Chapter 14: A Surprise Visit
Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer and Summit. I own nothing.
December 25, 2012
Ben's pov
"Come on, Tanya. Angela has been in the hospital for weeks with the twins. We just want to go home and have a quiet Christmas. No baby shower today. We haven't even installed them in their room, yet." I stood in the main drive, bickering with the Cullens' zany tenant, begging for sleep. Angela was still in the Neon. She had drifted to sleep on the drive home. The babies were in their carseats, facing the rear window.
The Denali girls had developed a close friendship with my wife, and that was part of the reason that we were now parents of twins at the age of 24. Kate and Tanya's interests had rubbed off a bit on Angela, even though the three girls were about as similar as milk, red wine and vodka.
"I promise you, you will be glad if you bring them in," Tanya begged. "Come on, Ben. Just for a few minutes, please? For us? For Christmas?" She fluttered those eyes that meant to dazzle me, but I was mostly annoyed. Well, it was Christmas. Time for peace and goodwill. I sighed in resignation.
I grumbled and went to wake Angela. "Hey, my love, Tanya wants us to come in for a minute for Christmas."
Angela groaned. "I guess we should get it over with. They'll be knocking on the cottage door otherwise." Angela rolled out of the Neon. She was wearing old sweats under her winter jacket, and her hair was coming out of its untidy pony tail. She looked tired and drawn. She looked like she needed a solid sleep, and that is what I had been intending to give her.
Angela pulled Theo's baby seat out of the car, and walked around the back of the car to the door of the big house. I grabbed Ethan from the side opposite and followed her in.
"We're not staying long, Tanya. Angela needs sleep."
Angela set the baby seat down. "I'm okay for a few minutes, thank you Ben," she murmured as she kicked off her boots. We started into the living room, and stopped dead. There were ten people sitting there. Ten people that we hadn't seen in two years. The Cullen Clan.
Angela shrieked and threw herself forward into Esme's open arms. Bella and Edward came one to each side of her and she kissed them while still hanging onto Esme. It turned into a group hug. Ang was sobbing.
Jasper, Emmett and Jacob came over to thump me on the back and offer their congratulations. Soon, everyone was making the circuit, shaking hands, hugging, laughing excitedly and saying hello. The Denalis were beaming and clapping with joy. Alice and Rosalie bee-lined for the baby seats and peeked in at the boys.
"Go ahead, get them out," I chuckled. The women folk needed no further encouragement. They unzipped the babies from their snugglies and seatbelts and carried them gently over to the group, aw-ing and cooing.
"Look at the hair!" exclaimed Rosalie. "They have nearly as much as Renesmee did. Look Nessie!" Rosalie carried Ethan over to a young lady of about 15 years. Jake was sitting with his arm around her.
There was no way that could be Nessie. She was too tall. As tall as Bella. And too beautiful. "Hey squirt! When did you get so grown up?"
"Trust me, Ben, they grow up way too fast, in more ways than one," Edward eyed me meaningfully. Angela came over and pushed Theo into his arms. Edward expertly moved the baby into his hands and held him up to have a good look at him. Even at five pounds, Theo looked miniscule in those long-fingered hands. Just think how he would have looked there five weeks ago, when he weighed 3 and a half pounds!
"Look at that spiky black hair. Spitting image of you, Ben, but not as neat and tidy, and a lot more wrinkled. We need to get some meat on you, junior. Well, you poor little guy, I take it you are the kid that got named after me. Uncle Edward will try not to be too much of an embarrassment to you." Theo chose that moment to loudly fill his diaper.
Edward chuckled delightedly and tried to pass him to me. I said I thought he should change him, since Theo had directed the jobby at him. "Oh, no! I know how to clean up after girls, not boys. Ask somebody who will do the job right. Besides, he's too little. I don't want to hurt him." Rosalie came and whisked the baby away.
Everybody had a good time mauling the babies, and then Alice started passing us presents. Each member of the Cullen family had brought a special gift for each member of my family, and the cousins. The Denalis also had gifts for everyone. Ang and I felt badly. We did not have anything to give. We had been spending all our time at the hospital. Edward caught our chagrinned look.
"The only thing we wanted for Christmas was to see you, Ben. Don't you go buying us anything. There's nothing we need but family time."
