A/N- Twilight is not mine.
So everyone, this is the last chapter. There will be an epilogue to follow. I am writing a new story after this, those who read my one shot 'remember me' might know that I was thinking of turning that into a multi chaptered story, however it is not coming to me so I am leaving that one as is for now.
My new story will be set in the 30's with James and Edward as Private Investigators. I am super excited to start this one but I will be taking some time to develop and research. Please add me on Author Alert so you know when I start posting.
Thanks to everyone who has been reading and extra thanks to those who have been reviewing. This story has gotten the most response of all my stories and I am humbled that you all have taken the time to read.
Chapter 28
Some progress I was not ready to take but Edward gave me the puppy dog eyes so I couldn't say no. We were meeting Esme for lunch. She had called and asked Edward if we could meet her and talk. I told him it sounded ominous but he said that she just wanted to get to know me better. That didn't make me feel any better. What kind of conversation do you have with your boyfriend's mother when you have been married to his father? It was giving me a headache just thinking about it.
I enlisted Alice for the first time in many months to help me with my wardrobe choices. She squealed so loudly on the phone that I immediately regretted it.
"Bella, we need to go shopping," Alice said pillaging through my closet.
"Alice, can't you just find something in there?" I asked.
"Bella, you don't seem to have any clothes that scream 'I'm sorry that I married your husband but I am really in love with your son so I hope you will like me'."
"Does anyone have those clothes? Seems like a pretty small market to me," I said smirking. Alice gave me a smack that I'm sure she meant to be playful but really hurt.
"Oh wait, this could do," she said pulling out a pair of black pants and a blue blouse.
"Really?" I said, thinking that I could have picked that out.
"Yes Bella. You don't want to be dressed sexy, obviously, and she already knows you're banging her son so dressing sweetly would be like an insult. You need to dress confident but not bitchy….hence this outfit." Her hands swept up into a Vanna White like ta-da over the outfit.
"I am kind of scared that you just made a little bit of sense to me." This comment earned me another smack. I was sure to have a big bruise on my arm but at least the top she picked out covered that part of my arm.
I thanked Alice for her help and ushered her out the door. Edward was due back in a few minutes. He had been practically living with me since Rose had let Emmett into her goody bag. Emmett found it hot to do it in the dorm room so Edward only went back to his room when absolutely necessary. I didn't mind, I liked having him in my home and I didn't sleep well without him. And as the domino effect took over, Jake had practically moved in with Nessie, probably for similar reasons as Edward. I refused to be embarrassed that the boy made me scream.
"Honey I'm home." Edward's voice reverberated through the house as he came in the door.
"Home, huh?" I replied giving him a hug and a gentle pinch on the behind to let him know I was joking.
"Yes Bella, because home is where ever you are."
The boy was too smooth for his own good. He leaned down and brushed his lips against mine. The kiss was chaste but still left me blazing for more. "We need to go," he said softly, kissing me once more.
"But I can think of better things to do if we just stay here," I pleaded while pulling his hips towards mine.
"Do you really want me to explain to my Mother later that we stood her up so we could stay here and have sex?" He cocked his eyebrow and I knew he had me. "How about I make it up to you and take you out tonight and then we can come back here and do all those 'better' things you mentioned."
"Promise?"
"You have my word," he said. His eyes darkened as he leaned in and gave me a heated kiss. I was the one to pull back this time and I ushered him out the door.
Esme was already seated when we arrived at the restaurant. The butterflies in my stomach were rapidly becoming out of control. The last meeting I had with Esme had not ended well and I was hoping that it wouldn't ever be that bad again.
She stood up when we approached the table and gave Edward a hug. I stood uncomfortably waiting for their embrace to finish before I said, "Nice to see you again Esme."
"Hello Bella," she said before attempting an awkward hug. It ended up having two false starts before we actually connected. I pulled away and gave her a tight smile.
"So Mom, how is your class going?" I was glad that Edward stepped in and broke the tension. He had explained to me that Esme had been taking art classes at the University for a few months now.
"Lovely dear, I am enjoying it far more than I expected to."
