Chapter 8

The next morning I was up at 6 and the sun was up. I quietly got out of bed and left a note and went for a walk. I found a paved trail this time and it led to a creek.

Rose came and sat down next to me twenty minutes later. "Edward called me."

"Of course, he did. He just can't leave me alone."

"Isabella, he loves you; what is wrong? This isn't you."

"Rose," and I started crying on her shoulder. "I think Edward has fallen out of love with me."

"What? You have got to be kidding!"

"No, Rose, I am serious this is just between you and me. I'm slowly dying inside."

"Honey, he loves you. Why are you saying that? He is upset that you won't talk to him. You haven't been like this since before you married him."

"Rose, since we have been back from San Diego, Edward hasn't been around much. When he is at home, he is locked in his office. At the office, he is either with a patient or locked in his office. He spends some time with the kids and eats dinner with us. He doesn't normally make it to bed before I am asleep. Edward decides when we have sex. Yet, at the very end of April, Edward asked me to stopped taking my birth control pills so that we could try for baby number three. We had fun practicing in May; but in June, we only made love about once a week. Now, you tell me what happened after Memorial Day weekend. Then last night after I fell and finished my shower, I went to get dressed and I forgot my bras and underwear because when Edward came home two nights ago he knocked me down on the bed while I was packing and wanted to have sex. I got distracted even after I sent him away and forgot my bras and underwear."

"Bella, are you sure?"

"I don't know. I just know the facts, Rose. He told me he would make it up to me on this trip. Yesterday morning, he met me in the shower and that was amazing."

"Okay, Bella, when we get to Redding later today the three of us moms will hit Victoria Secret's."

"Great."

"Bella, I can't explain the last six weeks but I know he loves you. You can see it in his eyes. He watches you; he sent me out here to check on you at 6:30 in the morning. He made you scream though silently in the shower yesterday morning. Be nice and let him spoil you rotten for the next two weeks and relax. Maybe on one of your alone nights; you will even make a baby."

"Rose, you can't tell anyone else."

"Sweetie, I won't. Just try and believe what Edward said that he will make it up to you."

"I will try."

"Now, how about we head back to our rooms. I need some coffee. You know, Edward is going to ask me about this?"

"I know."

"I'll tell him that you have just really missed him and that I helped convince you that he is really going to make it up to you. I will also tell him that the girls get to go to Victoria Secret's later today. And you will remember all the great times with Edward and try your damnedest to enjoy this trip and have fun with your husband, children and the rest of us."

"I will and thanks Rose. Thanks for being my sister and my shoulder to cry on and for being my family even when you were a pain in the ass."

"You're welcome, that is what a sister is for."

Arm in arm we got up and walked back up the trail to the lodge. As I was about to go into my room, we hugged and then she whispered, "Bella, I love you; but do you think the next time you need me; you can wait until after at least eight in the morning."

"I'll try and thanks again, Rose."

I went in and headed for the shower. As I stepped out of the shower, my husband was in the bathroom and wrapped a towel around me. "How was your walk?"

"Wonderful, Rose and I had a wonderful talk."

"Good, I'm glad," and he kept drying my body with his hands and my towel.

"Edward," I groaned and held the counter.

"Yes, beautiful." He had just come up my legs drying them and his finger ran through my lower lips and I wiggled to his touch.

Then there was a knock. "Daddy, I need to go to the bathroom."

"Okay, just a minute and I'll be right out." He stood up flushed the toilet kissed my neck and said, "I love you."

He left and I grabbed my clothes after I secured my towel and headed to the living room to get dressed. Breakfast was fresh fruit, yogurt and granola; we had packed in the coolers for this morning. Then all twelve of us loaded back up the cars. We headed to a trail; we had found on-line for a hike. Jasper and Edward pulled out the strollers; Alice and I loaded it down with water and away we went. It was an easy hike so Alice and Rose were back with me. Rose linked arms between Alice and I; and then Alice leaned around and asked, "How are you this morning?"

"I am good." Masen interrupted us in the bathroom

Alice giggled and said, "Maybe you should have gotten up earlier?"

"Alice, you and Jasper."

"Well dish," Rose said after Alice's giggles

"Shower is all I have to say and that I love my husband."

I looked at Rose and said, "I guess we'll have to try getting up earlier."

"Maybe we will," and we both giggled. "Oh Alice, when we get to Redding, the boys are going to take the kids for a little while, we need to hit Victoria Secret's for some underwear that we are required to purchase for a certain brunette that is my little sister."

"Why?"

"Edward kind of distracted me when he got home two nights ago and that was the last thing I needed to pack and I forgot."

"Cool, I will check on my phone."

We started our drive further north, stopped at a McDonald's for lunch for the kids to burn off some energy. We got to Redding around two. We took all three cars to the lake to let the boys play with the kids. Rose, Alice and I got in Rose's car to head to the mall. We promised the boys we would be back in two hours. Once we made it to Victoria Secret's, we had fun. I got five pairs of thongs and five low cut boy shorts. Then we went looking for matching bras. I made sure I got one strapless one for Edward's and my anniversary because I had a strapless sundress packed for that night. We had just finished our purchases and Alice was about to pull us into another store when my cell went off. I answered, "We still have fifteen minutes before we have to leave. What Edward? Shit! Fuck! How did that happen?"

"What?" Alice and Rose said.

"Rangers, what? What did you guys do?"

"I won't stop; Edward find him. We are on our way," and I hung up my phone.

"How did he lose Masen?" Rose asked.

"Rose, it is Garrett; he wandered off and they can't find him. The park rangers are looking for him."

"What?" she screamed.

A police officer came up to us and asked, "Are you ladies, okay? Is there something I can help with?"

