I think we can safely say that the vast majority of you agree with EC, and he is most definitely NOT feeling any
uncle-type feelings toward Bella *snorts*

I'm still loving reading your theories as our complex main man slowly unravels his thoughts and memories. Please keep them coming!
Some of you are so close to having it all figured out.

Chapter Eight

Bella

All the splashing around in the pool wiped the boys out, just as I hoped it would, so by the time they've all trudged downstairs the next morning and shovelled some Lucky Charms into their mouths, we're almost late for our appointment with the realtor Mom and Dad arranged.

"Sorry!" I wince as we pile out of the car outside potential new home number one, finding Sue already waiting on the doorstep.

Sue Black, a friend of my parents' for as long as I've been alive, has always been forgiving. She has to be with six boys to raise by herself, I suppose. Her husband died when I was in my sophomore year of high school with their second-eldest son, Jacob.

"Don't be silly, you're fine. Let me get a look at you and these gorgeous boys of yours."

Jaxson and Arlo lap up her attention while Finley hangs back a little. Ruffling his hair as he leans against me, I mouth that I love him and grin at his bashful, rosy-cheeked smile.

"Okay." Sue claps her hands. "Shall we take a look around?"

Looking up at the slightly weather-beaten home in front of us, I just about manage to school my doubtful expression.

It could be lovely inside.

~ oOo ~

Two mediocre houses and three bored boys later, we're no closer to finding our new home.

I was, perhaps foolishly, hoping for a place that wouldn't need too much work. Moving continents, getting a new job, and settling three boys into a new town are all big enough changes for right now. Home renovations definitely aren't on my wishlist or home search criteria.

Three bedrooms, a decent sized kitchen and living area with room for three growing boys, and a yard they can play in—that's what I sent to Sue when she asked for my 'must haves.'

I didn't add 'space for a dog' like Arlo asked me to. It's a possibility, but only once we've settled in and found a place to call home.

"I have a few more options, so don't fret, Bella dear." Sue wraps me in a warm hug as we stand beside our cars. It's hard to feel disheartened when she aims her positive smile at me. "You let me know when you're available and we'll get together again."

"Sounds good to me. Thank you for tolerating…" Waving an arm, I gesture at the boys wrestling on the lawn. "All this."

"Oh, don't be silly." Sue shakes her head and aims her fond smile at Jaxson, Finley, and Arlo. "Three is easy. Try having six in eight years."

I can't even imagine. The look on my face obviously says so, because laughter bubbles from Sue and catches the boys' attention.

"What, Momma? What's funny?" Arlo yells, running over until he crashes into my legs. "What's funny?"

"Nosy," I tease, raking a hand through his messy hair. It was in a knot on top of his head, but somewhere between the last house and this one, he's lost the band.

"Can we go now?" Jaxson asks, barrelling over with his twin.

"Yeah, kiddo, we're going. Say 'bye' to Mrs. Sue."

"Bye, Mrs. Sue!" They chorus, racing to the car.

Once I've wrangled them into their seats and checked their buckles, we head to the beach as promised.

It's a beautiful summer day.

As soon as their feet touch sand, the boys have whipped off their shoes and taken off toward the water. "Remember the rules—"

"No further than our ankles, we got it, Momma!" Jaxson sings back before I can finish my sentence. Shaking my head with a fond smile and stuffing their abandoned shoes into the beach bag over my arm, I follow them along the sand as they splash in the ocean. The salty breeze and relaxing whoosh of the sea idling up to the shore works wonders for my chaotic mind. Sucking in a deep breath, I push away all my worries—finding a house, enrolling the boys in school, figuring out where to store all my stuff once it arrives from England…

For now, it's unimportant.

"Bella? Bella Swan? Oh my god, it is you!"

It takes me a hot second, but the woman running through the sand quickly comes into focus. The smile spreading across my face is instinctive.

Back in high school, I like to think I was friendly with pretty much everybody. Bay High is a small school with probably a third of the students in the bigger city equivalents—but that's how I knew every single student's name and face back then.

However, some of those faces are more memorable than others. It helps that my high school best friend has barely changed at all in the almost ten years we've been apart.

"Carlie, hi!"

She still wears her long caramel hair in a ponytail and her big eyes are still framed by wide-rimmed glasses—for fashion, not for practicality, she used to tell me.

I spy my boys eyeing us with curiosity as she throws her arms around me; I smile, waving them over. "How are you? It's been...God, it's been forever!"

"Nine years."

