped working for them?”

“Hold on,” Rose said, flipping through her notebook. “Ah, got it. Aro Volturi had to go to Italy to care for his dying father, Caius and his mother, Maria, who suffered a stroke. He’s been in Italy ever since late 2015. Marcus gave Jared the option to stay, but since Marcus preferred to drive himself, Jared left the company and began working for Esme shortly after.”

“Find out as much as you can, Rose. But, I want to help out and pay for the funeral, if no one claims the body,” I sighed, taking a sip of the orange spice tea.

“I’ll make the necessary arrangements,” Rose said. She kissed my cheek and got up. “I’ll leave you with Edward. I don’t want to intrude on whatever is going to happen. If you need anything, I’m just a call away. And take your medicine. I really don’t want you back in the hospital, Isabella Marie.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said. She kissed my forehead and left me in the living room, looking at the beautifully decorated Christmas tree. I got up from my cocoon of blankets, taking the time to admire the elegant decorations, ornaments and details that Edward chose for our first holiday together. I reached for a crystal ornament of two angels, twined together with their foreheads touching. Half of the angel was a clear, faceted crystal and the other was smooth, but frosted.

“You are the one with the sparkle,” Edward said, his voice somber and gruff. “You always had this glow about you, pulling me in and giving me hope.”

“And the other?” I asked, turning to look at him.

“It’s me, but I’m no angel. My life was dim and lifeless before I met you,” he murmured.

Buying Love Teaser

I was chilled to the bone, thanks to my hasty exit to get to Edward after he ran out of the conference room in the Seattle courthouse. Despite taking a long, scalding hot shower, I could not stop shivering. I was wearing leggings, loose pajama pants, a long-sleeved t-shirt, hoodie and covered in a blanket. Edward was in the bathroom and I could hear him crying inside of the shower. The loss of Jared had hit him to the core.

“Here, Bells,” Rose said, handing me a large cup of tea. “Hold it for a few minutes. Maybe it’ll help warm your hands.”

“Thanks,” I replied, taking the tea and wrapping my fingers around the mug. I inhaled it, smiling at the spicy orange flavor she’d chosen. “Rose, I want you to do some digging about Jared. Find out if he has family.”

“Already on it,” Rose smirked. “Carlisle actually beat me to it, using Emmett and his contacts at the Seattle PD. The preliminary findings indicate that Jared was alone in the world. His wife left him when their son died. She disappeared, it seemed. My guess is that she went back to her maiden name and flew across country.”

“What about that family he worked for? The Volturis?” I asked. “Do we know why Jared stopped working for them?”

“Hold on,” Rose said, flipping through her notebook. “Ah, got it. Aro Volturi had to go to Italy to care for his dying father, Caius and his mother, Maria, who suffered a stroke. He’s been in Italy ever since late 2015. Marcus gave Jared the option to stay, but since Marcus preferred to drive himself, Jared left the company and began working for Esme shortly after.”

“Find out as much as you can, Rose. But, I want to help out and pay for the funeral, if no one claims the body,” I sighed, taking a sip of the orange spice tea.

“I’ll make the necessary arrangements,” Rose said. She kissed my cheek and got up. “I’ll leave you with Edward. I don’t want to intrude on whatever is going to happen. If you need anything, I’m just a call away. And take your medicine. I really don’t want you back in the hospital, Isabella Marie.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said. She kissed my forehead and left me in the living room, looking at the beautifully decorated Christmas tree. I got up from my cocoon of blankets, taking the time to admire the elegant decorations, ornaments and details that Edward chose for our first holiday together. I reached for a crystal ornament of two angels, twined together with their foreheads touching. Half of the angel was a clear, faceted crystal and the other was smooth, but frosted.

“You are the one with the sparkle,” Edward said, his voice somber and gruff. “You always had this glow about you, pulling me in and giving me hope.”

“And the other?” I asked, turning to look at him.

“It’s me, but I’m no angel. My life was dim and lifeless before I met you,” he murmured. “I don’t know. I saw it on a website and fell in love with it. It was very expensive, but Rose ordered it for me for our tree. I need to pay her back.”