Chapter 7
Entering the living room, Moondoggie retakes his seat pulling Sweets onto the loveseat next to him. He throws his arm across the back of the couch as Sweets rests a hand on his thigh. Leaning over to kiss her temple, he takes her hand in his.
Sweets looks up to see everyone is watching them, blushes, and drops her head hiding behind her hair.
Noticing her shyness, Moondoggie brings their joined hands to his chest and wraps his arm around her shoulder, drawing her snug against him.
"It's such a joy to see you two together," Esme says. "It does this mother's heart good to see my boy so happy."
Moondoggie looks up to see Pops mirroring his position with his arm around his mom and her hand on his thigh. He nudges Sweets to look too. Seeing the mirrored couple, she looks up to Moondoggie and smiles. He gives her a wink and a cheeky grin.
"I want to sit with Aunt Bewuh," Maddie announces as she bounds out of the downstairs half bath in the hallway.
Jasper cages her in his arms as she tries to run past. Holding her wiggling form in one arm, he pulls her skirt out of the back of her stockings. A kiss to her downy hair and he thenreleases her on her way.
Alice walks out in time to watch Jasper kiss the top of Maddie's head and release her. Her smile fades as she watches Maddie climb over Edward to sit on Bella's lap.
She takes a moment to study her brother. He's aged. There are smile lines and his skin is more leathered but the change is really defined in his bearing. He moves with a quiet confidence and has a calm about him, a peace even, which was sorely lacking before he left.
He left.
She was sixteen years old when her family broke apart. Her brother and father yelling behind closed doors. The cursings, slammed doors, packed bags, mother's tears, and then the silence.
She shook her head. What he did hurt Mom and Pops so profoundly that even the house felt it. It was no longer a home. It became a house that people resided in when they had nowhere else to go.
In time, it got better. Mom eventually began to expect the family to return in time for dinner. She began coming up to brush Alice's hair and chitchat with her before bed.
When she was nineteen and brought Jasper home for a family dinner, the table seemed complete again. Carlisle embraced Jasper like a son and Esme forced Alice to the kitchen to teach her how to feed a man.
A wedding and a birth, every milestone of her adult life has carried an undercurrent of sadness. Edward in his selfishness tainted every good thing in her life, and now he sits, smiling and laughing, forgiven and restored.
She shakes her head again.
Taking her place next to Jasper, she smiles at Maddie sitting so still and curling Bella's glossy hair around her finger while she sucks her two fingers and watches Grandpa sort through the presents.
"Maddie don't you want to help Grandpa?" Esme asks.
Maddie just shakes her head and rests it on Bella's breast. Edward reaches over and runs his hand down Maddie's curls.
"She's beautiful, Alice, so much like you," Edward says softly.
Alice's heart melts a little.
"Thanks," she nods as Jasper wraps his arm around her shoulder.
"Okay, these are, Grandma and Grandpa's, these are Uncle Edward and Bella's, these are Mommy and Daddy's and these—are Maddie's," Carlisle makes a grand production of leading from the small piles to the grand finale mountain.
Everyone gasps dramatically and Maddie sits up on Bella's lap, her eyes round with awe. She looks from the pile of presents to Bella, who looks just as surprised, and claps until Maddie begins clapping with her, and then jumps off Bella's lap to run to Grandpa.
Alice sits forward watching her daughter's happiness and sees Edward wrap his arm tightly around Bella and kiss her temple as she places her hand on Edward's cheek while she watches Pops and Maddie admire the pile of Christmas booty.
Grandpa and Maddie decide which two presents are the most tempting. Maddie picks the two largest packages to open before dinner.
She runs around and around the giant rectangle as Daddy tears the paper to reveal a Barbie Dream House.
As she squeals and dances, Jasper sits back on his haunches and glares at Esme and Carlisle.
"Some assembly required, thanks, Mom and Pops,"
"You're welcome, son," Carlisle laughs with Esme.
The second monolith reveals a kitchen, filled with plastic food, dishes, pots, and pans.
As Maddie gets lost opening and closing the doors tothe kitchen, Esme gives her hands a clap.
"Well, it's time I get in my kitchen to get our dinner on the table." She smiles at her family and stands.
"Let me help you, Esme," Bella says disentangling herself from Moondoggie.
He kisses her hand before letting go.
Alice stands to follow, although she would usually stay and watch Maddie.
When she reaches the kitchen, Bella and Esme seem to be moving in a familiar symbiotic dance to pull out casseroles and serving dishes, lining them up on the counter.
She takes a moment to listen to them chatter about the cuteness of Maddie and the readiness of the roast before stepping into the room.
"Mom, how can I help?"
Esme spins around with a ladle in hand sending a ribbon of gravy flying across Bella's apron.
