(Song: Mythos - Kaleidoscope)
Bella stood on the balcony, staring out at the mountains in the distance while breathing in the fresh air of the surrounding beauty. It was a welcome reprieve from the chaos that was her life now, but she knew it would only last for the few weeks that she and Jacob would be spending in the European towns they planned to visit during their summer vacation.
The three week European vacation had been a graduation present from their parents, but Bella was looking at it as a way to get away from all the extra tenseness that had been her life the last few months. When Billy had gotten word that Vanessa was probably on her way back to Seattle, he had insisted that both Jacob and Bella have more security placed on them. Jacob had taken it with his usual nonchalance, but Bella had balked once again. It wasn’t that she didn’t take the threat on her life seriously, it was just that she didn’t like having strangers following her everywhere, watching her every move. She couldn’t even use the restroom without letting them know.
When Jacob had come to her with the news, she had gotten a bit snippy like the first time, but also like the first time, Jacob had managed to calm her down enough to see the sense in it all. Granted, the way he had convinced her had been through his perfect brand of seduction, but Bella really couldn’t complain when her fiancé plied her with his affections nor could she resist. In the end, she had promised him that she would take the added security with grace, but she had been very grateful when their parents presented them with the vacation package which would not only allow them so much time alone together, but also give them the chance to leave all the security behind.
It had been agreed by Billy, Charlie and the men Billy worked with that there shouldn’t be a reason for Jacob and Bella to have guards following them everywhere in Europe. The only ones who knew exactly where the two of them were going were the parents and the security firm that worked with them. Not even their friends knew where in Europe they were going, but Jacob and Bella had promised to take plenty of pictures and to regal them with stories of their travels once they returned.
Every precaution had been taken while planning the vacation so that the couple could enjoy it without fear dogging their heels. The security team was positive that even if Vanessa did get wind of where they were going, she wouldn’t have the means to reach them that quickly. She could follow them while they were in Seattle and maybe even through some of the states, but once out of the United States, they knew she didn’t have the means to follow them.
So now in mid-June, their first stop was at a Ski Resort in Spain, near the base of the Pyrenees Mountains. It was those mountains that Bella gazed at from the private balcony of the suite she would be sharing with Jacob for the first week of their vacation. Summer was in full bloom all around her even though there was snow at the very tops of the mountains as well as a few wispy clouds obscuring some places. There would be no skiing for them, but they did plan on doing some hiking along the scenic trails or maybe even some mountain biking.
As she smiled serenely at the view, Jacob came up behind her to wrap his arms around her waist before pressing a kiss to her bare shoulder. They stood in silence for a while as he took in the view with her.
She sighed as she finally broke the tranquility surrounding them. “It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?”
He chuckled softly near her ear. “I’ve seen better.”
She scrunched her face as she turned her head to look at him. “What? How is that possible?”
He turned her around to face him before answering her. “I’m looking at something more beautiful right now.”
Her eyes widened for a moment before she grinned and tsked at him. “Such a charmer.”
He smiled, then leaned over to brush his lips over the skin of her neck as he murmured, “Is it working?”
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders as she released a breathless, “Yes.”
“Good,” he replied huskily, as he lifted her into his arms to stride into their bedroom amid the soft giggles from Bella. His own deep chuckles joined hers as they took advantage of the rustic-looking, queen-sized bed propped against the wall opposite the balcony doors.
The couple enjoyed their first day there simply lounging around their room between sleeping off the jet lag from the flight. Once they were well-rested and ready to explore their surroundings, they started out by exploring the resort itself then having dinner in the softly lit restaurant on-site where they discussed all the various things they were interested in doing before their time there was up.
They spent a few days enjoying the whirlpool that was really just a large indoor pool, as well as soaking in the small Jacuzzis located around the resort. They had their own Jacuzzi tub in their room, but it was fun to enjoy more of what the resort had to offer. Plus, they got to meet many other visitors and locals to the area while relaxing in the warm waters or while they took advantage of the relaxing stations around the resort.
They didn’t always spend every moment together, but when they did, they always had fun, acting as the best friends they had always been. Laughing together, getting into mischief or discovering something new that they enjoyed. However, when Bella decided to venture into the wonderful, cozy reading room on-site, Jacob took advantage of the exercise room full of all the up-to-date weight machines he could dream of.
