Chapter Twelve: Straitjacket Feeling
EPOV
Part One: Baby It's You
April 9, 2008 - Saturday
Two weeks full of Bella's cravings at all hours of the night along with raging hormones had passed since the big dinner blow-up. Neither Bella or Charlie had spoken to each other since.
This was partly due to Bella being stubborn and set in her ways. Charlie gave her a couple days to cool down before he started calling her cell phone and our house phone. No amount of coaxing from me could get her to answer the phone or return his calls. A part of me assented with her behavior; after all he did act poorly, but another part of me wanted the row put to rest. I had three reasons for this:
1) Bella. Bella needed her father around, especially now, even though she is too obdurate to admit it
2) Gosling. Our child needed to know his grandpa.
3) Myself. Even though Charlie could be a jerk at times, I did like him. These past two Sunday dinners without my drinking buddy sucked.
Emmett was a sloppy drunk when it came down to it.
It also didn't help that Charlie's short departure caused him to miss out on lots of things too, such as Bella's gradual progression into her pregnancy. Last week marked month five for her and she looked even more gorgeous than I could have ever imagined.
Today, we had planned to work on the nursery; an idea I had suggest to keep Bella's morale up. She had been down in the dumps since the fight with her father. I wanted to do something fun with her and it seemed as though this would be the best time to focus our attention on something we had anticipated.
I spent the night before painting the walls of the nursery a pale cream and hanging the Peter Rabbit themed border that I had found at the local hardware store during my lunch break. I wanted the hardest tasks to be completed before Bella came in and started decorating. The last thing I wanted to see was her worry any more than necessary.
I was putting together the white changing table as Bella finished putting the matching Peter Rabbit bedding down in the crib. My eyes kept glancing up at her; watching her with intrigue as she smoothed out the comforter once more before standing straight up; deep in thought as she reviewed her work. She was wearing a pair of stretchy black shorts and a pale pink tank top that proudly displayed her baby bump that had become slightly more defined and round. She started to nibble at her plump bottom lip as she absent-mindedly rubbed her belly with both her petite hands. A mahogany strand of hair had slid out of her carefully sculpted pony tail and now caressed her soft, pink cheek.
She was absolutely heavenly.
Her absent caresses to her belly remained steady for a few more minute; her brows furrowed in thought as she continued to examine the crib. It were times like these that I wished that I could read her mind...just to see what went on in there.
I looked at her a little longer before returning my attention back to the half assembled changing table. I let out a sigh and ran my fingers through my disheveled hair before returning to the instruction blueprint in front of me. Why did they make these things so fucking complicated?
"Oh!" A soft murmur filled my ears, causing my head to jerk upward in panic. I could feel my eyes grow wide with worry as I looked up at my wife. She gripped her belly with both her hands; brows knitted in surprise.
"What's wrong? What's happening?"
I didn't wait for her response, fearing that something was amiss. I kicked stray pieces of wood and metal brackets aside as I deftly stood up. I rushed over to her, repeating myself with mild frustration, "Bells, what's wrong?"
She gazed up at me; her full pink glossy lips curved in a small smile and her doe eyes sparkled with tears.
"Shh...just feel..."
She grabbed my hand swiftly and pressed it right below her protruding belly button.
I waited.
And waited.
Then, out of the blue, I felt the most prodigious thing. Two light kicks: small and swift, but strong enough to stretch Bella's taunt, flawless skin.
I've felt unborn babies kick and move around before. The first time was when I was three and mom was pregnant with Emmett; other times involved some of the patients at the hospital. This was different from all those times though. This was my baby...our baby. This was really happening.
I fell down onto my knees beside her; my hands keeping a gentle grip on her belly. I leaned in toward her stomach and whispered, "Come on , do it again, Baby Cullen. Show Daddy how good you can kick so he can warn Uncle Emmett that you'll be kicking his butt around the field when we go against him in tag football."
Bella chuckled as I waited with patience. She gently stroked my bangs out of my eyes as the minutes passed. This baby had a lot of Bella's traits already: her perseverance and the ability to bring me to my knees in utter entrancement.
Then, when I was about to give up, Gosling kicked again. I laughed out loud in surprise and excitement. My hands remained cradling Bella's belly as my eyes trailed up her body and met her own. She smiled down at me, her face glowing more so than ever before.
"Wow..." I murmured in a delayed response. Her giggle made my smile widen.
"So eager to please his or her daddy...." Her hands...god, I loved those hands, made my way through my tussled hair again. I returned my gaze back to her belly before slowly leaning in; giving it a slow, gentle kiss. I was too overwhelmed to say anything more.
