Thank you everyone for your patience.
Stephenie Meyer owns the Twilight Saga.
Chapter 12 – Everybody Into The Pool
As Edward swam around with Tansy in the float, Bella had to admire how good of a swimmer he was, and how good he looked in a pair of swim trunks. As he turned away from her, she noticed a tattoo on his shoulder blade that she didn't see before. Bella knew that both of his brother's had them and in fact, Emmett had more than one and Alice went on about Jasper's forever one night when she first found out about it. It never occurred to Bella that Edward might have one too. In the water, and because he was moving so much she couldn't make out what it was, except it was yummy against his unblemished skin.
On the other hand, as she watched him move effortlessly in the water, she also had to admit that swimming was definitely not her thing. She was sure she wouldn't drown, and was reasonably sure that she could save someone if their lives depended on it. But she also knew she wouldn't be winning any medals. Treading water and doggy paddling were the extent of her water abilities, but at least it gave her time to look around at the others.
Carlisle and Esme were almost asleep on their lounge chairs, their hands joined together over the sides; identical smiles on their faces. Alice and Jasper were at the far end by the diving boards trying to best each other with fancy moves that Bella had no idea how Alice even knew. Looking around her in the water, Bella saw Emmett and Rose pushing the twins closer to Edward and Tansy. Treading water nearby, she watched the interaction. It didn't last long before Tansy saw Ethan and let out a yelp.
Bella watched as Tansy threw herself forward and then back in her little float, causing the water to splash around her. To Bella, it couldn't be any clearer. As long as her daughter didn't actually see Ethan she was ok. He could be next to her or right behind her and she would be okay as long as she didn't see him. If she saw him she just plain cried. Out of sight, out of mind, Bella thought as she laughed at the scene a few yards away. Emmett swam toward her, expertly pushing Ethan in front of him in his own little float. As they neared her, Bella felt her smile widen.
"I don't know Bells, Tansy has it out for my man E here. She can't stand being by him." Emmett looked put out and Bella realized that he was probably taking the rejection harder than Ethan.
"Oh, he can be near her, just don't let her see him. The trouble is, Ethan wants to see her. Big surprise that your man E there is so up front with everything and not content to just let things be. You've got a little instigator on your hands Emmett Cullen." Bella punctuated her words by sending a little splash toward Emmett's face.
The seven of them splashed around as a group until Bella noticed that Tansy's head started to bob up and down tiredly. Just as she was figuring out how to get herself out of the pool with her daughter without looking awkward, she noticed Alice standing at the pool edge holding a tray full of icy looking drinks.
She motioned to Edward with her head before she made her way to where Alice was standing. Alice handed the tray to Jasper before reaching over to grab a towel from a chair near where Carlisle and Esme sat with their eyes still closed.
"Bella, here, I have a towel for Tansy. Why don't you let me take her for a bit and you can swim with Edward? She looks like she's getting tired." Alice knelt down and reached for Tansy with the towel.
"I've got a better idea Alice. Why don't you and Jasper come in the pool and I'll watch Tansy? Just take her for me until I get out." Bella began her awkward climb out of the pool. Hoisting herself up on the edge, Bella almost crashed her face into the concrete when she heard a wolf whistle from the direction of the water.
Turning fast, she looked to where Edward and Emmett tread water, both their jaws dropped. They had identical stunned looks on their faces except Emmett held his sons float with one hand and pointed to Edward with the other, indicating falsely where the whistle came from.
Bella scowled at both men as Edward began splashing his brother, clearly upset that Emmett had whistled at her. As she straightened up to take Tansy from Alice, she felt rather than saw what had caused the men to stare. Groaning, she turned around quickly and fixed her suit, digging the fabric out from between her cheeks. Looking purposefully at Edward she tried her best to glare at him but could do nothing but return his smile. She even managed a small laugh at Emmett, who was now being chastised by Rose for giving Bella a wolf whistle and blaming Edward.
"Go ahead Alice, have fun with everyone else. Hey, I didn't know you knew how to dive. Where did you learn all those moves?" Bella grabbed the towel Jasper was handing her and wrapped herself in it as she moved to take Tansy from Alice's arms.
"I don't know I had those moves Bella. Then I just followed Jasper's lead." Shrugging, Alice handed Tansy over to Bella before reaching to take Jasper's hand.
"Go have fun Alice." Bella said, smiling and shaking her head at her best friend. "I'm just going to stretch out here and relax."
