Disclaimer: SM owns all Twilight characters.
Happy thanksgiving everyone. Someone enjoy a slice of pie for my dieting sucks around the holidays.
i will be busy all week so i want to give you guys a treat. i hope you enjoy.
Chapter 27
EPOV
Wow things are moving fast with Bella. We had a night out with Jake and Leah; I know Bella needed that to happen so Jake wouldn't be so uptight when it comes to me. I think it worked honestly. Jake seems to be agreeing with me more, although I haven't seen him this week I think we have made serious strides. Right now, as I sit here in the hospital, I ponder what life might be like if we where all raising the boys. Bella is such a good person; I hope that it will be like that someday.
"Doctor, Mr. Janks in room two ten is still in a lot of pain. What would you like me to do." the nurse asks.
"He is he addict; all he can have is ibuprofen." She nods and walks away.
She is not gone two seconds and my phone rings, its Tanya.
"Edward, it's Tanya."
"Yeah all cell phones have caller id." I snap.
"Well who pissed in your cheerios?"
"Tanya I don't have time for your games, what do you want?" I have had a long week and she is just making it longer.
"Well, I didn't want to do this over the phone but you sound busy so…I got a job offer…"
"So…"
"It's in Paris." What the fuck!
"You are not taking Amanda from me, especially after all your bail outs."
"I know Edward, besides I can't have her with me anyway, she would only be in the way."
"In the way! In the way! Are you kidding me?" I have to focus hard on my voice, to not attract too much attention.
"What I mean is I will be working a lot and I won't be able to provide proper care for her."
"So you want to leave your daughter behind as you go make a name for yourself. You are her mother Tanya." I can't stop the anger from flowing now.
"I know that but I never asked to be her mother, I never even gave a thought to having kids." She sounds so blasé about it.
"You should think about this before you do it Tanya."
"I don't want to Edward, I am going. I leave in eight weeks. I just wanted you to know so if you stop by or call and don't get an answer you don't send out the dogs."
"Tanya I have to get to work, this conversation is not over with."
"Yes, it is, I have decided. You will not change my mind."
"I will be calling you soon to finish this, but right now I have to get to work. Bye." I hang up without waiting for a response.
On my way to the E.R I text Bella,
B~
I need a friend
you up for it
E~
I don't have to wait long for a response.
E~
On my way
U ok
B~
The thought that she would drop everything to help me makes me smile but I text her back quickly to stop her.
B~
Not now
2nite please
E~
Again she answers instantly.
E~
My folks place or urs
B~
B~
Ur place please
E~
E~
Np
B~
After all that was done, I put my phone away and walk through the doors to the E.R. I get right to work, but I can't keep the phone conversation out of my head. I feel so bad for Amanda; I wonder how she will take the news. Amanda is such a fun loving girl and such a treat to be around. I just can't wrap my mind around why her own mother doesn't want her.
BPOV
Life can not get any better. I have a great guy, two wonderful boys, my parents, my friends, and I am on good terms with at least one of my exes. I haven't heard from James in a long time now, maybe I should be worried instead of content with my life for the first time in a long time. I can still hear him from time to time, whispering his last words in my ear,
"I will always find you, track you down like the bitch you are, then, you'll be sorry."
There is a restraining order on him, so do have some comfort at night. The school is notified about him and I have all my bases covered to keep Seth safe. I don't think he knows about Billy, the last time I saw him was in court when he lost all of his rights to Seth. This is still the one thing I can't bring myself to tell Edward; the whole truth about James. I think he would be so scared for Amanda, to stay with me, with all the right in the world. I don't think James would ever come around beings he hasn't this long anyway, so it would be pointless to worry him. I refuse to let James run my life, so I let thoughts of him drift away.
I focus on Edward, he is so responsible, honest, sweet, and almost perfect. I worry that I may not be perfect enough for him. I don't know if I am ready to say forever is in my plans but I will say, I do want to keep him around for a long time. He makes me feel special, almost worthy of being a woman. When I am with him I don't think about my past problems, or past failures. I just enjoy his company, and all of the gentlemanly things he does, I almost feel like a princess when he is around.
My phone starts to sing, signaling me to a text message. Its Edward he needs me, I take a quick second to look around, and then text back I'm on my way. He lets me know not right now and we agree to mete at my place later. My place is not quite ready to be lived in yet but tomorrow we will be fixing that. Everything will be moved in and ready for the boys come Sunday. I have to admit I am getting excited. The boys seem happy with how things have unfolded for their rooms. The back yard has become a lot of things as we have worked on it.
Memory:
"Look Edward, it's a wonderland." Billy calls out.
"Yeah buddy, look at all the trees, we could make a tree house." An enthusiastic, Edward replies.
