There's no hope of me falling back asleep. I don't think my poor hips can handle lying down anymore today anyway. I hate to complain about pregnancy issues, especially since I don't actually have anyone to complain to at present, but I really don't remember my hips hurting this early when I was pregnant with Alice. Seven weeks should be a pretty uneventful gestational milestone, aside from the occasional puke.

And where did I throw my stupid phone when Mr. Rooster stated pounding on my mobile campsite? Taking a quick peek around, I see it sort of leaning against Alice's thigh. Grabbing it up I double check to make sure it's silenced, as much as Alice loves the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Hot Dog Dance ringtone I don't think she'd actually appreciate it 6:15 am.

I did a quick snoodle search through the mini-fridge and found a couple juice boxes and chug-jug milk things. I still have some yogurt and fruit cups, so I guess that will do until I figure out where the grocery store is. I'm not entirely sure I'll have time to go to the store today anyway. I don't want to leave with the movers still unloading and I don't know how fast they can get things out of their truck and into my house in the appropriate rooms.

After writing out a couple lists of things to do on Monday Alice starts to stir. 7:35 am, my little alarm clock.

"Good morning sweet girl. You just woke up." I start our morning the same way everyday. Good Morning, you just woke up! I have no clue why I declare to my awake child that she is in fact awake, but it's what I've always said to her when she wakes up in the morning and from naps so I might as well stick with it. It makes her smile and I love to see those pretty little teeth.

Crap, now I'm thinking about James again. His teeth were perfectly straight. His smile was just a little gummy, but I thought he was so handsome. The gums were a sore spot for him, but I thought it was perfect. I remember talking about what Alice would look like before she was born and hoping she would get his teeth instead of mine. I've always called my teeth Horse-Teeth. They're big and square-ish with big canines and not a bit of gum to be seen. Even with 4 adult teeth pulled to make room for my giant chompers my mouth was still so crowded that I ended up in braces for nearly 4 years. And even then I still didn't have space for my wisdom teeth.

I don't miss being married to James, but it's still unreal to think he's gone. He'll never hear her speak a full sentence. She's just now stringing words together. He'll never see her ride a Big Wheel, he won't push her on her first bike ride without training wheels, and there are hundreds and hundreds more things that she'll accomplish without a father watching her succeed or try again after a failure.

A pit forms in my stomach, but before I can get sucked into my quasi-grief there's a gentle rap at the side door of the RV. I scoop Alice up and open the door.

Mr. Rooster, so we meet again.

"Bella, I'm so sorry about the way we met. I know you said your realtor would be here this morning, hopefully I've beat her here. I brought apology donuts" he finished with crooked grin and produced a bakery box with a flourish from behind his back. He's staring at Alice. Seriously starting. Unabashed curiosity the only emotion on his face. Like it's completely bizarre that a toddler would exist in front of him.

"If there's anything in there with a filling that's custardy and not frostingy, you're forgiven." I smile widely, all of my horse teeth on display.

"Um yeah, there's a chocolate frosted Boston Crème in there. It's my mom's favorite too" he replies without looking away from Alice to me. This is just creepy now.

I'm not sure what to say to that with him still staring at my child. "Yeah, moms love Boston Crème."

Finally that gets him. He clears his throat and finally looks me in the eyes, "Does she eat? I mean, does she eat donuts? Christ, do you let her have sweets for breakfast is what I meant to say."

"It's a special day so she can have a donut today."

While I'm trying to decide on inviting him into the Winne or not the realtor pulls up. Her picture on the Real Estate website didn't do her a bit of justice. In person she's so much lovelier. Pretty honey blonde hair and sophisticated clothes, soft creases on her face and natural looking make-up. She's probably in her fifties but she's aging very gracefully. She greets both Edward and I, winks at Alice which makes her clam up with fake shyness.

"Hey Mom."

My eyes must be as big as saucers. My realtor Esme Cullen is Edward's mother. No wonder he wanted to beat her here with forgiveness pastries.

"Here are your keys Mrs. Hunter. And a garage door opener. I reset the code, so it's not the same one that was used with the last tenant." Esme is the picture of kind professionalism. I'm still sort of in shock that my neighbor is her son. He must have been trying to help us both out by attempting to evict my RV from in front of the house this morning.

Finally finding my voice, I thank her for the keys and then as afterthought, "It's Ms. Hunter, I'm no longer married."

"Oh, your ex must be furious that you've moved his cutie all the way from Jacksonville" she's probably just trying to ease the tension of mistaking me for a married woman. Squatting down to tickle Alice under her chin, she looks back up at me with a grin and a wink.

Barely above a whisper, I manage to squeak out "My husband passed away a couple weeks ago. It's just me and Alice. We're starting over here in Forks." I probably should have just left it with a simple explanation of being widowed; there wasn't any need for her to know it was recent. Oh, well. It's too late to take it back now.

"I'm so sorry for your loss dear" and then I'm practically smothered in a hug. Oh, God. This is a real hug. A mom hug. One that squeezes with love and smooshes it right into your body from theirs via some kind of magic maternal force. I know these hugs. I administer hugs like this all the time, but it's been years and years since I've felt one being given to me. My eyes are welling up with tears and it has nothing to do with James and absolutely everything to do with Esme Cullen's hugging skills.

She pulls back and holds be by the shoulders, "There now."

"Thank you. For the hug." I felt the need to clarify that what I really appreciated was the affection.

I look over at Edward. He's staring at me with a grim expression, like he's about to deliver the worst sort of news.

"I'm sorry for your loss."

A/N

Thanks for Reading. Chapter 5 should be up in a day or two.