Hello :D
Here is the next update for In The Shadows. Thank you everyone for your kind words and for following and favouriting my story. I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint! Make sure to let me know what you think. I appreciate every single review, so thanks in advance.
As always, all things Twilight being to Stephanie Mayer!
Chapter 4
As promised Dr. Denali prepares to release me the next day and in the mean time Edward leaves for a few hours to get me some new clothes to wear. He also tells me that he needs to get his house set up for a guest, so while the paper work is processed I sit quietly in my hospital bed and watch TV. While I wait I think back over the conversation we had about settling the bill and how reassuring Edward was.
"You don't need to worry about it, Bella. I promised you two days ago when I brought you here that I'd look after it and that hasn't changed."
I fiddle with my fingers trying to muster up the courage to ask how. How he can manage to settle something so big and it not be a big deal.
"I'm a doctor at this hospital." He offers as explanation. "I've worked here for ten years and I've saved enough and made good enough connections for it not to be an issue. I want to take care of you, Bella. And that includes your hospital bill. Please don't worry about it, beautiful."
I blush at his easy use of the endearment and my head dips at the compliment, I've never been called that before. He's so unbelievably sweet and I'm not ashamed to admit that I've got a crush on this beautiful man. I thank him profusely for taking care of everything and of me because I honestly don't know what I'd do with out him.
The ride to his home is quiet and as we enter a friendly looking neighbourhood he points out friends houses, a small shopping centre and the local park. When we pull up at his house I'm left speechless. It's beautiful and quaint and so wonderfully homely. The garden is simple but green, with a few flower beds and pot plants and the front yard is lined with a white picket fence; I've always loved those and wanted to live in a house with one. The house is made of old red brick, is two stories and looks old but it's definitely well maintained. The windows have wooden shutters and the shingled roof has a chimney. It's what I dreamed of having as a little girl when I'd hear my classmates talk about their houses or when they'd go to their grandparents places on the weekends. Or when my elementary school teachers' read us stories about castles and cottages and happy families. I know just looking at the place that it's going to be a happy home. It's such a stark difference to the house I grew up in, in every way. And where this house looks warm and welcoming, my parents place always looked cold, neglected and unwanted.
"What do you think?" He asks, pulling into the drive way and parking the car.
"I love it, Edward. Have you lived here long?"
"All my life. This was my childhood home and when my parents decided to move, once all their children had grown up, I decided to buy it from them."
I'm only just realising now that I haven't asked Edward to tell me about himself. "You have siblings?"
"Two younger sisters, Alice and Rosalie. They're both married and live close by. My parents as well. They didn't move far. They liked the neighbourhood but wanted a smaller place."
"Makes sense."
"They're over here a fair bit, my mother doesn't like the idea of me being alone all the time, but I've asked them to not stop by randomly for now. Not until you're settled and have met everyone."
I'm flawed by his generosity. "You didn't have to do that."
He helps me out of the car and pushes me gently against the closed door when my feet are firmly on the ground. "Bella, please look at me."
I make my eyes meet his and blush when I see the intensity they hold. "This is your home now. I want you to feel welcome and at ease and I hope that you come to see my family as yours as well some day in the future. In whatever capacity you're capable of."
"Why are you doing this?" I ask, in what I hope is a kind but curious voice. It's a question that's been at the forefront of my mind since he knocked out the man with the gravelly voice a few days ago.
"I feel very protective of you. I want to be the one who takes care of you. Not because you're not capable but because there's something about you that screams the need to be cherished and loved. I don't expect anything from you Bella, but I hope that one day you can see me as more than your friend." I nod my head as I contemplate his words. He has feelings for me and I know that I see him the same way. Not because he saved me but simply because I can feel the way my body and mind responds to him. I'm thankful for the space he's giving me though. It's going to take time for me to develop my trust in this new life and I'm thankful he realises that.
When he shows me around the house Edward gives me the choice of three bedrooms. The thought of being on a different floor to him scares me a little so I opt for the one next to his. It's the smallest room but I love it and although it means I'll have to share a bathroom with Edward I still want it. I want to be close to him. He shows me where a few of the clothes he got from his sister for me are and then lets me unpack the toiletries he bought, in our shared bathroom.
