Chapter 5

"Edward?" Bella asks one night as we lay in bed, tangled up together and momentarily sated.

"Yeah?" I kiss her chest over her heart and put my head back on my favorite pillow—her breast.

"Can I ask you something?" Her fingers move lazily through my hair while my hand roams up and down the curve of her hip.

"Of course."

"Do you ever speak to your parents?"

I lift my head and look at her as I realize in the nine months we've known each other we haven't spoken much about my parents. I roll onto my side to face her and she does the same. My hand stays on her hip. I need to feel grounded, and touching her always seems to do the trick.

"Occasionally," I finally answer. "Ever since Emmett passed away, there hasn't been much need for communication between us. My mother only seems to call when there's some event she deems important for me to attend, and I usually turn her down since I have no interest in her high society galas."

She looks contemplative so I ask her what brought this on, and she shrugs the shoulder she's not laying on. "I don't know. I guess I was just thinking about my dad and the time I missed with him when I came back to school this time last year."

"Oh, sweetheart." I run my hand over the back of her head and through her hair. "Your dad wanted the best for you. He knew how important it was for you to finish school. I'm sure he would have been so proud of you when you started your new job this week."

"I know." She gives me a watery smile. "It just got me thinking, that's all." As if she's closing the subject, she moves closer and snuggles into my side with her head on my chest. We've fallen asleep this way almost every night since the first night we made love.

Bella is out like a light within a few minutes, but I remain awake for quite some time mulling over her words.

The following day is Bella's birthday, and although I wanted to take her out to dinner to celebrate the day and her first full week of school, she insists on staying home and cooking for me. No matter how much I argue that she cooks all the time, she won't budge. Since it's her birthday, I give in and we share a nice meal together at home.

She tells me more about her students and the classes she's teaching, and I can tell how happy she is by the animation in her voice. I ask questions and listen intently with a smile on my face as she chatters on about how wonderful it is to teach an advanced placement class to students who are actually interested in what she has to teach them.

It makes me think back over the last nine months and how much both of our lives have changed, and I suddenly blurt out a question I don't mean to ask. "If you could have stayed home with your dad last year, would you?"

As soon as the words are out there I wish I could take them back. I don't really want to know the answer.

She sighs and looks at the wall behind me wistfully. "I don't think so," she finally answers, and I let out a relieved breath. "You were right when you said he would have wanted this for me … to finish school and get a good job, and most importantly to be happy in my life."

"Are you?"

She grabs my hand across the table and stands up to come closer. Contentment washes over me as she straddles my lap and hugs me. "So happy," she says quietly. "But I want you to be happy too."

I pull back and look at her, perplexed. "What makes you think I'm not happy?"

She drops a kiss on my lips. "I know you're mostly happy, but sometimes I wonder if you could be happier."

Later that night I have trouble sleeping again as I contemplate her words. There are two things running through my mind—my relationship with my parents and Bella.

I mull over the first for a while, wondering what it would be like to have a real relationship with my mother and father. Is that even possible after all this time? I don't know if they are interested in being active in my life in any type of parental role. It's not like I need guidance from them now. I run my own successful business, own several properties and have a fantastic girlfriend … who they've never met.

I think about Bella and the small amount of family she had that meant so much to her. She'd probably love to be part of something bigger. I decide that I'll make arrangements for us to get together with my parents. At least if they're not interested or they act as snooty as I expect, I'll be able to say I tried.

If I'm honest with myself, I have to admit this is all for Bella, because without her I would be content with the nearly non-existent relationship I have with my parents. But I've come so far since we met last December, and I wonder what other changes are on the horizon for me.

Bella has brought such joy to my life that I almost can't imagine a time when she wasn't in it. Even before we were dating, we spent most of our time laughing, being playful and having fun together. Now that we're a couple, we have the added bonus of passion and intimacy.

A year ago, as the rest of the world started getting excited for the coming holiday, I was sullen and nearly depressed. When I think of what's to come this Christmas, all I can see is how I can't wait to spend it with Bella. I want to make her dreams come true. I want the house to smell like delicious foods. I want to make a mess in the kitchen when she lets me help her bake cookies. I want to kiss her under the mistletoe.

But what I really want—what would make me happy—is to have her always be mine.

With the thought of Bella by my side, now and in the future, I finally drift off to sleep.

My parents were rightfully surprised when I called to tell them there was someone special in my life that I wanted them to meet. When I asked Bella to accompany me to their house for dinner, she accepted with a secret smile. Now that we're sitting in my car in the driveway of their Main Line mansion, she's fidgeting as if I'm leading her to the gallows.

"Sweetheart, there's nothing to worry about," I say, placing my hand over hers in her lap.

"What if they don't like me?"

"I love you. That's what matters." I kiss her lips lightly. "I want them to meet the incredible woman who has changed my life for the better, and even though I know they're going to love you, their approval is not important to me. Nothing is going to change the way I feel about you."

She looks at me with wide eyes. "What if they think I'm with you for your money?"

I chuckle and shake my head. "You and I both know that's the furthest thing from the truth."

"But they don't!"

"I don't care what they think," I say gently. "We love each other and you make me happy. If anything, they should be thanking you since you were the one who reminded me how important family is. If I did things my way, they would be meeting you at our wedding."

Her eyes widen even further. "Our what?" she exclaims.

I bark out a laugh. "Figuratively speaking. Now come on, let's go inside."

Bella is understandably overwhelmed by the grandeur of the house, but what overwhelms me is the welcoming attitude of my parents. It almost feels as though they were actually missing me. I have to bite my tongue to keep from laughing as Mother fusses over Bella. I honestly expected her to have a "no one is good enough for my son" attitude, and I'm thrilled to find out I'm wrong.

Father, for the most part, sits back and watches the women interact. He's never been a big talker, more content to let Mother lead and follow along for the ride. So I am practically struck stupid when he pulls me aside before we leave and lets me know how he feels.

"She's a lovely woman, Son. Don't let her get away," he tells me, patting me on the shoulder. That's about the highest praise I could ever get from Carlisle Cullen.

It takes me a moment to gather my wits before I respond. "I don't plan on it. I know a treasure when I see one."

That night I spend my sleepless moments thinking about my father's words and the thoughts I've been having about making Bella mine forever. A plan begins to formulate in my mind. I realize exactly what I want to do, and I know the perfect way to do it.