Twenty Six
ALICE
"I almost got the wrong colour," Bella grins, "the woman at the counter reread the paper and said it was wrong."
"If you got the gender wrong I'd kill you," I laugh.
My parents had thrown us a small baby BBQ. I wanted a small gender reveal with my friends that had become family. Jasper's mother had just started speaking to him again.
After I'd left their fight had grown toxic. His sister Abbey had kept in contact with me. Texting me once a week. She sent photos of baby toys. It was sweet to know someone in his family supported us.
His mother said she'd be a grandmother, but she wouldn't let his life be destroyed. I was over it.
"I want to pop it," I take the needle from Bella as Jasper holds a large black balloon.
Emmett strolls into the backyard, holding a present bag, an easy smile.
"Hey," Jasper grins at him, "you just made it in time."
"Sorry. My team had a game. They won!" He wraps his arm around Jasper in greeting.
Beside Bella, Rose stiffens, averting her eyes. She'd agreed to come, despite not seeing Emmett since the party. She'd asked us constantly what he was doing, digging for gossip from our boyfriends. Yet she refused to call him claiming it was unable to be repaired.
"You should take Edward to see them," I suggest, "did you see that big article on him."
"Shut up," He rolls his eyes.
"I'm proud of you," Esme laughs kissing her son's cheek as he flips a burger over the bbq grill.
Hockey publications were interesting in Chicago's newest player. He was getting interviewed weekly, as word had gotten out he was the next star in hockey.
"Me too," Bella laughs, "I already have the picture in it on my bedroom wall."
"That's adorable," Esme claps.
"Okay attention back to me and my baby," I shout.
"You've got it baby girl," Carlisle sits down beside Rosalie, throwing her a comforting smile as she glances at Emmett again.
Emmett strolls over to Edward, fighting a glance back at her. He pats Edward's shoulder and picks up some tongs for himself. Edward mutters something to him.
"Okay. I'm popping this," I sigh.
Jasper laughs at my impatience.
"It's a girl," I smile at him, "I can feel it."
"No it's a boy," he shakes his head.
"Ready to be wrong?" I tease.
"Pop the fucking thing before I do it," Rosalie calls out.
Emmett flashes her a cold look of irritation.
Before he can say anything nasty I pop the balloon. Jasper laughs as pink confetti falls around us. I scream crashing him to a hug.
"I told you," I shout.
I feel arms crash from around me, Esme holds us both crying.
"I was wrong too," she rubs my back happily, "I said boy too."
"She'll be my princess. I can't wait," Jasper kisses my cheek.
"Little Emmilina," Emmett calls out laughing loudly.
"Who invited you?" I call back.
"You," he walks towards us once again cuddling me as Esme let's go, "congratulations. I'm proud of you both. You'll make an amazing mother."
"Thanks," I smile, "you should really speak with her, you know. She misses you. She won't admit it."
"She won't pick up my calls. She doesn't get to miss me," he shrugs, "she wants a sour end clearly."
"She doesn't," I shake my head, "just be an adult, Em."
"Life is too short," Esme nudges Emmett smiling, "If I broke up with Carlisle for every fight we had we wouldn't be here today."
"But you're meant to be together," he rolls his eyes.
"Rosalie might meant to be yours," Jasper shrugs, "you need to fight for it man. Show her you can be trusted. I know you can do it. Imagine what your dad would say. Would he let you just let her go? You've never felt love like this."
For a moment he stares at Jasper. Then he looks back at the backyard table she was sat at before.
"She went inside," Esme smiles, "try the kitchen."
He's racing off before any of us can blink.
"You'll make a great set of parents," Esme nods at us, "your daughter is going to be blessed."
"Did you film it dad?" I peer over at him.
He nods holding out my phone as he bites into a hotdog. Esme rolls her eyes smiling.
"Men never change," she pats my back, "it gets worse with age. I'd check that too. Last time he was asked to film something he filmed himself."
"A girl? Hopefully she takes after you," I hear Jasper's mother say.
He'd warned her she was on speaker several times.
She just didn't care.
"Hopefully she takes after both of us," Jasper sighs looking up at me.
"Well, I'm sure she will be beautiful dear. I will talk to you later," she says, "I have to go and see to your sister."
"Okay Mum," he says, "goodnight."
"Love you," she says before hanging up.
"I'm sorry," he says to me.
"Don't be. I'm numb to it at this point," I shrug, "I have you, my girl."
He sits on the bed beside me, placing a hand on my stomach.
"Has she kicked today?" He asks.
"A little," I nod, "she has her moments."