Eventually they did get around to spending a day hiking with a group of young people they had met throughout their stay there. The hike was led by a local man, who pointed out some of the flora and fauna along the way as well as regaling them with stories from the region. The group got to stop by a small lake for a picnic lunch and a bit of relaxation before making their way back to the resort.
Even though the resort was nestled at the base of the mountain, there was a small town not too far from it which Bella and Jacob decided to also explore with one of the couples they had become friends with. Together, the four of them took a chauffeured van into the town where they spent the day taking in the rich culture, architecture and history of the Spanish people alongside their guide who also acted as translator for them. The town was filled with quaint shops full of lovely trinkets and cafes full of the delicious aromas that the Spaniards were known for. All of this was surrounded by the same stone, wood and slate that was similar to what their resort was built of.
Later in the week, Jacob and Bella made a second trip to the town on their own so that they could do a little shopping for their family and friends, as well as to dine at one of the restaurants there. Thankfully it wasn’t too hard to find someone who could help with the translating if need be and their dinner of seafood with tortilla de patata, salmorejo and tortas de aceite was a delicious treat for them to enjoy at the end of the day.
By the time their stay in Spain came to an end, they had made friends with people from Great Britain, Australia and various American states, as well as some of the locals. Everyone had exchanged addresses or emails, each one inviting the others to look them up if they were ever in the area of their homes. It was with smiles on their faces that Bella and Jacob bid goodbye to Spain as they boarded the plane to head on to their next destination.
*************************************
(Song: Within Temptation - Are You the One)
Paris, France was by far the most urban stop of their vacation. Staying in a suite in one of the more fancier hotels in the City of Love, Bella and Jacob knew they would probably be checking out the many museums and architecture the city was known for during the day while their nights would be full of shopping, clubbing and anything else the nightlife had to offer.
Their first day there, as soon as their suitcases were unpacked, the two of them had lunch in the hotel’s restaurant before rushing out to join the crowds of locals and tourists among the boulevards of the city. Simply walking from their hotel located near the Champs-Elysees, they strolled along the Avenue of Champs-Elysee taking in the sights around them. Burning off their energy, they stopped to shop at the many stores between their hotel and the Louvre, finally stopping to eat dinner at one of the cafes in the area before heading back to the hotel for the evening.
The lovely ambience of the city infiltrated their senses from then on, making them both feel as if they were walking on air while seeing everything through rose-colored glasses. Getting by on very little sleep, the couple took the city by storm with bright eyes and unlimited energy.
They visited monuments such as the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur where they took plenty of photographs and brought plenty of souvenirs. They also visited museums like the Louvre and Orsay where they took their time to study the many paintings and sculptures displayed. They even spent some time exploring the greener sights of Paris such as Parc Monceau and Parc Luxembourg where they could enjoy sitting among the trees and flowers of the city or taking in the soft sounds from bands playing jazz or classical music for the masses.
Other days were spent doing a lot of window shopping at department stores along the boulevard Haussman and the Rue de Rivoli or in shopping centers, some of which were located below ground. No matter where they went to shop, the places had their own style, from high-tech to quaint villages and the wares sold there reflected the styles too. Unlike the Spanish resort and town, Paris was much more multi-cultural, giving the couple an easier time finding those who could communicate easily with them as they explored the diverse entertainment of the city.
No matter what, they still tried to indulge themselves in the Parisian culture when they could. They kept trying to learn some of the language and trends of the locals, as well as trying out the various foods and drinks available there. Sure, some of the delicacies did require some bravery which one or the other didn’t want to muster, but in the end they both had a great time laughing over their daring or fear of trying something new.
For example, at breakfast they tried tiny, sidewalk cafes or some of the bigger restaurants. For lunch they frequented the smaller bistros, the larger brasseries or country-esque communal tables. For dinner, they dined and danced at guinguettes or lived it up at fancy wine bars and classic French restaurants. Plus if they were in the mood for something sweet, they indulged in the charming tea rooms or ducked into an ice cream parlour for some sorbet.
While most of their days were spent exploring the history and culture of the city, the nights were spent at bars or dancing at clubs, plus they also took in a few cabarets, including the famous Le Moulin Rouge where they indulged in dinner and champagne. There were plenty of places to suit every mood or musical taste in the city, such as the Latin Quarter or the Grands Boulevards-Opera. Sometimes, after a night of heavy dancing, Jacob and Bella managed to stop at one of the many all-night restaurants to satisfy their late night hunger pangs, thus proving that the city could rival New York as the city that never sleeps.
