Chapter Four: Aunt Suzie
I walked into the lunchroom the next day and was severely disappointed by the smell coming from the lunch line. It was weekly slop day. Well, it was supposed to be meatloaf, but it was not-so-fondly known as 'slop'. On top of that, Edward disappeared into the crowd and didn't walk me to lunch. I sighed and, without bothering to get a tray, sat down at our table. Today, Angela is sitting with a boy named Ben, about whom I will mercilessly interrogate Angela about later.
"What's up, Bella? Are you OK?" Alice must've caught my facial expression.
"It's slop day and I don't know where Edward is. Other than that, I'm fine," I smiled as sincerely as I could manage. Before Alice could respond, something over my shoulder caught her attention. I spun around in my seat and followed her eyes.
The heavens opened up and an angel choir started singing. The room looked brighter instantly. The light was coming from a beautiful human being that I can't believe exists. It was Edward…carrying a fast food bag. By the time I came back to earth, Edward was sitting next to me.
"You know that I love you and you are the best boyfriend in the whole entire world, right?" I grinned widely at him.
"You've mentioned it a few times," he replied calmly. He handed me a burger, fries, and…a soda.
"Um…Edward, do you remember my run-in with caffeine at your house?" Edward cracked up, probably re-living the incident.
"Don't worry love, it's Sprite." I nodded, laughing along with him.
"Am I missing something?" Alice asked, speaking for the whole table. Rose, Alice, Jasper, and Emmett were staring at us, not getting out inside joke.
"Nothing you want to know about," I reassured her. She glared at me for a while before resigning herself to not knowing. Lunch passed quickly and, before I knew it, I found myself kissing Edward goodbye at the entrance of the locker rooms.
"Hey Bella, what's up girl?" Jessica's high pitch voice greeted me. She was pulling on her shorts and leaning against the gym locker next to mine. Maybe she thinks the way to Edward is through his girlfriend.
"Nothing much," was my dry response. I spun the combo into my locker and opened it quickly, grabbing my clothes. I started looking around for a place to change and I was surprised that Jessica noticed.
"Modest? I would've thought that, with a boyfriend like Edward"- at least she acknowledges it –"you wouldn't have a problem with nudity," she hinted unsubtly.
"I prefer to change in private," I told her and that was all I was going to say. I slipped into a bathroom stall and changed quickly, ready to be out of the steamy and sweaty locker room. I side-stepped Jessica and breathed a sigh of relief as I opened the door. Edward wasn't waiting for me, so I looked around the gym and found him in the bleachers.
"Hello, love," Edward said softly as I sat down next to him. I smiled and forgot about Jessica.
"Esme, we're home!" I called through the house as I opened the front door. Edward had today off from work and I thought we'd spend some quality family time.
"Thank goodness you guys are here," Esme yelled, running down the hall with Lizzi on her hip. Her hair was coming out of her bun and she was rummaging for something in the living room. I took Lizzi from her arms and she smiled at me before rushing back to her bedroom, waving her hand for Edward and me to follow. "Edward, you remember me telling you about your Aunt Suzie and how she's pregnant with twins?" she asked.
"No Mom, you never told me," Edward said, his voice patient and indulging.
"Real- oh well, that's beside the point. The point is that she went into early labor and, since your grandparents are in Europe, she needs me to stay with her for a week or so. I can't leave Suzie alone with two infants, because her husband is deployed overseas right now and you know how hard newborns can be and…" she started to rant about how hard it would be for Suzie if she didn't go. I finally interrupted her.
"Esme, calm down. What do you need us to do?" Esme smiled appreciatively.
"I can't take Lizzi with me and since Edward turned eighteen this past summer, I was hoping you two could watch Lizzi and…take her to school with you." She rushed through the last part and held her breath, her eyes flickering between Edward and me.
"Of course we'll do it, Esme. We won't leave you hanging," I reassured her.
"It's no big deal, so don't worry about us," Edward backed me up. Esme still looked guilty, but nodded and finished packing her toiletries.
