Chapter Eleven
EPOV
"Ice cream and cake and cake. Ice cream and cake, and cake. Ice–"
"Emmett, for the love of God!" Rose growls. "Set the cake down and can it, before I cut you with this big shiny knife. 'Kay?"
He sets the cake in front of Marley's smiling face and I watch her eyes double in size.
"It's 'actly what I wanted!" she cheers. "Bella, look, five cause I'm five, and rainbow cause all the colors are my favorite!"
I swallow the lump in my throat. It's been three hours and she's already bonded with her birthmother. She doesn't know who Bella is, but she will by the end of the night.
Mom looks at me from across the table and smiles. "Light the candle, sweet boy. She's going to have a conniption if you take any longer."
"Yeah, Daddy, hurry! I got lots of wishes today."
I reach over with a grill lighter and watch the candle spark. Rose explains to my daughter that it's a sparkler candle for a more dramatic flair.
We sing Happy Birthday and Marley stares at the candle intently. Her little lip is pulled between her teeth as she makes her wishes.
"The end," she says, leaning up and blowing the candle out in one breath.
Everyone, including Marley, claps excitedly and Rose passes the big, silver, serving knife over to Bella. "Would you like to do the honors?"
She gives me a hesitant smile and I nod, letting her know it doesn't bother me. Rose usually helps with the cake carving anyways.
She asks Marley where to make the first cut and rests her hand on top of hers to help.
"Red velvet, Bella. Our favorite," she whispers in a way only a five year-old can; inexplicably loud.
Bella leans down and kisses her head. "I saw, precious."
Dad wraps his arm around my shoulder and gives me a comforting squeeze. "You alright, son?"
I nod, not taking my eyes off of Marley and her new, best friend.
Ever since she woke up from her nap, it's been Bella this and Bella that. And the few people that have popped in for her party are starting to notice.
My brother is skeptical of this instantaneous connection between Bella and my daughter.
If they are together, he isn't far away, staring intently and eavesdropping. Typical slimy, lawyer behavior, but I let him have his fun because he's only looking out for Marley's best interest.
The cake is distributed and Marley whispers something in Bella's ear.
Bella's nose reddens and I can tell she's about to cry. It's been a regular occurrence since we met in Seattle. She swallows and breathes out before nodding her head and opening her arms.
I watch my daughter climb into her lap and reach for her plate of cake. They talk quietly until Marley notices that Bella hasn't touched hers. Instead of calling her out on it she simply fills her spoon with a big bite and offers it to the woman that looks so much like her it's insane.
"Taste it."
And she does attempt to get the entire bite into her mouth. Marley laughs at the bright blue icing that surrounds her mouth. Everyone's eyes are on the two of them as Marley leans in and kisses her square on the mouth.
"Yum! Sugar kisses from Bella." She coos, licking her sugary lips. "Best. Ever."
Bella's face pinches and Rose manages to get Marley out of her lap before she rushes out of the room.
"Did I do something wrong?" Marley whimpers.
"No, Marzipan. Bella's just got a lot of love right now," Rose explains, brushing her hair out of her face. "Remember when Daddy was so happy and full of love that it came out of his eyes?"
Marley nods.
"Bella's just got a bunch of love coming out of her eyes today, Marz. That's all."
She nods again, but it's unconvincing and I can't have my Muffin sad on her big day.
"Let's go check on her, Muffin." I say, lifting her into my arms.
We find Bella in the hall next to the kitchen with her palms pressed into her eyes.
"Bella, Marley wanted to check on you," I whisper.
"Uh… just give me a second," she says, turning her back on us.
Marley wiggles out of my hold and shuffles over. "Bella… Rosie said you got love and happy coming out of your eyes. Is that true?" She asks softly and hesitantly as she reaches out and wraps her arms around Bella's middle. "It's okay to cry when you are full of love and happy."
A piercing sob falls from Bella's lips as she turns and pulls my sweet, five year-old into her arms. She cradles Marley's chin and looks her straight in the eye.
"It's true, precious. I am so full of love right now that I don't know what to do with it, so I'm crying."
"And happy, you're happy, too?"
"So happy, Marley, you couldn't imagine how happy I am today."
"Then come sit down and have cake. Then we get to open presents. No one will laugh at you for crying. If they do, I'll have Uncle Emmett beat them up, okay?"
Bella smiles and then nods. "Go ahead and make sure no one ate my piece. I'll be in there in a second."
"Okay," Marley sings, skipping back to the dining room, yelling the whole way. "Uncle Emmett! You better not be touching my Bella's cake. She's my special guest today and I will smash your face in the pink icing if you did."
"Are you alright?" I ask.
