A/N: Happy Wednesday! Thank you for your response to the last chapter. I'm truly blessed.
No tissue alert this time…a bit of citrus, though.
SMeyer owns all Twilight characters. No copyright infringement intended.
9.
Bright and early the next morning, I found Edward sitting on my front porch as I went to grab my paper. "Why are you out here? You could have let yourself in. You know where the key is," I asked.
"I think everyone in town knows where that key is, and you should move it. I wasn't going to let myself in uninvited, and I wasn't about to wake anyone. I was enjoying my coffee and the quiet. How'd you sleep?" he asked as he followed me to the kitchen with a paper cup of what I assumed was gas-station coffee.
"You could have knocked or called my cell, you know," I answered as I trekked into the kitchen to turn on the coffee maker. He laughed at me, and then I looked down to see that I was in a pair of sweats that were obviously old, and a torn t-shirt. Sexy lingerie it wasn't.
"Nice duds, by the way. I hope you own something sexier than that for sleeping or else we need to go shopping," he responded. That made me think about why he'd want sexier lingerie, and whether I was ready for it and what came with it.
Was I? Was I ready to move on to more intimacy with the man? We'd had several make-out sessions that left me breathless, but up until that moment, I hadn't really thought about what the next step should be. I thought I was ready for it, but I wasn't sure how to let him know I was ready for it. I decided the indirect route was best because I was, at heart, a complete and utter coward with regard to sex.
"I assumed that when we got to it, it wouldn't matter what I was wearing. I'd be naked, right?" I asked. I saw the look of surprise on his face, and then that sexy damn smile that melted hearts at the hospital every fucking day. He knew he had me, goddammit, and I knew it as well.
"Oh, yes, Mrs. Black, when we get to it, you most definitely will be naked. Any idea when that might happen?" he asked. I knew I was likely challenging his control because when we had our little make-out sessions, I could feel him hard against me. His tongue in my mouth was incredible, but I could tell he pulled back before getting too carried away. I wanted him to get carried away. I wanted us both to get carried away. I just needed a time and place for us to get carried away.
The other thing I needed was to get on birth control. After Jacob died, I continued to go to the gyno but when the subject of birth control came up, I laughed at my doctor and sarcastically told him I had no such need for birth control ever again. It was time to stop laughing and take action.
"Um, I need to make an appointment with my doctor and explore my options before we move on to that step," I answered. I'd been on the pill in high school, but when Jacob enlisted, I went off of it. I was going to start getting the shots instead, but when we got married, I hadn't been to get my first shot. That was how Jax came to be.
"Options? You're not on anything right now?" he asked as I poured him fresh coffee into a cup that wasn't paper. How dense was he? I hadn't thought about sex in years. Why would I stay on birth control?
"Seriously? Why would I be?" I asked as I poured myself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table across from him. He seemed to contemplate my answer and arrive at the conclusion that a widow who never intended to fall in love again would have no need for birth control.
"Ah, I see. So, I'm currently in my OB/GYN rotation. Do you have any questions about birth control?" he asked. I couldn't help but laugh at the hope on his face.
"Thanks for the visual of you with a parade of naked women, Dr. Fuck-Em-All, but I think I can handle my own choices with regard to birth control. Now, what do you want to do today? I know that you have to go on duty tonight, but we have the day before us," I answered as I pulled eggs out of the refrigerator.
He cocked an eyebrow at me. "Dr. Fuck-em-all? Really? That's what you think of me?" he asked. It wasn't completely unfounded, but I was wrong to bring it up, and I felt myself redden at the scolding in his voice. He was right. He wasn't that guy anymore…as far as I knew.
"I'm sorry. That was uncalled for. That's your nickname around the hospital, but I know better," I answered as I sat back down across from him. He looked deeply into my eyes and I almost peeled off my clothes in my kitchen, birth control or not.
"We don't say it much and I haven't physically shown you because I'm waiting for you, but I love you, Bella. I'd never disrespect what we have together by being that guy again. I hope and pray you know it," he answered. I rose from my chair and walked to his, sitting down on his lap, which actually surprised him.
