The Cullen's compared to the Swans? Just not fair. Everyone seemed to dress around me. All the Cullen's have some kind of red in there clothing. Everyone except Charlie and Rene of course. Who are both dressed nicely. Esme welcomes them in with a smile and we all stand in a line to meet them. Alice and Jasper are together, of course, and Rosalie and Emmett, and Esme joins Carlisle as she walks back in. They come to me first, give me a hug and tell me how great I look and then continue down the line. When everyone's finished Alice clears her throat.
"Dinner will be finished soon. If the girls would like to join me in the kitchen, boys you find something to do," she looks long and hard at Emmett when she finishes, "quietly."
Everyone does as she orders. In the kitchen Esme and Rene group up and start putting the last touches on dinner. Alice and I start to set the table. She smiles the whole time.
"What?" I finally ask.
"Either you're getting better or being pregnant gave you a special skill. You got ready all by yourself. Look good too." she smiles wider.
I smile back as I set a plate down. When were done we sit and talk.
"The wedding's only two months away." she says looking at the ring on her finger.
"Would you like help with planning?" I ask.
She looks at me now. "I don't know Bella. I don't want to stress you out."
"It wouldn't stress me out. It might actually give me something to do. I feel like I've been taking away from everybody, I don't like it."
She smiles again. "Okay. But, Bella, you will never take anything away from us. We enjoy helping you. My brother is in love with you ya' know."
Most anytime I'd be glad to hear that, but now, when I was still hurting, it just confuses me. Before the thought can go anywhere else Esme is placing food on the table.
"Would you girls tell the boys it's time to eat?" Esme asks.
Alice makes a move to do it but I stop her, "I'll get them." she smiles
I walked out of the kitchen to the living room. Charlie is sitting on the edge of the recliner, fists clench. I notice that all of the boys are exactly like him in different places in the room. The scene makes me smile. Something happens on the TV and all of them jump up with a scream. I now realize they are watching a ball game. Then I notice that Edward hasn't jump up like the rest of the boys, who are still shouting. He is looking at me smiling. I give a small one back and jump when Rosalie comes behind me, a hand on my back.
"Oh goodness! I'm sorry." she says and then begins to register the room.
"Oh no it's fine." I say.
"Having some trouble?" she asks. I nod a bit.
"I've got it." she says as she steps further into the room. Of course, no one notices, they're all still shouting at the TV, everyone except Edward. Turns back to me and winks and then back to the loud scene.
"HEY!" she screams. Immediately, everyone turns to stare at her, silence overtaking the room. "Dinner is ready. Would everyone please join us in the kitchen?" To this, they all groan. Emmett even a has the balls to speak.
"Babe, the games getting pretty serious." he says and he immediately knows what he's done wrong. A simple look from Rose sends them all rushing into the kitchen. I step out of the way as they all pass me, Edward hanging behind. Rose walks passed me with a smile. She makes a gesture as if she is brushing off her hands.
"And that's how it's done." she say simply, walking away.
I'm smiling when Edward gets to me. He puts his arms around my waist with some difficulty. I put mine around his neck and look up at him.
"I don't know if I have gotten the chance to tell you how beautiful you look tonight, Ms. Swan." he says. I smile up at him and make a move to give him a kiss. He puts a finger to my lips, smiling my favorite crooked smile.
"You wouldn't want any evidence." he said pulling his finger away to let me examine it. It is red where it touched my lips. I had almost forgot about my lipstick. I don't where it that often. He lets go of me and takes my hand, squeezing it tightly. It is this way that he guides me into the kitchen.
When we walk in everyone is seated and I feel as if I am on display. My father keeps a firm eye on me while I find my seat near the end of the table next to him. Edward sits to my left. Charlie, as if you didn't already guess, is at the end of the table opposite of Carlisle. Something I feel Esme and him arranged to make Charlie feel better, more at home. I warned them about his uncomfortableness with these kind of things. No one speaks at first. Whether it's do to eating or it being awkward, I don't know but it stays this way until desert. Esme prepared an awesome berry cobbler, which I told her was my father and I's favorite, with ice cream. We're halfway into it when Esme speaks.
"Bella has some news for you, Charlie and Rene." she looks at me with an encouraging smile and soon all eyes are on me. I swallow hard as Edward's hand finds mine underneath the table. I look at him and he gives the same smile as Esme, making them look very much alike. I look back to my parents, notice how weird it still feels to say "parents".
"I'm having twins." the words come out in a rush.
