The Christmas Book
Chapter Fourteen – A Little Gold
Stunned and completely speechless, that was how Charlie would describe his daughter's pretty face. He felt bad for not telling her about the wish her mother made twenty-nine years ago. After three years of trying to conceive, the doctors had concluded that his wife had too much scar tissue from an accident she had as a child. And that conception was highly unlikely. What they needed was a miracle.
That was when the book had chosen Renee one day, when she helped her grandmother at the bookstore that she'd practically grown up in.
Charlie hadn't believed in such a thing as magic at the time. Glowing pages, flickering lights and a magic pen, who would believe – he hadn't, not even then. It wasn't until less than three months later, when Renee had given him the news of her pregnancy that he finally believed.
He really hoped Alyssa's godfather didn't take too long to come to his senses. Though no man would ever be good enough for his daughter, from what he remembered from Jasper and Alice growing up, he knew Edward would have be a good person since they left their daughter with him.
Charlie patted his daughter's shoulder, chuckling at her gaping expression. Well, he thought, there is only one way to snap her out of it. So he walked past her and using his left hand, opened the door to call the doctor back inside the room.
The young man stood just outside the door, looking as if Charlie caught him red-handed in the backseat with his daughter. He certainly must have heard every word from inside the room. Good. He needed to know how special his daughter was to him.
Maybe I should run a background check on him, just in case, he thought to himself. "Are you coming back in, Doc?"
Edward simply nodded, nervously smiling, following Charlie inside the room.
"Now, if you don't have a problem helping me out," Charlie started, making Bella snap out of trance she seemed to be in.
Not that Edward blamed her. The past twenty-four hours had to have been mind-blowing for her.
Edward offered Charlie a smile and looked at the chart once more to confirm something. "I can offer you a compromise so that we'd both be comfortable. How's that?" Charlie nodded as Bella helped her father roll up the sleeve of his shirt on his right arm.
"Well, let's take a look," Edward indicated as he sat in the rolling stool in one corner. "This is only a consultation and one opinion. And I could have my uncle assist during surgery."
Charlie's brow scrunched and his lips thinned. "You doubting your abilities?"
"Dad," Bella said softly, brushing her father's scarred arm. "He's just trying to make you comfortable."
Charlie gave Edward a stern look but nodded after a moment. "All right," he said gruffly, nearly shoving his hand and arm in Edward's chest. "Let's see what you can do."
***The Christmas Book***
Edward watched as Charlie walked out of the room, followed by his daughter. Closing the chart, he blew out a deep breath. In the end, if Charlie chose to have surgery, Edward could probably improve the mobility in his wrist and thumb by twenty percent. Though the scar didn't bother Charlie as far as looks, it did however pinch and itch him to the point of distraction.
As he followed Bella out of the room a few moments later, he stopped long enough to watch her with Charlie. She adjusted the lapel of his jacket, dusted off a little lint from his shoulder and pressed her lips to his cheek. And he thrived under her attention, even if it also embarrassed him a little.
I can see where she got her blush, he thought to himself. She was good to him and it was clear that her father adored her. Who wouldn't?
"Tomorrow," Bella whispered to her Dad. She had promised her father to meet for coffee the following morning and watched him walk out of the clinic doors. She sighed deeply, thankful that he'd adjusted so well after the accident with his table saw.
Taking another breath to bring her rioting emotions under control, she turned to find Edward. She didn't have to look for long as he stood leaning against a doorway, watching her. The man had to answer for his little outburst. With a raised eyebrow and matching smirk, she walked over to him. She tried not to laugh as he swallowed deeply and ran a nervous hand though his hair.
"You pretty sure of yourself," she said, looking up at him.
No, Edward thought. Not when you're looking at me like that. He sighed, "Sorry. I hadn't meant to blurt it out like that." Lifting his hand, he brushed a curl of her hair that was hiding her eyes. "I really don't know what I'm doing when it comes to you."
His hand lingered over her cheek and slid along the back of her neck as she rested her forehead on his chest. "I don't, either," she whispered, grasping his waist gently. She'd been through an emotional rollercoaster in the last twenty-four hours and Edward wanted to do anything he could to make her smile again.
Massaging the back of her neck, he dropped a kiss on the top her head. She looked up at him then and he could see so many emotions flash behind her eyes.
Edward smiled and shrugged. "I figured with the chocolate, meeting the parents and the exchange of six little treasures, we were past the first date stage." He grinned wider when she laughed.
