Life Unexpected
Bella's life seems to finally be on the right track until her ex-boyfriend from high school shows up with an unexpected, life-altering surprise.
AN: Hello readers! The trailer for Life Unexpected ( youtu . be / fEErNMZwERQ ) had a great response so I decided to move forward with the story. If you like it, love it, hate it please say why in a review. Thank you all. Enjoy!
P.S. I never claim to be a writer, just a story teller. This fic will have mistakes and I'm well aware of that fact. Hopefully you can enjoy the story regardless. :)
What Just Happened?
I woke with a start gasping for air. "It was just a dream," I muttered groggily. Riley groaned, turning away from me. He was used to the nightmares after two years and now he simply rolls over and continues to snore softly.
Taking deep breaths I sat up knowing I would be unable to sleep any longer. I pulled the damp t-shirt up over my head and tossed it into the dirty clothes hamper. I sighed as I picked up Riley's slacks and button up shirt from the floor and dropped them in as well. Riley never cleaned up after himself but it was a point that was not worth the effort to fight about. I would yell and he would yell right back and then I would end up picking up his crap regardless.
I loved Riley but I knew I was not "in love" with him. He was a safe anchor, a constant that I felt I needed in my life. Riley was predictable and I never had to wonder what he was thinking because he would clearly state his thoughts and opinions about everything. He had no filter.
Every morning at six a.m. he wakes up and jumps in the shower for exactly twenty minutes. Then he dresses and sprays on his Calvin Klein cologne. Afterwards he will sit down at the table and eat two eggs, sunny side up, and three strips of bacon with a glass of pulp free orange juice. From there he grab his suit jacket and briefcase and I will meet him at the door for a kiss goodbye before he heads into work at the small local bank on the edge of Seattle. Nine to ten hours later he returns home to sit down in front of the television to watch marathons of Law and Order and NCIS.
Our passionate kisses had long ago burned out and now we do it mostly out of habit. I don't even remember the last time we had sex. It had to have been months ago.
Sometimes I wonder why I don't just let him go and then I remember that it's easy with him. Stable. Predictable.
I push my office door open and go around the room turing on my computers and sewing machines. I glance at the clock on the wall and notice it's only four in the morning. I was in for another long day. As I sat down at my desk I pulled the new stack of orders Angela called in last night. Prom was only months away and several girls had already started to request the latest 'Swan' gowns.
Angela, the owner of a trendy chic boutique in the center of Seattle called Hidden Secrets had seen potential in my sketches and commissioned me for a trial job. If the design she picked sold then she would draw a contract for a whole line of clothing. The success of my cocktail gown skyrocketed within a week and to this day I was still receiving orders for the little black lace dress.
I ordered the slips according to priority and then I went to the other side of my office to pull the bolts of fabric that I would need. I frowned as I picked up my most popular one and made a mental note to purchase more beige lace before the end of the day.
A sharp cough from the doorway pulled my attention away from the inventory. Riley stood against the frame, his briefcase in one hand and jacket in the other. I frowned, glancing at the clock. It was already time for him to leave for work. I dutifully stood up and approached him. He smiled sweetly and placed a tender kiss on my cheek.
"Same nightmare?" He asked, reaching up to smooth the crease from brow. I nodded in response. "You should go talk to a shrink," he stated bluntly.
I rolled my eyes. This was not the first time he had suggested that. I did not need a shrink to tell me what was wrong with me. I already knew. I am a terrible human being.
Riley rolled his eyes too and sighed. "I'll see you around seven? I have a meeting with Doug tonight. We have a big account coming in."
"Okay," I agree, wondering why he always poses his goodbyes as questions. He smiled and walked out.
I decided to grab a bowl of cereal for breakfast so I made my way into the kitchen. As I poured the milk my cell phone rang. Angela. "Hey hon," I mumbled into the phone, mouth full of sugary flakes.
"Hiiiiii," she drawled in her 'I need a favor voice.'
I groaned. "What do you need?"
"So, I had this bratty sixteen year old walk in this morning and she insists that she ordered your original lace dress last month and she demanded that I have it ready for a fitting tomorrow. The little rat stormed out of my store when I called her a liar but her mom hung back and offered me two grand to have it on hand. I'll split it with you," she plead.
"Nu uh," I laughed. "Sixty/forty or no deal!"
"Fine, Swan. Deal. Let me get the measurements for you."
Seven hours later I draped several clothing bags over my arm and gathered my purse and keys. I balanced everything on one arm as I locked the front door and placed my cell up to my ear. "Call Angela."
She picked up as I dropped my keys on the porch. "Dammit!" I cursed over her laughter.
