I'm still loving reading all your theories on what's happened to EC, and your thoughts on what Bella should do. Please keep them coming!
Chapter Six
Edward
Just like every other morning, I'm out of bed, dressed, and showered before the sun is completely above the horizon.
As I dunk a Twix in my coffee on the back porch, my eyes leap the fence at the foot of the yard to trail over the rolling waves, following them right up to the shore where they end with foamy spray. The sound of the ocean calms me. It always has. When I can't procrastinate anymore—when my mug and candy wrapper are empty—I sigh, heading inside with a clack of the screen door. The pastel pink gift bag on the counter immediately catches my eye.
It's a Girl!
I remember a time when the island was covered in pink everything, from glittery bags to wrapped gifts to cards. It was like a candy floss factory threw up over my kitchen. Women squealing, pink balloons, more baby paraphernalia than I'd ever know what to do with…
Rubbing my chest, I rifle through the bag until I find the card my sister-in-law helped me choose when she and Jasper visited with my nephew, Matthew, last week. Alice said she didn't trust my judgement. To be fair, I don't blame her. The frilly, flowery pink card she handed me was nothing like what I would have picked.
The blank interior of the card makes me pause.
What do I write?
Faint memories of reading cards exactly like this one give me things like congratulations on your healthy baby girl.
But they don't always stay healthy.
My mind remains void of inspiration, so I set down the pen and go find the gifts I bought instead. Once the crate of beer I got for Garrett and the hamper of girly shit for Tanya is in the trunk, I can't avoid the other task any longer. I finally settle for writing congratulations and signing my name at the bottom.
Just as I toss the pen back in the cup across the room, my cell pings.
Hey, man. We're all good here. Come over whenever you're ready.
Shooting a text back to Garrett to tell him I'll be there in an hour, it takes all my energy to suck in a deep breath, tuck the card into the gift bag, and carry it out to the car to join the stuff for the new baby's parents. I've got to stop off at the restaurant before I do anything else, so that's where I head first.
I'm not stalling.
~ oOo ~
It's a little over an hour later when I walk through the doors of the maternity ward and give my name, then Tanya's, to the nurse manning the desk. She beams and leads me down the hall to a door with 'Cross' written on the attached whiteboard.
"Thanks," I murmur, watching her walk away before loosening my shoulders and forcing myself to walk into the damn room already.
As soon as I step inside, a smile curls my lips. However hard this is for me, I am happy for my friends, so seeing them so blissed out—tired, but blissfully happy—puts a grin on my face.
"You made it." Garrett leaves Tanya and their new bundle on the bed to clap a hand on my shoulder. I can see his surprise that I actually came; he clearly didn't expect me to.
It stings.
"Of course. Miss a chance to tell you how fucked you are? No chance."
Snorting, Tanya waves me over. "Whatever, EC. Come meet your newest goddaughter."
Wide-eyed, I look between my friends. "My, what?"
"You heard her, man." Garrett squeezes my shoulder before steering me toward Tanya. "We planned to ask before she arrived, but little Miss Ivy here beat us to it."
Ivy.
Wistfulness rushes through me. I've always liked nature-themed names.
Ivy, Savanna, Oakley, River…
Willow.
Before I can back away, Tanya is passing the pink-wrapped bundle in her arms to me. I cradle her instinctively, my eyes burning as I peer down at her—my goddaughter—for the first time. She's all scrunched up and I don't care what anyone says, babies don't much look like anyone at first, but when Ivy slowly opens up her eyes and looks back at me, she's Tanya made over.
"She's beautiful, Tan. Well done."
Tanya's wide smile says it all, really. "Thanks, boss. So, what do you say? If Gare and I end up killing each other one day, do you reckon you'd be up for watching this one as well as her crazy sisters? There's no-one we trust more than you with their safety."
My chest aches as I nod and reflexively hold the baby a tiny bit tighter, a thousand and one worst-case scenarios rushing through my mind. Handing her back to her mom, I clear my throat. "Don't go killin' each other, all right? I need you back at the restaurant eventually."
