Y'all are suspicious, and I love it!

Bella changed her clothes before Alice was due to arrive, which felt a lot like putting on armor to prepare for battle. She also invited Rose to come thirty minutes after Alice did, in case she felt too awkward to ask her to leave. Partly, she felt cowardly for needing backup, but she figured everyone needed a little help now and then.

Wearing slacks and her nicest sweater, she waited in the living room with Quinn in her lap. If anything, he provided a much-needed buffer. Despite what she'd told Edward, Quinn was sleeping less and was alert more during the day. She knew she would have to leave him in the care of Rose for hours at a time if she was serious about working side by side with Edward. Added to her online classes, she wondered if she'd bitten off more than she could chew.

Interrupting her thoughts, Garrett appeared in the doorway. "Excuse me, Mrs. Cullen, but Mrs. Whitlock has arrived."

"Thank you, Garrett. Please show her in."

Alice wore a skirt suit in a deep plum with a ruffled collar, and thinly heeled ankle boots on her feet. Bella had a moment to wonder if Alice even knew how to dress down before she plastered a smile on her face.

"Alice," she said, rising from the couch with her arms full of her baby. He gurgled, tugging on a strand of her hair. Quinn kept her from having to decide if a handshake was acceptable or insulting.

"Bella." Alice paused just inside the doorway, looking uncertain.

"Have a seat." Bella sat back down on the couch, watching Alice choose an antique parlor chair.

"How's he doing?" Alice asked, nodding in the direction of Quinn.

Bella looked down at the round face of her angel. "He's healthy and happy."

"Good. That's good."

The air was stifled with awkwardness, but Bella made no attempt to change that. After all, it was up to Alice to fix what was wrong.

"So." Alice uncrossed her legs, shifting in the tiny chair and recrossing them. "I need to say a few things, but I'm not very good at eating crow."

"Okay."

"Edward made it clear that he wouldn't allow me to come to the house until I made things right with you. At first, I didn't think he was sincere. I mean, who are you compared to me?"

Bella stiffened. "Alice—"

"Anyway." Alice flicked her hand as though the insult wasn't important. "You see, we've always been very close, Edward and I, so I couldn't understand why he didn't tell me about you. I assumed you were a fling gone wrong. Basically, I assumed you'd trapped him into marriage."

"That's not . . . Alice, where did you get that idea?"

Alice shrugged her delicate shoulders. "I don't know you, Bella. I tried to be nice the first time I saw you, and it was my responsibility to tell you all the important details about being in this life. But, I feel uncomfortable with Rosalie and you bonded with her immediately. I don't like it."

"After being insufferable the entire day, making certain I knew about Victoria and Edward, and telling me what I could and couldn't purchase, you told Edward I was mean to you. And then you continued to send me texts about how I should look and dress and act. You've made it clear you don't think I'm good enough for Edward."

Looking down, Alice picked at a loose piece of thread on her skirt. "It's still my duty to see that Edward is well represented, despite how I feel about you."

That didn't comfort Bella in the slightest. "Then why are you here?"

"I haven't seen Edward since Quinn's birth. He refuses to speak to me. If there's one thing he does impeccably, it's the cold shoulder. He can shut me out completely as though we weren't raised in the same house."

"Then I have to ask. Are you sincerely apologetic, or do you want to get back into Edward's good graces?"

Alice nodded. "It's a fair question. I'll be honest, it's both." When she tilted her head in thought, it was easy to see there wasn't an even split between the two choices. "I'm expected to treat you with respect, and I want Edward's forgiveness. I saw the way he cut Ma and Dad out of his life without hesitating. I don't want that to be me."

"Then I'll be honest in return. I don't think you and I will ever be friends. First off, you judged me without getting to know me. Second, you lecture and make incorrect assumptions. Third, I value Rose's friendship, and if you can't accept that about me, then I can't accept you."

"There's one more thing." After fidgeting in her seat, Alice continued. "I can't have children, and I want them. It's important to carry on what Jasper has created, and I can't give him that. We've tried everything, but there's nothing left for us except adoption. I was, and still am, jealous that you got pregnant by accident."

"It wasn't planned, that's for certain." Bella shifted Quinn in her lap so he faced outward. "Alice, if you want to spend time with your nephew, I'm on board with that. If you hate me because I bore a child and you can't, that's on you. You could have had a sister and, instead, you created an enemy."

Alice remained silent at that statement, staring at her shoe as she bounced her booted foot.

"And one more thing." She waited for Alice to look up before continuing. "I hope you and Victoria talk about me all the time, and I hope you tell her how fantastic the sex is between me and Edward." Rising, she said, "In fact, he can't keep his hands off me."

