Chapter 4

Birthday Girl

Bella

Three Years Later

I couldn't believe how much time had passed. My baby girl was turning three today. It seemed just like yesterday when I held her in my arms for the first time.

In those three years, I hadn't heard a peep from Jasper. He had successfully forgotten about both of us. It still broke my heart, seeing her smile because of how much she reminded me of Jasper. I still cringed, just thinking about her asking me about Jasper. How exactly does one tell their three-year-old that their daddy didn't want them? It would break her heart and I wanted to keep her from that kind of heartache for as long as possible.

"Hey Mommy," Edward interrupted and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "What are you thinking about so hard?"

I leaned my head against his shoulder and sighed. "Have I made a mistake? Not telling Georgina about Jasper?"

"I don't know, Bella. Do you think you made a mistake?"

"I just don't want her to get hurt." I whispered. "I want to protect her from the heartache Emmett and I went through. I know what it feels like to have a parent not want you. I don't want her to experience that."

He sighed and drew me into a hug. "Isabella Swan, Renee leaving was not your fault. Nor was it Emmett's fault. She was flighty and scatterbrained. At least it happened while you were young. It would have saved you a lot more heartbreak."

He was right. He was always right. "I still can't believe he doesn't care at all."

"I always told you, Bella. All Jasper ever cares about is getting laid. Somehow I doubt he could stay in a long term relationship for any length of time."

"Yet he's engaged to Alice Brandon." I scowled.

"That's a rumour, actually. I think she bought a ring to make everyone think she was engaged."

I rolled my eyes. "Only a gold-digger like her would do something that stupid."

Edward shrugged. Before he could say anything, Georgina came running into the room shrieking with laughter. Emmett followed her in with a goofy smile.

"No fair, Uncle Emmy!"

"Aww come on, baby girl! I can't say Happy Birthday to my favourite girl?"

"I thought I was your favourite girl." Rosalie teased, coming inside. She was carrying their one-year-old son, Gavin.

Emmett's smile widened and I knew he was thinking something inappropriate. "Don't even say it, Emmett Swan."

Georgina clambered up onto the couch and stood on my legs, supporting herself by placing her arms on my shoulders. "Guess what, Mommy!"

"What, Georgie?"

"I'm thwee today." She held up four fingers, smiling. I put one of her fingers down and kissed them.

"Yes, you are." I kissed her on the cheek. "Are you all ready for your party?"

She nodded her head enthusiastically. "You wanna know what I want?" she whispered.

"What do you want, baby doll?" I asked, smoothing out her mop of curly blond hair.

"A baby bwother,"

My mouth dropped open and I glanced over at Edward. He looked just as surprised as I did.

"A brother, huh?" she nodded. "That's a mighty tall order."

Rosalie handed Gavin over to Emmett and took Georgina's hand. "How about you and I go and see how the decorating is going?" she offered. "I'm sure Grandma Esme would love to see you."

Georgina nodded and followed Rose out to the backyard.

"Wow, a brother, huh?" Edward chuckled dryly.

"Great,"

"Hey, guys." Carlisle and Charlie came inside, immediately sensing the tension.

"What's wrong?" Charlie asked, sitting down beside me.

"Georgina wants a baby brother." Emmett said helpfully.

If he weren't holding Gavin, I would have thrown a mug at his head.

"Oh." Carlisle looked at me. "What did you tell her?"

"Rose took her away before I could answer."

"She's going to want an answer." Charlie pointed out. "I remember when you were a baby and Renee was gone, Emmett said he wanted to take you back to the hospital and exchange you for a boy."

Emmett chuckled.

"Yeah, that sounds like something he'd say."

"Sweetheart, you're going to have to tell her eventually." Carlisle said gently.

"I know."

We sat in silence for a while until Esme came in. "Alright everyone, today is supposed to be a good day. It's Georgina's birthday. At least act like normal people." She tsked. She gave us jobs to do, as the party was starting in less than two hours.

OOO

The guests started arriving at one. Most of the guests were friends Georgina made at daycare. Parents kept coming up to me and telling me how amazing it was. The backyard was decorated in streamers and balloons, with a pile of presents sitting on the table. There was a table for food and the cake was in the fridge. Esme even had a bouncy castle set up. Esme really outdid herself this time.

At quarter to two, I heard the doorbell ring. Taking a sip of my beer, I went to answer it, surprised. I didn't realize there were more guests.

When I answered the door, I was surprised to find a man standing there. "Uh, hi."

"Hi." He smiled. "I'm Clay. I just moved in across the street."

I cleared my throat and smiled. "I'm Bella Swan." I said. "I didn't realize someone bought that old house."

He shrugged and smiled. He looked awkward standing there.

"Oh! Come inside." I held the door open. There were plates and cups all over the place. I really wasn't looking forward to cleaning that up in the morning. "Sorry about the mess. It's my daughter's birthday today."

"I figured." He chuckled. "I saw the bouncy castle from across the street."

I blushed and shook my head. "Would you like something to drink? There are plenty of beers in the fridge."

"Sounds good." He said.

He followed me to the kitchen. Emmett, Edward, and Carlisle were standing there, talking about a baseball game. "Hey guys. I'd like you to meet Clay. He moved in across the street." I introduced them to Clay, happy to find they got along.

Esme came into the kitchen, looking flushed. "Bella, the birthday girl is desperate to open presents now."

I smiled. "Okay. Tell her I'll be right out." I turned to Clay. "Would you like to stay?"

"I don't want to be a bother."

"Trust me, you're no bother. I have a household of kids between the ages of three to five."

He chuckled. "Is it always this way?"

"Only on special occasions."

