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Chapter 19

BPOV

Christmas in Boston with Edward, Alice, and everybody was absolutely amazing. We had also found out that we had won the custom designed nursery from the hospital's silent auction on Christmas Day. We had gotten confirmation later that evening that the house was ours as soon as we showed up to sign the papers and presented the cash. The owners had even offered to forgo the 30 days it normally took to close; they were willing to close as soon as we got there and handed over the money and signed the papers. In return we offered to forgo a home inspection for another reduced price so now we were officially getting the house for $609,000 and were scheduled to sign the papers and get the keys in two days. So our vacation in Boston was being cut short for a look into our future in Georgia but that was okay.

Figure skating was nothing new to me but sitting on the sidelines watching everybody else with Edward was a whole new experience. Watching Emmett twirl around with Rose on the ice was a sight to see, it seems he had missed his calling. Alice and Jasper along with Esme and Carlisle had opted to forgo ice skating for a tour around the town looking at Christmas lights before Carlisle and Esme had to board their plane later tonight.

"Happy, baby?" Edward asked as we sat on a bench sipping hot chocolate.

I smiled and nodded. "I am. I'm excited to see Savannah and our new house and get our future started." I told him honestly.

His smile matched mine. "Yeah, me too. Have you thought about asking all the others if they wanted to live in the house while we are go to college?"

I sighed and nodded. "I have and I say we propose the offer to them tonight or in the morning and give them the option of going with us to look at the house and possibly exploring the campus." I suggested.

He nodded in agreement as we watched Emmett twirl like a ballerina in the middle of the ice getting applause from several pedestrians just watching the show. "Sounds good to me, baby. We get first picks on the rooms though because of the Gavyn and it's our house."

I nodded in agreement and leaned into his side as we watched our friends and possible roommates act goofy on the ice. "Do you miss not being able to join in on stuff like this?" I asked him quietly.

He sighed and nodded. "Yes and no. Yes because I would love to be able to have this experience with you and no because I am enjoying cuddling with you right here on this bench."

"Good answer, Casanova, good answer." I told him as I snuggled into his side.

Later that night, us 'kids' were all sitting around the living room watching 'It's a Wonderful Life' on the huge TV that hung above the fireplace. Once the credits began to roll I sat up from lying on Edward's warm chest and faced my friends who had applied to the same colleges as me when we were all filling out college applications. It had been a stroke of luck that Edward has applied to similar colleges so far away from home. "Hey guys, Edward and I have a question for you." I told them to gain their attention.

They all turned to face Edward and I as Rose turned off the television. "What's up, Belle, Eddie?" Emmett asked.

I cleared my throat and tossed the offer of a place to live out there. "You guys know that Edward and I are flying out tomorrow so that we can go secure our house in Savannah. We were wondering if you guys wanted to come along? Possibly staying with us while we are all in college?"

"Is the house big enough for all of us?" Rose asked as she sat in Emmett's lap.

Edward nodded. "Yeah, the house we have bought has five bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms. We are going to have to take two of them, one for us and one for baby Gavyn but that leaves three bedrooms empty and up for grabs. What do you guys think? It won't hurt our feelings if you choose to say no but we wanted to offer it to you guys before you guys went apartment hunting for school." Edward explained as he twirled a strand of my hair around his fingers.

Alice was the first one to vice her concerns. "What about the baby? I would love to be a doting aunt but I'm not sure how studying and homework is going to go with a crying newborn around."

I sighed and shrugged. "That's all up to you guys. None of you will be obligated to take a room and live in the house. It's just an offer. We both understand that this would be a big adjustment for everybody and we are not pushing it onto anybody." I told them honestly.

Jasper nodded and shrugged. "Wouldn't hurt to check it out, it would be nice to have someone close while adjusting to a new town." Everybody else nodded in agreement so plans were made for us all to check out of this hotel tomorrow and head to Savannah, Georgia.

The flight to Savannah was noticeably longer than the one from Chicago to Boston, but entertaining none the less since I was sat between Emmett and Edward with Rose, Alice, and Jasper directly in front of us. One thing I noticed almost immediately when we stepped out of the airport was the smell of salt in the air, the thickness of the air, along with historic touches and trees everywhere I looked. Edward, Jasper, and Emmett headed for the rental car agency in the airport while Rose, Alice, and I caught our entire luggage coming around the carousel.

"How come we always get stuck with getting the luggage?" Rose complained as she tugged Emmett's huge suitcase off the carousel.

I shrugged as I plucked another one of my bags and placed into the growing pile on our cart. "I don't know but I know it sucks." I said in agreement.

Alice just laughed. "Just wait until the baby is born and you guys try to travel."

I groaned and nodded. "I know but surprisingly I can't wait until he's here."

Rose, the ever pessimistic one, placed an arm around my shoulder. "You do realize how hard it is going to be taking care of a baby that isn't even yours while trying to get used to going to college?" she asked.

I shrugged her arm off my shoulder. "I have been taking care of grown ass people for years now, why would a newborn be any more difficult? And that baby may not be mine biologically but I will be the only mother it knows so that makes him MY baby." I told her angrily.

