Chapter Twelve

A/N: Back to Bella's perspective

"They don't sell the same lotion I used when I was pregnant with you, but this is pretty close," Renee said, handing me the bottle.

"I've heard that cocoa butter works well," I murmured in reply.

She smiled and ran her fingers through my hair, sighing.

"Enjoy this gorgeous hair while it lasts. When you're pregnant it becomes beautiful, but as soon as you have that baby it all just falls out. And don't get me started on what's going to happen down under," she continued.

I tuned her out, my thoughts going back to Edward. I know that leaving him is the wrong thing to do, but I didn't feel like he was giving me a choice. Marry him or be a single mother? I'd choose to be a single mother over being with someone trying to force me to do something I didn't want to do.

"Here, you'll need this," Renee's words brought me back to reality.

I took the squeeze bottle from her with a confused expression. It's like what you would fill with mustard, ketchup, or anything else to take to a picnic.

"You'll find out once you have that baby," she responded, "I'm going to go get ready. Phil is taking me out on a date tonight."

I nodded thoughtfully and turned back to my laptop, attempting to focus so I could finish this paper I had for school. There was a high school specifically for teenage mothers, and they had an online program. At this rate, I'd be a high school graduate in two weeks.

Renee and Phil left a half hour later and I was grateful for the time alone. Once I got to Florida, my mother had doted on me and tried to do everything she could to keep me distracted. While I appreciated the effort, it was getting to be too much. Especially with our daughter growing more and more every day.

A knock at my door pulled me away from my paper just as I made the final changes. I got up and waddled to the front door, surprised to see Rosalie on the other side. And she looked pissed.

"You've been in Florida for nearly two weeks and I'm just now finding out? Does Edward know where you are?" she asked in rapid-fire succession.

"I'm sorry, Rose. No, Edward doesn't know where I am. I didn't want to tell you or Emmett so you wouldn't tell him…" I admitted.

She shoved her way into the house and slammed the door behind her. I jumped at the unexpected anger thrown my way.

"Bella, what the fuck is your problem?! That man has done nothing but be by your side through this. Do I need to slap some fucking sense into you? I don't care how pregnant you are, I'll do it," she seethed.

"Are you even going to try to hear my side of the story?" I retorted.

She paused her rant and glared at me. I went to the kitchen and poured a couple glasses of tea, taking my seat at the kitchen table again. Rose sat opposite of me and accepted the tea, but didn't take a drink.

"Get to explaining before I decide whether I want to slap you or rip out that beautiful hair of yours first."

I sipped my tea, trying to buy time. I had no idea how Rose found out I was even here, but I should try to find some ally.

"I had to be taken to the emergency room, Carlisle thought I was having a miscarriage. Long story short, everything turned out fine but I didn't tell Edward until it was all said and done," I explained.

She slammed her hand on the table and I didn't think it was possible to see more hatred in her eyes, but here it was.

"Why wouldn't you tell him in the first place?! This man adores you and your child!"

"I didn't want him to worry if it turned out to be nothing," I murmured softly.

She gripped her hair and started pacing, very similarly to Edward. I felt a pang in my chest at the familiar motion.

"And what if something bad had happened to you and/or your baby? What then, Bella? He would never forgive you and I couldn't blame him. I never realized how damn selfish you are."

Her words stung and I could see she was taking Edward's side more as I continued talking. I cleared my throat after a couple of minutes once she calmed down slightly.

"He forgave me for everything and asked me to marry him, as I'm sure you know. I said no, I'm just ready to get married, Rose."

She paused her pacing but continued after a second.

"There is no law saying that you have to marry him. Although I don't understand why you wouldn't, if you're not ready then that's that. So, what else happened?" she asked.

"Well, he got angry. He gave me an ultimatum: either I marry him or he'd leave me."

"He said what?! He was just going to leave you and his baby behind because you wouldn't marry him? What the fuck? I'm going to wring both of your necks," she muttered more to herself.

I took a longer drink of my tea and thought about what I was going to say next.

"Well, not exactly. He said he'd still be here for her, even live with us, but we wouldn't be a couple," I elaborated.

She stopped pacing altogether and took her seat at the table again. She intertwined her fingers and rested them on the table. I felt like the student who got in trouble by the principal.

"Bella, I understand your fear. But you could have had a long engagement if you had actually thought this through. He should be respectful of you saying no. You should have told him you were in the hospital. There are a lot of 'should haves' in life and you two have a shit ton. But even with everything, it's not fair to just leave him. What were your plans exactly?"

I traced patterns in the wood of the kitchen table.

"I hadn't thought about it much. I'm almost done with this online schooling and I was considering taking a year off after having the baby. Then, look at colleges here? Or even try to get a hold of Edward, if he'd talk to me. I don't know what I'm going to do exactly, Rose," I admitted just as tears started falling against my will.

Her eyes softened for the first time since her trip and she got up to give me a hug. I wrapped my arms around here, as closely as I could with my belly in the way. Rose jumped slightly and looked at me with wide eyes?

"Did she just kick me? I think my niece just tried to kick me."

I laughed and grabbed her hand, resting it on the side of my stomach. She had been very active today and I got the feeling she liked the sound of Rose's voice.

"That means she likes you. She's been moving and kicking a lot today."

Rose felt around my stomach in fascination.

"I don't know what to do, Rose. I'd love to start over with Edward, but is that even possible at this point? I left him. I can't blame him if he never forgives me."

She processed my words while continuing to feel my little girl kick.

"As I said earlier, he adores you. It might take time but he would eventually forgive you. Don't take his kindness for granted, Bella. You both have a long way to go in your relationship, but you have to do this for your daughter."

I nodded in agreement and Rose hugged me again.

"I better get going. Emmett and I have a hot date tonight," she said suggestively while waggling her eyebrows.

I laughed and pushed her towards the door.

"Tell Emmett I miss him and that either of you can visit anytime. Phil visits a lot and if I tell them I'll have visitors, my mother might travel with him more. I love her to pieces but she's suffocating sometimes," I told her.

She waved as she pulled out of the driveway. I shook my head and thought about what Rosalie had said. She was right about everything. Sometimes all a person needs is an outsider's view of the situation, and that's exactly what I needed.

I picked up my cell phone, trying to decide if I was ready to call Edward. I know I need to do it sooner rather than later, but what if she was wrong about him forgiving me? I did wrong by him and deserved whatever anger he had towards me. I hoped that he wouldn't project that anger towards our daughter, but I knew deep down that he wouldn't.

He loved this little girl as much as I did and he has every right to be part of her life. That thought was enough to get me dialing the familiar liar.

His phone went straight to voicemail. I frowned and looked at my phone, making sure I had dialed the correct number. I hung up and tried again, with the same results. I tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear while waiting for the robotic voice to finish the instructions.

"Hey, Edward. It's me, Bella. I know I screwed up royally and I totally understand if you don't ever want to forgive me. But if you get the chance, call me back. Please. I'm in Florida, visiting my mom right now…just call me," I finished.

I sat back at the table, letting out a deep breath. I had done all I could for now. There was no way I was ready to head back home, but it's still progress.

I finished my paper and glanced at the time, surprised it's already six in the evening. My stomach growled very loudly and I decided to make fried chicken. My daughter was always craving fried chicken and pickles so that's what lot of my diet consisted of.

There was another knock at the door right after I had plated the chicken and was just about to grab the jar of pickles out of the refrigerator. I walked to the front door and opened it, shocked at who was on the other side.

"Edward? Carlisle? How…?"