There has been some confusion about the jump in time from the last chapter so please make sure you have read the last two chapters. Fanfiction didn't send out new posting notification emails for the last two chapters I posted so please make sure that you have read them before reading this one. They contain a bunch of emails and general information.
Chapter 12 (Edward)
Progress…
The blush that spread over Bella's chest and cheeks caused me to grin and chuckle at her. It didn't take her long to sober up though and look at me with a raised eyebrow. "Speaking of summer vacation…" She said as she began moving through her house before settling at what looked like a kitchen island.
"What about it? You gonna bring the money up so soon into our first date?" I asked her as I grabbed my tablet heading for the living room so I could get comfortable for this conversation.
She just shrugged as she leaned forward fiddling with something before leaning back again. "Why not? You seem persistent in paying for the Disney portion of the trip while I am reluctant to take money from you."
"It's the right thing for me to do, Bella. It's not fair for you to pay for me and Noah when I am the one that practically invited us on your family vacation." I argued back.
She shook her head. "Just because you are the man in this relationship doesn't mean you have to pay for everything, Edward." She disappeared from view for a minute. "I have worked my ass off since I was 15 years old and this is the first big vacation I've ever planned. The life insurance money from my mom has never been touched and has been gaining interest since it went into the trust 17 years ago." She argued before suddenly popping back into view holding a fork in her hand. "Sorry, my neighbor caused me to forget my dinner so I hope you don't mind if I eat while we talk?"
I shook my head. "I don't mind at all, sweetheart. I can always call back after you get finished if you want?" I offered her.
She was the one to shake her head this time. "If you don't mind seeing me devour some Chinese food then I don't mind doing it in front of you while we discuss this money issue you have." She said cheekily before spearing a piece of chicken bringing it to her mouth.
"It's not a money issue, Isabella. It's about you allowing me to do what is right." I argued back with her. I never dreamed that we would have our first argument before our first date ever got going good but the comfort I felt with her allowed me to just go for it and argue my point.
With a mouthful of food she simply raised her eyebrow at me so I continued without her saying a word. "It's not about me being a man and wanting to pay for everything. It's more about the fact that I was the one that suggested crashing your vacation so therefore the expenses should be on me for me and Noah." I explained the best I could.
She nodded. "Part of that is true. You did suggest coming to crash my vacation in Mississippi but I invited you to Disney myself. Therefore I am paying for the whole thing. How about you pay for any dinners or activities before Disney?"
Sighing I settled into my recliner propping my tablet up on my knees. "You are very stubborn, Bella, but I guess you aren't going to give in so I will just concede on this one. But know this…anytime money is needed to pay for anything and we are together it will be on me. Deal?"
With a cheeky smile she nodded. "I knew you would see it my way eventually."
The conversation flowed seamlessly until I caught her yawning on the screen. "You're tired, sweetheart."
"I am but I don't want to let you go." She said with a shake of her head.
I knew how she felt because I didn't want to let her go either. "How about I give you my phone number so you can call me or text me. Hell we could even facetime though I haven't done that since before Katie passed away."
"That's better than me. I've never used facetime but that makes sense because I rarely use Facebook." She admitted around a yawn. "I won't fight you over the phone number like I did the money."
"You got your phone?" I asked her with a cheeky smile.
She shook her head and once again she began moving through her house. This time I recognized that she was back in her bedroom. "Back in the bedroom again, huh? Are you trying to tell me something, Isabella?" I teased as she glared at me.
"You only wish you could actually join me in my bedroom."
This time I shook my head. "Not yet, sweetheart. This relationship will not start out in the bedroom though your bed does look extremely inviting."
"Well aren't you ever the gentleman? I'm ready." She said turning her phone to show me she had my name and email entered into a blank contact form.
I chuckled and rattled off my number for her to put into her phone. "My momma raised me to be a gentleman and that is the only way I know how to be. You might as well get used to it."
She nodded. "I don't think it will be that hard to get used to." She said just as my phone dinged from my pocket with a new text. Pulling it out I smiled when I saw her short and sweet message.
Best first date ever!
"I agree, sweetheart, but it is time to call it an end. I have to call Rose and check on Noah and you look like you are ready to crash."
