A/N: You guys are awesome! Thanks for all of the love I've been getting. Each review and/or alert/favorite makes me want to write more [obvious and blatant hint/]. Speaking of, as anyone who has reviewed knows, I reply to every review. My question is: annoying or endearing? If it bugs you, let me know. If not I'll be sending you my love with each review. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own anything recognizable from the Twilight series. Brady and Lola, however, are my creations and I do love them so.
Chapter 4 – Money Talk and Quick Decisions
Bella
The next few days after Tuesday, or flower-handprint-tattoo-caressing-Edward-gate as I'd taken to calling it, went by extremely fast. Of course, that's only if the meaning of "extremely fast" had suddenly changed and now meant agonizingly slow. I couldn't believe how ridiculous I was being over the simple possibility of a call to go to lunch.
When did I start caring about this stuff?
I knew the answer to that, but decided to ignore it and to finish getting ready for work while the kids were still interested in watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
It was now Friday, and usually Mondays and Fridays are the days that I take Brady and Lola to daycare, while Wednesdays are reserved for Uncle Emmett, but Em called me on Tuesday night and asked if he could switch days because Rose was gone on business for something or another and wouldn't be back until some time or another and he couldn't watch them on Wednesday for some reason or another. To be honest I wasn't really listening, but long story short, they're going to Emmett's today. He works as a tech guy for a little company outside of town, so for the most part he's able to make his own schedule and he took today off.
"Alright, bugs, you ready to blow this popsicle stand?"
"Yeahhhhhhhhhhhh!" they both replied, jumping off the couch and running toward the front door.
After getting their shoes on, we walked to my car and I buckled them into their seats, then we made the 10 minute trek over to Emmett and Rosalie's house. When Emmett saw us pull up he came out to the car and grabbed Brady while I brought in Lola.
"Thanks for switching days, B. Sorry I couldn't give you more notice; it was kind of a last-minute thing," he put down Brady as I put down Lola and they both ran into the room off of the hallway that held all of their toys.
"Thanks for watching my kids for free once a week," I smirked. "But seriously, don't worry about it. I pay the daycare good money for them to only go there twice a week, so they're not going to complain about me bringing them on a different day every so often."
"Right. Oh, speaking of money, are you in the pool for the next game?"
He and Rose occasionally host various sports parties where people put in money and bet on which team they think will win. I know nothing about sports but sometimes bet on the team with the cooler name or more interesting colors just because it's fun to pick sides and yell at the TV with the others.
"Nah, not this time. It's not in the budget," I replied, and hoped he wouldn't start in on me like he usually does when I make comments like that.
"Be-la," he droned, sounding annoyed.
"What, Emmett? It's not. I've got to get some new work clothes soon and I don't want to commit to anything else at el momento." Four years of Spanish in high school, thankyouverymuch.
He huffed, as if dealing with a child, "I don't understand you. You'll use that money to buy anything that could benefit the twins - new beds, that swing set, a fucking house," he looked to make sure the kids hadn't heard him before continuing, "and yet you won't even use it to buy yourself new clothes for work? How does the make sense? It's your money, B."
"Yeah, on a technicality," I muttered, picking at a string hanging from the bottom of my shirt. I really did need new clothes.
"So what! Why does it matter how you got it? The point is she wanted us to have it - to use it," he argued.
"I know that, Emmett, but I can't help how I feel. I didn't earn it, so I don't feel like I deserve to use it on things just for myself. I feel guilty enough that I had to use it that first year."
"Bella, come on. That's bullshit. You deserve that money more than me and Mom combined, and it's not like you sit on your ass all day doing nothing. You take care of two toddlers all by yourself and manage a bookstore 3 days a week!"
"Can we stop talking about this, please? I have no problem using it for the twins if need be so that's all that should matter." I sighed and looked at the time. "I gotta get going before you make me late, you oaf."
He shook his head and smiled, "Whatever. I'll see you later, Ms. Stubborn."
I smiled back, "Later. Come give me kisses, bugs! Mama's gotta go!" They ran out of the room and attacked my legs, and I bent down and gave them each a kiss, "Bye, babies. Be good for Uncle Emmy." I reluctantly let them go and started walking toward the door, "Love you more than chocolate!"