"It's cute when Alyssa calls kisses 'treasures' but," she teased, placing a hand on his chest, playfully pushing him away. Edward captured her hand, letting it rest over his heart. He wiggled his eyebrows and winked. "Oh, it's cute when you call it that, too."
"I'm good," he said, giving her hand a little squeeze. "Any chance I can get a little gold before you go?"
She threw her head back and laughed. "Dinner first," she replied. "You're running late. I'm supposed to be there in about an hour."
Edward's eyes widened. "And I still need to pick up Alyssa and go to the grocery store."
Bella smiled again and patted his chest from beneath his hand that still held hers there. "Why don't I grab the groceries while you pick up Alyssa and we'll meet up at your place?"
"I was supposed to have dinner ready by the time you arrived," he grumbled, averting his gaze. "Great, the first time I try to impress a woman in years and I'm already failing."
"You made an impression on me the day we met," Bella said, capturing his chin so that he'd look at her again. "And it'll give us a chance to cook dinner together, the three of us."
"Together," he said softly. There in her eyes, he could see that she wanted what he wanted. Not only for Alyssa to be a part of her life, but him, too. After a few minutes, they both left the parking with the evening to look forward to – together.
***The Christmas Book***
"And Esme was crying in her hot chocolate," Alyssa chatted, during dinner. "Saying I have the prettiest voice in the whole world." Edward laughed, watching Alyssa come alive with every word she said. "It must've tasted funny after that." The smile the little girl had since she found out Bella's was coming over, fell.
It hadn't gone unnoticed. "Aly," Bella said from across the table. "Do you know why she was crying?" Edward stilled and turned to look at her.
Alyssa pursed her lips and nodded. "Cuz she was mad at me?"
"No, sweetie," Edward said, taking Alyssa's hand. "She was happy. We've been so worried about you."
"They were happy tears?"
Bella nodded. "What you did today at the store, she was happy you'd finally done it."
"I only talked to you."
"Yes," Edward said. "But you talked in front of others, too."
"I didn't want to at first," Alyssa whispered. "But you were reading and I wanted to be closer to you." Bella's eyes softened, nodding encouragingly. Since her arrival, Edward had asked about what had happened at the store, but Bella thought it would be best that he asked Alyssa herself. She hoped that it would encourage her to talk outside of answering simple questions.
While Alyssa had washed up for dinner, Edward had explained to Bella that Alyssa had been to a few therapists that specialized working with children who'd become elective mutes due to traumatic experiences. In the months that followed, not one had been able to get a word out of Alyssa.
In one chance meeting, Bella had changed everything. They still had a lot to work through with Alyssa, but Bella already asked if she could be involved in some way. Edward knew she only asked because she didn't want to step over any boundaries, but those lines blurred when she gave her heart to Alyssa.
In the end, they agreed that Alyssa still needed to see a therapist and perhaps they would work through it together.
"I also wanted to be hear the story betterer, so I can read it to Edwerd."
Edward and Bella laughed. "You can have Edward read your book as your bedtime story, and tomorrow can be your turn," Bella suggested, taking a sip of her drink.
Edward stilled, hoping that Alyssa wouldn't react to the idea of reading a story in bed. The last time he tried, she cried herself to sleep. The day they came back with her new book and a Christmas tree, she'd been too exhausted to do much more than eat dinner and head to bed.
"Can you read it to me, Izzy?" Alyssa asked sweetly. Edward closed his eyes, his heart clenching painfully. He shouldn't feel hurt that she asked Bella, but it did. In the past two days, she talked more in Bella's presence than in the last nine months combined.
Bella sensed Edward's sudden tension but she couldn't find a way to nicely decline Alyssa's question. "Um, I need –"
"We need to finish our dinner," Edward said with a smile that barely met his eyes. "And then we can decorate the tree. Bella can come over to read to you some other time."
Alyssa's eyes widened as she started to clap happily. "She's coming over again! Can we have a sleepover?" Edward choked on his water but had it under control in seconds. It was then that Alyssa pulled out all the stops with a quivering lip, shining eyes and little prayer hands.
Edward looked at Bella for guidance, when she had none he cleared his throat to answer. "I think that will have to be um, Bella's decision."
Bella rolled her eyes. "Coward," she hissed playfully under her breath. She gave Alyssa a smile and patted her hand. "Sure, we can have a sleepover, any time you want." Edward shot out of his seat, declaring dinner was officially over.