Silence blankets the room for a few moments. I'm about to excuse myself, my lungs squashed by the sudden, tense atmosphere, which is my fault, admittedly, when there's a light tap at the door before it swings open. I'm surprised to see the face that pops in.
Bella?
"I hope this is okay? Mom's having a bit of a work crisis but she asked me to bring these over…"
"Come in, come in," Tanya urges, gingerly sitting up straighter while holding baby Ivy in one arm. "I'll trade my newborn for that box if it's full of Renee's chocolate chip cookies."
"Hey! Quit trading my baby, woman," Garrett protests half-heartedly, eyeing the box in Bella's hands just as hopefully as his wife.
Laughing lightly, Bella sets the box down on the table and releases the sparkly pink balloons in her hand so they hover by the ceiling. "She packed a mixture." Ticking the flavors off on her fingers, she makes Tanya and Garrett's day—well, even more than Ivy's arrival already has. "Peanut butter, chocolate chip, and pecan...I think. Don't take my word for it. Jax told me he 'helped,' so they could have Lego mixed in there for all I know."
"I'll take 'em anyway," Tanya says cheerfully. "Do you want a cuddle while you're here, or are you in a rush?"
Checking her watch, Bella beams at Tanya and skirts around me with a murmured 'hi' to get to the baby. "I'll make time. Oh, you guys...she's gorgeous."
While the women gush over the baby, I motion to Garrett. "I've got some stuff for you...it's in the car."
Shooting a quick glance at Tanya, Bella, and Ivy, Garrett chuckles. "I reckon we can escape for a bit without being missed. Will you be all right for a few, Tan?"
Waving us off without even looking our way, Tanya continues telling Bella all about Ivy's birth—and that's a conversation I definitely don't need to hear. Anything more than 'we're all healthy and happy' is too much, in my opinion.
"You up for a coffee? I'm totally wiped."
"Sure, if you're sure Tan won't mind."
Garrett promises that she won't, so we're soon settled at a table with our steaming mugs in front of us. Sighing, he shoots me a grateful smile. "Thanks for coming, man. I know it's not your favorite place."
Understatement.
"You don't have to thank me," I tell him seriously, twisting my cup between my hands on the table. "I don't love it here, true, but you and Tan—and the girls—you're family."
Thankfully reading into my 'I couldn't hate this topic more' tone, Garrett simply nods and changes the subject. "Did you find someone to cover Tan while she's off yet?"
Oh good. Another topic I'd rather not think about.
"No," I mutter. "At this rate, I'm gonna have to give Jones a raise and tell him to pick up the extra shifts. He's been buggin' me about more responsibility, so...I don't know." Smirking faintly, I admit his woman isn't so easy to replace.
"I'll tell her you said that. It'll cheer her up."
"Cheer her up?"
"Yeah. The doc says she's gotta stay in overnight tonight. They just want to keep an eye on her blood pressure or somethin'. Anyway, she's not happy. She keeps going on about the girls, but they'll be fine. She just wants to get home and get Ivy settled in, you know?"
Nodding, I ask, "Anythin' I can do?"
"Nah, I think we're set. Thanks, though. Jessie, Callie, and Irina should be fine with Tan's parents for another night."
"Well, let me know."
After a sleepless, busy night, Garrett's more than happy to catch a few z's while I respond to a couple of emails. Promising to wake him up in five, I reply to a couple of possible new suppliers for the restaurant before realizing I can feel somebody staring at me. Glancing up, I spy a nurse waiting in line at the coffee station.
My stomach falls to my feet. It takes a moment, then recognition lights her eyes, too.
.
.
"What's goin' on?"
The sudden blaring of alarms drowns out the silly music coming from my cell as I stand so quickly it falls and cracks on the hard floor. The door flies open, medical personnel rushing in. I get shoved out of the way and eventually pulled toward the door as my whole world crashes down around me.
That noise...that beeping. Someone stop the beeping, dammit. I can't think.
Grabbing the nearest nurse, the one who's good with the hair bows and stuff, I shout, "What the hell is goin' on? What's wrong?"
'Kristen,' her name tag reads. I'll never forget that name or her determined but worried expression.
