It's time for the epi. I can't believe this little story is over. Thanks for all the love. See you at the bottom!
EPOV
8 years later…
"Aww man," the little boy huffs and sits on the table. "I feel fine."
"Hush," the blonde woman admonishes the child. "He's been coughing the past few days."
"No, I haven't," the child disagrees. "Why are you lyin-"
"Stewart!" the boy's mother shouts.
"Okay. Okay," I check the child over. Once I check everything I come to the conclusion that he's fine.
"See," he smiles.
"It's okay, buddy," I ruffle his hair. "Your mom just wants you to be okay," I chuckle as he hops off the table. I give him a lollipop and a high five.
"Okay," Kevin smiles and races out of the room.
"Doctor," the overprotective mother quickly steps back in the room. "I was wondering if you would like to…"
"Sorry," I point to the ring on my left hand. "I already have somebody who loves me at home," I interrupt.
I look awkwardly over the room. This happens pretty frequently. In spite of my wedding ring women still try to hit on me. I fight the urge to laugh. If the women ever met my wife I'm sure they'd immediately know they couldn't compete.
"Oh, no," she waves her hands profusely. "I was just…going to…"
"Your next appointment is waiting," Maggie, a nurse speaks.
"Okay," I step outside and Kevin's mother rushes out of the room. "Thanks," I whisper.
"That's the third one today," the nurse giggles, throwing a needle in the waste bin.
"Third what?" I ask, filling out a chart.
"The third desperate single mother who dragged her perfectly healthy child to the doctor so she could see that pretty little face," she answers in a childlike voice.
"Sure," I laugh at her expression and switch charts for my next appointment.
Once I started my residency I quickly learned that I'd found a calling in pediatrics. There was a certain rush I got from helping a child feel better. Good hours. Good pay. Plus, kids say the cutest things. I ended up starting a small practice downtown. Business was good so far.
"What's up, Doctor Cullen," Stacy, one of my regular patients waves.
"Hey, rock star," I smile at her, checking her chart. "It looks like someone needs their shots."
"Nooooo!"
Shit.
Five hours and several patients later I found myself in my driveway.
I see a little figure peek through the blinds and a smile erupts across my face.
"Daddy!" my daughter runs to my car holding Snooki in her arms. Her long blonde curls bounces with her movements.
Blonde hair. I know. Bella and I were surprised too.
"Carlie Bear," I hop out the car and take her in my arms. I take in her wardrobe choice for the day. Today, she's chosen a pajama top, a tutu, zebra leggings, and cowboy boots. She's her mother's daughter.
"You're home," she kisses my cheek.
"Yep," I nod, kissing her forehead. "Did you get prettier while I was gone?"
"Uh huh," she blushes, flinging her arms around my neck. "I miss you," she informs as I walk through the door.
"Where is your gorgeous Mommy?" I ask rubbing Snooki's head.
"Right here," my beautiful wife grins and helps Carlie down and takes the dog and sets it on the floor.
I take the time to look her over. She has on a black and white polka dot top, purple wide leg pants, her lovely black and purple bangles, and black oxford shoes. It goes well with the purple stripe she died in her hair.
It's sexy as hell.
"There we go," I smile back and attack her in the doorway. Her lips. Her cheeks. Her chin. I love every inch of her…as best I can in front of the kids.
"I missed you today," she breathes against my lips before leaning back in for another kiss. Her arms travel from my neck to my chest. "So much," her head tilts up to look at me. Her brown eyes stare into me and I lose myself.
I fall in love all over again.
"How did I get so lucky?" I rest my head on her chin, thinking of what happened when we got married.
"So…" Dad starts out, the confusion on his face evident.
This is so embarrassing.
"You and Bella weren't really dating when you came here," Emmett states.
"You just didn't want us to think you were a loser…even though you kinda were."
"James!" Victoria punches him.
"What?" he rubs his arm.
"Mmmhmm," I nod awkwardly and look everywhere but the Skype screen.
"You're just really good friends," Alice adds.
"Yep," Victoria nods.
"Wait!" Jasper interjects. "Why did Victoria come?"
"I just felt like it," Bella's best friends smiles and shirks.
"Okay," everyone nods.
We stare at each other in silence until Mom breaks it.
"Bella tried on my grandmother's ring…by accident," Mom says.
"Yeeeah," Bella nods her head.
"You didn't find out about Bella's parents until we did," Em gets a word in.
"So…basically…it was all a lie," Dad asks.
"No!" I shout at the same time Bella shouts, "Yes!"
"I mean the relationship was a lie at first," I admit.
"But we really did like each other before then. We were just too wrapped up in our own personal shit…excuse me, Esme" Bella covers her mouth.
"It's okay," Mom waves it off.
"Then, we got scared."
"I thought it was unlikely for her to see me as more than a friend."
"Impossible," Bella shakes her head. "You're perfect," she smiles at me. "He's perfect," she says to the screen. "Then I was scared because I didn't think you liked me because of Tanya," Bella pouts at me.
"Baby," I kiss her. "She hadn't been on my radar in weeks."
"I didn't know," she excuses.
"Why didn't you come clean after the ring?" Mom asks.
"You were so happy and well…you cried," Bella admits. "If you cried when you were happy I didn't want to see how you were when you were sad or angry."
"Woah," Lexi and Megan shake their heads and look at each other.
"We know. We know," Bella looks at me and lays her head in the crook of my shoulder.
"Then the whole thing with her parents and…we realized we were in love…for real," I admit, gazing into Bella's eyes. "Being without her for twelve hours was torture. I don't want to feel that ever again," I kiss her engagement ring.
"So…" I lead off, looking for any sign of emotion of the faces of my family members.
"Uh…"
"Well…"
"Okay," Lexi and Megan shrug and run off camera.
"Wait," a look of realization comes across Alice's face. "Victoria knew the WHOLE time?!" she asks.
In that exact moment Victoria disappeared from the frame.
