Best Laid Plans Heather Burkett
Chapter 33: Alright
Sarah and I already had our rental skates laced up when Edward called to tell me he was about ten minutes away, so I set Sarah free on the skating rink while I waited at a nearby table for him to arrive. A few of her classmates happened to be there, so I watched as she met up with them and rolled around the rink laughing and talking.
"Parking now." Edward's text came through about eight minutes later. I got the familiar butterflies in the pit of my stomach knowing that he'd soon be walking through the door. We hadn't seen each other at all since Sunday, while I worked on arranging things for this meeting with Sarah.
Suddenly, the amount of time that had passed felt too long and I grew anxious to be back in his arms.
I beamed as his six foot frame finally walked through the double glass doors, long legs striding into the building as his brilliant green eyes searched for me. I could tell the moment he spotted me because his eyes sparkled and he broke into a dazzling grin that had the young ladies at the table next to me swooning.
All mine.
I lifted up the pair of skates I'd rented for him, letting him know there was no need to stop at the counter.
Anything to get him back to me quicker. I thought to myself.
His strides grew longer and more confident as he strode through the entrance and passed several gawking teens to approach me, wrapping his arms around me tightly and kissing me earnestly till I felt my legs might give out.
He released me, cupping my cheek in his hand and rubbing his thumb along my cheekbone. "Five days is far too long. Let's not do that again, shall we?"
"Agreed." I smiled at him.
"Where's Sarah?" He asked, looking around for her.
"She's already skating..." I advised, looking out on the roller rink for her. Just as I spotted her, she pushed a kid to the ground, skating away in a hurry.
"What's that about?" Edward asked, his brow furrowing deeply over troubled eyes.
"I don't know." I answered, skating to the edge of the rink to meet her as she climbed out. "Baby, what happened?"
"Nothing! Leave me alone!" She pushed past me, skating over the carpeted area, around the tables and blowing past onlookers as she ducked into the bathroom.
"What happened?" Edward asked as I approached him.
"I don't know. I'm sorry – let me go talk to her and see what this is about. Give me a few minutes, okay?" He nodded glumly as I skated more cautiously after her.
"Buttercup?" I called as I entered the bathroom. Two teenaged girls looked at the center stall before hurrying out of the bathroom, gossiping along the way.
"Leave me alone." She pouted from the other side of the door.
"Well, I'm sorry but that's not going to happen." I answered, leaning back against one of the three sinks. It seemed a little unstable, so I skated over to a pink tiled wall, choosing to lean against that instead.
"I don't want to talk about it." She sniffled.
"Well, honey, I just watched you push your classmate to the ground and storm off and I'm trying to figure out if I should be upset or not, so you're going to have to give me something to work with here." I goaded.
She opened the door to the stall, her nose, cheeks and eyes red from crying as she wiped her nose with some one-ply toilet paper, wadded up into a ball.
"You said he was a younger. You didn't tell me he was half your age." She sniffled, looking down as if she was ashamed of me.
"Well, not quite half my age, no. But, is that what happened? Your friends said something about us?"
She nodded, fresh tears flowing as she sniffled once again.
I pulled her to me, hugging her tightly. "I get it. It bothered me at first, too."
"Then why are you still with him? Why did you bring him here tonight, if you knew people were going to talk about you?"
I sighed. "I decided that what other people think about me isn't really my business. I got tired of living my life trying to win the approval of people I may never see again." I tilted her face up, looking into her sad, troubled eyes. "You're going to meet a lot of people who are going to have things to say about how you live your life, Buttercup. You're going to have classmates who say you're dating boys that you're not. You've going to have friends who don't approve of the choices you make. You can't fight the whole world for what they think. You have to be strong enough to have your own thoughts and to decide what is right for you."
"But, doesn't it embarrass you?" She pleaded.
"You remember when I got really sad for a while around September and October?" She nodded. "I tried to leave him because I didn't think I could handle what people said about us. But, it turns out, leaving him was even harder than hearing what they had to say. Can you understand that?" I asked.
She sniffled, nodding as she wiped her nose. "You really like him, huh?"
"He wouldn't be meeting you today if I didn't think he was special." I answered, taking a deep breath. "But, you'll always be my number one and, if this is too much for you to handle, let me know."
Her eyes grew wide as she took in what I was saying. "You would break up with him for me?"
I felt myself getting teary at the notion, but nodded. "I won't lie – it would be hard and I'd be very sad – but if it honestly bothered you that much then yes, I would break up with him."
She lifted her thumb, running it just under my eyes collecting a wayward tear. "You'd cry for him, wouldn't you?"
I nodded again, finding myself hoping that she wouldn't call my bluff because the idea of walking away from him again was just too much to bear.
Tears flowed from Sarah's eyes, softly, silently down her cheeks. "I won't make you cry for him, mom. It's okay. If he means that much to you, I'll learn to deal with whatever people say. I promise."