"Mr. Cullen, please wait right here and I'll see what's going on, okay? She's in good hands."
Good hands…
Collapsing in a chair right outside the room that's become my home the last couple of weeks, I ignore the pain tearing up my leg and pray to the God I'm not sure I believe in.
Five minutes later, Kristen steps back out into the corridor with red-rimmed eyes and a look that slays me.
"No…"
.
.
"Mr. Cullen?"
It takes a few seconds for me to realize I'm being addressed now, not in my memories.
Kristen. Same name tag. Same sympathetic expression.
"I'm sorry, but I…" Shaking her head, Kristen fiddles with something in her pocket. "I, uh, I just wanted to say 'hello.' I've never forgotten you, or—"
I can't.
As she speaks, I spot Bella waving over Kristen's shoulder and heading our way. "I think...I think you've mistaken me for somebody else," I choke out.
Her eyes narrow a little just as Bella joins us, laughing. "So you are here. Tan bet me five dollars that you'd be hiding out. Oh, sorry, did I interrupt?"
"No, no." Kristen offers me a soft smile, her eyes the same kind brown gaze I remember. "I'm sorry to have bothered you, Sir. Take care."
Once Kristen is out of ear-shot, Bella beams up at me. "Well, she was nice!"
"Yeah, I guess she was," I murmur, shaking off the sudden bout of nostalgic melancholy as the nurse disappears around the corner with one last glance back at me.
"I've got to run. Arlo's at a playdate with a new friend and I'm fairly sure he's got too much crazy in him for the parents to handle." Leaning in conspiratorially, she whispers, "They're normal."
The sparkle in her eyes and the unabashed grin on her face is infectious. It helps me push away the memories trying to force their way to the front of my mind.
"Sheesh.. Yeah, any kid of yours is definitely gonna be too much for normal people to handle."
Once we've woken Garrett from his snooze, the three of us head outside to the parking lot where Bella congratulates him again before veering off toward her mom's car. After we've moved the gifts for Tanya, Garrett, and Ivy into his new minivan, I head off, too. Garrett attempts to persuade me to come back up and hang out for a bit, but I've had enough socialization for one day. I don't want to push my luck while my decent mood is holding up.
Garrett and Tanya are my friends, so of course I'm happy for them. But the thought of spending much more time with their beaming smiles and beautiful baby makes my stomach knot and my chest ache.
~ oOo ~
True to my word, I play last-minute cab driver later that evening, carting Garrett and Tanya's three older girls between their grandparents' house and their home across town. I get the plea for help just as I'm about to knock Jones's head off for forgetting to order potatoes.
"What?" I stalk down the hall into my office before I kill my stand-in head chef.
"Whoa, man," Garrett laughs. "What's goin' on?"
Shit. "Sorry, shit night at the restaurant. Everythin' okay with Tan and the baby?"
"We're all good, no worries there. Does your offer still stand? To help out with the girls?"
"Of course. What do you need?"
"Tan's mom has an early appointment tomorrow, so she can't keep the girls tonight." Before I can panic that he wants me to have them overnight, he adds, "Could you take them back to my place and just hang there until I can get home? We're just waiting on the doc, but I'll be an hour. Two, tops."
Watching the girls is well within my realm of capabilities, so I agree and tell him to text me the in-laws' address before heading back to the kitchen.
"Jones, get your ass next door and pray they've got potatoes."
"Sir, yes, Sir!" The little punk salutes as he strips off his apron and takes off after making sure Kelly's good by herself for a few.
Huffing, I eye her. "You sure you're okay? I've got to run out and grab Garrett's girls, but I can always bring them here if you need me. They can hang out in my office or somethin'."
"Nah, boss, I'm fine. Get out of here," she tells me with a smirk, expertly flipping the patties on the grill while checking on the last batch of fries we have until Jones gets back—hopefully with enough potatoes to keep us going through the rest of the night.
"All right. I've got my cell."
The drive over to Tanya's parents' doesn't take all that long, but Jessica, Callie, and Irina—twelve, ten, and eight, respectively—are packed and raring to go when I knock on the door.