"Damn. She got me again," James shakes his head and goes to search for his girlfriend.
"So…" I lead again.
"It'll be a story to tell your grandkids," Dad laughs. Everyone joins in.
"Mhm," Bella runs her hands over my homemade book and looks in my eyes. We share a look and decide to give them the final secret.
"We're happy you feel that way," I lead off. "Because…"
"We're getting married," Bella says slowly.
"We figured that-"
"On Friday," Bella.
"In Vegas."
"We'd appreciate it if you came."
"WHAT?"
"Shit!" I hiss, closing the laptop.
"What are you thinking about?" Bella kissing my neck.
"Nothing," I shake my head, putting a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'll get it out of you later," she smacks my ass.
"Really?" I look around for little eyes. When I don't see anyone, my hand inches up her shirt to grab her…
"Ewww," my daughter gags when Bella adds a little tongue.
Damn.
"How was work?" Bella unwraps her arms around me and sniffs me. "Rubbing alcohol never smelled so sexy," she smiles into my chest.
"Okay," my lips move to her neck. "Not nearly as good as coming home to you," I grin, taking a quick feel of her ass. I don't think the kids saw that.
"Really?" she asks, massaging my scalp with her fingers. "Well…"
"E-hem," a staged cough interrupts us before we got too out of hand.
"Wassup?" I kneel down to hug my EJ.
A couple weeks after we got back from our honeymoon Bella got sick. After I convinced her that food poisoning didn't last two weeks she took a pregnancy to confirm what I already knew. It seemed like we left our reunion in Hawaii with a gift.
I was going to be a daddy.
I won't lie. Bella and I were scared shitless at first. We hadn't even been married two months and we were already expecting. I lost count of how many times Bella cried in my arms with fear. She was terrified she'd mess up. Would she be there enough? Would our child know she loved them?
All our fears disappeared when Bella held Edward Anthony Cullen Jr. in her arms. To this day, I've never seen anything more beautiful than Bella holding my children. The night we brought him home from the hospital she told me she'd found her calling. She wanted to be there for our kids.
"Mini Me wants to show you something," Bella beams standing behind EJ.
Everyone says that EJ is my spitting image. I disagree. If you take away my crazy red hair and green eyes, he's all Bella.
"Mo-om," my son huffs. "Don't make it a big deal," he begs.
"It is a big deal," my wife pushes EJ forward. "Show him."
"Here," my son yawns, handing me a progress report.
All A's and smiley faces. I beam with pride.
"Aww, buddy," I hug him. "This is great."
"Eh," he sighs. "It wasn't hard. The work is really easy," he shrugs and walks away.
I chuckle at his aloofness. He's part Swan after all. Only someone in that family would feel blasé' at being three levels ahead in reading, math, and science.
"Someone is having red velvet cupcakes for desert," Bella says nonchalantly.
"Really?!" EJ shouts running back to us. "Sweet!" he hugs and kisses his mother. "Thanks, Mom."
"Can I have chocolate?" Carlie asks, her big brown eyes sparkling at her mother. "I don't like red velvet," she pouts. She looks so much like her mother.
"Sweetie, your mom is making red velvet today," I pout back at her. "We'll have chocolate another day."
"But…"
"You should have asked sooner," I kiss her forehead. "I'm sorry."
"Mommy," Carlie busts out the big guns and hugs her leg. "Pleease."
Hugging your leg is Carlie's version of releasing the Kraken.
"Oh," Bella whimpers and looks at me. "It's just…"
"No, Carlie," I say firmly.
"Hmph," she huffs and runs to the couch.
"It won't take me that long…" Bella starts.
"No," I shake my head.
Bella is the biggest badass I know. However, she can't say no to her kids. It seems like she overcompensates for her parent's attitude towards her by doing whatever she can to make them happy. While I see she's trying to do well by the kids, I can also see that she spoils them too much. I don't want it to bite us on the ass later on.
"It's just a cupcake," Bella pouts. "She's only four. She's a little girl."
"Now, it is just a cupcake," I warn her. "Next, it's a tongue ring and a pet giraffe."
"I love it when you're stern," she blushes. "Dinner is ready," she announces and the kids start running in.
"What's that?" I ask EJ, pointing to his tablet.
"Nothing," he replied a little too quickly.
"Sure?" I take it from him to find an Excel spreadsheet. "What?" I chuckle, showing Bella.
"I just wanted to see what it was," EJ looks around.
"After dinner," I put it away.
Bella sits in my lap as we eat dinner. We feed each other as the kids go on about their day. We were subjected to watching Transformers for the 12th time. It was EJ's turn to pick a movie.
"Tomorrow is Valentine's Day," I nuzzle my face in her neck.
"It sure is," she feeds me a grape. "I have something planned for you," she whispers and bites my ear.
"Ew," the kids shiver in unison.
"I'm scarred for life because of that," EJ shakes his head at us. "You're gross," he licks icing off of his fingers.
"We're sorry," Bella makes a funny face at him.
"They're pretty," Carlie looks at us with dreamy eyes.
"Women," EJ scoffs.
"Men," Carlie repeats her brother's sentiment.
"It's bedtime," I pop up.
After every conceivable stalling attempt known to man the kids are in bed.
"Do you hear that?" Bella asks from the bathroom.
"No," I listen harder. "I don't hear anything."
"Exactly," she steps out in a dark blue sheer baby doll. I didn't think it was possible for her figure to get any better than when I married her. However, she gained more curves during her pregnancies and…damn if she wasn't unstoppable now. My dick gets hard on sight. We've been married eight years and the sight of my wife still gives me wood. "Silence," she walks slowly to the bed.
"What can we do?" I attempt to sound sexy. It fails miserably when she palms my crotch. I squealed a little bit.
"I have an idea," she straddles my waist and I grab her hair to pull her lips to mine. I revel in the taste of her strawberry lips and the feel of her hands as they felt over me. "How do you want me?" she whispered in my ear, her hands sliding down my boxers off. I'm speechless.
