BPOV

Monday: The Return

The kids were sad that we had to return from Hawaii after only a few days—especially the twins. But, I cheered my girls up by reminding them of the beautiful new room that awaited them when we got home.

As we pulled up to the house, though, I noticed work trucks in the driveway. I turned to Edward, confusion etched all over my face.

"Shouldn't they be done with the construction by now?" I asked.

He shrugged, "Maybe they're just finishing up. We wouldn't want them to be leaving a big mess for us, would we?"

"Definitely not!" I replied.

Edward began removing our bags from the car as I unbuckled the kids and took them inside the house. I heard the sounds of drills echoing up from the basement and sighed in frustration—that didn't sound like cleaning to me, it sounded like the workers weren't done yet. I set the kids in front of the TV and asked the twins to watch their brother and sister while I walked downstairs to see what was taking so long.

It looked mostly done, except there was no paint on the walls in the room, but it looked like two of the guys were about to remedy that shortly. All of the noise was coming from the bathroom, where Jeremy, the chief contractor, was attempting to install a sink with two of his men.

"Hey Jeremy," I said once they took a break.

"Oh...you folks are home already? We weren't expecting you until the eighth," he explained.

"It is the eighth, Jeremy," I said, trying to remain patient. "And, we thought you'd be a bit further along than this."

"I know, but the sink you wanted for the bathroom was delivered late, and now we're trying to get it in—just came this morning."

I took a closer look at the sink they were attempting to install and sighed audibly—it wasn't even the one we had ordered. The girls picked a pink, translucent sink with a raised basin. This one was a plain, white, porcelain sink.

Jeremy noticed my frustration, "Is there something wrong, Mrs. Cullen?"

I shuddered at his referring to me as Mrs. Cullen. Ever since our incident with James, I hated being called that.

"This isn't the sink we ordered," I replied, beginning to lose my patience now. "We got the zephyr glass, corner sink."

Jeremy checked his work order and then looked at the box the sink came in, "Oh...yeah, I guess the sink manufacturers made a mistake on your order."

"Well, my husband and I paid more than $300 for the other sink, so you'll just have to send this one back and tell them to send the right one."

Jeremy looked hesitant, "That could take another week."

"I don't care, my daughters are getting the sink they wanted, case closed."

"You may have to pay extra," he continued.

I was taken aback by that, "I don't see why we should when we didn't get what we wanted to begin with."

"I mean for us, that's another week we won't be able to move on to another job."

I scoffed, "Please, with how lacking your work has been here, do you think I'll ever recommend you for another job? You're lucky I don't kick you all out right now and find another construction team!"

Edward was at my side immediately as my exasperated voice floated all the way upstairs.

"What's all this? Jeremy, you all were supposed to be a lot further along than this by the time we got home," Edward said, stepping in front of me.

"Yes, I know...your wife was just informing us of that fact," Jeremy replied.

I felt Edward bristle at the condescending tone in Jeremy's voice when he mentioned me, "You know what? Why don't you all just leave right now? I mean it! Just get the hell out of my house before I physically toss you out!"

"Calm down, Mr. Cullen," Jeremy tried to reason with him.

"NO! Get out, now!"

Jeremy looked to his workers, "Alright boys, pack up and let's get out of here."

The men wasted no time packing their tools away and removing themselves from our house. Once I heard the tires of their truck peel out on our driveway, I was hit with a sudden bout of worry.

"Edward, who is going to finish our basement?"

"Don't worry, Angel, I have a whole list of other construction companies that I looked through. Something tells me that anyone would be willing to step in and save the day on this one—you know, so they can be sure we'll always give them a glowing recommendation."

"True," I replied. "And, it's not like we don't have time before the babies are born—though, we may be cutting it close."

He smirked, "I'm sure we'll be fine. For now, I'm going to call Jasper and Emmett and see if they'll help me haul away this sink and paint the girls' room with me. And, I'm calling the company that sent us the wrong sink and threatening them with a lawsuit if they don't get us the right one by the time the new construction team arrives."

I wrapped my arms around his neck, "My knight in shining armor!"

"Well, I try."

EPOV

By strange coincidence, Jacob called not long after we got home to see how our trip went. When Bella informed him of our situation with the construction workers, he offered to bring some friends with some expertise in construction and plumbing and do the work himself.

I was a bit skeptical—I appreciated Jacob being so willing to help with everything, but it wasn't as though I could dismiss his history with Bella that easily.

But, I agreed, simply because there really wasn't much for him to do. The new sink—the right sink—would be arriving in two days, and Emmett and Jasper were taking Wednesday off to help me paint and get rid of the remains of the last work crew's debacles.

Jake and his friends showed up on Wednesday morning, right as a truck pulled up to deliver the sink. I liked how it all worked out—the guys would just put the sink in and be on their way. Everything else would be taken care of.

However, I didn't count on Bella interceding in anyway. As soon as all of the boys were hard at work, I heard the voices of my wife, my sister and Rosalie in the kitchen, plotting some kind of impromptu get-together.

