"Honey, I'm home!"
I walk out from the bedroom as Edward drops the pizza boxes on the kitchen counter and hangs up his jacket in the closet. I pull out plates as he presses past me to grab a couple beers out of the fridge.
"Do you think we eat too much pizza?" I ask as we settle at the island, and Edward tries to shove half a slice into his mouth. "Don't answer until you've swallowed."
It's been a quiet few months since the last of our friend's weddings, and we've just been working, living, and loving each other since. Tonight is our last night in the city for two weeks before we hit the road for the holidays to visit Edward's parents.
"We're all packed," I tell him as we finish our dinner and clean up. "You'll just need to check to make sure I packed everything you wanted."
"Thanks for taking care of that," Edward says as he washes our plates. "I didn't think they were going to keep me so long today." He'd been preoccupied with something when I called around five this evening. I could tell he was stressed, so I told him I take care of packing and cleaning out the fridge since we'd be gone for two weeks.
"I got gas, so we're good to go."
"Then we should get to sleep if we want to get an early start tomorrow." I turn off the lights and lock up and all but push Edward down the hall into our bedroom. "I'll take the first leg tomorrow."
"Thanks, princess," Edward says as he strips down and crawls into bed. I set my alarm for a little earlier than we planned and slide under the covers next to him.
Twelve hours in the car with Edward is an experience I had somehow forgotten. He's sort of an asshole about driving, and once we're out of the city, he insists that we switch so he can drive the bulk of the way to his parents. At least he lets me pick the music, but his road rage sets in somewhere along hour five, and it's like I don't know this man at all.
"Hey," I say as I turn the radio down a little and reach over to run my fingers through the hair at his temple. "What's going on?"
"I'm sorry. I'm feeling a little anxious about this trip." He leans into my touch and sighs.
"Why? We're just going to see your parents and your sister."
He shrugs, but doesn't say anything.
"Are you worried about what they might say? About us?"
"No, not at all, princess." Edward merges off the highway and pulls into a rest area. "We've just never gone to see them as 'us'. I'm worried everything is going to be different somehow."
I laugh gently. "Of course it's going to be different, Eddie. But nothing is going to change; it hasn't so far."
He leans across the console and kisses me—sweetly, deeply. "What would I do without you?"
"Live in existential fear?" He laughs, and we get back on the road.
Around seven at night, we finally pull into his parents' driveway of their Winnetka home. I can see Bree's car on the street and wonder who she brought home this year. As we're pulling our bags out of the car, Edward's father, Carlisle, comes out to help and ushers us inside as snowflakes begin to fall.
The house is warm and smells like pine and cinnamon as soon as we step inside. Esme is all but bouncing on her toes as we remove our coats and step out of our shoes. She gathers her son up first as Carlisle and Bree say hello and hug me. The moment she releases Edward, we lock eyes, and I can feel tears welling in mine.
I've missed Esme Cullen. She's a stereotypical stay-at-home mom, but she's the nicest lady you could ever meet. Smart as a whip, friendly, and loving; she was there for me when my parents suddenly died. She's been there for me over the years for graduation, moving into our first apartment, and when I first got my job.
When Esme pulls me into her arms, I feel safe and secure; like the world could crumble around us, but she'll protect me. Edward gets that from her. "Oh, my sweet girl, I've missed you," she whispers into my ear, and when I feel the first teardrops fall, she holds my head in her hands and gives me a watery laugh. "Now, we're not doing that. I love you, and I'm so happy you're here. I also saved you some of your favorite cookies for later."
I laugh and pull her in for another hug. "Are they the molasses cookies?" I can feel her nod against me, and I smile. When we part for the second time, there are no more tears, and she beams.
Edward wraps his arm around my shoulders and clears his throat. "Mom, Dad, ugh, Bree … this is Bella. My girlfriend."
"Oh my God, Edward. You're such an asshole. We know who she is." Bree flings herself up the stairs but winks at us from the landing before continuing up to her room.
"I just wanted to make it official," Edward mumbles, and luckily, Carlisle claps him on the shoulder and drags him into the living room.
"About damn time, son."
The next two weeks are spent visiting with Edward's family, playing in the snow, eating, and basically doing all the cliché holiday things. Esme loves to go caroling, and even though I'm tone deaf, I join her.
Christmas dinner is handled between her, Bree, and myself, and Bree and I stay up way too late, watching movies and talking about college life for her.
Edward, however, seems a little distant. He's the same adoring and sweet guy he always is, but I can see when his mind wanders or when we're all talking and he doesn't join in or misses the joke. It's got me worried, but there isn't anything I can do to help him. I've asked, and he says it's nothing to worry about.
As we make our way back into New York on January fourth, we're speaking, but it's really superficial. I don't know what happened, and I don't want to think the worst, but maybe going home with him wasn't a good idea. Maybe he wasn't as excited as I was, or ready.
It's another month before I bring up his change in behavior again. I'm trying to make plans for Valentine's Day, but Edward just doesn't seem interested. We've both been a little stressed between work and finding out that some of our friends are going to be testifying against Maggie.
"Edward, I'm just trying to ask if you want to go to dinner or not. That's all." I'm practically pleading with him as he loads the dishwasher.
"I've been an ass lately, haven't I?"
It's definitely not the answer I'm expecting, so I just nod.
"I'm sorry, princess." He beckons me with wet hands, and I crash into his hard body with such force that he stumbles slightly. "Bella, I'm sorry. I've been preoccupied with work and … stuff. I should have just talked to you."
With my face buried in his chest, I mumble, "Why didn't you?"
He sighs. "I don't know."
I can feel him drying his hands on the dishtowel, and then wrapping his arms around me, and I latch on.
"I just know that I'm sorry, and I won't act like this anymore or again."
"Where did all this come from?" I ask as I pull away and look up into his eyes.
He sighs and drags me to the couch. "I'm really stressed with work. I've also been talking to Jacob a lot … he's not doing well, and I'm trying to be there for him."
"That's really good of you," I tell him, and he nods.
"And I've been thinking a lot about our future."
Whoa.
"Okay, what about it?"
Edward inhales deeply, and then looks at me. "Will you marry me?"