"Uh…" I mumble, as her lips kiss down my chest to my stomach. "I…uh…"
"Use your words," she makes fun of me, her hands running down my sides. She loves the effect she has on me. "Tell me what you want."
"U-u-uh…"
"C'mon," she goads me and licks my abs.
I still couldn't believe that Bella wanted me this way but in times like this…when it was like she had to have me…it made me feel like the sexiest man on the planet. I enjoyed every second of it. My cock throbs harder as she approaches where I need her the most.
"Tell me," she commands, stroking my…
"Mom."
"Dad."
A soft knock on the door stops Bella in her tracks. Shit.
"Shit," she whispers. "Yes?" she answers, grabbing a shirt from her drawer.
And… sexy time is dead.
"What is it?" I ask, putting my underwear and pajama pants back on.
"Carlie is scared," EJ says through the door.
"Shut up, EJ," my daughter tells her brother. "You're scared too!"
I open the door and see the kids holding hands. EJ has his pillow tucked under one arm and his 'security' blanket tucked under the other. Carlie hugs her teddy bear Professor Fluff close to her chest.
"There was something under my bed so I went to sleep in EJ's room," Carlie excuses walking past me into the room.
"It followed her into my room," EJ stares at his sister and follows her onto the bed. "Now, there are strange sounds coming from my closet."
"I said I was sorry," Carlie cries at her brother.
"Okay," Bella hugs them to her chest. "Come on," she pouts at me, as they settle in. I can see the disappointment in her face.
You and me both.
"Goodnight," I kiss their heads and turn the lamp off.
"Can you leave the light on?" they ask in unison.
"Sure," Bella giggles and turns her lamp back on.
We look at each other and shake our heads. The kids are between us so I can't even cop a feel. I want to cry. Carlie is going through her 'I'm scared of the dark' phase. This means sleeping with Bella and me at least twice a week. When you're as horny as Bella and I am it can be a problem. I talked to my father about it. He looked at me and laughed. Apparently, I was the worst cock blocker of my siblings. He called it karma and went back to eating his sandwich.
I love my kids. I just love having sex with my wife too.
The kids are out like lights within five minutes.
"I'm sorry," Bella whispers to me from across the bed, covering EJ's ears with her hands.
"Not as much as I am," I whimper, covering Carlie's ears. "I really wanted you tonight," I try not to cry.
She had on the sexiest lingerie…
"But they're so cute," she gives me that perfect pout and kisses EJ's forehead.
"Yeah," I look down at them and smile. Carlie is snoring and EJ's mouth is wide open. Their limbs are flung across each other. "I guess," I shrug as a joke.
"Shut up," Bella swings her leg over to kick me. "In the next 5 years, EJ won't want to be seen with us in public," she informs me. "Enjoy it while you can."
"I know. I just really wanted to have sex with you," I whimper again.
"I'll more than make up for it tomorrow," she gives me a sultry look. "I have a surprise for you. It's been torture not to spoil it for you."
"What is it?" I ask, trying to scoot forward.
"No," she shakes her head. "You'll have to wait."
"Hint?"
"You'll figure it out," she refuses.
"Please?"
"No."
"Damn," I whisper.
"Go to sleep," she squints her eyes at me playfully.
"I love you Bella Cullen," I smile at her.
"I love you too," she blows me a kiss.
"Love you too…Daddy," Carlie says sleepily and cuddles into me. I close my eyes and feel the bed shift slightly before my daughter kisses my nose. My heart swells at her affection.
I guess letting them sleep with us wasn't so bad.
The sun shines through the window waking me. I roll over to see it's 11 in the morning. Luckily, I was able to get the day off. I wanted to romance Bella today. She's at home with the kids all the time. I like doing sweet and sexy things for her. Unfortunately, I was behind schedule because I overslept. I head downstairs and I'm greeted with the sight of Bella making breakfast in her bra and panties…her black lace bra and panties.
How did I get so lucky?
I sneak across the room and grab her from behind.
"Happy Valentine's Day," I wrap my arms around her.
"Happy Valentine's Day," she smiles, twisting her arm around my neck from the front to kiss me. "I made breakfast," she hands me a plate.
"No," I put the plate on the counter and lifted her onto the table. "I'm not hungry…for food anyway."
The sight of my wife practically naked made me hungry for something else entirely.
"What are you in the mood for then?" she asks coyly, leaning her elbows on the table.
"I have an idea," I kiss the inside of her thigh and take her panties off.
"Well you…" my fingers stroking her core stops her mid-sentence. "Shit," she whispers, as my tongue moves its way to her clit. "Edw-"
"Hmm?" I hum in question against her and she cries out again. She loves that. I smile against her, adding another finger. Her hand fists itself in my hair to massage my scalp. I growl louder, my fingers and tongue move faster and more aggressive. She's fucking my face. Her legs start to quiver. I pin them down so she can't move. She's at my mercy.
I love it.
I love how wet I make her.
I love how she moans when I fuck her with my tongue.
I love it when she yanks my hair so hard I feel like she's going to pull it out.
I love that I'm the only man that has ever been with her this way.
Most of all, I love it when she orgasms.
"Oh God!" she yells as her walls start clenching around my fingers. "Fuck!" her hands bang the table.
I grab her waist and pull her to the edge of the table. Her small hands move to pull down my pants and my boxers. She lifts her legs on my shoulders as I line my cock to her entrance. She's so wet I slide in to her with little force. Our breath catches and we look into each other's eyes. I crash my lips to hers and our lips and tongues moving together in harmony.
"Shit," I hiss, as I start pounding into her.
"Uh…uh…uh," she pants into my ear with every thrust.
I kiss down her neck to her chest. I yank her bra down to reveal her breast. Her back arches as I take her peak into my mouth.
"Perfect," I whisper, my head falling onto her chest.
"Yes!" one leg moves around my waist. "Right here! Right there!" she cries, her hips moving frantically against mine. "Yes," her head throws back and I kiss her again.
