I apologize that this is so late in posting. I unexpectedly had to go on an out-of-state trip to help a family member. Everything is fine…now, but it got in the way of writing and responding to reviews. I don't foresee it happening again so I hope you stick with me. Thank you to all who have read and left reviews. I really, really appreciate it.

I know a lot of you are anxious meet Edward We still have a little bit to learn about Bella, but Edward will introduce himself in the next chapter.

AN: I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 2

Help From Friends

June 1945

BPOV

As usual I was awake, fully dressed, and out of the house just before dawn for the morning milking. I had a busy day planned. I took to the task of feeding the animals. I really didn't have many but all together they ate a lot and often. When everyone had been taken care of I stood for a moment and listened to the grunts and snorts that echoed off the rafters as they ate. If I was looking for any type of appreciation, their noises would have to do.

You're welcome, boys and girls.

I gave them a little time to enjoy their breakfast while I went to check on the field I had planted this year. I was anxious as I made my way to the back of the property. Sam had always said that if the corn was 'knee high by the Fourth of July' it was a pretty good indication that there would be a successful harvest. We hadn't had any rain in the last week or so and I was a bit nervous as to what I would find. But to my pleasant surprise, it didn't look too bad and as long as it rained soon, everything should be okay.

Once back in the barn I milked the cows while they ate using the same routine I had used time and time again. When that was done I opened the cooling jugs from the last couple of days and skimmed the milk fat that had risen to the top. There was a good amount and I took it into the house to churn. It wasn't a terribly long process, but it did require constant motion if the texture was going to come out right. After several minutes, the wayward piece of hair that had fallen out of my tightly wrapped bun was really starting to bug me. My skin was damp with perspiration and my arms began to burn slightly with the movement, but as much as I wanted to, I couldn't stop. A few minutes longer and the butter was complete. I used the back of my hand to wipe the sweat that had formed on my forehead and waited for my breathing to slow.

Before I could start scooping the butter out of the churn, I heard the crunching of gravel and looked out the window to see Jacob Black's familiar blue truck pulling into the driveway. Jacob owned a farm a few miles down the road. He and his wife, Leah, had bought it about the same time Sam had bought this one. We quickly became fast friends as Sam and Jacob learned the ins and outs of farming together. Leah and I also found comfort in each other, both of us not knowing the first thing about being a farmer's wife.

When Sam first died, it seemed like there were always people at the house to check on me, drop off food, and do whatever they could to help. Sometimes I felt I would suffocate with all of the attention I was getting. But after the funeral was over, people went back to their own lives and the visits became more and more infrequent. I didn't begrudge them one bit. Many of them had loved ones of their own overseas and were doing what they could to survive. Jacob and Leah though, they were my constant. They didn't come by every day, but at least once a week Jacob would show up to drop off something delicious Leah had made and see if I needed anything. Unless it was something really important, I almost always turned him down. They had enough on their plate without adding my problems to it.

"Good morning, Jacob." I said as I waved while I descended the front porch steps. He was already walking towards me with a big grin on his face. He was also carrying a large container.

"Hi, Bella. Leah made beef stew and wanted me to drop some off to you." I took the heavy pot from his hands and realized that she must have made me my own batch. It would last me several days.

"That was so nice of her, but shouldn't she be resting or something?"

"That's what I told her but she won't hear of it. She's acting like a crazy woman. Cooking, cleaning, laundry…you name it, she's doing it." I could tell that Jacob was exasperated by his wife's unwillingness to slow down.

"How much time does she have left?"

"Doc Cullen says probably a few more weeks but that she could go any day now." Jacob and Leah were expecting their first child. They first announced she was pregnant when they invited me over for dinner one night. I told them how happy I was for them and it wasn't a lie, but I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming wave of despair come over me. As soon as it was appropriate, I excused myself claiming to be tired and went home. Once in bed I allowed myself to cry over something I had wanted so much and was now completely out of my reach. Since then, I have been nothing but elated and excited to meet the new little one, but I still couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness in my heart and the feeling that I had been cheated from time to time.

"It's so exciting! You better let me know when it happens. And please, let me help you and Leah out a little. I'd be happy to come over and cook or clean or whatever you need me to do."

"Thanks, Bella. We really appreciate the offer, but Leah's parents will be coming to stay with us for awhile so we should be all set. Besides, you have more than enough to do around here." Jacob's meaning was more than clear. While I know he valued the gesture, he knew logistically it was impossible for me to make good on it. We both knew yet I didn't hesitate to put it out there. I wanted to reciprocate all the help they had given me all the years…so badly. Ashamed and relieved at the same time, I was grateful that he let me down easy.

"Okay, well that's nice that they will be able to spend some time with baby." I said awkwardly.

"I think it will be." There was a brief silence where neither one of us said anything. I could tell there was something else he wanted to say, but was holding back for some reason. We had been friends for along time. He and Leah had seen me at my worst and I was having a difficult time imagining that Jacob was nervous about telling me anything.

"Jacob, what is it?" I finally said. He blew out a large breath I didn't even know he was holding.

