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Chapter 10

The evening continued without too much fanfare. Jasper and I were able to put together Isaac's toddler bed without too much difficulty and just in time for him to go down for the night. Once Isaac was in bed Bella, still emotionally exhausted from all that transpired, soon followed. Which left the three of us going through and organizing Alice's mass of gifts. When all was finally unpacked and had a place, Bella and Isaac had enough clothes to fill both the closet and dresser in the guest room and Isaac had enough toys to last him for a long while. Alice bought him almost everything under the sun, I'd be surprised if there was anything left in the toddler section of the toy store. She also bought him a few things he could enjoy outside, like sidewalk chalk and a little mini basketball hoop. She also spoiled Bella some as well, along with the clothes, she also bought her some nice jewelry and some high-end perfume. Along with some books, she thought Bella might enjoy, which pretty much consisted of romance novels; Everything from the Bronte sisters to Nicholas Sparks.

"How do you know she will like these?" I asked Alice as I unpacked the books.

"I know she will," Alice said confidently. "I can tell she is a hopeless romantic".

How could she possibly know that when she bought these books before she even met Bella. I thought to myself.

Again, it was just another one Alice's hunches that the rest of us just couldn't understand.

We continued to sort through everything until almost midnight. Once everything was settled, Alice and Jasper headed out for the night. I walked them both to the door.

"Night Edward," Alice said as she turned around to hug me. "Tell Bella I hope she enjoys all the gifts and I'll talk to her sometime later this week and don't forget to call mom." She warned me.

"I won't Alice," I assured her. "Take care, sis. Jasper, I'll see you at work." Acknowledging him as he stood there.

After Alice and Jasper left, I proceeded to lock up the house and head off to bed myself. When I got upstairs, I decided to look in on Bella and Isaac. I noticed that the door to the guest room was opened ajar and peeked in a little. I then saw both Bella and Isaac sleeping in the large bed while the child's bed against the opposite wall was left empty. I guess Isaac wasn't ready to be away from his mother quite yet. Along with Bella and Isaac in bed, I also saw Maggie laying on top of the comforter which was different for her. Usually, Maggie would sleep in my room or, on occasion, the couch downstairs. Acknowledging my presence, Maggie looked over in my direction but did not attempt to move from the bed.

"Maggie," I called for her in a hushed tone, trying not to wake Bella or Isaac. Still, Maggie did not move. I called her name again and then made space in the door, so she understood what I was asking, but Maggie still did not obey. In fact, instead of moving off the bed, she wiggled herself a little closer to Isaac's small body as if to protect him.

I knew that I had lost the battle and admitted defeat, I walked into the room to pat her on the head to say good night. I then moved, walked over to Isaac's side of the bed, brushed the hair away from his face, and ran my thumb across his cheek. I was about to walk out of the room, but suddenly I had this undeniable feeling to stay. I looked over at Bella and saw her resting peacefully in the bed. I don't know what possessed me to, but I started walking back over and sat on the bed, directly on Bella's side. I just sat there and watched her sleep, again taking all of her in and committing it to memory.

Unlike when she was in the hospital, Bella was much more relaxed. The scratches and scars on her face were healing and not as noticeable. She still had the cast on her wrist, other than that she seemed fine. I was scheduled to take Bella and Isaac in for a follow-up with Leah in a couple of days to make sure everything was healing properly. I continued to just sit there by Bella's side. I watched her chest rise and fall with each breath she took. Her eyes moved rapidly back and forth while her dreams filled her head. She stirred a little, but never woke, much to my relief. I don't know how she would feel if she woke up and found me watching over her. I knew I was crossing into borderline creepy, stalker territory here, but I couldn't help it, I was in complete awe over this fragile angel who had all but consumed my life in just two weeks. I took notice of her hands laying on top of the blanket and another all-consuming thought began to lead me. I took Bella's unbroken hand in mine and held it. I could feel the smooth skin of her fingers and the tiny hairs along her wrist, it was simply beautiful. Who was I kidding, everything about this woman was beautiful. From her smile to her eyes to her kind heart, she was indescribably exquisite.

It was at that moment I came to the realization I could no longer pretend that I was only in danger of loving this woman. It was too late for that.

I already was.

I was in love with Bella.

I said the words to myself, but it almost felt like I was screaming them. Even while making the silent declaration, I suddenly feel lighter, happier. As if a weight had finally been lifted from my shoulders.

While I could no longer live in denial about my feelings towards Bella I was still determined not to let that interfere with my pursuit of helping her. I would continue to assist and help Bella build a new life for herself and Isaac and be a friend to her, but I won't lie and say that I hope something won't bloom from our relationship later on.

I suddenly felt the hand in mine tighten and I was pulled from thoughts and suddenly looked over at the woken woman in front of me. Bella stirred some and looked around the room before her eyes fixated on me. For a moment, my heart began to race. I was afraid she would be startled and frightened by finding my presence here, next to her on the bed. I was worried I would have spooked her and made her feel uncomfortable. Would she ask me to leave? Would she not feel safe here anymore. But instead, she surprised me and just gave me a gentle smile and squeezed my hand a little more. We then both heard Maggie give a long yawn as she still stayed next to Isaac, which provided a perfect distraction from Bella's possible curiosity of finding me on her bed.

"I think the kid has stolen my dog," I whispered to Bella, in a light-hearted manner.

"I think so too," Bella agreed.

"Weird though, she usually wants to sleep in my room and is usually laying on my bed when I get in at night,"

"I'm sorry, Edward," Bella said concerningly. "Do you want to get her out of here?"

"No," I told her. "I already tried, she won't budge. Looks like you've got a new sleeping partner."