"Uncle EC! How come you're here?" Irina asks as she rips the door open with her mom's sunny smile.
"I'm here to rescue you, nugget," I tell her quietly, plastering a big smile on my face for Tanya's mom. "Hi there. Edward Cullen, Garrett and Tan's—"
"I know who you are, hon," she tells me with a laugh, sticking her hand out for me to shake. "I'm Margaret, Tanya's mother. Now, are you sure this is all right? I told Garrett I could keep them tonight, I'd just need him to collect them early tomorrow."
"It's no bother, honestly." Jessica and Callie join their sister by the door, so I check they're all ready before thanking Margaret, accepting the car seat she hands me, and corralling the girls toward the car.
"Cool! You brought the Jeep," Callie cheers.
"Shotgun!"
"Aw, man," Irina shoots Jessica—who called shotgun—a sour look. "Uncle EC—"
"You know the rules, nugget," I remind her, ruffling her hair. "She who calls it, gets it. And besides, you're still too little to sit up front. Give it a couple years and you'll be tall enough, like Jessie. Now, come on, let's get goin'. Have you all eaten?"
"Yeah," they groan; my lips curl up into a grin as we pile into the car once I've fitted Irina's seat. Thankfully, it's nice and simple. "Grandma made us have tofu. She said it's good for us, but it tastes like dirt." Irina raises her eyebrows at me, as if challenging me to disagree.
"Well, it is good for you…" I admit, turning us toward their house. "It's not all that flavorful, though."
"See!" Callie throws her arms in the air. "That's what we said!"
Laughing at their indignation, I promise them a pizza in return for good behavior. It's no surprise that they all agree before I even finish speaking.
~ oOo ~
By the time Garrett's headlights illuminate the living room, all three girls are fast asleep sprawled out on the couches. I grin ruefully when he steps inside and shakes his head. "What? I couldn't move. I'd wake up my little nugget."
It's a big, fat lie and he knows it.
Irina fell asleep first. She's got her legs thrown over my lap and her head pillowed on the arm of the couch. Jessica and Callie are sharing the other sofa across the room.
"Yeah, yeah," he whispers. "You're just a soft touch, EC, and you know it."
"Yeah, I guess." Shifting carefully, I manage to scoop Irina into my arms and stand up without waking her. My stomach flips at the feeling of her warm weight against my chest. I ignore it, shoving the sensation to the back of my mind. "I'll take her up."
"Sure." Garrett crouches beside his two eldest, presumably to coax them upstairs to their rooms, too.
Once they're all tucked in, he and I meet in the kitchen. "I'm not even gonna bitch about the pizza. Don't tell Tan, though. She's all about healthy, organic food at the moment. All we have in this house is rabbit food and I'm fucking starving."
With a grin, I pull the fridge door open and slide out the pizza box I hid from the girls. "Good job I got you your own then, huh?"
His tired face lights up. "You're the best, man, seriously."
"I know." Rubbing my beard, I tip my head side to side until my neck cracks. "I'm gonna get goin'."
Eyeing me for a second, Garrett finally nods.
I wonder if he sees how much energy this has cost me. I wonder if he knows how hard it is for me to be around the girls even though I love them like…
Like my own.
"All right." He puts down his pizza to follow me out to the front door.
Grabbing my keys and cell from the console table, I turn to my friend with a tired grin. "Oh, and I forgot to tell you. I had to promise the girls you'd bring them over to Burger Co. for lunch this week in exchange for them going to sleep."
Shaking his head with pursed lips, Garrett crosses his arms. "Fair enough. I'd probably have done the same. Thanks again, man. We really appreciate it."
"No need to thank me. I'll see you soon."
"See ya."
Instead of heading home, I drive back across town to Burger Co. I made a promise to get Bella home safely, and I intend to keep it.
Jones and Kelly assure me that they managed to power through the fry crisis earlier in the evening—next door had plenty of potatoes, apparently, although Jones didn't enjoy having to prep them mid-service.
My front of house crew tell me everything went smoothly after I left, so all is well with the business for another night. After handing out tips and walking them out,, I wish them all a good night, leave the door unlocked for Bella, and keep myself busy in my office until I hear a soft "Knock, knock."
