I'm bouncing up and down in excitement. Still alive, ya know.
Chapter Twenty-Six: "Ready" Edward's POV
"Oh, what brings you here?" Mom asked in surprise as I walked into her kitchen without announcing myself, my arms filled with bugs and a diaper bag. Immediately she ran to scoop EJ up into her arms and give him an exuberant kiss. "I love to see my babies."
"Bella has a doctor appointment," I explained, "and Abby and EJ wanted to see their Nana."
Mom's eyebrows shot up. "And you're missing Bella's doctor appointment?"
"It's not a baby appointment; it's a Jasper appointment."
"Oh. That will be good for her."
"I hope so."
"Well, I'm very boring today," she shrugged, "but you three are welcome to join me. I was thinking about baking, anyway."
"Mom. Why don't you go ask for more hours at the library? You know they'll give them to you."
She shook her head, her reddish hair bouncing. "No, I'm enjoying being a part-time housewife."
"You seem to be bored," I remarked as I sat Abby down on her feet and ran to grab the baby gate Mom kept in the pantry. Before Abby could even think of escaping, I had it locked in the doorway.
"I'm relaxed," Mom corrected me. "Speaking of, I hope you're keeping Bella relaxed. I worry about her, Edward. You should be doing the housekeeping and the grocery shopping and the—"
"I try," I said, rolling my eyes. "But you know Bella. Even though she knows she should be taking it easy, she has to feel needed in order to feel complete. She just wants to take care of everyone. Even when she's vomiting, she just pulls her head from the toilet and starts changing diapers and cooking breakfast. I'm hoping that once she gains a little weight, her feet will swell and she'll want to sit down."
A smirk crossed Mom's face. "Don't count on it. The second trimester is usually the most fun for the mother, so she'll want to be up and about."
"Nana," EJ cooed, pulling gently on her necklace. "Bird."
"That is a bird," Mom agreed, fingering the charm that hung on the silver chain around her neck. "Why don't we go to the big window and watch the birds outside while Daddy musters up the courage to tell me why he really came over here?"
I rolled my eyes and sat at the table while they walked to the window wall in the kitchen. Abby came and sat in my lap while Mom and EJ stood by the window and discussed the birds. Bella had been teaching the bugs colors, so Mom made it a point to show him the variously-colored birds—"See the red bird? Red? Can you say red?"
Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore. "Mom, Bella wants to get married."
Mom looked at me over her shoulder with amusement on her face. "I know."
"Do you think we're ready for that?"
"Well, Edward, are you going to get any more ready?"
"What do you mean?"
"Two kids and two on the way. You love each other more than you originally thought possible. She's taken great strides in recovering from her previous marriage and divorce. If you want to get married, now wouldn't be a bad time."
"I know, but…" I sighed. "Everyone is giving me conflicting advice. Don't marry her. Don't pressure her. Marry her ASAP. She needs it. Give her space. She doesn't need space. Even Bella has sent me mixed signals. Hell, Bella has sent me more mixed signals than anyone."
"Edward, if you had it your way, would you two be married right now?"
"Of course," I replied, shocked that she would even ask.
"And has Bella told you recently that she wants to get married?"
"This morning."
"Well, there you go, sweetheart. Trust me when I say that you're not going to find the time to get married after the new bugs are born. At least, not for a couple of years. A shotgun wedding isn't ideal, but I think it's what both of you want. But who am I to tell you what to do?"
"I hate this whole saga of events that have happened in the past three years," I groaned. "Sometimes I feel like if I had just stayed with my family instead of going to school in Chicago, I would have met Bella years ago, and Jacob would have never happened, and all of this pain could have been avoided."
Mom shook her head. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard you say, child. If that were the case, then you wouldn't have EJ and Abby. And you and Bella wouldn't be the same couple that you are now. Every experience contributes to a couple's love. You two harbor more appreciation and respect for each other because you have taken care of each other through so much pain. Never wish that you could change the past. It's futile, pointless, childish, and foolish. It distracts you from changing the future."
I couldn't help but smile at her. "I'm probably the only guy who has a fortune cookie for a mother."
"Well, and Emmett, of course."
I laughed and shook my head before thinking for a minute. "Well, I do have one more question, Mom."
"Anything, love."
"Do you still want Bella to wear your ring?"
Mom stared at me for a second, and then the most beautiful smile I had ever seen on her face broke out. It reminded me of sunshine.
"Yes!" she exclaimed. "Yes, I want Bella to have my ring! Here, sweetheart."
To my surprise, she pulled the engagement ring off her finger and dropped it in my hand. I wasn't expecting to get it that quickly, but as soon as I felt its weight in my hand, I knew that it was right.
"Thank you, Mom," I whispered, tears in my eyes. God, I was turning into such a girl.
"I wouldn't want any other girl to wear it, my love."
