Morning, Loves!

All mistakes are on me.


Chapter Forty-Five: Edward

December 21, 2022

Cambridge, England

"Their train should be arriving any minute."

Bella looks up at me, nodding. One of her hands is on her bump, rubbing absently. She's been doing it more and more lately, and each time I see it my heart aches with how happy it makes me. She doesn't realize she's doing it, but each day she gets a little more and more ready for our child.

"Do you think they'll want a tour of Cambridge before a nap?"

After spending a few days with my parents in London, Bella and I had gone back home to resume work while my parents toured the United Kingdom. They'd been checking in every day, texting us photos of their expeditions. I was happy to see them enjoying themselves. I knew that for a while my dad had worried that his days of travel were behind him.

"Dad will probably want to rest," I agree. Bella sighs.

"Thank God. I'm exhausted today."

I smile. We'd been cleaning and trying to prepare for my parents all morning, interrupting Bella's usual nap and snack times. I know she's been pushing hard today, despite my requests for her to take it easy.

As if reading my mind, she pulls a bag of mixed nuts from her pocket and shoves a walnut in her mouth.

"Maybe we can eat too," she says around the nut. I smirk.

"Yeah, we can do that."

We both turn our attention to the platforms where a train is arriving. Bella shoves another handful of nuts into her mouth before stuffing the bag back into her pocket.

People start disembarking and Bella goes up on her tiptoes, trying to see from where we are waiting just by the exit.

"Are you suddenly feeling nervous?" Bella asks. I look at her.

"A little," I admit. "Are you?"

She sighs. "I love your mom," she says, and it's the first time I think she's ever said that. "But we both know that I'll never be able to clean to her standards."

I laugh, pulling an arm around her shoulders. "It'll be fine," I promise her.

She hums and curls into my side as people file off the train.

I catch sight of my dad, and a second blonde with him makes my heart skip a beat.

I glance down at Bella, but she can't see them yet. I look back up and sure enough, there is my tiny sister, elbowing past people and sprinting toward the exit. Bella screams just as Alice launches at her. I reach out to catch them both as they start to topple backwards. They are both crying and shouting at the same time, drawing the attention of everyone at the station. I shake my head, making sure they are steady before turning to my parents and Jasper who are coming through the exit.

"Hey," I greet them, giving them each a hug before turning to Jasper. "What a surprise," I say, pulling him into a hug. He hugs me back, clapping my shoulder.

"We wanted to surprise you guys."

We look over at Alice and Bella who are still hugging and crying and I turn back to him and grin.

"I'd say it was a success."

He laughs.

"Hey, Ali," I say, patting my sister's back. She detaches from Bella before launching into my arms, squeezing the air right out of my lungs.

"My God, it's good to see you," she cries. "This whole living on the other side of the world thing isn't working out for me, come back home," she teases. I laugh as she lets go of me.

"I've missed you too."

Bella is a fucking mess.

She's sobbing and hugging everyone, her face red.

"I-I can't b-believe you ar-re all h-here," she sobs.

Alice laughs.

"Believe it, Bells. Our family is back together again."