With that, Bella left the room. Alice hadn't even said the words. There wasn't a genuine apology in her tone, her expression, or her excuses. Though she should probably leave it be, Bella headed to Edward's office and rapped sharply on the door.

Emmett opened it wide enough so Bella could see all three men. Edward was standing behind the desk, his jacket off and his tie loose. Jasper stood on the opposite side, similarly dressed.

"I'm sorry for interrupting, but I need to get this off my chest." She focused on Jasper. "Your wife didn't bother to pretend she was here for an actual apology. She made it clear it's my fault she wasn't nice to me, and admitted that she thinks I trapped Edward into marriage by getting pregnant on purpose."

Jasper glanced at Edward before returning his gaze to Bella. "I don't know how to respond to that."

"There's nothing you can say that would make it right," Edward said. To Bella, he said, "I hope you told her to leave."

"I thought you might want the honor. Assuming she hasn't run away with her tail tucked between her legs."

Without hesitation, Edward strode for the door. With a grin aimed at his son, he took Quinn from Bella's arms, and she walked by his side.

"Alice said she came because you cut her off, and she doesn't like it. I guess you're good at it."

"She never apologized?" he asked.

"She said she's not good at eating crow. She mentioned that she's expected to be more respectful to me, but that's the closest she came to an apology."

He snorted, coming to a stop in the entrance to the living room.

Alice waited in front of the fireplace. When she saw him, she rushed in his direction. "Edward!"

When he spoke, Bella shivered at the arctic chill in his voice. "Save it, Alice."

Halting in her tracks, Alice glared at Bella. "What did she say to you?"

"Merely that you didn't apologize. Is that the truth?"

"Well, I suppose I didn't say the actual words. I was working up to it."

Shifting Quinn to his other arm, Edward shoved his hand through his hair and sighed. "You thought coming here and slinging accusations at my wife would gain my favor?"

Cheeks reddening, Alice darted a glance between them. "That's not what happened."

"Yes, it is," Bella said.

"What you've done, Alice, is dig a deeper hole. Good luck climbing out of it." Turning his back on his sister, Edward put his arm around Bella's waist and led her from the room. They were halfway up the stairs before they heard the sound of something breaking from behind them.

Edward dug his cell from his pocket and pushed a button. "Garrett, what part of the house are you in?" He paused to hear the response. "Mrs. Whitlock is throwing a tantrum in the living room, and I need you to escort her from the premises."

He hung up the phone, slipping it back in his pocket and grasping Bella's hand. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry for Alice's actions."

"It's not your fault, Edward."

"I'm afraid she's jealous and acting out."

Bella shrugged. "She admitted she's jealous of Quinn. I told her she could see him whenever she wants, but I guess you're not willing to allow that."

"She needs to learn a lesson, Bella."

Knowing there was nothing she could say to change his mind, Bella continued by his side as they turned down the hallway. Warmed from the inside at his words, Bella wished she could properly thank her husband for supporting her against his nasty sister.

They entered the nursery, and Edward set Quinn in the crib, smiling down at him. "Is it nap time, sweet boy?"

Quinn yawned, and Bella smiled. "Looks like it."

The baby's eyes were drooping as they backed away and left the room. Wordlessly, Edward tugged on Bella's hand to draw her into their bedroom.

"Alice has always been a sweet woman. I'm not sure what's gotten into her."

"Are you making excuses, too?"

Edward paced to the window and back, coming to a stop in front of Bella. "Absolutely not. I'm simply confused by her attitude. She and Ma were the sweet, polite, unassuming women in the family. Now, that seems to be impossible to find."

"I believe your mother is remorseful for her actions. Alice, on the other hand . . . I don't know what her deal is."

"I kept you a secret, Bella." Taking her face in his hands, he gazed into her eyes. "I didn't want to share you with anyone, and I knew if I told them about you there would be background checks and security guards, and lectures about how I was meant to marry a Young."

"Looks like fate had other plans for us."

One side of his mouth curved up. "Apparently. Because of my secrecy, Alice thinks I'm ashamed of you and Quinn. I've explained that it was a need to protect you, not to hide you in embarrassment. Either she doesn't think I'm telling the truth, or she's more shaken up about me not getting together with her friend than I expected."

Bella rolled her eyes. "Her friend isn't a Young, either, so it wouldn't have mattered. By the way, I told Alice to make sure Vicky knows how much sex we have." She giggled at his shocked expression. "I know, it was a low blow."

"I think it's funny." Lowering his head, he kissed her softly. "Funny, but true."