Bella laughed as Alice pulled the much bigger Jasper toward the water and made a show of shoving him in before latching onto his body at the last second and going in with him.
Walking the few steps to where Carlisle and Esme were still relaxing, Bella selected a lounge chair a few spaces down so she wouldn't disturb them. She gently sat on the edge, and carefully scooted herself back, still cradling her daughter against her chest. As she leaned against the back she looked down to notice that her daughter was already half asleep.
Glancing in the water, she noticed the 5 adults treading water in a circle and just pushing the baby floats between them as they talked among themselves. Whatever the topic was, it was serious judging by the looks on their faces and Bella was grateful that she got out when she did. Whatever it was, she wanted no part of it, she had enough seriousness to last her a good long time.
Bella smiled as she made eye contact with Edward. She knew without looking at his hand gestures that Edward wanted her back in the water, but there was no way she was going to release her daughter to anyone and she wasn't about to wake up Carlisle or Esme. Besides, she enjoyed moments like this way too much.
Making a gesture with her hand to indicate the sleeping baby, she waited for Edward to acknowledge her. He responded with a thumb up and a nod before he turned his attention back to the group in the water.
Bella shifted her daughter to her shoulder to get more comfortable. She knew Tansy was done for the afternoon and was glad the little girl was about to drift off. She wished she could nap too but as usual her mind raced ahead of her. Hoping that her daughter's motions would calm her, Bella began moving her hand in slow circles around Tansy's back and rocked her gently from side to side. Minutes later, Bella was surprised to find herself zoning out. As she stifled her third yawn, she had just decided to close her eyes when she heard the squishing sound of flip flops coming closer. She quickly opened one eye as she heard the steps stop right next to her. As the nasally, squeaky voice started talking, Bella cringed. It was like nails on a chalkboard and she just knew that Tansy would wake up from it. She quickly pulled her daughter down from her shoulder and protectively held her against her chest, partially covering her with the towel.
"Oh, she's beautiful, how old is she, 4 months?" The blonde girl was loud and talked way to fast and before Bella knew what was happening, the girl had her hand reached out and was chucking Tansy under her chin, effectively waking her up. The baby fussed a bit before becoming fully awake.
"No!" Bella barked out as she smacked the girl's hand away from her daughter. "She's 7 months."
Bella was immediately annoyed with herself that she bothered to respond and moved Tansy into a more protective position against her chest. Unfortunately this also gave the ignorant girl a good look at her too. Bella could tell by the way her daughter's body stiffened against her that Tansy's was getting geared up for a full blown fit over being woken up. Bella scooted to the edge of the chair and stood to rock her gently. As the girls arms moved toward her, Bella turned her body to face the pool, and away from the girl.
Trying to muster up a bit of the confidence she had shown earlier, Bella barked at the girl while still trying to keep her voice low enough to not attract more attention.
"Please leave." Bella gently bounced her daughter, hoping to distract her and knowing it was no use. Between the girls obnoxious voice and actions, she knew her daughter was fully awake, and that more naptime would not be coming any time soon. Happy Mother's Day to me, Bella thought sarcastically.
"Oh, she's so small! I didn't see that she was sick. I'm sorry. I'm Jessica by the way. I just started here last week. You know, you're lucky. My sister has been trying to have kids for like, forever, and she can't have them." The girl babbled on and on, never once noticing how aggravated Bella was. "You know, with her being sick and all, you will have a baby forever with her. She'll probably never really even grow up."
Still rambling on, Jessica began moving from side to side, trying to peek at Tansy as Bella played keep away with her daughter. Finally Bella had enough. She whipped around, not caring that the girl was so close she had to practically jump back to avoid being hit.
"Exactly what do you mean by that Jessica?" Bella was seething, but to her it was obvious that the girl took no notice. She was just that dumb. Bella moved her daughter away from the girls reach once again.
"Oh, you know. She's sick right? I mean, she has that thing taped to her cheek. She'll probably always be little and not grow up." The girl looked at Bella and cocked her head to one side, as if Bella herself might have been slow and not understood her. "I mean, she's probably just going to end up being mentally retarded. She'll always be dependent on you. You'll always have a baby." Jessica slowed her last few sentences down to make sure that Bella could keep up.
Bella could not believe the words out of the girl's mouth. She pressed the rewind button in her mind and replayed the episode quickly. Had the girl actually called her daughter retarded? It was just the push Bella needed for her confidence to read its self-assured head. Bella herself now spoke slowly and clearly, letting Jessica know that she had enough.
