I groaned as I rolled over to open my eyes, my hand searching for the man who's been lying next to me for the last 30 years,
"Happy birthday Bella" his warm breath blowing over my face as he planted a kiss on the end of my nose.
"Go away" was my dreary response,
"Oh come on now, I've got a surprise for you"
"How many times do I have to tell you n…"
"No surprises I know! But come on you cant tell me you weren't expecting us to do something special for your 50th. "
Ugh fifty, just the thought of it makes my stomach turn. But I started hearing impatient shuffles from the front room so I put on my robe and proceeded down stairs.
I tried to put on my best smile but at 8; 30 in the morning faced with all my family and friend I couldn't help feeling defeated, I mean everybody was there, Jake of course, Charlie, Sam and Emily and well the whole pack really apart from our children Billy and Francesca who were at school, plus an unmissable pile of presents. I felt like crying I was so overwhelmed after all it was a tiny room however there was still a sort of void left by the old Billy's wheelchair he died a week before I had my fist child so we thought it was the least we could do to name our child after him
The day went on like that, call from friends and family but it only got emotional when Renée called we hadn't spoken in weeks as she was on a cruse again! By the time that died down they thought it was a good idea to bring out the cake, again I groaned as I was presented with about 10 éclairs covered in fifty candles, the whole room lit up as I made my wish, the same wish I've made for the last 33 years.
But he never comes.
I know it's stupid but I can't help getting a little hopeful. It hurts Jake, him knowing what I wish for, I can see it in his face.
"Hey mum! We're back"
"Hi how was school? "
"Boring" and Billy sloped off to the garage just like his dad used to.
"Great! How about you chess?"
She shrugged and went up to her room. This carried on for a week or so, Charlie told me not to worry apparently I did the same thing but I couldn't help noticing the glint of a tear in her eye. I asked Billy if he'd noticed anything at school
"No I don't hang around with her type of people at school mum I'm in the year above remember"
How could I forget that was his answer to everything.
Even Jake said I was being paranoid but I had to ask, I've seen this before
"Are you okay love?" I asked cautiously
"Fine why" her blunt answer
"You just seem upset that all"
"It's just there's this guy mum"
Oh god a guy! Still it could be worse
"Wooo" I joked "What's he like?"
"Oh I can't even describe him mum, he's just perfect like he's from heaven an angel or something" We laughed but my smile soon fell. "but there's something about him?"
"What about him?"
"Well I sat next to him in trig and I saw him across the canteen and well he looks at me like he hated me like I was killing him or something "
"oh? how"
"God I don't know mum but he has this look in his eyes"
I said nothing but my mind was screaming at me, throwing memories around I'd all but forgotten. How could anyone forget eyes like those. Ugh I shook my head to clear it I was being stupid again
"I mean I've never even spoke to him. He doesn't know me how dear he. His family don't like me either ."
"What?" that brought me back down with a bump.
"Every time I look at them they roll their eyes or say something under their breath. On time I walked past they all went silent then he got up and walked after giving his sister another funny look then they carried on talking about déjà vu !"
She broke into tears as held her but I was lost again in more memories they were so fresh, I tried so hard to push them away and I'd succeeded until now, they came rushing back, the faces, the smells, the pain. Could it be possible after all this time they'd come back, unchanged still as beautiful and young looking as ever? Impossible I told myself Impossible he said he was never coming back.
"What's his name love" I pried, my heart beat skipping, well more like a full on sprint
"Edward I think. Edward Cullen." More sobs broke out but this time they were mine.