Where my Heart Lies
Chapter 16: Birthday Surprises
Bella
Hey I'm on my way, had a long shift. Edward texts me as I am struggling with Emmalin.
"I don't what to go anywhere," she mutters as her twin walks in dressed and ready to go.
"Carlie is up and dressed, you need to get a move on it," I say as move toward the blinds opening them to let the sun come in.
"Why can't we just stay home with you and daddy?" she questions as I sit back down on her bed while Carlie joins me.
"It's your first birthday here, and the family wants to make up for the lost years. I will be there and your daddy will be there," I say as I hear the front door open and close.
"I still want to stay home," she mutters as Edward pops his head into the room.
"I thought you guys would be all ready," he says as he walks into the room still in his scrubs. He still used the cane as it helped steady him. Emmett teases him all the time he was like Dr. House from the show only difference was he was a pill popper. Then Emmett would get all serious and question him if he was.
"Yeah, One out of two dressed is good progress," I say as I motion toward Carlie as he sits down in the chair next to Emmalin's bed.
"What's going on sweetpea?" he asks as she moves from her bed into his lap. Emmalin had turned out to be such a daddy's little girl. She favored him more and more than Carlie did. It was strange to see the bond between them was very strong as well.
"I just want to spend my birthday here at home with you and mommy and Carlie," she exclaims as he hugs her.
"Well I think we should still go to the family get together, but we will only stay for a little while. Carlie is that fine with you," he asks as she turns to look at him.
"I want to play with our cousins," she replies as I get him a raised eyebrow wanting to know how he planned to handle this situation. He was great at working with them.
"Carlie you can still play with your cousins, but if Emmalin wants to leave we have to stay together as a family," he says as she moves closer to him.
"Okay," she finally relents as Emmalin gets down and begins to change her clothes. I move toward my room as Edward follows me.
"Did I do the right thing?" he questions as he gives me a kiss on the cheek.
"I think you handled it perfectly. I don't know what it is but Emmalin just isn't herself when all the family gets together," I honestly say as he takes his top off.
"Maybe she is still worried about everything that has happened this past year. I mean it was a lot for them to handle," he says as he heads toward the shower. I thought that as well. But she didn't seem to be like that whenever the family came to our house for get-togethers. I would talk with Carlisle when I saw him.
"Are you done already," I asked as he made his way into the living room, he was dressed casually in a blue long sleeve shirt and jeans.
"Yeah, I see our little trouble maker is all dressed as well," he says as he ruffles up both girls hair before tickling them. It was moments like this that I cherished knowing we were making all of these memories together. "Mom texted me to see what the hold up was," he softly says as he stands back up reaching for his cane.
"Daddy how long do you have to walk with a stick," Carlie asks as I am finishing up with putting the last gift in the back of the Volvo.
"As long as I might need it; I want to be sure I won't hurt myself," he says as I get in the passenger seat. It was a quiet drive to his parents' house. Edward and I have been back together roughly 5 and half months. We have had a few disagreements, but for the most part we have worked well together. I hate that I felt it was necessary all those years ago to run away from him, but then to do it a second time just to be spiteful hurt. I wanted my relationship to work with him for both of our daughters and because I really couldn't see my life without him now.
"Penny for your thoughts," Edward says as he pulls onto the road leading to his parents' house.
"I was just thinking of how far we have come. Also, about the wasted years apart," I say as he frowns when I look over at him.
"Bella, the past is the past. Today is our future," he says softly as he pulls up behind my dad's truck. "Okay girls I want you to remember this is your party and when you want to leave your mommy and I will leave," he says as he turns to look at both girls.
"Okay," both of them say as they unbuckle and get out of the Volvo.
"Edward, Bella and twins," Alice says loudly as she opens the front door for us. Edward was on better speaking terms with both Rosalie and Alice than I was. I went out with them if Esme was going, but I didn't just hang out with them. I just didn't feel right around them anymore after they turned on me.
"Alice," I say politely as I usher Emmalin into the decorated house. Oh my god, Alice threw pink and purple all over the house. It was way over broad, but Emmalin seemed to like the colors once she got past the entryway. Carlie was already long gone, by the time Emmalin let go of my hand.
I followed after the twins while Emmett pulled Edward off to the side. He said something about needing to talk to him about something important. I just shrugged and left the guys to do their thing. I found my dad talking with Esme on the back porch.
"Hey kiddo," Charlie says as I sit down and watch all the kids running after each other.
"How are you doing dad?" I question as my cell phone vibrates in my pocket, but I ignore it. It was probably just my boss wanting to talk with the girls to wish them a 'Happy Birthday.'
"I'm doing well. The doctors are telling me that I am doing better now than I was doing before the accident," he chuckles as I smile. Of course he is doing better; he is on a healthier diet and he has a network of people who love him. My phone buzzes once more.
"I was trying to call you," a voice says from behind me. I look back to see Edward just inches away holding a sleeping Emmalin in his arms.
"What happened?' I ask as I jump up.
"She was lying under one of the trees and fell asleep. Carlie says she was up half the night excited about turning 6 today," he says as Carlie runs up to us.