"What do you think gives you the right to say that to me? Who the fuck do you think you are waking her up and jabbing your fingers in her face?" Bella hoisted her tiny bundle up slightly higher. Seeing just how upset her daughter was, she began to rock back and forth and pat her lightly on her back.
Bella stepped away quickly, realizing that her daughter's well-being was top priority. She knew she could wait another day to berate some idiot person for sticking their nose where it didn't belong. Her daughter's needs, however, could not wait.
With one full blown wail, Tansy had cleared the pool of the Cullen family. Carlisle and Esme were immediately on their feet and surrounding her as the others crossed over to see what was going on and make sure everything was okay. In spite of the people surrounding her and Tansy's crying, Bella was surprised that Jessica's voice was still carrying through to her. Looking around as she comforted her daughter, Bella could see that Esme had turned to engage the staff member.
"Oh, I didn't mean anything by it. Just that with someone retarded like her, well, she'll never grow up completely and she'll always have a baby to take care of. Some people would kill for that. I know my sister would. She's been trying to have…" Jessica stopped as she saw Bella's face break through the sea of family members and turn red with anger.
Quietly Bella handed Tansy off to Alice who took her easily, as if she was expecting it. While Auntie Alice tried to sooth the infant, Bella stepped forward to join Esme.
"Go ahead and call my daughter 'retarded' one more time. I dare you to do it." Bella's voice came out soft as a whisper and the girl immediately backed down as Esme took another turn.
"You ignorant girl. Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to upset my family? Let me tell you something Jessica. When my granddaughter becomes a woman, it will give me great pleasure to know that she will belong to this club. It will also give me great pleasure to know that you will probably still be here, playing lifeguard and achieving nothing with your insignificant life because of your narrow mindedness. At least she has people surrounding her to teach her right from wrong, which is something you have clearly not had in your own upbringing. I suggest you remove yourself from this side of the pool for the rest of our stay here." Esme turned and enveloped Bella in a hug as the women turned their backs on the girl who now looked like she might cry.
Bella's face crumbled after Jessica left and she immediately left Esme's embrace for Edward's arms. She rushed forward and fell against his chest. Feeling his arms around her, Bella's slight cries became greater sobs as she gave over to her emotions and let them run amok.
As her crying subsided, Bella turned her head to lean it against Edward's chest. She caught sight of Alice crooning softly to Tansy as the little girl cried just as hard as Bella herself had. Bella felt torn between running to comfort her daughter and staying in Edward's arms after realizing that she herself needed comforting. She stayed in Edward arms a few more moments before slowly releasing him to join Alice and now Carlisle who was giving her daughter a once over as Alice held her.
Bella held her arms out as Alice placed her daughter in them. Immediately her 'mom' mode kicked in, realizing that Tansy was gasping and wouldn't settle down.
"Little girl, if you keep this up you are going to earn yourself a trip to the emergency room. Come on baby." Bella kept up a steady babble of nonsense to her daughter as she walked in the small area that Edward's family occupied. After the last two encounters, she didn't want to run into any more staff members. She also didn't want to burst Esme's bubble by telling her that there was not a snowball's chance in hell that she or her daughter would ever belong to the snooty, ignorant club.
Crossing over to the lounge chairs, Bella sat on the edge and placed Tansy on her lap. She unfolded the blanket and took a moment to rewrap her securely while she kept talking calmly, letting her daughter hear her voice.
"Bella, do you want to try putting her back in the water to distract her? She was having fun in there for a while." Alice stepped forward out of Jasper's arms as she made the suggestion.
"No, Alice. I have her. I just need to get myself together." Bella smiled up at the Cullen's as they encircled her. "Her heart rate is off the charts though. I think maybe I should call it a day you guys. I can take a cab back home though. I don't want to stop everyone's fun."
"Oh please, like we'd have any fun without you here. Besides, it's Mother's Day." Emmett ruffled Bella's hair, earning him a scowl from Edward and a small laugh from Bella herself.
Squatting down next to the chair, Edward lay a hand on top of Tansy's head and the other on Bella's knee. As he talked to Bella, she noticed that he was moving his hand across her daughter's head, smoothing her wavy hair and helping her to calm down.
"Seriously Bella, I want to spend the day with you. I don't care where it is. Maybe once we get her home you can carry her around in her sling and it will help." Edward kissed her cheek softly before glancing around. "Let's get out of here."