She held her hands up in defense. "I'm sorry, Bells, I didn't mean to offend you. I'm just worried you are taking on too much so quickly." She said in apology.

I shook my head. "It's fine, Rose, but my future is meant to be with Edward and Gavyn. I hate that Tanya gets the pleasure of carrying him for nine months but I get the pleasure of raising him and being his mother for the rest of his life." I told her as we watched the boys heading our way.

"You ladies ready to go?" Edward asked as he crutched to my side. He had decided to pull out his crutches because his leg was still tender from all the walking we had done while in Boston and the muscle spasms had been really bad last night.

I nodded. "Yep, all the bags are loaded on the cart. Do you have us a ride?" I asked as Emmett and Jasper worked the luggage cart.

He just laughed. "Yes, we got two rides actually since we are going to be stuck at the realtors and bank tomorrow I got us our own car while the other four are going to share a truck."

I smiled and nodded. "Sounds great. What time are we going to the bank tomorrow?"

He leaned over and kissed the side of my head. "We have to be there at eight-thirty in the morning and to the realtor's office at eleven. We are going to go look at the house before we sign the paperwork so I will have everybody meet us at the house at ten." He said giving a brief view of tomorrow mornings schedule.

"Sounds good to me. I want to see if that amazing kitchen looks as amazing in person as it did in the video and pictures."

Before long we were all loaded into our vehicles heading towards the bed and breakfast us ladies had found and wanted to stay at tonight before we got the house. "This is amazing, Edward." I told him as he drove to the B&B we were staying at.

He smiled at me and nodded. "It's sure different from Chicago and Boston. I think we are making the right choice, don't you?"

I nodded and linked our fingers together. "Absolutely. I can picture us strolling down these streets with Gavyn, I would be too nervous in Chicago. We also have the beach just minutes up the road, along with all the parks, history, and culture here. I think it's going to be amazing." I told him as I watched the buildings pass by.

Once we had gotten checked in at the Galloway House, we bundled up and decided to explore the city. Alice had printed out a list of places we need to check out according to Google. First we were exploring the Historic District, by trolley no less; it was supposed to take all day long so I guess it was a good thing we had taken an early morning flight. It was only eight thirty in the morning.

By the end of the day we were all exhausted from the on/off trolley ride we had taken with a group of tourists but excited at our new surroundings. "It's going to be so awesome living here." Emmett said as we all sat down to eat dinner that night. "I love it already."

Jasper nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I think it will be too. I like having the beach so close and being immersed in so much history is just like icing on the cake."

Everyone else agreed and as soon as dinner was over we all retired to our rooms to collapse for another busy day tomorrow. Albeit, mine and Edward's day was going to consists of purchasing our first home together. "Do you think we can spend the night at our house tomorrow night?" I asked as we cuddled in the bed while he iced the back of his knee.

"I don't know, baby, but there won't be any furniture there."

I shrugged. "We can go buy air mattresses or something, if you are game." I proposed as a solution.

"I don't care, baby, whatever you want. We will have to go buy sheets and blankets and pillows too but that shouldn't be difficult. Maybe we can all split up and buy different things."

I giggled. "Sounds perfect, Casanova." I said softly.

"What are we going to do with the house while we are in Chicago finishing up school?" I asked a little bit later as we watched the rain fall gently outside our closed patio doors.

He shrugged. "I'm assuming there is an alarm system installed in the house so we will activate it and lock up the house tight while we are gone. I would like to come back on our spring break to set up the house so it is ready for us once Gavyn comes home. That's all I know to do."

I nodded. "Maybe we can talk to our neighbors and see if they will look over the property while we are gone or something." I suggested because even though the house was empty I didn't really like the idea of it sitting unprotected for the next several months while we got back to our daily routines with school.

"Maybe."

After that it was quiet in our room except for the pitter patter of the rain drops falling outside and it eventually lulled us both to sleep only for us to be awakened hours later by the annoying alarm clock.

The next morning we were up and dressed before the others even thought of rolling out of bed. We both looked very professional as we walked into the bank hand in hand. I was wearing a fuchsia button down shirt paired with black trousers, black high heeled shoes, a simple silver bracelet and diamond stud earrings Edward had given me for Christmas. Edward was wearing black dress pants and a light blue button up shirt with the top two buttons undone along with his new watch I had given him for Christmas. "You ready for this, baby?" Edward asked as we waited for the secretary to get the bank manager.

I smiled and nodded. "Absolutely, this is the first step in securing our future and our son's future."

He smiled against the top of my head just as the bank manager came strolling out behind the secretary. "Mr. Masen?"

Edward stood up and shook the hand that the man extended. "Yes sir, and this is Isabella Brandon." He said introducing me with a hand on my back.

An hour later we left with a cashier's check for the entire amount for the house and headed for the realtor's office. This would be the first time we were meeting the woman that would be changing our lives forever and I was kind of nervous yet excited at the same time.