"Yeah!" an excited Seth pipes in.
"How about we ask the mama?" I laugh.
"Oh come on love, every boy needs a tree house and look at all those trees. Aren't they just calling to have a house in them?" Edward coaxes
"Yeah and they scream broken arms and legs to." I add. "Why don't we see what Jake thinks." I know Jake will side with me.
"Uh…okay why not." He grins like the devil.
That memory makes me smile. I let the warm feeling flow through me as I finish out the day.
I go pick up the kids. When I get out I run into Esme, that is one woman that I would bet my paycheck, never has a bad day. She is just so happy all the time. She is a calmer version of Alice. We talk about general stuff while we wait for the kids to come out. As predicted, the boys now come out joined by Amanda. I can't help but smile at how they have become so attached. Again that warm fuzzy feeling rolls through my body.
I get home with the boys and as usual Jake is there waiting for us. They take off and I shower and change to get ready to go to my house. I keep it casual but still look nice enough to me my boyfriend.
I get inside my house and the first thing I do is put the beers in the fridge and turn on my old boom box that I brought while we worked on the house. Some country song starts blaring out of the speakers.
Jasper. I shake my head and turn the music down. When I find the station I want I start to dance around the house, partly wishing we where goin to the club. I am soon interrupted by a knock at my door. I smile and my heart picks up a little, I don't even have to tell you who it is.
"Bella" he wraps me in a hug.
"Edward what's wrong?"
"She doesn't want her." his eyes start to water.
EPOV
"She doesn't want her." My eyes blur as tears form.
"Who doesn't want who?" Bella pulls me to the couch and sits down.
"Tanya doesn't want Amanda… How do you tell a child their mother doesn't want them?"
"Oh Edward, I am so sorry. I don't know what to say." She sounds pissed.
"Bella I may be doctor but I am still a man and she is only getting older, what am I going to do? How could she? Amanda is such a wonderful girl." She listens to my confused ramblings.
"Yes she is. Edward I don't know what to say, I couldn't even imagine leaving my boys behind."
"She said, she didn't ask to be a mom."
"Well a lot of times we don't but…" she drops off.
"I understand that, I wasn't ready to a father either but, Bella, I am still doing it. I'm not walking away."
"That's because you are a good man Edward. You love your daughter and you know that she needs you."
"She needs her mother too, Bella, she needs her for woman things. Things, I would make her uncomfortable to talk to about. I always thought Tanya would be there for that stuff, even if she wasn't there for anything else. God I was so stupid to believe she would grow up." The tears start flowing again and Bella wraps me in her arms again.
"Edward, of course you would think that, you have a wonderful mother." She rubs small circles on my back. The fact that she is a mother is showing right now. I have to admit I'm beginning to feel like a child who had been wounded. She is such a wonderful comfort while I am having a melt down. Bella takes my face in both of her hands and looks me in the eyes. "Edward, you will do fine. You have both your parents and me for help. You are not doing this alone. Amanda is still young she will learn to adjust, she may be heart broken now but she will be okay. She is strong just like you." I feel myself start to relax.
"You really think so?"
"Yes Edward, I do. You have done this good so far, nothing will change now except for the fact that you will no longer have to send her away at someone else's whim." She smiles softly. "Edward you are a strong man, if anyone can do this you can." Her confidence in me makes my heart flutter. It's strange how knowing she believes in me, it makes me think I can actually do this.
Jacob POV
I get the boys like any other Friday. We arrive home and Leah is on the porch waiting with a smile.
"Leah!" the boys scream in unison. She giggles and rushes out to hug them. They all head back inside chattering about their week.
We are gong to help Bella move tomorrow so that seems to be the main topic over supper. Who is doing what and what goes where and what time we leave. I have to say it is about time Bella feels comfortable enough to move into her own place. I mean it's been like two months now. I know I don't have any room to talk I am still with my dad, but Bella has always been more independent then me.
*The next day*
"Mama, weee'rrrreeee here" Billy sings as we walk in.
As we round the corner to the living room we see her and Edward on the couch, looking clearly like our entrance woke them up. They both sit up rubbing there eyes looking simple.
"Mornin sweetie" Bella yawns.
"Mama did you sleep here last night?" Seth looks amused. Bella just responds with eye contact and Seth just smiles like the devil and walks away, singing "I think Aunt Ali is riiiighhht." I look at Bella and she holds up her hand in a 'don't ask' kind of way.
"Bella, I told you I would be here at nine, and it's…" I look at my watch, "nine fifteen."
"I know Jake; I forgot to set the alarm, in case you didn't notice I forgot to go back to my folk's house too." She grumbles.
