Chapter 10: Bella's Invitation
Bella was in the park, pushing Renesmee on the swing. "Mama can we get ice cweam?" She asked.
"Maybe later if you're good," Bella replied.
The toddler beamed and Bella smiled before looking up to see Edward's Volvo pulling up. "Daddy!" The toddler exclaimed happily. Bella lifted her out of the swing and Renesmee ran to greet him with arms wide open. "DADDY! DADDY!" she shouted. Edward lifted her up with a smile.
"Hey there, how are you doing?" He asked.
"Good," Renesmee replied happily.
"Oh! She's adorable!" A voice exclaimed.
Bella felt nausea hit her hard when she saw Edward's girlfriend get out of the car. Renesmee's smile disappeared fast when she saw Tanya. "I want to play on the swings," she told her father. Edward put her down and she ran off as fast as she could before Tanya could get close. Bella lifted her daughter back up, having her sit on her hip.
"Actually sweetie, we have to go home, Auntie Alice has dinner waiting," she informed.
"Awww…" the toddler whined.
"Hey, remember what mama said," Bella pointed out.
Renesmee closed her mouth and Bella walked over to her car. "Bella, can I ask you something?" Edward asked.
"What?" She asked, getting Renesmee into her car seat.
Edward rubbed the back of his neck. "I'd like it if Renesmee came over to my Christmas later this year," he informed.
"Is Tanya going to be there?" Bella asked.
"Yes…" Edward replied.
"You know Renesmee doesn't like her," Bella said quietly.
"Well what do you want me to do? Kick my girlfriend out because my daughter doesn't want to see her?" Edward asked.
"Doesn't she have family to spend that holiday with her?" Bella asked frustrated.
"Bella, please be fair here," Edward answered.
Bella closed the door to the car, leaning against it. "Edward, my daughter doesn't like Tanya," she commented quietly.
"I'm sorry I thought she was our daughter," Edward answered.
"You're still on thin ice about that," Bella said quietly, her eyes glaring at him.
Bella let out a frustrated sigh. "Besides, we were thinking of going back to Forks because dad already has Christmas plans for Renesmee," she added. Edward stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Dad adores her, you know that," she pointed out.
"Yeah I know," he sighed.
"If you want to spend Christmas with Renesmee, you go back to Forks and spend it with the whole family Edward. Christmas is a family holiday, not for my daughter to throw a tantrum," Bella answered.
He closed his mouth, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Edward, just come home and spend real time with your family," she said kindly, her hand on his arm. Edward let out a sigh and glanced over at Tanya to see her glaring at the two of them.
"Tell my mom to set an extra spot for me at the dinner table at her house," he told Bella.
Bella smiled a little. "See, that wasn't so bad," she pointed out. He chuckled lightly and he opened the car door.
"I'll see you later Renesmee," he told her.
"Bye daddy!" The toddler called happily.
Edward kissed the side of her head and looked at Bella. "I'll see you later Bella," he said quietly. Bella nodded her head slowly and watched him walk away.
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Rosalie stared at her in shock. "You did what?!" She exclaimed. Emmett winced lightly, looking at Jasper.
"Jazz, I'm going to sleep here tonight," he told his brother-in-law.
"Well you can, but I'm going to the nearest motel," Jasper answered.
Bella looked at Rosalie. "He's part of the family Rosalie. He wants to spend Christmas with Renesmee. He's willing to come home this time," she insisted.
"I can't believe after what he's done you're willing to let him walk in like nothing's happened!" Rosalie exclaimed.
"It's called being the bigger person," Bella answered with a sigh.
The two sister-in-laws were glaring at each other. "Hey, cool it Rose. I could be meaner and have Jacob come with me to your house," she added.
"You wouldn't," Rosalie seethed.
"Try me," Bella answered.
Rosalie hissed before walking over to Emmett sitting down. Emmett cleared his throat and turned on the baseball game, pretending like he hadn't heard. "Hey Rosalie, I think you left your hairbrush on the counter, do you want it?" Bella asked.
"Shut up Bella!" Rosalie hissed.
Emmett was chuckling softly behind his hand. "If you want to sleep in your own bed you'll shut up too," she seethed. Emmett was laughing harder but he was disguising it with a cough. Rosalie rolled her eyes and punched his arm.
"Come on Rosie she was kidding," he insisted.
Bella looked over at Alice, who was also laughing. "You two are adults and you still go at each other like cats and dogs," she commented.
"Eh that's because we always know how to get at each other the right way," Bella answered with a shrug.
Alice was laughing still, wiping the tears from her face. "Well, it's not as bad as her and Jake," she pointed out.
"Oh hell no. At least I don't throw in a blonde joke whenever I get the chance like Jake does," Bella answered.
Bella put the last dish into the dishwasher. "I swear sometimes that man sits at home and cooks up more blonde jokes just for Rosalie when she's in town or when he's visiting here," she commented. Alice calmed down after awhile.
"So Edward's really coming back to Forks for Christmas?" She asked.
"If he really wants to try to be a better man he will," Bella replied as she sat on the counter.
"Do you think he'll come with Tanya?" Alice asked.
"I hope not. Renesmee just can't stand her. Neither can I, actually I'm trying to figure out what Edward's doing with her. We used to sit at our house after school and just make fun of those kind of girls," Bella replied.
"Oh she's the kind of girl that makes Rosalie look like a saint?" Alice asked.
"Past sainthood, she makes Rosalie look like an angel. At least Rosalie's not cruel to people on purpose. She's only cruel to those who are cruel to her. Tanya…my God she makes Rosalie's attitude look like a child's temper tantrum," Bella explained.
Alice winced and the two girls sighed. "Well, we'll see when it comes Christmas time," Bella said quietly as they went into the living room.