"Oh, gosh," she gasps and joins Bella's laughter, "I'm so sorry. Um, let's see, you could pull out the water pitcher and fill the glasses on the table," she answers with a smile.
Alice nods, moving toward the refrigerator while Esme giggles with Bella, helping her remove her apron.
As Alice begins to fill the third water glass, Bella brings out two serving bowls setting them down on preplaced, cork hot pads.
"You know, when Mom told me Edward was finally gracing us with his presence, and was bringing a friend, I assumed one of his biker buddies had talked him into hitting up Mom and Pops for money. Now that I see his 'friend,' I can see how easy it was for you to hustle him into coming here," Alice said as she crossed her arms.
Bella straightens, "You're words sadden me, Alice. You're welcome to your opinion, even if it's wrong," she says holding her gaze before turning to leave the room.
Bella makes sure to stay near Esme as the three women make the table ready for the family.
When all is set and Bella lights the last candle, Esme gives a satisfied sigh with her hands on her hips.
"Well let's tell the men dinner is served."
~o0o~
The men come into the dining room with Maddie leading the procession holding a plate of plastic food. Carlisle and Edward pull out the chairs for Esme and Bella. Jasper helps Maddie into her high chair and kisses Alice's head before seating himself.
Carlisle looks around the table. With his daughter's family flanking his right side and his restored son's family flanking his left, he looks down the table to his beautiful bride who mirrors his elation and nods in satisfaction. He swallows thickly, holding out his hands, motioning the family circle to take hands for the blessing.
"Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the bounty on this table. Thank you for the bounty in our lives and this year, thank you for expanding and completing our family circle. We thank you for your son, Jesus and his birth, death, and resurrection. Amen.
Amens go around the table as heads are lifted.
"Bewuh, I want Aunt Bewuh," Maddie yells as she struggles to get out of her high chair and head across the table.
Jasper and Alice drop everything to keep her in her seat.
Moondoggie watches with amused fascination as this little person dominates the room of adults.
Jasper looks up into Edward's amused grin and relaxes his position, grinning back while holding onto his determined daughter.
"Maddie, dear we need to eat and then we can play," Alice reasons.
"Bewuh!"
Sweets looks up at Moondoggie, who just laughs and shrugs. She grins and nudges his side with her shoulder.
Leaning forward to be heard over the mayhem this little one is orchestrating, she says, "Please, let her down."
Alice freezes, but Jasper smiles and pulls his frantic angel out of her seat and sets her down with her legs already running.
"Maybe Alice can actually eat a hot meal for once," Jasper laughs watching as she runs like the devil is chasing her around the table.
Moondoggie catches her and sits her in Sweets lap. The little terror settles against Bella's chest and begins sucking her fingers.
"She's not usually so headstrong," Alice frowns at her daughter's back.
"No Alice, seeing how happy and confident she is, you can tell she has a safe home with loving parents. It's so obvious how loved she is," Bella says as she moves Maddie's curls away from her damp face.
Jasper sits back and smiles at the couple holding his girl and throws his arm behind his wife.
Alice looks down at her plate, "Well, thank you, Bella."
Moondoggie knows Sweets speaks from a life void of all that is good in Maddie's. She's a Madonna sitting with Little Bean on her lap. His heart swells with pride and longing for his girl.
"I love you, Baby," he whispers in her ear and kisses her forehead, her nose and finally her sweet lips.
"Let's get this feast moving," Carlisle pipes up from Edward's right.
"Everything looks and smells great, Mom," Edward says, leaning back and scooping mashed potatoes onto Sweets' plate and then his own.
Carlisle walks around the table offering red or white wine as the family fills their plates. Bella fills her bread plate with Maddie's picks and helps her hold the spoon and scoop a small mouthful of potatoes. Before Maddie can move it to her mouth, Bella turns it over and dips it in the green peas causing them stick to the spoon.
Maddie squeals and shows her Mommy how the peas don't fall off before putting it in her mouth upside down.
"Wine, Bella," Carlisle asks over her shoulder.
"Oh, no, thank you, Carlisle," Bella smiles up at him.
"I think you could be contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Pops, Alice snickers, "How old are you, Bella? If you don't mind me asking," Alice asks as she takes a sip of wine.
"I'm nineteen," She says loading Maddie's spoon again.
Carlisle leans forward and quietly says, "I'm sorry, if I made you uncomfortable, Bella."
"No Carlisle, please, I am fine. You didn't offend me in the least," Bella smiles up at Moondoggie Sr.
He smiles and pats her shoulder, "Edward …?"
"Oh, no thanks, Pops."
Alice can't resist commenting on this tee-totaling act they're putting on.