"On your way?" She giggled, completely aware of my clumsiness. "Bella? Did you fall again? Hello?"
"Ang, I'm gonna have to call you back," I whispered as my gaze locked on very familiar green eyes. Green eyes that I had not seen in over fifteen years.
My stomach plummeted and my heart clenched. He looked the same, yet older. A thick five o'clock shadow covered his strong jaw. To think, he used to hate that he couldn't grow a mustache. His eyes crinkled as he forced a smile that seemed more like a grimace.
I gaped up at him confused. "Edward? What... What are you doing here?" I asked breathlessly. Looking past him I saw a young blonde climbing off of his motorcycle. As she pulled off her helmet a pang of jealousy shot through my body and I bit my lip to keep myself from crying. Only it didn't help. The pain only brought more tears to my eyes.
Edward's fingers pulled at his auburn hair, a sign that he was stressed. "Bella," he began, looking back at the girl. I followed his gaze and my mouth dropped open in shock. Edward's bright emerald eyes stared back at me, timid. I took a closer look and saw the same heart shaped face that I see when I look into a mirror every morning and her long golden locks matched those of my sister's, Rosalie.
"This is Renesmee. Our daughter," Edward croaked.
Everything I held in my arms dropped to the ground. Ignoring my possessions I stepped over them, stumbling slightly as I approached the girl. My daughter...
Her eyes widened as she quickly glanced between Edward and myself. She ran a hand through her hair, tugging roughly. Just like Edward, I thought. Then she bit her lip. Just like me...
I paused passing a silent Edward. Anger would have consumed me if he had come alone, but he was not. He brought Renesmee and I could only focus on her. She's beautiful.
But why is she here? "Are you okay?" I asked concerned. "Do you need anything? Are you hungry?" I fired off question after question, turning back towards the house. "I can fix you something to eat," I insisted.
Renesmee just shook her head with a hesitant crooked smirk. Just like Edward. "I-" She looked down at a piece of paper. "I need you to sign this paper."
I stepped forward, gently taking the document from her hands. She bites her nails, I noticed. Just like me. I glanced over the paperwork, nodding my head. "Sure, anything. What's it for?"
"Emancipation," she answered simply. "Turns out you guys never signed away your rights and I can't stand going through the foster care system anymore."
"Wait, you're still in foster care? I don't understand..." I thought back to when they took her from the hospital room all those years ago. 'Of course she'll find a great home, and quickly too. She's a beautiful baby and babies are always adopted first.'
"I guess I just wasn't good enough," her voiced strained bitterly. "For anybody."
Another pang went through my heart as I watched her face fall. Her eyes stayed down, focused on her worn out sneakers. "Let me get a pen," I choked out. Tears came back to my eyes as I caught Edward's pained expression. Good, I thought. You should feel awful. We both should.
The fact was I had never wanted a child at fifteen but that is where I found myself after Prom so many years ago. I was young, in love, and naïve. Edward and I had been dating for months and we felt that Prom was the night we took our relationship to the next level. I remember the hotel room like it was yesterday and the butterflies that fluttered around in my stomach all week. I remember the words Edward whispered in my ear as we came down from our release. I love you, baby. Always.
A shudder ripped me away from my memories. He could lie so well. I never knew. Quickly, I picked my purse up off the ground and searched for a pen. As I signed the papers Edward asked Renesmee about her court date.
"It's tomorrow actually. At eight in the morning. I had a hard time getting your names from my social worker." She shuffled her feet and Edward nodded in understanding.
"Okay," I handed the papers over. "All signed..."
The three of us stood around in awkward silence. Finally Renesmee coughed. "So, dude," she looked at Edward's bike and the back at him. "Can I get a ride?"
"I can take you," I blurted out. She cocked an eyebrow up in question. "I-I mean only if you want."
"Sure, okay." She agreed.
Edward looked torn almost as if he wanted to say something but then thought better of it. Finally he moved toward his bike and put on the helmet Renesmee had been wearing. "Good luck with your court date, kiddo," he called. "I hope everything goes like you want it too and if you ever need anything, you know where to find me."
Renesmee shrugged and thanked him. Edward's face hardened. She didn't believe him. Hell, why would she?
His eyes flashed up to mine and I turned away focusing on picking up my bags from the asphalt. He never had the decency to say goodbye all those years ago, why start now? I heard him sigh and the loud grumble as he started up his motorcycle.
"So," I said, turning back to Renesmee. "Where can I take you?"
She grinned shyly as I motioned for her to take the passenger seat in my black Jeep Liberty. "South-side." She answered. "Pioneer Square."