At this angle, life was perfect. Calm. I hoped that it would remain that way.
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Part Two: Police On My Back
EPOV
April 11, 2008 - Monday
6:30 P.M.
Forks Elementary School's gym was packed to the brim with over prideful parents with camcorders and cameras in tow; making it ungodly stuffy. I leaned against the cool porcelain coated bricks at the back of the gym in effort to cool down. I had spent most of the day in the nursery tending to a few babies that needed more intensive care and I was pretty worn down.
It was okay though. I was here to support Bella and her class.
I smiled as I watched my wife lead her little troupe up the stage and onto the risers; each child get a quick, but soothing back rub as they moved briskly passed her. Some of the children, mainly boys, hugged her legs gently before taking their spots. Bella's smile grew more by the small displays of affection.
I loved coming to her music programs, much to her disbelief. Her interactions with each child before, during, and at the end of the programs made my heart swell with pride. This more so now that she was having our baby. Even though I was watching from afar, I could already tell she was ready for motherhood. I knew when I first met her that she was the one: the one that I wanted to be with, the one I wanted to wake up to, make love to, and spend my life with. Every time I visualized my future, she was there, even when I was questioning our love affair. She was there. Our future children were there too.
The lights in the gym dimmed; leaving just the stage lights. Bella, with the help of Deb (the only person Bella would talk to with a direct link to her father), climbed the stairs of the director's podium. A minute of silence past until her wrists flicked upward, conducting the kids to sing and the pianist to play along. The first song was "You Are My Sunshine".
By the third song, I was beginning to relax and I could tell Bella was doing so as well. Her left foot had stopped tapping, a nervous tick of hers. I smiled in delight as I heard surrounding parents compliment my wife's teaching ability. Evidently, Bella was more popular than she made out to be; a favorite addition to the staff of Forks Elem.
I sighed in content as the third song, 'Bennie and the Jets', came to a close. Bella's blush grew deeper as families around us cheered and clapped. Just as the fourth song began, I felt a strong hang clap gently on my shoulder. Turning my head slightly, my eyes met Charlie Swan.
"Charlie..." I said, stunned. He, frankly, looked like hell. He was still in his uniform, so he was either on duty or just got off. His face was more weathered looking than normal: bags and dark circles set deeply under his tired chocolate brown eyes.
He sighed nervously, "Hey Edward...look...I've been trying to call you both..."
I nodded hesitantly, "I know...Bella...well, you know..."
He looked down at the white tiled floor between us, "She's still pretty upset, huh? Can't say I blame her. I'm pretty pissed at myself too."
I nodded silently. What else could I say or do?
He ran his hand through his dark black hair, "Look, Edward...I'm really sorry...I don't know what came over me. I guess I was shocked...I mean, you kids just got married five months ago...all I could think was it was too soon...too much responsibility..."
I cut him off with some curtness despite my efforts to hold the anger back, "Charlie...Bella and I are ready for this baby. My income alone is enough to support Bella and a child, even you know this. We have already been through a lot together. We are prepared and willing. This baby is what we want."
He stayed silent a few beats before nodding, "I know that now. You two are going to be wonderful...I just hope it's not too late to reconcile with you both."
His eyes left mine and looked toward the front of the gym where his daughter was standing, not knowing her father was with her at that very moment. The song had ended and Bella was now facing the audience; introducing the next song with bright enthusiasm as she absently ran her hands up and down her stomach. Her smile and the sparkle in her eyes could make the entire room fall in love with her. Judging by the grins that washed over the audience as she spoke, she already had them under her spell.
Charlie sighed and smiled sadly, "Gosh, she grew up too fast, but yes, she is ready."
I smiled and nodded, "Charlie, you, Renee, and Deb raised her to be a wonderful woman...and I thank you for that. I'm also giving you my word: I'm going to take care of her and our baby. I am not going anywhere. I also want to assure you that we are ready to face this...together."
He nodded, his brows knitted as he looked at his little girl from a distance, "She looks so beautiful...so much like her mom when she was pregnant..."
"I'll take care of her, Charlie. I give you my word."
"I know."
We looked at her for a few more seconds before she turned around and began the next song. At last, Charlie cleared his throat, "Talk to her for me, please? Tell her...tell her that I miss her and that I'm proud of her."
I nodded, knowing that it was hard for Charlie to express emotion, "I will..."
He nodded and turned around, making his way to the door. I had turned my attention back to the program. Just as I began to relax again, Charlie's voice rung out quietly, "Edward?"
"Yes, Charlie?"
"...you can call me dad, you know."
My lips curled up slightly. We were subtly making peace at last.