"I can't believe a big ol' biker guy like you doesn't drink. Or is this just since you started hooking up with minors?" Alice laughs as she cuts her roast.
If she had looked up she would have seen the sad disapproval on the faces of her parents and husband, as well as the shock on her brother's.
"Well, thank you for being so concerned for my liver and biker reputation, but no Alice, I prefer a good beer to wine, like the one I had while Pops and I watched the football game before you arrived," Edward smirks at his snotty little sister.
She hasn't changed one damn bit, little brat.
Alice looks up in time to see Bella let out a little giggle and smack his chest with the back of her hand.
Maddie reaches over, slaps a potato-covered hand on Edward's chest, and then goes back to pushing peas and green beans into her mashed potatoes.
All tension is forgotten as everyone laughs at the little one's parroting of Bella.
The rest of dinner flows in a convivial glow. Esme sits back and watches her children interact, pleased with how Jasper and Edward are getting along. They both need friends and the three men can't seem to talk fast enough, Carlisle is happy. Bella is with Maddie, and Jasper's arm is always around Alice even while in deep conversation. She watches her family so alive and complete and feels a contentment flow over her. She looks into Carlisle's eyes and shares a happy smile with him.
~o0o~
As the dinner winds down, Esme and Bella begin clearing the table while Alice takes Maddie for another bathroom break.
As he had done at Dunny's, Moondoggie picks up his and Sweets' plates and begins to head to the kitchen.
Carlisle and Jasper look at each other. Jasper shrugs. Not to be shown up by the new man in the family, they pick up their plates and follow Edward, making sure that Esme sees them place the dishes on the counter before grabbing a beer from the fridge and heading to the living room.
After a while, Edward wanders into the living room with a beer and the guys finish the game while the women clean up and put away the food. A satisfied feeling washes over him to have his own woman in this domestic scene. She is the key to him fitting back into this family.
When all reconvene,Maddie's energy seems to crank back up. She wiggles and squirms on Alice's lap until unable to contain herself; she hops down and dances in the middle of the room.
Edward looks across to Jasper, "Is this normal?" he laughs cocking his head toward the whirling dervish.
"Oh yeah, this is our new reality," Jasper snickers.
He leans forward, "Maddie bring Mommy the blue present."
"Oh, Oh I wrapped that one." Maddie jumps up and down until Carlisle hands her the slender blue package.
She races to give it to Alice, who kisses her and then Jasper before making a big production out of thebeautiful paper and skillful wrapping. When she opens the jeweler's box to a diamond tennis bracelet, she and Maddie both squeal as Jasper puts it on her wrist, kissing her hand in the process.
"Maddie come get one for Grandma," Carlisle encourages. And so the present opening goes. Two for others and two for Maddie until Maddie is lost in a sea of wrapping paper.
"'To my Sweets, from her Moondoggie,' Maddie dear, this one is for Bella," Carlisle calls out for Maddie to deliver the silver wrapped jewelry box to his new daughter.
Maddie receives a kiss and a squeeze in payment for her delivery and wanders over to her daddy's lap to watch Bella open her present.
"When did you get this?" Sweets asks as she tears into the silver to find a T&Co box underneath.
"I ordered it online and picked it up in Seattle," he smiles at his devious genius.
She drops it in her lap, "Is that why you made us eat at that swanky mall?"
"Just open it, love," Moondoggie finds himself suddenly nervous, suddenly unsure how she'll react in front of this room of people.
She works the lid open to reveal a platinum, gold heart pendant necklace. "Oh, Moondoggie," she breaths out.
"Turn it over, baby," he whispers.
On the other side is a delicate engraving of a dog howling, silhouetted by a full moon with the elegant script saying 'Forever, your Moondoggie."
"Moondoggie, it's too much, but I love it more than you can know," she whispers as she hugs him tightly.
He smiles over her shoulder.
She likes it.
"Well, Maddie let's keep up the momentum here. Let's see, 'To Moondoggie, Love, Sweets,'" Carlisle says to the room.
Maddie wobbles to get the red and gold ornate wrapped shirt box complete with large elaborate bow.
Moondoggie kisses Sweets as he takes the box in hand. He pulls off the giant red and gold bow and ribbon, tying it loosely around Little Bean's waist like a belt.
Maddie giggles and dances around trying to see it clearly.
Moondoggie rips the paper off and tears open the box.
"You're never giving it back, are you?" he states as he stares into the box.
Sweets blushes and giggles, "nope."
He pulls out a Harley Davidson T-shirt.
She bumps him with her shoulder, "I'm not promising I won't steal that one too." She leans in for a thank you kiss.
Alice leans over to Jasper, "I got her a Tiffany's necklace and 'all I got was this lousy T-shirt,'" she murmurs.
