Chapter 22: If Only For a Moment

I banged my head on the desk in front of me as the balding man with too wide glasses went over the legality of everything. I was just so tired and missing work was making my stomach hurt and his words all meshed together turning into a migraine of epic proportions.

"Jenks?" My dad piped up next to me, his hand on my back and rubbing soothing circles. "Can you maybe simple this up a bit for us common folk?"

I looked up and fell back in my seat with a huff. Jenks cleared his throat and nodded. "Well, I was just saying that this is an open and closed case. We should have no trouble getting the divorce and anything else you may want."

My face scrunched up. "Like?"

"Child support for starters," he said and I shook my head.

"No. No, I don't want anything from him. I just want him gone and out of our lives."

"From what you've told me, you could issue a restraining order. Although he could bring up the fact that you threw the first punch... so I would advise we just handle the divorce for now and if he keeps showing up, then we can talk about it. But I assume his lawyer is telling him to keep a distance from you."

I nodded. "He better."

"So we have nothing to worry about?" Dad asked hopefully.

Jenks nodded, flipping his papers and tapping his pen closed before looking over to me. "Nothing that I can see so far. Is there anything else you need to tell me, Isabella? Anything that may look on you unfavorably?"

I shook my head. I had told him everything. Even about me throwing the punches. Both times.

"Then I can assume this will be quick and painless for you."

Painless? Maybe... Quick? I really freaking hope so.

"I can't wait to see my baby!" Mom cried from the living room while I put together an easy lunch for us. They arrived early this morning and we had to leave for my meeting with Jenks before Mickey woke up. And now she's at Tanya's for the day. I hadn't told her that her grandparents were here, wanting it to be a surprise.

She deserved one nice surprise after the hellish one she received.

I walked into the living room, balancing a platter of chicken sandwiches on my arm. Dad jumped up and took it from me, setting it on the coffee table.

"Thanks," I breathed in relief and plopped down on the recliner that never got used. It was stuffy and hard from lack of use. I fidgeted in it while my parents gushed about seeing Mickey and filled their faces with food.

"Can you call her?" Mom asked after a while, clearly growing impatient.

I shook my head. "She texted and said she'll be home soon. Just be patient," I laughed.

Just then, the door swung open and Leah came rushing in from the open backdoor to the front to greet her favorite person. I heard Mickey giggle and fawn over the giant lug before pushing her into the living room with her.

"Hey, Ma," she greeted with a smile. So different from her attitude the other night. It scared me how quickly she seemed to get over her father and his words. It scared me even more that she may be repressing.

"Hey, babygirl."

Her eyes danced over to the couch and her body stiffened before she broke out in laughter and superman jumped onto my parent's laps, landing with her head on my mom. "Papa, Grandma!

I smiled as I watched her greet them and the happy smiles on all their faces made my heart ring with joy. It made me forget all the bad, if just for a moment. I just watched them for a few minutes as Mickey animatedly talked their ears off. My phone buzzed in my pocket and I excused myself to the kitchen to look at it.

Hello, gorgeous. How did the meeting go?

His words, no matter how simple, never failed to make my heart flutter like wings in my chest.

The lawyer says it's an open and shut case. Should have no problems. But you never know what Riley has up his sleeves.

Don't think like that. Think positive. This can all be over soon.

If only...

"Now who is making my girl smile like that?" My mom held her hands on her hips and stared at me with a mock-stern look on her face.

I blushed. I couldn't help it. I had told my mom very little about the man I was seeing. And that was only in the beginning. I hadn't told her just how wonderful he is and how amazing he has been through all of my drama.

"Edward," I smiled.

"Oooh, Edward," she sighed dreamily with her hands over her heart. I shook my head at her theatrics. "Well, tell mama all about this dreamboat!" She hopped her butt up on the counter and beckoned me over with her hand. I laughed and hopped up – one handed might I add – onto the counter next to her.

"He's..." What could I say about Edward? He's beautiful, he's understanding, he's sexy, he's sweet, kind, amazing... none of those words seemed to be enough. So I settled for the best I could. "mesmerizing."

"Mesmerizing?" she repeated with a tilt of her head and a smile fighting to break out on her face. "Oh, honey. You got it bad, don't ya?"

I shook my hair in front of my face, hiding the burning blush I could feel there. "Stop. He's just so wonderful to me and he likes Mickey. Like, he genuinely likes her. And I know he likes me for some odd reason –,"

"Oh, hush you," Mom interrupted me with a smack on my arm. "You always do that. You think you're less than you are. That's why you settled for that asshat for so many years. You never could see what you deserved."