I put Abby on the floor again and hugged my mom, trying to express as much gratitude as I could. We were interrupted by my dad, though, when he walked through the door.
"What's this?" he asked, seeing our hug. "Is everything okay?"
I nodded. "Yeah, everything is great. Why are you working the graveyard shift?"
"It happens." He raked a hand through his graying blond hair. "Where's Bella?"
"With Jasper," Mom said meaningfully.
"That'll be good for her," Dad said, echoing her statements from earlier.
"Yeah," I agreed.
"And how is she doing?"
"Great," I replied, smiling at the thought of the way her belly swelled just enough. "She and the poppyseeds are doing great."
"Poppyseeds?" Mom asked, raising an eyebrow.
I snorted. "Long story. They're still our bugs, but Bella and I have started calling them poppyseeds."
"That's…interesting," Dad said slowly, making me shrug.
"You've told Charlie, right?" Mom asked me.
As soon as I started to nod, a thought occurred to me.
"Shit!" I exclaimed. "Charlie!"
"What?" Mom replied. "You haven't told Charlie?"
"No! I mean, yes! We have! I just have to…ugh, how did I forget that?" I grabbed my car keys from the table. "EJ, Abby, come on. We have to go see Grandpa."
After I loaded the kids up, I kissed Mom and thanked her for the ring before speeding off. On my way back to Forks, I called Charlie on my cell phone, praying he wasn't working.
"Edward?" he answered. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes, sir," I replied immediately, wanting to have him as relaxed as possible. "I was just wondering if you would be available to have lunch with me today. My treat."
"Just you?"
"Well...me and the kids. Bella is out and about today, running errands."
"Uh, sure, kid. Wanna do Chinese at eleven?"
I glanced at the clock—ten thirty. "Sounds perfect."
I was grateful that EJ and Abby seemed to be in good spirits today while I asked their grandpa a very important question. They went into their high chairs at the restaurant without complaint and occupied themselves with crayons and coloring books. I drummed my fingers nervously as I waited for Charlie. Finally, he approached, wearing jeans and an old flannel shirt. I was relieved to see that his gun holster was conspicuously missing.
I stood up to shake his hand. "Good to see you, sir. Thank you for having lunch with us."
"No problem, son," he replied, pulling out a chair and sitting down. He kissed the kids and greeted them warmly. Meanwhile, I was sweating.
Why are you so nervous? You've already knocked her up. You know he'll give you his blessing to marry her.
"I haven't tried this place yet," he mused, his moustache twitching as he looked over a menu.
"I'm quite a fan of the cho-cho steak," I replied. "Bella likes the honey walnut shrimp."
"Oh, I wouldn't ask you to buy me that—"
"Order whatever you want," I smiled at him. "Seriously. My treat. It's the least I can do."
He ended up ordering the shrimp—like father, like daughter, I guess—and I ended up nearly having a panic attack as I tried to broach the subject.
It wasn't until I was cutting up chicken into small bites for the bugs that he finally said something that gave me some confidence.
"Hot," I warned EJ, putting the bites of chicken in front of him. "Hot. Be careful."
"You're a good father, Edward," Charlie remarked, watching me and sipping his Coke.
"Thank you," I replied, feeling flattered at his words. And feeling much better. If he thought I was a good father, then surely he would give me his blessing…? "I love these children so much. Just as much as I love the children that Bella is currently carrying."
He blanched—yes, Charlie had been just as surprised as everyone else to learn that we were expecting another set of twins, and it still made him nervous to think about it. "Well," he mumbled, taking a bite of his food, "I wouldn't have any other man for my Bella or my bugs."
"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about," I said, tired of beating around the bush. "I know that I've gone out of order, traditionally. I know she shouldn't be pregnant yet…but what's done is done, I suppose. I'm sorry if I've disappointed you. But, sir, I would like to ask your permission to marry your daughter. I love her more than my own life. I love our children more than my own life. It would make me the happiest man in the world if I could receive your permission and blessing to make Bella my wife for eternity. I know I don't deserve her, and I know I'll never be good enough, but she's my reason for existence. She'll always be the center of my world."
Charlie's face turned red, but he gave me an amused smile. "You know that since she's already been divorced, you don't really have to ask my permission, son."
"No, sir, I do," I replied. "I feel like I've messed things up so much that perhaps this would help make things a tad better."
"Regardless, I appreciate the gesture, and it makes me respect you even more," Charlie continued. "Of course you have my permission and my blessing. You keep my baby girl happy, healthy, and alive.And I would prefer for my grandbabies to have a father and a mother that are married."
The feeling of knowing that I was accepted…approved of…by Bella's father—the only other man who loved her just as much as I did—was incredible. It was all I could do to keep from tearing up as I whispered, "Thank you, sir."
"No, son, thank youfor taking care of her like you do."
"I can honestly say that it's the greatest honor of my life."
"I know that. If it wasn't, you wouldn't have my blessing."
