In from the cold ~ chapter 12
Jake didn't really settle at all overnight, but to be honest neither did Edward and I, we only slept on and off for short spells.
"Are you ok Honey?" I heard him whisper beside me in the dark.
"Yeah, just I don't know what's wrong, Jake's acting strange and I can't sleep." I snuggled closer into his hold.
"It was probably a deer or something that startled him in the woods." Edward whispered before pulling me into a lingering kiss.
"Are you trying to distract me?" I mumbled between kisses.
"Is it working?"
"Mmmmmm!"
After an earth shattering distraction… twice…we both fell asleep…only to be woken a few hours later by the alarm clock.
Edward and I both ran with the dogs on a shorter circuit in the morning. Jake was still not happy with the woods, but seemed a little calmer.
"You know what, I have probably been reading too many stories online about scary things, and got myself all nervous or something."
"What have you been reading to make yourself nervous?" Edward laughed.
"Vampire Love stories…" I giggled.
Edward shook his head, laughing as he patted Jake on the head.
"OK then…but I think we will still do the woods together meantime…"
I nodded and snuggled into his side even closer.
We showered and got ourselves ready for work.
I drove into town taking Jake & Emily to my flat before heading to work. Suddenly Alice appeared out of her shop just as I parked the Volvo. She was like a ninja appearing from no where all the time.
"Hey there…how you doing? Do you fancy a girls night in tonight? I haven't seen you in ages." She gushed.
"You just saw me two days ago Alice!" I laughed.
"Yes, but it has not been just you, me and Rose in ages…" Alice pouted.
"I don't know yet, let me think about it and I will tell you at lunch time." I opened the car door and took both dogs out on their leads.
"They look cute together." Alice laughed as Jake nudged Emily and she lifted her paw up and hit him on the ear.
"Yes they get on really well. They are good company for each other when we are at work."
"What about you & Edward?" Alice enquired.
"What about us?"
"I know you both like each other…"
"We do."
"Well did you tell him?"
"Tell him what?" I laughed, opening my apartment door and letting both dogs off their leads so they could run inside.
"Don't play games with me Missy!" Alice scolded.
I picked up mail that was lying and started to open it, hoping Alice would go away.
I studied a letter from my landlord acknowledging the end of my lease. I put that straight into my bag and looked at the other mail.
"So?"
"Sorry what did you say Alice?"
"I was asking what did you said to my brother."
"Which one?" I smirked.
"You know which one!"
"Alice did you just stomp your foot?" I laughed really loud this time.
"Are you, or are you not going to tell me what is going on?"
"Not!" I shrugged my shoulders and looked back down at the mail in my hands.
"Ooh a new address card from Grandma Cullen. Have you seen her recently?" I asked Alice.
"Yes…you are changing the subject Isabella Swan!"
"I think I will go to see her tomorrow, I am finished work early before taking time off for Thanksgiving." I muttered.
"Oh Grandma is coming to stay, I think Mum is asking Edward to go and pick her up tomorrow…"
"Oh that's good. I love Grandma Cullen."
"I think you love someone else as well…" Alice mumbled.
"Right well, need to make sure the dogs are settled and have plenty of water before I get to work, Tuesday…so deliveries need sorting no doubt!"
"Are you going to talk to me about Edward…?"
"Nope…see you later Alice, Love you!"
I worked until lunch time, took the dogs out and went back to work again. Sent Alice a text saying we would do a girlie night soon but not tonight, and then switched my phone to silent.
Edward called in when he was finished work before he picked the dogs up.
Alice spotted him coming to the shop and was watching him through the window. I swear she had the place or us under surveillance.
"Don't do anything romantic!" I laughed holding my hand up to keep him at bay. "Alice is spying on us."
"OH I am fed up with this…" Edward groaned.
"Two more days." I sighed.
"Nope I want to tell them all now!"
"I know, but two more days, Alice also wanted me to spend tonight with her and Rose."
"Do you want to?"
"No…I want to be naked, with you…" I bit down on my lips and smiled at him.
Edward smirked. "Is she still watching us?"
I nodded, seeing Alice out of the corner of my eye.
"And Grandma Cullen is coming tomorrow."
"How did you know that?"
"Alice told me, Esme is going to ask you to go and collect her."
"Come with me, I want to take you for lunch and then we will go and collect her."
"She will know…"
Edward nodded, "Yep. She will know the moment she see's us, and I would rather she says something when it is just you and me, than in front of everyone!"
"Ok. I was only working till lunch time tomorrow; I will be ready to go after I let the dogs out."
"Can I at least hug you?"
I shake my head no, "Alice is still watching."
Edward raises his eye brow. I know he is close to losing the will to keep our secret. "Friends hug…" he mutters.
I grin and reply. "You could just hug me as a friend? No kisses? No smoochies? No groping me…"
Suddenly his hand shoots and he chuckles. "Shake?"
"Shake!" I take his hand, he gives me a gentle squeeze and as he lets go his hand lingers, his finger tips graze along my palm, three of our finger tips hold on for slightly longer than they need to.
"I got the confirmation of my lease being up in a month."
"You will be moved in completely before then won't you?"
