2022Okay, so maybe I was able to get this one out, too.
I'm definitely done for today. Have a great day everyone.
All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc., are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. All mistakes are my own.
ENJOY!
10/12/2022
Chapter 17
BPOV
It was the day before the court hearing. I thought I'd be a complete mess, but I was confident that Esme would get everything thrown out. I had nothing to do with Phil's death, nor did my mom. She was nearly unconscious when Phil grabbed that gun and tried to kill her. It was all him … every bit of it.
Esme was also confident that the other claim, or should I say lawsuit, against me … the reversal of my inheritance, would be thrown out. They didn't have a leg to stand on. What's done is done and it's been almost thirteen years since that dreadful night; they had plenty of time, before now, to plead their case. They had to have seen all the publicity that was going on when Edward and I first got together. All the pictures, the announcement of our wedding and my pregnancy. It was out there for the whole world to see, and I'd bet my whole inheritance that, unless I was never involved with Edward, the Dwyer's would've never thought one thing about me.
The only Dwyer I want anything to do with is my brother. I've had Esme draw up papers, so that I could give James his fair share of my inheritance. I was giving him half of what I got from that man. The insurance policy was ten million dollars and as of right now, James will be receiving a
5.6-million-dollar check from my accountant. He didn't know and I knew for a fact, he'll put up a huge argument to try and refuse it. We're so much like each other that it's comical.
To me, he deserved the money. He was Phil's first born and should've gotten half the money, in the first place, when Phil died. What he did with the money, I didn't care. He could donate it, give a lot to his mother and grandparents. Or even sink a lot of it into his company. It's his to do as he pleases. Some would say that I should wait longer to get to know him, but when my heart and my mind are having the same feelings, I was giving into my gut and going with it.
The buzzer on my desk phone sounded, "Yes, Carol."
"There's an elderly couple here to see you," she informed me.
"Did they say who they are?" My brow furrowed. My next appointment wasn't for another hour.
"They said they were your grandparents."
I was really confused, now. Why would my Nonna and Nonno show up, unannounced, to my office?
"I'll be right out, Carol." I was concerned. My grandparents would normally call first, before visiting, so I straightened my skirt as I stood from my desk and hurried out to see my grandparents, only to stop dead in my tracks.
The two elderly people, that sat waiting for me, were definitely not my grandparents and were definitely not my Nonna and Nonno. I hadn't seen the faces of these two people, in nearly thirteen years.
My heart began pounding in my chest and anger started to course through my blood. "You shouldn't be here," I said through gritted teeth, "Leave or I'll call security to have you escorted out."
Phyllis and David Dwyer sat before me. They were the textbook definition of evil, in my opinion.
Phyllis' eyes roamed over me, from head to toe, and David actually looked happy to see me. "Can we have a minute of your time?" David asked, "I think you owe us that much." He seemed a little too nervous to even be near me.
"I don't owe you a damn thing; a breath or a thought, now leave." I turned to walk back to my office. I wasn't wasting my time on them.
I heard quick footsteps behind me, "We're your grandparents. We have a right to see you. Maybe we can resolve all this before tomorrow?"
I turned to see David standing behind me. He had a pleading look on his face, "You lost any right to me the moment you allowed your son to beat my mother. How about the moment you first called us trash and worthless, or better yet, the moment you wouldn't allow us outside your kitchen when we were at your house? The list is very long, David. You had a vile son and you're vile people, just like he was."
"You're right," David said. Phyllis came to stand next to him, "We were wrong."
For a split second, before Phyllis stood next to David, I thought he was being sincere, but I wasn't falling for their meaningless plea. Phyllis had a smug look on her face as if she were in the right to be standing in front of me.
I shook my head, "What's the real reason you're here? I know it isn't to see me. You're not my grandparents and you never were. You never cared one bit about what went on in that house. Grandparents are supposed to help protect their grandchildren and neither one of you lifted a finger to stop your own son from being the way he was. You two disgust me."
"We're disgusted with ourselves, too, Isabella. We were wrong. You're our granddaughter and we wanna make things right. You're having our first great-grandchild and we want to be a part of your lives, now," David pleaded. He really did have a look of remorse, but I couldn't look passed what they had done. They didn't deserve an ounce of sympathy.
I shook my head, "You make me sick. I'm not your only grandchild and you know it. What you did to my brother and his mother, was vile."
"You have a brother?" Phyllis asked, looking confused.
"I'm not even going to grant you the luxury of answering that question." At that moment, the elevator door opened, and James, Victoria and Maddie walked out.
James and his family had arrived two days before and were meeting me for lunch. That was my next appointment for the day, "Hey, sis," James said, looking happy to see me.
Victoria stood next to him, smiling widely as they approached me, "You about ready for lunch? Maddie wants McDonalds. How's that sound?"
"Sounds great," I replied. James had never known David and Phyllis, so he had no clue that they were standing directly in front of him.