Alice said, "No. Yes. I don't know. We're on vacation and left our husbands with the kids at the lake so we could quickly run to the mall for a forgotten item. Now, one of our sons is missing and we need to get back to Lake Shasta."

"Ladies, I don't think any of you should be driving. My partner is outside and if you will allow it; I will drive your car and he can run as our escort to get you out to the lake quickly."

"Thank you," Alice said.

"Yes, please," Rose said handing her keys to the officer in tears

In twenty minutes, we were back out to the lake. We went running up to Jasper and Edward and the kids Rose said as a crying Katie climbed into her arms, "Where is Emmett?"

"Helping them look. Now that you guys are here, we are going to help look."

The two officers then said, "We will help, as well."

"Edward, what happened?" Rose said as she calmed Katie.

"We were playing with all the kids at the park and the next thing I knew I heard Emmett hollering for Garrett."

By 7, we still hadn't found him and the boys insisted that we get the kids to the hotel. A park ranger made sure we got there safely. We ordered pizza for all the kids and paced. None of us moms got more than two or three bites into us. At 8, we still hadn't heard anything. At 9, still nothing. Time was going really slowly and dragging on. I finally put my two kids to bed. Katie was with Jamie asleep in bed and Alex was in another bed. We were all pacing and wished we were out looking. We had seen on the news earlier in the evening about the search at the park for a missing boy. At 10, all of our phones went off in a text –

A ranger just found him – appears just tired and dehydrated more information to come. E

We all hugged, breathed a sigh of relief and then cried. I finally said, "Thank god."

Forty-five minutes later, Emmett came in carrying a sleeping Garrett. Edward and Jasper followed them in. They all looked exhausted but yet relieved. Rose said I got him. She scooped up her baby and took him to bed. Then the five of us stepped out on the patio; the boys had beers in their hands trying to calm their nerves down some. Rose stepped outside with a glass of wine and said, "Emmett, I would love to yell at you for losing our son but I can't(COMMA) you also brought him home to me. Do you think you can tell us what happened?"

"Once we made it to the lake playground near the water, we were sitting at a picnic table all talking. Masen came up to Edward and said he lost a part to his plane. We agreed to help him look for it. Liza fell and I was closest so I went to check on her. Then Edward came over with Masen so we could clean up her skinned knee. She wanted Uncle Emmett to hold her hand while daddy cleaned it all up. Once she was done and back on the playground, we looked around and counted heads and Garrett was missing. Jasper and I went into the woods and couldn't find him. Edward called the park rangers and the search started. Edward then called you three."

"Oh baby. I'm sorry, if we had been there."

"No. I think he would have gotten off on his own anyway."

Rose then told them about what happened with us at the mall.

"When the park ranger found him, he was about a mile in from where we were, way off the trail. Garrett thought he remembered seeing where Masan's plane part fall off in the woods and that is why he went back into the woods. He had gotten lost and the ranger told him the next time that that happened he should stay in one place. We couldn't find him because he kept moving thinking he could find his way out. Garrett finally got so tired he finally sat down to rest and that is when the ranger finally found him."

"Edward, did you check him out?" Rose asked.

"Yes, Rose. He's fine. Tomorrow to compensate for lack of fluids I would say we really need to push them but besides that and a really good night sleep. He will be fine."

"Tomorrow before we leave we need to sit down with all the kids and talk about wandering off," Jasper said.

"I agree," we all said. I was leaning against Edward because I was so thankful everything had worked out. His one arm was around me while the other held his beer. Once everyone's drinks were gone; I said, "I am going to get Liza and head to bed."

Edward said, "I'll get Masen."

I quickly hugged Rose and Emmett and said, "I love you and we will see you in the morning."

Alice said, "Forget about the schedule, we will leave when Garrett is up and ready and has had a big breakfast."

"Great and thanks guys," Emmett said and hugged us all.

We all scooped up kids and took them back to our rooms. Once they were settled back down to sleep, I went into our bathroom and started crying. Edward was right there. "What is it, Bella?"

"I was so afraid and having one of our kids missing puts everything back in perspective. I love you and I am sorry I let my insecurities get away from me over the last few days."

"Well, I'm sorry I haven't been around. I hated it as much as you did. Why don't you go lie down I need a shower before I go to bed?"

"Okay, I'll grab your pajama shorts and put them in here for you."

"Thanks, by the way, did you get your new bras and underwear?"

"Yes, I did."

"Am I going to get to see them?"

I smiled and said, "Maybe."

When I brought him back his shorts, Edward was already in the shower. I stayed in the bathroom because I had brought my night clothes to change into. Once I was naked, I heard my husband growl. "Oh, I'm sorry. Am I distracting you, Edward? Should I leave?"

"No, get your sexy ass in here and shut up." Edward reached his hand out to me. I quickly stepped into the shower and we shared a very passionate kiss. He turned us and growled wrap your legs around me, "Beautiful, I need you now."

I giggled and said, "Just don't drop me." I knew he wouldn't even when he held me with only one hand as he played with my clit. I just kept wiggling against his rock hard manhood.

He finally said, "You are asking for it." My back was pressed up against the wall. He drove his manhood straight up into me and we set one hell of a pace between his dick wanting me and our tongues demanding their own attention.

As I came, I groaned fuck into our kiss right into his mouth and his response back was a guttural, "Oh shit." As Edward let my legs slide back down to the ground, he whispered, "I love you, Bella."

"I love you, too, Edward," and out of the shower, we both stepped. We each dried one another. Edward slid on his boxer briefs and sleep pants I had brought him. Then he helped me slip on a new emerald green tank top and my Victoria thong plus my new sleep shorts. I was up in his arms and he carried me to bed where we cuddled up together. I kissed him and he held me as we fell asleep.