Loving Bella by Elizabeth Bonet (books suggested by bill gates .TXT) 📖

but he continued to row. “Who is Isabella?” Mason sighed, completely defeated. He hung his head between his arms with hands clasped together and arms resting on his thighs.
A few minutes passed before he answered and Bradley was fixing to get another bucket. Dangerously sober now, he spoke. “She lives in Florida.” Bradley paused mid-step and wheeled around. “Where you come from.” This was a statement but Mason still nodded in affirmation.
“Yeah.” Bradley sat next to Mason on the cart and remained quiet, silently prodding him to continue.


Chapter three

“She lives in Florida, in the town that I grew up in to be exact. She’s 13 years old. Beautiful in every way shape and form. She’s up to my chest in height, has long curly black hair, olive toned skin and the deepest color brown eyes I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Mason stopped to catch his breath. “And I love her.”
Bradley’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. He shook his head and laughed. “You’re kidding me right? A girl who’s probably just started puberty and you’re in love with her?! You’re joking…” Mason shook his head. His green eyes ever so thoughtful. “You’re not. Aw come on man you got it bad for her. A good looking man like you should have someone he can enjoy. And is allowed to…”
“Come on let’s go inside, have a few more beers and you’ll find someone to keep you warm tonight. Guarantee, and no worries you’ll be forgettin’ all about that sorry little gal in the morning.” Mason hesitated but eventually gave in, allowing the older man to lead him into what he thought would be innocent comfort.

~*~*~*~

“No!” Bella shot up out of her bed in a cold sweat. The memory of her dream, or nightmare, came back in an instant. She muffled a sob when she heard footsteps on the stairs. “Bella?” “It’s ok mama it was just a dream.” “Are you sure?” “ I’m sure. Go back to bed.” Bella waited for Natine to close her bedroom door before she allowed herself to cry.
It was the most horrid dream that could have been imagined. There he was a woman trailing behind him with a bundle in her arms. He had the most disdained expression on his handsome face. They were walking in the parking lot of the church. Bella watched them enter from the front and his expression hardened upon seeing her.
Which could only mean it was his baby. She woke up then, not able to bear another moment. Bella shivered under her covers. The room was freezing to her despite the warmth of the heater. “It can’t be true. It just - can’t.” Her breath caught as realization dawned on her.
She herself had heard the stories of men who had went off to war and impregnated a woman. Leaving many women behind in pain and sorrow. “No not him. He would never.” “Be that as it may Bella. You know him well enough that he might.” She fought with herself to justify him. Make him seem perfect in any way possible.
But she lost her own battle. Slowly she slipped away into darkness. It would be until morning that she would remember her own thoughts and dreams of the night before.

~*~*~*~

“Mason, wake up Sleeping Beauty. That’s it come on. Wake up. There you go.”
Bradley chuckled, his deep blue eyes shining as he helped Mason right himself on the hay cart. “What time is it?” Bradley looked down at the watch on his wrist and grimaced. “2:00 a.m. Now come on we gotta hurry up and make it back to the base before six.” Mason stood up too fast and placed a hand to his head. “What the?!” He exclaimed as he fell back on the cart. “Bradley, what mess did you get me into now?”
Bradley’s look was that of an innocent child who had just been accused of stealing a cookie out of the forbidden jar. “Nothing mate. You were the one who guzzled down that beer and found a pretty lady to spend the night with.” Mason’s eyes grew round. “Aw shoot. What was her name?” “Renae I think. Oh well why does it matter?” “I don’t know cuz the whole night I wasn’t thinking bout her but another gorgeous woman who had caught my heart and stole it.”
Bradley rolled his eyes and helped Mason off the cart. “Come on let’s get you some coffee.” They came back a few minutes later, Mason being refreshed, and the other men waiting on the cart. They drove back in the same direction they had come. And upon seeing the same little hill Mason’s stomach turned. “What have I done?”

