Aww! It's cute that Bella and Edward are getting so comfortable spending time together at her place that his mom is now talking about meeting her. That should be an interesting challenge for Bella. Esme will love her.

Bella is gaining confidence in taking care of her needs. I like Bella's pride in her little place and can understand why it's important for Bella to buy a TV of her own rather than have Edward buy it for her.

Bella also now has the challenge of introducing Edward into her work environment as her boyfriend. The good news is that their friends will be attending this fundraiser as well.

Well, so much for going slow. Ha! Ha!

I enjoyed Bella and Edward’s date. The family who owned the restaurant were so sweet and welcoming to Bella. I hope they are featured again later.

I’m glad Edward told Bella that Jay was a part of her life and she can’t filter him out of her memory. I like how she explained that Jay didn’t manipulate her. She needs to get her sister/friend Alice straight on that. What’s sad is that she didn’t feel she could rely on her friends to help him.

Aww! I loved how Edward ran into Bella and Alice while they tried to hail a cab outside the mall and offered them a ride home. It gave Edward a chance to convey the news of him moving back to town and for Bella to show him her new place. I was afraid Alice might not give him the chance to speak with Bella alone, but I was so relieved when he came back from the main house and they talked.

I love that they explained what happened, cleared up their misunderstanding over the text message, and spoke of their desire to start anew. The passion and love between them is still there and now they can grow and heal together.

I’m glad out of this whole debacle Bella realized that she was wrong to try to handle something so out of control with Jay alone. I just hope she doesn’t write him off. He needs to get help and she needs to know he’s safe. Bella and Edward can do that together.

Yeah, it’s a long chapter, but one of the best. You’re right if it broke after he left with Alice, readers would have freaked. LOL.

Bella's new place is really coming along and she's getting a fresh start with this job offer from Angela. It was great that Ben and Emmett came to help out. I hope that Rosalie and Emmett get some time to talk. He has some hard decisions to make.

Oh, Edward. I'm glad he finally saw where this road with Dr. Banner was leading him and got off the train. He wants more out of his career than he's promised at Lennox Hill. The position with his dad is a better fit and it gets him closer to Bella. ;)

I’m sorry but I don’t agree with Alice that it was bad that Bella takes care of people. She just needs balance and to remember to take care of her needs too. She can do both. Ignoring Jay because she wasn’t in love with him anymore to focus on herself isn’t a solution. It’s cruel. At the least, he was a friend.

I like that Bella chose to stay in Chicago to make her new start and find a new place. It was sweet that her girlfriends wanted to help.

I’m glad Edward didn’t waste any time in breaking up with Kate, and it was probably for the best that he left her thinking it was just about Bella than her own behavior. Don’t want her messing with his career.

Go Esme! Mom pegged Edward’s situation with Kate perfectly and yet gave him room to explain who he wants. I thought her advice was spot on. Kate does have the ability to hurt him, even if he’s not romantically interested in her.

Loved Edward’s reaction in seeing Bella and how everyone melted away. Kate who? Ha! Ha! Kate is underestimating the challenge for her here, and Bella’s question pinned Edward’s dilemma. Does he really want a future at Lennox Hill or something else?

Bella has all the clues in her analysis of the visit to see what’s really going on under the surface with him. She just wouldn’t believe she had that impact.

Damn Kate and her timing. Just as it was going somewhere. Glad Alice was there to cushion Bella’s fall after they left and help her refocus on starting over.

Great chapter!

Edward really let Kate push her way into his weekend at home and schmooze his mom into an invite. Ugh! Now, he’s miserable. Love that his parents can’t stand her either.

I’m not liking how Alice and Jasper are changing Bella’s phone number and avoiding any discussion about Jay so much that Bella feels she had to hide her calls to Officer Uley. She needs to get well, so she can take her life back.

Loved when Bella told Alice about her one night stand with Edward. Her reaction to each new part being revealed was hilarious, especially her dad knowing before her.

This dinner is going to be hella awkward with Edward bringing his girlfriend. Bella and Edward have so much to discuss.