When we left high school, we stayed in touch for a while. Then I left for the UK and she headed off to college in New York, and it became nearly impossible to maintain that friendship. Daily phone calls became weekly, then monthly, then only on special occasions before tapering off completely as life took over.

Thanks to social media and Mom keeping me updated on the gossip in the crochet club, I know Carlie had a daughter shortly after I had Jaxson and Finley. I also know she got divorced not long after that. But that's where my knowledge ends.

"You look amazing! Three kids and you could still rock that old cheerleader uniform!"

My cheeks are on fire. "Oh man, no way! I'd be spilling out all over the place. Nobody wants to see that."

At one time, Carlie and I were on the cheerleading team for the Bay High Dolphins. She was the captain, of course—all long legs and flowing fair hair. The skimpy white and teal uniform probably still hangs in my closet at Mom and Dad's. Another relic of my youth.

An insistent tug on my skirt makes me grin. Looking down, I find Jaxson, Finley, and Arlo eyeing Carlie with varying degrees of interest. My shy middle child hangs a bit behind his brothers, but it's his face that shows recognition.

"Is this your friend from the dance team, Momma?" Finley asks softly.

"It is, baby, you're right. Boys, this is Carlie, Momma's friend from high school."

Carlie crouches to introduce herself to the boys and it's...sort of surreal, actually. It's odd to see her all grown up. As she stands and beams at me, telling me how polite and sweet my sons are, I wonder if it's just as odd for her to see me all grown up.

"We'll have to get together for a playdate some time."

"Definitely! You have a little girl, don't you?"

Grinning the same way I do when people mention my boys, Carlie nods and fishes her cell from her pocket. The boys have lost interest now they're not the subject of the conversation; they take off to explore the water's edge instead of hanging around with us.

The little girl Carlie shows me is all her. Same caramel hair, same big, blue eyes, and the very same bright smile. Bailee Preston even has her mom's dimpled left cheek.

"She's a few months younger than your twins," Carlie tells me. "I remember seeing pictures of them and wondering how on earth you were coping with two when I was struggling with one."

I don't point out that she was going through a divorce at the same time as coming to grips with parenting a newborn.

After exchanging numbers and making plans to meet up when Bailee isn't with her father, Carlie and I part ways.

The boys have all my attention for the rest of the day—exactly the way it should be while they're still settling in. It won't be long before Jaxson and Finley's first day of first grade and Arlo's first day of kindergarten, just six weeks or so, so I'm soaking up all their silly giggles, sun-bleached smiles, and sandy hugs while I still can.

~ oOo ~

"Boys! We're gonna be late if you don't hustle!"

"Comin', Momma!" Often the spokesman for my little band of hooligans, Arlo is the one to yell down the stairs.

Joining me at the bottom of the stairs, Mom laughs. "Oh, the nostalgia."

Raising an eyebrow at her, I silently ask what she's talking about while wondering if it's worth chasing the boys down myself rather than waiting.

"How many times do you think I stood exactly where you're standing, yelling for you, your brother, and sisters?"

"Too many to count, I expect?" I guess with a laugh. Her wide grin tells me I'm not wrong. "Since having the boys, I have a whole new level of respect for how patient you've always been."

Mom wraps her arm around my shoulders to give me a quick squeeze as the first round of thumping footsteps hit the stairs. "Quietly, please."

Finley slows, offering her a sheepish half-smile. "Sorry, Nana."

"That's okay, honey, I forgive you. Now, how about a kiss to get you off the hook?"

Finley stops a few steps from the bottom, cocking his head and glancing my way before pointing out that, "You already forgave me, Nana. I'm off the hook."

The glance makes sense now. Of my three boys, Finley gets the most anxious. He adores his nana and papa, of course, but being around them all the time is a far cry from the twice-weekly video calls and occasional visits he's used to. He's taken a little bit to warm up. It's amazing to see him finally settling enough to tease Mom the way he would tease Jude.

Thinking of Jude reminds me that today is their planned Facetime date. While we wait for Jaxson and Arlo, I stick a reminder in my cell and listen to Finley's giggles as Mom tickles him into submission.

"My turn, my turn, Nana!"

Arlo thumps down the stairs with Jaxson on his heels. Mom gives them the same tickle treatment, then we tag-team the boys to wrangle their feet into shoes before unleashing them onto the front lawn.

I turn to Mom to check she has the picnic basket, but I'm interrupted by a trio of boys yelling war cries.

Oh.

Strolling across the yard with his hands stuffed in his pockets and a decidedly uncomfortable expression on his face, is Edward.

