Chapter 3
"You see how the edges have pulled away from the side of the pan." I nod and and wave my hand so that Alice will continue. She's teaching me how to make Bella's favorite eggs, seeing as that is the only thing she can hold down right now. For some reason they didn't think I could handle something as easy as eggs.
"Add the sweet peppers, ham, and cheese on half and then fold it over. Voila!" Alice kisses her fingers and throws her hand up in the air as if she just created an award winning meal.
I shrug and clench my jaw. I hate when they treat me like I'm dumb. I know I may appear to be shallow...ok I admit, I am a bit shallow but I'm not an idiot. Why do people think those two go hand in hand?
"We don't think you are an idiot Rose," Edward says as he wanders into the kitchen to inspect Bella's eggs. "We just don't want Bella to starve while we're away hunting."
As if I would ever let anything like that happen! I can feel my temper rising, almost like a fire through my veins and I know if I don't get out of this kitchen now I will go batshit crazy.
"Relax Rose, I know you wouldn't let her starve. I just tend to worry." The fire is still burning, my thoughts scramble, my vision blurs, and I throw the hot skillet full of eggs at his head before I even realize what I'm doing. Unfortunately he ducks and I miss completely.
"Stay the fuck out of my head!" I scream and tear from the room, trying not to feel guilty about the greasy cheese and gooey eggs that have stained Esme's beautiful wall.
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I hear her painstakingly slow footsteps on the stairs, her breathing is ragged, and I know every time she stops to rest and catch her breath. I don't move. I can't bring myself to meet her halfway, to save her the exertion. I want her to work for my acceptance and I don't even know why I feel that way.
She appears in my doorway, sweat glistening on her upper lip. I push away the guilt that immediately fills my chest with an ache. Her pregnancy is progressing quickly, though she doesn't quite have the telltale belly, her body is definitely different.
The baby is draining her. Carlisle once told me that that a fetus is the perfect parasite, drawing from the mother what it needs. If a mother isn't taking in enough calcium, then the fetus will pull it straight from the mother's bones. That's with a normal human baby! I can just imagine what a half vampire fetus is pulling from Bella, considering vampires are parasites outside of the womb too.
"I'm sorry you are stuck here taking care of me." She is leaning against the door frame looking like she is about to faint dead away right then and there. I should probably invite her in, offer her a chair, something, but I don't want to. I want her to suffer, to feel the full effect of what is happening to her. The guilt for making her feel this way is there too and I don't understand it. I'm not used to feeling this way.
I shrug in response.
"Well, I..." Her eyes dart around and finally she closes her eyes and a tear rolls down her cheek. "I appreciate whatever you said to Edward to change his mind. He's acting a bit more normal now. I don't want you to worry. Despite what Edward says, I can take care of myself."
I just stare at her. I don't know what to say. I don't know how to respond to her tears. Is she trying to manipulate me by crying? I focus on trying to keep the confusion from showing on my face. I have the ability to control my expressions, to keep it cold and hard, and that's the look I give her now.
I watch as Bella turns and walks towards the stairs. I silently watch from the doorway as she sits on the top step and cries. Her chest heaves and I can hear the sniffling, smell the salty tears. The crying turns to gagging and that only seems to make her cry harder.
Fuck.
My feet seem to move of their own accord until I'm there beside her, scooping her up in my arms, racing down the stairs with her and placing her in the chair where she spends most of her time these days. Edward will rip my head off for upsetting her.
"Bella," I say her name quietly and try to think of a delicate way to put this, "you know I'm a cold-hearted bitch, right?" Yeah, that was delicate.
Bella's laughter fills the room. Her hand goes to her stomach and she mumbles something about having to pee but she can't seem to stop laughing long enough to get up and take care of business. I'm not sure how to respond to this. I feel my mouth curling at the edges, a rumble of laughter in my chest, and it feels good. I don't laugh near enough.
"Rose, when I married Edward, I knew exactly what kind of woman I was getting for a sister-in-law." The giggles had stopped but the smile was still on her face. "That is exactly why I knew I could turn to you when we were on Isle Esme. I trust you with my child's life, Rose. I think that says a lot."
She was right. I can't think of a lot of people that I would trust to take care of me and my child, if I were in the position to have one, that is.
Our afternoon passed by quietly, she did her thing and I did mine. I fixed the eggs, exactly the way Alice showed me. I even carried her out to the porch at sunset and we quietly watched as the sky turned from orange, to purple, to gray.
"Can I ask for a favor?" Bella's eyes were on the sky, I could see the reflection of the stars in her watery eyes.
"Ask away." Her tears were putting me on edge but I feigned nonchalance.
"If I die, promise you will take care of my baby."
"Bella!"
"No Rose, I need you to promise." I watched as she swallowed hard and finally looked my way. "I need to know that she will be well cared for. It's not likely that I will survive this, you and I both know that."
"We'll turn you. No big deal." Not that I would wish this on my worst enemy.
"It isn't a guarantee, Rose. I just need to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing my child will be well cared for. I know I can count on you." The tears were rolling down her cheek, dripping on to her hands that rest in her lap.
"You can count on me Bella." This seemed to satisfy her.
It wasn't long before Bella was yawning...repeatedly.
"I suppose it's bedtime for you?"
"I suppose." Her voice is slow and has a dreamlike quality to it. I take her hand and help her into the house.
Bella's heartbeat had just fallen into the regular rhythm that comes with sleep when the family came home. They didn't look sated and happy.
"What's up?"
Alice's face screwed up into a worried expression. "Jacob knows Bella is back. He's going to come by for a visit soon."
Edward's hands cover his face.
Emmett takes my hand and leads me up the stairs while singing, "who let the dogs out? Who? Who?"
"You know you are just going to piss him off even more," I warn.
He smiles slyly at me. "I know, that's what makes it so much fun."
Gah, I love this man so much.
Thanks for reading.