"What kind of art is it?"I asked genuinely interested.
"Sketching," she said as I took a drink of my water, "mostly nudes." I couldn't catch my surprise and before I knew it water was squirting out my nose. Out of the corner of my eye I seen Edward smirking and I vowed he would pay for that later.
"Sorry, just swallowed the wrong way," I said hoarse from the water taking the wrong path. Esme started laughing and then Edward joined in. I couldn't help myself and I got caught up in the moment. The three of us sitting around laughing was not what I expected to happen today.
"Excuse me ladies, I need to go use the restroom," Edward said standing. I smiled, it was one of his idiosyncrasies; he always had to pee after a good laugh. Edward had a bladder like a girl.
I watched him walk away from the table and then turned my attention back to Esme. The tension returned immediately and I was all of a sudden very nervous.
"You seem to love my son very much," Esme said.
"Yes, I do," I replied simply.
"It's almost ironic to me. You are exactly what I was afraid of early on in my marriage, a pretty young thing that could come along at any moment and take my husband away from me. The thing is, the thing I realized too late, Cullen men, they mate for life. I was stupid and I let my insecurities get in the way of living my life." I gave her a quizzical look, "Oh I'm not saying that Carlisle never loved you…"
"Esme, let me stop you there. I don't doubt that, I mean I loved him too but I knew even when I had him that he was yours. Carlisle was my first love but I think I always knew that he wasn't my true love." She gave me a small smile of thanks.
"This isn't how I wanted to say this…It's just I know that we didn't get to this place under ideal circumstances but I can see how happy Edward is and I would never want to take that from him."
"Thank you Esme. I know that things will never be perfect between all of us but I hope they can be civil."
"He'll come around. He is the one that has been hurt the most in all of this."
Edward returned to the table at that moment. He took in the situation and shot us each a genuine smile. The rest of the lunch went by pleasantly. Esme in true mother form told me a few embarrassing stories of Edward growing up. Edward would just roll his eyes and tell me not to believe anything I hear.
Esme had turned into a surprise ally. I could fell some of the tension leaving Edward about half way through lunch. After we finished up, Edward walked me to my car and gave me a chaste kiss. It wasn't enough for me but I held on to the promise of the date later that night.
True to Edwardian form he planned the perfect evening. He set up a candlelight dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant and even had flowers for me when he picked me up. We spent the evening in easy conversation. We skipped dessert and headed back to my place.
Our evening activities far surpassed the chaste kiss from lunch and we snuggled together in post coital bliss.
"Mmmmm, that feels good," I said as Edward stroked my hair. We were curled up together, Edward on his back and me on my side with my head on his chest.
"Love, can we talk about something?" he asked in his velvet smooth voice.
"What is it?"
"Where do you see us going? You know, in the future?"
"At this point I just see us together in the future." It was an honest answer. I rarely thought of anything that didn't include Edward and yet I had no distinct plans.
"Do you see us getting married?" he hedged.
"I don't know. There are so many things that make it hard. I don't know if I would be comfortable having Carlisle as a father-in-law. It's just weird." Edward was quiet and I looked up at him to see a pained look on his face. "What?"
"It's just I was hoping that one day I might have the honor of calling you my wife."
"Well maybe you can just tell everyone I am. We do share a last name and all," I said trying to joke myself out of the uncomfortable conversation.
"What do you mean? I thought your last name was Swan," he said sounding a little perturbed.
"My maiden name was Swan, I never got around to changing it back. You seemed to like to call me by that name sometimes so I just didn't feel the need to correct. Are you mad at me?"
"No, I'm not mad. I just…I want it to be me, the reason you carry that name," he said softly.
"I don't know what you want me to do Edward."
"I know, I'm sorry." I laid my head back down on his chest. "He called me today."
"Really?" I asked happy for the news and the conversation change.
"He said you came by to see him." I was unsure by his voice if he thought that this was a good thing. "He wants me to come to see him. He says he wants to try."
I gave Edward's torso a squeeze. It was good news and it was the start of a long road. I hoped that in time we would all be able to sit down together and be a family. Only time would tell.
