~*~*~ Playing Mommy~*~*~
Isabella Swan
"And where are you going?"
Edward was about to go out without breakfast when I caught him. He turned around and glared. "To work, obviously" he explained.
"Not without breakfast, you're not," I warned, leaning on the wall. Renesmee had been excited to have this first breakfast as a whole 'family' and Edward just had to go already.
"I'm going to be late," he countered. I sighed and approached him so I could talk to him without Renesmee overhearing. She was in the dining room with Esme, her grandmother.
"Can't you just sacrifice for your daughter?" I asked. "She's excited about this. How can you prioritize work before her anyway?"
"Maybe some other time," he didn't budge. I couldn't believe I was stooping this low, but I had to—for the sake of Renesmee.
"If you don't join us, I'm going to tell her—right here, right now," I threatened. Last night, we had both agreed that by the time my obligation ended, he would tell Renesmee the truth. My part was just to prepare her and give her some love a real mother could. Unfortunately, he's the one not playing the father part of the family concept.
He glared. I remained stoic and went to sit beside Renesmee at the dinner table. Moments later, Edward sat down with us. I grinned victoriously. Score!
…
After breakfast, Edward stood up from the table and prepared to go. He gave his daughter and his mom a kiss and was about to go… when Renesmee said, "daddy, you haven't kissed mommy yet."
I froze in my seat. Edward looked at me briefly before approaching me and kissing me on the cheek. Red tinged my cheeks. His lips felt so soft… SHUT UP, BELLA!
"Bye," he said then went out. Renesmee looked at me.
"You're all red," why oh why did kids have to be so observant?
"Hurry up or you'll be late for school," I stalled as I stood up and gestured her to do the same. I hoped she won't look up anymore. Her pointing it out made my face glow even redder.
I bent down and she gave me a quick peck on the cheek. "Bye, mommy!" she said then met her nanny by the door, her little backpack in tow. Then I was alone with Esme. She smiled at me and called on a house-helper to clean the table.
"It's okay," I said, stopping the maid from taking a plate. Esme looked at me. "I can do it myself."
"Bella, dear," Esme smiled. "Don't feel obligated to do so. You are our guest and guests don't do dishes." I pursed my lips. What can I say? I was used to doing all the work.
"Sorry," I apologized sheepishly. "I'm just not used to… not doing chores."
"Everyone deserves a bit of rest, dear," she smiled then gently pushed me toward the living room. We both sat on the sofa—expensive, I think—and she suddenly said, "I'm sorry you had to do this. It's my fault."
I shook my head. "No it's okay," I said. "Um, I'm sure that this experience will come in handy anyway. I just hope Renesmee discovers the truth at the right time."
"Edward is good at confrontation," she prided. "He can handle his daughter's hurt face." I hoped I could handle it, too. I nodded.
Esme patted my hand then stood up. "Let's say we bond for the meantime?" she offered. "Renesmee's classes don't end until in the afternoon anyway. We might as well make the most out of our free time."
"That would be nice," I smiled then followed suit.
…
Esme took me to the shopping mall and we talked all the way. I was embarrassed when she offered to buy me an expensive dress in Zara. I negated it but she insisted. I mean, I wasn't even Edward's real wife. So it felt wrong to accept a gift like this.
I learned that Edward got his argumentation skills from Esme, with the way she persuaded me real well. So we ended up buying a blue silk dress with a low v-neckline and long sleeves. It cost practically a hundred dollars—OR MORE. Since Esme discovered I didn't have shoes to match it, she also ended up buying me a pair of silver high heels.
"Um, when am I even going to wear this?" I asked Esme. We were in Starbucks now, taking a break from shopping. "I don't really go to parties."
"Well, Edward's law firm is having a party next Friday," she said. "Family members are invited. This will be a good way to debut his 'wife', isn't it?" I blushed and shyly avoided her gaze by looking down at my tea.
"It will probably go well," I mumbled. "If Edward doesn't embarrass me in public"
She laughed. "My son is just stressed out," she said. "I promise you that once his workload decreased, his harsh treatment of you will decrease also."
I smiled curtly then took another sip.
Esme looked at her watch. "It's almost Renesmee's dismissal," she said. "But I have something to do. Would you mind fetching her alone?"
I nodded. "I don't mind," I said. "And anyway, I have to make this believable."
She smiled, wished me luck, and then went off. I sighed then finished my drink. It was only two days since I started this act, and I was already feeling guilty. Correction: I was feeling guilty from the moment Edward offered me this 'job'. But I knew I had to be professional about this.
After a few minutes, I left the coffee shop then went to Renesmee's school. Esme had told me about it while we were shopping and I was glad I had managed to remember the school's name.
…
When I got to the kindergarten, I immediately spotted Renesmee and her curly brown hair from the crowd. She saw me quick too. She smiled wide then ran to me. I bent down so she could give me a hug. "Hello, baby," I cooed. "How was school?"
"It was great!" she said when we pulled apart. I took her hand and we both walked down the stairs. We got into a cab. "We painted with our fingers—I painted a flower—and then we sang a new song about the planets!"
"That's good!" I laughed then I pulled her closer so I could caress her soft locks. They were curlier than mine, and she looked like a doll with her hair.