Pulling my attention away from the invoices spread across my desk, I grin. "Hey."
Bella blinks a few times, her eyes wide as she hovers in the doorway and stares at me like I'm a ghost or somethin'.
"Are you okay?" I ask with a frown, removing my glasses. It's weird—I can't look at paperwork or my computer for long without them, but I also feel like they get in the way.
"Uh, y-yeah. I'm fine. Fine." Smiling brightly, she steps further into my office, peering around. I take a look around, too, wondering what she thinks. It's neat and tidy. Simple. I keep it clean and organized. "If you're busy, I can just walk home—"
"I'm not busy, don't worry." The invoices are quickly placed back into their folder and stored on the rack behind my desk, and my glasses go back in their case in the drawer; I have a pair at home and one for here. "I was just killing some time while waiting for you. Are you ready to go?"
"Yep."
All right, then.
Quite often, I linger here long after everyone else has gone home. I stick one of my playlists on through the main speakers, park myself at the bar, and help myself to drinks while I work. When I leave, I always feel...bereft, I guess. I walk through the restaurant, flipping off switches, checking doors and windows, and locking up knowing I'm getting in an empty car to head back to an empty house.
It's kind of nice having Bella here with me as I make sure everything is as it should be. It's even nicer to know I'll have her company for a little longer while I drive her home.
Mercifully, it's a shade cooler tonight, so I don't need to crank the air up like I did last night. With the windows down and the roads blissfully deserted, a little speed does the trick. The breeze flowing through the car is more than enough to take away the worst of the heat.
Bella sits back against the seat with a heavy sigh. "I miss England."
Frowning, I shoot a glance at her. "I wouldn't say that in front of your parents. They'll probably lock you up to stop you goin' anywhere."
"Oh, I don't miss it enough to go back!"
For some reason, the ever-present ache in my chest loosens its grip on me just a little with her admission.
"It's just...I had a great job, doing something I actually enjoyed. And I didn't have to work until a ridiculous time of night or deal with Aro Vaughn, either."
I can sympathize with part of her dilemma, at least. I'm lucky enough to love my job, late hours and all, but Aro Vaughn—and his vapid niece—not so much. He was already next door when I bought the restaurant and he's been a pain in the ass ever since.
"What's he up to now?"
"Oh, the usual. He's just a miserable old bastard."
Snorting, I can't help but nod and agree. "Ain't that the truth." I wonder why she puts up with him, though. She doesn't have to work, but I bet Charlie and Renee would have hired her to work at one of their hotels in a beat. She'd at least have flexibility there. Uncharacteristic nosiness finally demands that I ask the question. "Did you ever consider going to work for your parents?"
"Like in high school? No-freaking-way."
That's right. I forgot that she used to man the reception desk back when she was still in school. "How come?"
I can feel her eyes on the side of my face as she takes her time to answer; I can't bring myself to glance her way, not wanting to see the questions reflected back at me. It's not like me to be inquisitive and we both know it.
"I guess...pride?" At that, my eyes briefly jump to her face. She's frowning, her gray eyes narrowed as she stares out of the windshield. "I made this big deal about how I was going to England to study and I was going to come back and become this successful writer. Instead, I've come home a single mom to three kids with a useless English degree because nowhere in this town, or anywhere even close, is hiring."
Truthfully, that doesn't surprise me—Jackson Bay isn't exactly a hub of activity writing-wise. We have the local newspaper, but the same people have been working on that since I got here, and honestly, that's about it for the writing field. Short of going into teaching, there's not a whole lot else she can do unless she's willing to travel to one of the bigger cities. Jacksonville is probably the closest with the best options, but it's still over an hour away by car.
"Have you thought about teaching? Bay High would gladly have you."
Snorting, Bella turns to peer at me. Her smile crinkles the corners of her eyes. Cute. "God, could you imagine? Me, a teacher at Bay High…now there's a thought, huh?"
"You're good with kids," I point out. "And you could use that fancy English degree you worked so hard for. Plus, you wouldn't have to travel."