Okay, Edward is making the choice to move on and ask out Kate. I hope he doesn’t end up regretting it later.

Officer Uley sounds like a good man. I’m glad Bella was able to explain what really happened and to warn him about Jay’s condition. I do wonder whether she told him about Eleazar. Hopefully, he can find Jay without harming him. What a relief that he called Alice and she’s on her way.

I’m worried about Alice taking Bella out of town to recoup, while Jay is still out there reeling about what happened all on his own.

By cutting off her texts to Edward, Bella has effectively isolated herself. She now has no one as an outlet as she slips deeper into Jay’s mania.

I had a feeling Bella changing Edward’s name in her phone to E was significant, but never thought Jay would construe it to be Elias to fit his narrative. Poor Jay! He’s out of control and needs help.

Oh, Bella! That fall was horrific. He thinks he lost Bella and now he has accidentally hurt her. I hope Jay reached the neighbor and help is on its way.

Edward is becoming disillusioned with his mentor and starting to see what surrounds that life. Kate worries me. She’s too intimate with his mentor and that colors her efforts to date Edward. He’s the hot new upcoming doctor, and he has no permanent ties to keep him there. How better to keep him in town than to push them together.

I understand why Edward wouldn’t be satisfied with this superficial friendship with Bella. He has no hope that anything would change. Edward took a chance and she sent him a clear message that it was time to move on.

Edward needs to get out of Lennox Hill. This doesn’t seem to be the life he wants or needs. He should give more thought to his dad’s offer.

Bella is sacrificing a lot to be with Jay through this. I get he has no family or friends, but he needs real psychiatric help and a doctor monitoring his symptoms. I applaud for Bella for trying to get him there. Oddly enough, Bella should consult Edward about Jay. He probably could recommend a specialist in the area to help. She can't handle this alone.

Oh, Edward. He got his hopes up, and Bella just dashed them in a second. I could understand him thinking about dating Kate and transition into being a friend to Bella.

Oh my! The shame of Colonel Brandon knowing where she was and then having to leave so rapidly without a proper goodbye to Edward, Alice, or any of their friends, for that matter. This left her with no time to clean up and now she's stressing about everything on the plane.

Poor Jay! He got laid off. I can understand Bella wanting to be there for him, but she could still be friends and help him through the worst. She's letting herself get pulled into his misery again. It's not fair to either one of them to stay in a loveless relationship.

This was a lovely first time for Bella and Edward, but I'm surprised she let it go so far before breaking up with Jay. It's good they used protection, but why only in the beginning? Hmm...

I hope this doesn't cause Bella any more stress. It's good she was honest about the state of her relationship with Jay, so Edward knows it won't be easy to end things there. Not to mention, they have their own complications from them being a couple.

Alice and Jasper had such a beautiful wedding.

It’s good Bella could admit to herself that after four years together, she couldn’t see herself and Jay standing at the altar and getting married. She knows he believed it was inevitable and was willing to wait. It’s just further evidence why they shouldn’t be together. They want different things.

Oh my! The attraction between Bella and Edward got more intense. When he leaned in to ask her about Alice and Jasper being so happy then Jay and her marital prospects, you could feel the sexual tension and adding more wine to the mix signaled that they were heading into dangerous territory.

That dance and kiss felt like Edward wasn’t the only one ceasing the moment. Bella gave into her passion and probably was overwhelmed, so she fled at the first moment she could.

Well, Bella’s resolution to stay detached from Edward didn’t last too long. I guess fate had other plans. They’re holding hands and walking to a nearby bookstore in the snow. “In for a penny, in for a pound”, I see.

I loved Bella’s reaction to finding that author’s book on the shelf and the pride that coursed through her to know he made it as a published author. It helped her to reflect on the past and her unfulfilled dreams.

Sharing that part of her story with Edward felt very intimate, as did his story. They did gain perspective on their issues causing them to see them in a way they never thought before. Though, they’re getting into very dangerous territory as they become even closer and more attracted to each other.

Thanks for having Bella see why she bonded to Jay and her culpability in landing them where they were now. I hope she can reflect on that when she lets him down.