Chapter 51 Xmas, Cullen Style
BPOV
I didn't even have time to register Monday; it flew by in a whirlwind of dress fittings and hunting trips. I was getting hungrier and hungrier as the days went on. I was absent of the clawing burn though, thank god. It only reared its ugly head when humans were around. Since not too many humans came near the house I was spared it for good parts of the day. Only the usual deliveryman graced our driveway that Monday.
He bought me the usual brown paper wrapped parcel that contained a tiny, ruby red apple dangling from a little gold link.
Edward's accompanying letter told me it was because I was his forbidden fruit, one he'd taken great pleasure in 'plucking' from the tree. With only 12 days until the wedding his notes were getting more and more elaborate and more and more desperately worded. I knew exactly how he felt.
If there were a way to speed things up I'd have begged Alice to do it before now.
"We aren't changing a thing Bella Swan, I'm watching you." Alice had called angrily from the second floor when I'd had my errant thought about switching up the wedding date.
"If you two leave the yard without telling me where you're going I'll never speak to you again, don't make me tag you." She'd bellowed when Edward had dared to have the thought about eloping again.
So we tried to be patient. We sucked at it, but we tried, sort of.
Tuesday turned out to be a rushed nightmare of a day. Alice and I had to speed to Seattle to collect the portraits I'd had restored for Edward's wedding present then race back and meet him at the hospital for the ultrasound appointment. Luckily Alice drove like a maniac and we got to Carlisle in time.
Alice took the canvasses and the framed prints home to hide them while I stayed with Edward at the hospital. Neither of us held much hope that the ultrasound machine would work on our little bundle of joy, neither did Carlisle and he was right. The machine whirred and hummed along nicely but showed only a black shadow on the screen.
Carlisle told us not to worry, it was only because the membrane around our baby was far thicker, almost impenetrable really, than a human babies capsule and as long as I gained weight steadily things were progressing, as they should, as far as anyone could tell.
We'd left not altogether happy but not really worried either. We knew the baby was fine because he – Edward had taken to calling it a she to balance out my belligerent streak that kept calling it he – or she, kicked up a storm whenever Edward was near me or the music was playing. It was still our secret for now, but the others had caught us with Edward's ear to my belly once or twice and Edward had told me they were beginning to question it a little.
But for now his secret was as safe as our baby was in my belly. A bulging belly it was becoming too. My jeans refused to do up. The waistband was an inch and a half away from being able to be fastened and I was not happy. It was going so fast. Everyday I'd weigh myself and everyday I had something new to write down on that stupid chart in our bathroom. Edward said I looked lovely, adorable; I was just starting to feel ridiculous.
I still doubted the truth in Edward's statement when my charm arrived. The black satin pouch revealed a tiny ruby shoe. I looked at it quizzically while Edward chuckled lightly at my side. "Should I ask?" I wondered out loud.
"Well love, I keep telling you how lovely you look. Read the note." He told me insistently.
I pulled it from its envelope and read it. Pish. He'd given me the little shoe because I was so stylish, so beautiful, and had the longest legs he'd even seen or wanted in his life. I couldn't help the giggle or the rush of desire as I read it. "Eleven days Edward, eleven days." I whispered into his ear as I licked the shell.
The rest of that Tuesday was spent in bed.
EPOV
With only two days until Christmas I had a hell of a job getting away from the house to do my shopping that year. I'd ordered a few things online but needed to get into at least Port Angeles for the rest.
Bella had cheated and used her thirst as an excuse and given Alice a list. Of course Alice had loved shopping on Bella's behalf and done it all in record time. She'd have done mine too if I'd asked, Alice never turned down the chance to shop, but there were a couple of things I wanted to do personally.
I on the other hand had a bitch of a time extracting myself from Bella's clutches, and our bed, on the Thursday morning and heading off to shop on my own.
I had heard rumblings about Bella needing some time with Rose anyway, I tried not to listen to what they were up to. It was obviously wedding related because Alice was supervising.
I'd miss out on Bella's charm being delivered that day. I knew what it was though, I had the list memorized. Today she would receive an intricately carved sapphire in the shape of a tiny owl. The letter I'd written to accompany it would tell her that it was a symbol of her wisdom and that I hoped to spend a lifetime learning to love her. I hoped she liked it. After today we'd be into single figures, today was ten days until the wedding.
When I returned from my shopping trip Alice had conveniently taken Bella hunting. I had plenty of time to wrap and hide my gifts before they returned. I also got a chance to call Renee and check that all the details of our trip were confirmed.
