Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended.
Beta'd by HollettLA.
Tonight's update is light with limited drama. As a whole, this chapter was 16k words, but I split it. RL has been crazy hectic, and I broke this chap in half so you'd get an update next week - just in case I couldn't pull one together by next Wednesday.
Hope you all enjoy a lighter, might be boring, side to this story . . .
"Weather the Storm"
Chapter Thirty-Six: Beach Blanket Bingo Part One
No matter what I did, I couldn't get rid of the smile on my face. Even as I laid back to take in the sun, I was still grinning like a lunatic.
We all needed this, us as a family, to get away without a worry or care. The weather was holding up as well, supposed to stay in the high eighties for the entire weekend. Even with the kids here, I was able to relax.
Kylie has her grandfather and Peto wrapped around her tiny finger and pulls them along from one end of the beach to the other—or rather, they chase her and play in the sand.
Damion, Anthony, Carli, and Aro Jr. were busy playing Frisbee with Anton.
Sonny was trying to impress Katie with his mad surfing skills. Edward got in on that too, trying to do something Sonny liked in an effort to spend more time with him. Mauro had his hands full trying to teach both of them.
My brother in-law and Aro didn't stick to one thing for too long, except looking for girls. Too bad we were on a semi-private beach located behind the house. On occasion, they'd scope somebody and go say hello.
Hanna and Lizzie, unlike me, were obsessed with tanning oils and sitting in the sun. I had on some sunblock, as I just enjoy sitting in the sun, not so much for the tan. Alexandra, Mauro's girlfriend, was in the oil club. She's really sweet and absolutely adorable, a really funny girl too. She didn't mind being here as long as she could lounge around the beach all weekend.
Even if we don't always get along, I had hoped Lauren would come. She chose to stay in the city, probably to have uninterrupted time with her boyfriend. I didn't fault her for it, but having her around would have been like old times.
Regardless of what she's done and how much I disliked her at the moment, I missed Esme, too.
But, I didn't so much miss them—as people—as much as I missed the togetherness, having all of us in one place.
We used to travel all together, which seems like a lifetime ago, but we'd done it as recently as last summer.
I sighed, sipping my strawberry daiquiri. Edward had to tease me about starting so early, but really . . .
It's five o'clock somewhere, right?
"He's so cute." Hanna let out a small squeal.
"I wonder who he fought with." Lizzie mused.
"Or got beat up by," Alexandra laughed, turning over to lie on her stomach.
I admired her young ass from afar. As soon as she has kids, it'll never be the same.
"It's time to turn over." Hanna stared at Alexandra.
"But then we can't watch the game—"
"We'll turn around." Hanna got up to lie on her stomach the opposite way.
"Good thinking," Lizzie laughed, following.
"Who are you guys watching?" I giggled, looking around.
"Um . . . No one." Hanna ducked her head.
"Oh!" Alexandra lifted her head, sighing wistfully. "Anton has stolen their hearts."
There were gasps from Lizzie and Hanna.
"No!" Hanna shouted.
Lizzie grinned, raising a brow at me. "Do you think he's cute?"
"I—" I looked to the young guy throwing a Frisbee out to Aro Jr. He was decently good-looking with short hair and a kind of small build. I could see the appeal because he resembled a teenager. "He's okay."
"Okay?" Hanna shouted. "Just okay?"
Lizzie was no longer smiling at me and turned to her niece, who's actually older than she is. "She's been with my brother for too long."
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"I don't know . . . you only think Eddie is cute."
I chuckled. "Doesn't mean I'm blind." I sipped my drink again.
"Elizabeth?" Jackie came out wearing a big straw hat with almost her entire body covered. "I think you've had enough sun."
"I'm fine," Lizzie said. "I'm hanging out."
"The correct use is 'I am', and you're spending time with your niece. You're not hanging anywhere." Jackie nodded.
I groaned under my breath and adjusted my sunglasses.
"I will go inside . . . soon." Lizzie frowned.
"Fair enough." Jackie left the area, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
"What the fuck is her problem? And it can be 'I'm', too . . . who cares?" Alexandra asked me.
"I know, right?" I was beginning to like her so much.
"She just . . ." Lizzie started. "I don't know." She turned to huddle and giggle with Hanna. "Did you see that?"
"He looked at us!" Hanna was about to lose her shit.
"He has a girlfriend," my new friend said. "And he's too old for you guys."
Hanna and Lizzie turned to stare at her.
"Thank you." I lifted my drink to toast her words.
"He's always at my house, and he never said he had a girlfriend." Lizzie shook her head. "I'd know—we're friends. Besides, my dad was a lot older than my mom."
"He was looking at me." Hanna bumped Lizzie with her shoulder.
"No, he wasn't." Lizzie spat. "He was looking at me . . . you look ridiculous in that." She waved a hand to Hanna's chest.
"What? I have boobs!" My niece cupped them.
"Who has boobs?" Carlisle chuckled, coming to sit at my side.
And I'll never forget the look Hanna gave her father. At first, she seemed a bit shocked, but then her gaze turned ice cold.
"I do." She lifted her chin.
"Um." Carlisle didn't know what to say.
"I'm more mature. I got my period first," Lizzie said.