"We've decided, Leah and I, that if it is a boy, we want to name him Samuel. Sam was my best friend and one of the best men I have ever known. I want my son to have his name, if it's okay with you." Tears had welled up in his eyes as he nervously shifted from one foot to the other and just like that I remembered that I wasn't the only one who mourned Sam's death. On instinct, I walked over to Jacob and put my arms around him. I whispered my reassurance to him.

"I think he would have liked that. Very much." Jacob pulled away to gage my sincerity and nodded when he found what he was looking for. He smiled and I felt the need to lighten the air. "But what if it is a girl?"

"I don't know, maybe Samantha? We are both so sure it is going to be a boy we haven't even thought about girl names. Since we found out, we've only had one name in mind. I guess we'll work with it if it is a girl." Jacob chuckled as he wiped his eyes a little. He smiled at me and I smiled back. I meant what I had said to him. Sam would have loved it.

"I just made butter. Let me go get you some." I said, effectively changing the subject. Before he could protest I went into the house and closed the door. I just needed a minute to collect myself. Breathing in and out I scooped some of the butter from the churn into a dish and brought it out to Jacob, who was looking at my roof.

"Your roof needs some work. I can come over this weekend and fix it for you. In fact, looking around I see some other things that need repaired." I narrowed my eyes at him.

Not going to happen, my friend.

"I know there are some things I need to do before winter, but nothing that needs to be done right now." There was no I was letting him do anything right now. If after harvest he insisted, then I would pay him or if he didn't want to, someone else to do the work. I don't care how much of a fit he threw.

"Really, it's no problem at all. I could just…"

"Jacob." I cut him off. "I know you want to help me and I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the help you give me around here, but you are about to be a father. Leah needs you and you are going to be there for her. I will not let you neglect her or overwork yourself to the point where you are too exhausted to enjoy this momentous event in your life. End of discussion."

"But…"

"I will be fine, Jacob. Now go home to your wife and tell her I said thank you for the stew and that I will be over soon to visit." He signed but nodded his surrender. He would try three more times that week to get me to accept his help, he even showed up with tools one day, but I flatly refused each time.

A few days after I made the butter, I gathered it up along with the two dozen eggs I had collected and headed into town. Mr. Newton was grateful for the butter and in return gave me a little more sugar than I was supposed to receive. Since it was just me I never went completely through the ration stamps that I was issued every month, but sugar was the one thing I always redeemed the maximum quantity of. It was difficult to come by, even for a farmer. I smiled at Mr. Newton as I realized my package was a little heavier than it should be. I tucked it in my bag along with the few other items I picked out

"I thank you, Mr. Newton. See you next week."

"You have a nice day. Oh, and Mrs. Uley?" I turned back around to face him. "If some of that happens to land in a pie, I'd be happy to take some off your hands." The hopeful look on his face made me chuckle. He had always loved my pies.

I haven't baked anything in such a long, long time.

Suddenly I had an inspiration. "Do you like strawberries, Mr. Netwon?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Then I do believe we can work something out." I smiled again at him and continued my way out the door. My body vibrated with excitement at the thought of doing something I had once loved and being able to offer a treat to the people who consistently watched out for me. I had noticed a day or two ago that the wild strawberry plants on the edge of the property were just bursting and ready for picking. I had all of the other ingredients at home and with the extra sugar I could probably make two pies. One would be for Leah and Jacob and the other I could keep a small slice for myself and give the rest it to Mr. Newton.

Knowing I had about four hours before I had to start milking, I rushed home a little faster and got to work. There were so many strawberries ready to pick that gathering the amount I needed went quickly. Once they were washed and sliced, I went to the task of making the crust, enjoying the process of mixing the ingredients and rolling out the dough until it was just right. Baking had always been something I had liked to do and when Sam was alive, he would constantly accuse me of trying to fatten him up with all of the things I would make. I knew he loved it though. Now, it was a rare day when I actually baked something from scratch. With everything else I had to do I just didn't have the extra time and when I did find I had a few extra moments, baking for myself didn't seem very appealing.

The smell that radiated from my oven made the house smell delicious. My mouth watered as I took both perfectly baked pies out and set them on stove top for cooling. Later that evening, when the milking and the rest of the chores were done, I took my sharpest knife, cut a small piece out of one, and set it on a plate. After I covered the two pies to prevent them from going stale, I took my plate and a glass of milk over to the table and sat down. I smiled as I inspected the slice and decided that I hadn't lost my touch. My lips wrapped around the fork as I took my first bite.

The crust was light, flakey, and had a buttery taste. The inside was juicy and succulent. It was just as I remembered.

And yet it just wasn't the same.

As I chewed, I looked around at my empty table and tried to figure out why what should have been the sweetest thing I had eaten in years just seemed off. I swallowed hard as it became glaringly obvious.

I had no one to share it with.

The sheer feeling of loneliness made the taste in my mouth sour instantly. With my appetite lost, I scraped what was left of the slice into the garbage and went to bed.

Changes are a coming, I promise! Reviews are better than strawberry pie! ~Isannah