Thursday night I spent on the sofa with Bella. It had become our nightly routine. We'd sit with the stereo on softly waiting for our baby to kick. We'd spend hours talking to her – Bella stubbornly refused to concede she may be a girl and insisted on calling her him – and hoping she could hear my voice.
Bella fell asleep in my arms as I cradled her in our bed.
When I was sure she was asleep I crept downstairs to help set up for our coming guests.
We'd have Charlie and Renee with us over the few days of Christmas. They'd come on the evening of Christmas Eve and we'd be having the wolves over that night too for a drink. Christmas day we'd spend with them at our house and we'd try to put on a traditional family Christmas as best we could. Bella was so looking forward to cooking with her mother and Esme that day.
Boxing day we'd spend together too. But it would be a relaxed affair. We'd hang around the house and just be together. The days after that were going to get very, very hectic so it had been agreed that everyone could do as they pleased on Boxing Day, it would be their last chance before the relations descended.
BPOV
Christmas Eve was a long, long day for me. I'd put on more weight over the last two days and it was now apparent I was pregnant.
My jeans out and out refused to do up so I had to give them up as a bad joke. Alice rescued me by coming to our room that morning, her arms laden with carrier bags of clothing. My shape was changing fast but she'd anticipated that so each of the bags was marked with a different number.
She handed me a bag marked #1 and she told me this was where we'd start.
I pulled on some jeans that had an elastic waist and tugged on a loose jersey. Both Alice and Edward told me I looked no different than I did any other day, I just felt more comfortable. I could live with that.
I dreaded what was in bag #3. I couldn't bring myself to look.
I helped set up the chairs on the lawn in readiness for tonight's get together. The wolves had been coming and going all day delivering food and drinks in coolers. My parents had arrived, luggage in hand, to stay for a few days so I had settled them into the guest room on the bottom floor.
The deliveryman bought me another charm and another adorable note from Edward. This time the charm was a miniature book.
Esme came to listen as I read the letter. "Dearest Isabella, More beautiful than Juliet, more amazing than Elizabeth Bennet, more loving than Emma and more vibrant than Tess, you are the living embodiment of them all to me. In nine days our love story begins a new chapter, I cannot wait for you to be my wife. All that I have is yours, in love and devotion, Edward xx."
Esme insisted I go and show my mother, citing the note as his best work to date. I was pretty happy with it myself and told him so when I found him in our room trying to hide the parcel that had come for him when mine arrived.
"Please don't peek Isabella, it will ruin the surprise. Promise me?" He asked and I told him I would not look.
Edward took me hunting before the party began so that I could be sure to stave off both my thirst and my ache when the humans arrived with the wolves. We were a little longer than planned – Edward was and always has been the master of distraction - and returned to the yard where the party was in full swing.
At midnight Edward bore me off to bed. He told everyone I was tired, but I was no such thing.
EPOV
Emmett and I pushed the Christmas tree down ourselves out in the woods and then we dragged it home. Esme said it was too big by half but we ignored her. This was Bella's first Christmas with us and we were determined to make it a bloody good one. So we stuffed the huge tree into a barrel left over from a bonfire the wolves had had at the Rez and set to decorating it.
We could still hear Charlie snoring and I could hear Bella's even breathing so I knew she was still asleep. I wanted the tree finished before she awoke; it was to be the first of many surprises for her today.
The whole family was keen to make it a memorable day, her first with us but also the first Christmas that our family was truly complete.
The scent of the pine needles bought her to the landing to investigate and also bought out a cry of joy from her as she saw the tree and all it's trimmings for the first time. Emmett positively beamed when she kissed him as a thank you for helping me bring it into the house for her. I'd brag one day about the thank you she gave me later that day when I went to shower and dress for 'dinner'.
While Bella spent her day with her mothers cooking the men in the house spent the day in the living room in various stages of competition.
Jasper and Carlisle were engaged in a monumental game of chess, one that had started 18 years ago and had progressed little ever since. Every time we moved house a sketch of the boards – I say boards, plural, because there were nine of them, three abreast, three down – and they'd all be packed up and set up again according to the sketch.
Every hour or so one of them would begin the trash talk. 'Ha you've moved the wrong piece old man, ho ho you're an idiot, is this your first game little boy, you play like a little old woman, who taught you to play, I'm falling asleep over here you're so boring' etc etc etc. And then Jasper would chime in with his insults.
