All Characters belong to Stephenie Meyer
Chapter 20 - Looks
Bpov
I was sitting with Esme actually enjoying the tales of Edward growing up, when her phone chimed. She looked down at it and pouted.
"I hate it when Edward texts me. He knows I don't text back," she complained.
"Is everything alright?" I asked worried something had happened.
"Oh, yes, I'm sure everything's fine. He just said to call him; he has a new design job for me," she told me.
"Well, he was talking about splitting the kids up at his house," I wondered out loud.
"That could be it. Do you think they'd enjoy a similar décor as their rooms at my house?" she asked.
We had just spent the last hour discussing making E's bed look like an exam table, giving the whole room the feel of a doctor's office. She had Carlisle order a stethoscope for E along with a weight scale, blood pressure machine and an ear/nose/throat exam light. Elizabeth's room was going to have a Disney princess theme, including a castle bed and vanity full of play cosmetics, nail polish and perfume. Both had walk in closets full of clothing already.
The kids were definitely going to be spending a lot of time with Esme. I was fine with it, because then it meant I would get time alone with Edward.
I kept feeling like someone was watching me. I tried to ignore the feeling, but then I noticed Esme looked around.
"Do you feel like someone is watching us?" I asked.
"Yes, I do, actually. That's strange, isn't it?" she asked.
I looked around again and saw a red headed woman staring at me. I had no idea who she was. I wondered if she was someone that had her sights set on Edward. Of course, she looked a bit old for him. Her intense gaze gave me the creeps.
I turned back to Esme and she had an odd expression on her face. "Did you see the way that woman looked at you? Do you know her?" she asked
"No, I don't. I was just wondering the same thing. I thought she might have been someone that was after Edward."
Esme laughed. "Oh, honey, every single woman that meets him is after Edward. He ignores them all. I have to say, who wouldn't want my baby boy? He's handsome, intelligent beyond words, well off and a pediatrician. He receives a doctor's pay, but doesn't keep doctor's hours most the time."
"I definitely see the draw to him," I said with a smile and then blushed as I realized I had said that out loud to his mother.
She just laughed lightly at me. "I hope so. I plan on keeping you around," she said raising her cup to me.
I tapped mine to hers. "Here's to sticking around." Now I just had to convince Edward I was worth keeping.
Epov
Elizabeth ate quickly and decided to play on the swings. I stood behind her pushing the swing with one hand while I texted Emmett.
Need bigger house for kids, can you help?-Edward
5 beds 4 baths enough?-Emmett
Sound's perfect, have a floor plan?-Edward
Will email u blueprints, it's a renovate to sell job-Emmett
How long until it's done?-Edward
Two weeks if you want it.-Emmett
Send address so I can drive by-Edward
I will be there until 7pm-Emmett
2315 Spring River Rd. Forks, WA
See you before 7pm-Edward
The house Emmett mentioned sounded perfect. I wanted to drop everything and go see it now, but I already had a tight schedule from taking a week off. I quickly texted my mother, letting her know I had another job for her. I was pretty sure I would take the house.
I was completely excited to the point that Bella noticed when she picked up Elizabeth.
Apparently, my smile was too big.
Which was just silly, you couldn't smile too big.
Anyway, I was thrilled with the floor plan that Emmett sent me. The kitchen was huge. I knew Bella would love it. There was a formal living room I could put a piano in. There were enough bedrooms for the kids each to have their own bedroom and Bella and I to both have an office. I assumed she would need one if she decided to teach.
Or maybe I could forgo mine for a nursery…
Bpov
When I picked up Elizabeth from Edward, he was acting funny. He had a goofy grin on his face and a strange bounce in his step. He kissed me goodbye, promising to be home in time for dinner. I knew something was up with him. I just didn't know what.
I asked Elizabeth about their lunch and what she told me didn't offer me any clues as to what was going on with Edward. He said he had some paperwork he needed to catch up on, so he would be a little late but wouldn't miss dinner.
Apparently, he loved my cooking.
He was just silly. Esme was an excellent cook. It wasn't as if he was starving. I guessed the food I cooked was not as healthy as Esme's. Fried chicken, corn casserole and baked macaroni and cheese were not in her recipe files.
I tried not to let it bother me that he was running late today. He had told me he would be. I knew he had a ton of work piled up from taking a week off. I just needed to talk to him to ease my fears.
I glanced at the clock. It was five thirty. He usually closed the office at five o'clock, but said he would be staying later, probably until around six o'clock tonight. I dialed the office number, knowing his private extension.