I absentmindedly rubbed my arm and looked at her. "Well, either way."

"Are you two official yet?"

My eyes widened at the word. "We haven't put a label on anything, no."

"And why the hell not?" She looked genuinely pissed, her dark eyes staring into mine. "What is he waiting for?"

"Jeez, mom," I groaned. "Maybe for my divorce to go through?"

Mom sighed and hopped off the counter just as my dad and Mickey walked into the kitchen. She ran over to my dad and whispered something in his ear, then turned her head to smirk at me.

Oh, here we go.

"So," Dad grunted and pulled out a chair to sit at the table. "When do we get to meet this Edward?"

Sometime next to freaking never! "Uh... why do you want to meet him?"

"Why wouldn't we?" he countered with a raised brow. "Invite him over for dinner." At the shake of my head, he added, "I insist."

I groaned and clutched my phone to my chest, willing away the conversation. It wasn't that I was ashamed of my relationship with Edward, but I knew my dad would interrogate him to an inch of his life and I didn't want to subject him to that torture.

"Yeah, Ma. Invite Edward over. We can have another battle of the boards. I've been practicing." Mickey smiled at me smugly and plopped down on my dad's lap making him grunt and tickle her side.

"Yeah, Bella. Invite him over," Mom taunted me from across the kitchen and then I had three sets of eyes all on me, daring me not to.

Well, damn.

I scurried about the kitchen with Mom on my tail trying to tell me how to bake a cake. Like it wasn't what I did for a freaking living. Mom couldn't cook to save her life so I knew she was just messing with me because she could sense my nerves were a wreck.

"Don't forget to set the timer," she said into my ear as I stood from the blazing hot oven. I pushed past her and she laughed. "Relax, hon. Everything will be fine."

I snorted as I kept my shaking hands busy with setting the table. "Okay," I whispered to myself, looking around the kitchen for something to do. The enchiladas were done and cooling, the cake was in the oven, the table was set...

"There's nothing left to do," Mom sang from the countertop as she swung her legs and laughed at me. I glared at her and went about resetting the silverware so they looked neater.

"Door!" Mickey called from the living room. "Papa's getting it!"

I ran to the front door just as Dad pulled it open and crossed his arms over his chest. I ran right into him and he didn't budge an inch. Edward stood there with an easy smile and Jake tied to his wrist. He used his free hand to hold out to my dad.

"Mr. Swan," he nodded at my father who gruffly took Edward's hand in his and I could tell by the veins popping that he was squeezing harder than necessary. I rolled my eyes and pushed the two of them apart. Jake took that opportunity to jump at my legs.

"You brought Jake," I noted worriedly. He and Leah did not get along the first time.

Edward shrugged apologetically. "Meeting of families and all that. I hope that's okay. I didn't want to leave him."

"I just hope Leah doesn't try to kill him again."

Edward laughed. I stepped to the side, pulling my stubborn father with me to let Edward and Jake in. Jake immediately tried to run for the backdoor where Leah was watching with narrowed eyes. Well, as narrow as dogs could get them. Edward held fast to the leash and admonished Jake quietly.

Mickey ran over to Edward and Jake. "Puppy!" She bent down and received all the kisses Jake could plant on her and laughed as she offered to properly introduce the two warring dogs. Edward let her have the leash and we watched as she walked a very excited Jake over to a subdued Leah.

I turned to look at Edward with a small when I saw that Leah merely sniffed Jake and then walked to her doghouse out back. He looked down at me with a grin. "Your daughter is a miracle worker."

I snorted. "Seems like it."

A throat clearing pulled us from each other and I turned to my dad who still had his big beefy arms crossed over his chest. "Why don't we eat and talk," he offered in a calm tone.

We both nodded and headed into the kitchen with Mickey following close behind. I guessed the dogs were good enough to be left alone for the time being.

I let Mom and Dad take the heads of the table with me next to Mom and Edward across from me. Mickey was of course next to Dad, smiling indulgently. We dug into the enchiladas, no one speaking for some time until Dad decided to go in.

I cringed as soon as he opened his mouth even though nothing bad came from it. I was just getting ready for the onslaught.

"So, Edward, I hear you're a mechanic?"

"Yes, Mr. Swan. I work on Motorcycles and flashy sports bikes."