My father drops his fork and begins choking on his pie. Rene jumps up, completely ignoring Charlie, and starts crying. She runs over and gives me a almost painful hug.
"Oh my goodness Bella! This is wonderful! I get two grand kids? How did this happen? Twins don't run in either one of our families." she looks at Charlie who it beginning to calm down.
I look down at the table preparing my self to answer, again, I swallow hard. "Jacob has twins in his family." I say and I can't help thinking that if she had been here for my childhood, she might know this.
"Oh. Well, at least something good came out of him." she says. Everyone's mouths drop from her comment. I can't help but glare. At least it keeps me from crying. Everyone's still starring at her when she looks quickly up from her plate at Esme.
"What about a baby shower?" she's excited. Esme smiles.
"Wonderful idea, Rene. Help me clear the table and we'll discuss it." she says and they both rise. We all watch them for a bit but soon the boys all head to the living room. Edward doesn't make a move. He still has a hold of my hand. I look at him closely. His red tie is off a bit. I start to fix it.
"You can go." I say.
He smiles stretching his neck out for me. "I'd much rather be in here with you."
I smile to, patting his chest when I'm done. "Thank you." he says.
Nodding, I lean over the arm of my chair for a kiss. He does the same. Our lips barely touch before he pulls away. I slump back in my chair, disappointed. It's about this time when Alice and Rosalie's chairs screech across the floor. I look up at them as they grab their plates. I force my chair back trying to do the same but I forget how impossible this is for me. I just find myself gripping the table for support. Edward stands immediately to help. He grips my arms as I finally make it to my feet. When I'm steadied I pull my arms out of his hands. He looks at me surprised.
"Go watch the game." I say grabbing my plate.
I feel his eyes starring after me as I approach Alice. I see her shrug at him slightly. Anger floods through me and I don't quite understand it myself. It's not long before that anger turns to guilt. When the kitchen is all clean Rene and Esme return to the table to continue planning. Alice, Rose, and I gather around the kitchen sink. Alice pulls herself up on the counter and for a second I miss doing this.
"So, what's up with you?" Rose asks.
"I don't know. I'm just tired of being pregnant." I say, shrugging.
They both nod. We all go silent for a moment. Of course it really wasn't silent, the sound of the whole houses excitement is to be heard. I can hear Emmett and Charlie's screams the most.
"So...how's the wedding planning going?" I ask Alice and before I know it, all three of us are knee deep in wedding magazines. The rest of the night is spent ordering things needed and planning pictures for the invitations.
"Bella, you're really into photography, why don't you do our pictures?" she says and I am surprised.
"You don't have to do them for the wedding! I want you to enjoy that but Carlisle has this Cannon that he never uses, it's not the best but I figure you could manage? Don't do it if you feel it would be to much stress."
I am beyond flattered. "I'd love to! Anything I can do to help." She smiles and claps her hands in excitement.
Charlie appears then. I turn to see him and figure the game is over. It's already almost 9?
"Rene, are you ready to leave?" he asks, yawning.
She looks up at him. "Oh, we we're just starting on a theme." She looks quite disappointed.
I think of my little old truck and smile. "Dad, I could give...Mom a ride home when she's done."
Everyone looks at me in surprise. Charlie doesn't seem to like the idea but Rene jumps right on it.
"Oh would you? That would be wonderful. Unless, of course," she turns to Esme, "you would like to call it a night."
Esme smiles, "I'm good for another hour."
Charlie huffs. "Alright." and then walks over to her. He plants a soft kiss on her lips and I can't help but look away. It was still odd to me. When he pulls away he looks towards me.
"Bells, could you walk me to the door?" he asks.
I looked at him for a second and then nodded. Our walk to the door is silent but he asks me to join him on the steps for a moment. The air is chilly, something that would normally bother me, but I hadn't realized how hot I was.
"We didn't have much time to talk tonight." he says.
I nod, "Yeah."
"Bells...you look great. Really." he clears his throat awkwardly, "The whole pregnancy look suits you."
I smile at my father. We both were never much to talk about our feelings. We actually weren't once to really talk. But it wasn't ever awkward, we both were content with the silence.
"So...twins." he says, rocking on his heals.
"Guess so." I say.
A long pause. "Look, Bells, I miss ya being around the house. If with your mother back, it just isn't the same. I want you to come home. We can help you with the baby...I mean..uh babies."
"Dad, I already told you...I'm moving with Edward where ever he decides to go. I can go to collage, get a job."