Just as Bella wrapped her arms around him, there was a knock on the door.

"Fuck." Letting go of Bella, Edward stepped over to open the door.

It was Garrett. "Ms. Hale has arrived."

With everything happening, Bella forgot she'd asked her to come over. "Oops."

Edward bit back a sigh, running his hands through his hair and addressing Garrett. "Show her to the dining room. We'll have lunch together."

"I'm sorry," Bella whispered, pulling him back into her embrace and lifting her head for another kiss. He obliged her, tilting her head to sweep his tongue into her mouth. She moaned, breaking the silence, and he pulled back.

"We better go down before she starts looking for us." He chuckled at her scowl. "Later, as promised."

Butterflies danced low in her belly. "I'm holding you to that."

When they reached the dining room, Rose was stalking back and forth, her blonde ponytail flying out each time she turned on her heel to head in the other direction.

"Rose, what's the matter?" Bella asked, moving toward her immediately.

Rose halted in her tracks, pointing in the general direction of the front of the house. "Alice Whitlock is what's the matter. She was leaving as I got here, and she gave me an earful."

"What did she say?" Edward demanded.

"Oh, all kinds of things." She ticked off the accusations on her fingers. "I'm pushy, I'm loud, I'm annoying. I turned Bella against Alice, who was only trying to help."

"That's ridiculous." Bella put her hand on her friend's arm. "She's angry with me for not accepting her fake apology."

Rose barked out a laugh. "That's why she was here?"

"It didn't go well. I suppose she expected me to roll over and accept whatever bone she threw my way."

"Well done, Bella." Rose held her hand up for a high five. "I'm sorry to say it to your face, Edward, but I can't stand your sister."

"Don't worry, she's no longer welcome here. Why don't you have a seat and I'll see what Tyler made for lunch?"

The women sat down, and Bella looked more closely at Rose's complexion. What she found was bright circles of red on her cheeks and a light in her eyes that said she was ready to fight.

"Alice admitted she doesn't like you, and she's upset that I do."

Rose snorted. "She won't be the first or the last not to like me."

"I admire the way you don't let it bother you."

"Like rain off a duck's back, baby." Rose reached over and squeezed Bella's hand. "Where's Quinny?"

"We put him down for a nap while Garrett escorted Alice out of the house. She broke something in the living room, but I'm sure it's no loss."

"Not in this antiques museum, it's not. Unless it was a family heirloom."

"Don't worry," Edward said, coming back from the kitchen. "Everything in here is replaceable."

"So, Edward, I have to say I'm surprised you're having lunch with little old me. Where are the other horsemen of the apocalypse?"

"I'll ask them to come join us in a minute. First, we should talk about something Bella suggested."

Rose looked between the two of them. "What did she suggest?"

Bella was the one to answer. "Initially, I didn't want a nanny for Quinn."

"However," Edward interjected. "Between school and a few things she might help me with in the office, we need someone to watch him part of the day."

"I might know of someone," Rose offered. "But I thought the classes were at your leisure?"

"They are," Bella said. "Do you remember telling me to take a more active role as Edward's wife?"

"Yes."

"In order for me to do that, I'll need help. Your help in particular."

"We'd like to hire you as Quinn's nanny," Edward clarified.

When Rose didn't respond, Bella plowed on. "I know it's not your dream job, but I thought with the amount of money he's sure to lavish you with, you can get your interior design degree. Maybe even open up your own business."

"You'd do that for me?"

Bella smiled at the incredulous tone in Rose's voice. "Honestly, you'd be doing me a favor. I don't want to leave him with just anyone, and I trust you. Plus, you'd get to spend more time with Emmett."

"You don't have to sell me on it, sweetie. I'm in."

"Great," Edward said. "I'll have a basic employer/employee contract drafted, with a few addendums to cover security and discretion."

"I'm already bound to keep your secrets, Edward. I could never do or say anything that might jeopardize Emmett."

"That's good to hear, but I would feel more comfortable if it was in writing."

"I can do that," Rose said. Then she squeaked. It was the only way Bella could describe the sound she made. "I'm so excited about this!"

Laughing, Bella reached over and patted her hand. "Now you can get baby snuggles whenever you want."

Nodding, Rose's grin widened. "Is it okay if I tell Emmett?"

"Sure. As a matter of fact, you can tell him and Jasper that lunch is almost ready."

Rose left the room, and Bella kept her attention on Edward. "It's going to be interesting around here."

"I'll say. You and Rose will undoubtedly keep me on my toes."

A lot of readers hope they'll become a power couple. What do we think about that?