Chapter 48: Three happy friends
The days before Jake's wedding were filled with tux fitting, talking about what they had done through the years, spending the nights with Bella – either in Edward's old room trying to be quiet since the bed squeaked loudly, or in the living room watching TV.
When the big day came, Edward didn't want it to be at that time.
"Get dressed," Bella hissed.
He clenched his jaw, staring at Ginger who was sprawled on the floor, breathing hard. He had been like that for five hours.
"Damn it, Edward! He isn't going to die now."
"How do you know that? Look at him," he moaned. Edward was afraid to touch him.
He had refused to eat in the past thirty hours and Edward was sure he was dying. He didn't want him alone when it happened. Edward had been there all his life – with the exception of those seven unfortunate years.
Bella finally convinced him to get dressed. Edward was straightening his tie when Ginger's mewl made him return to his side. Ginger opened his eyes, looking at him sadly.
"No, don't do this. Come on, Ginger," he pleaded.
Finally, Bella seemed to grasp it was happening and she came to his side, kneeling. Edward buried his face in her hair, doing his best not to cry. It wasn't like there was any relief in crying dryly.
"We're ready to go," his mom said, coming inside his room.
Edward made a noncommittal noise, not moving from Bella's neck. He couldn't even look at Ginger. It was enough to hear his soft groans.
"Oh, dear! What's wrong with him?"
He shouldn't have stopped giving him the pills. Maybe Ginger would have lived for a few more weeks…or months. And he would have suffered, his subconscious added.
Edward felt his claw on his pant leg and he picked him up, hugging him closely. He coughed, sagging in Edward's hands. His heart was beating too fast and he was too warm to be called normal.
"We're leaving. I'll tell Jake you'll be late," his mom whispered.
Edward nodded, standing and emptying his bag to the floor. He found the small pills and grabbed two of them.
"Edward," Bella started reasoning with him.
"Open, Ginger." The cat didn't budge. Edward pressed his fingers to his muzzle. "Come on, please. I'll take you to the wedding. It will be beautiful." He still didn't open his mouth. Damn it. "Ginger, please," he begged. "Please."
With his last effort probably, he moved his paw over Edward's fingers and the pills fell. Edward felt useless. It was horrible to watch him die before his eyes.
Bella grabbed Edward by the tie and dragged him after her. He didn't let go of the cat. On the way to La Push, Ginger was breathing harsher. They were right on time. Edward just had to take his place by the groom.
"Give him here," Bella said, taking the cat from his arms. He snuggled in her arms, sighing heavily. Edward kissed her once before rushing down the aisle to Jake.
"I thought you were ditching," he said lightly. "What's the matter?" he asked concerned when his friend didn't even smile.
Edward shook his head, not wanting to upset him. Renesmee – Nessie – walked over, her father gave her away and the ceremony started. Edward didn't pay attention. He was focused on the small being on Bella's lap. He had curled up there, having fallen asleep, or probably blacked out from the pain. Stubborn cat. He could imagine he was sick of pills, but if it hurt, he had to take some.
Edward startled when everyone started clapping. He turned to Jake and Nessie, and found them watching him in concern.
"Congratulations," he whispered, plastering the best fake smile on his face. He kissed her cheek and shook his hand before making his way to Bella.
"He's not doing very well."
"I know," he mumbled, taking him in his arms slowly as not to jostle him. They started to mingle, and Edward didn't give a damn about the second glances and weird thoughts.
As the sun went down, Edward tried to ask Bella to dance, and she declined, knowing he wouldn't really leave Ginger's side. They tried feeding him some milk, but he didn't even want to open his eyes.
"So what's up with you?" Jake asked, leaning over his shoulder. "Is that your cat? He looks terrible."
"He's sick," Edward mumbled. "Dying," he continued, testing the word. Edward chocked up on it.
Jake patted his back. "Sucks, man. Remember when we killed Coco?"
He snorted. "Vaguely."
"Who's Coco?" Bella questioned, still stroking one of Ginger's paws.
"His parakeet," Jake answered, laughing. "It was."
"Obviously," Edward snorted again. "It had been your idea to play with the slingshots in the house."
"You didn't say no."
"I was five at the time!"