After lunch, Charlie and I parted ways. I was driving through Forks, on my way back to Bella's house, when a brightly-colored sign caught my eye in the gray Washington landscape.
It was for a realty company. It sat on the lawn of an absolutely stunning one-story house. The house was painted white, and looked like a cottage with a wide front porch and little curlicues on the trim. Rosebushes and rocking chairs gave it a homey feel. There was even a swing hanging from the tree in the front yard.
The sign read Open House.
I immediately pulled into the driveway, where a sedan was sitting. The magnet on the side of the car informed me it belonged to real estate agent Heidi Volturi.
"EJ, Abby, we're taking a detour," I murmured, cutting the engine.
Heidi—a woman with bright red hair and lots of lipstick—walked outside as I unbuckled the bugs from their car seats. Putting both of them in the crooks of my arm, I approached her. "Hi," I said. "Is open house still…open?"
"Absolutely," she smiled. "I'm Heidi Volturi, of Volturi Real Estate. Would you like to take a look?"
"Yes, please. I hope you don't mind me bringing the kids in."
"Of course not. The family that's selling has kids, so it's very childproofed. Come in."
I followed her up the porch and into a spacious foyer. The first thing I noticed about the inside was that there were lots of windows that gave it a lot of light and a very open environment. My mom would love it, I mused.
"So they're selling, not renting?" I asked, taking a look around at the lovely hardwood floors and high ceilings.
"Yes."
"Why? Is something wrong with the house?"
"Not at all. They're moving to Utah. They actually don't want to leave this house, but their jobs are taking them elsewhere. Of course, who would want to leave this house? Five bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms…"
"Five bedrooms?" I asked in disbelief. God, that would be perfect…a room for me and Bella, a room for EJ, a room for Abby, a nursery for the poppyseeds…and then another bedroom for when the poppyseeds wanted their own space from each other.
Heidi interrupted my thoughts. "Yes, five bedrooms. It's quite a large house, compared to what it looks like from the outside. Come, let me show you."
We walked down a hallway into a very spacious living room. "Perfect for kids, right?" she smiled at me. "Plenty of room to romp and play in."
"Indeed," I replied, trying not to show just how impressed I was. My father had taught me how to bargain, of course.
"The kitchen is even better. Come look."
As soon as I saw the kitchen, I knew that this was the house of Bella's dreams. Tile floors…marble countertops…a gorgeous island in the middle…a huge stove/oven…and best of all, no glass cabinets to trigger any memories of Jacob.
"They're also including the appliances," Heidi told me. "The refrigerator, dishwasher, and fabulous toaster oven ahead."
"Do I want to know how much this costs?" I asked half-jokingly, nearly positive it was way out of my league.
When she told me the actual asking price, my jaw dropped.
"Okay, why is it that cheap?" I asked seriously. "What's wrong with it?"
"Nothing. The real estate market is crap. It's been on the market for months now, and they keep having to slash the price because nobody can afford to buy a new house. Housing prices are at quite a low, you know."
"May I see the rest of it?"
"Of course. Follow me."
The master bedroom was perfect for me and Bella, but the bathroom was even better. A large Jacuzzi tub and a nice walled-in shower nearly beckoned to me. I knew she would love the Jacuzzi in the later stages of her pregnancy, when her legs, feet, and back would be aching…
Slow down, Edward.
The other bedrooms and bathrooms were smaller, but perfect for kids. I could just picture EJ and Abby playing on the floors of two of the bedrooms…running down the halls…and smaller brunette babies learning to take their first steps in the living room…
Jeez.
But it was the backyard that sold me. Large, grassy, and surrounded by trees, it offered privacy, room to run, and perfect space for EJ and Abby's swing-set. The deck attached to the back of the house would be great for cookouts…
"I would like to make an offer," I heard myself saying before I even realized I was saying it.
"Already? Wonderful!" Heidi exclaimed.
But of course, my rational side kicked in. "No, I mean…I guess I shouldn't dive into it so fast, huh? My brother works in architecture and construction. Would you mind if I brought him in to examine the foundation and such?"
"Of course not."
"Good. Not to mention that the woman in my life needs to approve it."
"Oh, why not surprise her?" Heidi teased, clearly desperate to make a sale.
Huh. A surprise.
I felt the weight of the engagement ring in my pocket, and a plan started to form in my head.
"Do you mind if I call my brother now?" I asked her. "He can probably stop by."
"Of course not. Go ahead."
I set the bugs on their feet in the grass and pulled out my phone. As soon as Emmett picked up, I said, "Hey, do you want to be my wingman?"
Rings and blessings and houses, oh my!
I probably have two readers left (rosellebec and cutie16 are my guesses) but at least two reviews would be nice :)
And, of course, I was out of the Twi-loop for seven months...so how 'bout that little scandal this summer?
*runs back to Microsoft Word to finish next chapter*
