Chapter 3 (Bella Swan)
I grunted as Ella returned the phone to me and smiled ear-to-ear being happy after talking to Edward. She bounced over to me and snuggled into my chest falling asleep.
Weeks later, on a sunny day. Ella dragged me to the park closer to our house and I too decided to spend the entire Saturday with her, so I called the gift store and asked them to bring over my substitute and told them I'd be back at work the next week. After I had finished my call and turned over to look at the colorful slides I couldn't find Ella. "Ella" I screamed and looked around frantically.
"Momma" I heard Ella squealing and laughing I turned around and saw Ella in the air with some ones arms waiting to catch her. As I took in the persons details I looked at the hair and there it was, the messy copper-bronze hair and I sighed deeply. Edward.
I walked over to Edward and saw Ella with her biggest smile this morning. "Uhm" I cleared my throat and Edward turned around and flashed me a crooked grin and I grimaced looking at Ella and pulling her into my arms and kissed her cheek walking away from Edward.
"Hello Bella" he greeted and stood in the same place. I murmured a response and turned to walk forward and as met by Edward jogging over to me and walking along with me. "Would you like to come for lunch Ella?" he asked Ella and I snorted walking faster. Ella was holding Edward's finger and resting her head on my shoulder. "Momma lets go with Ewward" I heard a soft whisper in my ear and I turned to Edward "Fine" I muttered and let him lead the way.
We sat down at a table for two and were given a baby seat for Ella, the waitress handed us our menu cards and flirted a little with Edward and walked away as I caught myself staring at Edward and the waitress. He looked back at me and winked and I looked down blushing deeply.
After a while we decided to order our food and the same waitress was up again and started flirting with Edward. Edward looked disgusted and smiled at me "Love, what would you like to eat?" he asked and my eyes shot up and I glared at him, he looked into my eyes with a pleading expression and I understood what was going on in his head. "Oh I'm confused everything's so good honey" I winked. Ella sat babbling to herself and looked at me "Momma I be hungyy" she looked at me. "Yes baby girl we'll have lunch soon" Edward told her touching her cheek and smiling. The waitress looked baffled she looked at Edward with a weird face and pulled out the notepad and a pen from her blonde bun. "Sir, I have others to serve" she tapped her foot and looked at me,Ella and then at Edward.
I giggled and looked at Edward who just winked at me, "Bella why don't you go ahead and order what you like?" he said staring down at his menu running his hands through his hair. "I'll have a chicken quesadilla please and the child will have shrimps and spaghetti" I smiled and looked at Edward who was staring at me "You?" I whisper-asked and he shook his head looking down again "I'll have a shrimp and spaghetti too" he winked at Ella.
"Momma Ewward eating what I like" she clapped her hands and squealed. I nodded smiling and looked down, soon after it became unusually quiet and I looked up at Edward who was staring at me again. "What?" I asked slightly annoyed.
"Your hair has slight red in it" he noted touching a few red strands and tucking them behind my ear. "Yeah" I gulped and looked at Ella who was staring at Edward.
"Bella?" I heard Edward say again. "Mm" I murmured, "Bella listen to me okay? I mean that day at Starbucks was a total screwed up thing. I didn't mean to hurt you and well Emmett is really in love with Rosalie I'm not lying Bella.". I nodded and mumbled an 'okay' to him. "Bella?" he asked again, "What is it EDWARD?" I said in a louder tone. "Can we be friends Bella?" he asked in his smooth silky voice which made me think for a while.
"I promise Bella nothing more than friends and I promise to stand by you forever. Oh and Ella too" he smirked. I smiled and nodded extending my hand towards him and he took my little fragile looking hand in his massive one. His hands were soft and so warm I didn't feel like letting go of it yet and I guess that was his plan too. I smiled at him and we were still holding hands when the waitress arrived with the food and kept it on the table.
Ella dug in with her spaghetti and shrimps and so did Edward, I smiled and took little bites of my chicken quesadilla and had trouble with all the extra cheese in it as it extended in long strands in front of me making Ella giggle.
