Restoration

Chapter Eight

We're in the third and final installment in the Renovations trilogy. I'm happy for those of you who stuck with me throughout all of this. This was a challenge to write, but it helped me grow as an author. I hope you see that, too. Now, the story will update on Wednesdays and Sundays, with teasers on Mondays and Fridays. It's pre-written and complete. Thank you to Christina Downs for her help with this – guiding me with suggestions for the story, editing and just being a sounding board for this journey – you rock, girlie! MWAH!

Chapter Eight

"We're almost done with the restoration, Esme," Garrett said. "I can't believe how quickly we got this done."

"We have the right impetus to get it done," Essie smirked, waggling her brows. Garrett chuckled. "The furniture will be delivered tomorrow and that way, you'll have the whole weekend to reunite with Bella. I've spoken with her and she hates deceiving Edward, but figured it would be the only way to make it work. They've been texting back and forth, but he's hesitant to meet her and Bella is afraid that he'll reject her."

"Pfft," Garrett snorted. "Once he sees her, he'll crumble. He'll swoop her into his arms and kiss her stupid. The fact that they're talking says a lot. Okay, texting. Your conversation with him a couple of weeks ago really helped him understand what she was dealing with. And her conversation with Marcus helped her stop thinking so much. She's following her heart. Speaking of Marcus, how's that little girl you're fostering?"

"She's amazing. So sweet," Essie smiled. "It's so sad that she has to stay with us since her mom is an epic bitch."

"Huh?"

"So, long story short, Nessie is the only child of this couple that is in the middle of this horrific custody battle. Nessie wanted to live with her Dad. Nessie's mom said she'd rather drink hydrochloric acid than let her daughter stay with him. Nessie doesn't feel safe with Mom since Mom's boyfriend is a perv. Anyway, Bella came up with an alternative that both parties were agreeable to. Nessie is staying with us until the judge could make a decision about custody since mediation did not work. Hopefully by summer, Nessie will be back with her family, her dad. He wants full custody and for his ex-wife to have minimal supervised visitations," Essie explained. "Marcus and Bella are working on finding Mom and boyfriend in the act of doing something stupid to make it happen. Their private detectives have been trailing them since the mediation."

"Seriously, what is it with people being pervy with kids?" Garrett scoffed. "They're kids. Innocents! I mean, that's just gross."

"People suck, Garrett," Essie said, wrinkling her nose. "Nessie was quiet, but she wouldn't interact with me or Alice for a couple of days. When she did speak, she went to Carlisle since she felt more comfortable with a father figure. Her mother has been lackluster at best."

"And now?"

"She's warming up to Alice, but still is fearful of me. I've been kind and loving, letting her call all the shots. When she's ready, she'll approach me, but she has to feel safe enough to do it," Essie explained. She wiped her hands and looked around the nearly finished condo. "Anyhow, I'll be back down here around noon. I have to get Nessie off to school. You'll be here for the furniture delivery?"

"Yeah. I have Edward supervising the Banner renovation. It's almost done," Garrett said. "And we'll set up all of the candles, sheer fabric and fancy stuff, too?" Essie nodded. "And you'll text Edward?"

"Yep. I'll send him a text saying that there was some sort of issue with the sink," Essie said. "He'll come running since he doesn't want the wood floors to be ruined. He loves these floors."

"And you don't care that we're possibly using this condo for sex?" Garrett snickered.

"Just make sure you clean up after yourselves," she said dryly. "And spray air freshener. I don't want to be the first thing I smell is sex when I walk into my new condo."

"You did offer, Esme," Garrett snickered.

"I'm a little bitter that you get to christen my condo before me, but my Carlisle and I will have our fun." She picked up her bag and nodded. "I'm going to go. If I leave now, I can make it home in time for dinner. Don't stay too late."

She hugged Garrett and left the condo. He wandered around, checking on his crew to make sure all of the final details would done before the furniture was due to arrive tomorrow at nine. Things were finally coming together. After being separated for over six weeks, Edward, Bella and Garrett were going to be reunited at last. Well, just Edward and Bella. If asked to join, Garrett would gladly jump in but he knew that Edward and Bella were the key factors in all of this.

He and his crew left a little after five. The condo was, for all intents and purposes, finished. All that remained were the furnishings and décor. Esme had arranged for all of that to be delivered the following morning, beginning at nine. Sending a text to Edward, Garrett drove back to his apartment. On his way home, he called Bella.

"Bella Swan," she said in a business-like tone.

"Are you driving, pretty girl?" Garrett snickered.

"Yeah. I had a meeting up in Port Angeles with Marcus, Jacob and Nessie. Carlisle brought her from school. We may have a break in Jacob's accusations of child abuse and neglect that can revoke Nessie's mom's visitation," Bella answered. "We had to strategize. I'm following Carlisle to his house and having dinner with them before coming back to Seattle tonight."

"Will you be okay? It's a long drive," Garrett worried.

"I'll be fine. I'm taking tomorrow off. So is Marcus. He's behind me in his car," Bella snickered. "He's going to surprise his wife with some huge romantic gesture. I'm just having a day of beauty before tomorrow night. Everything still on schedule for tomorrow, Cupid?"

"We're all good. What time will you be over?" Garrett asked.

"I'm sleeping in, but my appointments at the spa start at eleven. I have a massage, manicure, pedicure and haircut scheduled," she said.

"You never mention waxing. I had this one girl who waxed everything off," Garrett said.

"That was a James thing. He hated hair anywhere but on the head. He told me that I had to get laser hair removal. It hurt like a sonofabitch, but now I don't have to contend with bikini waxes and the like," Bella deadpanned. "It's not like he ever went down there. Yeesh!"

"So, he made you get your pubes laser removed and he didn't enjoy it?" Garrett growled. "Your ex-husband is a moron. Your pussy is the sweetest one I'd ever tasted. And so responsive."

"Well, that's because you and Edward knew how to make me quiver in want," Bella snickered. She was quiet for a few moments. "I don't expect anything, you know that, right? I know that we're on our way to healing our friendship, but I don't expect Edward to forgive me."

"He will, pretty girl," Garrett assured her. "He will when he knows what you did to honor him."

"Even if he doesn't ever see it, I'm happy that I got that tattoo," she murmured. "It made wearing a bra suck for the past two weeks."

"I didn't tell you to get it under your tit, woman!" Garrett laughed.

"Well, I wanted to get it over my heart, but since that could be seen, I figured under my breast would be an appropriate compromise. I got a tat for you, too," she giggled.

"Really? Is it my initials above your pussy?" he snickered.

"No, Garrett. You'll see it tomorrow. Anyway, I'm at Essie's. I'll send you a text when I get home," Bella said. "Check on Edward, would you?"

"I will, pretty girl. Give Essie a hug for me and I'll see you tomorrow."

A/N: What do you think Bella got tattoos of? Leave me some!

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