"I…I…I," I struggle to speak. It's "so good…so…uh…" I stammer.
"Edward!" she cries, giving me her second orgasm of the day and triggering my own.
"I…love…you," I tell her.
"I love you too," she wipes the sweat off my face. "That was amazing," she smiles, lying on the table.
"You looked too good not to eat," I bite her nipple.
"Wow," she smiles, kissing me.
The sound of the doorbell ringing pulls us back down to Earth.
"I'll get it," I pull my pants up and answer the door.
Snooki runs past me down the hallway. I assume it is to reach the door first. However, she runs head first into the door instead. She's 13 years old which makes her a senior citizen in dog years. She's partially blind now. This just gives Bella and Carlie an excuse to carry her everywhere.
I smile as I sign for the first part of Bella's Valentine's Day extravaganza gets here.
"You still need to eat," I hear Bella tell me as she puts on her underwear.
"Okay," I shrug, handing her flowers.
"Edward!" she cries, jumping and clapping.
Did I mention she hasn't put on her bra yet?
"This is so sweet," she takes the very large, very expensive, bouquet of exotic flowers and places them on the counter. "Thank you," she smiles, hugging me.
"That's all I want," I kiss her head.
"Are you talking about my happiness or my bare chest hugging yours?" she asks flatly.
"Both, of course," I answer.
"Dork," she pushes me away and smells her flowers. "They're beautiful," she smiles at me.
"Not half as beautiful as you," I tell her.
"Cheese," she playfully rolls her eyes. "Sit!" she pats the couch. "Let me feed you."
I give her my shirt and we eat breakfast together on the couch. We watch Terms of Endearment. Well, Bella watched it and I felt her up the whole time. I smiled every time Bella went to the kitchen to 'check on something'. We both know she was in there staring at her flowers and smelling them. If she were the one to gloat, they'd be on Instagram by now.
I give my trademark smirk at Bella's confused face when the doorbell rings again.
"Who is that?" she asks, opening the door.
"Part two of your gift," I announce, letting the workers in.
"Hello," a woman in a white polo and khakis smiles at us. "We're here for your couples at home spa treatment."
"We didn't…"
"I did," I smile hugging my wife from behind.
"Edward," she hangs her head. "This is too much. I don't need this."
"Nothing is too much for my Fairy Princess," I argue. She blushes. She can't resist me when I call her my Fairy Princess. "Let me do this."
"But…"
"No buts," I hand her a white terry cloth robe. "Relax."
"Is there anything I can get you?" Marilyn, a masseuse looks me up and down.
Did she look her lips?
"Um…" it's awkward.
"If you get on the table, I'll take good care of you," she smiles again, emphasizing the word good.
"I'd like someone who won't ogle my husband in front of me," Bella stands in front of me. "Since you're taking requests," she bites. She's getting mad. The vein around her eye is making an appearance.
Sexy.
"Mrs. Cullen, I didn't mean any disrespect. I was just…"
"You're hitting on my husband in front of me…after he paid for a couple's…Valentine's Day package?" she informs her. "I'm not supposed to be disrespected? Seriously?"
I put my arms down and try to hide how hard I'm getting. Most men would be embarrassed at how their wife acted. Bella will never have an idea of how sexy I find it when she gets all territorial around me.
"I just wanted…"
"I know what you wanted," my wife raises an eyebrow.
"Marilyn?" a muscular man huffs. "Wait in the car."
"But…"
"It'll only be an hour," he dismisses his employee.
"She sure has him on a short leash," I hear her whisper to a red head as she goes out the door.
"Just how I like it," I chuckle loud enough so she can hear.
"Damn right," Bella laughs with me.
Bella enjoyed the massage more than I did. Henry was a little too rough for my taste. Bella got the woman masseuse. There was no way I was going to let some random guy feel on my wife. It felt weird. I don't think it's natural to let a man rub your back like that. I only lasted 10 minutes before I tapped out.
"This is amazing," Bella moans, causing me to look up from my Sudoku puzzle.
"I'm glad you like it," I say as Bella's cell phone starts to buzz.
"Who is that?"
"It's EJ's school," I show her the caller I.D. before I answer.
"Put it on speaker," Bella tells me.
"Hello?" I ask.
"Mrs. Cullen?" the woman asks.
"Yes," Bella replies, tilting her head up.
"This is Dr. Lockhard," she states apprehensively.
"Huh?" I ask.
Dr. Lockhard was the headmaster of EJ's school. It was weird she was calling and not a teacher.
"Is something wrong?" Bella asks worried.
"Uh…yeah," she answers, her tone undecipherable. "There has been an incident…"
"I'montheway," Bella jumps up, covering her chest. "Oh God," Bella whimpers, grabs the sheet to wrap herself and runs upstairs.
"Is he okay?"
"Yes," she answers.
"We'll be there in a minute," I rush off the phone.
I pay the crew and follow Bella upstairs. She's running around in sweats and a tank top.
"Get ready," she tosses a pair of jeans at me. "EJ is in…"
"He's fine," I hug her. "He's not hurt."
"But…"
"Calm down," I peck her cheek and put on my clothes.
"Is it that Trevor asshole again?" she asks, hopping into the car. "I'll wring his fucking neck!"
EJ has had some issues with bullies this year. They like to pick on him because he's the smartest kid in his class. Unlike me at that age, he fights back. He's got too much Swan in him not to. Last month, he got into a fight and came home with a busted lip. Trevor Goode, a third grader, has been a particular thorn in my son's side. He bullies all the kids in the lower grades.
"I'm sure…"
"I mean he terrorizes all the kids and when EJ stands up to him…he's the one that gets in trouble," Bella seethes. "That little shit needs to know that when you act like an asshole it gives people the right to fuck you up."
"Dr. Lockhard told me EJ was fine," I try to calm her down.
"I'll be the judge of that," Bella crosses her arms. "I don't give a shit what the law says. If I see him try any of the 'bully' shit with EJ I'll fuck him up. I don't care how old he is."