"I love you, too, and you can't tell me enough. I'm sorry if I've been dragging my feet about this, but it's only been a few months for us, and I made Jacob wait four years before I finally gave in. I'm not holding that up as a barometer of how long it's going to take us to get to that stage, but I don't take sex lightly," I answered.
He held me close and kissed my neck. I felt myself completely go up in flames at his touch. He had a way about him that made me want to become a wanton slut, but that just wasn't me. If I didn't have a child who would likely race down the stairs at any moment, I'd be straddling him naked in my kitchen and having my way with him. The dreams I had about him told me it was a way to go.
"I hate to say this because it makes me sound like a son-of-a-bitch, but I'd rather not hear about your sex life with Jacob because I get jealous. I'm sorry, but that's just my nature. Can we please not talk about it? I know that you had sex with your husband, and I love the product of said pairing, but I really don't want to think about it," he responded before he kissed me sweetly on the mouth. As his tongue danced with mine, first in my mouth, then in his, then somewhere in between, I vowed that I'd never again mention anything about the intimacy I'd had with Jacob because Edward deserved better than that from me.
When we heard the pounding footsteps on the stairs, he released his hold on me with a squeeze to my ass and a laugh. Jax padded into the kitchen with her Barbie in tow and stood next to Edward. She held her arms up to him and tilted her head. Without hesitation, he picked her up and kissed her cheek. That little move, whether intentional or not, completely solidified in my heart that Edward Cullen was the man who had helped us heal. He was incredible, and he loved us. We could survive and thrive and grow with him in our lives. He was like "Miracle Grow" for our souls. He was a missing piece of our puzzle, and I didn't' even know it. Somehow, someway, we'd healed. Well, I'd healed. Jax didn't know that there was anything to heal from, but I sure as fuck did.
"What would my two favorite people in the whole wide world like to do today?" I asked as I tried to quell the tears.
"I say we eat breakfast and fill the pool. It's supposed to be sunny today, and we can play in the water. How's that sound, Jax?" he asked as he kissed her cheek again. I wanted to cry and squeal at the same time. How I found him was beyond my comprehension, but he was alive and well and sitting in my kitchen that morning, making me fall in love with him all over again.
"Sounds great," I answered before I made a blubbering fool of myself. I made the three of us breakfast, and as I cleaned up the dishes, he sent Jax to her room to put on her bathing suit.
"I hope you have some scandalous bikini hiding somewhere," he told me as he kissed my neck. Oh, God, I had to get to the doctor because the doctor kissing my neck made me want to take a chance with condoms and hope I wasn't in the three percent who got burned by them. Maybe someday I'd have another child, but I didn't want it to be on accident…I wanted it to be planned, and I knew that I wanted it to be Edward's.
"I actually don't, but maybe I'll shop for one soon. Sorry, all you're going to get is a two piece that's not very scandalous at all. You, on the other hand, have nothing here to swim in," I responded as I turned on the dishwasher.
"Shit, that's right. I have nothing here. I'll run home and grab some shorts and be back in half an hour, hopefully. I haven't really seen my parents in a few days, and if they're home, I'll get stuck. Fuck," he lamented quietly.
"I'll take care of the pool stuff. Go home and pack some clothes…and I don't just mean a pair of shorts. Bring other stuff so that you can stay here and at least have clean clothes to wear. I'll make room for you while you're gone," I announced. Yeah, maybe it was just closet space and a few dresser drawers, but in my world, it was monumental.
"Seriously? You want me to have stuff here?" he asked in disbelief. I couldn't blame him, but I knew I was ready for that much, anyway.
"Well, yeah. I live closer to the hospital than your parents, and I really like you spending time here. Does that bother you?" I asked nervously.