I heard a jumble of "love you" and "chocolate, where?"s yelled back and then I was on my way.
…
"Ang, did we get the new Harry Potter order in yesterday?" I called, peeking into the stock room where Angela was currently.
"Um…no, I don't think so. Hopefully it'll come today, though."
I grumbled, "It better. I swear if I have to tell one more person that we're out of stock I'm going to slam my face in the register."
She appeared in front of me and smiled, "Well, don't do that. Find something softer to slam it into. It's much too pretty to be marred by a register," she replied, patting my cheek.
"Thanks, mom. I'm not joking. It happens every year, without fail. One of the movies comes out and still, after a gazillion movies have already been released from the series, there's people coming in to buy the entire set like it's some new discovery they just have to have."
She looked a little confused but entertained by my tantrum, "I don't know why you're upset by that, chica. It's good for business."
I sighed, "You're right. I'm just grumpy."
I knew I had no right to complain. I actually owed a lot to this bookstore, and to Angela and her husband, Ben, the store's owners. I started working here when I was in high school and through the years Angela and Ben have become almost parental figures to me, even though they're only 10 years older.
They've always been so supportive of my circumstances and have treated me far better than I deserve. Despite the fact that I basically quit unexpectedly on them after the twins were born, when I returned after so long with my tail between my legs and asked if I could have a job, even if it was as a part-time book-stacker, they welcomed me back with open arms and gave me back my job as a manager, but only part-time, per my request.
"Why you grumpy, babycakes?" Angela asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I sighed, "I'm not really sure. Emmett was being annoying this morning, but I don't think that's why, because he's always annoying so I'm used to that. Maybe I'm getting sick or something. I did cut myself making dinner Wednesday night. It could have gotten infected and it's possible I'm dying as we speak."
She laughed, "Well I don't blame you for being grumpy, then. It's almost noon, why don't you head off early and take a long lunch?"
That actually sounds great.
"Are you sure? I don't mind staying," I asked half-heartedly. I didn't want to leave her here to fend for herself.
"Yeah, don't worry about it. Jessica's coming in any minute and then I'll take my lunch, too."
After a little more protesting I gave in, and then went to the back office to grab my stuff so I could head out. Just as I was pulling out my keys and stuffing a granola bar in my mouth to tide me over until I figured out what I was going to do for lunch, my cell phone started buzzing from inside my purse.
Without looking at the caller ID, I picked it up and pushed the talk button, "Haw-roh?" Yeah, I'm sure they understood that. I chewed and swallowed my bite, taking the rest out of my mouth, "Erm…hello?"
"Bella? Hey. It's, uh…it's Edward."
It's Edward! I choked a little bit on the bite that I swallowed, "Oh! Edward, hi! Sorry, I had food in my…never mind, what's up?"
"Well, I was wondering if maybe you were available for that lunch?"
…
As it turned out, I was available for lunch. How nice of him to ask.
After a minute of talking on the phone, we discovered that he only lives a couple of miles away from the bookstore, so he offered to pick me up and I obliged.
When he got here, in a freaking silver Volvo, by the way, we decided on the little café in town. From the time when he arrived at the bookstore to when we arrived at the café, he was an absolute gentleman: opening doors, pulling out chairs, giving me more of the air vents in the car, and so on.
Emmett needs to take some lessons from this man.
Once we settled in our seats on opposite sides of the table, conversation started up pretty naturally.
"So how long have you worked at the bookstore?" he asked once we were finished ordering.
"I started when I was 15. I would work a few days after school and then increase to full-time during the summers," I replied back.
"Did you take any time off when you had the twins, or have you continued working there since?"
I laughed humorlessly, "Oh, I took time off. When the twins were born, my mom flew up from Phoenix for a couple weeks and I had my dad and Emmett and Alice, but I still found it impossible to work and be the type of mother I wanted to be at the same time." Our drinks arrived and I took a sip of mine before I continued, "I tried for only a few days after they turned 3 months old, but I hated putting them in daycare that young, and I didn't want a nanny to be their second mom, so I ended up taking the entire first year off from work."
