Ricochet
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.
Chapter Seven
Jacob gazed down at the little boy asleep in Bella's old bed. CJ was lying on his back, his arms spread out on either side, with his ridiculously long fringe covering one eye. His full lips were partially open as he breathed in through his mouth. The fringe of his thick, black lashes cast shadows on his cheeks as he slept. Jacob was completely awestruck by how similar CJ was to him at the same age. The little boy was indeed his mirror image. No wonder he had initially mistaken the photos on Bella's phone for old ones of himself.
"He looks so peaceful." Jacob whispered to Bella huskily.
"Yes." Bella squeezed his fingers gently; he hadn't pulled his hand out of hers when they entered the room like she had expected. "He's a heavy sleeper. Much like you were, if I remember." She had meant it in a teasing manner, but regretted her comment when she saw pain cross Jacob's face. "I'm….so…"
"Don't do that apologizing thing again, Bella. Its meaningless." Jacob cut in harshly. This time he did pull his hand out of hers. "I haven't slept properly since you married the leech and left Forks. Too many nightmares."
Bella swallowed down her next apology. Instead, she moved past Jacob and bent down over the bed to tuck the duvet around CJ better to ward off any drafts. CJ yawned and rolled onto his side. He opened his eyes blearily and saw Bella hovering over him. "Mommy, don' like this bed. Can't sleep." He mumbled.
A soft smile broke out on Bella's face. She touched his cheek with gentle fingers. "Want me to stay?"
CJ nodded and moved over so Bella could lie down next to him. She glanced over at Jacob as she settled down beside their son. CJ's hand immediately entwined in her sweater, his head finding its way onto her shoulder. Satisfied, he let out another yawn and closed his eyes again.
Jacob felt a lump lodge in his throat. How many times had he envisioned such a scenario in the distant past when he still had hope? How often had he imagined Bella cuddling their sleepless child in the same way she was cuddling CJ now? But in his dreams, they had been cradling their child together. Right now, he was on the outside looking in. Bitterness closed on in him again. He tore his gaze away from Bella's tortured one, moving out her line of sight, and settling down just inside the doorway to wait out what remained of the night.
Jacob was startled awake by the sound of a child, running, yelling in delight. He couldn't remember dozing off. His back ached from where it had been pressed against the doorframe for hours. He heard the gentle cadence of Bella's voice as she told CJ to quieten down.
Using his hands and the balls of his feet to push himself upright, Jacob peered cautiously into the bedroom. The first thing he spotted was CJ standing on his tiptoes, holding onto the window ledge, eyes wide as he looked outside.
"Mommy, is ol' Eddie playing musical statues again?" CJ asked loudly.
"What?" Bella, sounding distracted, joined him at the window. She frowned when she saw Edward standing perfectly still at the bottom of the driveway, staring up at the house. No part of him was moving, not even his eyes. It was freaky, and he did indeed look like some kind of Adonis like statue planted at the end of the drive. "Come away from the window, CJ. I need to make breakfast."
CJ bounced away from the window with long strides. He was a bundle of energy. Jacob continued to watch in fascination as Bella chased their son around the room, trying to pin him down so she could get him ready for the day. The little boy's eyes were alight, his every muscle needing to move, to dance, to jump. He chattered and observed, giggling when Bella caught him and began to tickle him into submission.
"No more, Mommy. No more!" CJ laughed.
Bella smiled down at him affectionately as she stopped tickling him. "Now what do you want for breakfast, sweetie?"
"Pancakes!" CJ chirped. "Lots and lots of pancakes!"
Bella's smile widened as she made a grab for CJ's hand and tugged him toward the bedroom door. Jacob tried to quickly retreat out of sight, but he wasn't quick enough.
"Mommy, I saw a man!" CJ bounced up and down again in excitement, eagerly pointing in Jacob's direction.
Bella's happy smile faded as she looked over at Jacob. He had given up on hiding, his tall frame now filling the doorway. "I'm Jacob." He introduced himself. "I'm a friend of your mom's."
Little CJ frowned in confusion. Even someone of his tender years was able to recognize the sudden tension in the room. "Mommy don' have no friends." He declared innocently.
"She used to." Jacob chanced another quick glance at Bella. She had gone completely pale, her pensive gaze fixed on her small son.
"I'm CJ." CJ said into the empty silence. "I'm six. You very big." He observed as he craned his neck to look up at Jacob.
"Yes I am." Jacob agreed. For the first time in a long time, a happy grin stretched across his face, the bright teeth standing in vivid contrast to the deep russet color of his skin.
"I Jacob, too." CJ continued to chatter. "Charlie Jacob Swan."
Jacob's eyebrows shot up in surprise to hear CJ say the name Swan. He had been expecting him to say Cullen. He glanced at Bella again, she avoided his eyes and began to fuss over their small son.
"Mommy, can this Charlie Jacob stay for breakfast?" CJ asked hopefully. "I like him better than ol' Eddie."
"Stop calling him old Eddie." Bella gently chastised her son, fighting a smile. "And it's just Jacob by the way."
"K'." CJ bounded over to Jacob's side; his smile so wide that it was like he was exploding with liquid sunshine inside. "Come on, Just Jacob." He said, standing on his tiptoes in order to reach for Jacob's hand. "You like pancakes? I like pancakes. Mommy's pancakes are the bestest in the world."
