Thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews! I am so glad you've all stuck with me, and are continuing to love the story! It really means a lot to me :)
Thank you Moonstruck Kitten and angelnlove52. You both are the best beta's a girl could ask for! Again, thank you!
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CHAPTER 15
I had just barely cleared the door when I heard her screaming behind me, then I heard Edward.
"If you lay one finger on her, Tanya," he yelled. "I swear I will break your fucking hand!"
I stopped and turned around.
"What the fuck do you mean, I'm staying at the Holiday Inn? I am not staying in a fucking poor people's hotel!" She rounded on Edward. "Are you insane? You wouldn't even stay in a fucking Holiday Inn! How could you expect me to?"
"Well," I answered for him, and she turned to me with a glare. "It's really up to you where you stay, Tanya. But, if we're paying for the room, then you'll stay where we say you stay …. I guess if you'd rather stay in a Days Inn that'd be fine, just something in that price range."
She was staring at me as if I'd grown two heads and six eyes. Her mouth hung wide open. She slowly turned to face Edward. I couldn't really help but laugh when Edward just smirked, shrugging as he joined me. Grabbing my hand, we headed for my car.
"What about my luggage?!" she hissed from behind us.
Edward groaned, pulling his hand through his hair. I could tell he desperately wanted to tell her to carry it her damn self, but she was eight months pregnant, possibly with his child.
I smiled, squeezing his hand. "Help her."
He handed me the car keys and kissed me on the lips. I heard gagging sounds come from behind us, so I pulled him closer and deepened it. Edward didn't disappoint, he wrapped his arms around me, resting his hands on my ass as he pulled me flush against him.
"Oh, come on!" Tanya yelled.
I broke the kiss laughing. "Sorry, his lips are just so damn delectable … and so mine."
He laughed kissing me again real quick before whispering against my lips, "I love you."
"I love you, too."
He kissed me one last time then stepped away to help the wench. "Go get in the car and start it," he told me. "I'll be right there."
I nodded and did as I was told. I turned the heat on high, and luckily, the engine didn't have time to cool down so we got heat quickly. I hadn't realized how cold it was outside until Edward walked way.
It was only another minute or two before the back door opened and Tanya climbed in, bitching about riding in a poor man's car. I just rolled my eyes. I was suddenly glad Edward and I opted to take my Mazda rather than his Volvo after my doctor's appointment.
Edward slid in the driver seat and buckled before backing out.
"Where's the kid?" Tanya asked looking to Masen's booster seat.
"Don't worry about where my son is," Edward answered. "So what's it gonna be Tanya, the Holiday Inn or the Days Inn?"
Tanya huffed. "Holiday Inn. Thank god it's only two nights."
Her apartment was supposed to be ready for her to move in on Monday. I wasn't sure where the apartment was, or what he was paying for it, but I would definitely be getting some information tonight.
I wanted to know the exact custody and support agreement he had going. He had better damn well hope he wasn't planning on supporting her along with the kid—if it's his, that is. That would be a problem.
We drove in silence for a while. It was the most uncomfortable I'd ever been. I wanted to claw the wench's eyes out, and I desperately hoped her baby wasn't Edward's … though I had this gut-wrenching-feeling it was.
I don't know why, it was just a feeling I had, but it really fucking sucked. The woman had ruined my family. It was because of her, my son was without his father for three and a half years … okay, so that was my fault too … I mean, I was the one that ultimately decided not to call him and tell him he was a father.
Asshole move. Yes, I know.
"Edward, honey," Tanya cooed from the backseat. "Your baby and I are going to need food for our stay."
Edward ignored her.
"Edward," Tanya tried again.
He waited a second and then finally answered, "What?"
"I said I'm going to need food."
"You did? When did you say that?"
I giggled.
"I just did."
"Oh, I'm sorry … I didn't hear you after the word honey came out … don't you ever use my name and any term of endearment in the same sentence. Copesh?"
"Ugh," she groaned. "Whatever. I'm gonna need food."
"Alright."
About ten minutes later, we pulled into a parking place at some grocery store. Edward put the car in park but left it running. At first I thought he was going to go in with her; and I was about to go all crazy, pregnant baby momma on him, but instead he just relaxed a bit in his seat. I smiled.
Tanya huffed. "Uh, I'm gonna need money."
Edward whipped around to look at her. "Oh, no you don't. James already told me he gave you money for all that shit. That was the deal he and I made."
Deal?
Tanya stared at him but didn't say anything.
"I'm not playing, Tanya. I'm not giving you money for anything while you're here. I rented the already furnished apartment and got your stupid ass here, James pays the rest. That was the deal. If you don't have money then I suggest you call James. Until paternity is established you're not getting one more thing from me."
What in the hell is he talking about? What deal?