I nod. "And everyone will know at Thanksgiving."
"I don't know why we are doing this anymore." He whispers.
"What…Us?" I panic slightly.
"No baby…the secret…I want to hold you, love you."
"Two days…if we can do this for two more days, I will make it worth you while…"
"Keep talking like that, and in that tone and I will take you right here and right now…"
I laughed and shook my head before telling Edward to go and collect the dogs and take them home.
His face breaks into the biggest smile when I call it home.
Part of me thought it was silly not to just tell people, but I wanted to talk to my Dad, and I wanted to just be with Edward, before everyone got involved.
The afternoon passed really slowly. I was racing out of the door as soon as I could, texted Edward to tell him I was on my way home.
Alice sent me several texts asking again about girlie night but I told her I needed to collect Jake and get home. I was not lying; just not telling her home was with Edward.
She would know that soon enough.
I pulled into our drive way, I thought I saw something in the trees to my left. I looked for a moment, only looking away when Jake & Emily bounded up to me. Edward stood at the door smiling.
I looked back to my left but there was nothing there.
When I turned back to face the door I jumped as I realised Edward was almost in front of me.
He swept me up in his arms and I giggled as he spun me round before pulling me up for a searing kiss.
We stood there, locked in our embrace for a few moments before Edward swept me up in his arms and carried me inside, both of us laughing as the dogs jumped and ran around us. We closed the door to the world behind us. We were our own little family here.
Edward had started preparing dinner for us. I had never felt so loved and content than I did when I was with my best friend and love of my life.
"Edward…I want to tell Charlie about us."
He just grinned and nodded.
"How about we call and invite him and my folks over for dinner this evening if they have nothing planned?"
I called Charlie and Esme, inviting them over, and decided to make dessert for us all to share.
We worked together like a team. The two dogs lay together after eating and snuggled in Jakes bed.
I prepared some warm apples with a spicy sponge topping that we would serve with custard. I knew it was a favourite of Carlisle and my Dad.
I set our new dining table, smiling as I placed the settings around for people I cared about. My heart filled with joy and at the same time sadness for the missing person who I wished was going to be sitting here with us tonight. Edward walked over to me and handed me a small heavy box. I opened it to discover a rose bud bowl. The crystal bowl had a sliver lid with an open weave lid that held rose buds in place. "It's beautiful." I whispered.
Edward lifted a small bouquet of pale pink roses. "These are for your Mom; she needs a setting at our table."
A single tear ran slowly down my face. Edward kissed it away before pulling me into his loving arms.
I cut the dainty roses so they sat perfectly in the bowl and placed them in the centre of the table just as Esme had done, every time since my Mother had left us.
I stood looking at them, knowing she was never far away from me or the people I loved.
I would never have to explain to any boyfriend about the woman I had loved and lost. How much I missed her. I felt comfort in knowing she knew the man I loved.
Edward and his family were already my family, they knew and loved Renee. They missed her as much as Charlie and I did.
Edward looked over smiling at me.
He knew. He just knew.
Jake ran to the door letting us know our parents had arrived.
I opened the door and looked out to see only one car.
My Father got out of the passenger seat before opening the back door and helping Esme out from the back seat. Carlisle was laughing as he passed Esme the keys. She popped them in her purse and then linked arms with both Dads as they made their way to out front door.
"I didn't realise you were all coming together." I smiled as they walked towards me. "I called Charlie and told him we would pick him up and I would drive us all home later." Esme explained as she stepped forward to pull me into a hug. She kissed my cheek before stepping into the house.
I looked at my Dad and blushed before smiling at him. "Daddy…"
"Isabella." He smirked back. "I think you best invite me in and introduce me to this boy you have set up home with."
"I…erm…I…How did you know?" I stuttered.
"I have known you two all your lives…and I may have been a bit slow the other night, but as I was driving home I realised the way you both protected each other at the dining table was more…intimate…than the brother-sister way you used to be with each other.
I have seen you hold hands before, but never under the table."
Edward had appeared, hearing Charlie's words. He knew that my Father had guessed about us. Slowly he wrapped his arms around me and kissed the side of my head.
"You have always loved each other." He shrugged his shoulders.
We both nodded. "But now, we are in love with each other." Edward said, smiling at my Father.
"About bloody time!" He started laughing before stepping forward and kissing my cheek. He patted Edward on his back before walking towards the door.
Jake was sitting beside the door looking toward the trees beside the house.
"What's got your attention Jakey Dog?" My dad scratched Jake's ear as he stopped to speak to my protector.
"He has been a bit nervous since something spooked him yesterday." Edward explained.
"Hum…keep your eyes open Jakey, you are never wrong about Bella's safety."
My Dad looked around at the trees and bent down to speak to Jake. "Keep your eyes open Jake." With one more scratch of Jakes ear he walked into the house asking Edward about the alarm system and locks he had around the house. I sighed. My Dad had always been protective of me.
We sat down to eat, Esme smiled at the rose bowl on the table, Charlie nodded and said how pretty they were. Carlisle smiled and lifted his glass. He looked at the roses and shook his head. "To love, new love, lost love, and love never forgotten." We all toasted knowing it was Renee that we were all thinking of.