I stepped over, hugging both James and Victoria. Maddie was eager for me to hold her. We had grew a bond with each other in the last two days, "Auntie, we haff Donalds, today?"
"Yes, munchkin, we'll go in a few minutes." I looked up at James, "Do you mind if Carol watches Maddie for a few minutes, in my office?"
"Sure, is everything, okay?" James appeared very concerned.
I shook my head, then stepped over to where Carol was seated behind her desk, "Carol, do you mind keeping an eye on Maddie for a few minutes? My brother and I have a few things to discuss with these people. I promise, it won't take long."
"Sure, Bella. C'mon, Maddie. Let's go see what your aunt has in her desk that you can play with." Carol, gently, took Maddie's hand and led her into my office. I looked back over at James. He and Victoria looked completely bewildered.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want Maddie to be anywhere near these two." I motioned toward David and Phyllis.
"Who're they?" Victoria asked. She had never seen them, either, but knew everything they had done to James' mother.
I sighed, looking at David and Phyllis, "James, these two people are our devoted and loving grandparents, David and Phyllis Dwyer. They've come to make amends, apparently."
James' facial expression fell the moment I said who they were. He knew their names and now, he had the faces that went along with those names.
David extended his hand toward James, but James … just looked at his hand like it had a flesh eating disease on it, "You need to leave. Right now!" James said, heatedly. His nostrils were flaring as he began to breathe deeply.
Victoria wrapped her arms around James. He seemed to calm, slightly, "You need to calm down, babe. We can't let Maddie see you like this."
"Who're you?" Phyllis asked, looking between James and Victoria.
James shook his head, "You don't even deserve to know my name. Does the name Melissa Hunter ring a bell to you?"
David and Phyllis' faces paled, looking at each other like they'd seen a ghost. They probably never thought they'd ever come across the child that they shunned before he was even born.
"Yeah, by the look on your faces, you know exactly who she is. Yes, she's, my mother. You know, the very same Melissa Hunter that you tried to pay off. The very same Melissa Hunter that your son beat, almost, to death. She nearly lost me. She was lucky the doctors were able to help." He shook his head, "I don't know what you want with my sister, but it isn't gonna work. We know you're broke, so don't try and play a sympathy hand toward her and definitely not to me. We know all you want is money, but you're not getting one red cent. You don't deserve it … none of it."
"I'm dying," David said, "This is my penance before I die. I can't leave Phyllis with nothing when I pass."
"Your penance is shit here. We don't want it. Go spout your bullshit to someone who gives a damn," Victoria said. She grabbed a hold of my arm and James', "C'mon you two, we have a lunch date we need to attend to."
With that, we turned to go into my office. Before we reached my office door, I heard Phyllis say, "You're a whore, just like your mother, Isabella. You're still worthless and my son should have killed her when he had a chance."
I couldn't help myself. I took four long strides toward her and when I was right in front of her, I swung my hand, connecting with her left cheek, "Nobody talks about my Momma like that."
James, being the protective brother, rushed to gather me in his arms before I started swinging again. If I had the chance, it would have been my fist the next time.
I glanced over my shoulder. Phyllis stood with her hand to her cheek and David had his eyes wide in surprise. It was almost like he was happy that someone finally slapped the shit out of she-bitch.
I made sure to call security, once I got to my office, to make sure they were properly escorted off the premises. If Phyllis wanted to try and press assault charges against me, it wasn't gonna work. There were no witnesses to what happened, and their word was against mine. And it's good to know quite a few people down at the police station.
"If I never have to see those people again, it would be too soon," James said as we sat waiting for Maddie to finish up her Happy Meal from McDonalds. I knew exactly how he felt. Although, lucky for him, he didn't have to grow up for twelve years of his life, taking the brunt of their words and being persistently rejected to their kitchen because we weren't good enough to sit in their company.
"I know you had to live through their shit for a while when you were a kid and I'm sorry you ever had any involvement with those people," James continued. I could see the hurt he was feeling. It was a hurt I knew all too well.
I shook my head, "It's not your fault. You don't have to apologize for those people. They made their choices and chose to not have anything to do with us. Hopefully after tomorrow, we won't have to ever see them again."
"Auntie, seez my doll. It has hairz like yours," Maddie said as she played with her doll that came in her Happy Meal.
I smiled down at her, "Does she have a name?"
"Um . . . hers wikes Bubbles," Maddie said with a huge smile, ignoring my question. "She wikes baffs, too."
"Ooo. . .I like baths, too. Even Uncle Edward likes to take a bath sometimes." It was still weird to refer to myself and Edward as being an aunt and uncle, but the plus side of it all, it gave us practice for when the twins start talking.
I looked over at Victoria, "Did you guys make plans for tonight?"
She smiled at me. "No, you have something in mind?"