Tanya huffed and then got out of the car.
Edward laughed. "That's what I thought."
I couldn't take it anymore. "What deal?"
His eyes met mine. "Huh?"
"What deal? You said you and James had made a deal … what sort of deal?"
"Oh, I didn't tell you?"
I rolled my eyes. "Um, no, Edward. You didn't. Do you really think I'd be asking if I already knew?"
"Sorry, baby, I thought I told you. James and I made a deal that I would get the apartment and the plane tickets … because; well, I was the one that wanted the baby born here—"
"What? Why?"
"Because I want to be standing there when they take a swab of that baby's mouth … I don't trust that bitch. She knows a lot of people in the hospital she would have delivered at … I'm not taking any chances."
"Gotcha. Back to the deal?"
"Yeah, so the deal was since I wanted her here, then I'd pay for her to get here, plus her apartment. James would make sure she had money to support herself … if it turns out the baby isn't mine he'll pay me back what I spent—"
"What?"
"He'll pay me back for the plane and the apartment."
"Huh … something else you didn't tell me." I shook my head. "So do you have to pay him back then if the baby is yours?"
"No."
I leaned over the center console and kissed his lips. "You have got to stop forgetting to tell me stuff, Edward. You never used to do this."
"Sorry, baby," Edward responded pulling my top lip between his. I moaned and moved closer wrapping my right hand in the hair at the nape of his neck and holding him to me as our lips moved together perfectly.
Desperate for air, I broke the kiss and collapsed back into my seat. "I wanna go home, Edward. Can we please go home?"
Yes, I was totally whining again.
Isabella Whiner Swan.
"Soon, baby. Very, very soon."
~OOO~
Edward joined Carlisle and Masen in the family room where they were putting a floor puzzle together, and I went to join Esme in the kitchen.
"So, how'd it go?" Esme smiled. But I could tell she was worried. And annoyed with her precious son.
"We got her all set up at the Holiday Inn."
"The Holiday Inn?" Esme laughed. "Oh, she had to of loved that."
I smiled. "She really, really did."
"So, are you guys ..."
"Oh, Esme we're fine. We've got a lot to work through, but we'll be fine. That I'm sure of."
"Even if …"
"Yes, even if. It'll be hard, but I'm not gonna let that keep me from making my family happy. Masen and this one are the most important, and I love Edward. He didn't betray me like I thought he did … I may not agree with how he carried on after I left, but I don't really have a lot of room to talk if we start talking about mistakes …. We're leaving the past in the past and moving to the future—together."
I'm not sure why I felt the need to explain myself, but it felt really good to finally say it. I'm not sure when the tears started falling.
Esme scooped me up into a hug. "Oh, honey, you don't owe me any explanation, but I couldn't be happier to hear that. I was really worried that if this baby was his, it'd end up being too much."
"I love Edward, Esme," I sobbed. "I always have and I'm not gonna make myself or my kids live without him because he did some stupid shit."
"Good—"
"Hey, Bells …" Edward interrupted, but trailed off when he saw Esme and I hugging.
We both separated. I wiped my tears away quickly, and then turned to face Edward.
"Yeah?"
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing … just stupid pregnancy hormones."
He didn't look convinced, but didn't push it. "We should probably head out. Masen's in some serious need of quiet time, and we've got groceries to put away."
We decided to stop and grocery shop after we got Tanya all taken care of since it'd be easier to do without Masen, and Esme was all for keeping him a little while longer. It was freezing outside so we didn't have to worry about anything thawing while we were there.
"I'm ready, Edward." I smiled and then turned to Esme. "Thanks again for keeping Masen. I just couldn't take him—"
"Of course not," she interrupted shaking her head. "I wouldn't take him around her either. I was happy to do it. One good thing about a big family, you've always got someone that can babysit at the drop of a hat."
She was right about that.
"You're all still coming to dinner on Tuesday, right?"
"Yup," I replied, and then turned to Edward. I didn't think he had to work Tuesday night. I knew he had clinic during the day, but I didn't think he was working the emergency room. "You're not working are you?"
"No. I'm not back in the hospital until the weekend."
Edward was a pediatrician at the Seattle Medical Center. He had a clinic he worked out of, but he was also required to put in so many emergency and urgent care hours a month, plus one required weekend a month—since he was technically employed by the hospital.
The upcoming weekend was his weekend to work. He was scheduled to work seven in the morning, to seven at night, on both Saturday and Sunday. He hated his weekend schedule because he didn't really get to spend much time with Masen.
He actually hated the whole hospital atmosphere all together, but most hospital-owned-clinics required their doctors to put in a certain number of hours at the hospital, and since he was fresh out of residency, he had to take what he could get.
"Alright, so we'll see you about six?"
"Yup."