"That would be my fault, I needed someone last night and Bella was there. We sorta stayed up late and talked until we passed out." Edward defends her. I find that annoying but comforting. "How about coffee, I can go get it." Edward offers.
"Edward I have a coffee pot." Bella snips, causing him to look confused. I shake my head to let him know it's not him. If there is one thing anyone should know about Bella its… don't ask her to do or decide anything with out the morning go-go juice, coffee. Billy uses this time to rush off after his brother.
"Bella, love," He crouches down to look at her, "you have no coffee to make in that coffee pot remember I was going to go shopping with you today after we got all your stuff here." Edward gently reminds her.
"Oh crap that's right I knew I should have stopped yesterday. Damn it." Bella really needs that coffee.
"Bella, how about I go get your coffee." She just nods with a pleading look at him.
"Daddy" I girl screams.
"In here Mandy." Edward informs her.
"Edward, dear, that poor woman needs coffee. I know I taught you better than that." I assume his mother scolds.
"I am leaving right now. Would you like some?" he asks her and the little girl giggles.
She brings her arms around front showing coffee. "I brought some dear." She is so smug like only a mother is.
In confirmation he chuckles "Mom, you are going to kill me."
"No just keep you on your toes dear." I move to walk to the stairs until she calls to me. "Jacob is it?" I turn to her. "I brought you some coffee and I have cream and sugar incase you wanted some of that too." she pulls the additions out of a coat pocket.
"Well, thank you ma'am" I nod and walk over and take a cup. I don't want to be rude.
"You are more than welcome, young man, but if you call me ma'am again you will never see another cup from me again." She giggles. "I am Edwards's mom, Esme."
"Alright," I mentally laugh at the small woman's energy. Well someone had their go-go juice this morning.
"Leah, how are you this morning?"
"Better than you" she chuckles as Bella sits slumped into her coffee.
"I bet so." Bella huffs a laugh back.
"Alright," Esme has an authoritive like tone. "Bella you enjoy your coffee, Edward and Jacob you go get the first load of big things, and Leah?" She point to Leah and Leah nods in response. "Would you please take my car and fill it with boxes?"
"Well, mrs…errr…Esme," Leah stumble after receiving a scolding look from Esme, "I brought my own car and I have a huge back seat and no booster seats." Leah politely says.
"Oh okay, well good dear, take your car and help the guys, by the time you get back Bella will be awake enough to help with everything and I will have the boys here to help so be sure you get light stuff, they like to feel useful too ya know."
"Me too, me too" Amanda hops up and down.
"Yes angel you too." She smiles.
We all head out Edward brings his car too so we can get more stuff. As we walk out, Rosalie and some huge guy, along with Alice and some other smaller but still built guy come walking up.
From behind me I hear, "Oh good all of you turn around and go help them."
"Esme, Alice isn't feeling so well right now do you mind if she just relaxes until I return?" The guy next to her asks.
"Oh yes, dear, if you are under the weather you should be resting." Then she gasps and rests her hand to her chest right under her throat. "Better yet you come in and help with the children you are not to lift a box. If I see you lift one heavy thing I will see to it Emmet locks you in a room."
Alice walks up and Esme escorts her into the house and everyone turns to look at me.
"UGH," Rosalie groans. "Guys this is Jacob, Bella's second ex-hubby. Jake this is my boyfriend Emmett, and this is Alice's boyfriend Jasper. They are Edward's friends." She looks at all of us and shakes her head. "Feel the testosterone. Okay look anyone thinks they are going to cause one problem and I will personally kick your ass. Bella has worked hard to get in here and she wants to be moved today and I know she still needs food in the house so we don't have time for "Who's got the bigger shlong" shit." Leave it to Rosalie, we all nod and depart.
BPOV
Esme, being the angel that she is dictates and get everyone moving. As everyone is leaving we hear more cars. Yes, I recruited everyone. Esme heads out and I hear her barking more orders, I breath a laugh through my nose and drop my shaking head to look at the floor. When she returns she has Alice behind her. To say Alice looks pale would be an understatement.
"Ali you okay?"
"Yes dear she is fine, you can have her coffee. However Bella, Alice will be tending to the children." She says in a matter of fact tone.
I nod in confusion as Alice sits down and sighs in defeat. I touch her head to feel for a fever, I do not find one. I sit for a while visiting with Esme and watching Alice. She looks so pale, worn out, her hair is so stringy and limp you can tell she didn't do anything with it this morning. Then…Click…I gasp and shoot a look to Esme.
Holy shit…NO!
Esme smiles soothingly and nods at me.
"Ali, Esme is right, you will tend to the children and if I see you pick up one box, I will personally kick your ass." I get up and walk away, letting her cross her arms in a pout.
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