"Whoa!" Carlisle left us quickly.
I laughed, waving at his retreating form.
"That means nothing. I'm older." Hanna stared after her father, too. "Watch this." My niece shot out of the beach chair, picking her wedgie as she walked over to Anton.
"I can't believe she did that!" Lizzie ran after her.
Again, I laughed and sipped my alcoholic beverage.
"Anton's girl works at Eclipse," Alexandra said. "She's a dancer . . . I don't see the appeal."
"Of Anton? He looks like a high school student."
"That's what I mean. I like a man," she sighed, nestling into the beach chair. "God . . . I love it here."
I grinned, looking out into the water. My man was paddling out on a board, while hers coached from the side. "Yeah . . ." I looked back to her. "Things with you and Mauro, are they serious?"
"Um." She puffed her cheeks. "I guess so." She tried to cover her smile. "I mean . . ."
I giggled, remembering that feeling all too well. "Awesome. He's a good guy."
"He is," she agreed, turning over again, and then there was a shadow to my side.
Carlisle was back.
"What's up?"
"Is it safe?" he asked.
I looked to the two vying for Anton's attention. "I'd say so."
"Hi." Alexandra waved, her face turning red. "Carlisle, right?"
My brother in-law nodded, taking a seat on Hanna's neglected chair. "We didn't get the chance to meet . . . but I do remember you," Carlisle laughed. "Ronnie's youngest."
"Yeah." Alexandra looked like she wanted the chair to swallow her.
"You were this little chubby thing. Now, look at you . . . wow, you're beautiful. You got big—here and here." He gestured to his chest and ass.
"Carlisle!" I took out my straw to throw daiquiri mess at his back.
He jumped from the cold, turning to face me. "Oh, yeah. I had to ask you something."
"Oh, yeah." I was sarcastic.
"I was thinking that all the kids—all of them—could have a sleepover tonight."
"Really?" I knew I was about to get hit up to baby-sit.
"Did you ask her?" Suddenly Aro was panting at my side. "What'd she say?"
"She is right here." I pointed to myself. "And he hasn't spit it out yet."
Carlisle winced. "Me and my man, we were thinking about hitting up the boardwalk. You know, get a drink, maybe go to a club . . .?" He pursed his lips.
I laughed at him. "I'll have to speak to Edward about it."
"Told you!" Aro shouted, kicking the air. "Pay up. I knew she wasn't going to go for it."
"Ask Jackie—" I regretted my words. If they're all here, I'll end up caring for someone else's child regardless.
"Excellent idea." Carlisle kissed my cheek and took off.
I shook my head, finishing my drink.
"It's a little early, no?" Aro asked.
"Eh," I said, placing my glass down.
"Just went for a run." Aro sat in the sand to my side. "Fuck . . . I'm out of shape."
I laughed. "You had a rough year. As recent as two months ago, you were still in physical therapy."
"It was a long few months." He grumbled.
"It takes a while to bounce back after something like that," Alexandra said softly at my side. "I'm a nurse . . ."
"What?" Aro looked over to see who spoke. "How ya doin', hun?"
She nodded. "I'm good, Mr. Andino. How are you?"
Aro threw himself back. "Exhausted."
"Mommy!" Damion shouted and then ran over to me with Anthony following after. "Did you see me? I caught it."
"I did." I felt bad for lying. "You're doing so good." I pulled him onto my chair for a hug.
"Can I have some of your water?" He grabbed my bottle. Then I watched as he and his cousin took turns sipping from it—panting and grabbing for it with their little bellies popping out. They looked so cute with their mirroring stance.
"Okay." He wiggled away from me. "I gotta go."
"By all means," I laughed, capping the water and watching them run away again. "God . . . they're adorable."
"They are," she agreed.
I knew Aro was still here, but I looked over to Alexandra anyway. "What was that earlier?"
"Huh?" She seemed confused.
"Carlisle?" I raised a brow.
"Oh," she giggled. "Forget it."
"Um." I wasn't sure I wanted to, actually wanting to warn her to stay away from him. Not to mention that she has a pretty good thing with Mauro.
"Well," she sat up to place her hair behind her ears, "Carlisle used to be . . . my Anton?"
"You used to date Anton?" Aro asked.
"No," she said. "Just forget it. I'm just . . . I'm socially awkward." She buried her head into her towel.
I shook my head smiling and knowing exactly what she meant.
"Stay away from him," Aro said. "Don't even say hello."
"Um, okay." Alexandra turned her head away but then turned back. "It's M's turn to watch the fort tonight . . . I can sleep on the couch and help keep an eye on the kids. S'not like I can go out or will have anything to do," she grumbled.
"Hanna and Lizzie would love it if you stayed over." They think she's so fucking cool.
"If you wouldn't mind . . ." Aro shrugged. "It's no big deal, though."
"Relax. Someone will be here," I said. "Besides . . . Maybe Edward and I will want to go out."
"Ha!" Aro guffawed. "He's not gonna hang out in a bar if he doesn't have to. You're never in bars and he's always in them. He'd rather stay home."
I swallowed, staring down at my empty glass. "Very true."
"I could be wrong." Aro hit my arm. "Ask him . . . he'd do anything for you."