Emmett had convinced Charlie and I to play the Xbox. It had seemed an innocent request. I assumed he'd asked purely to give us something to wile the hours away but I could tell from his thoughts he was eager to have a crack at the Chief. Emmett hated playing games with me because I could anticipate his moves, removing his stealth. This time he had a plan.
He slid Grid into the Cd tray and asked the Chief how his driving skills were.
"Can't be any harder than driving the Veyron." He mused, pushing the little buttons experimentally on the controller.
That was the beginning of the most vicious, competitive driving race I'd ever been party to. The three of us sat shoulder to shoulder on Esme's sofa for four hours. At one point Renee, Esme and Bella had come in from the kitchen, hands on hips, chastising us for the language.
We'd secured a free pass, for the length of the game only, and had returned to the game safe in the knowledge that we could swear freely.
I lost the very next race when the Chief of Police called me a cocknut. I choked on my laughter and he overtook me and took the checkered flag easily. I considered it cheating, he told me to suck it up buttercup.
Rose and Alice spent the day decorating the house and arranging the gifts under the tree. When we were all called downstairs for 'dinner' a collective gasp was made when we were ushered into the dining room.
BPOV
Alice had done such a lovely job on the dining room I couldn't help the gasp of pleasure as I saw it for the first time.
The walls were hung with paper chains and lanterns in gold and green. A pale gold damask tablecloth was covering the huge table and each place was set with Esme's best china and a little embossed gold place card sat on each plate. Dark green and gold napkins sat alongside the plates, each one held tightly with a crimson ribbon, sprigs of holly threaded along them.
The backs of the chairs were draped with gold cloths and held in place with wide gold ribbons.
All the food was in a long line down the centre of the table and wine goblets in various sizes and shapes stood at the head of each setting.
Candles flickered in the two enormous candelabras and the tablecloth was strewn with Christmas roses in bright red.
"Thank you Alice." I told her as I kissed her cheek. She beamed and told everyone to sit.
When I'd thought about this night in the weeks leading up to it I thought I was going to be awkward. Eight vampires who didn't eat and two humans who did. Surely it would look silly and my parents would be uncomfortable eating on their own? But no. As we took our assigned seats – which were really just our normal places when we had meetings, plus Renee and Charlie next to each other on my side of the table – Edward assured me that my parents were happy and very, very pleased to be sharing the evening with us.
Charlie and Carlisle made a ceremony over pouring red wine for everyone and a quick blessing was made over the meal before my parents dug in.
The conversation never faltered as they ate. The vampires relaxed casually as my parents ate their body weight in Christmas fare. Ending in a beautifully lit Christmas pudding complete with brandy custard.
When the meal was finished Esme said she'd like to explain, for mine as well as my parents benefit, now a Cullen Christmas worked.
"Gifts are given to each of us from the family as a whole, we don't exchange gifts in the usual way, with Edward and Alice' abilities its often difficult to keep surprises here. The family buys each of us a gift and it's given to them from Carlisle as head of our coven. That includes you and Renee and Charlie now." She smiled indulgently at us in turn. "Gifts between couples can be given in private or in company, at your own discretion. Lets move to the tree, please bring your glasses." She told us and the ten of us moved into the living room to find a perch.
I will admit to being excited. I was eager to give Edward his presents and I wanted to see my parents faces when they received the presents we'd bought them, from the family. My mother was going to explode and my father…well my father, I might finally get to see him lose his control!
Edward sat on the end of the big white sofa and I sat between his knees on the floor. He was twisting my hair through his fingers idly.
My mother sat beside him, my father beside her.
Jasper sat on the other end of the sofa with Alice on the floor in front of him, closest to the presents of course. She looked fit to burst with excitement.
Rose and Emmett were draped over the ottoman, Rose in Emmett's lap.
Esme sat beside Charlie on the sofa but Carlisle stood under the enormous tree ready to hand out the brightly wrapped gifts.
"Before we begin, a toast. This is our first Christmas with the Swans and it also marks our first Christmas as a complete family. Thank you Bella, for making us all so happy. And thank you to Charlie and Renee for agreeing to be a part of our celebrations. Please raise your glasses, to the Swans."
The toast was echoed around the room as everyone raised their glasses, the fine crystal clinking animatedly. Only the humans partook of their contents, but it was a nice toast. I felt very welcome, very loved.
"Right, before Alice bursts lets begin the presents." He looked to where us three newcomers were sat and told us that he'd been asked to start with the envelope he now held in his hand. Alice nodded her agreement and he handed the envelope to Esme to open. "It says it's for us both, but you can open it my dear." He said fondly.
