Chapter 10
After that evening, where Edward had his first home cooked meal in God knows how long, we fell into a very comfortable routine over the next few days. Edward and I would have our quick morning chitchats over tea and coffee, I would go through my daily routine and try my best not think about what was happening at home…especially after what Mike had said. And then in the evening Edward would come home from work beyond exhausted, and he would have a meal that I made him on the patio. If he came home too late then I would leave a covered meal in a protected thermos bag on his doorstep, so it would still be warm when he got it. The morning sickness was not getting any better but thank goodness that it didn't last throughout the day like it did with some women that I knew. As long as I stayed away from certain smells, then I knew that I would be A-Okay. If only I could get these stupid mood swings and hormones in check.
Like right now, for some reason I cannot stop smiling like a loon just thinking about Edward. I get a strange satisfaction out of doing something so simplistic and domestic as fixing him a meal. That is completely wrong, I shouldn't be thinking of him at all…except for in a friendly, neighborly manner. I am a married woman of two kids…soon to be three. Three. And then there goes my mood in a completely different direction and I am back to the tears. I have two precious babies and one on the way, and my douchebag of a husband wants me to get an abortion, and I have no idea what to do. Could my life be any more complicated? I am married to a complete monster of a man, possibly crushing on my green-eyed hunk of a neighbor, and pregnant with my third child that I already love so much. And said monster wants me to abort my baby. I swear if I could, I would have a drink just to settle my nerves. But for now I will just settle for my chamomile tea.
The cries of Ben over the baby monitor pulled me out of all of my assorted thoughts. I set my cup down on the kitchen counter and hastened through the living room and up the staircase. Walking into Mikey and Ben's room, I saw Mikey on the floor playing with his favorite colored blocks, and Ben standing up in his crib crying for someone to come to his attention. "What's the matter baby boy?" I cooed picking him up and kissing his temple, "What's wrong precious?"
Even though I knew he couldn't answer me back yet and tell me what the problem was I just wanted him to know that mommy was there. Holding him to my chest and rubbing his back I walked to the rocking chair sitting in the corner so I could rock him for a while. Sitting there and rocking Ben seemed to be in much better spirits, cooing happily and patting my mouth and cheek. I felt a pat, pat, pat on my leg, looking down I see Mikey looking up at me with those big beautiful eyes. I reached down and picked him up at that moment my heart felt so full. All three of us sitting together gave me a greater sense of purpose and determination. In this moment, with my boys in my arms, and my little unknown growing inside of me I knew that I had to make some changes. I didn't want to my boys to grow up in a house like this. I couldn't call it a home, because a home is where warmth and happiness is at. This is not it. They deserved to be in a happy and safe place, where they were always comfortable, and damn it I was going to give that to them come hell or high water.
I stayed upstairs a little longer with the boys until it was time for them to have their dinner. They usually like to play a little bit at that but they were a bit tired from the extra playing we did earlier that afternoon so they were out before their heads hit their pillows. Turning on their night light and monitor I closed the door and made my way back into the kitchen. It was a bit after five o'clock and Mike took the car with him to work today so I didn't have to worry about rushing to pick him up. Looking out of the kitchen window and up into the sky I could see a cluster of cold clouds forming, letting me know without even having to turn on the weather that it was going to rain and we'd be having another cold front. Great. Not! I pulled out my griddle and plugged it in, going to the refrigerator to pull out my marinated salmon. Tonight's menu would consist of marinated Alaskan salmon, wild rice/rice pilaf, carrots and green beans. I hoped Edward, I mean, Mike likes it. Gosh, what is wrong with me? I really needed to get a grip on myself. Spraying some non-stick on the griddle and placing the salmon strips there, I placed the rice, carrots, and green beans on the stove to cook. Keeping two extra marinated strips in the back, because Edward seems to have one heck of a hearty appetite.
If Mike ever found out that I was feeding another man his food, I don't know what would happen. It's scary to even think about, but I always remember what Grandma Swan always taught me. 'Never ever let a person go hungry, because that could be you.' I never let that lesson leave for as long as I live. So yeah, that's what I was doing…not letting a person go hungry because that could be me.
Keep telling yourself that Bella.
Goodness, even my subconscious is calling me out. The sound of Mike pulling into the garage pulled me back into the present. Mike was rambling around in the car, probably gathering his lunch kit and thermos, then finishes up and I can hear him coming in through the door that leads into the garage.
"Hey, how was work?" I tried asking him, when he walked into the kitchen with nothing more than a grunt throwing his stuff onto the counter.
He looked at with a look that screamed, 'are you serious?', "Work was work Bella, what the hell do you think?"
"Sorry, I was just trying to make conversation and see how your day went."
"Since you obviously don't know what real work is, so let me tell you," he grumbled. "I got up early this morning, I worked all damn day making machinery. Then I came home wanting to take a shower and have a hot meal, but instead I come home to a nagging wife and no hot meal!" he yelled.
I stood there silent, tending to the food, not daring to say anything.
"What you have nothing to say now?" he taunted. "Cat got your tongue."
I remained saying nothing at all, I just kept stirring the rice making sure it didn't stick. "Why don't you go take your shower and dinner should be ready as soon as you come down." I suggested. He walked up close to my back and grabbed my jaw.
"You don't tell me what the fuck to do Bella! I'm the husband, you're the wife. What I say goes, therefore you do as a I say." He emphasized by grabbing my jaw harder. "Understood?"
"Yes." I mumbled.
With that he let go of my jaw mumbling things under his breath and he went upstairs and for his shower. I looked up from my pot of rice and out of the kitchen window, not realizing that the whole time what had been said in my kitchen has had an audience the entire time. It was Edward. How much of it did he see? Did he hear everything or just walk up on the last little bit? The ferocious look on his face is not giving anything away, except for that the fact was that I did not want to be the one on the receiving end of that look
Author's Note:
I know that it has been more than a year since I have updated... but as you all know there is a thing called life it can consume you. This is more of a short chapter to kick me off and get me back into the writing game. I should be posting Chapter 11 either Wednesday or Thursday night. So be on the lookout and keep giving reviews. xoxoxo
