I was still pondering over the Anton situation when Edward and Jasper came through my door that evening.
"Honey I'm home" Edward bellowed.
I quickly walked to Jasper giving him a kiss and a cuddle and just stayed in his arms.
"Hard day, I know kids are stressful" Jasper guessed laughing. But he was totally wrong. Anton wasn't stressful he was a great kid, smart for his age and the most adorable kid I have ever met.
Edward plonked himself on my sofa already nipping at his food.
"Yeah Jasper said you had a play date today. So who's the little munchkin?" He asked talking with his mouth full.
I quickly walked over to him shutting his mouth and retorting how it's not nice to talk with our mouth full. He then retaliated by sticking his tongue out and asking if I liked sea food. Ughh why are men so immature.
Luckily nothing could stop me from explaining how great my day with Anton had been, so I explained how bad I felt for upsetting Anton by turning up late. It was great day I learnt way too much about G.I Joe and our shared love for all things SpongeBob. I was thinking of getting him some SpongeBob DVDs so he can watch them in his room instead of fighting for the TV.
Jasper just sat there eating his food as I told Edward everything about Anton. To that one dimple he gets in his face when he smiles cheekily using after stealing food from my plate to his obsession that his toys be placed in strategic order of size.
"WOW Bella, you really like this kid. He sounds really cute. Is he making you want a little Swan of your own?"
The next words out of my mouth, were not my own. I do not know where they came from but as soon as they were said I realised how true it was.
"No I want him"
I'm pretty sure after that statement you could hear a pin drop. The room was deadly silent and both boys turned to look at me with wide eyes and mouth open.
Jasper choked on his food" You want him? You do know what that entails right, not just picking him up when you're a bit bored, but actually being a mother" he said patronizingly.
I sat back in shock not liking his tone at all. I could be a mother.
"I know what it entails Jasper, and I can be that person. We get along great he's already my little shadow, he cried when I left. I can't explain it but it feels like fate. I was meant to meet Anton he was meant to be mine!"
"Look I'm not saying you could never be a mother but don't you agree it's a little soon your 24, you just got your first actual story and you think this is a perfect time to start a little family? Look nothing set in stone so you had a great weekend with a nice kid. That's fine just don't change your life plan"
I sat back in my chair defeated while Edward looked warily between us, probably waiting for me to spit fire. The rest of the night was pretty subdued and I sent both of them home early complaining I was tired. I know neither believed me but at the time I didn't care.
When they left I rang my best friend Rose, she was away on a business meeting for a new promotional campaign and would be back next week. I felt bad ringing her so late but I needed to vent my frustration at the whole situation.
Rose was more diplomatic and told me to spend more time with Anton and decide what I wanted to do. And for now leave Jasper to think the discussion had ended. There was no point getting him angry and potentially ending our relationship when I had yet to decide on Anton.
I went to bed happy to know I had a plan and sent Jasper a quick text apologising for my behaviour. He didn't reply but I knew everything would be fine come morning.
So for the next two months that's what I did, I spent all my free time with Anton. I loved the kid. I learnt that he liked only vanilla ice cream, with chocolate sauce, but not chocolate ice-cream. Loved bacon and hated eggs. He only eat broccoli because it looked he was eating a tree and hated carrots because they were a weird colour. He loves bananas because he felt like a monkey man gut hated apples, they made him feel sickly, but the boy could drown out a pint of the juice in no time at all.
He loved toy cars, so I made sure to buy him a new one each time I visited. Sue said I was spoiling him but I had a soft spot for my little man. And now I couldn't imagine my life without him.
After my article was sent in which my editor loved and the feedback was amazing I was given more leeway with my articles, so I spent more time at home, meaning more time to see Anton. We would go to the park during the day and feed the ducks and play on the swings. But never the slide, he said it was too high and there was no seatbelt. He always made me laugh.
Every time I dropped him off he would give me a hug and promise to some back 'real soon' and Sue would again encourage me to adopt him. I told her I was considering it but my mind was already set.
I got home that night and rang the one person who could give me advice.
"Hey sexy, I'm free right now if you're ready and willing"
I snorted down the phone as Edward chuckled along.
"So what's up?"
"Ok soo... you must have noticed I've been kind of M.I.A lately?"
"Hahaha yeah Jasper and Rose haven't been too happy... soo what's up?"
"I need your help. I want to adopt Anthony"
Edward groaned down the phone. Not really the reception I was looking for so I continued.
"Look I know it sounds kind of outrageous but I love the little man... Honestly Edward I spend 5 days a week with him, we go to the park, I've taken him toy shopping, to the zoo. I love him. I know it sounds utterly ridiculous but I want him to be my son"
"Bella, we can't do this over the phone. Come to my office tomorrow ok. We'll talk. But I'm not sure I can really help.
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you..."
"Look its fine, but have you talked to Jasper. I know he jokes around but kids are not in his near future you might want to have a little talk with him first o.k."
"I will I promise, but for now can you not say anything please"
"You have my word swan. I'll see you tomorrow Swan"
I woke up early the next morning ready to get the ball rolling. I wanted Anton to by my son.
Edwards's office was downtown; his firm didn't make a lot of profit and dealt with mostly non profit cases. Edward inherited a large income when his grandfather died and after buying the apartment him and Jasper now shared he could pretty much live off Jaspers rent and his income. Inside though was spectacular, every office was large comfortable furnished and there was even a little play area for the children that were often in the office.
I walked past Edwards's secretary Jane and strolled into his office. Edward was sat on the corner of his desk in a tailored grey suit and skinny black tie looking like a GQ model as always. He told me one minute as he finished off a pretty serious sounding phone conversation. I sat down in his large office chair, it was my favourite and waited for him to finish.
