The Letter
Part Ten
"My letter has to be perfect," Will stated matter-of-factly to his mother and Tanya. "Santa needs to understand that Edward the Elf would give Bella a happy ending."
Tanya snickered. "Make sure you say multiple happy endings, sweetheart."
Will blushed at the nickname his honorary Aunt Tanya had for him. "Good idea. Sometimes it takes more than one." For whatever reason, what he said made her almost fall off her chair in laughter.
His Mom giggled, too. Adults were so weird to Will.
"You're going to h, e, double l, for this," Alec hissed at his wife but kissed the top of her head, too, so he couldn't be mad. See, weird, Will thought.
"Why would she go to hell?" Will asked, somewhat confused by the looks his grandma, Alec, and Tanya were sharing.
"You'll understand once you grow up." Tanya kissed Will's cheek and ruffled his hair. He huffed in annoyance, even though he kind of liked it when they shared the love with him. His family liked to hug, even his dad. Well, hug him, at least.
Will could only shrug his shoulders and finish working on his revised letter to Santa. His mom said she had connections and that they could deliver the letter in a matter of hours, using holiday magic, of course.
All Will knew was that he had to make it happen—Edward had to stay with his sister. Since he arrived, Bella had laughed, sang, and baked more than usual. Maybe Edward was the key to keep her close; he still wondered if she'd move back to California.
"Are you okay, my little love?" His mom cupped his cheek and looked worried. As if she didn't already have enough of that for the last year. "What's wrong?"
"What if Santa needs Edward and losing him makes Bella go away?"
Renee Swan sighed and cradled her beautiful boy's face, enchanted with his dimpled chin and expressive brown eyes so much like Bella's mesmerizing gaze. "She's here to stay, Will. If not, you can ask her to. How can anyone say no to you?"
He grumbled. "You do."
"Not with a heartfelt request." Renee kissed his forehead and read the letter aloud, aware of Bella and Edward listening in on their conversation. They had to find a way to fix it, even if they decided the truth was for the best. Seeing her baby boy so worried hurt her heart.
.
.
.
"Oh shit," Bella cursed and tugged on her hair out in the hallway. "He really thinks I'd leave."
Edward nodded, and then captured Bella as she paced away from him, holding her close enough to feel the tension coursing through her body. "Maybe some sibling time alone will help you both. Maybe explain how you feel about being home now would help, too."
"We can't until James is apprehended. I won't risk my brother, but maybe I can kick everyone out of the kitchen tomorrow and bake with him. We always do that when one of us is feeling blue."
"This house is certainly large enough for my family…" Edward swallowed hard, unable to stop his nerves from rising at their impending arrival. "This house is big enough for everyone to find something to do. Just because we're stuck here doesn't mean you have to entertain us."
"I know, but with you leaving for Seattle for work tomorrow, my parents will have their hands full. I intend to spend time with all of them while you're gone."
Edward needed to head into work and had arranged for a helicopter ride from Port Angeles. "That reminds me. There's a holiday office party soon. Would you join me?"
Bella hummed. "How fancy are we talking about? Open bar? Will I get to see you in another suit?" She dramatically sighed. "Or will you wear a tux?"
Edward felt a bit flustered that what he wore to the event would help her decide if she'd attend with him. "It's one of the few events my employees like to dress up, and of course, it's an open bar."
"Yes," she said breathlessly, though a bit overdramatic to make him chuckle. Bella placed her hand on her chest and imagined him in a tux, looking like someone who belonged on the red carpet. "All right, now to figure out what to wear for that?" His sister's assistance would certainly help her.
As if on cue, Bella's phone rang, Alice was calling. "That shit is still creepy, even after knowing her for a few years."
Edward laughed, nodding in agreement. "It's uncanny. Sometimes, I wonder if she has me monitored somehow."
Bella playfully shuddered and answered. "Did you already land?" She had offered to pick them up from the airport, though it would take some maneuvering to do, due to needing protection to go with her. Alice and Esme refused, instead opting to rent a van and drive into town.
"Yes, but that's not why I'm calling. If I know my brother, he's probably just asked you to attend the holiday office party as his date, which is in five days. I'll shop for your dress and shoes before we head over there."
"Thank you, Alice," Edward and Bella said in unison, no hesitation as if they'd done in forever.
"Oh God, you two are going to be disgustingly cute, aren't you?"
"No!" Bella laughed at Edward's eye roll. "We'll tone it down. There will be children present."
"Emmett invited himself over, so you know that means Riley, too. And, Edward, Emmett wants to bring his girlfriend for the family holiday dinner."
Emmett McCarty and Edward's late sister, Kate, were high school sweethearts. Though it had been more than fifteen years since she died, it was hard to imagine Emmett with anyone else. However, he deserved happiness, and it would be the first time he wanted the family to meet someone.
Bella stared at Edward as he slowly processed the information and loved the smile that reached his eyes. Taking that as confirmation from him, she replied, "The more the merrier."
"Good. We'll see you all in about five hours. I know it'll be late when we arrive, but we'll try to be as quiet as possible."
Edward snorted. "I doubt that's possible with the kids alone, or you, dear sister of mine. We'll see you soon and thank you, Ali."
"Yeah well, the person you should thank is the woman in front of you. No one can tell her no when she pulls out the big guns and stares with those pretty eyes and with a quivering lip."
Bella blushed and shrugged when Edward leveled her an "oh really" look.
"I'll let you go to get everything situated and get to know each other more."
They ended the call after Alice promised to keep them updated on their estimated time of arrival.
"Should we go see if the coast is clear in the kitchen?" Edward wrapped his arm around Bella's shoulders and tucked her by his side. "He'll be okay, Bella. Kids are resilient if we decide the truth would be better."
"I know, but I really wanted him to believe a little longer."
"Maybe he wouldn't believe in Santa anymore, but maybe he'd have faith in the magic of the season."
Bella looked up at Edward and held his softened gaze. "You know just what to say to make me feel better."
Edward had to avert his eyes. Her look was intense and filled with mutual desire. "I'm starting to believe in it…"
"In what?"
He couldn't help pressing his lips to her temple. "The magic of the season and in you."
AN: Thanks to my bestie and beta extraordinaire Kyla713, she made it prettier, but any mistakes are mine. I like to tinker. Finding time to write, edit, and upload is so hard lately, but I found some today. Next on the agenda...I have no clue, and l would like to write something for everyone that helped last year (for cafe time) and those that sent gifts for my grandson, you've been amazing. Not sure what yet, but I'll figure it out. Thanks for your patience and continued support.
