Twilight belongs to the ridiculously talented Stephenie Meyer.
A Father's Hope belongs to me.
A HUGE thanks to twimom817 for beta'ing. This wouldn't be nearly as pretty without her.
Chapter Six
"Nervous?"
"Nah, Ed. I'm good. I just hope Rosie's okay. I know Bella's with her, but still. I want everything to go smoothly for her today."
It was Emmett and Rosalie's wedding day, and we'd all traveled to a country club just north of Seattle for the nuptials. Rose loved it because she said it looked like it was right out of a Thomas Kinkcade painting.
My job was to make sure that Emmett was dressed and ready to go by four and to make sure that he stayed calm – and sober.
Chloe stayed with Alice who was with Rosalie and Bella. Since the Fourth of July BBQ at my parent's house, Bella was all Chloe could talk about. When I asked her why her reply was:
"Cuz Katie loves Miss Bella too. Katie says that Miss Bella comes over sometimes and hangs out with her and Aunt Rose, and sometimes they go shopping and watch movies. Miss Bella says her favorite movie is Sleeping Beauty just like mine! Though I think her favorite should be Beauty and the Beast because she's so pretty like Belle and their names sound the same."
I couldn't help but chuckle when Chloe barely stopped to take a breath.
"Are you gonna ask Bella to dance tonight?" Emmett asked, breaking me from my daydreams.
"I don't know, Em. I like her, but while Chloe's around I think I'd rather keep my distance. Chloe's already asking too many questions as it is, and I don't want her to go home to Irina and say more than she already probably will. I don't want to give Irina the ammunition in court."
"Damnit, Eddie. Don't push her away. I know you and she's perfect for you if you'd just get to know her. As far as Irina, I wouldn't worry too much about her. You've got everyone in the family to vouch for you as a character witness. She brought another man into YOUR home while you were serving overseas. She was in the wrong, Eddie not you and nothing that Chloe could tell her could paint you in a bad light. You've spent the last how many months getting your shit together? You went to the academy, you graduated and you're starting the detective program in September. So what if you still live with your parents? It works for you right now and it won't always be that way."
"I know. I've been saving and I've got my inheritance, and I'm thinking about buying a place in the spring. It's just that … fuck … I've got Irina making threats and telling me that she's going to sue for sole custody. I can't allow that, Em. It would kill me and it would damn well kill Chloe. Sometimes … sometimes I just can't help the feeling that I failed as a husband. I couldn't make her happy and she ran into the arms of another man. She never fails to rub in the fact that she thinks Chloe is completely my fault. I got her pregnant, I made her have the baby. Chloe is the best part of me and I'll be damned if I let Irina take that away from me."
"Fuck … Eddie. How long has she been filling your head with that shit?"
I didn't have a chance to answer him because there was a timid knock at the door. Emmett bellowed for whoever it was to come in and just as I turned around I saw Bella and Chloe enter, their hands covering their eyes.
"Is everyone decent?" Bella giggled.
She looked beautiful wearing a floor length, sage green strapless gown; her hair delicately curled and pinned up at the top of her head to cascade down on one side. Chloe stood in front of her wearing a sage green and white sundress; her hair curled and pulled away from her sweet little face.
"We're decent," Emmett chuckled. "At least I am anyway, Eddie here is a mess."
"What's wrong, Daddy?" Chloe asked, immediately running into my arms.
I glared at Emmett before my gaze returned to Bella and then the little girl in my arms.
"Nothing's wrong with daddy, Chloebear. Uncle Em's just trying to be funny. But you … you look so very pretty. Did Auntie Alice fix your hair?"
"Uh huh. She did Miss Bella's too. Doesn't she look pretty, Daddy?"
"Miss Bella looks more than pretty, baby. Miss Bella looks beautiful."
Bella blushed as my gaze returned to her and I winked at her.
"Thanks, I think. Rose asked us to peek in on you guys and see how things were going?"
"We're doing just fine. Is Rose okay?" Emmett asked.
"She's getting a bit antsy but overall, she's okay," Bella replied.
"How's Katie?" Emmett asked quietly.
"She's with her Aunt Lauren. They were having a little 'chat'."
"Oh boy," Emmett chuckled.
At ten to four, Uncle Peter summoned all the guys downstairs. We made our way to the front of the large gazebo where Em and Rose would stand and all of us would stand beside them. Shortly after we took our places, the girls began to walk down the aisle. First came Alice then Lauren and finally Bella. I wasn't lying when I said she was beautiful earlier. Her smile was radiant as she walked down the short aisle carrying a bouquet of white calla lilies. She looked over at me briefly and winked.