I must have again phased out, as I woke up to Edward stood in front of me waving an arm in front of my face.
"You do know clients sit on that side of the desk right"
I leaned forward flirtatiously and grabbed his tie "so does that mean you will help little old me" I pouted
"Funny Bella, in fact hysterical" he muttered as he walked around his desk to the said client seat.
"Look Bella, I know you like this kid and that's understandable with how much time you've spent with him but are you 100percent sure about this"
I was quite frankly fed up of this conversation I had it with Rose at least 3 times this week.
"Yes Edward. I don't just like the kid. I love him. He hates the foster home, not that they don't care for him because they do but he needs a mother and I can do that. Please don't stand in my way. I need him in my life.
Edward quickly groaned leaning his head back. Stress marring his perfect face.
"I need to meet this kid"
"WHAT?"
"What, don't I get to meet who's finally stole little swans heart" he smarted.
"Funny Edward real funny, look if I let you meet him will you promise to help me. You'll love him too. He's hard not to love" I said with a big smile on my face like a doting mum.
"I can't promise but you will defiantly have more of a chance than you do now"
"Fine let me ask Sue if we can take him to lunch.
An hour later we pulled up outside the home. I had a quick chit chat with Charlotte and some of the other children and introduced Edward. A lot of the girls seemed to be smitten with his charm so I quickly dragged him off before he gathered a following.
As soon as I opened the door my legs were hit by a little guy with brown hair
"Bell here!"
I picked him up and sat him on my hip, kissing his forehead and turned around to face Edward. He was stood with a smile matching mine on his face.
"Hey little man, you ready to come to lunch with me and my friend Edward"
As soon as I mentioned Edward, Anton's heads was buried in my neck. He was a shy little guy sometimes. Edward the kid lover wasn't having that though as he extended his hand for a fist pump.
"Hey Anton, I'm Edward" He said with the signature crooked smile on his face and arm still extended as he grabbed Anton's arm from around my neck teaching him how to bump fist
"You ready for some pizza, and Bella even said you can take one of your cool toys!
That was all it took for Anton to jump down and run up the stairs squealing. He returned a minute later with a handful. I laughed at Edwards face as he looked amazed at the sheer amount of cars Anton held.
I bent down telling Anton he can only bring one but we can come back soon and play with them all. That seemed to placate him as he picked his favourite blue jeep and quietly sat on the step waiting for us to tie his shoe as he quietly placed vroom vroom with his toy on the stairs.
Edward bent down picking up Anton's pair of shoes and tied them for him. It was sweet. I always heard that he was good with kid but seeing it was amazing. He really was brilliant and even put Anton at ease.
"Aright lil' man" I crooned sitting him on my hip. "Let's go get our tummies fed" I joked tickling his stomach.
Anton let out his cute little giggle.
"Ed and bell go food time?" Anton asked
"Yep where taking you and the jeep for pizza and if you're lucky you might even get to colour!" I replied acting excited for him.
"Come ed. Food!" Anton shouted hurrying Edward up.
We walked out the house still laughing at Anton's antics. I could tell already that Edward was smitten. Sue had let us borrow her Car seat so we installed it into Edwards's car and got Anton safely buckled up. By the time we were ready for the road Anton was already speeding his little jeep over the car seats. It was adorable.
Lunch went well; me and Edward shared a large Pepperoni pizza with Anton nibbling on a slice of mine and his kid's meal of chicken nuggets and wedges. It was really fun to just be out and be carefree with Anton, it made me see what my life could be like a few years down the line. Edward seemed to like him as they both sat silently for 10 minutes while they coloured together Anton snapping at Edward for not using enough blue. It was hilarious. Even the waitress seemed to love him, she came over frequently always replacing Anton's drink when it was empty and asking him how he enjoyed his food.
I let Edward take him to the boy's bathroom before we left knowing he had drank way too much juice. They walked off together to the bathroom hand in hand. I noticed quite a few women stare. It wasn't surprising Edward was a handsome man and him being with a kid make all woman wish they could have his children. They're just seemed to be something about Edward that put children at ease. It may be that they're at the same maturity level I'm not sure. But it seemed to work.
When we dropped him off I again got a tear in my eyes. We walked inside the house all hand in hand with Anton swinging in the middle as he giggled. When we went to say bye he came and hugged us both.
"I come with?" he asked looking back and forth between me and Edward.
"Not today little man but you can help Sue make din din for everyone and I'll come back real soon ok?"
I could tell from his face that this was in fact not ok. He instantly started crying complaining that he wanted to stay with me, to the point I stayed there for an extra hour until he cried himself into a nap. I walked silently to the car with tears pooling my eyes not wanting to leave.
Edward ran after me quickly pulling me into an embrace and placing a kiss on my forehead.
"Hey, you're right. He was meant to be your son. And I will help Bella. I will do everything I can to not see his face tear up like that. Just trust me. Ok?"
I quickly agreed after hesitantly looking into his eyes. He looked so passionate and I just knew that he would help me. He understood my love for Anton. I instantly beamed at him throwing my arms around his neck again thanking him a million times. He eventually dragged me off him, which was a good idea because I was so freaking happy I was about to pepper kisses all over his beautiful face.
After dropping me off at home Edward arranged for me to meet him at his office at 10 o'clock to start the paper work and he was getting a close friend that often dealt with adoption to help. I was soo giddy. I rang Sue telling her that I wanted to adopt Anton. She was ecstatic and immediately said she would give in a reference for me. This was it. I could adopt Anton.
Now to just let my long term boyfriend into the picture.