I smiled. "This is about us being together as a family. When the kids go to bed . . . we have our own way of chillin'." I winked, but he probably didn't see because of my shades.
"All right." Aro nodded. "That's what's up. Good for you." He stood up, brushing the sand from his legs. "I should go check out Peto. Ed doesn't do dirty diapers." He spoke of my father in-law.
"See if Kylie's packing a load, too?"
"You got it." He left, going toward the kids.
Kylie stood at the shoreline flanked by her grandfather and her little friend Peto. And every time the water would touch her toes, she'd squeal and run into Grandpa's arms. It truly was the sweetest sight.
In that moment, I felt blessed. Just being here helped to keep my mind off of things. Days ago, I let go of the silly notion that I'd try to meet my biological father. After all these years, he's probably forgotten about my mother and his time in Middletown altogether. I mean, what did I really think would happen?
It was time to let it all go.
Putting it all behind me hasn't been such a hardship. My parents were never truly there for me. This wasn't any different.
And now I have my own family . . .
My life is filled with so much love, it'd be greedy to ask for or even seek more.
"How can you concentrate?" Alexandra asked. "They're all shirtless," she giggled.
"Oh . . . um, I don't know. I guess I've been looking at their bare chests for too long," I teased, seeing my father in-law approach with Kylie.
"Grandpa is pooped," he said, landing a smiley Kylie on my lap.
"Look at you." I chuckled, brushing her knotted hair to the side with my fingers. "My baby girl is a mess."
"Alexandra, hello!" Ed Sr. shouted. "My Lexi . . . that was her first name, too."
"Um. People usually call me Alex."
"Alex?" I asked. "Cool."
"So, what are you gorgeous ladies up to?"
"Not much, Mr. Cullen," Alex said.
"Oh . . ." He sat in Hanna's old chair, and then things got quiet.
Kylie didn't want to sit still, so I took her inside to get cleaned up. Aro was giving Peto a small bath in the sink, and we switched off. He manned the small hose in the sink while I dried Peto off, and then we switched again to get the babies dressed.
"I threw together some macaroni and cheese."
"Thank you." I was shocked that Jackie did something to help me. She usually just judges my parenting style.
"Well, Ed was getting things ready for the grill . . . so." She shrugged, leaning against the counter. "I saw that you left it out."
"Thank you," I said again.
"Do you have any nanny friends?" Aro asked. "I'm going to need one soon."
"I came from an agency . . ." She went on and on about baby-sitters, and I got Kylie settled in her high chair.
Cleaning the kids up after they ate was just as fun as the first time. We settled the kids in a playpen on the deck, under the shade, for a nap and then waited for the food to be done. Aro left to do Aro things, and I settled myself in my chair again. The sun was starting to wane, and so was Jackie's patience.
Even after Ed Sr. told her it was cool for Lizzie to stay outside, she still insisted she come in.
Jackie eventually went back inside with a huff, and Ed went back to the grill.
"He's depressing," Alex commented.
"How so?" I asked.
"He's just sad . . . was talking about his dead wives? Was Lexi a ballerina?"
"Uh, no. Why do you ask?" I smiled.
"He said she was graceful when she danced—it was moving or something."
"Moving?" I felt it impolite to chuckle, but I wanted to. "She was . . . talented, a very talented dancer, but she was no ballerina. She worked at Eclipse."
She stared at me with her mouth open. "Wow." She seemed taken aback. "I've been to Eclipse . . . once, and my father would kill me if he knew. I was just curious where Mauro spent his time." She shrugged. "Some of those dancers, they're not all that." She snorted, fixing a makeshift pillow she'd made of her towel.
I didn't comment, taking a sip of my water and staring out to the ocean. Edward and Sonny were smiling so wide, and then they gave each other a high-five and walked away. Sonny went to Katie, and Edward made a mess—getting sand on his calves as he stomped his way over.
"You looked great out there," I said.
His breathing was labored when he hit my hip. "Scoot your boot."
I giggled, moving over so he could sit.
"Damn. I'm beat . . . and I feel old," he whispered the last part, placing a kiss on my cheek.
Edward was wet and cold, and I turned to embrace him anyway. "The water must be freezing."
"Eh, not really," he sighed but then laughed. "Yes," he tilted his head to face me, "yes, really. It's freezing."
I hummed, wiping some water away from his forehead. "Do you have any more energy for Dame? He'd love it if you played—"
"Tomorrow," he said. "We have four more days here . . . you're going with Sonny tomorrow to the mall? School shopping?"
"That's the plan. Carlisle said he'd take the girls, too . . . and I'm going to offer to take Katie if Aro decides not to come." I thought it was adorable that she met my son by the water with a towel. "Alex and Mauro are coming, too. It'll be a nice day. You should—"
"You can shop for Dame without him, right?"
Massaging his shoulders, I nodded.
"Aro and me, we were talking about taking Dame, AJ, and Anthony to the boardwalk—the games, the rides—Damion will love it. And you can't take Frick without taking Frack," he laughed, pointing away. Damion and Anthony were running away with the Frisbee, while Anton called them back. "Don't go too far! Stay where we can see you!" Edward yelled out to them, and they stopped. "Where's baby girl?"