"Ewward, momma be messy today" she giggled and Edward snickered next to me, I ignored them and continued eating my food. After we were done eating the waitress bought our check and me and Edward fought over the bill. "I asked you for lunch so I'm supposed to pay". "NO!" I shouted back at him. He snorted pulling out his wallet and a card for it. "EDWARD! NO!" I shouted again. "Stop fighting momma and Ewward" I heard a little voice call out from below, I looked at my little girl and smiled lifting her up. Oh boy she was heavier, must be all the food.
"Edward…" I said in a sing song voice. "Let me pay for myself and Ella and you can pay for yourself, okay?" I asked being patient. "But were friends now and friends don't fight over something this stupid". I huffed and stuffed in a fifty between the check holder and stomped out with Ella in my arms.
I pushed pass the door and got out into the cool air "Bella…Ella…Bella Wait up!" I heard Edward jog over to us and start walking backwards facing us. I laughed for some reason "Edward I swear if I see a pole behind you I'm not telling you" I giggled. He stuck his tongue out at me and turned before walking with us normally. I struggled a little with Ella in my arms and it was evident to him.
"Can I carry her Bella?" he asked and extended his arms. I thought for a minute and knew it was bit too uncomfortable for me and so I handed her over to him which made the two of them smile all wide. "Ewward" she said and touched his cheek. "Ella" Edward named her sweetly and both of them moved forward to kiss each other on the mouth. I stood there with my jaw dropping to the floor, That's my baby EDWARD-freaking-CULLEN. I walked away fast and ignored the two of them until I felt someone walk next to me.
We walked for a while until we reached my apartment door and I grabbed Ella from him. I was mad at both of them for leaving me out. "Bye" I mumbled and heard Ella cry. "Ella, baby stop crying please" I told her with as much patience I could. "Momma I wonna be with Ewward" she said, that's it, I was pissed. I thrust her into Edward's arms and spoke a little louder than I usually do "Alright Ella, you go ahead and stay with your Ewward. Would you like your clothes at Ewwards place too? Gimme a minute I'll have your stuff packed now and with Edward and then you can live with him all you want. " I could feel the heat through me hot and red and the pricking in my eyes as I walked through the lobby door and ran up the stairs, not patient enough to use the elevator.
I opened the door to my apartment and ran into mine and Ella's room lunging on the bed and choking over sobs. I cried and hid my face between a pillow which smelled like Ella which made me cry more. After a long time crying I felt my eyes close and darkness took over me completely.
After what felt like a long time I opened my eyes to see two roses in front of me one pink and one red, I picked it up and looked at a piece of card attached to the stem of the rose with a pink ribbon, I opened the folded note and it read.
We're Sorry…We both love you a lot Momma/Bella, always and forever. Love, Edward and Ella
I kept it carefully on my nightstand and walked out of the room, everything looked the way it was. I walked out and saw Edward and Ella in his lap crying and sobbing. I stood by the doorframe and looked at them for a minute. "Ewward promise momma no be mad at me?" she asked, tears streaming down her flushed cheeks and Edward comforting her , "Ella, baby girl momma is just tired so she needs some rest. Ofcourse she isn't mad at you, you're her little beautiful baby" he said to her and wiped her tears.
She snuggled up into him and he rocked back and forth patting her back and I heard the sobs die down and knew she was asleep. I looked up at the wall to check on the time it was half past five. I walked over to Edward and kneeled down behind him, clearing my throat. He turned his head to the side and I skid forward sitting in front of him, he looked me straight in the eyes.
I extended my arms never breaking his gaze to take my Ella, "Done with the anger?" he asked me in a serious tone I ignored him and took Ella into my lap holding her close to me and hugging her tight whispering to her "I'm so sorry my Ella, my baby. I'm stupid and crazy and selfish and…" I was trailing away when Edward pressed his soft fingers on my lips silencing me.