~OOO~
It was shortly after ten in the morning and I had just gotten out of a surgery when my cell phone vibrated in my pocket. I put the patient's anesthetic progression chart down and pulled out my phone .
"Hello?"
"Yes, I'm looking for Isabella Swan?"
"This is she."
"Oh, well, hello. This is Nancy from Dr. Saunders' office."
"Okay?"
"She asked me to give you a call," she went on to explain. "She was wondering if there was any way you could come in this afternoon. She'd like to go over some of your lab work with you."
I knew full well she couldn't tell me anything, but I asked anyway. "Is everything okay?"
"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I really can't say. Can you come in, maybe at the end of the day?"
"Sure, when's your last appointment?"
"Four thirty."
"I'll be there. Um, is this something I should call the father for?"
"I always suggest you do, and not because it's bad news, but because it's nice to have someone there when it's good news too. So yes, I would call him."
"Okay, thank you."
I hung up the phone and stared at the wall. My blood work? What could be wrong with my blood work?
"Earth to Bella," Beth said, shaking my shoulder. "What's up?"
"Um, I don't know. I just got a call from the doctor's. They want me to come in, I guess they got my results back and would like to go over them with me."
"Huh … I don't know what to say?" Leave it to Beth. "I wouldn't just assume bad news, Bella. It could be good news."
"I know." I smiled. "I gotta call Edward. Did you need something?"
"Oh, I was just gonna see if you wanted to get lunch today?"
I nodded, smiling politely. "Sure."
"Kay, see ya at noon."
I dialed Edward's number and waited for him to answer. I decided to try his cell phone first, I figured if he didn't answer then I'd try the office.
"Bella?" he answered on the second ring, worry thick in his voice. I didn't usually call him while he was at work, unless it was lunchtime. "Is everything okay?"
"Um, I don't know? Dr. Saunders' office called. They want me to come in at four thirty today."
"Did they say why?"
I shook my head, though I knew he couldn't see me. "Just that they got my blood work back. Can you come?" I really didn't want to go to this appointment alone.
"Of course …. Baby, everything's going to be fine. Try not to stress out too much, okay?"
"Mhmm, I'll try. I'm gonna go to lunch with Beth so I'll just see you at the doctors then?"
"Yup. I love you, baby."
"I love you, too."
~OOO~
It was just before four thirty when I arrived at the doctor's office. I'd just checked in and sat in a chair when Edward came in.
"Perfect timing." I smiled as he sat next to me. "I literally just sat my ass in this chair."
He laughed. "Who's picking up Masen from daycare?"
"Rosalie."
"He'll be happy."
"Oh yeah. I hope it wasn't a problem getting out early?"
Edward shook his head. "No, it was plenty of notice for the girls to call and reschedule."
"Good."
"So where'd you guys go for lunch?" he asked, I assume trying to divert my attention.
"Big Jim's steak house. Have you had their cheesesteak sub? Oh my God. Delicious. We definitely need to get them for dinner sometime." They really were mouthwatering.
"Wow, um, okay. I haven't had them, but I will take that glowing recommendation …. Maybe tomorrow night?"
"Isabella?" A red headed nurse called.
Edward and I both got up and followed her to an exam room.
"I'm just gonna check your blood pressure," she informed. "And then Dr. Saunders will be in."
I nodded, and she took my blood pressure; which was a little high, but under the circumstances, I think it was normal.
We sat quietly, neither of us speaking, as we waited for Dr. Saunders to come in. After about ten minutes she finally walked in.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," she apologized, taking a seat on the green rolling stool.
"It's okay."
"Well, as Nancy told you, we got your labs back."
I nodded. "Yes."
"Some of your labs seem … off. I'd like to do an ultrasound."
I looked at Edward and then back to Dr. Saunders. "Um, of course you can do the ultrasound, but, well, is our baby okay?"
She glanced between Edward and myself, and then said, "Let's just do the ultrasound. Then we'll talk."
I looked to Edward; he just smiled, squeezing the hand he had taken in his soothingly. "Okay," I whispered, turning my attention back to the doctor.
Dr. Saunders smiled. "Go ahead and make yourself comfortable on the table, pulling your pants and underwear down off your abdomen," she instructed. "I'll be right back in."
I nodded, glancing to Edward as I lay back on the table. He looked as concerned as I did, but was doing his best to sooth me with his touch alone.
"I'm scared—" I squeaked, but was interrupted by the door opening.
Dr. Saunders wheeled in the ultrasound machine and moved it over to my other side, opposite Edward. She squirted the cold-as-hell gel on my abdomen and went to work at moving the wand around. After a few minutes she froze the screen and turned to look at us.
"Well …" My heart started thumbing wildly, I couldn't hear anything, and then suddenly, everything was dark.
** Author's Note **
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