I craned my neck to see the deck. Kylie and Peto were giggling about something, obviously not sleeping, while Grandpa crooned from the barbeque. "Oh . . . she was supposed to nap. I guess sharing a playpen with Peto wasn't my best idea."
Edward groaned, leaning back against me. "No big deal. I'm ready for bed now—we can sleep early." Looking to his face, I saw the wide smile. "Christ. I am getting old. Who gets excited about sleep?"
My smile fell for a brief second. "Aro and Carlisle are going out . . . all the kids are staying here tonight. I heard Jackie say Peto could sleep in her room—"
"It's gonna be a madhouse!" Edward wasn't happy about it.
"Aro's kids are very well behaved. You know that," I whispered in his ear. "It just bothers you that they'll be going out." I think that bothered me, too, only it stemmed from jealousy.
"Maybe," he admitted.
"Don't be grumpy." I bit his earlobe.
"I'll—I don't know," Alex said. "Jackie and me, we can probably keep an eye on all of them."
I grinned. "Thanks, but he doesn't want to go."
"Nope." My husband shook his head.
"Go where?" Mauro asked, coming to sit next to Alex. "Are you tan enough?"
"Almost." She smiled.
I smiled, too, at their young love . . .
"You wanna go out?" Edward wore a puss. "We can get drunk here."
"You're so right," I said, sitting back. "Four more days . . ."
Edward squeezed my thigh. "I could use a beer, and . . . food." He shot up to shout at his father, "What's good with dinner?"
"Keep your shorts on. It's almost ready," Ed Sr. hollered back.
Edward looked down to me and grinned, squinting his eyes. "You wanna go out and I'll stay here? You can chill with Aro and Carlisle." He hit my forearm with his toe.
"No, thank you." I scrunched my nose.
"Come on," he teased. "You and, and—" he rudely pointed to Mauro's girlfriend.
"Alex—"
"You guys can get dressed up, have a few drinks, and you wake me when you get home." He winked, and I wondered where MY husband went off to.
"Do you hear yourself?" I asked.
"No," Mauro said.
"What, no?" Alex nearly shouted.
"You're not going out without me . . ." They continued to argue back and forth for a few minutes, while Edward chuckled.
"What?" he asked me.
"Nothing." I shook my head. "I'd rather go out with you."
He grinned, sitting between my legs with his back to me. "Do whatever . . . it's your vacation, too, and your presence would fuck up their macking skills." He wrapped my legs around his waist. "But no . . . you know I'm half full of shit—go out without me." He shook his head. "Go argue down the beach." He pointed, talking to Mauro and Alex.
Then she huffed, storming away from the area.
"Aww . . . don't be like that! I'm working. We'll go out—"
"Working? You were swimming all day! And you practically ignored me!" Alex shouted back. "You think I wore this for anyone else?" She gestured to her bikini. "If I wanna go out, I will!"
Mauro shook his head, looking down on his luck. "She must be getting her period," he told us.
"Dude," Edward laughed.
"What?"
"Go get your girl before she walks back to Brooklyn." Edward found it all hilarious, and even if he was laughing at something kind of fucked-up, I was happy to see him happy—so carefree.
/=/=/=/=/
After we had dinner, everyone had their showers and chilled out. At around eight, we all decided to watch a movie.
My father in-law didn't even make it to our movie night, deciding to go to sleep. At the same time, Jackie did too, taking Peto and herself to bed, while I put Kylie down. Without a nap, she had been cranky all evening and put up a fight to go to sleep. I actually had to sit with her for a half-hour so she'd calm down. She fell asleep in my arms, and then I put her in her travel crib, which was right next to Edward and my bed.
By the time we were all settled, it was close to nine, and we were watching Cinderella, the Disney version. The main living room was pretty big. With the couch set up so Alex could sleep there, everyone else was sprawled on the other couch, the recliners, and some of the kids were on the floor.
Anton, even with the night off, chose to stay in—Edward said he stayed to kiss his ass. Even so, Hanna and Lizzie were adorable—smiling when he'd smile and laughing when he'd laugh at certain parts of the movie. Carli got in on it too, only trying to copy her older sister.
Halfway through, I caught Sonny reaching over and hooking his pinky through Katie's, and I thought that was the sweetest thing ever.
Edward and I were cozy, cuddled on the smaller couch. He actually stayed awake to watch, although I think he mostly watched me. I kept asking him what was up, and he'd shake his head and smile and kiss my cheek.
When the movie was over, Damion and Anthony were fast asleep, and Aro Jr. was getting there.
"Come on." Edward picked Damion off the floor. "You too, bud." He nudged AJ, who sleepily followed. "I'll come back for Ant."
"I'll get him," Sonny said, bending over to gather his cousin.
I sighed, sitting back, feeling tired myself.
Hanna and Lizzie had run upstairs when Anton went outside, taking Carli with them. She didn't make it 'til the end of the movie, falling asleep before Cinderella even made it to the ball.
It didn't take a genius to know something was up with Lizzie and Hanna, but I didn't say a word.
"Do you think, um, Miss Jackie would mind if I checked on my brother?"
I smiled at Katie. "I'm sure he's fine. I'll go with you—" I made to get up.
