A/N
Hi! Thanks for coming back!
Unbeta-ed and writing from the hip.
S. Myer owns all things, Twilight.
Enjoy, Uncle Ed. He's cute.
Chapter 4
BPOV
Sitting in the passenger seat of my car, Edward stares out the window like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"She can be a lot," he sighs.
"It's understandable. She's grieving."
Turning to face me, he unbuttons his coat as the heat permeates the car.
"We all are. But Rose … how can I put this?"
He looks up at the ceiling and leans back against the headrest.
"Rose has always rubbed people the wrong way. When Riley first met her, I had no idea how it would work. They were such opposites. He was so outgoing, the life of the party, and Rose —she didn't trust anybody."
I'd gotten that vibe loud and clear.
"Does she have any family? I mean, besides you?"
Edward looks out the windshield at the snow-covered hillside and shakes his head.
"She spent most of her life bouncing around foster homes —abandoned as a baby. I think Riley tried to get her to do one of those ancestry things to see if she could find some relatives, but she wanted nothing to do with it."
"And there's no one else that can help?"
Edward turns to me.
"My dad's alive, but Riley and I didn't see him much. My parents divorced when we were teenagers, and dad moved to Alaska with his new wife."
I want to ask about his mother but stay silent to see what he's comfortable telling me.
"My mom died a few years ago," he says quietly. "Before Riley got sick. It was for the best. You shouldn't have to watch your children die."
He runs both hands through his hair before scrubbing them down his face.
"The last time I saw the old man was at Ri's funeral. I think it's the only time he's ever even seen the boys."
The sadness on his face makes my heart ache for him. I only met those boys for a few minutes and was utterly smitten. How could anyone, let alone their own flesh and blood, not have a relationship with them? What was wrong with people?
"We're all kinds of fucked up," he says before chuckling.
"You haven't met my family," I say with a wry smile.
Edward looks at me.
"You don't want to compare Fucked-uped-ness with me. I'll beat you every time," he scoffs.
"Fucked-uped-ness? That's not even a word."
"Urban dictionary begs to differ."
Laughing, I turn the dial on the heater before removing my coat and throwing it in the backseat.
"So, you're living with them?"
"Yeah. For now. They don't need my help financially. Riley was always a saver and had life insurance, but they need the emotional support. Rose fell apart after Ri died. The smallest things would set her off. She wants things to be as normal as possible for the boys. Order and routine are very important to Rose. So, when something like today happens, where everything gets thrown off, she kind of …."
"Loses her shit?"
"Yeah." He laughs.
"It must be terribly stressful for you."
Pulling out his phone, he turns it toward me, and I see the grinning faces of two little boys hanging from a merry-go-round. Photobombing behind them is a man. He has the same smile as Edward but different colored eyes. He looks healthy and happy.
Edward turns the phone back and stares down at the screen.
"It's worth it."
~!~
Edward and I are checking emails while we wait, tying up anything that needs to get done before the weekend. I'm looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow and doing absolutely nothing all day. It's going to be glorious.
Headlights flash in my rearview mirror, and I see the tow truck lumbering up the road.
"Here he is," I say.
Edward finishes typing and pockets his phone before buttoning his coat and opening the door. Turning to me, he leans down into the car.
"It shouldn't take long. I'll be right back."
When he slams the door, I glance at the clock on the dashboard—almost Five.
I watch Edward through the windshield. He's talking to the tow truck operator and pointing to the BMW. When the driver hands him a clipboard, he signs it, shakes his hand, and trudges back to the car. It's starting to snow. I hate driving in the snow.
Edward jumps in and slams the door before rubbing his hands together and blowing on them.
"Shit, it's fucking cold out there."
"Everything good?"
"It's good. Let's go."
Buckling my seatbelt, I put the car in gear.
"Where to?"
Edward pulls out his phone and checks the time.
"Shit, I didn't realize it was this late."
"I know! Time flies when you're having fun."
He looks over at me.
"Bella?"
My blinker is on, and I'm about to pull onto the road, but I stop when I hear the soft tone of his voice.
"What? What's the matter?"
He looks down for a moment.
"Nothing. Nothing's the matter. I just want to thank you for doing this. You didn't have to, and I … well, I appreciate it."
I smile at him.
"Buckle up, Uncle Ed, let's blow this pop stand."
He shakes his head.
"You're so weird."
"I am, aren't I?"
Pulling onto the road, I follow Edward's directions to his house and turn on my wipers. The snow is coming down heavier now.
"I didn't know it was supposed to snow like this, did you?"
"They weren't forecasting it," he says. "Are you okay with driving? Do you want me to take over?"
I shake my head.
"It's not much farther, right?"
"About ten minutes."
Good. Because for the last five, my bladder has been screaming. It's been four hours since we left the office. I need to pee. When we reach the house, I see the Volvo in the driveway and coast up next to it before shifting into park. Edward reaches down for his laptop bag and then straightens.
"Do you want to come in for a drink or something? Water?"
I shift in my seat and clamp my legs together, trying to conceal a grimace.
"Um, would it be okay if I used your bathroom?"
Edward's eyes get wide.
"Oh, shit, yeah, sure."
When we get out of the car, I follow him up a stone path that leads to a modest but tasteful colonial with electric candles flickering in the windows and a wreath on the door. Walking into the foyer, I'm immediately hit with screams and laughter from another room.
"Settle!" I hear Rose yell. "Boys! Settle down! Dinner's almost ready."
"Who's being bad in here?" Edward shouts in a playful voice as he takes off his coat. He turns to me and winks before taking mine.