"God, no, it doesn't. I'll be back. After Jax goes to bed, we'll go on-line and find you a tiny bathing suit for when it's just the two of us. There's still a few weeks of warm weather left," he teased as he kissed me sweetly. I touched his face and felt the spark that set my heart racing. He was my chance at a new beginning, and while I'd never completely let go of my past, I knew that planning my future was the next step in healing, and I knew I was ready. Because of Edward Cullen, I was ready.
##
"Jax, the pool is inflatable, not concrete. You can't stand on the side. I'll get a little stool or something if you want to jump in, but you're going to pop it if you try to stand on the side, and then we have no more pool," I admonished as I sat in the water waiting for Edward to return and for Jax to understand that the pool was a blow up.
"Why?" she asked. It was her new thing. Everything was met with a 'why', and most things didn't have an answer 'why' except for the pat parental answer of 'because I said so', which never satisfied any kid on the face of the earth.
As I was trying to formulate my answer, I heard the back door open and saw Edward emerge in a pair of swim trunks with a towel and a huge smile on his face. "I told you your backyard needed a pool," he announced as he walked to where the two of us were sitting in the water. The day was actually sunny and warm, and I was happy about it. I'd slathered us both down with sunscreen, and Jax had the fishing game ready and waiting for Edward.
"The water's kind of cold because the hose comes from the well, but as warm as it is, you get used to it pretty fast," I announced.
Edward looked at me in the very boring two-piece I was wearing and swallowed. "For the sake of the three of us, I hope it's like ice water. That's not a boring bathing suit, by the way," he answered as he quickly sat down in the pool next to me. It was then that it occurred to me that I was showing the most skin I'd ever shown in front of him. The fact that he seemed to be a bit stunned was a huge ego boost for me.
An hour later, I went inside to make us lunch and found a large suitcase and a garment bag resting in the hallway near the stairs. Apparently, the man took it to heart when I told him to bring some things over. I panicked for a moment, and then I decided that I was going to take a deep breath and step back. I wanted him in my house, and I didn't want to question it or overthink it. It was a good thing, as Martha Stewart would say.
I made the three of us grilled cheese sandwiches, and we ate on the back deck at the table, and then we sat in the pool for a while longer. Edward and Jax played with the fishing pole and magnetic fish, and I sat in the sun in the water and watched them, enjoying myself the whole time.
At 2:00 PM, I announced it was time to get out and time for Jax to take a nap, which didn't set well with her. After Edward promised her that he'd be with us for dinner, she allowed me to take her upstairs and change her into shorts and a tank to nap. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
I walked downstairs still in my bathing suit to find Edward standing at the kitchen counter wearing a towel around his waist with his phone in hand, looking at his messages, I assumed. I glanced out toward the back deck and saw that his shorts were hanging over the railing. That, obviously, led me to believe that the handsome man standing in my kitchen was naked under the towel, and I took a deep breath knowing what I wanted to do.
We'd had the talk that morning about the fact that I wasn't on birth control, but there were other things we could do that wouldn't result in pregnancy, and at that moment, I was more than ready to try them out on the good doctor.
"So, Jax will be out for at least an hour," I announced as I snaked my arms around his naked waist. The man was cut and handsome, and I was ready to take a baby step toward the ultimate goal of making love. We had to start somewhere, and I knew exactly where I wanted to start. It was time for an up-close-and-personal encounter with the smaller head, and I was more than ready for it.
"Oh, um she will? I guess I didn't realize she still napped. Well, there're a lot of things I still have to learn about having a little one around. I'll just go get dressed," he began.
"Um, I'll help you," I answered as I pulled away and took his towel with me, leaving the most bitable naked ass I'd ever seen in my life on display in my kitchen. I took in the sight…I'm not going to lie…and then I dragged the towel behind me, seductively I hoped, and began the walk upstairs to my bedroom. I hit the third step and was swooped up into two very strong arms. When I looked at his face, he was smiling like he'd won a prize at a county fair.
"You stole my towel. That wasn't exactly hospitable," he told me as he continued to climb the stairs with me in his arms. I giggled.