She sighed before puckering her bottom lip out in a small pout. "Alright. Till next time then." She said with a smile.
"Goodnight, sweetheart." I told her just before disconnecting our very first video chat.
After a quick call to Rose to let her know that the video chat went fantastic and to make sure Noah wasn't giving her any trouble since she showed up earlier today to 'kidnap' him for the night. "Esme mentioned that you were going to join her on vacation in a few months." She said after a few minutes of me asking about Noah's day.
"I am. We are going to meet in person for the first time in Biloxi, Mississippi before going to Disney World for a few days with all the kids. We both agreed that it would be better to meet away from our home turfs though her friends are going to be there with her." I told her honestly, because she is the one that set all this in motion with the dating website.
"Isn't Esme joining you on vacation?" She snickered.
I sunk further down in my chair because while I hadn't told my mom yet I knew that I didn't want her joining me in Mississippi. "No, she's not. It is just going to be Noah and I."
"Mmhmm. Have you told her that yet?"
"No but I will on Sunday."
"Good luck with that." She said before hanging up the phone.
As I locked up and shut down the house for the night I sent Bella text. Sweet dreams, sweetheart.
That day was the turning point in our relationship. Video chats, phone calls, emails, and texts became an everyday thing for us. Our kids even got involved in the phone calls and video chats. I had even gotten an email from Molly begging me to 'talk some sense' into her mom. I still smiled at that email.
Date Sent: Thursday, May 3, 2012 11:34 am
Subject: It's Molly, I need your help!
Recipient: GreenEyedDaddy2011
Sender: Molly_Gurl_1999
Mr. Edward, I need your help. I hate to ask but Mom is being unreasonable.
Dusty, my boyfriend, has asked me to go to the movies with him and a few of our friends tomorrow night and Mom flat out told me No Way! It's not fair. I haven't done anything to make her not trust me so I don't see what the big deal is. She told me I had to wait until I was 13 to get a boyfriend and I did! But now she won't let me go do anything with him. It's not like we're going to see some bad movie, we're going to see Ice Age 4!
Please talk some sense into her! Before tomorrow night, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!
Thx, Molly Rayanne Swan
That had been an interesting conversation to say the least but I had forwarded the email to Bella with the simple line of Trust until the trust is broken. Molly had been allowed to go to the movies that weekend with Dusty and four of their friends but Bella had done the driving to and from which was the compromise Molly and Bella had come up with. This also was the start of a good relationship between Molly and me because after that initial email we traded emails every couple of days. Some I shared with Bella and some I didn't but she knew Molly and I were emailing and supported it fully.
Today was a bit different though. Since I didn't wake up nearly as early as Bella did I always looked forward to her 'Good morning, handsome' text along with her question of the day but today something was wrong and I knew it as soon as I picked up my phone off the nightstand. There was no text, no missed call, no email, no nothing from Bella which immediately sent alarm bells off in my head. Without hesitating I called Bella's phone but it went straight to voicemail which caused me to groan in frustration but Noah's persistent calls for me caused me to tug on my pajama bottoms and pocket the phone for the moment.
"Daddy!" Noah called from his bedroom.
I quickly picked my bright eyed boy up out of his crib and headed for the bathroom. After we both did our morning routine in there we headed for the kitchen where I fixed a simple breakfast of oatmeal and eggs. While Noah was eating his breakfast I pulled my phone out to text Bella.
Baby, are you okay? The girls okay? I'm worried here!
When I got no immediate response I finished my breakfast and started on my day. I was finishing up the last of my clients' quarterly reports which was tedious work and required my full attention. Settling Noah into his play area off my office I headed for my desk to power up my laptop. I was deeply engrossed in my world of numbers when an email alert chimed on my computer. Looking up I saw that it was from an ABC Designs with the subject line of URGENT! so I quickly opened it.
The email contained several pictures of a burned down house, a yard full of ambulances, fire trucks, and cop cars. Scrolling towards the bottom was a message that nearly caused my heart to stop in my chest.
Edward, this is Alice, Bella's best friend.
You need to get to New Orleans ASAP!