"I don't think he liked your pasketti sauce," Alyssa whispered sadly as she watched Edward pile his dishes in the sink.
Bella thought that she'd have some fun with Edward before the night was through. He had to learn to stop putting her in the hot seat. "No, I don't think he did."
"But it was so yummy." The sweet child rubbed her stomach and hummed. "Can we decorate the tree now?"
"Sure thing, buttercup," Bella said as she helped Alyssa from her chair. Capturing her arm, Bella grabbed a napkin from the table. "But not until you wipe that pretty mouth of yours." The beautiful girl giggled, trying to catch the sauce on her lips with her tongue, until her eyes were crossed.
From the kitchen, Edward watched them, thankful that Bella seemed to be a perfect fit, despite his insecurities.
***The Christmas Book***
"I like tinsel. The tree looks all sparkly," Alyssa said from the top of Edward's shoulder. They'd been decorating the tree for an hour in a traditional theme of red, green and gold. Bella stood back for a moment, taking a quick picture of them together again.
"I think you got more tinsel in my hair than on the tree, baby cakes," Edward grumbled.
"But you look so pretty." Alyssa pulled out a few stands of the tinsel from his hair and then proceeded to hang them around his ear. He growled and laughed, pulling her into his arms and crushing her in a bear hug. She giggled, steadying herself by wrapping her arms around his neck, nuzzling her cheek against it. "I love you, Edwerd."
Bella watched as Edward's eyes closed as his arms tightened around Alyssa. "Love you always, Aly."
At that moment, Edward believed that not only did magic exist within the pages of a book but in the heart of the little girl that held his.
***The Christmas Book***
"You okay?" Bella asked as Edward plopped on the couch beside him. It had taken several attempts to get Alyssa to bed, refusing because Bella was still there. Though she offered to call it a night and head home, Edward made it clear he still wanted to talk to her.
"She still wouldn't let me read to her in bed," he whispered. Bella reached for him, sliding her hand from his jawline to his hair.
"It'll take time," she said. "But it will happen."
Taking her hand, he pressed a kiss inside her palm. "I believe you." With a little tug, she was in his arms, her head on his chest "You're something else, you know. I had almost given up hope."
"You never would've," Bella whispered as Edward started to play with her hair. "You love her too much."
Edward nodded, allowing the soft music that was playing soothe him. After a few minutes, he pulled Bella from the couch. "Dance with me," he whispered. Taking each of her hands, Edward intertwined their fingers as she looked up at him.
"You're making it really easy to fall," she murmured.
"So are you." He released her fingers, running his hands up her arms. She smiled softly as he cupped her neck and face, resting his forehead on hers. They danced in place for several minutes, both humming to the music.
"Edward," she whispered as he pressed his lips to her temple. Slowly, he continued a circuit along her jaw, near her ear and cheek. "What are you doing?"
Edward smiled against the corner of her lips, knowing she'd laugh. "Treasure hunting."
Bella laughed, but gasped when he finally reached her mouth tentatively. Slow and soft, he pressed his lips to hers, and she found that he kissed with not only his mouth but with his hands. Gentle fingers ran through her hair as her arms wrapped around his neck.
Edward pulled back only to catch his breath and press his lips to her pulse. "I think I found more than a little gold," he whispered, laughing when she did.
"Nice to know," she replied. Rising to the tips of her toes, she pressed another kiss on his lips. "I should head home, it's almost ten."
Edward nodded, though he didn't want to see her go. "Have dinner with us again tomorrow?"
"But it's Christmas Eve tomorrow."
"I want you here and I know Alyssa would, too."
She smiled, rubbing her fingertip over his reddened lip. "All right," she said. "Then I'll invite you two to Christmas dinner."
Edward brow furrowed as he frowned. "We're supposed to be going to my aunt and uncle's Christmas morning, but you're practically an honorary member already. I'm sure they wouldn't mind."
Bella shrugged, smiling shyly. "I meant next year."
He laughed and unable to resist any longer, he wrapped his arms around her, fully encompassing her. "We'll be there, I promise."
Edward never broke a promise. As he held her close, he knew the road ahead would not be easy for him and Alyssa, but it was would be worth it. And if the woman that he held in his arms learned to love them as he hoped, then some wishes really do come true.
AN: Betaed by kyla713. Sorry for the delay on this. Only the epilogue left.