Towards the end of their week there in Paris, Jacob gave in to the romantic ambience of the city by planning a nice evening for the two of them to enjoy. He managed to get dinner reservations to the Jules Verne restaurant which was located on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower which they had already briefly visited at the beginning of the week.
Before he whisked Bella up to the restaurant, they spent a couple of hours browsing through the shops on the first floor of the Tower where they found more gifts to send home to their friends and family. After enjoying dinner at Jules Verne, savoring both the gourmet meal and the wonderful view of the surrounding city, Jacob took Bella up to the third floor so that they could enjoy the ultimate view.
Feeling like their heads were in the clouds, the couple stood above the city, surrounded by the night sky and the sparkling lights that lit up the Eiffel Tower which marked the change of one hour to the next. Soft music wafted up to them from below as Jacob stood behind Bella, his arms wrapped around her waist as she leaned back against him. They stood in silence for the most part, just like the others who were up there with them, no one wanting to disturb the beauty and ambiance that thickened the air.
Finally, with a contented sigh, Bella turned her head slightly so she could speak softly to her fiancé. “Thank you for tonight, Jake. I don’t know how you managed to get the reservation, but it was really worth it.”
Jacob nuzzled her temple as he answered, “I was just really persistent. They put my name on a list, plus I kept calling back, so as soon as they had an opening, they let me know. Luckily one came up before our time in Paris was up.”
She laughed softly at that. “You and your luck.” She went quiet for a few moments before whispering, “It really does feel as if we’re floating in the clouds.”
Jacob squeezed her tighter to his body, “Yeah, it does. I had no idea the view would take my breath away…thought only you could do that.”
Bella giggled as she spun in his arms to lay her own arms around his shoulders. “I could say the same for you.”
“Mm,” was his only reply as he lowered his head to press his lips against hers for a brief, yet deep kiss.
They remained up in the clouds for a little longer before deciding it was time to return to Earth and the comfort of their hotel suite. Upon reaching the suite, Bella realized that she should have known the night wasn’t over when she spotted the bottle of champagne in the bucket of ice with a tray that held a bowl of strawberries and another bowl of melted chocolate.
Grinning at his fiancée, Jacob let her by the hand to the bed where he proceeded to ply her with drink and decadence for the rest of the night.
**************************************
(Song: E.S. Posthumus - Lepcis Magna)
Billy Black sat at the drafting table in his office, meticulously going over his latest plans for a boat with a practiced eye. He knew he would have to wait another week before his son got back from vacation to finish the engineering part of the plans, but he wasn’t worried about that. He figured in the meantime, he could finish the rest of it so it would be ready to go as soon as possible.
Finally thinking he had gone over the plans enough, he decided to call it a day at the office before heading over to his boat workshop on the shores of Puget Sound. There was a boat there that he wanted to finish sanding down, plus it would help clear his head a bit before he headed home.
As he closed up his office, his cell phone suddenly went off. He pulled it from its holster on his belt and looked at the screen. Scowling, he pressed the send button before speaking into the receiver.
“Whatcha got for me today?”
His scowl deepened as the person on the other end answered him. “Ms. Roper has returned to town. She’s staying at her parent’s house.”
“How long has she been there?” he asked.
“We realized she was there two days ago, but we believe she’s been there for almost a week.”
“Any idea if she plans to stay there?”
“Yes, her parents have talked her into seeing a psychiatrist, so it appears she and her daughter are living with them in the meantime.”
His eyebrows rose, “Is that so? Well, I’ll be damned!”
He paused once more to listen to the speaker on the other line. “Sir, since Ms. Roper is home and appears to be getting help, should I pull the surveillance on her?”
“No, no. Just because she’s getting help doesn’t mean we need to stop watching her. I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her and since we know it’s her parents who have talked her into this and not her own idea, I’m sure you can see why I don’t want to let my guard down.”
Again he paused to listen to the other person. “Okay, Sir. We’ll continue to keep tight surveillance on her.”
“Yes, that’s right. Keep someone trailing her at all times. I want to know where she goes and who she sees while she’s here. Also, do you know when she will start?”
He waited for the answer. “Her first appointment is tomorrow.”
“That quickly, huh? Well, just keep someone on her to make sure she really goes. Also, has she gotten in contact with Mr. Biers?”