Everyone scrambled to gather their belongings, leaving Bella to do nothing but carry her daughter to the locker room. She quietly placed the carrier on the floor before changing into her regular clothes, keeping an eye on her daughter the entire time and forgetting about her modesty.
"Geez Bella, she's not going to disappear on you." Alice, standing in her bra and blue jeans leaned over and tugged on Bella's shirt to pull it back over her head before turning it right side out. "Try wearing it this way." Alice helped her tug it back over her head.
"What would I do without you Alice? I can't even dress myself these days." Bella shook her head pathetically. "I'm a mess."
"Aww, Honey, no you're not. We'll get this all straightened out. I promise sister." Alice eye glittered with tears as she straddled the bench Bella was sitting on and wrapped her arms around Bella.
"Al, what if that bitch was right?" Bella's words were whispered as if someone might overhear her. "What if something is wrong with her? Mentally?"
"Does it matter? I mean sure it will take some more adjustments. But in the big picture does it really matter to you? Would you ever wish her not here?" Alice shook Bella slightly, demanding an answer.
"Of course not! I just don't know that I will be able to give her everything she needs." Bella shook her head to try to clear it and took a deep breath in, holding it for a few seconds before blowing it out.
"Feel better now?" Esme sat on the other side of Bella and wrapped an arm around her. "You've given her everything she needs up to this point. And you've managed it beautifully with precious little help from anyone except Alice. Start letting others help when they offer Bella. No one knows what Tansy needs better than you. So when people offer to help with yard work or housekeeping or whatever the need may be. Let them in to help okay? I don't just mean the men from the bar either, but that's certainly a start."
"Yeah Bella. We all want to help, in whatever way we can. Just let us in." Rosalie stood rocking her daughter who was once again nursing from Rose's open bra. Bella couldn't help but laugh at how casual Rose seemed standing in a women's locker room with her bra half open and a child hanging off it. Smiling up at Rose Bella nodded.
"Thanks you guys. I know I can do this. I know I have to do this, but sometimes that little smidge of doubt creeps in and makes me wonder if I can really do it. These last six months I've been so fixed on her physical problems that I never gave a thought to the mental problems she might face. And you know what? Alice is right. In the big picture of things, it doesn't really matter as long as I have her."
The women finished getting dressed, helping Rose into her clothes and working around her still attached daughter before slamming their lockers loudly and making their way into the hall to join the rest of their family. Bella immediately snuggled up to Edward, handing him the diaper bag instead of the carrier he was reaching for.
"Not a chance Edward. It's my first Mother's Day and I am going to spend the rest of the day with my daughter!" Smiling up at him Edward leaned down and kissed her before wrapping his arm around her shoulder and leading her toward the door with the rest of his family.
Once they were back at the Cullen's house, Bella took Edward's suggestion and began carrying a much calmer Tansy around in her sling. As she snuggled into the plush couch in the family room, she stretched out her legs and yawned before she moved her legs out against the couch and stretched, enjoying the quiet and the coziness of the room. She was grateful that the others were dispersed throughout the house.
"Not exactly how you planned on spending Mother's Day huh?" Bella was rocking Tansy gently now and smiled up at Edward as he handed her a drink and shifted her legs before sitting down and drawing them into his lap. He began rubbing her feet which earned him an audible groan from Bella as she sipped at her drink.
"Are you kidding? I have my daughter curled up next to me, a fruity drink in one hand and a gorgeous man giving my feet a massage. This is better than I thought it would be Edward. Thanks for all your help today by the way."
"I'm sorry about that Bella. I never thought there would be a problem with taking her there." Edward looked genuinely upset over Tansy's treatment.
"Yeah, you'll get used to it. You need a thicker skin that's all. I do have a question that I meant to ask you earlier." Bella was unsure how to bring up the subject.
Pausing his massage, Edward prompted Bella by waving his hand. "And the question is? This is going to be good. You are already turning pink." He smiled at her.
"Um, I noticed you have a… tattoo on your shoulder blade?" Bella stopped at Edward's shocked expression.
"I do?" Edward's head quickly turned to look over at his shoulder and made a show of lifting his collar, trying to get a peek. "When did that get there?"
Playing along, Bella laughed. "Very funny. I was just wondering what that is? I saw the others have one too. Not that I was looking." Bella added quickly, seeing Edward's smirk.
