All things Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer, I just play with her toys.
Many thanks to Midnight Cougar for her beta'ing and support! xo!
Chapter 11 – One Small Step
I called just before five and she sounded a bit surprised. The directions she gave were for a local hospital that wasn't far from my office. I breathed a sigh of relief to know I wouldn't be far away when she went into labor… if she even allowed me to be there.
Luckily, it wasn't a full class, so they allowed me in for the evening with the understanding that any further classes I would need to sign up for in advance. I also learned that Bella was in a birthing class that had just started. I wondered if she would allow me to go with her to those as well.
The class talked about diapers and formula and breast pumps. My head was spinning after an hour with all the new information I had acquired. To be honest, it all scared the shit out of me.
To say I was freaking out, about the baby and the things I learned in the class, was an understatement, but I refused to let Bella see it.
I heard Bella snickering as she packed up her bag and I looked to find a smile on her face. "What?" I questioned.
"Nothing, you're just wearing the same expression I did when I found out I was pregnant."
"Really?" I questioned while realizing my attempt to not look freaked out had completely failed.
"The scared shitless, holy crap, what the hell have I gotten myself into look."
"Yeah, that about covers it," I agreed with a chuckle.
"You didn't have to come, Edward," she noted, her tone more serious.
"Yes, I did. I want to be in her life and this is part of her life, so here I am. It's just this is all very… new to me and I'm still trying to gain my bearings."
An awkward silence fell over us, neither knowing what to say. I hoped it wouldn't always be that way, but I knew if it was going to change I would have to open up to her at least a little.
"Would you be willing to go back to my place and talk?" I asked nervously, afraid she would turn me down.
She sighed. "I'm not going to bite you, Edward. Sorry, you just… I thought I had you figured out, but you keep doing and saying things that surprise me. Could we get some food first? I'm starving!"
I breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "What are you hungry for?" I asked as we walked out to the parking lot.
The snow had left a new sheen over every surface while we were away, the salt covering the sidewalk barely able to compete with the rate of snow.
"I'm really craving a big plate of fried rice," she admitted shyly. Why she was shy about it, I didn't know, but if it would get her to stay I would get her whatever she wanted. "Oh! And some chips and salsa, and maybe some breadsticks. Yeah, with some cheese sauce."
She looked up at me; her eyes alight with the prospect of food, her hands rubbing her protruding belly. Then embarrassment and mortification set it and the most alluring blush blossomed on her cheeks.
"Sorry, she really gets my cravings for weird food combinations going."
"Don't apologize, I've heard that's very normal," I reassured her.
"Yeah, but still… I hardly know you, so it just seems weird to be telling you all… whoa!"
Out of the corner of my eye I watched her body jerk, slipping on a patch of slick concrete. My arms immediately shot out and wrapped around her, steadying her.
"I gotcha," I soothed, my hands making small circles on her back. Her head was just beneath mine and I couldn't help but breathe her in. She smelled wonderful.
She was shaking as the adrenaline rushed through her body, her hands gripped tightly onto the fabric of my coat.
"You ok?"
"Sorry, I should have been paying better attention to where I stepped," she apologized as she pulled away and righted herself.
"Just blame me with distracting you with the thought of food."
She let out a small laugh and smiled. "That works."
Bella followed me back to my place and I pulled out all of the delivery menus I could find. I told her to order whatever she wanted and she did just that. Food from three different restaurants was delivered an hour after our arrival.
We settled down to eat, observing each other quietly. I took a deep breath… now, it was time to talk.