"But I'd have to go back to school first and do teacher training. I barely have time for a life already without school on top of work and the boys."
Grimacing, I concede with a dip of my chin. "That's true. Okay, so something to think about for the future, maybe."
"Sure. I mean, eventually all three boys will be at school. I can dump them there and finally have some guilt-free me-time."
My blood runs cold, the thumping of my heart suddenly loud in the confined space.
"God, I'm so sorry, Edward. I didn't mean—"
"It's fine." Rolling to a stop outside her parents' house, I force a weak smile. A thoroughly unconvincing one if her guilty expression is anything to go by. "I know what you meant."
The steely sorrow in her eyes cuts me to the core, but I'm used to it now. It's not quite the sympathy I've grown to despise, but close enough. "Edward..."
A car backfiring startles us both. We jump, Bella's laugh strained as I stare out of the windshield at the starry night sky and wonder if she's up there looking down at me.
Movement in the corner of my eye precedes a small, warm hand landing just above my knee. Bella's gaze is gentle as the corners of her lips turn up. "Thank you for the ride home. I really appreciate it."
Grateful for her intuition and the change of subject, I manage a faint smile of my own. "You're welcome. Any time."
Silence descends for a few long moments before she finally breathes a long yawn. Her eyes water as she shakes her head and reaches for the belt to release herself, her gaze soft and yet intense enough that my racing pulse struggles to slow. "Sweet dreams, Edward."
Like yesterday, I watch her walk up the path and let herself inside; also like yesterday, she turns at the last minute to offer me a smile and a little wave. Once she's safely inside, I murmur "sweet dreams" into the air before driving away.
~ oOo ~
Despite our familiarity with one another, the silence that welcomes me home isn't completely welcome itself.
Dropping my keys into the bowl in the hall, I wince at the sound of metal against ceramic.
Darkness has fallen; even the light out on the back porch refuses to switch on when I step out, so it looks like I'll be spending tomorrow morning digging through the garage to find the replacement bulbs. Great.
I'm halfway up the stairs to bed after giving up on the idea of watching TV when my cell pings. Patting my pockets, I realize it's in my hoodie hanging by the front door. I'm surprised when the screen illuminates with the touch of my thumb and it's Bella's name beside the little red '1 new message.'
Forgot to tell you—dinner instead of brunch at Mom and Dad's tomorrow in honor of Mom's birthday. 6pm. We'll be having your favorite dessert so you can't say no xo
Snorting, I shake my head and stare up at the ceiling for a moment. Dinner with the Swans. Knowing Renee as well as I do, I'm well aware there's no chance of escaping this, especially as it's her birthday, even though I've got a ton of shit to get done tomorrow. I very much doubt I'll be in the mood for socializing afterward.
You had me at 'dessert.' See you tomorrow.
After tossing my cell onto my bed, I head into the bathroom. Weirdly, It's one of my favorite rooms in the whole house, but if I look closely enough there are parts that make me feel sick.
The clawfoot tub with room for two screams at me from below the window looking out over the ocean. The his and hers sinks look ridiculous with only one set of toiletries sitting beside the his basin. My aftershave and deodorant have their spot beside the glass containing my toothbrush and toothpaste. My towel has the whole heated rack to itself, and the shelf in the walk-in shower is woefully empty with just my shower gel and shampoo to fill it.
The imaginary scent of strawberry bubblegum shampoo fills the room, impossible-to-forget giggles ringing in my ears.
"More bubbles, more bubbles!"
By the time I've showered and taken care of business in the bathroom, thoughts of dinner with the Swans are all-but gone, but Bella's response of a smiley face emoji and another 'xo' makes me huff a laugh.
Dinner tomorrow may not be so bad, after all. The Swans are good people, and I've heard enough about the only ones I haven't met, Bella's kids, to be expecting more of the same. For the first time in a while, I'm actually looking forward to socializing.
As usual, big thank yous go to my wonderful dream team who help me with all things UTW—annaharding, Thats-So-Alex, LadyLoonie, Anakinsmom, and LizziePaige. You're all fabulous.