Chapter Twenty Eight
I woke the next morning to my bed moving and a tiny giggling noise.
"Bella! Wake up!" Jackson said as he continued to jump up and down on my bed. I rolled over to look at the clock.
"Jackson it's only 6 o'clock in the morning, why are you up so early?" I asked sleepily, I managed to get my arms around Jacksons waist and pulled him down to the bed so he would stop jumping but that just ended with him in a giggling fit which you don't need first thing in the morning.
"Cause Bella I want to spend times with you" He said after calming down a bit.
"Well that's very sweet of you Jackson." I said. For the next few minutes we just laid there looking at each other. Jackson started run his finger over my face as if he was trying to trace everything into his memory.
"You're eyes a like mine and poppy's there, there what's the colour called again Bella?" He asked
"There brown." I offered with a smile on my face.
"Yeah brown but but there like chocolate like the candy poppy gives me but I can't tell nanny and daddy." He said with a little nod of his head at the end. We were quiet for a second until Jacksons stomach rumbled.
"I think someone's hungry." I said as I tickled his stomach causing him to laugh.
"Let's go feed this hungry monster and then maybe we can play." I told him as I picked him up from my bed and placed him on my hip where he seemed to fit perfectly. I don't know what happened but when I held him close to me everything just seemed utterly right like this was where I belonged, where I needed to be. I looked down at Jackson smiling as he sat there playing with a strand of my hair.
"So what would the little munchin like for breakfast?" I asked as I sat him in a chair at the dining room table.
"What's a munchin?" He asked back with his little eyebrows bunched together.
"It's a little person from my favourite movie The Wizard of Oz. You remind me of one because you're so small." I explained to him.
"Ok I want ceweal." He said
"Jackson Cullen you use your manners." My dad said as he walked into the kitchen.
"Can I pwease have ceweal Bella?" I chuckled as he turned his r's into w's.
"Of course you can." I turned to the kitchen cupboard noticing there was a colourful package of cereal which I presumed would be for Jackson.
"Morning Bella." My dad said as he walked past me to put a pot of coffee on.
"Morning dad, Jacksons cereal right?" I asked holding the colourful box up.
"Yep I don't know how he can eat that stuff it tastes like crap." My dad said, I hit him across the arm with the box.
"Don't swear in front of Jackson dad." I scolded. My dad just laughed at me.
"See Bella you're a natural." My dad said referring to me getting angry at him for swearing in front of Jackson. I just smiled at my dad hoping that he was right.
"Poppy what time is daddy coming?" Jackson asked from the table while I got the milk so I could make his cereal.
"I think about lunch time." I put Jackson's bowling in front of him with a spoon.
"There you go munchin." I turn back to my dad and lent against the counter so I could watch Jackson eat.
"So tell me how Edward's going?" I asked just needing to know how he has been over the last few years.
"He's ok; he's really thrown himself into his study and taking care of Jackson. You know he's starting his internship this year at the hospital a whole 2 years before he's meant to because he took on as much work as possible. That kid is going to be a great doctor one day." My dad proudly said.
"How's he with Jackson?" I continued to question.
"He's excellent I don't think that boy could have a better father. Edward is so devoted to him; he would do anything for that little boy. I look at them and wish that that was the relationship I had with you when you were younger." I grabbed my dad's hand showing him that it was ok and that I didn't care.
"Its fine your here for me now. Has he well um dated since I left?" I asked just wanting to get the question out in the air.
"You're asking your old man if your ex boyfriend is dating?" I nodded my head turning my eyes back to Jackson who was arranging his cereal into colours.
"To answer your question no he hasn't like I said he's devoted to that little boy also I think he was holding out some hope that you would come back. Bella I know I should hate this guy, Jesus Christ the boy got you knocked up at 18 but he loves you so much even after you hurt him. Now I'm not saying he's going to take you back straight away but give him time he'll come around." I looked down at my hands not believing my dad one bit.
"I don't think so dad what I did was horrible if I was in his shoes I probably would never forgive me." My dad patted me on the shoulder.
"Yes but he's not you." He said as he walked out of the kitchen.
"Bella I finished." Jackson said with milk running down his chin.