Laughing loudly at first and then covering his mouth with his hand to muffle the sounds and not wake the baby, Edward answered her.
"You're too funny Bella. It's a family crest. It's from the Cullen side. We all have it. I imagine one day Emmett will have Ethan get one also."
"Rose might not let him." Bella warned him smugly.
"Bella? Have you seen Rose's wrist? Ask her what time it is next time you see her and take a good look at her watch. Then, someday, you should ask Esme what she thinks of tattoos. She might surprise you." Edward looked like he just won a contest.
"Are you kidding me?" Bella looked shocked at the idea that Esme Cullen had a tattoo.
"No. Carlisle's father took him to get it done years before he was even married. Carlisle took all of us the minute we turned 18. He didn't force it on us mind you. It was all our own decisions. Edward moved forward and removed his shirt before leaning over give Bella a better look.
"It's nice. Surely Rose and Esme don't have a big tiger inked on their bodies? I would have seen it in the locker room today." Bella looked incredulous as she tried to calm her racing heart from the sight of Edward shirtless.
"Of course they don't have a lion tattooed on them." He replied as he slid his t-shirt back on his body. "Esme has our last name 'Cullen' in a very elegant old script on her hip bone. And, if you believe their story, one of the first things Emmett and Rose did on their honeymoon was go to a tattoo parlor and she had hers done on her wrist. The same script as Esme's. We're a pretty close family in case you didn't catch on to that before." Edward laughed lightly as if to say 'duh'.
"Really? I hadn't noticed." Bella answered him so seriously that they both ended up laughing.
"Bella, I really am very sorry about what happened today. I seriously didn't believe that people were like that." Edward looked ashamed.
"I can't believe you actually bet against me." Bella tried to keep up the joking banter with Edward.
"Does that happen a lot though? People just seemed to throw their advice at you. What gives them the right to do that?" Edward was almost growling.
"I'm use to it. You'd probably be surprised at the ignorance I've encountered. Some people were just not raised to believe that they should hold their tongue. It's almost as if they feel it's their right to tell me how I should raise her. Believe it or not, today when you heard that stupid girl say Tansy will be retarded, that's not the worst thing I've heard about her." Bella's eyes started to glisten.
"It's not?" Edward felt like he was punched in the gut. He was pushing the envelope and he knew it. Did he really want to hear this?
"No. At the mommy and me group I used to go to, a few of the mothers thought that I should go with a different group because of how special Tansy is. Like they know. They didn't realize that she isn't retarded. Just because she's small and sick, and you can tell by looking at her that she is. The director called me one day and asked me not to come back because we upset the other mom's. And Edward?" Bella looked over at him. "That's not the worst I've heard either." Bella now had a small, sad smile on her face.
"Ok." Edward made a show of bracing himself as he turned sideways on the couch and lifted Bella's legs at the knee. He reached over and took her drink from her before placing it on the table in front of them. "Ok. Give it to me."
"I've had people come right up to me and tell me that I should just let her die. 'It would be for the best you know'? I've had more than one person tell me that. In the hospital, once when she was in the ICU I had to stand in the waiting room. This woman, came up to me and said it would be better if I just let it go." Bella sighed, shifting Tansy onto her other shoulder as the baby babbled during her sleep. "She really is my daughter isn't she? Talking in her sleep like that?"
"In more ways than one. You've got my whole family, wrapped around, no, entertwined around your fingers. So does she. You both talk while your asleep. You are both fighters, she against her health problems and you against the stupid people of the world. You're both incredibly beautiful, and you have both stolen my heart." Edward looked up at Bella to make sure she was taking him seriously.
"You saying such nice things Edward. I hope that one day I can accept more than just friendship from you but right now, I really can't and that makes me sorrier than you'll know. You are so good looking, you could have any Jessica you want. You don't see how women just drop around you? The hostess at the club, the cashier, even Ben's wife, Angela. If she didn't have Ben, she would be all over you. But you don't see them, you see us. I seriously can't date, I'm still married. My husband, her father, took off on us. So, my current train of thought is more along the lines of, if the one person that she shares a genetic link with didn't want her, how can anyone else? I am all she has left. And then you come along and act as if it is the most natural thing in the world. You make me feel like there maybe something waiting for me after all this is done. After we fix her up right, you make me feel like I may actually have something to hope for." Bella leaned her head against Tansy's as she continued to rock her and make sure she kept eye contact with Edward. "It's as if your family doesn't care how broken we are, they still see something that might be able to be fixed, in both Tansy and I."