He looked shocked at that admission. "Wow, that's a long time to go without a steady income. How did you…" he paused, debating with himself, but curiosity caused him to continue, "I mean, how could you afford doing that, if you don't mind me asking?"
Did I mind him asking?
In the past, telling this story to people usually embarrassed me or made me feel like a free-loader, but I didn't feel like Edward would judge me, so I decided to go ahead and tell him.
"When I was just about to turn 18, my mom's mom, or my grandma, I guess, died. Em and I didn't know her very well because my mom is from Jacksonville and my grandma still lived there, but when she died, we found out that she had been sitting on this massive amount of money that was passed down from her grandfather or great grandfather or something. It was a complete shock because, while my mother lived a very comfortable life growing up, they in no way were considered rich. After we looked into it we found out that she had barely used any of it during her lifetime."
Edward looked intrigued. Sometime during my speech, our food had arrived, so I paused to take a bite before I continued.
"Anyway, before she died, I guess she wrote in her Will that she wanted all of the money to go to my mom, Emmett, and I. I'm not sure why because, as I said, none of us were particularly close to her, but I guess she didn't really have anyone else to give it to, either. So, yeah…" I laughed uncomfortably, "we got it and…it's a lot of money, so I didn't have to work. I still don't have to, technically."
He looked fascinated, "Why do you then?"
I pondered that. "I don't know. I like my job, and I've never really felt right using the money on myself. It feels weird since I barely knew her, you know? She was virtually a stranger. I mean, don't get me wrong – I'm extremely grateful to have it and my life right now would be so, so different had I not gotten it when I did, but it just feels weird sometimes."
He nodded in understanding, "Yeah, I can see how that would feel weird."
I continued, "I do use it for the twins when I have to, or for things that will make their lives better but aren't necessarily for them, but I try not to whenever I can manage. I pay all of my bills, excluding their daycare, with the money I make from work."
"Bella, that's…really responsible of you."
I smiled and rolled my eyes a little, "Not really. I mean, obviously I wouldn't be able to get by with two children having only a part-time job at a bookstore, so I guess not working full-time is an indulgence on my part, but I would hate only getting to spend whole days with the twins on the weekends."
"Still, most people wouldn't care where the money came from as long as it was legally theirs," he laughed. "I'm not so sure that I'd be able to show that kind of control, to be honest."
"It actually really pisses Emmett off. He doesn't share my feelings about the money. I mean, him and his wife both have full-time jobs, and he doesn't frolic around throwing hundreds in water fountains or anything," we both chuckled at the visual, "but he doesn't mind spending it."
"Different people feel different things, I guess. There's nothing wrong with the way either of you deal with it," he stated.
Where's Emmett? He needs to hear this.
I smiled. It was nice, for once, not to be arguing over this subject, but just talking. I definitely didn't regret telling him.
Just as I was about to ask him some questions about his job, since I had been talking pretty much the entire time so far, he switched topics, "So what about Emmett? Do he and his wife have any kids?"
Okay, still my turn, I guess.
"Not yet, but they're trying. They have been for a while, actually, but it hasn't happened yet," I replied a little desolately. "They really want children, and Em couldn't be better with kids. Actually, Brady and Lola are with him right now. He gets them one day out of the week while I work."
He smiled, "That's nice that he wants to do that."
I nodded, "He's an amazing uncle, that's for sure."
"Well, I'm sure it will happen for them, too," he smiled reassuringly. "And hey, maybe they'll even have twins when it does."
My brows furrowed, "What makes you say that?" I asked, dumbly.
He looked at me, confused, "Uh…don't twins run in the family? Or does it not work like that?"
"Oh. Right." I smiled, "You know, we've been talking about me too much. What about you? What's your story, Mr. Cullen?"
His face fell a bit, but he recovered quickly and asked, "What do you wanna know, Ms. Swan?"
"Well, how long have you lived here? How did you get your teaching job?"
"Oh, um…" he paused and looked down at his food. He was considerably less comfortable now than he was when he was asking me questions.