"Everyone's coming for dinner, tonight. My parents are in town, Esme and Carlisle are coming, you name it, and they're all coming over. You wanna join us for dinner, too? Make a huge family get together out of it?" I suggested.
Tonight, there was definitely going to be a full house. Esme, my mom and Joan were helping me throw some dinner together for everyone. With all their cooking talents, I'm sure there will be plenty to choose from.
"That sounds great. You need us to bring anything? Dessert, maybe?" She asked, looking excited about helping out.
I nodded, "Yeah, that sounds good. You can choose whatever you want. With Emmett and Edward, nothing will go to waste. Those two can eat more than anybody I know."
Victoria playfully elbowed James in the side, "Jay, here can put some food away, too; that's for sure."
"I'm a growing boy." He leaned back, rubbing his stomach. "I can't refuse good food when it's put in front of me. Can you blame me?" James retorted, as he continued to pat his stomach like he had just eaten an entire ten course meal.
Later that day, I walked through the door, at home, about ten minutes after five. No one was due for dinner, until seven. I had plenty of time for a shower before I started on dinner. Thankfully I went to the store the night before, so I didn't have to make any unnecessary stops on my way home.
Edward was home by 5:30. I was just coming out of the bathroom when he walked through our bedroom door, "There you are. What time's everyone due to show up?"
"Seven," I said walking over to him seductively, with my towel still wrapped around me. I ran my hands over his Polo shirt and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss. I didn't hesitate to shove my tongue down his throat. The longer I was away from him, the more I wanted him and right now, I wanted nothing more than to shove him down on the bed and ride him like the Kentucky Derby, "Quickie, before I start dinner?"
"Have I ever denied you?" He backed away a couple of steps, "I don't wanna ruin it, but I need to piss first. When I come back, I want you on the bed with your legs spread as far as they can go."
I dropped my towel before he walked away. His eyes roamed over my body before he reluctantly went to use the bathroom.
He must have been in there for a total of ten seconds. He was out before I could even get my legs completely open, "Did you even wash your hands?"
"Yep," he said as he started shoving his pants and boxers down, "I love you being horny all the time. I don't know what I'm gonna do for six weeks, after the baby comes."
"There's plenty for us to do." I tapped my finger on my chin, "Let's see, there's always blow-jobs, hand-jobs, titty fucking. . ."
Edward growled. "I get it, I get it." He climbed over the top of me and knelt on his knees between my legs. He hooked his hands behind my knees and pulled me up so my ass was off the bed. He released one leg long enough to align himself with my opening and without any hesitation or teasing, he pushed himself inside me.
My breath caught the moment he was completely sheathed. He always knew the quickest way to get me to orgasm. He also knew the best way to prolong our times together.
Our quickie turned into just that . . . a quickie. Afterward, we rushed to get cleaned up and head downstairs to get dinner started. I wasn't making anything extravagant because of so many people coming. I was grateful for all the enlisted help.
James, Victoria and Maddie were the first to arrive. They were in a hotel a few blocks from us, so getting here was just a hop, skip and a jump. Of course, the first person Maddie goes running to is Edward. She already had him wrapped around her tiny finger. Our daughter does, too, and she's not even born, yet.
"Unca Eenie, momma gots me a nude dress," boasted Maddie. I thought it was funny that she couldn't say his name or even Eddie, and Edward, being Edward, knew exactly what she was saying. I loved seeing him with her,
Edward was just as excited. "You gotta new dress?"
She nodded her head vigorously, "Iz bwew wif fwowers." What's even more amazing about her, in the last few days they'd been here, I loved to sit and read with her. Some words she had a hard time with, and we worked them out, together. She was so smart and learned so quickly with anything new. Victoria said it was because, from the moment they brought her home from the hospital, she started reading to her and singing the ABC's song. That definitely gave me the idea to do the same with our daughter. To each their own, though.
Everyone arrived by a quarter after seven. Dinner was pretty much done. All the ladies set the table and got everything ready while the men, Gracie and Alex entertained Maddie.
James was pretty excited to see Emmett, again. Apparently, he was a huge fan of his before he got traded to Seattle. He thought he was pretty lucky to be a part of a family that contained celebrities. He was a fan of Edwards also, when he was still playing. Emmett promised to get him set up with all sorts of Seahawks paraphernalia. Considering Edward had a closet full of Huskies stuff, he loaded him up before they left for the evening. They both signed autographs for him, too. James claimed that Edwards' football card would cost something someday, considering Edward was now retired and with the card signed, it was priceless. Not only that, but he also said he was already bragging, to anyone who would listen, about Edward being his brother in-law. He had pictures to prove it. Of course, everyone wanted to be his best-friend, afterward.
By the end of the night, my nerves were starting to get the better of me. Edward gave me a nice full body massage that included penetration. I was fast to sleep the moment I climbed back in bed once I cleaned up.
Thanks again,
Reason