"Mommy, will you and daddy go on a date tonight?" she asked. Renesmee was quite fond of being random, and her randomness managed to make me blush every time.
"Uh, I don't know," I said. "Your dad, um, didn't say anything."
"My classmate told me when her parents got together they went to a fancy restaurant," she said, fingering the hem of my black t-shirt. She sighed. "I think daddy's too busy too much."
"Well, he has to work hard," I defended Edward, like a real wife would. He owed me for that. "If he didn't, you wouldn't have cool toys and beautiful dresses. You also wouldn't be going to a school like yours."
"But I rarely see him," she mumbled. She looked up at me and grinned. "I'm glad you came back."
I smiled. "I'm glad I did, too," I whispered.
When we got to the apartment, Renesmee immediately pulled me to her bedroom to play with her toys. I couldn't help but gawk at her collection. I mean, when I was her age, the only toys I had were a few Barbie dolls, a cooking set, and a dollhouse. She, on the other hand, had different kinds of dolls. She practically had three dollhouses in varying sizes. Although she had these, I knew she wanted Edward the most. As she played with her Baby Alive—it actually pees and cries—I twirled her hair into loose braids and tied the ends with ribbons. Renesmee looked pleased at how it turned out.
A few minutes later, I heard Esme say, "Edward, you're here early."
"Daddy's here!" Renesmee squealed and ran out of her room. I stood up from my position on the rug and stepped outside too. I saw Edward give his daughter a quick hug before going to 'our' room. Renesmee looked hurt. I sighed then went to talk to her good-for-nothing daddy.
I burst through the room and saw that nobody was inside. Then I heard a rush of water from the bathroom. The door had a slight crack to look through. I leaned close to it so I could hear what he was doing. There were tapping noises. I made a face. He was washing up already, without dinner?!
I pushed the door open and he jerked his head in my direction. "What do you want?" he asked, looking annoyed like usual. I leaned on the doorframe and crossed my arms over my chest.
"What are you doing?" I asked casually.
"I'm brushing my teeth, obviously," he said, his tone sounding like he was talking to a dumb person. I rolled my eyes.
"I can see that, Attorney Cullen," I said sarcastically. He shook his head.
"If you're going to be like that, leave me alone," he said, looking at me from the mirror. "I need to rest."
"Without dinner," I stated.
"I ate," he said simply. I scoffed. He glared, which took no effect on me. He glared at me too much so I wasn't bothered anymore.
"God, you are so inconsiderate," I mumbled. I narrowed my eyes at him. "Look. You hired me to be a mom to your child. It doesn't mean that I have to fill in your position, too."
He sputtered out water, wiped his mouth with his hand, and then turned his head to me. "I don't need a lecture from you. If you were in my shoes, you would also find it difficult to balance things out."
"But I'm not," I argued.
"We're talking hypothetical," he argued back, walking past me. "Don't counter like a child."
I scoffed then grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. It hit him square in the back. He turned to me. I arched a brow. "Well, you act like you can't hear me," I said. "How's that for acting like a child?"
He sighed. Here we go again. He lay down on the makeshift bed and pulled the comforter over his head. "I don't have the tolerance for this," he said, his voice muffling.
I kneeled down on his bed and pulled his blanket away from him. "Well, you could've at least greeted your daughter enthusiastically." He opened his mouth to retort but I put up a hand to stop him. I continued, "I may not be a real part of this family, but at least I know how to act in front of your daughter."
"What do I need to do just to shut you up?" he hissed, grabbing the comforter from my hands.
"Treat Renesmee like how a real dad should," I answered then went out of the room to eat dinner with his daughter and his mom.
…
The following days, I sensed Edward was trying to change. But in my opinion, it wasn't enough. I didn't voice this out because I might get smacked on the head if I go all annoying again. I mean, he was trying—and I did say that I wouldn't badger him if he does. So I left him alone. It amused me that he looked surprised when we were alone in the kitchen and I didn't tell him off.
"What are you playing here?" he asked when I entered our room. I looked at him and fought the urge to smile. He kept on staring from his desk.
"I'm not playing anything," I denied then went to the bathroom to change into my pajamas. I realized I hadn't locked the door, but it was too late.
Edward burst through the bathroom while I was still putting on my top (thank goodness I already put my pajama bottoms). So he saw me in my black push-up bra—the one with the embarrassing laces on. I screamed and immediately covered myself with a towel that was resting on the sink. My face was flushed both in embarrassment and annoyance.
"What the hell are you doing?" I demanded. "You're a pervert aren't you?"
He rolled his eyes and looked at me from top to bottom. He seemed unimpressed, to my annoyance again. "Sorry, but I don't like seeing pale."
"Why did you burst in here?" I said through gritted teeth.
"I thought you were planning something," he said then stepped out of the bathroom. I quickly put on my t-shirt and followed suit.
"Well, I wasn't," I hissed.
He shrugged then sat on his chair again. "How should I know?" he asked. "You're pretty unexpected so I wasn't sure." Coming from him, it was definitely an insult.
I climbed into bed and huffed. "Goodnight," I said and shut my eyes.
"See? You're really being unexpected," he mumbled. Then I heard him continue his work on his laptop.
I looked up at the ceiling and groaned. "God, please let me survive this with my sanity still in tact."