He got a quick answer. “No, sir.”
Tsking, he asked, “No? Well, any idea why not?”
“Apparently she intends to fight for custody of her daughter and she wants nothing to do with Mr. Biers. It also seems that her parents are backing up her decision.”
Billy shook his head, “Geez, well as much as I sympathize with Mr. Biers, it’s not my problem at the moment. Just keep me up to date on any progress she makes with that.”
“Will do, Sir. Should we have security waiting at the airport when your son and his fiancé return from vacation?”
“Yes, go ahead and have security in place. It’s like I said, I don’t trust her yet, so it’s better to be safe, than sorry. But it’s still a week before they return anyway, so let’s just keep our eyes and ears open to whatever she’s up to. We’ll go from there.”
“Got it, Sir. We’ll keep you updated then.”
“Thanks.” Ending the call, he put his cell away with a heavy sigh. So, Vanessa was back in town, just like they all thought she would be. Great, he thought, at least the kids are enjoying a much needed vacation away from this drama.
He really hoped there wouldn’t be any drama for them to come back to, but he wasn’t holding his breath. Especially since it looked like Vanessa was going to fight Riley for custody of their daughter, the same daughter that she was probably still denying was his, wanting it to be Jacob’s so she could get her claws into him. Sure, she was apparently going to start seeing a psychiatrist, but he had a feeling that wouldn’t stop her from trying to convince everyone that the baby girl was really Jacob’s daughter too.
Running a frustrated hand through his hair, he made his way out to his car. He knew all he could do now was wait and see what Vanessa’s plans were. At least he still had security watching her and there would be security trailing the kids to keep them safe once they returned home. At least now they all knew Vanessa was here and not trying to track the kids down in Europe even though he did have some security measures in place just in case she had done that.
For now, he would tell Charlie what was going on, but he would insist on not telling the kids anything until they had returned home. No use in ruining their vacation unless absolutely necessary.
*********************************
(Song: Evanescence - Before the Dawn)
Jacob lounged on the bed in the suite he shared with Bella for their stay in Venice, Italy. The last stop of their vacation found them ensconced in a suite of rooms within a renovated palace that dated back to the 1100s. The room was as lavish as the day was long, making him feel like he truly was one of the Italian aristocrats of long ago. While Venice was not as urban as Paris had been, it was much more populated than the resort town in Spain. Yet the ambiance in Venice seemed to be a combination of Paris and Spain, both romantic and relaxing.
He watched through hooded eyes as Bella sat on the end of the bed, drying her hair with a towel. They had gone swimming in the hotel’s pool earlier that day before returning to their suite for a shower and some relaxation in order to go out to dinner that evening. As Bella continued to dry her hair, Jacob reminisced about their stay in Venice so far.
The hotel they stayed in could only be reached by boat, but that wasn’t unusual since most of the locations in the city of Venice were only accessible by boat. It was as if the entire city was floating on the sea, connected only by bridges and tiny pieces of land. Once they had arrived at the hotel, where they had been ushered by very welcoming staff and helpful bellboys up to their huge suite, they settled into their home for the week.
The suite itself was probably larger than the size of an apartment in Seattle. Boasting typical Venetian ceilings and an Italian marble bathroom, it was full of elegance that wasn’t too gaudy. The bedroom was separated from the sitting room by a set of double doors and there were huge windows that let in plenty of light through the gauzy curtains. When the curtains were pulled back, one could see the gardens and the lagoon beyond it. While the bedroom was a plush king-sized bed surrounded by lush rugs and painted nightstands, the bathroom had a separate shower and bathtub with an attached, enclosed toilet and a dressing room that made most closets envious of it.
So far, over the few days they had been there, it had been rather hard for the two of them to drag themselves out of their suite, the comfort and warmth tempting them to forget about exploring Venice in favor of pampering themselves to their heart’s content. Not only could they be lazy in their bed, but they could order a feast from the 24-hour room service to be laid out on the table in the sitting room at their leisure.
Besides their suite, the rest of the hotel had so many things to offer them. There was the huge swimming pool with a poolside bar and restaurant. There was an elaborate exercise room for Jacob to enjoy and a massage spa for Bella to indulge in. There were plenty of colorful, lush courtyards and gardens to get lost in or small shops and boutiques to find clothing, accessories and essences that were exclusively made in Italy. Then there were the various breakfast rooms and other restaurants/dining areas to choose from depending on their tastes. There was even a small summer bar located near the pool that served ice cream and summer-type drinks and desserts.