I was surprised when Tanya answered. "Dr. Cullen's office. The doctor is not in right now, is this an emergency?"
Maybe he told her to say that.
"Hello, Tanya, it's Bella, I was just calling to see if Edward was still around."
"Oh, no, he took off at five o'clock like always leaving me to clean up like usual."
"Great, thanks, Tanya," I hung up before she could bitch any more.
So, did Edward change his mind about working late or did he lie about working late?
I felt my chest tighten. I hoped he didn't lie. I watched the clock closely. He came in smiling too widely as he did. It was a little after seven o'clock. It only took an hour to get home. He was gone somewhere for over an hour and lied to cover it up. I tried to relax. It was probably nothing.
Right?
I went on-line that night and set up our flights home. It wouldn't be for another two weeks, because I wanted to stay. I wanted him to be with his children. I wanted to be with him and ignore that he was lying to me.
I guess I should have known that Edward was too good to be true. It was time I pulled myself together and got back to Florida so I could make sure I still had a job.
Edward was too happy about something to notice my unease.
It was only after we put the kids to bed that he asked if I was feeling alright and felt my forehead, thinking I was sick. I wasn't sick, not really.
Just heart sick.
A/N: Okay, I know you all are freaking out about Bella. Just remember, I believe in happy endings.
All characters belong to Stephenie Meyers.
Chapter 21 - Gone
Epov
Something was wrong with Bella. She said she was fine but I knew she wasn't. For the past week she had been quiet. When she smiled it didn't reach her eyes. When I would touch her, she didn't respond anymore. She often pulled away. In fact, it felt like she was completely pulling away from me, not just physically but emotionally, too, and it was scaring the hell out of me.
I wanted to propose to her, but I knew if I did it now, she would most likely say no. For some reason, she didn't want me but I felt like she was staying with me for the kids.
I didn't know what I was going to do if she left me again.
I had been spending an hour after work every evening at the new house helping Emmett and Esme get the house ready for us. Of course, at this point I didn't know if she would stay with me there.
When I would come home in the evening under the guise of doing paperwork, the kids would run up and hug me but she would kiss me coldly on the cheek and force a smile. She would go through the motions but I could tell her heart wasn't in it anymore.
I didn't know what I had done.
Something was definitely wrong with my angel.
God, why couldn't I be a genius at relationships, then I would know how to fix this.
Bpov
Gone!
That bastard lied to me every night, coming home late. What the hell was he doing? Who was he fucking? That was the only reason he had to lie. I didn't want him to touch me anymore. It hurt to realize that he had been touching someone else just moments earlier. I couldn't bring myself to kiss his lips anymore. I was scared I would taste her there.
I sent the kids to play with family most days and sat crying in my room. Or his room, I should say. He had no idea how I spent my days. How could he do this to me? If he was seeing someone else he could have just told me. I would have respected that he had moved on, but this just hurt.
I tried to get the kids mentally prepared to go back to Florida. I mentioned how Renee had missed us but neither seemed to respond. In fact, E outright scowled at me. He had become very attached to Edward.
"We're going home eventually, guys," I told them leaving the room.
Later on, E came to find me. "Mom, I don't want to go. Dad gets me. His brain works like mine does and he gets that it's hard sometimes."
My heart broke. I knew E struggled and it always bothered me that I never fully understood how to help him.
"Please don't take me away from here, Mom. I like it. Dad and Grandma Esme, they know how to play with me and keep me busy. I don't just have to read all day by myself."
I ached for my boy. I felt like I had been torturing him. I always just gave him more books to read. Edward and Esme seemed to have all sorts of activities to keep his hands busy. He would actually get to play.
I pulled him into a hug and kissed the top of his head. "I'm sorry this is so hard on you, but I need to leave." My voice cracked because I knew what I was about to offer him. "Do you want to stay with your daddy instead of coming home with me?"
I held my breath, my heart aching, silently praying that he would miss me too much to let me go.
"Do you have to leave?" he asked teary eyed.
I hated that I was hurting my son.
"Yes, baby, I have to go," I brushed his hair back and kissed his forehead.
"But not forever, right? You would come back. You wouldn't stay away?" he begged.
"I would come to visit as often as possible, honey. I promise." I hugged him tightly knowing what he was saying.
"I want to stay with Dad." The words left his mouth and I squeezed tighter.
I was giving up my baby so he would be happy. So he would be with people that loved and understood his needs better than I did.
"Okay, honey," I tried to hide my tears, "Go tell your sister."