He carried me to my bedroom and promptly deposited me on my bed then walked over and closed and locked the bedroom door. When he turned around I got the first look at Dr. Cullen's smaller head, which wasn't so small, and it wasn't droopy either. He was extremely hard, and it brought a smile to my lips because what I planned to do to the man would work a lot better if he was able and willing. The look on his face and the distinct signals he was giving me told me he was more than happy at the prospect of anything.
I walked over to him and kissed him soundly on the mouth so that there was no mistake that I was ready for the next step in our relationship. When I felt his arms engulf me and pull me closer to him, I knew he was on the same page as me, and I didn't hold back.
I attacked the man, without hesitation, and he seemed to be very happy about it. My hands kneaded his chest and arms before I snaked them down his ribs, which caused him to laugh against my lips as his tongue tangled with mine, and all laughing stopped when both hands found the object of my desire. As I pumped my hands up and down his hardness, I felt his breath hitch, and I pulled back from him to look into his eyes.
Without a word spoken between us, I dropped to my knees and took him into my mouth. He was velvet on steel, and the sound of his moans and groans brought me the gratification I sought. I wanted him to know that I wanted him, and in my mind, giving him the ultimate kiss was something that I felt would let him know that I wanted him as much as he'd led me to believe he wanted me.
Feeling him gently stroke my cheek as I moved on him was incredible, and after several minutes, I felt him begin gently moving into the strokes of my tongue on him, and I was certain that he was enjoying himself. He'd been trying to be quiet so as not to wake Jax, but I could tell by the moans and groans coming from him that I was doing something right, so I continued until I heard him gasp, "Fuck." Then, I felt him release in my mouth, and it wasn't unpleasant at all.
Once he stopped pulsing, he pulled himself from my lips with a quick kiss from me to the head of the glorious cock, and he picked me up and carried me to the bed, gently laying me on top of the comforter. "You could give a guy a little warning," he told me as he kissed my neck. I laughed.
"I don't do that to 'a guy'. I do that to a guy who I love, and that happens to be you. I thought the best way to let you know that I'm ready for things to move forward was to take the direct approach. How'd I do?" I asked as he kissed across my chest between the strings that wrapped around my neck from my bathing suit top.
"God, you did very well. Now, my turn," he announced as he pulled my bottoms off and proceeded to dive right in. I had to hold my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming, but it seemed that the direct approach worked very well in both directions.
Edward had a small duffel bag with boxers and t-shirts, dress shoes, and a suit and shirt on a hanger sitting on the couch in the living room. We were going to have dinner, and he was going on duty for thirty-six hours. I knew how brutal those shifts could be, and I wasn't looking forward to him being gone from us.
He was in his OB rotation, but he was still on-call in the ER. I was dreading the time away, and I worried about what Jax would think with him being gone for a few days without dropping by. She was too young to understand it, and I didn't want her to think he'd abandoned us.
"Edward has to work for a day-and-a-half day, and then he'll come back and have dinner with us after he gets up. He has to work at the hospital," I explained as I fixed the three of us dinner while he showered to get ready for work.
"Why?" she asked. There it was again, and yet again, it drove me up the wall.
"I have to go help mommies have babies and help sick people get well. When I finish, I'll pick you up and take you to Esme's house because she misses you. While we're there, your mom can meet with the man to help fix my house," he announced as he strolled into the kitchen in a pair of jeans and a button-down shirt. He looked positively lip-smacking.
He picked her up and kissed her cheek before he plopped her into her booster. Once she was settled, he walked to the stove where I was plating the baked halibut, au gratin potatoes and green beans. He gently kissed my neck and whispered, "I love you and I'm going to miss my girls like crazy." That comment made me want to take him back upstairs, especially since I'd sampled the goods earlier and was hooked on the man like a meth addict.
"You know, you can't say that stuff to me and then leave. It makes me want to do very dirty things to you," I whispered as I handed him his plate and kissed his lips very quickly while Jax was preoccupied.