"I'll lie to the cops for you," I hold her hand as we park the car.
Before I can put the car in park Bella sprints into the building. I follow suit and go to the Headmaster's office. Imagine my surprise when I saw Victoria there.
"Hey, Vic," I hug her and kiss her newborn son's forehead. "How's it going?"
"Fine," she sighs, shaking a toy in front of the stroller holding the baby boy.
"He's so precious," Bella coos, taking the boy from the stroller and placing him on her hip. "How is James?"
Victoria and James got married around a year after Bella and I did. Of course, it was an insanely ostentatious ceremony only someone like Victoria and Alice could plan. It was in every major newspaper in the country. Renee' gave Victoria a three page spread in an issue of Vogue.
Their marriage lasted a year and a half.
During that year, Victoria has a beautiful blonde haired, smart ass, little boy named Patrick. He's in kindergarten. He's in trouble so much; Victoria paid to have a special parking space put in the parking lot for her.
"Still a psychotic asshole," she smiles. "Are you coming to the wedding?"
"Of course," I laugh at her.
A little after Patrick was born, Victoria caught James fucking the nanny. The nanny. Really. Anyway, Victoria got pissed and fucked James' cousin. They divorced. They were planning Patrick's 4th birthday together and ended up having sex in a bouncy house. It reignited the flame in their relationship so much that two weeks later James pulled Victoria's date out of his car door and beat him up. It was a big mess. Then, Victoria got pregnant again.
And they're getting married…again.
Lord, help us all.
"What are you in for?" Bella asks, kissing Jeremy's cheek.
"Your guess is as good as mine," Vic bangs her head on the wall.
"The headmaster will see you now," Linda, the secretary opens the door for us.
"Which one?"
"Both of you," she smiles awkwardly.
Shit.
The office is as grandiose as and office of a princ…headmaster of one of the most exclusive prep schools in the country can get. There is a large mahogany desk sitting in front of a window with an excellent view of the forest in the background. There are three large leather chairs sitting in front of the desk. I look to the bench by the wall and see my son. He's scared shitless.
"What did you do?" Victoria asks Patrick who is eating a chocolate bar.
"Nothing too bad," he replies, licking chocolate off his fingers.
"EJ?" Bella questions, sitting down. He just looks down at his feet.
"Mr. and Mrs. Cullen, Ms. Greene," Dr. Lockhard smiles at us. "Welcome."
"Thank you," we all say in a flat tone.
"First, I'd like to thank you for the beyond generous donation to the scholarship fund," she looks to Bella and me.
Bella spearheaded a scholarship fund to give talented, underprivileged children an opportunity to attend St. Vincent's. It even provided the children with transportation to and from school and various school events.
"Anything for the kids," Bella smiles, and looks at EJ who suddenly finds the floor interesting.
"It's been a really nice oppor…"
"Cut the crap," Vic huffs. "What's the problem?"
"Are you aware of the Healthy Child Initiative?" the headmaster asks.
"Of course," I nod my head.
The state passed a law that banned schools from selling junk food and soft drinks to children. They did so in hopes of combating childhood obesity…as opposed to having real P.E. and healthier lunch food.
Politics.
"Well…" Dr. Lockard gets up from her chair and takes out a huge duffle bag. "This is awkward," she finishes, as every type of candy imaginable spills out from the bag. Hard candy. Gummy candy. Lollipops. Chocolate. Pixie sticks. It was all there.
"And…" she leads off with yet another duffle bag. "This," she takes out cans of various sodas and Capri Suns.
"Oh shit," Bella whispers, running her hand across the mountain of sugar.
"We have reason to believe that EJ and Patrick were selling candy on school grounds for money," Lockhard sits down to look at us.
"Allegedly," Patrick chimes in, crossing his arms.
"Quiet," Victoria points at her son.
"How do you know EJ had anything to do with this?" Bella asks, staring at our son.
"Oh dear," the headmaster takes the Louis Vuitton backpack Alice got EJ for his birthday and dumps out a rather large wad of money on top of the candy mountain. It's not just one dollar bills. You've got 5's, 10's, and 20's in there too.
"Is that a roll of quarters?" Bella asks.
"So he could make change," the teacher sighs. "That's five hundred dollars."
"That's not ours!" Patrick denies.
"Shut up," EJ whispers to his friend, and elbows him in the chest.
"I…don't know what to say," I facepalm myself.
My son started a candy smuggling ring. What the fuck?
"Wow," Victoria bangs her head on the table.
"Okay," Bella starts. "EJ and Patrick are very precocious young boys. I'm sure they didn't know…"
Before Bella can finish her statement, a price list is added to the mountain of evidence. It's laminated. Today, there was a Valentine's Day 2 for 1 special until after recess.
"EJ," Bella gives our son the universal 'I'm so disappointed in you' look. He throws his head in his hands and starts to cry.
"Way to confess, EJ," Patrick pouts at his friend.
"I've decided on a way to handle this," Lockhard tells us. "I'm going to redistribute the money back to the students and EJ and Patrick are suspended for a week."
"A week?" the parents question in unison.
"Cool!" Patrick shrugs eating a lollipop.
"A week!" EJ cries out. "I'm gonna miss the Valentine's party," he whines.
"Come on," I take EJ's hand.
"Daddy," he stops walking. "Can I go to the party?"
"No," I refuse.
This kid was so grounded. He didn't even know it.
"Just for a little while? Please?" he begs.
"I'm so disappointed in you," Bella shakes her head at him. "I can't believe this."
"See you guys later!" Patrick waves at us as Victoria drags him into the parking lot.
After grounding EJ until puberty, we picked Carlie up from preschool. She went on and on about her day while EJ pouted next to her.
"Look!" Carlie empties her bag on the floor. "I got all these valentines," she smiles.
It didn't escape me that 80 percent of them were from boys.
"This one was from Roger. This was from Danny. This one is pretty. It's from Quentin," she brags, telling me all of her admirers.