"I can't believe how quick the weeks have passed," he says, rubbing my belly.
"Wait," I gasp taking hold on his hand guiding it to my other side, "hold there. She's kicking there."
He watches my face, focusing on his hand.
"Come on," he whispers, "kick for daddy."
I laugh as she does exactly that after a small beat.
"She loves the sound of your voice I bet," I say, "one of the books I read said to talk to her."
"What do we name her?" He looks down at his hand as she kicks again.
"I thought it was going to be Emmetline or something," I shrug.
He laughs loudly, leaning down to kiss me. We'd come back to his place tonight. The house had been quiet. Emmett hadn't gone to plan with Rosalie at all. It had just sparked another argument with Rosalie leaving. Bella and Edward had stayed with my parents. With classes through for the semester we were rarely together without a reason.
"So are you up for a late night excursion?" He asks.
"To where? McDonald's I hope," I clap, "your daughter wants an apple pie."
"I can't get over you saying my daughter," he blinks, "but no. Somewhere else. We can get you pie on the way."
True to his word we arrive in the alleyway of a dark building, McDonald's bag in hand. He keeps his arm around me as we walk.
"Where is this?" I ask.
"Just a place I've spent a fair bit of time," he shrugs, "I thought after such an amazing day it was time."
"For what?" I shake my head.
He pulls out a set of keys, unlocking a gate, tugging me toward a second door he also opens.
"What is this? Seriously?" I laugh nervously.
"Oh actually close your eyes," he says.
I do as he asks, letting him lead me into the darkness of the door he just opened.
He lets me know when to step up or down. When to watch my footing.
"This way," I can hear the smile in his voice, "don't open yet."
"Hurry," I say, "baby wants her pie."
"Emmertly can wait," he steps away from me rushing off to do something.
I'm so tempted to look.
"Okay," he says at last, "open and turn to your left."
I'm not quite sure what I am looking at first.
"What…" I stammer in total shock, "Jasper."
"Welcome home… if you want it to be of course," he says sheepishly, "I finally decided on what to do with Dad's money. I don't want some fancy hot shot career in hockey. I want a family. He didn't get to watch his grow and I intend to do that right here with his help."
"Oh," I cover my mouth, emotions surging from me, a sob creeping out from me.
"This is Puck's. A sports bar for the local students, the local families, for everyone to enjoy," he smiles, "Edward, Bella and Emmett have been helping me bring it together. She needs more touches."
"I love it," I nod, "Jasper I'm so proud of you. Your father would be thrilled."
"It's not even the best part," he moves toward me taking my hand, "this way."
I look back at the bar top. The wood was a stunning chestnut colour, shelving partly installed behind it.
"How is there more?" I sniffle.
"I want nothing but the best for you," he tugs me toward a door behind the bar.
He opens it to a set of wooden stairs, motions for me to lead the way.
I do. One shaky step at a time.
He leans around me when we get to a door at the top and unlocks it.
When he pushes it open I burst into tears turning to smother my face into his chest. He holds me to him kissing me head.
"I love you," he chokes out, emotion getting the better of him too, "come and look."
He guides me through our new small home. It's furnished, just how I love it. The simplistic styling, with even plants ready for me to love. It's open plan with a decent size kitchen in view of the living room. He leads me to a small hallway beside the living space.
"I can't believe my eyes right now," I say.
"This is our room," he motions to a door.
"Our room?" I shake my head in disbelief.
"Yep," he nods as I push it open.
Surely enough a bed with a fabric bed head greets me. The room is decorated with soft greys and pink tones. It's perfect.
"This way," he walks toward another door, "this is the spare room. Our friends and family can stay with us. But there's another room that is more important. I haven't seen it yet. Bella fully handled it."
"Why?" I ask.
"She was the only one who knew the gender," he says, "you open it first."
He points to the last door at the end of the hallway. He wraps his arm around me as I do. He gasps, I cry even more.
Before us is a nursery of my dreams. A rocking chair, a white cot with pink bedding. Stuffed toys, a changing table. Everything I could need.
"Oh my god," I choke out, "it's perfect. I love it so much. Thank you."
He pulls me into his arms kissing me deeply.
"What about Ella?" I say once we control our tears.
"Like Bella without the B? It's perfect," He nods.
"Emmett will be so salty," I laugh, "but this baby owes a lot to her."
"I agree," he nods, kissing me quickly, "we have pie to eat before it gets cold. I don't want an angry baby."
We have no fresh clothes, no food in the apartment or belongings. But we spend the night in our new bed. Content at already blocking out the world beyond the new one he created for the three of us.
Thanks so much for reading xx