Chapter 18 – RPOV
I re-entered the room feeling more confident than when I'd left it. Miss Macey had reassured me that the idea would work and that she fully supported me. I knew Emmett wanted this too as we had discussed it most of last night.
"It's the right thing to do Rosie," he reassured me.
"I know, but what if they or Miss Macey don't like it? We're back at square one," I fretted.
But like always, Emmett was right about this. Well, Miss Macey. We still didn't know what the girls thought of our decision. Miss Macey smiled at me and I nodded. She turned to Savannah and said:
"I believe Rosalie has something to say to us all, if we bring Isabella in quickly."
I saw confusion flash across my daughter's face, but when she was reunited with her best friend I could only see relief. I waited for them to settle down before smiling and stating my proposal.
"Savannah Karlie, darling, we have really enjoyed getting to know you these past two weeks and you have fit back into our family like a lost piece of a puzzle. I would say we were complete, but then it hit me last night. I've always been superstitious about numbers, and having an odd number of children was something I always wanted to avoid. We've considered having another baby many times, but with both of us working a lot and my business taking off there is no time. Of course we could do the whole celebrity with nannies thing, but I could never be a mother that isn't there for her children, and I hate the idea of someone else bringing up my child like it were their own. So, I would like to propose an idea to the both of you. Emmett and Miss Macey have both given their consent, but the final decision is down to you," I paused and looked at the confused faces of both girls, "Bella, I know we don't know you well, and although you are not genetically related to us, when you came round to our house earlier this week something clicked and it felt right. Like you were meant to be a part of this family. So, what would girls say if we offered to adopt both of you?"
I felt Emmett's strong arm wrap around my shoulder and I leant my head on it. He kissed my hair and whispered:
"Wonderfully put my angel."
The girls were having a whispered discussion, and I leaned closer; straining to hear what they had to say.
"It's an amazing opportunity Bells," Savannah said.
"But I'm not related to the family in any way," Bella countered.
"So? Mum's said they loved you and you fit into our family lifestyle perfectly."
"Yes, but that was one day. What about all the rest?"
"They will still love you. Trust me, Emmett and Rosalie are so nice to live with and I'm not just saying that. They treat all their children the same and they're so welcoming."
"I know Sana, but what happens if that was just a show to trick us."
"Do you really think Alice and Jessica wouldn't have mentioned something if the way their parents were acting was different to usual? They're happy children."
"I know I'm just imagining the worst. But, they're not my parents. I'll never be able to have a proper mother/daughter chat – the knowledge that my real mum isn't there and I can't talk to her would kind of take away anything."
"Please Bella. I don't want to choose between you two anymore. Rose will accept anyone into her family; she's a natural mother. Trust me, we went to a lake for a picnic the other day and a child fell over by our blanket. Within seconds she was comforting a stranger's child, calming him down and making him feel better. When his mother came over, you could see there was no tenderness or anxiety in her eyes: just coldness. Rose spent the whole of the walk back saying we should have taken him home with us."
"Fine, you win: not that I took much convincing. As long as they are nice and we will stay together no matter what."
"I swear we will never be separated."
They looked round at us, unaware that we had heard every word of their discussion.
"Emmett, Rosalie," Savannah said looking us both in the eyes, "We will come and live with you as long as we're never separated. I've always wanted my parents back, and now you are I never want to leave you again. But then I never wanted to leave Bella either. My heart was torn, part of me wanting to live with you, the other wanting Bella back. Now, you've opened your arms to both of us and that means I get everything I ever wanted. I think I'm dreaming, this stuff never happens to girls like me."
"Yes baby it does, you're not dreaming," I said softly and opened my arms up to her. She walked gratefully into them and kissed me on the cheek before going to sit on Emmett's knee.
"I want to say something too, to Rosalie and Emmett," Bella said, "I don't know you well. All I know is what I read in magazines, which I'm sure are half untrue, and what Sana has told me. But, I know you're good people at heart, so I will accept your offer to join your family."
"Sweetheart; firstly call us Rose and Em, or if you want to Mum and Dad like Karlie has learnt to do. Secondly, we're so glad to have you joining our family and I hope you are too," I said before ushering her over to fall into my arms like my daughter before.
"I love you Bella," I whispered into her hair as she relaxed in my arms.
"I love you too Rose. Thank-you for doing this."
"Well, ladies if you go and pack everything. Savannah you have the remainder of your clothes and help Isabella if you would," Miss Macey directed, "Mr and Mrs McCarty, if you would like to sign some forms for ms please."
"Dada," Karlie said, drawing out each letter.
"Yes Princess."
"I don't need my clothes here or the ones in the car and neither does Bella. So, could we donate them to here for the other children," she suggested.
"Of course! Let me give you the car keys and you can grab that suitcase, then go and get anything you really do need," he told her – playfully chucking the keys into her outstretched hands.
Once the door was closed, Miss Macey brought over a pile of sheets.
"Now, if both of you will sign in the area indicated on each sheet, you can read the small print if you want but believe me it's not binding you to any contract where you are put at risk. It's just saying that if you mistreat the child you will be fined and punished," she explained.
Emmett and I nodded before getting to work. We were nearly done when Miss Macey interrupted our little system of efficiency.