~*~*~*~

Bella walked up the church steps. Eyeing the place where her dream had occurred. “Don’t worry it wasn’t real. It didn’t really happen. I mean why would I care. If he wants to ruin his life then by all means have at it.” She opened the door to the back of the church and stepped inside.
Walking to her pew she sat next to Natine and listened as people shared praise reports and prayer requests. At the end Pastor said that the church had received a letter from Mason which was now hanging on display in the Fellowship Hall.
After the meeting ended Bella curiously stepped up to the letter and read.
“Only 42 more days till Christmas break and I’ll be home. Can’t wait to see you all in my church family.” “42 days. It’s been a long time.” Bella stepped aside and allowed one of the old couples in their church to read the letter.
“Bella let’s go!” “Alright mama.” They left the church and the ride home was a quiet one. “42 days and he’ll be back again. I wonder… If I’ll get to see him. Well here’s hoping.”

~*~*~*~

“You seem awful excited to be going back. If you didn’t want to leave then why did you come here in the first place?” Mason placed a shirt in his bag and sat at the edge of his bed. Bradley was lying leisurely on his side on his own bunk, holding his head up with his hand.
“Aw come on man you know I love ya. I just can’t wait to be home again. See my mom and breath in some fresh air without McBaltby breathing down my neck. Is life at home that bad for you that you don’t even want to leave?” Bradley’s eyes shot icy daggers. “Boy I ain’t got no home why do you think I’m the way I am.” He murmured.
Mason mouthed a silent “oh” and walked over to place a hand on Bradley’s shoulder. “I’m sorry man. Well-” “Why do you say it like that? I have a family it just ain‘t a home.” “I’m sorry man. Truly I am sorry for you. But I got to go. Stay in touch!”
Mason flipped his bag over his shoulder and strode out the door. Temporarily closing this chapter in his life.

~*~*~*~

“Why is His love not showing them there is a way? Jesus is the way.” Bella softly finished singing the chorus of If We are The Body to herself. She was practically glowing as she glided to the door that led to the stairwell in their church. “Oh how great God is! It’s just amazing how much joy I feel right now. I can’t belie-”
Right as Isabella reached for the knob the door flung open in her face. It was only seconds as she realized it was him who opened the door and walked out the other. She gasped and nearly fell. “oh no.” Tears began to fill her eyes as her back slid down the wall behind her to the floor.
She heard someone push open the door and not wanting to embarrass herself she shoved a hand across her face and ran toward the bathroom. “Bella? Bella! Bella wait!” Bella knew she hadn’t imagined the voice but she ignored Mason anyways. She pulled the door to the bathroom open, stepped inside and locked herself inside one of the stalls.
Bella threw her face into her hands and began to sob. “Bella?” The soft sound of the pastor’s wife came ringing to Bella’s ears. She muffled another sob so she could answer Joy. “Yes Mrs. Joy?” Bella blew her nose very loudly and unladylike before she opened the stall door. Seeing Bella’s tear stained face Joy’s heart broke into pieces.
“Bella sweetheart. Are you alright? You look dreadful!” Bella forced a laugh. She dabbed her cheeks with some toilet paper and sighed. “Well, way to make me feel better.” She forced another laugh that turned into a sob.
“Oh Honey! I am so sorry. You don’t have to tell me what the problem is but if you do, I just want you to know that I’m here for you.” Joy lifted Bella’s chin with the tips of her fingers to better see her eyes. Bella coughed and wiped her nose. “How did you know I was in here?”
Joy’s face flamed. She gave out a nervous giggle before turning her face toward the floor. “Well, Mason said he passed by you and went outside. Then when he walked back inside he saw you crying on the floor, tried to call you but you ran the opposite direction.” She paused waiting for her to comprehend what she was saying.
“Oh Isabella you gave that boy a fright! His face was pale and panic stricken when he came looking for me. You need to at least see him. He’s so worried about you.” Isabella looked up through big, red and