"Here little man why don't we clean this up." I grabbed a cloth and wiped down his face and pyjama shirt.
"Let's go get dressed and then maybe we'll play outside for a little bit before it starts raining again." I said as I helped him off the chair and held his hand as we went upstairs.
Me and Jackson had just sat down to build blocks after playing for hours outside, I now understood why my dad had cleaned the lawn, when there was a knock at the door.
"Bella can I pwease answer the door?" Jackson asked with his puppy dog eyes.
"Ok but I'm listening if anything goes wrong ok." He jumped up and ran to the door.
"DADDY!" I heard Jackson squeal and I knew Edward was here. I had tried not to think about it today and I had succeeded because my son had kept me occupied but now I felt unprepared because I had no idea what I was going to say to him.
"Daddy come here there's someone I want you to meet." Jackson said as he dragged Edward into the lounge room where I was sitting on the floor.
"Bella" Edward breathed out I could tell by the look on his face that I was the last person he ever expected to see again.
"Edward." I answered softly not wanting to upset him in anyway.
"Jackson why don't you go spend a little bit of time with poppy before we have to leave." Edward said to Jackson putting a guiding hand on his back so that he knew he didn't have a choice.
"Poppy!" Jackson ran thru the house yelling.
"So your back I gather." Edward said with a bit of annoyed tone to his voice.
"Yes I decided that I could handle everything now so I came back." I replied trying to keep my voice neutral.
"3 fucking years and you decided to come back now." He hissed back.
"Edward look I'm sorry but I needed time to sort everything out. I ended up going to university to do journalism where I was told to write everything down and it helped I don't feel any kind of hatred towards Jackson anymore." He interrupted me not letting me say anymore.
"You had time to go to university but you had no time to give me a call to tell me where the hell you were or when you were coming back. Jesus Christ Bella you promised to come back but not in 3 years, you've missed everything. His first step, his first word, his first tooth everything. I was there for it all I raised him by myself because you weren't there. Why should I let you be a part of his life now?" He yelled.
"Edward please I just needed time, I need you to understand that. I'm sorry for everything I missed but I'm here now to make up for everything."
"Jackson come here we're leaving" Edward yelled into the rest of the house.
"Edward please just listen I'm here now and I want to be a part of Jackson life, please just let me be a part of my sons life." I begged.
"You had your chance Bella and you ran away. How can I trust you with my son when you've left him before?" He spat.
"Jackson now!" Edward yelled again this time I heard little footsteps indicating Jackson was coming.
"Daddy what's wong?" Jackson asked concern written all across his face.
"We're going now come on." Edward said calmly to him so not to upset Jackson.
"But I wanted to play with Bella?" Jackson whimpered.
"No Jackson we're leaving now." Jackson knew from the look on his father's face not to argue because he ran over to me and gave me a hug. I knelt down so I could give him a proper hug.
"Bye bye Bella." He said into my neck, I looked over Jacksons head to see a fuming Edward.
"Bye sweetie I might see you soon." I said as I gave him a kiss on the head before untangling his arms from around me.
"Come on Jackson we need to go home." Edward held his hand out for our son to hold before leaving without another glance while Jackson walked away while waving his little hand to me.
When I heard the door close I slumped to the ground and cried. Edward didn't want to give me the chance to be with my son. He thought I didn't deserve it after walking out on them and he was probably right.
"Bella shh sweetie it's alright." My dad said as he wrapped his arms around me and held me to him. I held onto my dad until I could cry no longer. I pulled away wiping my face of any remaining tears before looking at my dad.
"I'm sorry I just needed to get that out. I was just upset at the idea of not being able to see Jackson again, even after one day I already love that little boy so much." I whimpered, trying to hold off any more tears.
"Bella don't let Edward tell you that you can't see Jackson. Fight him so you can he will back down eventually he's just being the protective father he's meant to be." My dad said while putting a reassuring hand on my cheek.
"I know I won't rest till I can see my son again. I'm just going to go upstairs and freshen up." I said as I stood to walk up stairs. There was no doubt in my mind that I would fight Edward until I could see my son. After one day he was like the oxygen I needed to breathe. I could see where Edward was coming from but I was going to show him that I am not going anywhere.