I was quite happy to hear his breathing catch in his chest and hear him laugh. "Okay, you win. You've got the upper hand in this relationship. I'm not even going to try to fight it. By the way, Mom wants to babysit Jax on Saturday night so I can take you out on a proper date. We don't get that many of those, so I'd say we take her up on it," he suggested as he cut up Jax's fish and placed the plate in front of her. The man was incredible, and it seemed to come naturally to him with regard to the things that needed to be done for my daughter. It only made me love him more.
"That sounds great. I'll call her and square it away. Now, let's eat before you have to leave," I answered without one moment's hesitation.
His parents loved Jax, and I knew she loved them…hell, they had the remainder of the Barbie harem at their house, but I still needed to talk to Esme about the things that continued to show up at my house. If my boyfriend thought I didn't notice the karaoke machine and microphone in my daughter's room, tell-tale pink, no less…he was crazy. I knew exactly where it came from, and I'd have to go to the dealer to shut off the supply…if that was even possible.
After dinner, Jax and I walked Edward out to his car, and he kissed us both good-bye and left. I felt like a part of me went with him, but I wasn't actually upset about it because he told me he loved me again, and I felt it radiating off of him. That could get me through the next thirty-six hours, right?
"Hi, you've reached Esme Cullen. Please leave a message and I'll get back to you," I heard through the phone that Thursday morning. Edward was due to get off shift at noon on Friday, and Esme had volunteered to watch Jax on Saturday night, so I wanted to make sure it would work out. I wanted to spend time alone with him, and if his mother was willing to allow us that, I wanted to thank her.
"Hi, Esme, it's Bella. I was just calling to talk to you about Saturday night. Call me back when you can. Take care. Bye," I responded.
Jax was still sleeping, and Alice hadn't been home since we'd all had the cookout at my house. I wondered about her, but I was certain that if Jasper had days off, I wouldn't see her. I didn't mind, though, because I knew exactly how it was to be dating a doctor. You took advantage of the off time. It wasn't a surprise that she was doing exactly what I'd do if I had the opportunity.
After Jax got up, we went to the grocery store to stock up for the week, and I made a spur of the moment decision to make Edward dinner and take it to him at the hospital. I knew what the cafeteria food was like, and I determined that a home-cooked meal would do him some good, plus it gave me the opportunity to ogle him in his scrubs which never hurt my feelings. Luckily, Alice called and told me that she was coming home because Jasper was going on duty, so I'd be able to go to the hospital to see him by myself.
When Alice returned home that afternoon, I began cooking. Her compromise for staying at home with Jax was that I make enough dinner for Jasper because he was on duty as well. I knew from a discussion at the mailboxes with Rosalie that Emmett was working as well, so I made enough for the six of us, and invited Rosalie for dinner at seven. I was dropping off the food for the God Squad at six, and we girls were going to eat at seven and then watch "Sex and the City 2" after Jax went to bed. It was going to be a good old-fashioned girlie night complete with manis and pedis, and I was looking forward to it very much. Rosalie was bringing the wine, and Alice had actually made a strudel.
I loaded three plates and three desserts into my CRV and drove to the hospital at 5:45 PM. I'd received a text from Edward that he was taking his break from 6:00 to 7:00, and he'd planned to order pizza. I was happy that I was going to surprise him.
When I strolled into the ER that night I was surprised to find Nancy manning the desk. "Bella Black, I haven't seen you in a while. How are you, Sweetie?" she asked. I really like her. She was a very kind woman.
"I'm good. Where's the God Squad?" I asked. She laughed heartily and typed into the keyboard in front of her with a smile on her face.
"Okay. Drs. McCarty and Whitlock are in the ER, and your man is in the on-call room. He assisted in two deliveries today, and one of the labors was quite long, so I'd venture he's sleeping. I take it that wonderful smell coming from that basket is dinner?" she asked.