Great, Bella was going to prolong Jacob's stay with a barbeque.

We were finished painting the room a little after 3 p.m., but still had to wait at least a day for the paint to dry to begin putting up all the decorations the twins had picked out. Jacob and his cohorts were almost finished putting the sink in, as well. All that was left was to put one last strip of calking around the edges of the sink's base.

Jasper, Emmett and I walked upstairs to see all of our wives busy in the kitchen. Bella was preparing a tortellini salad (one of my favorites), while Rosalie was getting some chicken breast, hamburgers and hotdogs ready for the grill. Alice chopped some veggies on a cutting board on the table near where Jacee was sitting in her car seat.

Jasper walked over to his wife and child and gave each a quick kiss while I put my arms around Bella.

"Rooms all painted," I said.

She turned to me and took my face in her hands, "Thank you, Sweetie. You know, you guys didn't have to do that—I'm sure Jacob and his friends would have done it for us."

I tensed up slightly, "It's not for Jacob's children now, is it?"

Bella sensed the sudden change in mood, and I immediately regretted my tone as tears welled up in her eyes, "I wasn't implying that, and you know it."

"I know, I'm sorry – I didn't mean it," I said as I tucked her head under my chin and swayed her back and forth gently. "I'm glad that Jacob is helping; it's very nice of him."

She sniffled a bit but didn't let go of her hold on me; she snuggled closer to my chest and sighed. "After all these years…you're…you're not jealous of him, are you?"

"No," I replied, unconvincingly.

"Because, he may have had me once – very briefly – but you have me forever."

"I know that."

"Good…just never forget it."

"I won't," I replied as I pulled us apart gently to kiss her.

We were getting a little more into our kiss than we had intended when I heard a cough from behind me. Jacob and his friends were standing there awkwardly, trying to get our attention.

"So, you just have to wait for that calking on the sink to dry and it's all done. Embry turned the water on, so if there's any problems, give us a call anytime."

"Well, good thing you're done," Bella said. "Because the barbeque is just getting started."

"You don't have to feed us, Bells," Jacob replied.

"I want to, you guys are helping us out so much," she countered. "We're so appreciative, right Edward?"

"We are, guys," I said enthusiastically. "Please stay, the girls made enough food for an army."

"Well, we are pretty hungry," Jacob amended.

"Speak for yourself, dude, I'm starving!" Embry quipped as he walked out to the backyard with Quil in tow.

"OK, looks like we're staying," Jacob laughed as he followed his friends.

Before he walked outside, Bella called to him, "I'm making a sponge cake, from Sue's recipe. That's your favorite, right?"

Jacob smiled, "You remembered that?"

Bella nodded before going back to cooking while Jacob turned to give me a strange look. I felt this shiver run down my spine as he ran around my backyard and played with my children – especially Keely. She has this attachment to him that I've never liked. Though, all of my kids love their 'Uncle Jake,' and that's always bothered me for some reason.

I was watching him lift Keely into the air and twirl her around when I vaguely heard Alice calling my name.

"Earth to Edward! Come in, Edward – do you copy?" She teased when I finally shook myself out of my trance.

"What's up?" I asked, still a bit dazed.

"Penny for your thoughts," she offered.

"Nothing…just thinking about when would be a good time to…get a pool," I said, hoping I could fool my very perceptive sister's intuitiveness.

"Uh-huh," she replied. "Well, could you do me a favor and run these veggies out to the grill while I put some sunscreen on Jacee?"

"Sure," I said as I grabbed the plate from her and took it outside.

Rosalie and Jasper were running the grill when I turned the corner, "Where's Em?"

"He was criticizing my grilling techniques, so I sent him to get beer," Rose said as she flipped a burger.

"Good thinking," I said as I placed the plate down on the side of the grill.

I heard one of the kids squeal and turned to find Embry being trampled on the bottom of a kiddie dog pile. I had to admit, Jacob and his friends are good with kids. But, I really wish they'd just have some of their own.

Owen noticed me watching and ran over. I caught him halfway and lifted him up to sit on my shoulders.

"Hey kids, why don't you go get daddy?" Embry asked.

Aina ran over and attached herself to my leg; Keely struggled out of Jacob's grasp so she could occupy the other one. Alys ran over and jumped around me until I leaned over and lifted her into my arms. My four children were all holding me in place and I couldn't help but feel a surge of happiness as they all laughed and hugged me tight.

Alys wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed my cheek – I returned the favor.

Bella and Alice walked out then, with Jacee in a cute little sundress that I was sure the two moms had sat fawning over for quite a few minutes. My wife walked over to me and the kids and laughed as she beheld the scene in front of her.

"Kids, what are you doing to your daddy?"

"Nothing," Keely replied.

"We're just hugging him, Mommy," Aina added.

"Momma!" Owen cried, holding his arms out to her.

Bella reached for him, but I turned before she could take his hands. "No, no, Son – Mommy can't carry you right now."

