Epilogue

Six Months Later

B

I'm wiping down the bar and shooting the shit with Harry and Waylon when Edward walks in, carrying a grocery bag and a big smile for me.

"I found it." He cheers, holding up the bag. "It was their last bottle, so you'll have to drink it sparingly until we get our shipment in."

With greedy hands, I tear into the plastic, producing the holy grail ... or a bottle of Twist, non-alcoholic Irish cream. If you ask me, they're the same thing. The drink is my current obsession. Edward has to order it from the UK because no matter how hard we've tried, we can't figure out how to make it at home. It's just not the same.

"Where did you find it?"

Edward moves to grab a tall glass and fills it with ice while I crack open the bottle. "A bar clear across town. It cost me double what we usually pay, but I'd take a loan out to keep my girls happy."

He's forever making me swoon.

While I sip the straight-up nectar of the gods, he wraps his arms around my ever-expanding waist, his big hand rubbing where our little souvenir from Hawaii swims happily in my belly. He holds up my tummy, temporarily taking the weight off my hips and back, making me sigh.

Harry clears his throat to get our attention. "So, have y'all come up with a name for the pup yet?"

Edward and I share a smile and speak at the same time. "Bailey Rose Cullen."

Waylon chuckles. "I'm sure it has nothing to do with your craving."

"We thought it was fitting," my husband explains and checks his watch before turning to me. "The interviewees will start arriving soon, and I need to get some paperwork put together in case they go well."

"Go. I'll be fine. I'm in good company." I point to the guys. "And things have been steady but manageable."

He looks unsure, always worrying. "The paperwork can wait if you need to take a quick break. Are you hungry? Do your feet hurt? You aren't swelling are you?"

Harry and Waylon laugh at his antics, and I insist that I'll be fine on my own. I assure him that I'll let him know if things change.

While Edward prepares to interview my potential replacement, I work getting things ready for a busy Thursday night before Ben gets in.

A few customers come and go, and Harry and Waylon leave for the day.

I'm relatively alone and filling decanters of mixers when the door swings open, and a woman steps inside. Judging from her attire and the stuck-up look on her face, she's obviously a townie. We get our fair share of them these days, but this one looks particularly unpleasant. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt.

She approaches the bar with her nose in the air.

"Welcome to Rebar. I'm Bella. Can I get you started with something to drink?" I ask with my best smile and customer service voice.

She shakes her head. "No. I'd like to speak to the owner."

"You're talking to her. How can I—"

"No. I want to talk to Edward Cullen," she snaps. "Is he here or not?"

I grit my teeth and nod. "Let me go get him …?" I wait for her to give me her name, but she just ignores my question and looks bothered by my very presence. Sighing, I head for the office at the same time Edward steps out, carrying his trusty clipboard and a stack of papers.

"Hey, baby. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. There's a townie asking for you at the bar. She wouldn't give me her name, and from her attitude, I don't think she's here for a job."

Edward's brow quirks, and he takes my hand. "Well, let's go see what she wants. Maybe she's a distributor."

Over my dead body will we be working with her. There's something about her that rubs me the wrong way. My interest is peaked when Edward stops mid-step and squeezes my fingers tightly.

"Edward?" I ask.

"Edward," the woman says with a megawatt smile directed at my husband.

I suppress a growl.

"Jess, what are you doing here?"

So this is Jess. The bitch who broke Edward's heart and nearly cost him his dream.

The Cullens scrubbed any trace of her when she screwed him over, so I've never even seen a picture of her. Jess isn't what I expected. She's short, not as small as Alice but tiny. Her hair is dishwater blonde and styled in frizzy curls. Her hazel eyes are a bit too far apart, if you ask me, and her nose is too big for her face.

We aren't night and day, but there are distinct differences between us.

I can't suppress my growl this time. Bailey must feel my anger because she starts kicking and punching like she's trying to get out and attack Jess. Me too, baby. Me too.

"I saw the blurb in the Seattle Times about your bar and the award you won and thought I'd come by and see you," she explains like she didn't try to ruin his life.

Edward wraps his arm around my waist. "Why?"

Jess's smile falls slightly. "I miss you."

I know this bitch did not just say that. I take a step forward, but Edward holds me back.

"Well, I sure as fuck don't miss you. If you read the article, you know I'm not only happily married but expecting a child with my wife." He stresses the last word.

Her eyes find my bump, and I give her a cocky grin.

That's right, sweetie.

"I, uh ... was also wondering if you were interested in the Camaro." She plays with a frizzy curl. "I'm selling it so I can move. I'm going to—"

"You mean the Camaro you stole from him," I grit out. "You've got some nerve."

Jess's face flushes with anger. "I'm not asking you. I'm talking to Edward."