"Seven, I think."
"Whatever, Black."
"Are you staying after they leave? There are only old people here, they get tired easily," he said after a few minutes.
"I…don't know…"
"What, are you old too?"
"As a matter of fact, I am."
"Ginger will be okay for a few hours without us," Bella told him softly. "You need to loosen up. You've been like this since you found out he was sick."
"Yeah, what she said. Besides, I don't ever plan on marrying again."
"Fine, Jake. For you," Edward caved. "I'll find Mom to take him home."
After giving his parents instructions of how to handle Ginger and to persuade him into swallowing a pill for the pain, he returned to Bella. It was probably the first time in months when he really saw her.
She was at the table, sitting with her legs crossed, the top one bobbing, as her fingers were worrying a strand of her hair. He stopped close to her.
"Is that seat taken?"
She giggled, looking shyly at him. "Yes, by my husband."
"Congratulations."
"Are you trying to reenact a song?" she asked, amused.
"Would you like to take a walk with me?" he smirked.
"That's downright creepy, Edward. I truly hope you aren't taking me to the woods to kill me."
"Why would I kill you? I wouldn't have anyone to tease if I did so."
"You should have tried playing this song when you came back. It would have fit better," she whispered.
Edward grinned, grasping her hand and raising her. "Dance with me."
Blue October was one of her favorites, and he knew that Jake hated them. Maybe things had changed. He didn't care. He was glad he could dance with his wife on them.
Doesn't he feel it?
Edward looked around and saw Antonella frowning at him.
"Hey," he greeted her.
Maybe I won't dance with him. He was ignoring me.
Edward glanced at Bella, chuckling. "Sorry, love. This young lady wants to steal me."
Bella pretended to be offended, but after kissing his cheek she went away. He saw Seth stopping her to talk. He was glad everyone was past the enemy thing.
Turning his attention to Antonella, he took her hands. Jeez. He's so cold. It's summer.
Edward stopped for a second then brought her close to him and started swaying.
"Why didn't you turn to me earlier? Did I interrupt you?" she asked, softly.
"I didn't feel you, sorry."
"I tugged on your jacket for, like, ten times."
"Sorry," he repeated. "How can I make it up to you?"
She smirked, mischief written all over her face. Uh-huh. What did I get myself into? He worried, as he looked into her eyes.
Antonella curled her finger to him, wriggling it. He bent to her, playing along. "See there?" she whispered conspiratorially in his ear, pointing to something.
Edward lowered her hand. "It's not nice to point, Girl Scout." He eyed the place she had indicated. "Do you want ice cream?"
"Duh!" She slapped three fingers on his forehead, making him laugh. "Next to the ice cream bowl."
He was still trying to stop laughing. There was a man around thirty years old, grabbing some food.
"He's a little too old for you, don't you think?" He teased her.
She slapped him again. "For Mom!"
Feelings buried deep inside resurfaced. While he loved Bella more than his life, he still loved Leah – she had been his best friend since they were kiddies.
"Who is that man?" Edward asked, trying to understand why she wanted him for her mom.
"Dunno." She shrugged. "But he looked at her the whole day. I think he is a friend of Uncle Jacob's."
It was Edward's turn to poke the side of her head with his finger. "Stop playing matchmaker. Leah won't appreciate it."
"But I can see that she needs someone. Come on, help me. Help her."
"Antonella," he said carefully, taking her hands, crouching in front of her. "Your mom can find someone if she wants. She just devotes her time to you."
"And I am gone for the summer on camp then when school starts…I'm at school."
"You'll make a good lawyer some day." He chuckled, impressed at how ingenious the child was.
She beamed. "Grandpa used to tell me that."
"Smart man." He kissed her forehead. "Let's forget about that man."
"No," she said panicked, grasping at his collar.
"Antonella! You do know that Edward is married, right?" Leah asked, stopping behind her daughter, who gave him a panicked look.
"He's leaving in half an hour," Ella whispered to him. So she knew more about him.
"Leah, I'm having an intense conversation with your daughter," he said seriously, glancing up at her.
"I'm going to find Bella and tell her you're cheating on her with my daughter."
"No worries, she's with your brother," Edward said playfully. Leah departed, shaking her head.