Why would he be uncomfortable? I mean, those are common questions, right?
Finally, he looked up and continued, "Um…I moved here from Seattle about two years ago. The job is why I moved."
"Were there no job opportunities in Seattle that interested you or something?" I was being a little selfish in continuing this line of questioning, because I could tell by his demeanor that he didn't want to talk about it, but I was curious, and I shared a lot with him today so I didn't feel that guilty pushing him.
As I suspected, his discomfort increased even more. "No, that's not it, there were…I mean, I wanted…but my parents live in Forks and with the job offer from Forks Elementary and everything…" he trailed off, fidgeting and scratching the back of his neck.
Okaaaaaay. That wasn't really an answer. Was he embarrassed about wanting to live by his parents or something?
"So you wanted to be closer to your mom and dad?" I hedged. "If that's the case, there's nothing wrong with that."
He shook his head and smiled tightly, "No, I know that."
"I mean, I chose to stay in Forks because my dad and Emmett lived here."
"No, Bella…I mean, I get that, but that's not why…it's more…" he huffed, frustrated. I wasn't sure if the frustration was aimed at me or himself, though.
In all honesty, I didn't know what was going on. A few minutes ago we were having a nice, easy conversation, and now he was all awkward and squirrely and the conversation was tense at best.
Just as I was about to ask him if something was bothering him, my phone rang, stopping me.
"Oh, sorry." I checked the caller ID, "It's Emmett. Do you mind if I answer it really quick?"
He seemed extremely glad for the disruption and waved his hand, "No, of course not. Please, answer it."
I smiled in gratitude and answered, "Hey, Em. What's up?"
"Bella, you need to get back here." He sounded urgent, and my heart rate spiked instantly.
"Why? What's wrong? Is something wrong? Did something happen to the kids?" I spoke rapidly, already grabbing my stuff and standing up. Edward caught on and threw some cash on the table, following my lead.
"No…I mean, yes, but it's not the kids. It's dad."
I felt momentarily relieved that the twins were okay, but then realized what he said. "Dad? What happened? Is he alright?"
"I don't know! I don't know. Someone from the police station called me and said there was a crash and that he's in an ambulance headed to the hospital, but that's all they would tell me, and I can't leave because I have the kids and Rose took the car with their seats and I tried calling them back but the line was busy and no one is fucking telling me what's going on!" he yelled, his breathing heavy and obviously upset.
"Okay, Jesus, just chill out. We're on our way."
"Alright," he said, "but hurry," and then he hung up and that was that.
At this point we had made it back to Edward's car and were both climbing in. Edward started the car and began backing up. Once he was on the main road he spoke up, "Bella, what's going on?"
I was struggling to keep my breathing steady, "Emmett said the police called him and said that there was a crash and that my dad is on his way to the hospital by ambulance. He doesn't know anything else. My dad's the Police Chief of Forks, so I don't…" My voice was getting shaky and my eyes filled with tears.
He put his hand over my mine. "I'm sure he's fine, Bella. Just take a deep breath. It's going to be okay."
His words did little to soothe me, but I nodded my head and tried to breathe evenly. I quickly gave him instructions to Emmett's house and then we were on our way.
…
Because Edward was speeding the entire time, we got there in only 5 minutes. I jumped out and Edward followed me inside, where I found Emmett pacing back and forth in the kitchen while the kids were on the couch watching TV.
"Finally! I've been waiting for forever!" Brady and Lola heard Emmett yell and noticed I was there.
"Mama!" Lola shouted, and she and Brady ran over to us.
"Hi, Ehwood! What you doin' here?" Brady asked.
I interrupted, "Hey, bugs. Listen, Mama's gotta talk to Uncle Em for a second then I promise we'll talk, okay? Can you guys go watch TV for a little bit longer?" Much to my surprise, they listened and ran back over to the couch. I turned back to Emmett, "Have you heard anything else?"
"No! I keep trying to call but no one knows anything! We gotta go to the hospital, now."
"Okay. Let me just call the daycare and see if it's okay if I drop the kids off to them until I figure something else out." I grabbed my phone to dial the number, but hung up when I remembered that my car was still at the bookstore. "Shit! Edward drove me here; I don't have any car seats, either!"