"Yeah. Can you leave a page for Jasper and Emmett that dinner is waiting for them? I'll just surprise Edward. Thanks a lot," I called as I took the elevator to the floor where the on-call room was located. I tip-toed into the room and found him out like a light on one of the bunk beds. I placed the two plates I'd made for Emmett and Jasper into the refrigerator with a note on top with their names, and then I went to the bed and lie down next to him. He looked so peaceful, that I couldn't help myself.
I no sooner hit the bed than I felt him jolt awake next to me. His eyes snapped open and he looked surprised. "Baby, is that you or am I still sleeping?" he asked as he pulled me closer. He was in scrubs and his hair was wild.
"It's me. I brought you dinner. I just wanted to feel you next to me for five minutes before I went back home. I'll put your dinner in the fridge with Em's and Jasper's," I whispered to him as he pulled me nearly on top of him.
"You brought me dinner? That's above and beyond the call of girlfriend duty, Mrs. Black," he answered as he settled back on the bed holding me tightly. If I didn't need to get back home, I could have easily fallen asleep in his arms. Of course, that would have been short lived because two minutes later, Emmett came bounding into the room with Jasper on his heels.
"I heard dinner was here. Blacksheep, you're a man among men. Rosie told me you've made me something special. Lead me to it," he called in his booming voice.
"Shh," I answered as I tried to extricate myself from Edward's grasp.
"He's a pussy. I've been up for twenty-four with no stopping. He helped deliver two babies today and did some stitches in a kid who tried to ride a skateboard down a flight of stairs. I have no pity for him. Now, where's the food?" Emmett announced. Jasper nodded in agreement and I laughed.
"You fuckstick, it's in the fridge. Shut up and get out," Edward announced without opening his eyes. He pulled me closer and didn't seem to care that the two men were in the room heating their dinner. When his hand cupped my breast, I had to stop him. It wasn't dinner and a show, by any stretch.
"Edward, honey, I need to get home and get Jax to bed. I'll put your dinner in the fridge now that the wolves have descended, and I'll talk to you tomorrow," I whispered. He moaned and sat up with me, scrubbing his hands across his face.
"I can't possibly go back to sleep with the smell of that incredible food in here. I'll be right back and walk you out," he announced as he rose from the bed and went to the bathroom.
"You've really caused a change in the young Dr. Cullen," Jasper announced between bites of his dinner. Before I could answer, I saw his phone light up on the table and he picked it up and smiled. I assumed it was from Alice, and he was a lost cause for any conversation.
"So, from what I understand, you and the boy wonder are going out on a date on Saturday night and Jax is going to be at the in-laws? Why don't you ask us to baby sit anymore? You know she likes me best. I'm her Memmett," Emmett asked. I couldn't help but laugh at his announcement of the way my daughter said his name.
"Because you two are newlyweds, and you're on until Saturday, so I'd assume that the last thing you'd want to do on a Saturday night is babysit my daughter. Remember the smoking hot blonde you married," I reminded. When I saw the glazed over look on his face, I was ready to go because he, too, was useless for conversation.
Luckily, Edward walked out of the bathroom and smiled at me. "Gents, enjoy. I want the plates back," I called to the two of them as Edward took my hand and led me out of the on-call room. If they said good-bye, it was lost on me because I couldn't focus on anything except the man with whom I was going to make out in the parking lot whether he knew it or not.
As soon as we were standing next to my CRV, Edward swept me into his arms and kissed me passionately, bracing my back against my car. I was a little surprised. When he ground his erection into my hip, I was only sort of surprised. When his hand crept up my shirt and into my bra, I wasn't surprised at all. It all felt incredible.
"Dr. Cullen, you have to go back inside, and those scrubs won't hide the monster in your pants," I gasped as his lips met my neck. I was completely breathless when his lips were anywhere near my skin. I couldn't help myself.
I felt him laugh against my neck. "Monster? You think of it that way?" he asked. If he was looking for compliments, I was prepared to lavish them up one side of him and down the other.