"I love pancakes." Jacob replied, bending down to capture CJ's hand in his. The little boy's hand got lost in his wide grasp. "And you're right. Your Mommy's pancakes are the best. She used to make them for me, you know."
"She did?" CJ's dark eyes lit up in delight. "When?"
Jacob's gaze turned wistful as he looked over at Bella. "A long time ago now."
CJ looked between them, wondering why they both looked so sad suddenly. "Did I do something wrong?" His asked anxiously.
"No, sweetheart." Bella hastened to assure him; her glistening eyes still riveted on Jacob's face. "Jacob and I are just reminiscing, that's all."
Breakfast was soft pancakes and berries, as warm as they would be in the sun, maple syrup threaded upon the top. It had always remained Jacob's favorite breakfast, yet it had nothing at all to do with the food itself. He loved it because it evoked memories of happier times. Bella had made pancakes the same day they'd made love. He remembered how she had stood barefoot in his small kitchen, dressed in one of his old t-shirts.
Charlie and Rosalie joined them for breakfast, though the latter didn't actually eat anything, just nursed a cup of warm coffee in her hands which she never drank.
CJ kept up a stream of chatter throughout, thrilled that they had a special guest. He had spent such an isolated existence with no one but Bella and the Cullens for company, that any newcomer was a source of excitement. And this newcomer actually loved pancakes as much as he did. In fact, Jacob not only ate pancakes, he also ate the scrambled eggs piled high on a bread bun that Bella served him as a special treat.
"You eat a lot." CJ observed as he watched Jacob finish off the scrambled eggs in record time. "Is that why you so big?"
"Probably." Jacob reached out and ruffled his hair.
CJ's long fringe fell into his eyes and he pushed it out of the way, laughing. Everything tickled him as funny and if there was one idea coming from his mouth there were seven more queuing up in his mind. "I wanna play. You play, Just Jacob?"
"If you want." Jacob's face relaxed into a warm smile.
"And you, Grandpa?" CJ was ecstatic that not only did he have a grandpa now, but that his Mommy had her old friend again. She was always so lonely. She looked happier now that Just Jacob was here. Old Eddie and the Cullens liked privacy. They never mixed with anybody outside of the family. In fact, it was forbidden. "This is fun." He said, grinning around at all of them.
"Why don't you all play outside while Rose and I wash up?" Bella suggested.
"Okay then." Charlie was already on his feet. He seemed just as excited as little CJ.
"I'll get CJ's coat." Rosalie graced them all with one of her dazzling smiles as she beckoned CJ to follow her out into the hall to fetch his jacket.
CJ's words were running into one another, he was so excited. After Rosalie wrestled him into his jacket, he bounded out into the back garden, with Charlie and Jacob hot on his heels. There was something so intoxicating about an excited child. CJ bounced, pounced on Jacob, squealed and ran away when Jacob chased him. His grins got wider and wider as he enjoyed playing games with his new playmates. Charlie and Jacob's grins were as big as his as they enthusiastically joined in everything CJ wanted to do.
Bella and Rosalie watched them all out of the kitchen window, their reflective expressions mirroring one another. CJ was like love in a bottle; just seeing him made anyone glad to be alive.
"Why did I wait so long, Rose?" Bella lamented. "Look at how happy CJ is. I denied him that all these years. I'm a bad mother."
Rosalie let out an exasperated sigh. "You're not a bad mother, Bella. You're just guilty of making questionable decisions. I'm partly responsible for that. If I hadn't interfered and told Edward that you were dead all those years ago, he wouldn't have gone to the Volturi. And you wouldn't have that fear hanging over your head every single day."
"I forgave you a long time ago, Rose. I told you that. How Edward reacted was all on him, not you."
"Still dripping poison into Bella's ear, Rosalie." Edward's bitter voice came out of nowhere, startling both women. "And you're right, it is your fault for constantly interfering. And you're still doing it to this day. You never learn. Look at the trouble you've caused."
Rosalie's expression darkened as she glowered at him resentfully. "You are despicable." She fumed. "What are you even still doing here?"
"I am here to take care of my wife. The question should be, what are you still doing here?" Edward countered harshly. "Shouldn't you be going home to your husband. I think Emmet deserves an explanation for your crazy behavior."
"Stop it, Edward." Bella said through gritted teeth. "You can't just walk in here uninvited. You need to leave."
Edward sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose to try and stem the tide of his frustration. "I have been incredibly patient, Bella. But even you must concede what a mess this all is. Rosalie's selfishness has created an impossible situation."
"You unimaginable bastard!" Rosalie snapped, beyond infuriated.
Bella groaned, stepping in between the enraged blonde and her seething husband. Edward was right about one thing; it was an impossible situation. She glanced out of the window, noticing that Jacob was shooting worried glances toward the house. He must know that Edward was inside. She couldn't risk another confrontation between them. Not with CJ close by.
"You need to leave, Edward." Bella stared at his face, watching a slight frown mar his smooth forehead. "You are not helping things by just barging in here. Go back to your old house and wait for me there. I will be in contact with you, only when I am ready to do so." She tried to maintain a strong and calm façade. There would be no convincing him otherwise, that she meant what she said.
Edward looked incredulous. "Are you dismissing me?" He asked in disbelief.
"Yes, Edward, that's exactly what I'm doing."
A/N-thanks for reading!