"It's not usual for you all to buy us something, what are you up to naughty children?" She laughed playfully as she tore the envelope open.
I was excited to see her reaction. Alice had arranged this as a surprise for them both and I couldn't wait to see what they'd say.
"Oh my!" She called loudly as she read the note inside. "Carlisle, listen. To dear mom and dad, On March third a crew will arrive to dig and install your new pool. Contractors will arrive when it's complete to enclose it indoors. We hope you'll enjoy it, with all love from Emmett, Rose, Alice, Jasper, Edward and Bella."
Carlisle's smile said it all. He looked to each of us and said thank you, then he turned to Esme and leaned over the sofa and kissed her deeply. "We're so lucky my dear." He whispered. I don't think my parents heard, but he knew we would.
"Enjoy it!" Emmett boomed.
"Thank you my darlings." Esme looked as if she might cry.
"Me next." Alice trilled earning a laugh from everyone.
"Okay little miss impatient, you can be next. Let me find yours." Carlisle extolled.
He handed her a small box wrapped elaborately with red ribbons and bows. Of course I knew what was in it, the only gifts I had no party to were my own, the family got together to plan and decide on the gifts we'd give each other from the group. She shook the box but there was no movement and no sound. I could tell she was trying hard not to give in to the vision she was having. "Oh!" She exclaimed when it came to her. "Oh my god. Thank you, thank you." She giggled, already well aware of what was in the box. It didn't detract from the excitement for her though as she tore the paper off and retrieved the tickets inside. She held them aloft and waved them at the gathered crowd. "Fashion week in Milan! Thank you so much everyone, thank you thank you thank you." She shrieked. She jumped up and kissed Carlisle soundly on his cheek. "Thank you daddy." She whispered, making Carlisle smile so wide I thought his cheeks would split.
"You are most welcome darling." He told her proudly. "I only have one request, please don't ask me to accompany you." And then he broke into laughter.
I began giggling as my mother started laughing loudly beside me.
EPOV
Carlisle was still replaying the second when Alice had called him daddy in his mind as the rest of us recovered from our laughter. It was his favourite time of the year, the gift giving. Everyone called him dad or daddy after they'd received their gift from him, he thought of it as an extension of his gifts today, though he said nothing out loud about it.
"Who will be next, lets see. Who's been naughty this year? Hmmm. Who's been nice this year? No takers? Well then, let's indulge a guest shall we? Charlie, you can be next." Everyone was twittering about whether they could be thought of as naughty or nice this year, personally I thought I'd been naughty, very very naughty. As I thought it Bella tightened her grip on my ankle and I laughed.
Carlisle picked a large rectangular box from the back of the pile and handed it to Charlie. I turned in my seat so I could watch his face as he opened it. I'd been the planner on this gift, I'd argued for it, planned it, ordered it, taken delivery of it and I was literally bouncing out of my seat to see him open it now.
He tore the paper off and stared at the box for a few seconds. It was a life vest. He was pleased with it, he needed a new one for his little aluminum boat that he took fishing with Harry Clearwater and Billy Black, so he was appreciative of the fact we'd bought him something he could use. "Thank you everyone, it's brilliant." He told us and meant it. I had to laugh. He honestly thought we'd given him a hundred dollar life vest. He looked at me questioningly when I laughed and I couldn't resist putting him out of his misery.
"Open the box Charlie, there's more inside." I told him.
"There is?" He asked as he picked open the tape that held the edge of the box shut. He opened one side and took out the life vest and sat it on the floor at his feet. Taped to the lid of the box was an envelope. He tore it off and opened it, letting the shiny key fall into his lap. He looked at me and then at the key.
"Take the card out Charlie." I told him. He was a bit muddled; he didn't know what it meant.
With the card in his hand he began to read. Bella nudged my legs and I knew I had to play my part now. With a last laugh I said, "Oh Charlie, won't you please read it out loud so we can all enjoy it." I did it in my best – or worst – impression of a woman and it earned me a hearty laugh from the entire room.
Charlie had gone sheet white. His heart was racing loudly and his thoughts were murky and disjointed. I hoped he'd be able to read it out.
"Go on Charlie, read it out." I told him, putting a hand on his shoulder and squeezing encouragingly.
