Chapter 49

June 2009

Bella

Dark.

Everything is dark behind his hands. I'm sure if I open my eyes I'll be able to see through his fingers. He'd never leave me lightless without a way out. But I promised Edward I wouldn't, so I keep my eyes closed.

Promises are promises.

I allow him to guide my way, knowing he would never let me fall. I can trust him with everything I am. If I've only learned one thing during my short complicated, sad life, it's that Edward is honest. He's my savior.

"Your eyes better be closed, Bella," Edward warns.

"They are." I hear the sound of a door being opened. I smell wet paint. Edward leads me straight until I feel carpet beneath my feet.

He removes his hands from my face. "Okay, you can look now."

I look at him first. It'd be a shame if Edward wasn't the first thing I saw through the dark. He's too pretty not to look at. He's too fantastic not to drink in and melt with. After I've seen his smile, I take the time to look around. My jaw must have hit the ground because Edward closes it for me before kissing my lips.

"This place, this house, it's ours," he whispers, letting me hide myself in his neck.

"Thank you for working so hard so I don't have to," I tell him, loving the house. I want to look around, but loving him is so much more important. I would live in a box, a crate, or in a fucking garbage bag as long as I had him.

"Don't you want to look around?" he asks quietly as his nose glides along my cheek.

"Yes." I nod.

Edward takes me though the house. We have a master bedroom and three smaller rooms. The kitchen is large, and Edward swears I could never fuck-up another dinner again.

"It's a smart-kitchen. Whatever that means," he says.

The living-room is open, and all of the bathrooms are bigger than our one bedroom apartment we've spent the last five years in. The backyard has a pool and a deck, and there's a spa for the days I don't feel well.

It's amazing, and more than I ever imagined possible.

His arms are around my chest, and his chin is on my shoulder. "I got in at the hospital, Bella. This is yours. Anything you want you can have. I fucking swear."

We stare at our backyard; this is what the last few years have added up to: Edward is a doctor. We own this huge house, and I've found some contentment with myself. He's given me the opportunity to do and be anything I want, and now he's given me all of the time in the world. He has given me the best gifts. His love would have been enough, but this … this extra is nice.

"I love it." It's the absolute truth.

We stand in our new home for some time. I should have known it wouldn't have lasted. When Edward reaches down, sweeping my feet out from under me, I know better than to be surprised. I know better than to scream or to ask to be let down … once he's running in the direction of the pool, I know there's no point in anything else but holding on.

We cut through the air, jump and fall. I hold on to Edward and gasp for a deep breath, a huge breath. A breath so big it burns my lungs. A breath I let out as soon as we touch water. Edward lets me go and bubbles blur my vision. My feet kick. My arms and legs swim toward the surface. Edward reaches for me and we kiss beneath the water.

He holds me down. Our tongues touch and water fills our mouths.

Our feet kick, racing towards the water line. We both inhale before we start to laugh, splashing water in each other's faces. I swim away, but he catches me. We swim-float around in circles. He dunks me under, and I pull him close by his tie.

We're playing in the water.

Playing like a couple of kids that never grew up.

Free.

Happy Alone.

Sharing a Smile.

The True Love Way.