Dressed in his usual work attire—a ribbed navy tee with the Burger Co. logo on his chest, tan cargo shorts, and flip-flops—he's sexy sin.

Edward Cullen is no laughing matter, no sir.

I haven't even mentioned his hair; messy, shining copper in the sunlight, begging for my fingers to pull it…

Sigh.

Mom shoots me an odd look, which I studiously ignore, as I attempt to stifle the butterflies in my stomach and move onto the porch steps.

I think it's safe to say my teenage crush on Edward has survived almost a decade in England. Or, it's been rekindled.

"Hey, Edward."

His lips tug up into a slight smile just as the wolves descend. Arlo wraps himself around Edward's long legs, peering up at him with a beaming grin. Finley and Jaxson hang back a little, but all three pepper him with questions until I laugh and grant the poor guy mercy.

"Boys…"

They correctly interpret my warning tone and quiet down. Edward shoots me a look of thanks, following the boys over to where I stand.

"Are you here for your Jeep?" Mom asks.

"Yes and no," he admits, raking a hand through his hair. I assume his obvious agitation is the reason for his messy 'do and the frown that seems keen to linger on his handsome face. "I actually have a favor to ask…"

There's no hiding my surprise when his gaze turns to me.

"I hate to even ask, but I haven't got a lot of choice. Kelly and Jones are on vacation and I've called around but all my go-to crew are busy. I don't suppose…" Huffing a long breath through his nose, Edward visibly deflates, his shoulders sinking and his mouth already turned down in a dejected scowl. "You're good with people, and I could really do with someone like you out front. I've pulled Lily and TJ into the kitchen, but we've got two big bookings tonight and only me serving—"

"I'll do whatever you need me to do, Edward. Quit rambling, all right?" I laugh, instinctively reaching for him. My hand lands on his shoulder and lightly squeezes; his body heat seeps through the tee into my palm, warming my blood and increasing the beat of my heart as he flashes me a bone-melting grin.

I used to live for that grin when I was a teenager.

"You will?"

"Sure. The boys are staying with Ben and Angela tonight anyway, so I was just going to crash Mom and Dad's date night."

Mom snorts. "You think Everly and Rosalie don't already have that covered?"

"True."

"Momma, when are we going to the park? I'm bored," Jaxson whines.

"All right, kiddo, we're going." Ruffling his hair, I lead him toward the car and tell Edward to text Mom the details. "What shall I wear?"

"We've got some t-shirts floating around from the last shipment, I think. I'll put one by for you. Jeans or shorts and sneakers will do just fine. And, Bella, thank you. I really appreciate you doing this." Shooting a glance at the boys—who're preoccupied with Mom strapping them in—he offers me a glimpse of his relief and gratefulness. "I fuckin' hate this last-minute shit. Lily, TJ, and I would probably be all right on our own any other night, but we've got these big groups comin' in..."

"Honestly, it's fine. I could do with the distraction. I never do well at being on my own without the boys."

I realize my slip as soon as the words are out of my mouth. Edward's lips tighten, his eyes darting away for a beat before returning devoid of any emotion. "I'll see you later, Bella."

Watching him climb into his Jeep and drive away without looking back, I can't help but curse my own stupidity. "Shit." Thankfully, Mom closing the car door drowns out my curse and stops me owing the swear jar.

"What's wrong?"

Shaking my head, I tell Mom it was nothing and head around to get in the passenger seat even though my stomach is still rolling with guilt for my—admittedly accidental—foot-in-mouth moment.

~ oOo ~

"...and we went to the big lake, um," Arlo looks up from my iPad to face me. "What's it called again?"

"Lake Eola," I tell him with a smile, flipping the sizzling bacon in the pan.

"Lake Eola! We had a picnic and played football with Uncle Benji and Danny."

"Well, it sounds like you had a lot of fun!" Jude laughs. "Did you send me some pictures?"

"Uh huh. Mamma mailed you some."

"Emailed!" I call out, laughing at Jude's answering, "I guessed that's what he meant!"

Arlo puts his little chin in his hand, leaning on the breakfast counter with an adorable furrow between his brows. "D'you miss us, Nanny Jude?" He doesn't give her even a second to answer before telling her she should just move out here with us. "We could live together again!"

I hear Jude's sigh from across the room. It twists the guilty rock in my stomach. "I'd love to live with you again, sweetheart, but then who'd look after our apple tree?"

"Oh, yeah."

Arlo goes off on a tangent about the apple tree he and his brothers planted with her a couple of years back. It's still a spindly little thing, but the boys loved helping her tend to it.

Jaxson and Finley trooping into the kitchen distract me from the intercontinental conversation at the bar.