"Um, ok. Um, it says. To dear Charlie, We know you love your fishing. Take this key to the marina, go to dock number 27A, you'll find a brand new Bluewater Fairline Targa 44 ST with all the trimmings. Happy fishing Charlie, love from the Cullen's." He held the card in one hand, the key in the other and just stared at them in turn. He looked back up at me and smiled, "Are you shitting me son?"
I erupted into laughter and shook my head. "No Charlie, I'm not shitting you."
"Holy shit Renee, they've bought me a fishing boat!" he shouted.
"I guess that means he likes it." Bella giggled.
"Language people." Esme admonished good-naturedly.
"Sorry Esme." Charlie and I echoed playfully.
Carlisle waited until Charlie had calmed down a little before he looked around and asked who wanted to be next. "Shall we give Emmett his next?" He asked the room and we all agreed that we should.
"Emmett, son, this is from us all. We hope you like it." He handed Emmett a flat wrapped gift no bigger than a sheet of paper.
Emmett wasted no time ripping the outer paper to shreds like the giant child he was. As soon as his eyes took in what the paper said he was on his feet doing a victory dance.
"Yes! Score!" He shouted. "Dudes, this is brilliant. You've outdone yourselves." He whooped.
"Well, tell everyone what you got dumb ass, sorry Esme." Rose chastised.
"Oh yeah, sorry. They've given me a fortnight in Yellowstone Park." He told Bella's parents excitedly. It was obvious from their expressions they had no idea why this would excite the giant child so much so he explained. "I like bears guys, love them actually. Fucker, sorry Esme, nearly killed me once. They've given me two weeks hunting in Yellowstone right at the beginning of bear season. They're cranky and hungry and pissed off, sorry Esme, and I get to eat as many as I want! I've been nice, I've been nice, Emmett's goin huntin, gonna git me a bear or twelve, I've been nice, I've been nice." He sang as he danced from one end of the room to the other as everyone fell about laughing.
'Please take Jasper this time, don't make me go.' Rosalie was thinking which cracked me up even more.
BPOV
"Esme next, give Esme hers." I called when Carlisle asked who should go next.
Everyone agreed she should be next because they were all eager to see her face when she opened her gift from us. It was a first I'd been led to believe, apparently it had never been attempted before because it couldn't be done till I arrived.
Carlisle pulled the huge flat parcel from behind the tree and stood it at Esme's feet. "My darling." He bowed low and left it in her hands.
From where she was perched on the sofa it was taller than she was. She tore at the paper eagerly and then gasped. Her hand immediately went to her chest, covering her heart as she looked at me. I mirrored her movement and turned to see that Edward had too.
"Oh my god, it's so perfect, I can't believe it. I love it, I love you all so very much, thank you. Oh my." She was babbling happily as she stared at the one meter by one and a half meter portrait of the six of us 'kids'. I'd taken it in the clearing two weeks ago. We'd taken the tripod and my new camera out into the woods and I'd snapped away happily for a while trying to decide where to take the actual portrait. The others ran around happily while I waited for the light to be right, for the right area to find me. Eventually we decided to take it up against what had affectionately been come to be known as the 'misery rock'. Emmett and Rose stood behind it, Edward and I sat on it and Alice and Jasper stood beside us. With the backdrop of the trees behind us it made for a striking shot. It wasn't posed exactly but it wasn't casual either. It was natural. Emmett had his arm around Rosie's shoulder as he always did in life. His dimples were easily visible and Rose looked as lovely as ever with her hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders.
Alice and Jasper stood with their fingers intertwined as they always did. Not openly affectionate but their connection distinct. Alice smiled sweetly and Jasper grinned his southern gentleman smirk with aplomb.
I'd studied Edward's face in this picture for many hours since I'd taken it. He looked somehow different than he did in all the other shots I'd taken since he'd bought me my camera. In this picture he looked as though he fit. There weren't many pictures containing all the Cullen's and what few there were Edward looked separate. As though he really was the odd man out. In this picture he was as much a part of the group as any of the others. His smile was warm, genuine, beautifully crooked. His eyes smiled too, his arm wrapped around my waist, just the tips of his fingers visible at my side. His other hand lovingly splayed across my belly. I had one hand just lying in my lap, the other lay across his. I remember telling the others to call out 'masturbate' just as the shutter closed to take the picture. Everyone was smiling widely and it was perfect, utterly perfect.
I'd had it framed in a dark teak frame with non-reflective glass that would preserve the image for a long, long time. Possibly not forever, but pretty close I hoped.
"There's an IOU engraved on the back Esme, I'll take another when the baby's born." I whispered to her and she beamed at me and nodded.
