Chapter 17 – Meeting Belle
(Edward's P.O.V.)
~Two Months Later~
When we got back from our honeymoon, we shared with the family what we thought about adopting. They all thought it was the best plan we came up with. Of course my beautiful, darling, loving wife was right.
Anyways the day after we got back we filed for adoption. The organization did a background check on us, and then they called us a few days ago. They want Bella and I to come in and look at the babies so we can pick one that we want. If the birth parents agree, and we go through court and everything goes right we may get the child. So we were hoping that we would be able to get the one we fall in love with.
"Edward, how do I look? Do I look like a soon to be mom ready to meet her future child?" my wife asked with worry.
"Sweetheart you always look beyond beautiful in anything you wear. I think you look ready to be a mom in anything you wear" I smiled, as I walked up to her and gave her a hug and kiss.
She instantly relaxed the moment I did that, which put a big smile on my face. She was constantly making me fall deeper and deeper in love with her everyday. I know we have only been married two and a half months, but it feels as we have been married for only a few days.
So we hopped in the car, and I zoomed us to Seattle's Adoption Agency or also known as SAA. I found us a parking spot, and then we got out and walked in.
"This place is huge," my wife whispered lovingly, as we walked further and further down this hallway.
"I know, are you ready?" I asked lovingly, as I squeezed her hand in reassurance as we turned into the office.
"Ready as can be expected" she smiled.
We were greeted with hellos the moment we walked in the office.
"Hi, how can we help you a lady behind the desk asked politely.
"Yes, my wife and I are here to meet with the director about adopting a little baby. Were here to look and decide which one we want" I smiled happily, as I starred into my wife's beautiful face.
"I'll let her know you are here Mr.…?" she asked politely. Her thoughts on the other hand were trying to picture me naked and talking about how my wife wasn't worthy enough to be with me. It made me upset but what could a guy do when you couldn't answer her thoughts a loud.
Bella heard both of our thoughts, and she squeezed my hand in encouragement.
"Mr. And Mrs. Edward and Bella Cullen" I smiled with love, as I said my wife's name.
"Please take a seat Mr. And Mrs. Cullen," she said rudely, since she was jealous of Bella.
We ended up sitting there for about twenty minutes before the director came out to meet us. She greeted us at once, and told us how sorry she was for making us wait. My wife told her it was no problem, and we were on our way.
(Bella's P.O.V.)
After thirty minutes of being in the lobby, the director Sally finally greeted us and brought us to the back where all the infants were located. We looked at about twenty of them, and I fell in love instantly with all of them.
I noticed Edward looking at me with a big smile; he must of read my facial expression.
"So now that you met all of them I will give you two a few moments to decide which child your interested in" Sally said kindly, as she turned and walked out of the nursery.
"Honey, what do you think?" I smiled with all the love in the world.
"Well I thought I wanted a son, but I have decided that I want to have a daughter. What about you love?" Edward said as his chest filled with pride at the thought of becoming a protective dad of his daughter.
I giggled at the thought. Edward looked at me with curiosity. "I'll explain later. I really want a daughter too."
Edward held my hand as we walked around the nursery again. We stopped in front of this crib that had this brown curly hair, hazel-eyed baby girl. She was two months old, and her name was Belle Kirsten Montgomery.
"Edward, she's the one." I smiled up into his eyes.
"Yes love, she is. Let's go get Sally?"
We went to turn around and start walking but it was almost like Sally heard her name and she appeared.
"So who did you fall in love with?" she asked with kindness.
"We would like to adopt Bella Kirsten Montgomery" Edward and I said at the same time, which made us smile big time.
"Well do you want to hold her before we talk about money and details" she asked.
"Oh yes" I smiled, as I walked to the crib at a human pace. I lifted her out of the crib and she just looked at me.
"Hi Belle, how are you sweetie" I asked in a baby voice. She continued to look at me with a blank stare, so I decided to play peek-a-boo which made her smile and giggle.
I played that with her for a while before I handed her over to Edward. The minute she went in his arms, she was immediately smiling and he wasn't even doing anything. That was so not fair.
We spent about a half hour with Belle before Sally led us into her own personal office.
"Now Mr. And Mrs. Cullen I want to discuss about what we're looking for and how much it is going to cost you."
We both nodded our head yes, and waited for all the details as we hopped to get Belle.
(Sally's P.O.V.)
I went over all the details we were looking for, how long it could take and how much it cost. Edward and Bella were both agreeable on the subject. They had brought all the info I asked (birth certificates, social security cards, license, $3,000). So now all I had to do is have them sign, and talk to the birth parents and the court. Belle was a popular choice for clients that came in. The parents had interviewed the last ten clients, and none of them were what they wanted for their daughter.