"Momma, when's dinner?" Jaxson asks, leaning against me while his twin joins Arlo.

"Soon, baby. The chicken's in the oven, the sauce just needs warming up, and the bacon is almost done."

"Can I stir the sauce?"

"Sure. Be careful, 'kay?"

"Okay."

Mom keeps a stool in the kitchen for whichever of her grandbabies want to help with cooking, so he drags it over and hops right up to stir the sauce on the stove. I set it to low and remind him to keep his hands away from the heat, handing over a wooden spoon.

With Finley and Arlo chatting away to Jude, Jaxson already done with his turn earlier, and Jaxson helping me with dinner, I can't help but feel content.

The guilt of leaving Jude behind probably won't ever go, but times like these, in the kitchen where I used to bake with Mom and my siblings, it's easier to compartmentalize.

"Momma?"

"Yeah, baby?"

Jaxson chews his lip, a habit he definitely inherited from me, and stirs the sauce slowly. "Are we gonna stay here forever now?"

"Well…" I learned early on that my boys take every promise as gospel. If I tell them something, they believe it. It's an intense thing. Terrifying, actually. Especially when I can't be sure that what I'm telling them is going to stay true. Like all the times in the past I've said their dad will show, that he'll do better, try harder.

He never does.

"We won't stay here, in this house, forever," I begin carefully. "But we won't be moving from Jackson Bay for a long time. Why, baby, what's bothering you?"

He shoots a quick look at his brothers, who've left their spot at the breakfast bar to give Jude a tour of the yard—the third in as many weekends. "Are we goin' back to England, though? To visit?"

"Well, how else would we see Nanny Jude, hmm? You know she's scared of planes."

Jaxson's smile pops. He shakes his head with a giggle. "She's such a fraidy cat."

'A fraidy cat' is the last thing I'd call Jude—to her face, at least. She's one of the strongest people I know. But I get what Jaxson is saying, so I gently knock his hip with mine and grin at his ensuing laugh.

"We talked about this already, didn't we? We're going to go see Nanny Jude in December, just before Christmas."

Nodding slowly, Jaxson's smile falls and he whispers, "And Dad? Will we see him then, too?"

My stomach drops to my feet. I want to say "of course," but I can't. I can't promise that.

"It's just 'cause if we don't go see him, I don't think he'll come see us, you know?"

And that right there is why I hate my ex. Jaxson won't be the only one thinking this—he'll have discussed it with Finley, for sure. Possibly Arlo, too. Their own father has made them believe they have to be the ones to make the effort because he won't.

They're six years old.

It's disgusting and heartbreaking and makes me want to scream.

At six years old, all Jaxson should be worrying about is when he gets to see his cousins next, which noodle to use for Noodle Races, and what topping he wants on his ice cream.

Switching off the stove, I scoop my son from the stool and stand him in front of me, his small face cupped in my hands. He breaks my heart.

"Baby, I can't promise that you'll see your dad at Christmas. That's up to him and his schedule, all right? But I promise you I'll try to make it happen. I'll do my best and the rest is up to him."

Jaxson heaves in a deep breath, mustering a smile. "I know you will, Mamma. I understand. You can't make him want to see us."

Oh, baby.

"I wish I could" is what I want to say, but I don't. Instead, I remind him that his dad loves him, Finley, and Arlo, he's just not always good at showing it.

The worst of it is, when he does have the boys, he's great with them. He takes them out to their favorite places, feeds them their favorite food, and has a blast with them.

But then he goes weeks or sometimes months without so much as a phone call and it undoes it all. The boys don't trust him, one of the two people they should always be able to rely on, and it kills me. They hope, but they don't trust him to come when they call or show up when he says he will, and that's not how it should be.

"Okay, Momma."

Finley and Arlo run in, distracting Jaxson with Jude on the iPad, so I kiss my boy and tell him to always come to me if he has questions. He seems appeased, tearing off with his brothers to set the table and fetch Mom and Dad from his study, so I take the iPad to say my goodbyes to Jude before getting back to cooking dinner. I only have an hour before I need to head to Burger Co., but I promised to feed the boys before they head next door for their sleepover with Benjamin and Angela.

I can't shake Jaxson's worry from my mind, though, and after dinner while I get ready for Burger Co., I send their dad our tentative December itinerary.

It's no surprise to me that he doesn't respond.

As always, the biggest thanks go to annaharding, LizziePaige, ThatSoAlex, Anakinsmom, and LadyLoonie for all their help. I love you ladies!

Next chapter: Sunday