Bella giggled and we both sat there a moment in comfortable silence. I then decided it was time for me to go.

"I'm better head off to bed, I gotta be up by six," I told Bella as I got up from the bed.

"Edward," Bella called to me as I was about to close the door. I looked over in her direction and found her laying on the bed, fighting sleep so she could talk to me.

"Tell Alice I plan to pay her back for everything she bought today," She said before slipping back into unconsciousness.

Good luck with that, Bella. I thought to myself.

I walked down the hall into my room while Bella, Isaac, and Maggie all slept in the other room. As I laid there and tried to fall asleep, I couldn't help but think...

I was in the wrong room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Rescue Me~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few days had passed since Alice inopportune visit and I knew I couldn't put it off anymore. It would only be a matter of time before she would make another surprise appearance. Or perhaps my mother would take matters into her own hands and come by herself. I knew it was better to face her sooner rather than later.

While Bella and Isaac outside playing, I decided to make the call. It only rang once before I heard my mother's voice pick up.

"You inconsiderate little bastard!" She growled when she answered the phone.

"Hi momma," I said pleasantly.

"Don't you 'hi momma' me, Edward Anthony. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!" All but screaming. I had never heard Esme sound so angry in all my life.

Hell hath no fury, like a pissed off mother.

"Mom," I started to say before she cut me off.

"How dare you put me through this, Edward," She said. "No phone calls, no texts for days, and then you don't show up for Sunday dinner. Not even telling us you wouldn't be showing up! I swear, if it wasn't for your sister, I would have filed a missing person's report days ago."

I don't think she had taken one breath during that entire speech, which only confirmed how badly I had screwed up.

"I'm sorry mom," I finally told her when she took a breath. "Things were kind of…complicated for a bit," I tried to explain the best way I could.

"So complicated you couldn't pick up a phone and call your mother?" She asked. "What has been going on, Edward? Alice just told us that you were very busy and needed to deal with some things."

Alice definitely knew about Bella and Isaac before Jasper even told her, he no doubt just reaffirmed what she already knew and filled in a few blanks for her. But, out of respect for me, chose not to divulge too much information to our mother.

"I've just been...helping out a friend," I tried to explain.

"What does that mean?" She asked me.

I took a deep breath before I answered, I knew she was going to find out one way or another; So I decided to tell her all of it. I told the story from start to finish, from the accident to Bella's past to my impromptu suggestion to have her and her two-year-old son move in with me. Once I had finished the story, the line was really quiet.

"Mom?" I asked, making sure she was still there.

"I want to meet her," She finally said after a moment or two more of silence.

"Uh...I don't think that would be such a good idea, mom," I warned her.

"I'm not asking, Edward," She said matter of factly. "You bring Bella and Isaac over to the house for Sunday dinner this week or I'll just bring family dinner over there. Either way, it's happening."

"Why do you want to meet her so badly?" I asked.

"Because I want to meet the woman who has captured my son's heart."

"Wh-?" I let out a questioning sound.

"Oh don't even try to lie to me, Edward," She told me. "You should know better than try to hide anything from your mother. I can read between the lines and from the way you talk about Bella; It sounds like you're describing an incredible work of art. You are infatuated with her, aren't you sweetheart?"

I sit there for a second, unsure of what to say or how I would say it. But, eventually, I just said what I was feeling, finally.

"Yes, momma," I told her. "I think I am."

"Oh, my sweet boy! Now I must meet her! Bring her by the house around seven on Sunday, I promise to be on my best behavior," She told me.

"It's not really you I'm concerned about, mom," I explained.

"I'll rein in your sister as best I can. But you know, that is no easy task. I'll try though," She giggled.

"I don't know mom…" I was still kind of hesitant about introducing Bella to new people.

"Please Edward," She said. "I'm getting on in my old age. I don't have that many years left and if I could just see my son happy with the woman he lo-cares for. If you could just give me that, I can leave this Earth know-"

"Fine, Mom! We'll be there! Christ," There is nothing more persuasive than mother's guilt.

"Great, we'll see you Sunday. Tell Bella we can't wait to meet her," With that, my mother hung up.

What just happened? I was momentarily stunned by the conversation that took place.

"What's wrong?" I heard Bella's voice ask as she and Isaac came into the house.

"I, uh...just talked to my mom," I told her.

"How did it go?" She asked me as she walked into the kitchen to get Isaac a snack.

I got up from where I was sitting on the couch and joined the two of them in the kitchen.

"Fine. She said...she said she wants me to invite you guys over for Sunday dinner." I was finally able to get out.

Bella just froze there, while in the middle of cutting up some apples and bananas for Isaac's snack. She just glanced over at me with an unsure look on her face.

"Um…." She just said, not sure of what to say.

"There's no pressure Bella," I reassured her. "No one is forcing you to go. I can call up my mother right now and tell her 'no'. I don't want to make you do anything you don't want to do."

"No Edward," Bella told me. "It's okay, I'd love to meet your parents."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," She said. "Unless you don't want me to come?" She asked me.

"No Bella!" I said all too fast, she then had a look of shock and I realized I misspoke. "I mean, yes, Bella. Of course, I would love for you to join my family for Sunday dinner."

A warm, kind smile graced Bella's face as she went back to preparing the snack.

"Alright then," she confirmed.

I stood there for a moment and watched Bella and Isaac in the kitchen when I felt my phone vibrate in my hand. I looked down and saw it was Alice calling.

"So, the talk with mom went fairly well," Alice said. Telling me not asking me.

How? I wondered.

Just How?


I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Next time we will finally see Bella meet Esme and Carlisle. Let me know what you all think and leave me some love!

Until Next Time...