The two of them had certainly made good use of all the facilities in and around the hotel, but still managed to explore the rest of the city. They had spent a day on Murano Island, known as the island of glass-makers, to check out the shops full of beautifully colored glass trinkets as well as the myriad of cafes and restaurants around there. They had spent another day and night walking the strip of beaches known as Venice Lido where there was tons of shopping, restaurants and nightlife to entertain themselves with. They had also explored the shops and markets of the Rialto Bridge and took in the history, architecture, sidewalk cafes, shops and live music available in Saint Mark’s Square.
Now with two days left of their vacation, they still wanted to explore more of the waterways as well as return to Venice Lido one more time before they had to say goodbye to the city. That was why they decided to go to one of the local restaurants to get a taste of the Venetian foods before ending the evening at one of the small cafes for some gelato for dessert. In order to do both of those, they had to travel through the canals to get to the restaurant and cafes, so they figured they could work up an appetite as they drifted along the waterways. Jacob planned to do a little more walking amongst the winding streets while enjoying their gelato too.
Bella was sitting at the vanity table where she set down the hairdryer she had been using to dry her hair with. She slid out of the chair, then made her way towards the bed where Jacob was lounging against the headboard. Returning his smile, she curled into his side with a sigh as his arms surrounded her.
With her head against his bare chest, she enjoyed the calmness of his beating heart for a few quiet moments. When his fingers began to slide through her hair, she let out another sigh before whispering, “I’m going to miss these places we visited.”
“Me too,” he whispered back, “but mostly, I’m going to miss going to sleep with you in my arms and waking up next to you.”
He could feel the breath of her soft laugh against his skin as she said, “Well, that too, but that will all change once we get married.”
Jacob sighed as he tugged at a lock of her hair. “Bells, maybe we should just look for our own place when we get back home? I mean, why should we wait for a wedding? We’re old enough to live on our own now.”
She lifted her head so she could look into his eyes. “Really? You want to find an apartment to move into? Together?”
He shook his head, “No, I don’t want to rent an apartment. I want to buy a house. We are getting married, you know, so might as well find a house that we can grow into, right?”
Bella’s eyes went wide at his admission, then she began to nibble her bottom lip in thought. “Well, I suppose that’s a good idea, but do you think we should do that now?”
He pulled her tighter against him. “Hell yes! Come on Bells, think about it. When we get back to Seattle, we’ll be back in our lonely beds in our parents’ houses. After spending three weeks with you in my arms, in my bed every night, do you really think I can go back to sleeping alone? I say the sooner we find a place of our own, the better. It’s already going to drive me insane being in my bedroom at my parent’s house knowing you won’t be joining me there.”
She tsked, “It’s not like we don’t sneak into each others rooms on occasion.”
Jacob let his head fall back against the headboard in exasperation. “You’re killing me, honey.”
She grinned. “Okay, you’re right. I see your point. Alice’s mom knows a really good realtor, so I’ll ask her for a favor as soon as we get home. We’ll just have to decide what kind of house we are looking for so we can give the realtor the details as soon as possible.” She paused for a moment before adding, “Then there’s the fact that we’ll have to inform our parents of our decision.”
Jacob grimaced. “Please tell me you already have a way to convince your father that this is a good idea. I really don’t want to have to sic my dad on him.”
Laughing, Bella pushed at Jacob’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, you dork! Dad’s all bark and no bite. I can handle him, so can my mother. There’s nothing he can do to prevent me from moving out of the house, I’ve been an adult for a few years, you know.”
He tilted his head down to brush his lips against hers as he murmured, “Mm hm, I know.”
As the kiss grew heated, Jacob pulled Bella over his body until she was straddling him. When Bella came up for air, she sighed. “Come on, let’s finish getting ready for dinner.”
Jacob groaned against her neck, “You sure I can’t convince you to stay in tonight? We can order room service and eat it off of each others bodies.”
Bella giggled, “We can do that tomorrow night since it’ll be our last night here.”
She crawled off the bed, then tugged at his arms, “Come on Jake! I’m getting hungry!”
With another frustrated groan, Jacob allowed his fiancé to pull him off of the bed so that he could get ready to go out for dinner. Little did Bella know that the following night he would make her keep her promise in spades.