"Shsh" he hushed me and I was dumb for the minute. He moved closer to my side and wrapped his arms around my shoulders, I squared them but loosened up after sometime and melted into him with my baby in my arms and closed my eyes feeling content for once in all these hard years.
We sat like that for an immeasurable time and I felt Ella stir in my arms, "Momma" she said and sat up rubbing her puffy eyes. I smiled at the little angel in my arms and she looked at me with her bottom lip quivering, "Ella, my love. I'm sorry, can you forgive momma?" I asked. She moved upwards to me and gave me a big kiss on my mouth and wrapped her little arms around me "It okay momma, I know you love me" she said and I kissed her again and again, wrapped in Edwards arms all the while.
"Ewward go home or your momma be mad at you" she said, Edward and I giggled at that. "My mom lives in Washington Ella, I live with my brother here" he said and winked at me. I rolled my eyes and moved a little causing Edward to remove his arms from around me, I hated that loss of his warm heat radiating towards me and that smell from him. I stood up and he walked to the door "Girls I'll go for now, see you later" he opened the doorknob before turning back "Bella it was a nice day today" he smiled and continued "Bye. Ella, I love you baby girl" he blew her a kiss and this time a smiled because Ella pretended to catch the kiss and handed it to me making me chuckle.
I carried Ella into our room after changing her clothes and getting her ready for bed. "Momma?" she asked in her baby babble. "Yes honey?" I said "why you be mad at Ewward and Ella" she asked and her eyes were turning watery. "Um, because you were leaving momma out, so mom felt a little jealous of your Edward and so she got mad" I replied hypothetically. "I love you momma, I always love you more than anybody, you always be my favorite" she said and I wrapped her up in my arms hugging her tight and whispering my love to her softly until she fell asleep. Poor baby got so sad today
We woke up the next morning and got ready after breakfast and decided to watch some TV. I put on Cartoon Network for Ella and took out my laptop to get over with some of my work from office. I checked my mail and there were few unread stories which I decided to read. I started reading a new story sent to me named 'I met a girl' It was a story about a woman with a child and no father. The woman has another man entering her life and taking away all her pain and worry, it seemed nice but nothing I could relate to. As I went down the screen to check the authors name my heart stopped.
Edward Anthony Cullen.
I read the story over and over again and tried to look at it professionally. I approved it and smiled sending it to Jasper for the rest of the procedures. The day dragged on slowly with me doing my work and having an early dinner and rushing into bed early.
I woke up in the middle of the night with a vibration under my pillow, I pulled out my phone and answered groggily not bothered to check the caller's ID "Hello?". "Bella" his smooth voice came from the other end, "Edward?" I asked. "Yes, were you sleeping? I'm sorry to trouble you I thought you slept late" he replied apologetically. I fell back on bed and kept talking to Edward for almost an hour and a half, we talked about things we had in common, food, places we've visited and like to visit. Everything
"Night Edward" I said and waited for his reply.
"Good Night my Bella sleep well" he said sweetly.
"Say What?" I asked through the phone and heard his chuckle before he hung up.
I woke up the next morning throwing myself back into routine and rushed to work with Alice and Rosalie and left Ella at daycare. After taking Ella in the evening she informed me that Edward had visited there again and he even played many of the games with them. I just smiled and drove till we reached home.
It had been weeks now since the day I had snapped at Edward in Starbucks and the same day he entered Ella's life. It was one week since I had approved his story for publishing. By now I and Edward were great friends, we talked often at night and he mentioned about the book telling that he had given it for checks and it was yet to be approved, I had inwardly smiled knowing he'd be very happy.
I sat at home yet again with my laptop, too lazy to get ready and go to work and kept Ella with me. My phone buzzed sometime during noon and I smiled as it was Edward's. "Hello?" I said and continued reading my mails, "BELLAAAA ! Guess what ?" I giggled knowing the news already "What Edward?" I asked sounding like I was bored. "I got approved for my story" he shouted completely excited and I squealed with him too, he asked me if he could come over and I agreed.