"I have a day off on Thursday. I'll take you shopping for some more things. I hope this is okay for now?"
I can hear the worry in his voice and it makes me smile inside. He's worried about my reaction, but all I can think of is kissing him all over to say thank you.
"I can make do with what I have. I'm sure."
"Nonsense. I want you to have what you need, of course. But some things that you want as well."
Instead of kicking up a fuss I thank him and tell him how much I appreciate everything. He has such a giving and nurturing spirit and I can see how desperate his is to look after me. So I don't shut him down, I'll just have to do my best to reign him in on our shopping trip.
When Edward suggests dinner my stomach grumbles. The hospital provided meals of course, which had similar consistency and taste to cardboard. Not that I'd ever complain. Food is food which is something I've learnt to appreciate since going hungry over the years. I offer to cook and we scrounge through the cupboards for everything we need.
"I'm not much of a cook." He offers as explanation for his almost bare fridge. "But if cooking is something you'd like to do then I'll leave you some money for
groceries and you can be in charge of meals. If not I have a great selection of take out menus."
We laugh together at his joke.
"I can handle the cooking. I like doing it and it will give me a way to contribute." I tell him, while memories of my old house come to the forefront of my mind. Without even thinking about it I share a part of my past with him. "Cooking was always something I did for my parents. They didn't really bother me if I was in the kitchen. It was the safest place for me to be in that house." I offer, tentatively.
He doesn't make a big deal of my sharing, which I'm thankful for. But I know he appreciates me opening up. Edward draws me into his arms and holds me for a few moments. "I'm glad you had a safe place. If it's not something you want to do now then I understand, take out is something I'm very familiar with."
"No, it's something I want to do. I do enjoy it and I'll enjoy it more if I'm making it for you. I want you to know I appreciate all this, Edward. And right now it's really all I have to offer."
He smiles down at me when I finish and softly kisses my head. "You have more to offer then you realise, Bella. I hope you come to see that soon."
He leaves me then to get a fire going in the living room. I think about what he said to me while I put together a simple chicken salad. He really is an incredibly exceptional man, one who is very generous with his words, actions and money. Once I'm finished we sit together on the plush sofa and get to know each other a little more. He likes to talk about his family and his job but he's also happy to sit in silence and listen to me answer his questions, so for the next little while we do both.
"What did you tell your family about me?" I ask carefully as we finish off our food.
"Just the basics of how we met. Nothing personal. I'll leave that up to you. It's your story to tell, if you ever want to divulge it of course. I told them that you'd be staying here for the foreseeable future and that they need to respect your privacy. I also told them that you're pregnant. You're going to be showing soon and the cat will be out of the bag regardless, I hope that's okay? My sisters were worried you were raped but I told them you weren't. And when they asked about your parents and where they were I told them at you're an adult and capable of making your own decisions. I hope that alright?"
"No that's perfect, I think. Thank you."
"I also told them how beautiful you are and how softly spoken you are. However, I didn't tell them how soft you skin is," he says, gently running the backs of his fingers along my cheek and down my throat, "or how I love to lose myself in your eyes."
I can feel my face go up in flames at his compliments. I look down at my hands and fiddle with my fingers. I've never been good at receiving compliments. They're so foreign to me.
"And I definitely didn't tell them how much I love your blush."
I giggle and give him a soft smile and a small shove. He's too generous and his words make my insides flutter. I love it.
Later in the evening we make our way to our respective rooms, both seemingly reluctant to do so though. Edward lets me use the bathroom first and tells me he will be gone by the time I'm up. My heart drops a little at the thought of not seeing him all day.
"I'll be home around six, tomorrow is a twelve hour day."
I can already see the weariness in his eyes, he looks exhausted from the last few days. I stand on my tip toes and kiss his cheek, just barely reaching it. He bends to make it easier and then engulfs me in a warm hug.
"I'll have a hot meal ready for you when you get home then."