I hugged her tightly, breathing a sigh of relief. "I love you so much, baby girl." I whispered into her hair.
She returned the hug, just as tightly. "I love you too, mom."
I straightened up, rubbing my hands over my eyes to dry them. "Do you still want to meet him?" I asked, realizing they'd never even had a chance to be introduced.
She nodded happily. "But, do you think we can leave and go someplace else?"
"I don't think that will be a problem. Where would you like to go?" I asked.
"Someplace private where I don't have to worry about anyone else. If I'm going to get to know him, I'd like to do it without worrying about what other people are saying, ya know?" She answered.
"I get it. How about I pick up a pizza from the food court before we go and we'll hang out at home? How does that sound?"
She nodded excitedly. "Much better."
"Alright. Why don't you take a moment to clean up and I'll go tell Edward our change of plans?"
She nodded again, looking into a mirror and grimacing at her reflection.
I laughed, kissing her on the temple before skating out of the bathroom back to Edward.
"Hey. Is everything alright?" He asked, standing up as I skated by our table.
"Yeah. Apparently, some kids had something smart to say about us and she took it to heart." I answered.
He dropped his head in shame. "That must have been hard on her. Does she want me to leave?"
"Actually, to the contrary, she wants to meet you somewhere privately where she can get to know you better. So, if it's okay, we're going to order a pizza here and then take it back to my place."
"Oh. Wow." Edward looked both worried and impressed.
"Don't worry. She'll love you once she gets to know you." I assured him.
He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. I giggled, rubbing my hand up and down his arm. "What's the matter, afraid of a little girl?" I teased.
"Yeah, the little girl with the mean right hook!" He teased.
I shook my head at him before sitting down to untie my skates. "Would you mind dropping the skates off at the counter while I order the pizza?" I asked.
"Sure, no problem."
I grabbed my purse and headed to the food counter to order a large pizza and some chicken wings to go. Sarah rolled over a minute later – her eyes still red-rimmed and her nose still shiny and red – to check on me. "Hey, I'm waiting on the order. Can you go take off your skates so Edward can return them to the counter?" I asked.
"Sure. How do I look?"
I caressed her cheek and kissed her on the forehead. "You look perfect."
Her cheeks flushed slightly, whether from the public display of affection or my compliment, I wasn't sure. But she skated off in Edward's direction anyway, anxious to get out of there.
I watched on as she approached Edward, unsure how they'd handle the introductions. But, Edward shook her hand like a gentleman and she once again flushed a lovely rose hue.
"Hey, ma'am? Your order's ready." The cashier called to get my attention.
"Oh, thanks." I picked up the pizza, carefully balancing the box of wings on the top of it as I made my way back over to Edward and Sarah at the rental counter, where they were returning the skates.
"You ready to get out of here?" I asked, as Edward took the pizza and the wings from me.
"Mom, is it okay if I ride with Edward?" Sarah asked as we walked out into the parking lot.
That stopped me dead in my tracks, as it did Edward, but she just kept walking confidently ahead.
"Um, did you ask Edward if that was okay?" I asked, glancing quickly in his direction.
He seemed just as clueless as I was. "Um, sure. That's fine with me if it's okay with you?" He answered awkwardly.
"Oh. Okay. Um, you can put the pizza in the front seat of my car – I'll keep the seat warmer on." I advised, unlocking the doors to the Guardian and pulling open the passenger door so he could place the pizza and wings inside.
"Are you sure you're okay with this?" I whispered as he reached to put the pizza in the car.
"Yeah. Sure. I'm just surprised she wants to ride with me." He answered covertly.
"Yeah, you and me both." I replied quietly. "Okay, um, don't forget your seatbelt, and be respectful." I told Sarah as Edward led her away towards his Volvo.
"Will do! See you at home!" Sarah waved excitedly.
I had no idea what she was up to, but my daughter was definitely up to something.
But, with no other excuse available, I climbed into the driver's seat and headed out for home, wondering all the while what they could possibly be talking about.
I arrived home just a couple of minutes before Edward and Sarah pulled up, appearing to be cracking up laughing in the car. I couldn't tell if my overriding emotion was joy at seeing them get along, or curiosity about what had them laughing so hard.
"What's so funny? I asked as they got out of the car.
"Edward doesn't like my taste in music." Sarah said, laughing.
"No wonder she's going around punching people – I'd be angry if I had to listen to that stuff, too!" Edward teased easily as he stepped out of the car.
Edward sidled up to me, kissing me sweetly before slipping past me to pick up the pizza and wings from the passenger seat of the car. "Shall we?" He nodded towards the front door.
I unlocked the door and ushered him inside where he went to put the pizza and wings on the dining room table.
"I'll get the cups and plates!" Sarah ran into the house eagerly.
