Under Construction

Chapter Twelve

Our journey is continuing with Edward, Bella and Garrett. I do have a blog for this story. It's a continuation of the Renovations blog. A link for the blog is on my profile. On the blog, there will be picture teasers, teasers and pervy picture teasers. This story is going to be quite steamy and it's pre-written. It will be updated on Wednesdays and Saturdays with teasers on Sundays and Thursdays.

Also, thank you to Christina Downs for her help with planning out the story and wielding her red pen (cursor). You rock, girlie! Mwah!

Chapter Twelve

"Bella?" Edward called. "Your Blackberry is going crazy."

"Text or phone call?" Bella asked, tossing her hair up into a messy ponytail as she came up from the laundry room.

"Phone call. Marcus Volturi?" Edward replied, taking her phone off the charger. He was making the three of them some turkey tetrazzini. It was Sunday night and they were all dreading going back to work.

"Oh, he's my boss," Bella frowned, snuggling next to Garrett, who was trying to snag a few tastes of Edward's meal. She picked up the phone. "Marcus? What's up?"

"Bella, I'm sorry to bother you at home," Marcus said. "Aro asked me to call you. He has a dear friend in New York, Carmen D'Amato, and her husband, Eleazar, who are in need of an adoption attorney. They are fostering a young man, but the birth parents are ... they're awful. They won't let him go. Alec has been living with them for over a year now and he wants desperately to be a part of the family."

"Aro has another adoption attorney in New York. Felix is amazing," Bella replied.

"He's good, but he's not you," Marcus explained. "Aro needs you to fly out to New York to take care of this custody dispute and adoption proceeding. You have what it takes to make Carmen, Eleazar and Alec a family."

"When?" Bella frowned.

"Aro wanted you to fly out tonight, but I told him that you had things that you need to take care of. I know you have four or five adoptions on your plate, in addition to custody amendment. I told him the earliest I could let you go is in a week. Felix can take over your cases after that," Marcus explained, his voice pitifully apologetic. "My brother wasn't pleased, but he agreed to the terms."

"How long will I be in New York, Marcus?" Bella asked, sitting down dejectedly on the stool next to Garrett.

"As long as it takes to settle everything with the D'Amatos," Marcus said. "You'll be staying in the corporate apartments in New York, on our dime. We'll ship whatever you need."

"Okay, okay," Bella sighed, pinching her nose. "What will happen here? What if you get new cases for me?"

"We'll handle it. Aro really wants you to take care of his friends," Marcus explained. "I'll let you get back to your holiday and I'll see you tomorrow. I'll have more information for you then." He hung up and Bella put her phone on the granite countertop.

"When do you go?" Edward asked, his voice sad and small.

"I leave at the end of the week," she explained. "I'm going to New York for the foreseeable future until this adoption custody thing is handled." She pouted, her heart empty at the prospect of leaving Edward and Garrett.

"We've got a week to spend with each other. And we're both gainfully employed. It's not like we can't fly out to see you," Garrett said, cupping her heart-shaped face.

"You'd come and visit me?" Bella asked, her heart leaping to her throat.

"I've never been to New York," Garrett chuckled. "Maybe we can celebrate the New Year at Time's Square?"