"There is something there Bella. You just don't see it yet – but one day you will. I'll make sure of that." Edward turned his head toward the doorway which was empty. "You can stop eavesdropping now Jasper."
"Yeah, I forgot you can read minds. Hey you two, Mom sent me up here to get you for dinner. Alice mixed Tansy's cocktail for dinner so she's got it all set up for you. She wanted you to be able to actually eat with us." Jasper poked his head in and quickly said the words before leaving.
Bella scooted upward carefully and swung her legs off Edward's lap and onto the floor. "Thanks for bringing me back here Edward. It's nice to have someone else to share the burden." Bella laughed as she stood up to go down to dinner and paused as she stood up. "Edward, I know it can't mean a whole lot right now, but I appreciate your standing by me through this." Bella leaned in to give the now standing Edward a hug, mindful that her daughter lay between them.
"I'll be here as much as you want me to be. No promises, but as much as I can be. Do you really think you are going to be able to finish that room tomorrow?" Edward wrapped his arm around Bella's shoulder as they walked to the kitchen.
"Yep. It's mostly just details that shouldn't take long. Although I have another idea that came to me a short time ago but I want to run past Carlisle before I do anything. Let's go, I feel like I haven't eaten at all today." Bella laughed as her stomach growled loudly and she picked up her pace.
After dinner Bella leaned back and rested her arm around the back of Edward's chair. She smiled at him as he held her daughter so she could finish up her dinner.
"Wow, this was good. I seriously have to thank you all for sticking by us today. It went way above and beyond." Bella picked up her coffee cup with her free hand and held it up for Esme to refill from her new pot. Bella smiled at Esme as she began showing off her Mother's Day present.
"Bella, do people seriously make those stupid remarks to you all the time?" Rose still looked upset and her eyes were filled with uncried tears as she hugged her own daughter close to her.
"Every day and twice on Sundays." Bella said with a smirk remembering how many times it had happened this day. "Yeah, pretty much. Well, any time I've taken her out in public. Usually she's hidden in the sling. But when she's out, at the hospital or doctor's office, yeah pretty much. You get use to it. Alice had defended us on more than one occasion too, she's fierce!"
Bella's remark about Alice earned her another round of laughter as Alice sat happily in Jasper's lap, looking anything but fierce.
As Carlisle stood and began clearing the table for Esme, Bella looked up and him and smiled as he took away her plate.
"Thank you Carlisle. I would like to speak to you for a moment later if you don't mind?" Bella looked over to make sure it was ok.
"Before bed then, we'll talk. Right now, I have to do the dishes for my beautiful wife." With Carlisle's words reminding everyone that it was Mother's Day, everyone began standing and clearing the dining room table.
In no time at all Carlisle was leading Bella to his study so they could talk. "Now, what's on your mind Bella?"
"First of all, I wanted to say thank you for defending me today. It meant a lot to me. My own father passed away years ago and I never really got to know him well. I appreciate that you were there to step in when I needed the help. I don't think that woman would have backed off if it was just me. Second, I was wondering if you could fill me in on your family's crest symbol? I noticed Edward's today and that you all have them." Bella realized after she said it that she made it sound like she was checking them all out but the pool. Her cheeks blazed red as she stared at Carlisle.
"Ah, it's kind of hard to not notice it. It is the Cullen Family crest. It comes from Europe. My grandfather and father both had one. There are subtle differences to each of them. My father never had his colored in. Mine and Jasper's might look brighter because our skin is more pale than Edward or Emmett's. Is there a reason you are asking about it?" Carlisle tried to set her mind at ease.
"Well, if it's ok. I would like to paint it in the room upstairs. I am already using Edward's phoenix logo. I'd like to paint this in there as well." Bella looked over at the framed crest that Carlisle had taken off the wall to show her.
"I wish I would have thought of that. It's a great idea Bella. Are you going to tell anyone or just let them see if they can figure it out on their own?" Carlisle was smiling now as he encouraged Bella.
"What do you think?" Bella nibbled a thumb nail as she tried to memorize the picture.
"I think you should just paint it. See if anyone can tell. I'll look for it because I'll know, but make it a kind of hidden picture. Do you want to use that crest to copy it?" Carlisle asked motioning to the one in her hand.
"Could I? I won't take it out of the house. It looks very old." Bella studied the crest carefully.