Jasper kisses her temple, "Be nice," he whispers.
When the tree stands vacant of its purpose, Maddie plays in the paper, sticking the bows in her hair as Esme comes in with one more present.
"Bella, this one is for you from Carlisle and me," Esme smiles, handing the tiny boxto a shocked Bella.
Edward looks from his mom to his pops for a clue, but only gets proud smiles from them. He looks back to Bella's lap just as she opens the tiny box.
Inside lays the baby Jesus, which he had placed in her hand under the mistletoe.
She looks from the present up to Moondoggie for help.
"Mom, Pops?"
"He belongs to her," Carlisle says as he wraps his arm around his wife.
"Yes, we know he will be in a loving home," Esme adds, giving Carlisle a watery smile and a knee pat as she settles into his arm.
Moondoggie pulls out his handkerchief and passes it to Sweets.
"Thank you," she whispers to Moondoggie.
Straightening and looking up she adds, "Thank you so much, he'll be cherished," to Carlisle and Esme.
They smile and nod.
Maddie, who has been watching Bella, open a present that made her cry had crawled up in daddy's lap. Now that everyone was smiling she climbs down and makes her way over to Bella.
She places her tiny hand on Bella's damp cheek, "Aunt Bewah, cry?
Moondoggie leans forward, "They're happy tears, Little Bean."
Bella smiles at her Moondoggie and then makes a big smile as she pulls the gift away from her heart and shows it to little Maddie.
"Baby Jesus is going to live at your house now?"
"What!" Alice barks, "Mom?"
"Now Alice, don't. Edward had given it to her right before he kissed her under the mistletoe. It was the sweetest thing. Of course, he belongs with them now," Esme sighs and wipes her eyes with Carlisle handkerchief.
'It is a Fontanini!" She throws at Edward and Bella. "It breaks up the set. What good is a nativity scene without the baby Jesus?" she huffs at her mother as Jasper pulls her to him.
"Stop," he whispers.
"Whatever." She says glaring across the room. "Maddie, come here baby." Alice holds her hands out to reclaim her daughter.
Edward is furious. His Sweets is shaking, not knowing what to do. Torn between loving the second present she has ever received on her very first Christmas and needing to give it back to patch the whole being torn in this family.
Maddie goes willingly to her mommy, but Jasper diverts her to him.
"Maddie and I are going to go make some hot chocolate with the big marshmallows. Come on Maddie Girl."
He stands and looks down at Alice and bends to give her a kiss on her cheek. "Make this right, baby." He whispers before he grabs up his girl, swinging her above his head, sending her into a fit of squeals.
Edward glares at his sister. His emotions are all over the place, but the one that dominates is 'Sweets should never feel hurt again and never from the hands of his own family'.
"Sweets, leave the room please," he says tightly as he scowles at his sister.
Her gasp causes him to break eye contact with his sister and look into Sweets hurt eyes.
It guts him.
"I should never have brought you here." He shakes his head and drops his eyes, unable to bear looking at her. "Please go, now, Bella."
The 'Bella' gets her to move. As she woodenly stands and moves across the room, she hears Esme let out a sob.
Esme shoots up from her seat and closes the pocket doors that lead to the foyer. She turns with tears streaming down her face.
"Carlisle, make this better. I am not doing without my family again. Fix this, now!" She grits out between her teeth.
"Come sit by your husband, Es," Carlisle says brokenly, patting the cushion next to him.
"All right Alice; let's get it out in the open. This has nothing to do with a piece of ceramic," Edward challenges.
"No, no it's not just about the family heirloom—an heirloom I was going to pass down to my child, by the way—that my mother saw fit to throw away to some biker bar flavor of the week. You know it's pretty awkward for all of us to see you slobbering all over that trailer trash. Have some respect for your family even if you don't have any for yourself." Alice's voice wavers in anger.
"Don't. My GOD! Just don't." Edward bounds off the couch in a blind rage, his hands clenched, white-knuckled. He moves behind the love seat knowing if he doesn't put something substantial between himself and this source of blasphemy, he'll do something that can't be taken back.
"My God, Alice—not her, Bella is good, and sweet and—and pure. Not her! You keep your aim on me." He lets out a furious sob. "You cut her, I bleed," he says slapping his chest, "so keep your bead on me. I'm right here, blast away."
He holds his arms wide for Alice to take a clean shot.
Understanding washes across her face being replaced by regret and hurt, "Damn you, Edward Cullen! You've ruined everything in my life and today's no different. Why'd you come back if you're just going to tear us apart again? I mean look at us. What kind of Merry Christmas is this?"
"Enough!" Carlisle shouts and stands.