"My plane is leaving in less an hour. Your grandparents are coming to take over Saturday night, so I should be back Sunday afternoon. Call me every day and explain to the school why you're carrying around a baby. Edward, I know you just started this job but you need to tell them why you can't work this week. They might understand. I love all three of you and I'm sorry." She zipped up her suitcase and straightened up.
"Don't worry Mom; everything is going to be fine. I promise," Edward reassured her with his voice and his eyes. Esme crushed us all in a huge hug before kissing all of her children good bye.
"I'll miss you and take care of each other," she urged, turning around at the front door.
"Focus on Aunt Suzie," Edward insisted. Esme eventually opened the door and walked out, shutting the door behind her. We stared at the door in shock for ten seconds before turning to stare at each other.
"Am I the only one that's beginning to feel a little overwhelmed?" I asked and Edward shook his head. I sighed and leaned into his chest. His arms wrapped around me and he sighed into my hair. A cranky cry came from in between us and we pulled back, sighing in unison.
"I'll make supper if you'll put Lizzi down for her nap," Edward bargained. We jokingly shook hands before splitting our separate ways. An hour and a half later, Edward and I were sitting on the couch in silence and savoring it.
"Will the school even let us bring a baby into class?" I wondered aloud. Edward pulled me closer against his chest and started playing with my hair.
"It's required for some classes to bring fake ones, so why not a real one?" he reasoned. He kept playing with the ends of my hair and it sent shivers down my back. It's not fair that he can do that to me.
"Because it's a lot easier to shut a fake one up." My mind was no longer on the conversation, but the hand moving up my arm was getting a lot of attention.
"Don't you think people will assume Lizzi was…our child?" Edward asked softly. One hand was still playing with my hair and the other was massaging my shoulder softly.
"Doesn't Lizzi feel like ours sometimes?" I shot back, my voice coming out slightly breathy.
"That's true, but it might cause unnecessary gossip." Edward's voice sounded hesitant. I couldn't stand it any longer. I turned around so I was facing him.
"Let them talk." I kissed him softly, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling myself closer to his chest. Edward responded immediately, his arms going to my waist. His lips moved to my jaw and- Lizzi woke up with a yell. I started to pull back so get up but Edward tightened his hold on me for one last squeeze before releasing me.
"I think Lizzi is a better chaperone than Esme," Edward remarked in a falsely thoughtful tone. I cracked up as I walked into Esme's room. I picked Lizzi up and gave her the pacifier, instantly soothing her. When I returned to the living room, Edward hadn't moved from his earlier position. I sat in front of him and leaned up against his chest, hugging Lizzi close to me.
"Do we have to go to school tomorrow?" I groaned, pulling a blanket over Lizzi and me.
"Unfortunately love, we do." Edward turned his attention to Lizzi, softly setting a hand on her. "Are you ready for your first day of school, sweetie?" Lizzi's eyes locked on Edward's and she giggled softly. "I'll take that as a yes," he whispered softly, tickling her foot lightly. I love watching them together. Edward is going to make a great father someday.
"Lizzi is lucky to have a brother like you," I said softly. His eyes moved up to meet mine slowly, a smile spreading across his face.
"She also has the best sister in the world." His eyes sparkled with sincerity.
"We may both be Lizzi's siblings, but I love you as so much more than a sibling," I smiled up at him. He kissed my cheek softly and moved down to kiss Lizzi's cheek as well.
"We'd better get some rest before tomorrow," Edward suggested, helping me up.
We're going to need whatever sleep we can get before tomorrow.
AN: Part of the idea for this plot twist was from BL-13, so I can't claim it completely. I've had this story that's been in the back of my mind and I know I've got a lot of stories going, but sometime this week I may put out a new story.
FUNFACT: I'm realy liking my book on Jane Austen, which is 'The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen' by Syrie James. Check it out if you like Jane Austen's work.
Thanks for reading and I like reveiws, Emma