"That one use to hang in my grandfather's law practice. I had to have it reframed because it was falling apart, but it's been around for a long time. Did Edward tell you about the Esme and Rose's tattoo then?" Carlisle's eyes were shining with happiness.
"It's true then? I never pictured either of them for being into that." Bella's felt her cheeks couldn't burn any hotter.
"They aren't really. But this is something that connects us. Another link. More than just DNA, or marriage. It makes us feel connected to one another. My own father explained it to me this way. Even after we die, the physical chain will be broken. But the physical body will always have this connection to us that are living. My ancestors all had this same crest inked somewhere on their body, even though they are long since passed on, we are connected. My father had his on his upper arm – I choose my shoulder because at work I like to remain professional. Everyone chooses for themselves. I never forced my boys to get one, though I was dam proud that they did. And Esme I guess just didn't want to be left out. She felt it wasn't fair to her. Rose just followed suit." Carlisle looked very proud of his family.
"Thank you Carlisle, for everything." Bella stood and gave him a hug as she got ready to leave. "I'll replace this tomorrow night if that's ok?"
"Very ok." Carlise replied with a nod. "And Bella, thank you. You've done so much more for this family than just paint a room. One day you will see that."
In the hallway, Carlisle briefly gave Bella a hug before going to join his family. Bella took a moment to dah upstairs and put the picture in the room where she knew it would be safe.
While she was up there she looked around. She gathered up all of her drawings and pictures and stuffed them into her portfolio. Right now the place looked chaotic. She had her paints piled in a corner on a dropcloth. There was one corner that was free of clutter. It held the rocker and a small rug. As she looked around, she had to fight the urge to start painting and clearing the room. As it was, she knew she'd be up at daybreak to get started. She would have to talk to Alice and have her bring the actual furnishings that she had made to the house tomorrow. She still wasn't sure if Alice was staying for one last night or if she was going to have Jasper drive her home tonight. She quickly put the crest in a safe spot and went to join the others in the living room.
She stopped in the archway of the living room and her heart melted. She saw Edward sitting crossed leg on the floor. In front of him he held Tansy in a sitting position on a blanket. There were various baby toys scattered around the blanket. To one side, Emily was laying down on her stomach trying to grab for something, and farther away from Tansy sat Ethan, being minimally supported by Emmett. Bella quickly took her phone from her pocket and snapped a picture.
Crossing over the room, Bella went and sat on an empty edge of the blanket. She held out a random toy for Emily to try to grab. Looking around the room again, she noticed that the only ones not in attendance were Alice and Jasper. She shuddered when she thought of where they might be, and what they might be doing there. Rose was kneeling behind Emmett, rubbing his shoulders and neck lovingly as he played with the kids on the blanket. With Carlisle and Esme cuddling on the loveseat the whole scene reminded Bella of tv show.
"Esme, I plan on finishing the room tomorrow. I'm going to have Alice bring everything from the house. Did you want me to clear it out so you can see it empty, or do you want me to set it all up completely and then you can see it? I just have a couple of more things to paint and set up." Bella teased Emily with a teddy bear and earning a giggle from the baby she laughed back. "Emily, you are just too stinking cute to not pick up."
Bella picked up the little girl and sat her across from where Tansy was sitting well supported by Edward. She was grateful that at least two of the babies got along well, or as well as babies could.
"Bella, are you sure that you're going to finish tomorrow? The room is kind of a wreck. I really would like to see it empty first and then we can add the pieces to make sure everything goes well together. I don't want to clutter it right away and realize afterward that something is out of place. It's always easier to add than to take away." Esme reached for her coffee cup on the little table.
"After Alice brings her stuff in tomorrow, I'm going to start packing things up to take home. I'll probably need to make two trips to get everything home. Unless you know someone who has a truck?" Bella laughed.
"I can take my truck from work Bella. If your car isn't running right, why don't we take both my car and truck and load the stuff up? That way you at least have a car to use until Rose can get over to your place and fix yours." Edward made the offer and nodded at Rose for approval.
"That's right, I almost forgot about that Bella. When do you want me over to look at it?" Rose stopped rubbing Emmett's shoulders momentarily as she looked over at Bella. She had such an excitement in her eyes that Bella didn't dare refuse.
"Whenever you get a chance is fine Rose." Bella said with a laugh as she put Emily back on the blanket. "If Edward doesn't need his car, then I guess there's no urgency. Thank you both."