"No . . . I'm sure it'll be cool." She shrugged. "I should go to bed?"
"You don't have to," I said.
"You guys can chill down here. I'm not tired at all." Alex flipped through the channels. "I'm supposed to hang out with Lizzie and Hanna . . . Did you want to watch TV with us?"
"No." Katie kept her head down. "I'm tired."
"Goodnight." I waved.
"Goodnight, Aunt Bella." She's so fucking cute and sweet, and she gave me a kiss on my cheek goodnight. I tried to rein in my beaming smile, while I hoped her softness and sweetness would rub off on my son.
"This stuff is so good. I don't go anywhere without my own stash. Want some?" Alex took a jar of Nutella out of her overnight bag. "Mauro thinks I'm gross—I just love this stuff." She sat back down on the couch. "I'll sneak some before I give the girls makeovers . . ."
"Makeovers?" I laughed.
"Lizzie and Hanna . . . they were going through my makeup bag earlier—wanted tips, like I know what I'm doing." She sucked a healthy serving of Nutella off her finger.
"You're a novelty, older and pretty with the cute boyfriend. They don't have any older cousins or friends . . . of course, I'm considered too old." I rolled my eyes.
"Come on . . . you could probably show them more than I could. You're always so elegant . . . Mrs. Cullen." She smiled at me.
"Are you making fun of me?" I chuckled.
Her eyes widened. "Not at all . . . I mean it. I saw you at a wedding once a couple of years ago. You rocked some black dress . . . you looked so classy in comparison to the other wives." She shrugged.
"Oh," I said. "I don't think I've ever met your mom."
"My parents are divorced—been that way since I was four. No big deal."
I frowned, feeling sorry for asking. "Sorry to hear that—"
"Now the real fun can begin!" Carlisle shouted, jumping over the side of Alex's couch to sit next to her. "All the kiddos are going to bed." He lightly tugged on a strand of her hair, and she stiffened.
"I thought you left?" I shook my head, wondering where he even came from.
"I was taking a nap." Carlisle stuck his finger in that jar, too. "Aro should be here in two minutes." He was dressed nicely, wearing some loose jeans and looking ten years younger. I couldn't believe my eyes. He was dressed like Edward on his day off; meanwhile, he usually looks like a model from a L. catalog.
I plastered a watered-down smile on my face for my brother in-law.
"I love this stuff," he said, poking just a little bit onto Alex's nose. "Sorry."
She giggled, wiping it off.
He laughed. "You're adorable—"
I loudly patted the couch—slamming my hand into the cushions next to me. "Come sit by me. We never talk any more." Little did he know, I wanted him as far away from that girl as possible.
Carlisle smiled, coming to sit by my side. "You're not mad at me anymore, I hope." He put his arm around me and kissed my hair.
I pushed his arm away. "My anger . . . it comes and goes. Like, when I think about you . . . I get angry." I grinned. "I haven't gone swimming since."
"Oh . . . B, you're breaking my heart." He held his chest, but got over it quickly to look back to Alex. "So, what is it that you do? I remember Ronnie saying you graduated college . . . back in January? He was so proud of you."
Alex swallowed, turning to him. "I, um, yeah . . ." Her face was so red. "I went to Pace . . . Had to do an extra semester, but graduated with honors," she whispered. "I'm a nurse now . . . still being trained, actually. I work at Maimonides—the operating room?"
"I almost became a doctor," he said. "And I had surgery there. Were you working in the operating room then?"
"No. I just started—like two months ago?"
"Are you asking me?" Carlisle grinned.
"Oh, no. I mean, no." She shook her head.
I slapped my hand down on Carlisle's thigh. "Aro's probably outside . . . maybe talking to Mauro."
My brother in-law nodded. "Yeah—" He was still staring at her while she looked away from the area.
"Go check," I said.
"Right." Carlisle got up to leave.
Once he went out the door, my new, young friend palmed her face. "I'm such an idiot."
I nodded, agreeing with her.
"Did I sound as stupid as I think I sounded?" She pointed to herself.
"That's what you're worried about?" I snorted, hearing Aro beep his horn outside.
She puffed her cheeks, blowing out a breath as she closed the jar and shoved it in her bag. "I should go do those makeovers." She got up to stare behind me. "Maybe not."
I turned to see Hanna. Her face was covered in cosmetics. It was nicely done, but a little over the top, and she wore short-shorts and a tube top.
"My dad left, right?" Hanna looked around.
And I thanked God Carlisle had left already. He'd shit a brick if he had seen her.
"Yeah, he left . . . Don't you look, um, nice," I said.
Lizzie presented her, widening her arms and gesturing like a game show hostess. "My newest creation. I did her makeup and I made the outfit."
"She just trimmed clothes I already had." Hanna shrugged, turning around to give us a view.
"I'm going to have my own clothing line. I'll call it 'Elizabeth'." Lizzie moved her arm with a flourish.
"Sounds good," I giggled.
"Where did those come from?" Alex pointed to Hanna's chest.
And I knew there was a box of Kleenex missing from one of the bathrooms. She had breasts she didn't have earlier, and they were a bit lopsided.
"This is a pushup bra," Hanna said, lifting her chin and cupping her tissue-breasts.
"Well . . . this one is bigger." Alex pointed.