"You're a popular one," Bella smiles at her. "It's because you're so smart and pretty," she hugs her.
"Mhm," I stare at the valentine cards. Maybe if I stare long and hard enough they'll catch on fire.
My little girl.
Mine.
"Shhh," Bella takes my face in her hands. "They're pre-written cards. They're all the same."
"It's okay, Daddy," Carlie kisses me. "You're still my valentine."
My heart swelled. Hopefully, she won't date until I'm dead.
"Okay," she raises an eyebrow. "I have no clue what possessed EJ to start a candy cartel," she sits on the couch.
"How did he get all of that candy?" I ask. "We would have seen it."
It must have taken bags and bags of candy to make up that stash. That's some serious coin. Who would…
In the middle of my thought, I felt Bella's body go rigid. We looked at each other and a spark of realization hits us.
"Charlie," we say at the same time.
"Son of a bitch," she grabs her phone and angrily dials her father's number and puts him on speaker.
I'm happy to say that over the past few years Bella and Charlie's relationship has gotten a lot better. He's still a busy man but he makes more time for her. He is an important figure in EJ and Carlie's life. They love it when he comes around. It's mostly because he gives them expensive gifts and takes their side in everything. I can't say the same thing about Renee'. Once she found out Bella eloped in Vegas all Hell broke loose. They haven't said much to each other since.
"Yeah," my father in law answers the phone. "What is it?"
"How much money did you give EJ to start his candy business?" Bella questions.
"A hundred," he answers. "Why?"
"Dad! How could you?" Bella asks.
"He came to me with a sound business plan two months ago," he excuses. "I wasn't going to keep him from an opportunity. It was only a hundred bucks. Why stifle his creativity? He wants to sell candy. Big deal," he laughs at us. "It's candy not crack."
"He's been doing this for two months?" I ask in disbelief.
There is more money. I'm sure of it.
"It's illegal to sell candy to children in school in the state," I deadpan.
"Oh," Charlie says quickly.
"Still a good idea?" Bella asks, causing a long silence.
"Wow," he breaks the silence by chuckling. "It must have been like opening a lemonade stand in the desert."
"Dad!"
"It's funny," he laughs harder. "How much did he…"
"I can't believe him," she huffs, hanging up on her father.
I understand Bella's frustration. However, part of me is amazed that a 7 year old started a candy cartel and got away with it for two months.
I'm a little proud.
"Can we have pizza for dinner?" Carlie jumps in between us on the couch and climbs in my lap. "Please, Daddy?"
"Ask Nana and Pop Pop when they get here," I tell them. "You're spending the night at their house."
"Really?" my daughter's eyes light up. She loves spending the night at my parent's house. I don't have any proof but I'm sure their bedtime is non-existent there. "Yay!" she shouts running upstairs. "EJ! We get to say over Nana and Pop Pop's house," I hear her little voice carry away.
"I asked my parents last week if they wouldn't mind," I whisper in Bella's ear. "That way, we can be as loud as we want," I nibble on her ear.
"I feel sorry for our neighbors," She gropes my junk.
"About this surprise…"
"Nope," she shakes her head and her phone rings. "It's probably Dad," she answers without looking. "Yeah," she smiles. She mouths that it's Victoria. They're going to be a minute so I go to the kitchen to get a bottled water.
I walk in and Bella is putting her shoes on and giving me an apologetic face.
"The James and Victoria saga continues," she sighs at me. "He said something about not giving a shit about…something," she puts on a hoodie. "I'm going to assess the damage. I'll be back in an hour."
Someone could write a New York Times best-selling book series about the exploits of those two nut jobs.
"I'll get the kids ready," I kiss her and smack her ass as she walks out the door.
"Guys," I walk upstairs. "It's time to get ready from Nana and Pop…"
"EJ is sad," Carlie informs me.
"He got in trouble at school today," I ruffle her hair today. "He's on punishment."
"He's really sad," she elaborates. "I tried letting him use Professor Fluff but that didn't even help," she says worried, shaking the stuffed toy at me for emphasis.
Carlie idolizes her big brother. She hates it when he gets in trouble.
"I'm okay," EJ somberly speaks from his room.
"He's not," Carlie shakes her head. "Daddy," she pushes me into her brother's room. "Make it better," she orders. She closes the door behind me.
"Hi," he whispers to me in the dark.
"You know why we punished you," I turn the light on.
"I know," he sighs. "I was bad. I deserved it," he flips over. "I didn't expect it to get that bad."
"Why?" I sit down on the bed.
"First, the candy was just for me and Mel…Patrick," he corrects himself.
Who's Mel…
"Who else?" I ask, smiling. I had a feeling it was a girl.
"Da-ad."
"Who else?" I nudge his side. "Is it a girl?"
"You'll make fun of me," he huffs and puts his face in his pillow.
"No, I won't," I tickle him.
"You're doing it right now," he mumbles.
"Tell me," I stop.
"Her name is Melanie," he informs. "During recess, we would share candy and play together …before they stopped selling it. I started taking candy because I knew she liked it. Then, people wanted to buy it from me. It escalated quickly. So I got the start-up money from Papa Charlie. I didn't mean for it to get that bad. Honest," he hugs me.
He did it for love. He's a man after my own heart.
"You could have told us," I say. "We would have invited Melanie over and you could have played video games or something."
"Hindsight is 20/20," he flops down on the bed. "Now, I can't give her the card."
"What card?"
"This one," he shows me a homemade Valentine's card. It's pink with a red heart on the center and it's covered in silver, red, and pink glitter. It says 'Happy Valentine's Day Melanie (from Edward)' on it. It might be the most adorable thing ever.
"This is nice," I compliment, as I try to open it.
"No!" he stops my hand. "Don't open it," he takes it back.
"You can give it to her when you get back," I put the card in an envelope.
"It won't be Valentine's Day then," he pouts. "It's pointless."