"Okay...good night, Dad."
"Good night....son."
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Part Three: Gives You Hell
BPOV
Three Hours Later
We managed to get the gym pretty much cleaned up and ready for the next morning's P.E. class within two hours; well...Edward, Deb, and Principal Woods got it done. I was forced to rest on the bleachers so I didn't 'strain myself'. Honestly...
Edward parked the Volvo in the garage and killed the ignition. He promptly hopped out of the car and jogged over to my side to open the door and gently help me ease out of the car. I rolled my eyes and laughed. This was absurd! I wasn't even that big yet.
"Edward, I'm okay...really, you all baby me too much. I can still do things on my own."
He sighed heavily before leading us out of the garage's side door; kissing my temple as we walked up the back walkway to our porch, "Bella...cooperate, okay? Just....let us baby you...let me baby you as much as I feel necessary."
I shook my head, "Fine...fine. I can't argue with you...especially when you dazzle the sense out of me."
His laughter filled the breezy night air as he gently lifted me up onto the porch with a smug smile. I rolled my eyes as we made our way to the back door. As I fumbled for my house keys in my purse, Edward looked about the back yard and porch, probably looking for additional weekend projects. After two years of living here, we still spent a lot of time fixing things up.
"Hey...what is this?"
I finally got the door open and reached in to flick on the kitchen light. The light was bright enough to bleed out onto the porch. I looked at Edward and saw that he was holding a fairly big shipping box. I simply shrugged, "I don't know. We didn't order anything, did we?"
"No, I didn't think so...hmmm....no return address...oh! I bet it is from Aunt Norah. She mentioned that she was sending us something in the mail," He followed me inside, box in tow, closing and locking the door behind him. He set the box on the counter as I handed him his pocket knife to aid him in opening it. My feet had begun to ache, so I kicked of the black kitten heels that I was wearing before pulling up a stool to sit next to him as he opened the mystery box. To pass the time, I began to unclasp my garter straps that held my nude stockings in place. He managed to get the box open as I shimmied the last stocking down my leg; letting it crumple to the floor with the other.
"What is it?" I murmured as I watched him slowly pull it out.
"Looks like a gift basket...wow, she went all out," He pulled the white wicker basket all the way out and set it in front of me on the counter. I looked at it in amazement; it was loaded with Peter Rabbit stuff. Receiving blankets, onesies, rattles, a Peter Rabbit plush, booties, a sun bonnet, and a collection of Peter Rabbit story books. The basket was literally overflowing with more stuff buried at the bottom. I slowly began taking items out, looking at them, and setting them to the side.
"How did she know we were doing a Peter Rabbit theme? I didn't think we told anyone..."
Edward shrugged, "I don't know...lucky guess?"
I continued to dig through the items until I reached the bottom.
That's when my breath caught in my throat. My heart began to beat hard and irregularly as I stared down at the last item. No....no....oh god, it couldn't...it wasn't....oh no....
I felt my breathing become ragged as I picked up the DVD with trembling hands. My sight began to swim and my eyes began to prickle. I was physically sick to my stomach. I could hear Edward vaguely over my own whimpering. He kept asking what was wrong, but I was too terrified to answer.
Weak from trepidation, I allowed the DVD to slip from my hands and crash to the floor, where its cover faced upward as if it were mocking me from below.
Barefoot In The Park.
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A/N: Confused? You might want to revisit OLAS then and see why this is significant! ;-)
So, again, thanks for your patience as I worked on this chapter. I have the one-shot ready, but I need to find the time to get it typed and posted. I, hopefully, will get that done soon.
Updates:
- I'm working on a collaboration story with fellow author AmandaCullen84 titled, The Notorious Bella Swan. We have two chapters up now. If you want to check it out, just visit my profile! :-) We'd like to hear what you all think!
- Want to see some of Gosling's nursery stuff? Check out my profile!
- I want to ask you all for some feedback on two things. You can submit your answers via PM or review. THESE ARE JUST TENTATIVE IDEAS:
1) Would you like to see a story with just OLAS and L&SV outtakes and extras? Maybe with
different POVs?
2) Some of you seemed to enjoy the C/D dialogue. Would this be something you'd like to see more of in the future either in this story or in a separate story?
- If you have questions you would like to ask (it can be anything from background info on the characters or on my future writing projects, etc), I encourage you to ask! :-) I miss answering questions (I used to do a Q/A section in each of my A/Ns for OLAS) and I'd love to see what you all are thinking. I will answer your questions either by PM (by request) or in my A/N.
As always, thank you for the wonderful support and excellent feedback. Continue to review! I enjoy reading your responses!