Georgina was sitting at the table full of presents, all of her friends around her. "Mommy, can I open my pwesents now?"

"Yes, baby doll. Go ahead."

She ripped them open faster than I've ever seen. There was an assortment of books, clothes, dolls, stuffed animals, and—to my complete surprise—a beautiful handcrafted dollhouse from Carlisle.

"Carlisle, this is so beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it."

"Apparently so does she." Edward said. Georgina was going through the dollhouse, looking at the different rooms.

"You're spoiling her." I sighed.

"She's my only granddaughter."

I rolled my eyes. "Thank you, Papa!" Georgina jumped into Carlisle's arms.

"You've very welcome, sweetheart."

I walked over to Clay. "Having fun?"

"The perks of being a three year old." He said. "They get excited about everything."

"Well... yeah, that's true." I agreed.

He laughed. "I think I'm really going to like it here."

"I hope so." I said.

"Mommy, did you see what Gwampa got me?" she held up her child size fishing pole.

I crouched down and kissed her on the forehead. "I hope you have a better time at it than I did." I looked into her beautiful brown eyes and smiled. "Would you like cake now, baby doll?"

She shook her head. "Maybe later, Mommy." She ran off and played with her friends.

"She's beautiful, Bella."

"Thanks."

OOO

When the guests left, I sat in the backyard, staring up at the sky. Georgina passed out when the party ended and Edward was taking her presents to her toy room. Charlie came outside holding two beers. He sat down in the chair beside me and handed me the beer.

"What's wrong, kiddo?"

"Was it hard for you when Mom left?"

He sighed and took a gulp of his beer. "Yeah, it was." He said after a while. "I had a toddler who got into everything and a newborn."

"How did you do it?"

"I had friends to help out." He said. "I had Carlisle and Esme, despite them having Edward to look after. I had help from Billy and Sarah."

"How come you never dated when we were growing up?"

"Between you kids and my job, I never had time." He cupped my face and rubbed my cheek. "Baby, don't do what I did." He said. "I know it hurts but you deserve to have love."

I nodded. "Thanks Dad."

He kissed my forehead and went inside. I drank the beer before going inside. I went to check on Georgina. She was sprawled out across my bed, sucking her thumb. I walked to the bed and brushed hair out of her face. "Happy birthday, Georgina." I crawled in beside her and wrapped my arms around her tiny body. Closing my eyes, I fell asleep beside her.

Jasper

"When are you going to dump Alice?"

I raised my eyebrows and turned to look at my mother. She was sitting at the table, nursing a glass of wine. "That's blunt."

"I mean it Jasper. That girl is no good for you. She is a gold-digging whore."

"Mom!"

"What? You and I both know that girl only wants one thing from you." She said. "Don't you want to have a family? Children and a wife who loves you for you and not how much money you have?"

I had all those things. And then I gave it all up to save myself from humiliation.

"You know, there was only one person I ever thought was good enough for you." She said, oblivious to my thoughts. "Isabella Swan."

I stiffened. "What about Bella?"

"She was different from all the others. She isn't impressed by materialistic things. She worked hard to get the things she has. She didn't have everything handed to her on a silver platter."

I sighed and ran a hand over my face. "You listen here, Jasper Whitlock," Mom said, poking me in the chest. "I'm getting older and I want to see my only son happy with his own family before I die."

"Mom,"

"I have to go." She said. "I'm meeting your dad at the club."

"Bye Mom."

She kissed me on the cheek and left. I looked at the calendar on the fridge. It was May 17. It was my daughter's third birthday. I still can't believe how much time has passed.

"Jasper!" Alice came in and threw her arms around my neck, kissing me on the neck. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing," I said.

"I don't believe it. You've been moody since you woke up."

"I'm just having a bad day."

She nodded. "We should go out dancing tonight." She squealed. "Oh, it's going to be so much fun."

"Alice, I'm not in the mood to go out tonight."

She pouted. "Ahh, come on." She whined. "I want to go out and have some fun. We don't do anything fun anymore. You're always so boring now."

"I have a job, Alice. People depend on me."

"Whatever." She said. "If you don't want to come, I'll just go by myself."

When I didn't answer, Alice huffed and walked out of the room like a pouting child. Needing to get out of the house, I went for a walk. It was a beautiful day and people were walking around, enjoying the Saturday afternoon.

I sat on a bench in the park and watched a small family of three. The mother and father walked together, swinging their daughter by the hand. A sheepdog trotted along in front, wagging its tail excitedly. I continued to watch as the man picked up his daughter and swung her around as they danced. She giggled and clapped her hands, before placing them on her father's face. From where I was sitting, I couldn't see his expression but I knew he was feeling love and happiness. Something I haven't felt in almost four years. Not since I met Bella.

I knew I made a mistake, letting her go. But I knew she could never take me back. I didn't even know if she was still in Hanover. She could have moved away, moved closer to her family after her—our—daughter was born.

Bella never knew she was the only one I ever loved. She was asleep when I told her and i never said it again.

Bella was staying the night again. I didn't complain. I loved having her here, waking up next to her in the morning. I loved seeing her gorgeous brown eyes.

I had yet to fall asleep, instead staring at Bella who lay beside me, her hands resting under her chin. Brushing a strand of hair away, I kissed her forehead.

"I love you,"

"Mmm," she moaned softly.

I chuckled and lay back in an attempt to sleep. I think I imagined it but I thought I heard Bella say, "I love you, Jasper."

Smiling, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep, knowing subconsciously that Bella loved me as much as I loved her.

I ran a hand over my face, wishing I could make this better. I never realized just how important Bella was. I would get a chance to make it up to both her and our daughter. I knew what I needed to do. First thing first: Alice.