"I'm going to go to the bathroom and wash my hands. Be right back." He kissed me chastely before seeing his way down the hall.
"Has he been here a lot?" Sarah asked, noting his comfort with the apartment.
"Yes, he's been here a few times." I blushed, thinking back on the times he's spent here.
"It's okay, mom. I like him." She said, noting my blush.
"That soon, huh?" I asked.
"We talked in the car and, he's pretty crazy about you." She answered nonchalantly.
"Oh yeah? What makes you say that?"
"Call it, female intuition." She teased, sticking her tongue out at me before placing the cups on the countertop and pulling the coke out of the fridge.
"Female intuition, huh?" I smiled, before breaking into a carefree laugh.
"Would you rather I say I hated him?" She asked.
"No, I quite like you liking him. Female intuition it is." I agreed.
Edward stepped out into the hallway as Sarah and I grew tight-lipped on the subject. "I'm surprised you all haven't ripped open the pizza yet. I'm starved!" He said loudly, announcing his arrival in the event we didn't want him to overhear something.
"Dig in!" I said, bringing the paper plates over to the dining room table.
"Eddie, do you want coke, tea or water?" Sarah asked.
"Um, I'll have some coke." He answered.
"Eddie?" I asked him quietly, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Hey, if that means she's accepting me, I'll take it." Edward answered.
I smiled warmly at him, wondering if it really could be this easy for him to fit into my life.
Granted, Sarah would have to work on not letting the whispers and gossip get to her, but Lord knows I knew how hard that was to get over myself. We could be patient with her. And, amidst family, I was sure they would keep any negative thoughts to themselves, which would make it easier for her to adjust.
Dinner was spent with Sarah asking the standard "first date" questions – what did Edward do for a living, what was he studying in school, what was his family like. Poor Edward fielded the questions patiently, allowing himself to be an open book for Sarah's viewing.
When we were stuffed, it was time for Sarah's favorite question of all.
"Eddie – do you like to play games?" She asked, her eyes lighting up.
"What kind of games do you have in mind?" He asked with a dazzling smile.
"Hmm...Monopoly or Uno? Your pick." She stated with the devil in her eyes.
"Uno." I mouthed to him.
She was deadly at Monopoly.
"I could go for a game of Uno." He smiled.
"You're on!" She shouted as she ran to her bedroom to retrieve the cards.
"Alright, what are the stakes?" He asked as she handed him the cards to shuffle.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
I smiled, fighting a blush as I remembered the last time I played high stakes poker with him.
"I mean, what do we win or lose?" He said, matter-of-factly. "You didn't think we were just going to play for fun, did you?" He smiled, winking at her.
"Um, I don't have much money." She looked at me hesitantly.
"Oh, I don't want your money – I just want to know more about you. So, if you want a question, you have to win it, and I get to ask you one question for every hand I win." He answered quickly.
She hmm'd. "What if mom wins the hand?"
"Good point. She can either ask a question, or give one of us another chance to ask a question."
"Deal!" Sarah said, reaching out to shake his hand.
"Deal." He replied.
"Deal?" I said, taking a guess that I was supposed to be in.
Edward finished shuffling the cards and began dealing. I threw the game a little bit, ensuring they each had plenty of chances to ask each other questions, but I threw in a few oddball questions to get them both talking about things they each enjoyed.
It was a close call, but Sarah was the first one to reach the mandatory five hundred points to win the game. It was nearing ten pm when we boxed up the cards – Sarah's dainty mouth straining into an "o" shape with her deep yawns.
"I'm going to go hop in the shower and get ready for bed." Sarah said, grabbing the box of Uno cards and wandering off towards her bedroom.
"She's a great kid, Bella. You and Jacob should be very proud." Edward whispered as soon as Sarah was out of earshot.
"Yeah, she's pretty special." I smiled proudly. "I can't believe how quickly you two hit it off."
"It may have seemed quick, but it was far from painless." Edward said, blushing just a little. "She asked all of her tough questions when we were alone in the car. What you saw was just the bonus round." He chuckled.
"Oh no." I flushed "What did she ask you?"
"I can't say." He answered. "She made me promise not to tell you before she would ask them. But don't worry - let's just say she wanted to ensure I had only good intentions towards you."
"And, " I stood up, making my way around the table, "are all your intentions," I climbed into his lap, wrapping my hand around his neck and thrusting my fingers into his hair, "good?" I asked, leaning down to whisper the last word along his lips.
"Only the best for you, Ms. Swan." He husked back against my mouth before slipping his tongue out and brushing it softly against my lips.
"Ew! Gross! Get a room!" Sarah teased from her bedroom door as she was carrying her clothes across the hall to the bathroom. But when I looked over, I caught her smiling and chuckling to herself as she shook her head, letting me know that everything was definitely going to be alright.