My best friend is being stubborn and is refusing to 'burden' you with her problems. I will just tell you now what has happened. Her house caught on fire late last night and is nearly demolished and definitely uninhabitable. I know you guys were planning to meet in a few weeks anyways in Mississippi but she needs you now. Everybody is fine, just shaken up, but the coming weeks are going to be rough for her as she sifts through what's left of the house and deals with the girls. My shoulder just isn't working this go round. Hope to see you soon!
Alice
Scrubbing my hands over my face I looked over at my smiling boy and couldn't help but smile at him. He was such a happy go lucky little boy that sometimes it amazed me that I had done it all on my own. Well if I am to be completely honest it wasn't all on my own because my family had been a tremendous help these past two years. It was that reflection that made me pick up the phone and call my mom.
"Hello son." She said into the phone instead of the stereotypical 'Hello?'.
Smiling I stood up and headed for the large window that overlooked the back of my property. "I need a favor. A huge one actually." I said not cutting around the bush about what my phone call was about.
"Name it and if it's possible it's yours. You know that." She said with a chuckle.
"Pack a bag and come to New Orleans with me?" I asked hesitantly.
"What happened?" She asked immediately.
Smiling to myself because my mom was always perceptive and supportive. "Bella's best friend, Alice, just emailed me informing me that Bella's house burned nearly to the ground last night. She said that everybody is shaken up but otherwise fine but that Bella needs me." I explained.
"Oh the poor thing. Didn't she just buy that house too?"
"Yep, at the first of the year. Will you come with me? I could use your help with Noah and also maybe to give Bella a mother figure to lean on." I said softly because with Bella's permission I had divulged a few things to my mom about her situation.
I could hear some shuffling around in the background so I assumed she was checking her work calendar. "I can't come today but I can meet you down there in two days time and stay for up to nine days. Will that work?"
"That's perfect, Ma. I love you." I said softly as I headed for Noah's play area to collect him for some lunch to keep him entertained while I packed us a bag.
"I love you too, son. Please be careful and call me when you get there."
"Of course."
Two hours after receiving the email from Alice I was stuffing three large suitcases into the back of my Volvo when my phone dinged with an incoming email alert.
Date Sent: Tuesday, June 5, 2012 1:38 pm
Subject: Worst fear come true…
Recipient: GreenEyedDaddy2011
Sender: VirgoMama2_3G
This has been a day from hell. I am sure you have tried to contact me several times by now but unfortunately my phone is no longer in working order due to my house randomly catching on fire this morning around 3 o'clock. Thankfully the girls and I escaped without injury but my house isn't so lucky.
I am in the process of getting things together but a phone was the least of my worries because my girls are terrified and worried. Fortunately, one of the firemen was nice enough to grab my charred safe from what used to be my entry closet so all of our important documents are smoke damaged but otherwise safe. I have spent the entire morning looking for a place for me and the girls to live until I can figure out what to do about the house.
Alice told me that she emailed you but I wanted to tell you that you don't have to drop everything and come down here but unfortunately the Mississippi vacation is not going to happen because of this. We will figure something else out, I promise.
I hate to cut this short but I'm heading to look at a house that Angela told me was for sale down the street from her house but the owners are willing to do a short term rental once Angela explained our situation. I do plan to get a phone as soon as I leave from looking at this house but for now we can email because thankfully I had left my laptop in the car last night so it was spared.
Talk to you later, I promise,
Bella
"Dada go?" Noah asked as he walked up to me as I was loading the ice chest of our drinks and snacks into the passenger seat because instead of flying and having to rent a car for my stay I decided to just drive.
Scooping him up I 'ate' at his neck causing him to squeal and curl around my head as he laughed and slapped at my head. "Yes, I'm going. Do you want to go with me?" I asked him playfully because I had no intention of leaving him behind.
Noah quickly nodded as a huge smile lit up his face. "Yep!" He chirped with one last nod of his head.
"Good deal, little man, because you are about to experience your first long road trip." I told him as I tossed him over my shoulder heading back into the house with his laughter following us.
As I sat Noah up in his high chair for a early dinner I settled in at the table to send Bella an email back.