After an hour I stood in front of my mirror and put on a navy blue turtle neck with grey flannel pants and tied my hair into a loose ponytail and walked over and sat Ella on my lap staring at the tv when I heard a knock. Ella was in hysterics and she jumped over to the door with me running behind her "Ella you are not going to open that door yourself". She waited for me and I opened the door with her peeping from my side.
"Ewward" she squealed and squirmed to him and hugged his legs which made him laugh "hey I'm ticklish there" he said and picked her up handing me some bags he carried and smiled at me. We walked inside and I kept the bags on my coffee table and turned to look at Ella running around and jumping onto the couch I smiled and turned away showing my back to Edward, I turned around after I adjusted the table and saw Edward inches from me he gave me his biggest smile, flashing his pearl like teeth and wrapped his strong and long arms around me. I was enveloped in the best scent ever, it smelled like warm soap, cologne and…Edward. He pulled me tighter to his chest and now his jacket was unzipped which made me feel his warm body. I smiled and wrapped my arms around him tight and nuzzled my face into his chest taking in the wonderful smell. He smelt like comfort. Like home
He pulled away after a while and sat down on the couch with Ella bouncing in his lap. I looked at the bags and raised my eyebrow. "Lunch" he shrugged and I smiled. Bless you, Edward. Saves me all the cooking mess.
I pulled the boxes out of the bags and started opening them and smiled at the food. "Edward how did you know Ella eats Tempura?" I smiled looking at the food in the box and he just shrugged. "Hey give me and my Ella food, we're starving" he said in a smug tone and I put my hands on my hips and raised an eyebrow, he laughed along with Ella. I emptied the food into plates and handed them to Edward, I poured mine and Edward's ramen into bowls and put some of its toppings and turned to hand it to Edward.
When I turned around I saw a sight which made my heart stutter, Edward was smiling and feeding my little Ella while she sat on his lap and played with his keys. I passed him the soup and he motioned me to leave it at the table so I took my soup and plopped on the couch. "Edward I think Ella can eat herself" I said trying not to sound rude. "No its fine, I like feeding this munchkin" he said chuckling and Ella mumbled back with a full mouth "Lew Ewwarw feeth mwe" I laughed and nodded looking at them from under my lashes.
After Ella was rubbing her full tummy she sat down next to Edward and leaned against him seeing a fairy picture book I got her last week.Edward drank and ate his ramen and put away the dishes while I cleaned the table, after settling back on the couch Ella climbed into his lap and he just held her close to him. After a while I could hear her gurgle and she fell asleep in his arms. One lucky baby I have.
I asked him to carry her inside but he declined wanting to keep her in his arms. We sat there talking about his work and he said he worked as a doctor at the NYU hospital and he liked writing too and his dream was to get his own book published.
I smiled and nodded and answered to every question of his. He seemed like a nice person he told me about random times during childhood and I laughed at a few. He asked me about my parents and that put a damper on my mood. "Um…they disowned me" I said simply like I didn't give two shits about it. "Oh I'm so sorry...I didn't know" he defended himself. "they disowned me for getting pregnant out of wedlock"I blurted out and looked at him. "You can tell me anything Bella" he encouraged moving closer to me. "Well James was my ex, I was nineteen in college, got knocked up, he chickened out and left, I got disowned by my only family and it's been like that until now"I sighed deeply and looked down trying to swallow the huge lump in my throat.
"Bella" was all I heard until strong arms encircled me and I was pressed into his knock hard but warm chest, his smell seemed to calm me down and the lump in my throat melted. "I'm sorry I asked, I'm a douche Bella. I asked even though I knew I'm sorry". I pulled away and looked at him "You knew?" I asked slightly angry but very curious. "Seth told me" he whispered I simply nodded and sighed. "Its alright I hope" he asked, again I nodded and looked at him.
He smirked and opened his arms for me, I looked down at the irresistible embrace and thought about my no-falling-in-love Bella. Screw you no-falling-in-love-with-Bella. This is falling for Edward perfect Cullen. I smiled and moved forward and again settled into his warm embrace for the next few immeasurable hours.