"Listen," Antonella grabbed his attention again. And collar. "His name is Mark. He works in Seattle and Mom loves Seattle. She always wanted to leave this town."
"You don't even know if she will like him," Edward tried to reason with her.
She slapped his forehead again. It was getting old. "I heard her talking with Auntie Emily. I think she loves this Mark."
"Kiddo, I'm not playing Cupid. Your mom is going to kill me."
"Please," she whined. "He'll make a good dad, I can tell."
Edward froze, and for a second he felt like everyone stopped, but it was his imagination because the next second, someone stumbled over them in their dancing.
"What do you want me to do?"
"YES!" She squealed and hugged him. "First, put something on you, you're cold."
"Besides that." He rolled his eyes.
"Go to Mark and make him talk with Mom, dance with her, even woo her."
Edward laughed loudly. She looked hurt. "I'm not laughing at you, Ella. Promise. Scout honor." He grinned. "Woo her."
"Yes." She nodded seriously.
"Don't you know a little too much about this? What about the cooties?"
That earned him another slap. "I grew up with Uncle Jake and Seth! I knew the stork didn't bring me when I six. And two years ago…" She shuddered. "I caught Uncle Jake with Nessie…it was gross. And Mom didn't kill him because she didn't want Nessie to suffer. They told me all about babies."
Edward was gobsmacked. "O…kay. I'll go talk to him."
"Thanks." She kissed his cheek giggling then rubbed it.
"Oh no! You put lipstick on me," he said, mock upset.
She giggled again and rubbed some more. When she wet her finger with saliva, he stopped her hand. "But your wife will be mad."
"She won't, trust me."
Edward scrubbed at his cheek on his way to Mark. Having no idea how to approach him, he grabbed a cup for the ice cream and scooped some. He owed Antonella some ice cream, after all.
"It's melting fast," Edward said, glancing at the victim.
Mark was watching toward the tables – Leah. She was with Bella, talking and laughing. Edward had to pinch himself.
"Yes, it wasn't a smart idea," Mark said after giving him a weird look. Why is he talking to me? He wondered.
Edward nodded, scanning the crowd for Antonella. "Well, I have a date," he told him off-handedly, hoping his plan was working. He walked to Ella, sneaking up behind her, and putting the cup before her eyes. She turned around, smiling.
"Don't let your mom see me."
"Thank you. Did you talk?"
"Not yet." He winked, seeing Mark watching him angry, envious. Mark wanted to be in Edward's place. Little Antonella had been right. He liked Leah.
Edward left her side, mingling. Jake stopped him and they started talking. Not ten minutes later, he heard Mark's thoughts as he approached. He wanted to talk to Edward about Leah.
"Mark, my man!" Jake shouted. "Did you meet Edward? We're going way back."
Nice save, asshole. Edward smiled toward Mark, offering his hand for shake. He shook it, wondering of the best way to drag him away.
"Nice to meet you," he said.
"So…med school?" Jake asked, continuing their previous conversation.
"Uhh, yes. For Carlisle mostly," Edward answered.
"You did it for him?"
"For me…and him. I wanted to see if I can." He shrugged.
"Personality crisis?" Jake teased.
"If you weren't the groom, I would have knocked your teeth out."
"Ouch."
"You're a doctor?" Mark asked surprised, joining the conversation.
Edward was sure he would have been beet red if he were human. "I could be," he said truthfully.
"I'm a doctor too. Children's doctor. In Seattle."
"Yeah, we met on a trip," Jake said, grinning.
They started talking about the trip to Ithaca where Jake met him when he and Nessie had gotten lost.
Edward laughed. "Where was Ella when you needed her?"
Jake gave him a hard look. "I don't know what that girl likes so much about those things. They're not for girls."
"She learns how to survive if something goes wrong. And something always goes wrong," Edward told him.
There was a beep coming from Mark's side. He groaned, swearing quite colorfully in his head. After excusing himself, Jacob punched Edward's shoulder.
"Dude! We need to hook him up with Leah. It's been years since they drool all over each other."
"Not you too!" he groaned.
"What? Who else?" He frowned. "Oh, Antonella."