"Why do I hear screaming in this house? Who needs a beatdown? Because I'm ready to give one!"
The screams from the living room get louder.
"Not us! We're being good, Unc, we promise!"
Edward walks toward the living room.
"Why don't I believe that? Where are you, little hooligans? You can't hide from me!"
If I didn't think Edward was the sweetest man before today, seeing him interact with his nephews is the icing on the cake. The man is fucking perfect. Why in the world is he single? And then a thought strikes me. Maybe he and Rose have something going on. I know it happens more often than people think, but I still feel my stomach drop at the thought. But maybe that's not it. Maybe he doesn't have time to date. Taking care of a family surely wouldn't leave much time for himself. What would it be like to date Edward? Two rambunctious boys and a bitchy, closed-off woman who doesn't want anyone to get close to him. Could I handle it? I'm not sure. But I'm not ruling it out. Edward looks back at me and cringes.
"Shit. Sorry. Bathroom. Follow me."
I smile at him in appreciation, and he leads me to a small powder room. The walls are covered in red Toile wallpaper, but I barely notice it as I hike up my skirt and take care of business. I'm not sure I could have waited much longer. When I finish, I turn on the faucet to wash my hands, admiring the array of hand soaps and neatly arranged guest towels on display.
Order.
Opening the door, I hear laughter coming from the kitchen, and when I approach, I see Henry peering at a bowl of Peas on the counter while Edward carries George on his back and opens the refrigerator.
"Mom."
Henry's voice is stern.
Rose is at the stove. She's wearing a loose sweater that would most likely look like a garbage bag on me, but on her is the height of high fashion —that she pulls off effortlessly. She's wearing a pair of black leggings underneath with sheepskin boots that go up mid-calf. Her back is to me, and she leans down to Henry and smiles.
"You think this is my first rodeo, kiddo?"
He doesn't look convinced.
"Your asparagus is on the table. I didn't forget."
A look of relief crosses his face, and I understand a little more about what Edward was talking about in the car. Something as small as providing their favorite food is surely a marker of normalcy for them in a world thrown into chaos. Edward turns from the refrigerator with George hanging from his arm and sees me standing in the doorway.
"All right, George of the Jungle, time to wash up," he says, and George giggles and squeals as Edward lowers him to the floor and tickles his sides.
"Stop! Uncle Ed, stop! I'm gonna pee my pants!"
"Edward, really?" Rose looks at him over her shoulder as she reaches into the cabinet to take down some plates. She hesitates when she sees me but doesn't say anything. Edward pulls George from the floor and gives him a smile before saluting Rose.
"Sorry, ma'am," he says in a no-nonsense voice. "Won't happen again."
George giggles and turns to head toward the powder room. He starts to race from the kitchen but stops short when he almost slams into me.
"Hi! I like your shirt!"
He points to the obnoxiously large red and pink flowers adorning my top. It's Friday. I forgot all about it. I look at George and then at Rose, who is pulling silverware from the drawer.
"Oh. Um, thank you," I say.
"That's a hibbi … a hibbi … a hibbibbibicouses! I know all about them. We have two in the greenhouse. You have to keep them inside in the winter. Unless you live in Hawaii. Dad showed me. He was a horto … a horto … Mom! What's it called again?"
Rose is silent as she sets the table but turns to George and puts a smile on her face.
"A horticulturist, honey."
Henry walks over and takes George by the hand.
"Come on, Georgie, let's wash up."
The two boys walk past, and I look at Edward as he steps in my direction.
"You, okay?"
I nod.
Rose is pouring water from a pitcher into the glasses on the table and setting napkins on the plates. She still hasn't acknowledged me.
"Do you want something to drink?" He asks.
I'm about to reply when the boys come back.
"Can Bella stay for dinner?" George asks. "I want to show her the greenhouse."
I look down at George's adorable face.
"Oh, thank you, sweetheart, but I should probably get going."
Rose approaches and ruffles George's hair before raising her gaze to mine. She gives me a small smile.
"Hello, Bella. It's nice to see you."
I return her smile.
"It's nice to see you too. You have a lovely home."
"Thank you."
"Mom, can Bella stay? Pleeeease?"
George is tugging Rose's hand, and I'm starting to feel uncomfortable. Edward opens his mouth to speak, but before he can, Rose interrupts.
"We have plenty, Bella. Please. Join us."
I'm not sure what to say. She's almost … pleasant.
Edward looks at me with a hopeful smile.
"There really is, Bella," he says. "Why don't you stay? It's the least we can do for all the trouble you went to today."
Henry is carrying a bowl of mashed potatoes to the table, giving me a small smile as he passes.
"Come on, come on, come on!" George yells. "Let's eat!"
I look at Edward tentatively.
"Okay. That's very nice of you."
"Ya-hooooo!" George shouts as he rushes to the table. "Bella can sit next to me!"
We all take our seats, and Rose brings another place setting for me.
"I hope you like lemon chicken," she says.
I look up at her, unsure what to make of Rose Cullen.
"Thank you, I'm sure it's delicious."
She sits down in her seat but then pops up quickly and rushes to the kitchen, opening a cupboard.
"Edward, I forgot. Did you pick up coffee yesterday? I'll put the pot on now, so it's ready for after dinner."
"Yeah," Edward says. "It's in the back."
I lay my napkin in my lap and call out to Rose.
"If you're not making it for yourself, don't make any on my account. I don't drink coffee."
George is playing with his silverware, anxiously waiting for permission to begin eating, when he stops, and his head whips up.
"Wait," he says, and his face breaks into a smile. "Are you the hot chocolate lady?"