"Oh!" Hanna stared down, taking one tissue out of the left cup. "Better?"
Lizzie nodded. "You look fantastic."
"What's this?" Edward joined us again and his eyes landed right on Hanna. "Playing dress up?"
"No, Eddie." Lizzie smiled sweetly. "Can I show you something?"
Edward looked to me and I shrugged.
"What's up?" he asked.
"I saw this thing earlier on my laptop—I think you'll like it."
"Show me tomorrow—"
"Please? I never see you." Lizzie pouted.
"You see me every Sunday." Edward touched her cheek.
"Please!"
I grinned at my husband, who was about to get played by a twelve-year-old.
"All right." He followed Lizzie upstairs.
"What's going on?" I asked.
Hanna stared out the sliding doors. I knew Anton was out there, talking on his cell, but I didn't see him. "It's my only chance—"
"He's too old for you," Alex said.
"Lizzie kind of likes AJ, so we agreed." Hanna turned to me. "We both think Anton likes me anyway, and I know AJ likes her."
"Hanna," I laughed. "Come here. Talk to me—"
She shook her head. "I just wanna know if he wants to, to—I don't know." She stood ramrod straight, still looking outside.
"Hanna, Anton is twenty-one years old . . . You're—"
"Age is just a number." She cut me off again.
"Fine." I let it go. The more I protested, the more she'd want to do it, and the only thing I wanted to shield her from was a broken heart.
Alex craned her neck to see outside. "He's in the hammock." She shrugged, looking to me.
I nodded. "Go, before your uncle comes back down here." At the very least, I'd get cool points out of this.
"Okay." She squealed, opening the sliding door.
I watched her close it and then turned to Alex. "My husband will kill Anton if he—"
"He'd never step out of line," she said. "He has a sister her age. She has cerebral palsy . . . devotes a lot of time to care for her. It's sad. Mauro told me all about it." She frowned, taking a seat again. "He was busting his ass, working three jobs at like seventeen when Ed—Mr. Cullen asked him to be his driver."
"Ed Sr.?" I asked, not remembering if he ever drove for my Edward. Also, hearing about the lower rungs of the organization was very interesting to me. The new guys—whoever drives the kids and me—stay to themselves. I don't know anything about them.
"Yeah, he used to date Anton's mom, too . . . years ago. I think he was married to his ex at the time . . . the one with the red hair," she whispered behind her hand.
"Victoria," I answered.
With the way everything works, how incestuous it all seems sometimes, I tried to think if Anton resembled my father in-law in any way—if Hanna was about to hit on her uncle. Knowing they don't look anything alike quickly put my mind at ease. The Cullen genes are pretty damn strong. They'd resemble each other in one way or another, and they don't. Thank God.
"I should go see if Mauro wants anything." She trailed off, leaving out the front door.
"Who left?" Edward asked.
"Um, Alex went to see if Mauro wanted anything."
"He's welcome in the house. His being here is just a precaution." He came to sit next to me. "You and his girl are getting along well."
"We are." I held his hand. "She's nice."
"Good. You need a friend, even if she's young."
"Yeah, I think she's twenty-three or two. I don't know . . . Can you tell Carlisle to stay away from her?" I asked.
Edward slumped his shoulders. "What'd he do now?"
"Nothing . . . yet. He flirts, and she . . . she's helpless, a goner." I groaned, slumping low. "Poor Mauro."
Edward laughed. "I should tell him—let him smack my brother around a li'l bit . . . with total immunity. Serves him right, hitting on his girl."
I curled into his side. "Today was so nice."
Edward hummed, burying his lips in my hair. "We got a nice bed waiting for us."
"What'd Lizzie show you?" I smiled.
"Something about a bunny on YouTube." He chuckled. "So what was she distracting me from exactly?"
I giggled, sitting up to place my arms around his neck. "Didn't you see Hanna?"
"See her? I smelled her. She wore enough perfume to leave a wake between the bedrooms and down here . . . she looked like a baby prostitute." We were both shaking with the force of our laughter. "It's your perfume . . . caught Lizzie in our room while I was checking on Kylie. She said you said she could borrow it."
"I didn't," I laughed. "Is Kylie still asleep?"
"Yeah, Lizzie was in sneak mode, crawling on the floor," he laughed.
"In a few years, we'll go through that with Kylie."
"I'm so not looking forward to that. Can't she stay this big forever?" He widened his hands about a foot.
I smiled albeit sadly. "Unfortunately, no . . . You know, sometimes I think about having another one," I said, missing the new baby smell, the small cries, and the four a.m. feedings—the craziness, the cuteness, and all the fun.
Edward stopped rubbing his thumb along my palm. "Is that, um, something you think about a lot?"
I shook my head. "Not a lot . . . I don't—everything says no, like, within me? But that doesn't mean I don't miss it—having an infant in the house."
He nodded, looking down. "It wouldn't be totally hazardous—not if we sat down with Dr. Smith and Dr. Scott . . . developed a game plan to ensure a healthy delivery, really figure out what we're up against before we try or get hopes up . . ."
I pursed my lips. "There's all the other stuff, too."
"I'll be home more . . . Four would drive me nuts alone if I was to have to baby-sit," he said. "But . . ."