So now all the Cullens had to do was wait a month or two to hear back from me, if it was good news they would be able to adopt Belle, if it was bad news then they wouldn't be able to.
"Well that is the end of our meeting Mr. And Mrs. Cullen. Thanks for coming and I'll get back to you in about a month or two?" I said, as I stood up and shook their hands.
They stood up and walked out of the office. I immediately called the court and let them know. I was to bring the information in an hour to the court, and then they would contact the parents thru me. It was going to be a long process.
(Edward's P.O.V.)
~Two Months Later~
Bella and I had kept us busy and tried not to think about cute, little Belle. We told our family about her, and they fell in love with her without even meeting her. It had been a very long two months, like Director Sally had told us. We were hoping to get a call soon to find out what the results were.
"Edward?" my wife whispered from downstairs.
I immediately ran out of our bedroom, where I was thinking to myself and I ran downstairs to see what my wife wanted.
"Honey, do you want to go run in the woods with me?" She asked lovingly.
"Yeah, I would love to" I smiled.
Just then my cell phone rang. I looked and glanced at my wife.
"Who is it?" she asked with worry.
"The adoption agency, let's see what's up"
I answered the phone and talked to Sally. She told me that the court said we would become the parents of Belle, and that all we had to do is come down to the office, sign the papers and take our child home. I asked her about meeting the parents, and she told me the court said that wouldn't be necessary since they have all ready met with ten other clients, and they said no to everyone of them. I thanked her and told her we would be down in a little bit.
I told my wife, and she was jumping up and down with happiness. My sister Alice ran down the stairs with the car seat she bought for our baby girl, and into the garage. She was back a few minutes later.
"Thanks Alice" I said with happiness, as I walked my wife and I to the garage door.
"No problem. Now get going you two. You need to go get my niece so I can finally hold her and meet her" she sang.
My wife and I laughed, as we walked out the door and into our car. I immediately pulled out of the garage and zoomed down the road, so we could go pick up my baby girl. The thought of having a daughter made me swell with pride. I never in a million years thought I would find my lovely bride, be happy and have children.
I felt my hand squeeze and I look down to see my wife holding my hand. I lifted our hands and I kissed hers with a smile on my face. Between marrying my angel and becoming a father I was ecstatic with pride and love.
She automatically smiled, as I looked at her. If she only understood how much she affects me. Everything she does; weather it was talk, smile or dance made me fall even more in love with her every day.
We finally arrived to the agency about half n hour later. I was getting jumpy, as I looked for a parking spot. This was all new and it was exciting. Words could not even describe how I feel at this moment.
Once we were in the building, Bella and I walked at a fast human pace towards the main office. I had Bella's hand in the right hand, and the empty car seat in the left hand.
We walked into the office, and there was a Congratulations banner hanging up, and Sally was waiting for us the adoption papers.
"Congratulations Mr. And Mrs. Cullens. I need you both to sign on the line. It states that you're Belle's Adoptive Parents" she smiled happily.
My wife and I walked over to her and sign them as fast as we could without knocking any of them over.
"When can we hold our daughter?" my wife asked happily with anticipation.
"Right now, follow me. I'm sure you're both anxious to take your little girl home." Sally smiled, as we walked out of the office. "Now, do you have her room decorated at all? I see you have the car seat all ready to go. I'll show you how to buckle it in, so you know how"
"My sister-n-law arrived at our house this morning, and started all the decorating for Belle's room. Belle will sleep in her crib in our room," my wife cheerfully stated, as she talked to Sally the whole way down there.
I just stood there and watched my wife. This made us both happy and we can't wait to start this new chapter.
When my wife was done, I held our daughter for a little bit before Sally had me walk her to my car so she could show me how to buckle the seat belt.
(Bella's P.O.V.)
I am sitting in the front door with my daughter waiting for Edward to pull the car up. My daughter Belle was beyond beautiful. She was going to be so loved and spoiled.
"Who's the prettiest girl in the whole wide world?" I asked in a baby tone of voice. "You are"
"That is not true" Edward said as he walked up besides me with a smile on his face.
"Yeah it is," I said in confusion.
"No it isn't because both of you are the prettiest girls in the world." Edward gleamed with pride.
"All right Mr. Technical" I giggled, as we walked out to the car, and place Belle in her car seat.
It was now time to go home. The family was finally meeting Belle. "They will fall in love with her the minute they meet her" I thought to myself. I looked at Edward and my daughter with all the love in the world. This is our family, forever and for always.