"Thank you Bella." She sat gazing at the portrait and sat back against the sofa, bringing it onto her lap. "I can't believe it. We've never had it done before because you weren't here. And now you are. And we're complete. Thank you all so much. I love you all." She whispered, caught up in her moment staring at our picture. It had seemed such a simple gift. We'd all worried at its appropriateness. We'd spent a fortune on most of the gifts but this had cost almost nothing, just the frame and the printing. We all struggled to decide whether it was enough. But watching Esme now, we all knew. It was perfect.
EPOV
"Jasper next!" Emmett bellowed. Carlisle took another envelope – so many of our gifts this year were encased in plain envelopes, tangible gifts were impossible – and handed it reverently to Jasper.
"You were tough this year son." He told him affectionately.
"Thank you." Jasper made an extra effort to be gracious as he took the envelope from Carlisle. He could sometimes still feel a little like an outsider despite having been with us for the last fifty years. He still felt like the new boy, not always, but sometimes. It seemed today was one of those days.
He tore it open and I watched him mouth the words written on the silver card inside. "Incredible." He mumbled. He stood and enveloped Carlisle in a tight embrace, complete with boyish fist bump. He turned to the assembled crowd and read from the card. "This card entitles the bearer to one week at the Historic Liendo Plantation in Hempstead, Texas. Your battle begins at 2pm sharp on Friday evening (Uniform supplied). You are invited to attend the exhibitions, training camps, artillery and cavalry demonstrations, fashion show and bounty hunt. Accommodations in the Plantation house include all meals and a dance on the Saturday evening. Hosted by the 11th Texas Cavalry." His eyes were dancing with pleasure as he read it out loud for us. "I can't believe it. Thank you all so much, I truly appreciate the thought." He put the card back in its envelope and bowed lowly in front of Alice, where she sat on the floor. He reached out a hand for her and kissed hers when she put it in his. "Would you do me the honor of accompanying me into battle, ma'am." He drawled lazily, smiling down at her.
"It'd be my pleasure, sir." She whispered in reply. He bent to kiss her lightly on her cheek and then returned to his seat with a reverent pat to his pocket that now held his gift.
"I'd like to give Renee her gift now, but it requires a little bit of explanation. Edward, would you do the honors?" Carlisle asked of me.
"I'd be delighted." I turned to Renee and waited while Carlisle handed her yet another envelope. "Open it, please." I gestured towards it and she tentatively slid a finger inside it. With the letter in her hand I gave her a moment to read over it.
"It's a title deed. What's it for?" She asked. Her heart was racing now. She had no idea what we'd done, but it wasn't everyday you were given the deed to something. She knew it was big.
"Charlie, would you like to give Renee your gift first?" I asked him and he nodded shyly.
He pulled a small pale blue box from his coat pocket and stood from his seat on the sofa. He knelt in front of Renee and held the box out to her. "It's not what you think it is Renee." He chuckled lightly. "But it means much the same thing to me. I'm so glad you're here with me, with Bella and me. Edward here gave me this idea actually. He gave Bella a promise ring; I'd like to give one to you. Renee, even after Bella doesn't need us and she is married with a family of her own I'd like you to stay here, in Forks, with me. Will you?" His voice was trembling almost as much as his hand was as he held out the box for her.
Renee reached out and took the box and then she flung herself out of her seat, knocking Charlie backwards, she threw her arms around him and covered his face with kisses. Bella looked away but I could see the smile on her face.
"Yes Charlie, I'll stay here, in Forks, with you." Renee whispered then kissed him firmly on the lips.
"Okay woman, let me up." Charlie grumbled.
Renee sat back in her seat and pushed the gold band with its row of tiny diamonds onto the ring finger on her left hand. I noticed it was now bereft of her wedding rings from Phil. She took the title deed and stared at it again.
"Okay, now that you've agreed to stay in Forks that will make much more sense to you." I nodded at the paper but she was still confused. "Bella had told us that you were a daycare teacher in Phoenix and that you missed it and all the little children. Our friend Sue Clearwater is also a daycare teacher but hasn't had the chance to get back into the workforce since her children have grown. With Seth almost finished school she was eager to try. That is the title deed to the property at 5th and Union, it used to be a kindergarten. In the New Year it will be remodeled into a daycare centre. It's yours Renee."
"Holy shit!" she exclaimed.
"Ahem." Esme clucked.
"Sorry Esme." Renee chortled and we all cracked up.