I laughed. "It's not baby-sitting if it's your own child." I pushed him. "It's called parenting."
He pulled me into his side. "Think more about it." He searched my eyes. "I want it, and then I don't want it—thinking about everything. I don't see why not, as long as you'll get through the pregnancy. You going to hell and back? That's a deal-breaker . . . I'm going to be home more and—" I kissed him, so he'd stop. It was such a wonderful day, and I didn't want it to end with empty promises.
"I'm sorry I said anything," I whispered, kissing down his neck. "It was just word vomit. I don't want another baby."
He let out a low groan, tilting his head to the side. "Let's go to bed."
"Let's," I agreed.
Edward stood up to take my hand, and then our heads whipped to the sliding door. Hanna slammed it closed before she rapidly ran upstairs.
"Oh, shit." I held my forehead, having forgotten she was out there.
"Hanna—" Anton approached the door.
"Fucking pervert!" Edward went to stomp over, and I acted before I thought about it.
I hopped onto his back. "Edward, stop!"
He listened to me.
"She has a crush—went out there to talk to him."
"Did you touch her?" Edward pointed.
Anton put his hands up. "Fuck . . . no, no fucking way." He shook his head.
"What happened?" I asked, still on Edward's back.
"Everything okay?" Mauro asked, flanked by Alex.
Anton blew out a breath, staring to the ground.
"My wife asked you a question." Edward still had that tone.
"Relax." I kissed his cheek, slowly sliding down his back. "He didn't do anything."
"She asked me to take her to the movies . . . I said sure—that we'd find out what everyone was doing tomorrow . . . it could be a group thing. Then she wanted to know who I was talking to . . ." He shrugged, looking confused.
"What else happened?" I whispered.
"She asked me to be her boyfriend—"
"What'd you say to that? She's thirteen, you know." Edward folded his arms across his chest.
"I know." Anton kept his head down.
"It's not his fault." I held onto Edward's arm.
"Why is she crying?" my husband asked, calming down some.
Anton shrugged again. "I thought it was a joke—"
"Oh . . . did you laugh at her?" Alex wore a frown.
I did too. "Did you?"
"Older dude, stealing hearts and shit," Mauro laughed.
"Apparently, it's not that uncommon around here," Edward spat. "Pay attention to your own shit."
"Edward." I squeezed his arm.
"My bad." He kissed my hair. "But what the fuck is this? Babies going after men? I'm too tired for this." He looked to Anton again. "You swear you didn't touch her?"
"God, no." Anton looked like he was going to be sick. "I swear to Christ. I told her she was way too young, and that I had a girlfriend. I said we could be friends . . . she's like my little sister."
"Ouch," I winced. "Did you really say all that, too?"
Anton nodded. "I didn't want there to be any miscommunication."
I closed my eyes, slowly shaking my head. "I'll go talk to her."
"I can talk to her," Edward offered.
I smiled. "What the hell could you say to make her feel better?"
Edward furrowed his brow. "Make her feel better? I'm going to tell my brother. Hopefully, he'll punish her."
"Punish? She didn't break any rules." I walked around him toward the staircase. "She didn't sneak out. I knew she was out there."
Edward looked up to the ceiling. "Let's see, she was dressed in that getup, and she asked him out on a date? She's a baby, hitting on older guys." He counted off his fingers. "If she's punished now, she won't do it again . . . What do you mean you knew?"
"Some lessons, they have to be learned on your own," I said.
"You should have told her to wash her face and go to bed."
"Edward—"
My husband kissed my hand. "Bella, the next older guy might not say no."
My face fell, finding all of this so funny before. "Why do you have to make me think of that?" My stomach rolled with nausea. "It's a very good point. I just—I didn't think of it like that—thought it was kind of cute."
"All I'm saying is, she needs to know it's wrong, and my brother needs to know this happened." He shrugged. "I need a drink."
"Pour us some wine . . . I'll be back down in a minute." I rose to my toes to kiss his cheek. "We'll drink it on the beach?"
His face lit up. "Go, be quick."
I was smiling again as I made my way to the girls' room. Checking on Kylie first, I set up the baby monitor and then went to find Hanna. Carli was asleep on a cot, while Hanna cried on the bottom bunk of the set they had in here. Lizzie was curled up with her, drying her eyes.
"Hey." I kept my voice low.
Lizzie winced, shaking her head.
I nodded, coming to sit next to Hanna. "You okay?"
She rolled over, having black tears streaming down her cheeks. "I thought he liked me."
"I know," I said.
"I want my mom . . ." Her lip quivered. "I hate her—she left and—"
"Your mom's in the hospital getting help," Lizzie said. "My dad said that sometimes adults need help, and we can't help them . . . doctors help them."
"Hanna," I placed my hand on her shoulder, "are you upset about your mom or Anton?"
"Both . . . I'm sad, so I thought about my mom. She didn't have to go away. I'm never speaking to her again."
"Your mom will be back," Lizzie whispered. "It'll be okay."
"No, it won't," Hanna sobbed. "I hate her."
"At least you have a mom." Now Lizzie was crying. "Mine is dead. I'll never get to talk to her again. You will!" Lizzie hopped out of the bed, continuing to stomp out of the room.