"She'll know…"
"She won't," he shakes his head. "It won't be the same," he looks at the envelope on his bedside table. "Will you take me to give it to her?" he asks, his green eyes shining at me.
"EJ…"
"Please," he begs me. "I'll still be on punishment."
"Come on, Daddy," Carlie and Snooki bursts through the door. Snooki rams into the bedpost. "I won't tell."
"Please," they say in unison, two sets of green eyes shining up at me.
Damn it.
Who am I to get in the way of young love?
"One condition," I start to cave. "You fork over the rest of the money you made."
"Not my nest egg," EJ cries.
"Fine," I get up.
"Fine," he huffs and goes under his bed and gives me two old lunchboxes. They're full of money.
Damn. Bella is gonna have a shit fit.
"Pack your bag first."
"Yay!" Carlie hugs my leg. "I have to get ready."
I thought she was ready.
Carlie comes out in a red tunic shirt, white pants, pink flats and a giant silver bow in her hair. EJ chose a simple white polo and khakis.
"Quick!" EJ grabs the envelope and the contact information sheet. "We have to get back before Mom gets home."
"This is so exciting," Carlie beams, putting her seatbelt on.
"You sure?" I ask, plugging the address into the GPS in the car.
"Mhm," he smiles, clutching the card to his chest.
Melanie's house was only a 15 minute drive. It seems like someone was having a party because it was near impossible to park. Eventually, we find a space down the street.
"This is so cool," Carlie skips down the street. "Can we stop and get cupcakes on the way home? I want…"
"Ahhhh!" EJ screams, and sprints down the street to the car.
He could run track.
"Son," I call after him. He's desperately trying to open the door to the car.
"Bad idea. Bad idea. This was a horrible idea," he rushes out.
"Come on, buddy," I stop his hand. "We drove all this way. It was your idea."
"Why did you let us talk you into this?" he tries to open the car. "I'm 7. You're 31. You should know better," he reasons. "Open the door," he begs.
"No," I lift him up and place him back on the sidewalk.
I wouldn't let him back out. I wanted my children to live their lives knowing they took advantage of every opportunity they had. I didn't want them to be afraid. This girl was lucky EJ liked her.
"What if she doesn't like me back?" he asks, looking at the cars pass by.
"EJ, you're a handsome, kind, loving, and smart little boy," I hug him. "Any girl would be lucky to have you."
"If she's mean to you I'll beat her up," Carlie tells her brother.
"She's gonna be so happy," I kiss the top of his head. "She'll love it."
"O-Okay," he adjusts his shirt and holds my hand.
We walk in silence until we reach the girl's house. It resembles a New York brownstone with ivy growing up the front and sides. We stop at the steps and I usher my son forward.
"Go on," I gently push him up the steps and walk back to the sidewalk.
"Go, EJ!" Carlie cheers for her brother.
EJ straightens his clothes one more time and rings the doorbell.
"Dad," he sighs.
"Oh," I turn around and Carlie follows my lead.
"H-hello, Mrs. Dawson. My name is Edward Cullen Jr. I go to Melanie's school. I-is she home?"
"Okay," I hear the sound of a woman who must be Melanie's mother. "Mel! Someone is at the door for you."
"Hi, Edward," I hear a girl's voice. I tilt my head to the side and notice a cute blonde haired girl with her hair in pigtails answer the door.
"Hey, Mel," he rushes. "I…uh…made you a Valentine's Day card," he smiles, giving her the envelope.
"Really? I made you one too," she smiles, taking a big card from behind her back.
I do a mental cheer for my boy. I knew she liked him back.
"Here," he hands the girl her card. "Open it."
I take the opportunity to turn around to get a better view. Melanie opens the card and it explodes with glitter and a heart pops up.
That's why he didn't let me open it. He's a creative guy.
"Wow!" she cries. "I LOVE glitter," she jumps up and down and hugs EJ.
"I know," my son smiles.
"Thank you," she gives him a large red card with a teddy bear on it.
"You're welcome," he opens it up.
They stare at each other for a couple of minutes.
"Well…" EJ looks around. "Bye," he smiles and gives her a Twix bar.
"Bye," she grins and hands him a giant Hershey's kiss.
"I'll see you when I get back to school," he waves.
"Okay," she hugs him and goes back inside her house.
EJ turns around and beams. I've never seen him smile so big. He walks down the stairs with a little pep in his step.
"Success," he whispers, giving me a high five.
"See?" I nudge his shoulder. "I told you it would turn out okay."
"EJ has a girlfriend. EJ has a girlfriend," Carlie starts to tease.
"Shut up!"
"I don't think I will," she replies, skipping to the car singing her new favorite song.
"EJ!" Melanie runs after him.
"Huh?" he asks, right before Mel plans a kiss on his cheek. His jaw drops open.
"Bye," she waves and runs back up the street.
He smiles the entire ride home. He touches his cheek every now and then to make sure it still happened. I shake my head in pride. My son has better game than I do.
We get back home with 10 minutes to spare. Just as the kids are getting back from the restroom, Bella and my parents walk through the door.
"They were making up by the time I got there," Bella tells me. "Then, Victoria held me hostage and made me brainstorm color palettes for the wedding," she wraps her arms around me. "I'm so glad we borderline eloped. I hate color schemes and china patterns."
"Not half as much as I do," I disagree. She didn't grow up with Alice.
"Hello, my beautiful daughter," Mom hugs Bella.
"Hey, Mom," Bella grins.
Since meeting Bella, my mom has acted as a surrogate mother of sorts to Bella. They've gotten so close over the years. She likes her more than me.
"Is he treating you okay?" Mom points to me. "I'll kick his ass," she hisses at me and ruffles my hair.
"He's okay," Bella laughs. "Thank you guys for doing this."
"It's okay," Dad comes in, eating a leftover red velvet cupcake. "I made your mother scream last night," he jokes, biting Mom's cheek.
"Ew!" I shiver. Bella shoves me.