The ceremony was short but sweet. The nicest thing about it was that they opted to include Katie and together they poured three colors of sand into one jar signifying the unifying of their family. It was a very touching moment for them all, and I caught Emmett wiping away a tear or two. While this was going on, I glanced over at Bella just to see her wiping tears from her own eyes and bending down to explain to Chloe what was going on.
Later that evening, after the food and champagne had been consumed and the dancing had commenced, Chloe came over and snuggled into my lap.
"Daddy?"
"Hmm?"
"If you and Miss Bella get married, can we do the sand thing like Aunt Rose, Uncle Em and Katie?"
"Chloebear … what makes you think that Miss Bella and I would get married?"
"Because you should. Miss Bella makes you smile. I saw you smile at her today. It's okay, Daddy. Miss Bella is pretty and nice. She kinda reminds me of an angel. You should dance with her. If you ask her, I bet she'd say yes."
Chloe quickly climbed down from my lap and went in search of Katie. I hadn't expected her questions at all, and I sat there for a few moments stunned over the conversation I'd just had with my daughter.
"Chloe's right you know," my mother said softly, sitting in the chair behind me.
"Right about what?"
"The fact that Bella makes you smile. She does and you have such a handsome smile, Edward. Since Irina you don't wear it very much and that makes my heart hurt. I know you're not happy, sweetheart. You need someone in your life besides Chloe."
"Oh not you, too. Mom, Chloe is my life. Right now I don't need any more complications."
"Edward, Bella wouldn't be a complication. She's not Irina, sweetheart. You have to move past her and realize that not all women are manipulative and adulterous. Some women are good – very good. You just need to open your heart and let her in."
"So why didn't you introduce me to her years ago? Why now?"
"Because you two weren't ready for each other years ago. Edward, we've known Charlie and Renee for years. We've known Bella for years. She's gone through some things in her life that you couldn't imagine. She's not the same little girl we knew. She's better and stronger. Sometimes, we have to make mistakes. Then we have to learn from them and what we learn makes us stronger."
"Mom, I have to protect Chloe."
"Don't, Edward. Don't use Chloe as an excuse not to get to know Bella. It's not fair to either of them and it's certainly not fair to you."
My mom kissed the top of my head and made her way back to the table she'd been sharing with my dad, aunt and uncle. I hung my head in my hands for a few moments when I felt a soft hand on my shoulder.
"Long day?" A sweet voice asked.
I looked up to see Bella standing next to me.
"Yeah … you could say that," I chuckled.
"Want to talk about it?" Bella asked with a concerned look.
"Not particularly. Would you … like to dance with me?"
"I'd love to," Bella giggled.
I pulled Bella into my arms as the strains of The Way You Look Tonight floated through the speakers.
"God, Edward. Could you have picked a sappier song to dance to?" Bella giggled again.
"Sorry … I can't control the deejay. But you do look beautiful tonight." I smiled.
"Aww thank you, and you look devastatingly handsome, Edward."
"I do?" I asked a little surprised at her comment.
"Mmmhmm. Especially now that you're smiling. You should wear it more often, it looks good on you."
"I think you bring it out in me."
"Edward …" Bella breathed.
"What is it?" I asked, meeting her soulful eyes with mine.
"Sometimes you say and do the sweetest things. It could be so easy to fall for you until your wall goes back up and you shut everyone out."
"Are you falling for me?" I asked softly.
"I could if you gave me the opportunity, but I don't want to get hurt, Edward. I'm not sure I could handle it," she whispered.
"I don't want to hurt you, Bella," I whispered softly into her ear.
I pulled her closer and we continued to sway as the song changed to I Can Love You Like That. I nuzzled into the warm skin below her ear and breathed her in, her perfume completely surrounding me. I realized then how perfect Bella felt in my arms and I wanted to keep her there and protect her from whatever it was that had hurt her, but most of all I wanted to protect her from me.
A/N: See! You can have a wedding without family drama!
Thank you to each and every one of you who has left a review for me, I appreciate them more than you know. Obviously I'm a total fail thus far at replying to them, but it's not because I don't want to. I just need a few extra hours in the day. = )
Y'all will be getting Chapter 7 later today because I won't be around to post tomorrow. If Disneyland only had WiFi ... hehe