"I get it. This morning she was tried," I say as he shakes his head. "Well let's let her lie down and wake her in an hour or two. No reason to head home just yet," I say as he sits down beside me on one of the yard chairs holding Emmalin in his lap.
Edward and I spend the next hour or so talking with my dad about some renovation Edward wants to do to the house. It was something about adding a sun room or something onto the house to give me a space to write, but yet enjoy the beauty of the outside as well. Charlie and Edward are at such an ease talking, that sometimes I'm envious of how well they get along.
"Did I ruin the surprise?" Emmalin whispers to her dad as I am about to get up to call the kids in for food and cake.
"No, sweetie," he says as he kisses her forehead. "I have it all ready just waiting for my two special helpers," he says as he tickles her making her laugh with delight.
XOXOXOXOXOXO
Edward
Bella and I were currently sitting next to each other while our daughters opened the gifts. I had to chuckle a few times when they opened a gift to see that they had received the same gift. Bella would nudge me as I did this because both girls would look over at me with a glare.
Alice and Jasper got them both a few outfits that could be mixed and matched. Rosalie and Emmett bought them a few gift cards to various stores, since they were unsure what to buy them. Mom and Dad got them a science kit, and some clothes. Bella and I got them a few toys, but their excitement came when they opened their American Girls dolls. Bella had created dolls that were supposed to look like them. I bought a few matching outs fits for them and their dolls. I was happy when I was jumped on by both Emmalin and Carlie. Charlie thought probably gave them the best gift; he gave them bond certificates for Disney. Renée sent them gift cards.
"Daddy is it time," Carlie asked excitedly as we were walking by the stream. I looked over to Bella who gave me a puzzled look.
"Yes, I think it is the perfect time," I say as the girls stop and stand on either side of me as Emmett comes up behind us slightly out of sight. I look to Emmalin who hands me a small box. It was now or never. Bella is really looking puzzled even more now than before.
"Edward," she softly says as I bend to one knee.
"Bella, I know we aren't perfect. I know that I messed up years ago, if I could take back that night I would. I can't though, but if you say yes to marry me I will try to make up for that time. You are the only woman I have ever loved. I loved you then as much as I do now. I want to wake up every morning with you right next to me. I want to be able to make family memories with you and our daughters. I want so much with you. Isabella Marie Swan will you make me the happiest man in the world and agree to become my wife. Will you marry me?" I ask as she looks from me to our daughters.
"Yes," she whispers so softly I almost missed it, but I didn't.
"Really," I ask as if I was hearing things.
"Don't give her a chance to back out?" I hear Alice yell as the family starts coming toward us.
"Right," I say I open the ring box showing her the simple but elegant ring I got for her.
"Edward, it's beautiful," she murmurs as I slide it on her finger.
"No you're beautiful," I say as I stand up as quickly as I can and pull her into a huge kiss.
"Ugh!" both girls mutter as I deepen the kiss.
"Get a room," Emmett yells out as everyone laughs at his comment.
"It's about damn time," I hear Charlie say as I let go of Bella while the family moves around us to congratulate us. We spent another hour hanging out with the family. Esme had cornered Bella asking her to let her help her plan the wedding. Bella told her she wanted a small simple wedding, but would let her know.
"Were the two of you in on this?" she questions our girls once all the gifts were in the Range Rover.
"Daddy asked us last week if it was okay for him to marry you," Carlie says as if it was the most normal thing for someone to do.
"Really," she ponders as she looks at the ring on her finger.
"We also got to help pick out the ring," Emmalin adds as Bella turns in her seat to really look at me.
"Seriously," she asks as I just shrug my shoulders.
"I wanted them to feel like they had some kind of involvement in the process," I say as she leans over and kisses my cheek as we are stopped at the only light in town. A few minutes later I am pulling up to our driveway.
"Let's get the girls to bed, we can unload the gifts later," she says as I open the door behind me to find Carlie fast asleep. Emmalin though is wide awake laughing with her mom as she gets out of the Rover.
"Good night sweetpea!" I say as I tuck Emmalin in her bed. Carlie was changed and still asleep. I backed out of their room almost right into Bella.
"I loved how you allowed the girls to be a part of the whole planning and pulling off of your little surprise," she whispers into my ear as she nips on my earlobe.
"Thank you!" I say as I follow her into our room.
"Edward, I want you to know I love you so much," she says as I pull her toward me as I sat down on the bed.
"Bells, I know that," I say as I use her nickname. We both get up and change for bed. As I climbed into the bed I realized we were finally engaged. I was going to be spending the rest of my life with Bella.
"Penny for your thoughts," she murmurs into my neck as she cuddles up with me.
"I was just thinking we're finally engaged," I say as she chuckles at my words.
"Are you just realizing that or is it just sinking in?" she teases me.
"I think it's both," I admit as she snuggles her head into the crook of my arm.
"Well good because now you're stuck with me," she says as I kiss her.
"There could be worse things in life," I say as she laughs. We both fall sleep in each other's embrace.