Edward nodded once. "Why don't you let them do it on their time?"
"Edward, I pushed her in Sam's arms, literally, then with you…God knows how I persuaded her to just tell you how she felt, but it was too late when she plucked her fucking courage and…well, with Paul, it was all her – kudos to that – and now, she's playing shy again."
"I see. Well, I'll try to talk to him because I'm sure she is waiting for him to make the first move."
Jake nodded. "And he is just too scared to ask anything. Every time we talk, he asks about both of them. He loves Ella, too."
"Loves?" Edward asked, shocked.
"Man, it's been almost five years now. They're head over heels. Fuck, even your mom saw it when they came to a dinner in family."
Edward chuckled, nodding again. "I'll talk to him. Your wife is looking for you." He winked, patted his shoulder and looked for Mark, to go talk to him.
He found him a few feet away from the crowd, with Leah. Edward stopped, watching them quite shocked.
"Leah, we have to say something," he said softly, stroking her cheek.
From their thoughts, Edward gathered that they had been seeing each other secretly for two years. What was Jake's word? Kudos.
"Mark, I know you love Ella, but I am not really sure about her…"
"She seemed to get along with that pale dude."
Edward smirked, trying to keep the smile from spilling on his face.
"Edward always knew how to charm the ladies around here." Her cheeks turned red, and she dropped his gaze.
"Don't tell me he was one of your lovers! He's a kid!"
"Mark, shh. He's not a kid, trust me. Edward doesn't show his real age."
Edward left them to talk, going to get Antonella. He found her at the table with Bella, talking about types of butterflies.
He dropped a kiss on Bella's forehead. "Hey."
"Hey, you." She grinned.
"I'll be with you in a minute," he promised. "You, young lady, are coming with me."
Ella held his hand to the edge of the tents were her mom was now hugging Mark. He kissed her, whispering that he'd see her soon, reminding her that they should have a talk with Ella. There was something serious in his tone.
"I know, Mark. I promise to tell her. How will she take this? She doesn't even know we are together and now…this?"
"Love you," he murmured. "Both. Or…all three." He winked, touching her tummy.
"Shit," Edward said, slapping a hand over his mouth.
Ella looked at him confused. "What's wrong? And you work fast," she added.
She couldn't hear them. Edward was glad for that. He tugged her to them.
"Someone lost you, Lee," Edward said lightly, his eyes trained on her stomach.
Leah froze, wrenching herself from Mark's arms. She crouched and hugged her daughter. "Are you okay? Did something happen? Are you hurt?"
"Moom!"
Mark cleared his throat. "I really have to go, bab…Leah."
"For how long, Mom?" Antonella asked.
Oh, I guess now is the time. Work can wait. Mark shrugged, crouching on Ella's other side.
They started talking softly to her, stroking her face, her hair. Edward took that as his cue to leave.
"Wait, Edward!" Leah shouted, coming to him. "Thank you. I know you have something to do with this."
He looked sheepish. "Sorry."
"No, don't be sorry. I had no idea how to broach the subject. And…I'm happy."
"That makes me really happy," he told her, hugging her. She pressed her head against his shoulder, sniffling.
"We're not going to see you again?" she mumbled.
"I'm sure I'll keep visiting…but if you move to Seattle…"
"Yes. You're likely to come once or twice more…for your parents," she whispered.
His throat burned as raw tears – that would never fall – gathered in his eyes. "Yeah, you're right. You'll be there?"
"Promise."
He peered down at her, and her black eyes widened. He swallowed, looking around then pressed his forehead to hers. "Congratulations."
"Thanks," she breathed. "I'll always love you and miss you."
"I know." Edward didn't have the guts to kiss her lips so he brushed them to the corner of her mouth, mostly on her cheek. "Stay safe."
"You too. Take care of Bella. I now realize why you're so in love with her."
He grinned. "There's no more wolf aura to cloud your vision," he teased, stepping back.
"Yeah, probably. I'm sorry. I don't think I ever said it. But I am really sorry for everything I did…back then."
He nodded. "I forgave you a long time ago, Lee. Farewell."
"Good bye, Edward."
They turned around at the same time. She went to her family. And he went to Bella.
One more chapter left.