The meeting went the best that could be expected I suppose given the circumstances but within an twenty minutes of meeting the realtor we were back in the car following her to what would be our home for the foreseeable future. I smiled when we pulled up along the curb of the gorgeous white house with dark blue shutters and the dark red front door. "I love it, already." I told Edward as we climbed from the car to see our friends all gathered on the porch that wrapped around the entire front and one whole side of the house before connecting to the sunroom out back.

"This is awesome, Belle!" Emmett called from the porch railing.

I smiled and shook my head at him and his childlike tendencies.

"Emily, these are our friends and potential roommates; Emmett and his girlfriend Rosalie and my brother Jasper and his girlfriend and Bella's twin sister Alice." Edward introduced everybody as we walked up onto the porch.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all. The original owners have already moved everything out and had the house cleaned for you guys so I will just let you guys go exploring on your own. I will be right here if you need me or have questions." She said as she unlocked the door and stepped aside.

We all nodded as we walked into the house. "This is gorgeous, Edward." I told him as I stood in the entry way taking it all in. There were hardwood floors everywhere so we would definitely have to invest in some rugs for places so Gavyn could play on the floors. There was magnificent crown molding and wide white baseboards that contrasted perfectly with the hardwood floors. We looked at the living areas on either side of the entry hall and I saw a peep of kitchen cupboards through the doorway on the left hand side of the hall. "I think the kitchen is this way so that would make this the dining room and that the living room." I told Edward.

He nodded and tugged me into the living room area. "Can you picture us here? Our huge Christmas trees right here in front of these windows so the street can see it; Gavyn's pictures as well as our pictures lining the mantle over there with a fire crackling in the fireplace; us and Gavyn playing here on a soft rug; our friends hanging out in here being their normal goofy selves. Can you see it, Bella?" Edward asked as he twirled me in a circle playfully.

I laughed and nodded. "I can. I can see it all." I told him as I spun into his embrace wrapping my arms around his neck placing a gentle kiss on his lips before tugging him across the hall and into the dining room.

I was stunned silly as we walked through a small custom built study area/butler's pantry that led right into the perfect kitchen. It wasn't too big and it wasn't to small either, it was just perfect. "This will be perfect for doing homework while I am cooking meals or caring for Gavyn." I told Edward as we walked through and into the kitchen area. I was stunned silly at the perfection laid out before me. There were white cabinets, same as was in the study area, with black iron handles topped with black granite countertops and completed with stainless steel appliances all around. "This is gorgeous, Edward." I told him running my hand across the smooth countertop.

"It's a lot smaller than what you are used to at your house. Are you sure it will work?" He asked softly.

I smiled and nodded. "I don't need that big old kitchen, Edward. I use it because it's there. This will be perfect. We can put barstools along here, there is enough room for six of them and a high chair." I told him indicating to the highest portion of the double level bar area. I walked over to the window seat. "We can even put a small table here with a few chairs or maybe a bench and a chair for breakfast or quick snacks." I told him as I could easily picture it all coming together in my mind.

He followed along quietly as I spun around the expansive family room with another fireplace. "This is perfect for watching movies together or playing fun games with our friends and family. It even opens up to a screened in patio, Edward. I love this." I told him as I continued on down the hallway opening up doors. "Here is the first floor bedroom and bathroom." I told him as I peeked my head in the rooms before continuing on.

"You're not even going to look closer at the bathroom and closets and stuff?" He asked between fits of laughter.

I shook my head as I opened up another door. "Nope, we're not gonna be using them. This must lead to the lower level." I told Edward as I flipped on a switch walking down the steps before walking down the little hallway until I came to the first door which I opened. "Oh, this is so not my room." I said with a laugh as we were looking at the mechanical room apparently.

"Mine either." Edward said as we shut the door and continued on down the hall to the next door. "I though the ad online said something about an extra bonus room in the basement." Edward said as we opened up the door.

I just laughed as I stepped into the room. "I guess this is it." It wasn't much bigger than a closet and was about as useful.

Edward nodded as he looked around the very tiny room. "I guess they over exaggerated a little bit. This is big enough to store some seasonal things and stuff. But that's about it."

I nodded as we walked out and down the hallway that led between the mechanical room and the spare area before opening up into a semi big open space with two huge windows looking out into the backyard. "This is perfect, babe." I told him as I opened the bi-fold doors along the wall. "Laundry." I told him as I eyed the small space that held a new front load washer and dryer with cabinets above and a counter directly on top of the washer and dryer with a small wash sink in the corner and a cabinet below. On the other wall was floor to ceiling cabinets that provided extra storage.

"Are you okay without having a basement laundry room?" Edward asked as he looked over my shoulder at the small space.

I nodded. "Yeah, it doesn't really matter to me and it doesn't feel like a basement at all and there is a lot of storage space in there." I told him as we walked out of the laundry room and into the big open space that held the windows. "This is a nice size area for us to all use for whatever reason. Study area, get away area, project area, or whatever." I told him as we eyed the bare room.

Edward nodded as he walked to the far end of the room where another door was. "I wander what that room is?" He said as he pushed it open to reveal a bonus powder room. "Nice!" he exclaimed as we looked around the nicely done bathroom half bath.

I nodded and walked back out of the room because we still had the whole upstairs to explore.