I was lying face down in the pillow crying when Elizabeth came in yelling, "You are not taking me away from my daddy! I'm staying with E. I don't want to leave him!"
I quickly wiped my tears. I was losing both of my children. Of course, I realized the emotional mess I was didn't lend me to being a very good parent. It would probably be best if Edward took the kids for a little while. Nothing permanent. I would get them back I promised myself.
I nodded okay to Elizabeth and she stormed out of the room still upset.
God, that bastard was killing me!
Everything came to a head on Saturday morning. Edward was snuggled up to my back squeezing the life out of me. I tried to squirm away but he took it wrong. He thought I was rubbing against him. He proceeded to try and touch me.
I hit him and jumped out of bed.
I couldn't do this anymore. I couldn't fake this anymore. The kids knew I was leaving. It was time I got the hell out of there before he destroyed me further.
"You stay the fuck away from me!" I snapped and ran to the closet. I yanked out my suitcase and quickly packed just my things.
He was at the closet door begging. "Bella, please, I don't know what I did, but whatever it is, I'm sorry. Please, just don't go. Please don't leave me again."
"You don't need me, Edward. I've already talked to the kids. They asked to stay with you," I glared at him, hating him. I couldn't stand that my children wanted him over me.
"What? What are you talking about?" he asked confused.
"I'm not taking the kids. E wants to stay and Elizabeth wants to stay with E of course, so I'll be leaving alone unless you don't want them?" I raised an eyebrow challenging him, hoping he would say the wrong thing.
"Of course I want them, Bella, I do, but I want you, too. Please don't go," he pleaded.
Fucking liar! I grabbed one of his shoes and threw it at him. I slammed my suitcase shut and ran out the door.
I paused on the porch trying to breathe and get my tears under control. I dug in my purse for my phone and asked Jake to come get me.
Edward came running out behind me, doing up his jeans as he did. "Bella, please wait! I'll fix it, whatever it is, I will! Please, just don't go, please just tell me what to do."
I wanted to slap that bastard. He knew what he was doing; he just didn't know that I knew. I couldn't stand to be near him anymore. I started storming down the front steps to the sidewalk. He hurried after me. "Please, Love, tell me!"
I spun on him and whacked him with my suitcase. "Fuck off, Edward, and don't you dare leave my kids unsupervised in your home," I pointed back to the house.
He paused at the end of his walkway. "Bella, please," he begged, even mustering up some fake tears.
I ran away, meeting Jake at the corner before I could crumble under his lies. I traded in my kid's plane tickets and was able to get a sooner flight at no charge. I would be in Florida by sundown. I called my mother crying and told her I would explain everything when I got home.
When she picked me up, I was crying so hard I couldn't speak. She asked where the kids were and I cried even harder. I was finally able to get out that they stayed with Edward. She hugged me tightly. She said she understood, that she fell to pieces for a while, too, when I had left to stay with my dad in Forks.
I suddenly felt guilty for putting her through that.
Chapter 21 - Gone
Epov
Something was wrong with Bella. She said she was fine, but I knew she wasn't. For the past week she had been quiet. When she smiled, it didn't reach her eyes. When I would touch her, she didn't respond anymore. She often pulled away. In fact, it felt like she was completely pulling away from me, not just physically, but emotionally, too, and it was scaring the hell out of me.
I wanted to propose to her, but I knew if I did it now, she would most likely say no. For some reason, she didn't want me, but I felt like she was staying with me for the kids.
I didn't know what I was going to do if she left me again.
I had been spending an hour after work every evening at the new house helping Emmett and Esme get the house ready for us. Of course, at this point I didn't know if she would stay with me there.
When I would come home in the evening under the guise of doing paperwork, the kids would run up and hug me, but she would kiss me coldly on the cheek and force a smile. She would go through the motions, but I could tell her heart wasn't in it anymore.
I didn't know what I had done.
Something was definitely wrong with my angel.
God, why couldn't I be a genius at relationships, then I would know how to fix this.
Bpov
Gone!
That bastard lied to me every night, coming home late. What the hell was he doing? Who was he fucking? That was the only reason he had to lie. I didn't want him to touch me anymore. It hurt to realize that he had been touching someone else just moments earlier. I couldn't bring myself to kiss his lips anymore. I was scared I would taste her there.
I sent the kids to play with family most days and sat crying in my room. Or his room, I should say. He had no idea how I spent my days. How could he do this to me? If he was seeing someone else, he could have just told me. I would have respected that he had moved on, but this just hurt.
I tried to get the kids mentally prepared to go back to Florida. I mentioned how Renee had missed us, but neither seemed to respond. In fact, E outright scowled at me. He had become very attached to Edward.