"You can do all that here. Who would watch over the babies while you do all these things. Rene and I could be your free daycare." he says.
"Edward has family down in Alaska. In Alaska we'd have the whole set up, even a house ready. They could watch them. And besides, I don't want to put that burden on you guys. Especially with mom back. You guys need time to get reacquainted, err whatever."
He sighs deeply and rubs his face. "You're just growing up so fast. I feel like just yesterday you were my little girl dependent on me and then I blinked and you're already starting a family...a life of your own."
My dad rarely sees me cry. So I don't know if it was my crazy pregnant hormones or what but I stared getting choked up. I stepped into him and wrapped my arm around his waist. His arms circled around me.
"I'll always be your little girl, Dad." I say and he kisses my forehead.
"Hope so." he says and then we stand like this for a long long time. When he pulls away he clears his throat. "Better get going."
As he walks down the steps a say, "I love you, Dad." and as he gets to the bottom he turns back to me.
"Me too Bells." and as he turns I hear him say, "Always have, always will." like he used to.
As I stepped back inside, the overwhelming feeling of content flooded through me. It was the most at peace I had felt in a long time. Edward noticed this too. I was smiling like an idiot as he walked over to greet me.
"I love it when you smile." he says as he puts both hands on either sides of my waist. This, of course, makes me smile bigger as he pulls me to him. "Please, don't ever stop." he says.
I wrapped my arms around his neck. "I know a way to make that happen." I whisper into his ear. He chuckles but stops abruptly when I draw his earlobe into my mouth. His breath caught and for once I felt like I was in control. So, just for the fun of it, I pull away with a loud laugh. Emmett and Carlisle look at us curiously. I let go of Edward completely and start to walk away but just before I could I slide one finger down his chest to the button of his jeans at which he flinches. Then it's back to the kitchen for me.
About an hour later, Rene and Esme announce that they are finishing up. I grab my jacket and tell her I will meet her outside. I retrieve my keys from the door side table that have remained almost untouched since I moved in. I was thankful for my extra time because I had a difficult time getting in my truck. It took quite some effort and by the time I was in the cool cab I found myself out of breath. It felt foreign to stick the key in the ignition and rev my truck to life but soon it all came back to me and I felt oddly at home. I forgot how much a part of my old life my truck was.
And then that was it, the good feeling was gone only to be replaced with pain that seem like a knife stabbing into my stomach and being twisted. I could almost smell Jacob in it. His husky earthy smell imbedded in my seats. And then I was being suffocated. No fresh air would come. I rolled down the window in a panic. As the cool air rushed in and filled my lungs, I heard the front door shut. I closed my eyes and willed my breathing back to normal. I just opened my eyes as Rene slid into the seat next to me.
"Are you okay?" she asks.
"I'm fine." I say as a start to pull out of the spot my truck has been parked. It runs just fine as we drive down the winding road into town. We remain mostly silent until we reach town.
"I am just so proud of you, Isabella." Rene says randomly.
I glance at her out of the corner of my eye. "Uh...thanks."
"You've just done so good. And you're so strong. Take after your mother." she says and I bite the inside of my cheek trying not to say something harsh.
"And now I get two grand kids? Two? I always wanted more than one child but you know how stubborn your father is. Always has to have his way." she says.
"Is that why you left him?" I blurt out, automatically regretting it.
She thinks for a long moment. We're turning onto our street before she starts to answer.
"I left your father because I could find more in life. We married young and I kind of went through a panic when I thought I was going to be with one person for the rest of my life. I was young and I was wrong. I was wrong for leaving you and your father and I don't expect you to trust me or to forgive me easily. That's why I wanted to help out with all of this." We park in front of the house as she pauses. "And let me be a lesson to you. I regret leaving you guys more than anything in my life. Don't ever leave Edward because a shred of doubt. He's right for you...I know it."
She just finishes when Charlie walks out of the front door. She follows my line of sight and sighs and then turns back to me. After a moment she pulls me into a hug.
"I really do love you." she says as she steps out of the cab. I wave to the both of them as they slip into the house. I sit there for a moment going over what she said in my head. I wished I didn't believe her but I did. And I was, sometime, going to forgive her, but like she said, she would have to work for it. Then I decided to push everything out of my mind and think of the one person that mattered right now. His pale skin, perfect emerald green eyes, crooked smile, and just wonderful all around. I throw the truck into drive and sped away. The whole ride home I thought of Edward and what tonight would end like.
Hopefully intertwined in each other.