Alice said, "Hear, hear!" as she flitted about the room taking pictures.
Tanya brought us snacks, and Angela had to go upstairs and nurse the babies after a couple of hours. She brought Ethan back down, and Esme carried Theo for her. Angela yawned as she sat down next to Bella.
Everyone regarded her with concern. "You know what, my dears, I hate to break up the party, but we are supposed to be at Charlie's in La Push right now, and he's going to eat us for Christmas dinner if we get there too late and spoil his turkey," Bella said.
"Oh, do you really have to go?" sighed Angela.
"I'm afraid so. But we have so enjoyed seeing you and meeting the babies. It has been a real blast." Bella started for the door. A mass exodus commenced.
"How long are you in town?" I asked.
"Sorry Ben, but I must be back at work on the 27th," said Carlisle.
"You came all the way from Muskoka, Ontario for two days?" I asked incredulously.
"Well, we had to fly in to see Charlie. Sorry, Ben. We have to get back. Work obligations. Maybe when the babies are bigger, you can come and stay with us for awhile," Edward suggested.
"Do you promise?" Angela demanded.
"You bet. Now, my little angel, come and kiss me goodbye, and don't you two forget how much you are loved." Edward released Ang and hugged me, and slapped me on the back. Then, he tickled each baby under the chin and the Cullens went out and got in their cars, waving and calling as they drove away.
Angela and I bundled up the babies and stepped out into the crisp, clean air. Because the ground was growing slippery, Eleazar and Garrett came with us to walk home to the cottage. They carried the kids, and I carried the diaper bag and the borrowed wash basket which was full of gifts. They set the babies down on the doorstep, wished us a Merry Christmas, and departed.
It certainly had been a good day. We stepped into the house, and Angela gasped.
There was a fresh fire burning in the hearth, and Bing Crosby was playing on the stereo. There was an enormous Christmas tree standing in front of the sitting room window, replete with twinkling lights and shiny decorations. The room smelled of pine, cinnamon, apple and popcorn. Everyone must have pitched in to give us a terrific Christmas. How the heck had they done it? We'd been with them all throughout most of the afternoon.
We turned toward the kitchen. A small turkey had been left to cook in the oven, and it would be ready in a half an hour according to Esme's note. A big tin of fresh gingerbread cookies was on the counter, and there was a pot of cooked mashed potatoes on the stove, and giblet gravy was simmering away on the back burner.
A slow cooker was sitting on the counter. It was full of simmering apple cider. A bread machine was there, too, with a loaf of whole wheat bread steaming inside. Angela looked in the fridge, and found a pumpkin pie and a container of whipped cream and a dish of cranberry sauce and one of fresh-whipped butter creamed with strawberry.
Angela would have to eat certain foods sparingly or they would affect her milk, but what an unexpected gourmet treat this was for us.
Two little tv tables had been set up in front of the couch, complete with small, white linen table cloths and napkins, crystal glasses, silver cutlery and plates. There was a card on one plate, addressed to Ang.
"Let's go see if we can get the babies to sleep in the crib." Angela whispered. We tiptoed back to their new room and stopped dead again. Everything of which there had been one, there were now two. Two bassinettes. Two cribs, two jumpers, two toddler beds. Only one change table, and rocker. Many, many more baby clothes. We slid the babies gently into their bassinettes, and crept out.
Angela rushed over and opened the card. In Edward's hand, it read, Dear Ang, Ben, Theo and Ethan, you are always in our hearts. Love,the Cullens, the Hales, the Denalis, the Swans, the Clearwaters, and the Blacks. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2012! Every person had added their own signature and a personal message. There was barely any whiteness visible on the large surface of the card. Angela put the card on the Christmas tree, like an ornament, and propped it open so it could be read easily. Her eyes glistened.
Angela and I said grace together, thanking God for kind friends, good family, innumerable blessings and healthy babies. Then, we ate until we were stuffed. We danced to Bing. We cuddled on the couch in the dark and admired the Christmas Tree while we listened to favourite Cds, including the one Edward had left for us two years ago. The babies actually slept for four hours before demanding attention.
It was the best Christmas ever. I wondered when the Cullens would get together with us again.