"My wife is right. You've got balls to even come here after what you did," he barks. "Get the fuck out of here, Jess. I'm not interested in anything to do with you."

She pauses for a moment, like she's waiting for him to change his mind, and when he doesn't, she gives a curt nod and leaves without another word.

I turn to my husband and ask if he's okay.

He nods. "I'm annoyed but happy we put her in her place."

"She's just lucky I'm pregnant. I wanted to snatch her by her frizzy hair."

"And I love you for that." Swooping down, he kisses me breathless. "But she's honestly not worth it."

"You're right." The door opens and a nervous looking guy walks in. "I think your first candidate is here."

"I better get to work." With another kiss, he leaves me.

…

Just as predicted, the night is busy. Still, I find myself taking plenty of breaks in the office at both Edward's and Ben's insistence. It's both endearing and annoying how much they care. Bailey and I are loved unconditionally, so I can't really complain. I sit with my feet up and munch on the healthy snacks Edward stocks the mini fridge with. Because he loves me, there are plenty of unhealthy choices as well.

If I thought Edward worshiped me before, it is nothing compared to the way he treats me ever since I peed on the stick. In his eyes, I am a queen. He's constantly giving me massages, ensuring that I relax as often as possible, and rubbing my growing belly with cocoa butter.

We're both completely enamored by the life growing inside me. The product of our fierce love.

At the end of the night, not wanting me to overdo it, I'm delegated the job of inputting credit card tips from my perch on a stool.

Our original crew is still intact. Angela and Lauren are using the extra income to slowly update the fixer upper they bought last year. Ben, who recently moved in with Seth despite the lack of support from his uber-religious family, is still slinging drinks and a talented event coordinator. We all make sure to make him feel welcomed and accepted. Even Felix has hung around. He's still just as dark and mysterious and keeps to himself.

Alice and Jasper are happily married and busy raising baby Jack, who isn't really a baby any more. Alice and Jasper are holding off on expanding their family and focused on Jack and the landscaping business. Her stories about the trials of dealing with a toddler in the throws of the terrible twos are both funny and terrifying. If I'm being honest, I'm a little scared for when it's our turn.

Rose and Emmett are in no hurry to take the next step in their relationship and happy to continue living in sin for the near future. Rose was recently promoted to manager at the bakery, and Emmett went back to working security for private clientele.

My parents are happily retired. They sold my childhood home and bought an RV to do the traveling they weren't able to when I was younger.

Esme and Carlisle are planning to buy a condo in Seattle to be close when the baby gets here. They still have their vacation house in Florida but plan on using it just for that. Vacation.

It's safe to say everyone is excited for Bailey's arrival. She's still got to cook for a while, but we're busy preparing for her.

Sadly, Billy was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, stage four. He's fighting hard without the help from Jacob, who hasn't changed. He's still just as selfish and conceited. I honestly have no idea what I ever saw in him.

"You ready to go home, baby?" Edward asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.

I realize that everyone has already left and nod, stashing my portion of the tips. Ben insisted that I keep some of the money collected when we work together, seeing as I still bartend full time. We compromised, and I take twenty-five percent.

"So, how did the interviews go today?" I ask when we're buckled up and headed home.

Edward sighs. "Not well. Everyone I saw today has never been behind the bar before."

"If you don't recall, I was a novice, and you gave me a chance."

He squeezes my fingers. "I know, but I really want to find an experienced bartender."

"We have time. I could train someone."

Edward glances over. "We agreed you'd stop working by your seventh month. That's fast approaching."

I tell him that I'm willing to stay for a few more weeks to help train my replacement, but I know it's useless. If he had it his way, I would have taken a step down the second we found out I was pregnant.

We're pulling into the driveway when I get an idea. "You know. It would be easier to find a waitress than an experienced bartender."

"Are you thinking Angela would consider a promotion?"

I stand aside while he unlocks the front door. "She and Lauren are working so hard on their house. They could use the extra money."

"I'll think about it."

After a quick snack and thorough shower, we climb into bed, and Edward grabs the lotion. He slathers my belly, massaging the itchy, stretching skin while he coos to the baby. He thinks it soothes her so she'll relax and let me sleep.

After he deems me moisturized, he pulls me into his arms, my back to his front. I sigh in contentment.

"Whatcha thinking about, baby?"

I snuggle into his embrace. "Just how lucky I am that you pulled me off the curb that day."

Edward kisses my neck. "You're wrong. I'm the lucky one. You stumbled into my life and changed it so completely. Thank you so much for showing me how to love."

I turn my head and capture his lips before pulling away with a soft laugh. "Who would have thought? Big, bad Edward Cullen falling for a townie."

He chuckles. "Go to sleep, crazy."

And I do. I fall asleep, comfortable and content with the way my life has turned out.

To think, it all started on what I thought was the worst day of my life.