"To be honest, no, I'm not," she cries. "This was a lot harder than I imagined it being. She's just so mesmerizing and she says things that make me keep losing it like a nutcase. Your guests probably think I'm unstable or something and I apologize for that. I'm trying but it's really hard–"
I pull her into my arms and let her fall apart. Her hair is just as soft as Marley's and it smells like flowers. I rock her back and forth until she calms down. We just sit there holding one another.
Just a father, comforting his daughter's birthmother.
I try not to think too much about how soft and warm she is. She feels good in my arms and that won't do. Emotions are high and feelings are bound to cross.
I have to remind myself that she's here for Marley and pull away, clearing my throat. "We should get back in there. She's going to want to open presents soon. As soon as the guests leave, we'll sit down to talk."
She nods and wipes her face on the inside of her shirt.
"Thank you, Edward."
"You say that a lot."
"It's the only thing I can say. A million times will never be enough."
I nod and lead Bella back into the dining room. Everyone looks worried and curious, except for Marley who is glaring at anyone that stares for a moment too long.
"Hey. Stop staring. It's rude. Right, Daddy?"
"It is Muffin." I chuckle. "How's your cake?"
"It's good. So good!" she exclaims. "Can I have presents now?"
~MM~
"You're not sleeping with Pooka in your bed. He needs to sleep in his cage, Muffin," I argue.
We've been going over this for the past two hours. That damn guinea pig has shit on my couch and peed all over her, but she refuses to put it down, except when she had to clean herself up. She rubs its head lovingly and I watch it snuggle into her shirt.
"Aw, so cute," she coos, before glaring up at me. "What if he has nightmares and gets scared, Daddy? He needs to be able to climb into my bed like I climb into yours."
"That's the thing about guinea pigs, Marley," Bella whispers softly. "They have only good sleeps; no bad ones. Pooka is going to sleep downstairs where it's warm in the living room and just knowing that you're upstairs will keep him happy."
Marley hangs on every word she says and sighs. "Okay, but he can't stay in his cage all day. Can I bring him to school in my backpack so he won't be lonely?"
"Daddy will be here to take care of him while you're at school," I stress. "But I'm sure Miss Aimee will let you bring him for show and tell."
This seems to appease her for the time being.
We've put off the inevitable for too long.
Marley's bathed and dressed for bed. The giant rat has been fed a carrot and some pellets and the party area has been cleaned. The family is sitting in the living waiting on the three of us.
"Let's go downstairs and say goodbye to everyone, Muffin. And put Pooka in his cage for the night."
She sighs heavily and cradles Pooka like a baby. We follow her silently.
Marley sits on the floor in front of a vacant spot on the couch and pats it. "Bella, will you sit here?"
Bella shuffles nervously. "Actually we want you to come sit with us on the floor so we can have a talk."
"An important talk?" she queries.
I nod and watch her scoot along the carpet. The little monster is holding on to her shirt for dear life.
"What's important?"
I look over at Bella and then at my family.
Jasper is studying everything, but everyone else looks supportive and calm.
"Marley, you remember your story? About how Daddy came to the baby garden and picked you," I started.
She smiles. "Uh-huh. Cause I didn't have no mommy or daddy and you had a whole lot of love to give just one baby so you chose me 'cause I was just the right baby for you."
"That's right. And you remember how babies are made?"
"When a lady and a guy like each other a whole bunch, they get together and make a baby to show the world their love," she explains, rubbing the fur ball in her arms. "But sometimes the mommy doesn't have what it takes to be a mommy, so she gives her baby to the 'doption garden. Right, Daddy?"
"Right again, Muffin," I croak.
Bella reaches out and pats my leg comfortingly, encouraging me to continue.
"Well, sometimes a baby winds up in the adoption garden by accident and the mommy gets really sad and tries to find them."
Marley's brow furrows and her arms tighten around Pooka who takes everything in stride, even though his eyes are bulging.
"Was I an accident?" She asks softly. "My mommy didn't want me to go to the garden?"
Bella sniffles into a tissue and her hand squeezes my leg harshly.
"Your mommy was really sick when you came into the world, Muffin. And she was sick for a long time afterwards. Bad people told her lies, but she found out the truth and you know what? She tried so hard to find you."
"Did she find me?"
I nod.
Her eyes shoot over to Bella for a second and then back to mine in panic. "Is she gonna take me away?"
Jasper leans onto his elbows and studies Bella.
"No, Muffin. She would never take you away from me," I soothe. "You're my baby and I'm your daddy, remember?"
Her lip quivers for a moment before she sets Pooka on the floor and launches herself at me. She leans in and whispers. "I knew she was my mommy just like you knew I was your baby."
The whole room instantly falls apart.
Sorry for the delay *insert random excuses*