Date Sent: Tuesday June 5, 2012 2:29 pm
Subject: Going to Mississippi without you doesn't seem right…
Recipient: VirgoMama2_3G
Sender: GreenEyedDaddy2011
Don't fret or try to stop me, Isabella. I am coming to you and will be there by noon tomorrow since I'm doing most of the driving today.
I'm going to keep it simple because after my little cookie monster gets through eating his food we are going to hit the road.
If you manage to get a phone this afternoon then please give me a call so I can hear your beautiful voice that I have missed beyond belief today.
I am so glad that you and the girls escaped without injury, some people aren't so lucky.
Edward
I had no more sat my phone down when Noah called my name. "Dada gone!"
Smiling at him I grabbed the wipes and cleaned his face and hands before lifting him from the chair and setting him on his feet. "Go play for a minute, buddy, while I clean all of this up." I told him as I pulled his shirt off since it contained the evidence of his lunch.
After making quick work of the kitchen I grabbed the container of Noah's 'yum yum's' out of the fridge along with a few other snacks I had set out on the counter earlier. "Time to hit the road, dude. You need to pee before we go?" I asked Noah as I grabbed the clean shirt off the back of the couch shaking it at him.
"Yep!" he cheered as he raced towards the small half bath between my office and his playroom. Leaning in the bathroom doorway I watched as he pulled his shorts and pullup down before climbing up onto the toilet that I had his mini seat attached so he wouldn't fall in.
Once he was situated I gave the boy his privacy as I double checked the locks on my office door and the French doors leading to the back yard. "Done, dada!" Noah called from right behind me.
Turning around I smiled at him as I knelt down to his level. "All good? Hands washed? Toilet flushed?"
"Yep! Yep! Yep!" he said pumping his little fists excitedly.
I tugged the shirt over his little head making his hair even crazier. "Well what's the hold up then? Let's get on the road!" I told him and had to laugh as he raced for the garage.
Finally, things are going my way! I got the house and a new phone but with the same number!
I couldn't help but smile at the text as I sat across the table from my sweet boy as he devoured his chicken nuggets and grapes. Instead of responding by text I called her because honestly, I needed to hear her voice. "Hello handsome." She practically purred into the phone.
"Hello beautiful. Congratulations on the house, by the way." I told her as I took a sip of my drink. We had stopped at McDonald's in some small town in Alabama to let my little boy get some dinner and work off some of his excess energy before hitting the road for a few more hours.
She chuckled into the phone. "Thanks. It's not my dream house like mine was but it will work at least until the girls get out of school. Maybe this was a sign…" She said trailing off before sighing heavily into the phone.
"A sign for what, baby?" I asked curiously as I pushed Noah's cup of apple juice towards him so he would take a drink.
"That maybe it's not meant for me to be in Louisiana." She mumbled so softly I almost didn't catch what she said but when I figured it out my eyebrows shot clear into my hairline.
She was talking about us and our future. "Just because your house burned doesn't mean you're not meant to be in Louisiana, baby. If this thing between us goes where we both hope it goes it still doesn't mean you aren't meant to be in Louisiana. We can deal with one of us relocating when we get to that point in our relationship." I told her but lately I had been picturing her and her three girls in my house that I had built to accommodate me and a future family.
"Molly has been checking out some art school in Tennessee online. I got the pamphlet in the mail the other day. I guess she has heard us talking about the future." She admitted softly.
I couldn't help but smile at her statement because it told me that her girls were open to moving to Tennessee. "It's called for Creative Arts or CCA for short. My mom graduated from there a really long time ago." I paused dragging the comment out
"Mhmm. Please tell me you are stopping somewhere for the night and not driving all the way through?" She asked changing the subject not so smoothly.
"We are. We're stopped in some town right off the interstate right now enjoying a fast food dinner of chicken nuggets and grapes." I told her as I watched Noah shove the last piece of his dinner into his mouth.
"Good. I'm gonna get off here, I am taking the girls shopping this afternoon to replace clothes and stuff." She said with a groan. We had talked a few times of her hatred of shopping but with three girls it was inevitable.
"Have fun with that one, baby. I'll see you some time tomorrow."
Once Noah was cleaned up from his dinner I took him into the play area and let him play for a little bit before we hit the road again. We didn't stop again until Tuscaloosa where we got a room to spend the night before finishing the last half of the trip in the morning. The next morning I woke up to my usual text message from Bella which made me smile.