I dropped my keys again and felt the blood drain from my face. "O-okay," I stuttered as I climbed in the SUV. "Pioneer Square it is." What a dangerous place for a kid to grow up, I thought.
As I drove towards the city Renesmee stayed quiet mostly. I would glance over at her and catch her watching me closely. She would blush, just like me, and turn away.
"Where did I get my blonde hair," she asked suddenly.
I smiled. "It's from my mom's side of the family. My sister has the same color. Her name is-"
"Rosalie."
I was shocked. "Yes, how did you know?"
"She gave me my name, Renesmee. My social worker told me. She combined two names. I think she said they were the grandmothers. Renee," she stated confidently. "And Esme. But it's hard for people to pronounce and I wasn't too fond of being named after two people that did not want me in the first place so I tell everyone to call me Nessie."
"I didn't know that," I whispered, mainly to myself. Rosalie and I had not spoken in several years. She was mad at me for a long time after I decided to give up the baby. I understood her position. She felt women that could become pregnant should feel blessed and even if it wasn't planned they should be responsible for the life that they helped create.
Rosalie is seven years older than I am and by the time I got knocked up she was married to her husband, Emmett. Apparently they had been trying to conceive but could not due to infertility complications. She begged and pleaded with me to reconsider keeping it, or even letting her take the child, but I refused. I was selfish and heartbroken. I wanted nothing to do with the baby. I didn't even want to see it after it was born. I am a horrible person.
"Renee is my mother but Esme isn't Edward's mom," I inform Nessie. "She's Edward's brother's girlfriend, or at least she was. They could be married now..." I trailed off thinking of people I hadn't seen or spoken to in years. "Esme was a big part of Edward's life. I think he thought of her more as mother than his biological mom."
"You think?" Nessie asked. "You don't know Edward very well but you had a kid with him?"
"I thought I knew Edward," I replied. "But it turns out I didn't."
Nessie was curious, I could tell, but I did not elaborate. The past was the past. There was no sense in dwelling over it. "It's just a couple more blocks," she said softly.
The next morning I stood outside of King County Courthouse. What the hell are you doing here, I asked myself over and over again. I couldn't explain the pull I felt towards Nessie but I had to be here. I needed to be here. The poor kid is going to be so confused, I argued with myself. I'll just sit in the back, she won't even know I'm there...
I took a deep breath and forced myself to step into the building. After passing through security I found the hearing room easily and carefully opened the door to enter. I saw Nessie's blonde curls in the front. I exhaled in relief when she did not turn around. I took a seat on the closest bench.
"Bella?"
I jumped at the sound of my name. "Edward? What are you doing here?"
Edward had shaved. God, he's still as handsome as ever. He had on a crisp white button up shirt with a grey skinny tie that hung haphazardly around his neck. He pulled on the knot, loosening it more. His grey slacks were neat and pressed, just like his shirt. Quite a turn around from his holey t-shirt and torn jeans from yesterday.
"I could ask you the same question," he retorted.
"All rise," the Marshall of the Court called. As I stood along with everyone I decided not to answer Edward. Truthfully, I had no idea why I had come.
The judge entered the room and flipped through a folder. I glanced over at Nessie and saw a woman lean in and speak quietly in her ear. Nessie shook her head and kept her eyes on the judge.
"Miss Renesmee Cullen," the judge stated, looking over her glasses at Nessie. "I understand that you are fifteen and requesting emancipation from the State."
"Yes, Your Honor," she answered bravely.
"Do you have a job?"
"No ma'am. But I have money saved-"
Do you have means for transportation?" The judge asked, interrupting Nessie's statement.
"Well, no, but-"
"So, you are telling me you have no job and no car. How do you plan to afford a place to live?"
"I-I-" Nessie stuttered and I could hear the tears in her voice. My heart broke for her and a feeling of protectiveness made me stand up immediately.
"I'll co-sign for her," I nearly shouted at the same time Edward stood and voiced something similar. We looked at each other in surprise.
The judge used her gavel to quiet the courtroom. My eyes locked with Nessie's. She was upset. "And who are you to Miss Cullen," she questioned.
Edward answered hesitantly. "We are her biological parents."
The judge pursed her lips as she focused back on Nessie. "Miss Cullen, I am not granting you emancipation."
Nessie balked. "But I had those papers signed!"
"Those signatures were neither witnessed, nor notarized. You have no stable way to support yourself. Until then, and unless anyone has any objections," the judge made eye contact with us. "I am releasing you into the temporary joint custody of your biological parents."
I flinched as the gavel struck wood three times. "Court is adjourned."
Edward and I faced each other in shock. What just happened?