Dad's eyes lit up. "Oh, yeah? I had a bike before we had Bella here. Had to get sell it so I could afford a car to lug these two around." He pointed at my mother and me. "I miss those wild days. Do you ride?"

"Yes, I do. I love it. I could never give up my bike," Edward chuckled. "I don't know what I would do with myself."

Dad nodded in understanding. "It was a hard day but it was worth it. I had to get my woman to her appointments. And then Bella came and life happened. I miss it, but it was the right call. Sacrifices, ya know?" His eyes narrowed at Edward and I groaned around my bite giving my dad a scathing look that he studiously ignored.

"I'm no stranger to sacrifice," Edward said. "I just don't ever see myself giving up my bike."

Dad nodded, his eyes never leaving Edward. He opened his mouth to say something, but Mom cut in.

"Edward," she called with a smile and he turned to her with a polite smile of his own. "I haven't been on a bike in so long, maybe you could take me out on yours?"

Dad choked on his food and I had to hide my smile at the glare he was sending Mom across the table. She pretended not to see it and continued to smile at Edward who looked very nervous and put on the spot.

"Uh, well... um, I didn't bring my bike with me today because of Jake but...," he trailed off looking at my dad out of the corner of his eye. "If you want to I can bring it by later."

"I wanna ride on it!" Mickey yelled.

I had to hide my smile under a napkin at the vein popping out of my dad's forehead. Edward smirked at me and kicked me softly under the table.

Dad turned to me, his darkened eyes calculating. "Have you been on it, Bella?"

My eyes widened. Why did I feel like a teenager in trouble? Before I could answer, my evil spawn piped up.

"She did the very first time they met actually." Her brows raised as she stared at me in challenge and if I could reach her I would have knocked her good on the shin.

"How was it?" Mom asked, her eyes wide with excitement. "Was it amazing? Was it freeing? Was it –,"

"The very first time you meet a man, you jump on his bike?" Dad said way too calmly. "Isabella, I thought we taught you well enough about stranger danger when you were growing up!"

I sighed and glared at my smug-looking daughter. My eyes wandered over to Edward who looked torn between amused and slightly terrified.

"It all worked out," I said in a clipped tone. I wasn't about to be berated by my father in my home in front of my kid and my... well, Edward. "Drop it."

Dad's forehead vein protruded some more. "But –,"

"Drop it, Charles," Mom jumped in, her hand on my own on the table. "Bella is a grown woman who can make her own decisions and it all worked out for the best. Leave it alone." She stared my dad down until he grumbled under his breath and looked down at his plate.

I smiled at her and fell back in my seat, happy that was out of the way. I would have to have a discussion with my infuriating daughter about what privacy meant later on.

When we all finished our dinner, Mickey practically dragged Edward outside, boasting about her boarding skills and how she was better than him. He took the bait and even with a full stomach grabbed one of the boards. I grabbed a few beers and walked out to the porch to watch them after taking the cake from the oven and setting it out to cool. I handed a beer to my dad and one to my mom as I popped my own open.

We all watched and laughed as Edward fell backward off the board and landed hard on his behind. He mock-glared at me and chased a laughing taunting Mickey around the yard.

"He's a sweetheart," Mom sighed next to me. I nodded and Dad just grunted but I could see the small smile on his face as he watched Edward grab Mickey around the waist and haul her shrieking self off the ground.

I sipped at my beer and couldn't help but think that this is how it should have been with Riley. Effortless. Fun. He never played with Mickey like that. He wasn't cold toward her, but he always seemed to have something better to do than to engage in anything she found fun. Especially skateboarding. He said it was for boys and he didn't want his daughter on one. Stupid way of thinking. Watching Edward with Mickey made me feel things that I never had before. A fluttering in my tummy and a tingle in my chest.

I couldn't place the feeling. But it felt good. It felt more than good.

I giggled when Mickey launched herself on Edward's back, effectively taking him down to his knees.

"Come beat him up, Papa!" She called playfully to my dad as she held Edward in a headlock on the ground. Dad grinned.

"Maybe later," he called back.

Edward and Mickey had the biggest grins on their faces while he tried to fight her off. Dad smiled, Mom laughed, I was happy.

And for a moment, everything was perfect.

This story will not be terribly long. Still some ground to cover though. Hope you all liked this chapter. Stay safe out there! Also, i want to support any new stories out there so if you have any recommendations, please let me know what you're reading right now.