Good morning, handsome. Hope you slept well last night. Looking forward to seeing you today.
I could tell even through the text that she was still nervous about today and if I was being honest with myself I was too, a little bit.
Don't be so nervous, baby. Let's meet for lunch somewhere when I get there. Then we can see where things go from there. How does that sound?
I tossed my phone onto the bed as I climbed from the bed gently so as to not wake my bed partner just yet. Noah grunted and his hand began grasping for me but I just rolled the blanket up and tucked it in beside him hoping it would work. His little fist gripped the rolled up blanket and sighed softly before settling back down to sleep some more.
Grabbing the menu off the small table in the corner I perused it before calling down for room service before grabbing my clothes and heading for the shower. I was just stepping from the shower when I heard a knock on the room door so I quickly wrapped a towel around my waist and headed for it before it woke Noah up. Peeking through the peephole I saw it was a young woman wearing a hotel room uniform with a rolling cart. Grabbing the knot that held my towel together I took a deep breath and opened the door trying to stay behind the door. "Good morning, sir. I have your requested breakfast." She said politely as she rolled the cart into the room. When she turned around she saw what little I was wearing and gasped as her eyes widened. "I'm so sorry." She muttered as she slapped her hand over her eyes.
I chuckled at her. "It's fine, you caught me just as I was getting out of the shower. Thank you for bringing our breakfast." I told her politely as I held the door open wider for her since she had her eyes covered.
"You're welcome. Sorry again." She mumbled as she walked out the door.
I chuckled as I shut the door and headed for my pile of clothes on the counter. Once I was dressed in my cargo shorts I tossed my t-shirt over the back of the chair because Noah was a very messy eater and we didn't have his high chair with us so he would end up in my lap. I smiled down at my snoozing little one and marveled at how much he had grown since the day I brought him home from the hospital a little over a year ago. "Noah, buddy, it's time to wake up." I told him softly as I ran my fingers through his thin hair on top of his head.
He blinked his open slowly, almost exaggeratedly. "No." He muttered as he rolled over away from me.
I laughed at him. "Yes. We have to go see B and Miss Maci today." I told him as I flipped the blankets off of him causing him to turn and glare at me.
"No, Dada. Sweep more." He argued as he continued to glare at me.
Shaking my head at him I scooped him up off the bed. "You can sleep once we get back on the road, buddy. We gotta get this day started." I explained to him as I carried him to the bathroom.
He scowled at me as I helped him sit on his toilet to do his morning business. While he wore a thin pull-up at night and a few other occasions, we tried to keep them clean and dry. I was pleased to see that his pull-up was still dry. "Go 'way." He said as he folded his arms across his chest.
I chuckled at him and stepped out of his way. He wasn't the typical toddler who wanted an audience when using the bathroom, he wanted privacy. My mom said I was the same way, that I wouldn't use the bathroom while she was in there with me once I figured out what I was supposed to do. "Call me when you get done and I'll help you wash your hands." I told my pouting little boy.
"Otay." He said with a nod, his glare firm on his face.
With a smile and soft chuckle I headed for my phone because it had dinged with a text notification while I was waking Noah up.
Think Noah will have some extra energy when you guys get here or want a nap?
He's pouting right now because I woke him up before he was ready so he should nap in the car and be ready to run around for a bit once we get somewhere. Why?
"Dada!" Noah called from the bathroom so I tossed my phone onto the bed to go help my upset little boy.
When I walked into the bathroom Noah was still sitting on his potty but had pulled his pull-up and pajama bottoms up. "All finished?" I asked as I scooped him up into my arms.
He laid his head on my shoulder and nodded. I held him while he washed his hands but sat him on the counter top as I washed his little face to help wake him up. "Are you awake enough to eat or you want to wait?" I asked as I picked him back up.
"Eat." He mumbled as he wrapped his arms around my neck as I carried us back into the room. I settled into the chair beside the tray that contained our breakfast with Noah in my lap. I tore up a piece of sausage and handed it to him.
While I hand fed him tiny bites of breakfast I also managed to feed myself and text with Bella.