"We're going home eventually, guys," I told them leaving the room.
Later on, E came to find me. "Mom, I don't want to go. Dad gets me. His brain works like mine does and he gets that it's hard sometimes."
My heart broke. I knew E struggled and it always bothered me that I never fully understood how to help him.
"Please, don't take me away from here, Mom. I like it. Dad and Grandma Esme know how to play with me and keep me busy. I don't just have to read all day by myself."
I ached for my boy. I felt like I had been torturing him. I always just gave him more books to read. Edward and Esme seemed to have all sorts of activities to keep his hands busy. He would actually get to play.
I pulled him into a hug and kissed the top of his head. "I'm sorry this is so hard on you, but I need to leave." My voice cracked, because I knew what I was about to offer him. "Do you want to stay with your daddy instead of coming home with me?"
I held my breath, my heart aching, silently praying that he would miss me too much to let me go.
"Do you have to leave?" he asked teary eyed.
I hated that I was hurting my son.
"Yes, baby, I have to go," I brushed his hair back and kissed his forehead.
"But not forever, right? You would come back. You wouldn't stay away?" he begged.
"I would come to visit as often as possible, honey. I promise." I hugged him tightly knowing what he was saying.
"I want to stay with Dad." The words left his mouth and I squeezed tighter.
I was giving up my baby so he would be happy, so he would be with people that loved and understood his needs better than I did.
"Okay, honey," I tried to hide my tears, "Go tell your sister."
I was lying face down in the pillow crying when Elizabeth came in yelling, "You are not taking me away from my daddy! I'm staying with E. I don't want to leave him!"
I quickly wiped my tears. I was losing both of my children. Of course, I realized the emotional mess I was didn't lend me to being a very good parent. It would probably be best if Edward took the kids for a little while. Nothing permanent. I would get them back I promised myself.
I nodded okay to Elizabeth and she stormed out of the room still upset.
God, that bastard was killing me!
Everything came to a head on Saturday morning. Edward was snuggled up to my back squeezing the life out of me. I tried to squirm away, but he took it wrong. He thought I was rubbing against him. He proceeded to try and touch me.
I hit him and jumped out of bed.
I couldn't do this anymore. I couldn't fake this anymore. The kids knew I was leaving. It was time I got the hell out of there before he destroyed me further.
"You stay the fuck away from me!" I snapped and ran to the closet. I yanked out my suitcase and quickly packed just my things.
He was at the closet door begging. "Bella, please, I don't know what I did, but whatever it is, I'm sorry. Please, just don't go. Please don't leave me again."
"You don't need me, Edward. I've already talked to the kids. They asked to stay with you," I glared at him, hating him. I couldn't stand that my children wanted him over me.
"What? What are you talking about?" he asked confused.
"I'm not taking the kids. E wants to stay and Elizabeth wants to stay with E of course, so I'll be leaving alone, unless you don't want them?" I raised an eyebrow challenging him, hoping he would say the wrong thing.
"Of course I want them, Bella, I do, but I want you, too. Please don't go," he pleaded.
Fucking liar! I grabbed one of his shoes and threw it at him. I slammed my suitcase shut and ran out the door.
I paused on the porch trying to breathe and get my tears under control. I dug in my purse for my phone and asked Jake to come get me.
Edward came running out behind me, doing up his jeans as he did. "Bella, please wait! I'll fix it, whatever it is, I will! Please, just don't go, please just tell me what to do."
I wanted to slap that bastard. He knew what he was doing; he just didn't know that I knew. I couldn't stand to be near him anymore. I started storming down the front steps to the sidewalk. He hurried after me. "Please, Love, tell me!"
I spun on him and whacked him with my suitcase. "Fuck off, Edward, and don't you dare leave my kids unsupervised in your home," I pointed back to the house.
He paused at the end of his walkway. "Bella, please," he begged, even mustering up some fake tears.
I ran away, meeting Jake at the corner before I could crumble under his lies. I traded in my kid's plane tickets and was able to get a sooner flight at no charge. I would be in Florida by sundown. I called my mother crying and told her I would explain everything when I got home.
When she picked me up, I was crying so hard I couldn't speak. She asked where the kids were and I cried even harder. I was finally able to get out that they stayed with Edward. She hugged me tightly. She said she understood, and that she fell to pieces for a while, too, when I had left to stay with my dad in Forks.
I suddenly felt guilty for putting her through that.
A/N: Just remember, I only do happy endings. Thanks for reading and please review softly.