Edward nodded his approval and Bella thought she saw him glance at Rose to give her an extra nod but she didn't want to make accusations without being 100 percent certain.
"I'll go in the morning early to switch them and have one of the guys drive me back over. I should really check in on a few sites too. Will you stick around and I'll help you tomorrow evening?" Edward held Bella's stare over the kids.
"I have an idea. Bella, I'll watch Tansy tomorrow morning while you and Edward go get the truck and then you can follow him back here and work on the room. I think you'd be interested to see exactly what his company does." Esme sipped delicately at her coffee as Carlisle rubbed her shoulders gently.
"I should have asked that before. I've been so caught up in my own world I never thought. I know it's something to do with construction." Bella stretched over to take Tansy from Edward after taking in his nod.
"Yeah, historical rehabs mostly. Hey now, I was doing fine with her. Go get your own baby to play with. There are two others to choose from on this blanket you know." Edward managed to look put out that Bella took Tansy, as if they were the kids and she was stealing his toy. Everyone in the room managed to start laughing before Bella could answer.
"I know, but Emily kills me with those pretty blue eyes, and I'm afraid Ethan will just kick my butt. I don't dare tear him away from his daddy." Laughing, Bella nodded to where Emmett way on the floor, roughhousing with his son.
"Alright fine. Come here niece. We'll have you sitting up in no time." Edward immediately placed Emily in a sitting position in front of him and across from Bella and Tansy. He never noticed the surprised looks the rest of his family exchanged around him.
Playtime went on for only a short while after that before the babies started getting fussy and the adults decide it was time for them to sleep. After the toys were put away and everyone moved on to their own rooms, Esme cornered her husband in their bedroom, practically jumping on him in her excitement.
"Carlisle, did you see the way he picked up Emily?" Esme was beaming with happiness as they got ready for bed.
"I saw that. Bella doesn't even know what she's done to him. I doubt we will ever fully make her see that either." Carlisle slipped his arms around his wife, drawing her into his embrace.
"I've never seen him reach for either twin, ever, even when they were born. Usually we will just hand one over to him and he'll hold them. That's the first time he has ever initiated it and I know Emmett and Rose picked up on that too." Esme slipped out of her husband's embrace long enough so that she could change into something more comfortable.
"But how do we make Bella see that she is the one causing all these positive changes in Edward's attitude?" Carlisle sat down on the bed and leaned back on his elbows, wearing only his boxers as he watched his wife move about the room and undress.
"I don't know. It's just so nice to have the old Edward back again. I love having my whole family together and everyone happy. Even Jasper has someone now. All my boys works so hard for kids their age. They all want to be successful but I just want them to be happy. I am so proud of everything they've accomplished. I just wish Edward and Jasper would relax a little more. These girls are exactly what this family needs." Esme casually tossed her hairbrush on the dresser before reaching for her robe and tying it snugly across her waist.
She had only taken a few steps toward the bed when she noticed the smile on her husband's lips. As she drew closer, he reached out and grabbed the tie she had just fastened, using it as a leash to pull her closer and untying it as he opened it to reveal her short nightgown. He slid the fabric upward, softly moving his hands across her skin, knowing what he would find and exactly where it was hidden.
"Did Bella ask you about your tattoo? She saw all of ours this afternoon and specifically asked Edward about them. I'm guessing she didn't notice yours in the locker room today because she was quite surprised to learn that you had one. Apparently Esme, you are not the type to go around marking up your beautiful body." Nuzzling the soft skin of his wife's body, Carlisle sighed and looked up at his wife, who was still standing before him.
Taking two steps back from her husband, Esme let her robe fall to the ground before crossing her hands in front of her and pulling up on her nightgown, putting on a little show for her husband. Now standing in front of him wearing only her panties and tattoo, she moved to lay next to him.
"Maybe she didn't want to ask about it." Esme said breathlessly as her husband trailed kisses down her body until he found his mark.
Carlisle's breathing became panting as he kneeled on the bed before his wife and moved her panties down her legs. Keeping his gaze on the woman in front of him, he slid out of his own boxers before moving to lay next to her instead of on top. Knowing his wife for so many years, he was always in tune to her needs and knew her body well. He began moving his hands over her, knowing exactly how she would respond with each touch.
As he traced the elegant script with his tongue…Cullen, his wife shuddered beside him and he knew, Esme was his for eternity.