I jumped when she slammed the door, and then Carli woke up—whimpering. "Mommy?"
"Shhh." I briefly left Hanna to tuck Carli in again. "It's okay."
Carli smiled at me. "I have to do pee pee."
I grinned, getting up to go back to Hanna while she left the room.
"Now Lizzie hates me . . ."
"She doesn't hate you." I got into the bed and lay to her side. "She doesn't have a mom, so it hurt her to hear what you said . . . You don't really hate your mom."
"No, I hate Anthony. It's because of him—"
"Hanna, Anthony's three."
"As soon as Dad moved away so he could live with Anthony, Mom left. She hated him and Dad, and—"
"No," I said. "Your mom had trouble dealing with it . . . but she loved Anthony. I remember, she wanted both your dad and brother to move back with you guys."
"She's been gone forever."
I nodded, my heart breaking. My husband and Carlisle are very quiet about the Esme situation. All I know is she's at some wellness retreat, some spa therapy thing out in Arizona. I had no idea how long she'd be away, and I didn't have the answers for Hanna either. Even if I have hate in my heart now for her, I wished she were around for her kids—back to the normal Esme I knew. "When was the last time you spoke to her?"
"She called my cell phone last week. She doesn't call as much as she used to." She grabbed a tissue from her bra to wipe her eyes.
"Is the movie over?" Carli asked as she crawled into bed.
"Yup . . . we'll have to watch it again." I turned back to Hanna. "You knew Anton was too old for you."
She shrugged.
"I'm going to marry Anton."
"Shut up!" Hanna shouted at her sister.
Carli giggled, getting lost in her covers.
I tried not to laugh. "Don't be mean. She was just kidding—"
"Oh, no, Aunt Bella. I'm not."
I rolled my eyes, ignoring the seven-year-old. "He's still your friend."
"How do I even act around him?" she cried. "I feel so dumb."
I nodded, figuring she acted older, so I could maybe speak to her like an adult. "You knew he was too old for you," I said again. "Whose attention did you really want with that? Were you trying to get your dad mad?"
She swallowed and she said a lot with the look she gave me. "He doesn't care about anything, and he's always in my business. He's always home now—"
"Daddy's fun."
"Shut up!" Hanna again.
"Stop," I said. "And you go to bed."
Carli giggled, getting comfortable. "We're going to the boardwalk tomorrow. Daddy said he'd try to win me a bear."
"I'm sure you guys will have fun." I smiled.
"We're still going shopping?"
"Yes," I answered Hanna, trying to fight the urge to roll my eyes. "And . . . if your father didn't care, he wouldn't be in your business or around." I poked Hanna's side. "You'd be stuck with a nanny all day and night. Now that school's starting, you'll only have a sitter for a couple of hours—until Dad gets home from work."
"I didn't always hate him . . . I just—I can't believe he did that to my mom. I know . . . where babies come from, and I don't know."
I nodded. "So, you know that babies don't ask to be born. Hating Anthony is stupid and not necessary. If you want to be angry at someone, be angry at your dad." I shrugged. "But you should let go of the anger you have, period. Think about it? You can't change anything. It happened, but now Carli has a little brother that'll drive her crazy."
"I heard that." Carli brought the covers down to stare at me.
I laughed at the serious expression she had, but she couldn't hold it—a little knucklehead just like her brother and Damion. She eventually laughed and pulled the blanket over her head.
"No matter what happens between your mom and dad, they still love you guys more than anything in this world. I know that for a fact," I said.
"Mom said that," she whispered. "She said Daddy made a mistake, and we're all allowed to make some mistakes. We learn from them."
I grinned. "Your mom is a smart woman."
"She said the weak can never forgive, and I'm strong—I can forgive him . . . I'm just so mad, though." She blew her nose.
"It's okay to be—"
"I thought Anton would make me happy. We could go to movies, and all my friends would be so jealous." She gave me half a grin. "Lizzie would be jealous, too. She's so pretty . . . I wanted to show that, that I could get a guy like that."
I leaned in to whisper in her ear. "She's the same age as you . . . she can't get a 'guy like that' either. And . . . she's already jealous of you."
"Oh . . ."
"And you're both gorgeous!" I slapped her butt, making her laugh again. "But you're so young . . . in ten years? When Anton is old and married, he's going to be blown away—completely and utterly shocked. Wait . . . although, it's not his fault. It would be so wrong, so, so wrong for you and Anton to be boyfriend/girlfriend. He can go to jail, and you really, really don't want that—not now, at this age. Don't be in such a hurry to grow up."
"My dad would probably kill him before he went to jail."
I decided not to comment on that one. "See if Sonny has some friends . . . or wait 'til school starts. No matter how old he is, his presence will still make Daddy nuts."
She giggled. "I guess so."
"And what was with the makeup? Hanna, you don't need it. You're so pretty."
"Mom used to say that, and you guys have to say that—"
"I mean it." I squeezed her hand. "Go get washed up. We'll talk more tomorrow if you want. There's a few more things I'd like to discuss about this older boy business, um . . . "
She nodded. "I want to." She sat up to hug me tight.
I smiled within the embrace, but my heart was still sad.
To Be Continued . . .
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