That's just nasty. Since they're getting older my parents are starting to get where they don't care if they disgust you with their PDA. It's sweet to be in your sixties and still have sex. I just don't want to hear about it every time I talk to them.
"Yes," Mom gives my father a look. "Every day with your father is Valentine's Day," she says.
"Did you hear about Heidi?" Dad asks Bella.
"No. Why?"
"She's up for parole," Mom informs, as the kids rush down the stairs.
"WHAT?!" I shout out in anger. "Are you serious?"
Once the police and Charlie's investigators looked over our house after Bella's release, it was pretty easy to see that Heidi was behind poisoning Bella. Plus, Alec sang like a bird when he was questioned. He didn't take too kindly to his wife confessing her unrequited love for my father in front of him. The average sentence for attempted murder is 20 years. Heidi used whatever money she had and her lawyers somehow talked the jury into giving her 12 instead. Apparently, it was impossible to truly tell that Heidi was trying to kill Bella. They said it was a prank gone wrong. They discredited Alec's testimony saying he was just mad he found out Heidi was in love with Dad. So she got a lighter sentence. I don't give a shit if it was a prank or not. Bella almost died.
Who in the hell put that crazy bitch up for parole?
"She served half of her sentence with good behavior and has been seeing a therapist for the past five years or so," Dad sighs. "That's what I've heard."
"8 is a lot less than 12," Bella points out.
"Overcrowding, I guess," Dad sighs.
"You might be contacted to come to the parole hearing," Mom tells us.
"No way in Hell," Bella gripes.
"Mom!" the kids gasp.
"Sorry," she kisses their heads. "No," she tells my parents.
"That entire family is one big parasite," Dad rolls his eyes. "I don't know why we were friends with them for so long."
"You're very loyal," Mom guesses.
People found out about their whole scheme and they were blackmailed from most high society circles. Once his business went belly up, Alec started over completely. He divorced Heidi, married his assistant and started another company. He moved to Dallas. He's successful but nowhere near as rich as before. Irina went to Europe and never came back. Last I heard about Tanya, she was some investment banker's mistress in New York. I shook my head at the news. Some people land on their feet. In Tanya's case, she landed on her back.
I chuckle at my wit.
Kate married a pretty famous music producer. His name is Garrett…something. Anyway, their living in tattooed and pierced harmony in L.A. Naturally, Kate's sisters tried to take advantage of her good fortune. She told them to fuck themselves. I guess them treating her like shit all their lives came back to haunt them.
"Can we have pizza at your house?" EJ asks.
"Please?" she hugs Dad's leg.
"Ah…okay," Dad chuckles at the hopeful expression on their faces.
"Chocolate cupcakes?" Carlie asks for the third time in 24 hours.
"Maybe," Mom ruffles her hair and takes them out to the car.
And then there were two.
Finally.
"All alone," Bella stalks toward me.
"Yes," I breathe a sigh of relief.
"I have another surprise for you," I say, leading her into the den.
"I can't take any more surprises," she smiles at me.
"You'll like this one," I hand her the book.
"What is it?" she playfully rolls her eyes. "Edward," she looks at me with watery eyes.
It was the fairy tale I made her all those years ago. Sometimes the kids like to hear it as their bedtime story. I noticed it was starting to look tattered so I got an artist to illustrate it and bind it. It was now in a dark brown leather book with gold lined pages. It had The Prince and the Fairy on the front in elaborate gold font.
I sit her on my lap and read her our story again. She runs her fingers along the vibrant colors on the page and kisses me. I gave the artists a picture of us so the prince and the fairy look like us. On the last page, it's a portrait of our family with 'And the lived happily ever' after on it.
Bella lost her shit…in a good way.
"This is the best gift anyone has ever gotten me," she cries, hugging me. "I love you."
"I love you too," I wipe her tears away and kiss her. "So much."
She sits in my lap and I read the book to her again. We take breaks to kiss in between.
My wife is an excellent kisser.
"One more surprise," I remind her.
"Really?" she laughs at me. "You spoil me."
"You deserve it," I reply. "Dinner in two hours," I kiss her temple.
"Shit," she jumps up. "I should go shower. I've been up and running all day," she says.
"Alright," I follow her and pick out something to wear. I settle on a nice blue suit and tie. I'm still relatively fresh from this afternoon so I sit on the couch and wait for Bella to get ready.
"Edward?" she calls from our room.
"Yeah?"
"Have you seen my silver heels?" she asks.
I roll my eyes. She has about 20 pairs of shoes that fit that description.
"Which pair?"
"The ones with the strappy thing on it."
That narrows it down to 12 pairs of shoes that could be.
"Uh…" I try to think. "Nope."
"I think they're in the hallway closet downstairs. Carlie played dress up in my clothes a couple days ago."
I check the closet and find a mountain of Bella's shoes with feather boas and jewelry. When Carlie plays dress up, it's more like a photo shoot. She's going to be a diva when she grows up. I can feel it.
"Found it," I guess. I take a couple up to our room. "I think these are…"
The sight before me renders me completely speechless. My limbs give way and I drop the pile of shoes on the floor and have to clutch the doorframe for support.
"You didn't forget about my surprise did you?" she asks, twirling her long ponytail around her finger.
"You're… You're…"
"Uh huh," she nods her head, grinning at my loss for words.
"It's…the…"
"Yep," she bites her bottom lip.
My wife, my beautiful, sexy, loving, perfect wife… is lying on the bed in an exact replica of Princess Leia's slave costume from Return of the Jedi…complete with ponytail and chain. Oh God. The chain.
"You're…" I try to gather my composure. "
"I'm not really hungry," she twirls the chain around. "Do you wanna stay in and hang out?" she asks.
"Uh..huh…" I walk forward and trip over the seemingly forgotten mountain of shoes.
"Be careful," she cries out to me. "I don't want you to…"
"I'm okay," I complete a sentence and lunge into the bed to ravish her. I think I'll keep the skirt on.
Best Valentine's Day EVER!