"Would you like to see Isabella's folder?" she asked.
"Yes please, just to see if there are any life threatening allergies or illnesses we need to know about," Emmett joked handing me the last piece of paper to sign.
"Here you are then. As you can see, Isabella suffers from dyspraxia, but it's not too much of a worry."
I read the file that was laid in front of us: her full name was Isabella Marie Swan, she was a day older than Savannah, her parents had abandoned her here.
"I see we'll have to keep her away from the basement then," Emmett said pointing to the line that said she had a slight reaction to mould.
"Emmett!" I exclaimed, "Our basement isn't mouldy. The pool just leaked a bit when the house was built, but it's fine now and it certainly isn't mouldy."
There was a knock at the door and the two girls entered. Goodness they look like twins. If I didn't know better I would think they were. It will be weird with what are technically two sets of twins in the house but we'll cope. What will Ali and Jess think? Leaving with one sister and coming back with two. Our household is going to be a fun place to live.
"Girls, wait outside while I make the final arrangements with your parents," Miss Macey told them.
'Your parents', I like that. I could get used to it very easily.
"So, we would like to know if you will be changing their school."
"We were planning on sending them to the senior part of Jess and Alice's school where of course we'll request for them to be together. As they'll only just be starting year 10 and therefore their GCSE year we want them to be in a school where more attention is paid to each individual pupil and they are pushed harder," Emmett repeated what we'd decided.
"Are you sure this extra cost will be okay? It's only we've seen how much private schools cost, and to have four children in one consumes a large amount of money," she asked.
"Unless Rosie's business suddenly goes bust and I'm made redundant I'm sure we have more than enough money to keep us and them going for a considerable amount of time," Emmett stated bluntly. We'd never been the type of people who spoke about money to others.
"I see. Well then, I know you will love having these girls in your life, and if you can just update us annually on their progress then it would be much appreciated," she said before leading us out into the hallway again.
We got outside and saw the girls waiting patiently by the car.
"Daddy!" Karlie exclaimed and flew into his arms where he spun her around.
"Emmett, put her down. She's too big to do that: there's too much leg on that girl for it to be safe," I laughed as he put her on the floor again.
Bella came over to me and I put my arms around her waist. She would be with Alice in the height range; the two of them would always be the smallest in our family bless their dear little hearts.
"You can see she was always meant to be a Daddy's girl," I commented.
"Yes, but I don't know what I'll be," she responded.
"Whatever you are we'll still love you," I promised; kissing her soft hair.
"Girls, before you leave you have some goodbyes to make," Miss Macey announced.
Two boys came out of the door first, followed by what looked like the entire contents of the home.
"Sana, Bells we'll miss you," the taller boy who had been there when we first looked round said.
"We'll miss you too Harry, but you can come and visit whenever you like," Savannah promised as they hugged one another.
"And me too?" the small boy asked.
"Of course Jack, our little sisters will love playing with you. And you can come and meet our dog Amber," she promised as she hugged him too.
After they'd said goodbye to everyone possible they turned to Miss Macey.
"Thank-you for looking after us: we'll never forget it, and you were the closest to a mother I've ever had until now," Savannah said to her.
"Yes, thank-you. You made us happy and we won't forget you anytime soon," Bella promised.
They both hugged Miss Macey who looked quite tearful before getting in the car.
"Seatbelts on girls," Emmett called back and we drove out of this home which had given us two miracles.
We arrived home, and saw the girls at the front of the house: trying to push their bikes back into the garage with Audrey's help.
"Dada, we went cycling down the hill," Alice exclaimed.
"Wow Ali-bee! Now, last time we left you with Audrey we brought you back a new sister and we've brought her back again. But this time, we've acquired you another one too," he explained.
"Bella's going to be our sister too?" Alice squealed.
"Yes baby doll, that's right. You have two big sisters, both of you do and we have four beautiful girls," I told her as I picked her up from the ground.
"Thank-you Mummy, Daddy, everyone. I love you my sisters," she said wriggling out of my arms and running to her new sisters.
They spent the rest of the day bonding as sisters and even Jessica joined in with a bit of prompting. When it came to bedtime the twins went to bed and later on, after we'd talked about everything: their new school which they would start in September, clothes, food and how Bella wanted her room decorated they too went to bed.
"They're all fast asleep," I whispered to Emmett as I crept silently down the stairs after checking on my children.
"I'm so lucky," he said pulling me onto his lap, "I have four gorgeous daughters and the most beautiful, amazing, talented wife I could ever have."
"And I have you," I reminded him as I kissed his warm lips.
"I love you Rosalie McCarty and I will till the day we both die," he promised.
"Let's not dwell on that," I laughed, "We've got the present to look forward to."
"You're right," he replied.
I leant into his broad, muscular chest and breathed in his familiar smell. I was content, full to the brim with happiness. My life was complete.
This is the last proper chapter; the next one will be an epilogue. Thank-you to everyone who has ever read, reviewed alerted or favourite this story. I will write another one, but that won't be until after Christmas. Thank-you again and well done to all of those who guessed correctly as to what they were going to do: I hope this chapter was satisfactory. XxX