I set Alys down and she ran to Bella's side so her mommy could pick her up. I set Owen down and he did the same. He couldn't understand that he was too big for Bella to lift up when she's pregnant, and he began to cry when she lifted Alys into her arms.

"Come here, little man," Bella said, taking Owen's hand.

She led him to our porch swing and sat down so both Alys and Owen could sit on her lap. They both snuggled close to her as she gently pushed the swing back and forth. She hummed to them as their heads lulled sleepily to each of her shoulders.

I took the twins into each of my arms and sat them next to their mom and siblings on the big swing. Aina turned to Alys and brushed her hair away from her face before planting a soft kiss on her forehead. Alys opened her eyes and gave her big sister a smile as we all enjoyed the sway of the swing.

I leaned back and scanned the backyard to find Embry and Quil playing with Ethan, Aiden and Madeline. Jacob, however, was staring at us with an indescribable expression. I glared back with a smug look of my own – reminding him silently whose family this really is.

He noticed my stare, and began to glower.

"OK, food's done!" Rosalie called, placing a plate of meat on the picnic table.

Everybody but my family ran to the table to get their share of food, but we hung back and waited for the stampede to ebb.

Then I set the twins on the ground and they ran to join their cousins around the table. I took Owen from where he sat on Bella's lap and grabbed a couple of plates for our food. I was delighted to see Bella had made a lot of tortellini salad, and I dug in with gusto.

Bella sat and fed Alys at the end of the table – and Jacob sat near her and attempted to help her in the feeding. Jake held up a piece of cantaloupe and Alys bit into it hungrily. I sat across from Jacob, on Bella's other side, and set Owen in my lap so he could eat.

"Owen," I said suddenly, "Do you want to give your sister a tortellini?"

Owen took one of the little pastas and lifted it to Alys' lips. She accepted it and chewed it thoughtfully – as if she didn't know if she liked it or not. Then she made the noise that let me know exactly what she thought of the food, "Mmmmmmmm….."

"Is that good, Babygirl?" Bella asked with a laugh.

Alys turned to her mommy and rested a hand gently on her cheek. She does that a lot – I think because she sees me do that to Bella.

Bella tilted her face down and kissed Alys on the nose, making our youngest giggle. Owen leaned towards his mommy for a kiss of his own, and Bella complied without hesitation. As I watched that, I got lost in thought – when I was a boy, I remember wondering if I'd ever meet a woman as wonderful as my mother. How did I ever get so lucky to have run into this amazing, beautiful woman?

Bella looked into my eyes at that very moment and we both smiled serenely – I wondered if she was thinking something similar to what I was.

However, from across the table I could feel some tension coming from the wannabe interloper. He stood up suddenly, "So, Bells, you said there was a sponge cake."

"Yeah," Bella replied, not taking her eyes off of our children. "It's cooling on the counter."

"Mind if I grab it and bring it out?"

"Go right ahead."

I watched Jacob sulk back into the kitchen and then returned to see Bella giving me a quizzical look.
"What's up? You think Jake's gonna steal something?" She joked.

"No," I replied. "Just lost in thought."

"About what?"

"Nothing in particular…"

"Edward," she said in a warning voice.

"We can talk about it later," I promised as Jacob walked back out with a serving dish with the cake on it.

Bella put her own little spin on the cake – adding an amaretto whipped cream and a ganache of strawberries in a light balsamic dressing to the cake before rolling it up. It added some of my favorites to the recipe, and I got a bit smug at the thought of one of Jacob's favorite desserts being altered for my tastes – as juvenile as that sounds.

After the food was all gone and everyone helped clean up, we said our goodbyes just as it was time to put Owen and Alys to bed. Bella and I had agreed to give the twins another hour to stay up after they turned six. I still couldn't believe they would be starting first grade in the fall – I watched them sit on the couch with Bella and was struck with the memory of when we found out she was first pregnant with the twins all those years ago.

Once we walked Aina and Keely up to their room, which would soon be the room for the new set of twins on the way, Bella and I trudged back to our own room. We were exhausted after the day's festivities. Bella kicked her shoes off and I took one of her feet in my hands and massaged it thoroughly.

She lay back and moaned softly as I worked the stiffness out of her feet. Suddenly, she sat back up again, "So, what was up with you and Jacob this afternoon?"

My plot to distract her had failed, "It was nothing, just…this weird feeling I had."

"I thought you said you weren't jealous."

"I'm not," I replied. "But, he seems to think he can weasel his way into our family."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You don't see it, do you? The way he hangs all over the kids like he wants to be their father."

"Edward," she sighed, "I think you're reading too much into this."

"Really? How about the way he stares at us when we're all together? He still carries a torch for you, Bella."

"He does not," she said quietly, almost as if she didn't believe her own denial.

"Just answer me this – he and Leah, are they still together?"

She shook her head softly.

"Look, let's not argue about it right now," I said gently. "Let's just go to sleep, OK?"

She nodded and kissed me firmly before we shut out the lights and went to bed.