"I most certainly do, and I can't wait for the time in which I feel it inside me. Now, I need to go home. I've got guests to whom I'm being rude, and I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow. I decided on an IUD. What is your professional opinion on the matter?" I asked.
He pulled his head from my cleavage and looked at me squarely in the eye, smirk in place. "In my professional opinion, it's a very effective method of birth control. In my personal opinion, it's fucking stellar. Should I ask Mom if Jax can spend the night on Saturday?" he asked hopefully.
That reminded me that I hadn't heard back from her, and I was worried about it. "I called her today and she didn't get back to me. Did you see her?" I asked.
"Actually, I haven't heard from her, and I went up to her office this morning and she wasn't there. Anyway, don't worry about it. Can I ask her?" he asked again. I knew what he meant by his request, and I was ready for it. I was more than ready for it.
"Yes. If you talk to her, ask her if Jax can spend the night. Tell her I'll trade her, one kid for the other. You can spend the night at my house," I joked. He kissed me soundly on the mouth just as his beeper went off, signaling that he was needed somewhere.
"Shit. Okay. I'll talk to you tomorrow, babe. I love you," he responded, kissing me again before he left to jog back to the ER. I watched him until he was inside, and I couldn't contain my smile. He was mine, and we were going to seal the deal on Saturday night. I was ready, and I was quite excited at the prospect.
"Hi, Esme," I answered the phone just as we were finishing up dinner at my house. Alice had volunteered to take Jax up and get her bath, and Rosalie was helping with the dishes. Apparently, my offer to make dinner was well-received, and my friends were more than willing to help me with the evening chores so that we could drink more wine and watch our movie.
Alice had the coffee table set up with supplies for manicures, and the three of us were going to change into pajamas. Rosalie had decided to sleep over as well, and I was very excited about it.
"Hi, honey. How's Jax?" Esme asked. She sounded quite exhausted, and I was immediately worried. I wasn't privy to the comings and goings at the hospital, and Edward and I rarely talked about what was going on there, so if there were problems, I wasn't aware.
"She's fine. Look, Edward mentioned that you and Carlisle wanted to babysit her Saturday night, but if you're too tired, we can rain check our date. We can just stay in and watch a movie," I offered her the out.
"What? Oh, no, dear. We're looking forward to it very much. I've just been very busy at the hospital. We're trying to find another pathologist, and Dr. Volturi is being extremely difficult with regard to the candidates I've introduced to him. You know what an old piss he is when he's in a good mood, so you can imagine how much of a bastard he's being about it since he's angry. Anyway, please let Jax spend the night. I know Edward's going to bring her over tomorrow afternoon while you meet with the architect and contractor, so why don't you come over for dinner after?" she asked. It was then that I had a great idea.
"Okay. Um, you wouldn't happen to have any pictures of the house before it fell into disrepair, would you? Edward seems to have a lot of fond memories from spending time there with Liz, so maybe I could use some of the original design and update it. When I was inside the house, it was hard to get a feel for anything because it was empty and rundown. I just want Edward to be happy about it," I requested.
He'd given me the key and I'd gone over one afternoon and checked out the place, actually pleased that the inside wasn't as bad as I imagined it would be. It would still be a big job, but it most definitely wouldn't take as long as I'd originally imagined.
"Oh, yes, I've got a lot of pictures. I tell you what, I'll drop the box off at your place in the morning on my way to work, and you can bring it back with you tomorrow night. Maybe showing the architect and contractor some of the old photos would help spark ideas. I'll just leave it on your front porch," Esme answered.
We said our good-byes, and I went to the living room and settled in with my friends to paint my toenails and watch the "Sex and the City" women in Dubai. The fashion, which was the fifth star of the movie as Alice announced, was supposed to be out there. I was certain I wouldn't get it, but the other two were excited, and I wanted to spend the evening with them. It was the first time in a long time that I had done something with women my own age. Usually it was Jax and my mom. It was another change in my life about which I was very happy.
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E/N: Big things are coming up. Let me know your thoughts.
Till next time…xoxo