We all gathered around the enormous Christmas tree that was decorated in all white and gold in the Cullen's family room. Charlie allowed Edward and me to sit next to each other on the same couch but when Edward tried to wrap his arm around my waist Charlie shot him a very dirty look.
Alice nominated Emmett to go first because he was so excited that he was about to jump out of his chair; he picked up the present that Charlie and I had put together. Giving it a small shake first to hear if anything would rattle, he started to rip off the neat silver paper.
"Is this for really? I can use this ANY time?" He asked with an excited grin on his face before turning the large card over to his family revealing a giant monopoly 'get out of jail free card'. Charlie nodded his head chuckling at Emmett's enthusiasm.
"But that is one present you better not have to use dear." Esme said in a stern motherly voice, which only caused the mischievous look in Emmett's eyes to grow. Rosalie was next, opening a large box full of car products and two tickets to the world classic car show in Seattle on the 29th.
She jumped up grabbing Charlie and I in a big hug before jumping back to Emmett to show him the tickets. Esme received a gift card to Pottery Barn and Carlisle, Essential Practice of Medicine by Henry Morris, M.D. which was dated back to the 1890's.
While Alice fawned over an American Express gift card leaving Jasper engrossed in a Civil War memorial book, the both of them looking like they had won the library. Charlie gave me a high five for a job well done with the presents before Esme placed a box in Charlie's lap.
It was two box seats to a Seattle Seahawks game, leaving Charlie speechless and Edward a chance slide his arm around my waist as I handed him my present to him. He studied the plainly wrapped box before he slowly tore away the paper neatly, the total opposite of what we had witnessed with everyone else. His jaw dropped when he saw the box with the bold letters running across the top.
"Bella this is perfect! Now I will be able to see you and hear your voice at the same time! I don't know why I didn't think of getting you a web cam." He was like a kid in a candy store right now, and with a quick look to Charlie who gave a curt nod, Edward leaned in a planted a soft kiss on my lips sending the tingles through my body that I got every time his lips touched me.
"Now it's Bella's turn!" Alice shouted clapping her hands before bringing over a large pile of presents. I examined the pile and noticed that there were four boxes, which was four more then I had expected.
"I told you guys that you didn't have to get me anything!" I said trying to push the presents away.
"Nonsense Bella, you are practically part of the family….here open mine first." I tore away the paper to Alice's present and pulled off the box lid to find the cutest outfit ever. It was a pair of dark wash jeans and a dark purple and white sweater.
"Oh Alice this is some nice. Thank you." I looked up at her giving her a big smile since I was unable to get up with Edward's stone grip around my waist and once it was broken I was unsure if I would be able to get it back. But Alice seemed to understand before handing me another present from the pile saying it was from Rosalie, Jasper, and Emmett. It was a new stereo system and a CD with all of Edward's compositions; after thanking each of them, Rosalie promised to install it properly later on.
The last box, which was also the largest, was from Esme and Carlisle. For some reason this sent a pain through my chest….I mean sure I told Edward not to get me anything but it kind of hurt that he didn't even get me a card. I tore the paper away on the box, sticking the small gold bow on Edward's head playfully causing the room to laugh…..everyone except me because when I saw what was under the beautiful gold paper my jaw dropped. It was a new Lenovo laptop.
They both explained that they had spoken to Charlie and he told them about my old computer which wasn't very compatible with my web cam and so they thought that this would be most useful. For this I broke out of Edward's grasp and hug both of them tightly saying over and over again how thankful I was.
When I went to take my seat back on the couch as Esme went to go get the dessert and coffee, I noticed Edward gone. I looked around for a moment, when I say him coming out of the kitchen carrying a tray followed by Esme with another. What a gentleman. I couldn't help to think before he placed the tray on the table in front of me and began to hand out pieces of pie.
My plate however was exempt of pie and instead a small neatly wrapped present stood in its place. I looked over to Edward with a look of confusion written all over my face but his only held a giant smile. I picked up the box and peeled back the paper to find a black velvet box.
Inside was the most amazing ring I had ever seen. It was the same white gold color as the necklace he had given to me, and had small diamonds running down the sides of the band meeting in the middle by a dark blue sapphire.
I looked up to see Charlie's face turning purple and Carlisle and Esme with the same look of confusion written on their faces that was on mine. Edward slid the ring from the box and placed it on my ring finger on my right hand which caused my heart to slow a little but not enough to calm me. I mean I had said no to his proposal and he had said that he understood…..
"Don't worry, it's not like that. It's a promise ring, so you will always know that you have my heart and maybe one day……far away from now…." This cause Charlie to relax a little and return to a normal color. "Maybe then we can change fingers, but for now it's just for you to know that nothing will change when I move because I will always love you."
I leaned my forehead against his, not caring what Charlie thought anymore, before the tears started to roll down my cheeks.
AUTHOUR"S NOTE:
THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL ALSO BE BELLA'S VIEW……I WAS GOING TO PUT IT IN WITH THIS CHAPTER BUT THAT FELT LIKE I WAS RUSHING THE CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT ARE ABOUT TO OCCUR. SO I HOPE YOU LIKED THIS SWEET CHAPTER BECAUSE THERE IS ABOUT TO BE A STORM OF DRAMA HEADED YOUR WAY. THANKS FOR READING AND REMEMBER TO REVIEW. THANKS WISH-ELEVEN.