"Who cares, B! Let's just pile them into my car and go," he said desperately.
"Emmett, I don't want them in the car without their car seats, especially considering we're both upset and you're going to want to drive faster –"
"I'll stay with the kids," Edward cut me off.
I turned to him, shocked, "What?"
"Give me your car keys and go with Emmett. I'll call Jasper and have him go get their seats out of your car and then I'll take Brady and Lola back to your house and I can just watch them there. That way you guys can go now and you don't have to worry about what to do with them when the daycare closes. You'll probably be at the hospital for a while."
His suggestion caught me off guard and I didn't know what to say, "Edward, I can't have you…"
"Bella, please, don't worry. We will be fine, I promise. You can trust me."
I did feel like I could trust him with the kids, but I didn't feel great about leaving him with them since they still didn't know him that well, and vice versa, but I didn't see any other immediate choices.
Then another idea came to my mind, "Hey, I can call Alice on our way and she can get off of work and come over to the house so that you don't have to watch them the whole time!" I turned away to grab my phone again to call Alice.
"If you want to do that, you can, but I really don't mind watching –"
"Fuck," I interrupted, "she's in Seattle for some fashion thing for her work. She won't be back until Sunday," I whined, on the brink of tears. Why is nothing working out?
"Bella, come on." Emmett's always been a Daddy's boy and I could tell he was beyond anxious to leave.
"Bella, look at me," Edward demanded, gently grabbing my upper arms and turning me toward him, "I will watch them. I swear you can trust me. I'm great with kids, and I'll call your cell if I have any questions. Scout's honor."
I hesitated, but finally gave in, "Okay. Thank you so much, Edward."
"It's my pleasure," he smiled, and ran his hands down my arms, ending at my hands and squeezing them reassuringly. Despite everything that was going on, the gesture sent tingles all throughout my body.
"Okay, great," Emmett broke me out of my daze, "then I'll go start the car and pull it out of the garage and you can get things settled in here. Please hurry up, though."
He was going to go crazy if we didn't leave soon, so I nodded and told him to go do it, and then called the twins back over.
"Whas goin' on, Ma?" Brady asked.
"Uncle Emmett and I have to go somewhere, but you guys are going to stay here with Edward for a little bit and then he's going to take you guys back home to play. Does that sound okay to you?"
"Yeah!" they replied in unison. I sighed in relief that they were alright with these arrangements.
"Great. Okay, I have to leave now, so you guys be good for Edward. I'll call in a little bit to talk to you, okay? And if you want to talk to me before then, just ask Edward and he'll call me."
I felt like there was so much more I needed to say, but my head was all in a jumble and I couldn't think of anything.
"Can we make a fort wif Ehwood when we gets home?" Lola asked anxiously.
I heard Emmett honk the horn. "I don't know, Lola-bug, that's up to Edward. Give me kisses. I love you." I kissed them and turned my attention back to Edward. "Okay, well, call if you need me. I'll keep my cell on, and if don't pick up just call again or try the hospital or…here, I'll give you Emmett's number."
I began searching for a pen but Edward grabbed my arm to stop me, "Bella, go. We're going to be fine. We'll make a fort and everything," he smiled, and Brady and Lola cheered in the background.
I impulsively threw my arms around his neck and hugged him, "Thank you so much, Edward."
He pulled me tighter against him and I felt a little of the stress and worry fade away. After a minute, I reluctantly let go of him.
"We'll talk to you soon," he said, smiling.
I nodded and waved goodbye to the kids, and then rushed out the door and into Emmett's car and we took off for the hospital.
A/N: Oh, hell. What's going to happen to Charlie? And how do you think Edward will do with the bugs? And what was that hug all about? Let me know what you think!
For those of you that like interactions with the twins, I know this one was a little light on that. The next one will make up for it, though. Oh, one more thing! I got a fandom twittuh, so if you wanna follow, I'll be posting fun stuff there, like update announcements and extra little teasers, different to the teasers I post on Mondays at A Different Forrest. Link's in mah profile, yo.