BPOV
"Jenks, I don't understand these documents," Carlisle sighed as he hovered over the same documents Edward did earlier this morning.
"Okay," Jenks said, leaning forward. "To your left are all assets that will be Edward's; to your right is the conservatorship."
"But these conservatorship documents mention Edward."
"Ed had a clause drawn up that if anything were to happen to Margo, Edward will get everything," Jenks explained nervously.
Edward squeezed my hand and I saw the anger on his face grow. He wanted absolutely nothing from these people, including their money. On the way here, Carlisle tried to speak logically with him about our situation. He said he understood Edward's position and wanted us to think about this from all angles.
"Jenks you have to understand that this is a very overwhelming situation for Edward and Bella. This is a ridiculous amount of money to be dropped on their laps," Carlisle said, rubbing his jaw. "He hasn't even touched his inheritance from his father's death."
"I know where you're coming from, but what he does with the money is his choice. I'm just here to execute Ed's wishes."
Carlisle let out a breath and rubbed my back between my shoulder blades for a second. I shrugged and Edward frowned because he truly was in a losing battle.
"Who's on the co-conservator list?"
Jenks shuffled through a stack of papers on his desk, handing a small pile to Carlisle. Carlisle took a piece of paper and started writing down names and facts of the people. I leaned over to peak at the list over his shoulder. I caught Marcus's name on the list, which surprised me. Edward moved my hair over one shoulder so he could rest his chin there and see what Carlisle was doing.
He said Marcus's name and I knew those gears were turning in that genius brain of his. His hand splayed on my belly before he decided to speak up.
"I want Marcus," he told Jenks, looking right at him.
"Edward, I don't think it's best to jump right into a decision," Jenks argued with wide eyes.
Who's Marcus? Carlisle signed to Edward.
He's been my grandfather's driver since Eddie was born.
Carlisle nodded, musing this information over in his head. He looked down at the list of names he had written. "Jenks, this man must know more than all of us in this room how Ed did business if he suggested him as a co-conservator with Edward. Edward must feel comfortable with him if he can without a doubt say he wants him. My nephew isn't one for making rash decisions."
"My grandfather put him on the list and to me that makes him more than deserving. I also feel he shouldn't be the driver if he takes on this responsibility. He deserves to have an office at the firm where he can monitor the paperwork and I want him on salary," Edward reasoned as he squeezed my shoulder.
"I think that's more than fair," I added, looking over to Jenks.
Jenks was tugging at his hair, not looking completely comfortable with our solution. "Margo might not be satisfied with this arrangement," he spoke up quietly.
"I don't think Margo really has a say in the matter," Carlisle said frankly. "I see how much money is at stake and I will not have my nephew be burdened by these people anymore. I would think Ed talked to all of the people on this list before he added them. Marcus must be more than capable."
"I want Marcus. Now we're done talking about it. The three of us will be on a flight back home tomorrow. Please, send everything that I've looked at today to my lawyer and that will be the only form of communication we will have," Edward breathed as he stood.
My husband grabbed my hand and helped me stand as well. Without another word he was leading us to the elevators. I looked over my shoulder and noticed Carlisle was not behind us. Edward stopped and pulled me into his arms. I felt the tears on my neck before I heard him. I let my fingers lightly scratch at the nape of his neck, holding him a little closer to me.
This was a man that had carried the weight of the world his whole life and right now he was just over it. I saw the documents and the numbers. We were talking about millions of dollars. I knew the Masen's were wealthy, but I didn't realize the full extent of it until now. I mean the house was ginormous… But millions!
"I just want to make it better," I murmured to him even though he couldn't hear me. "I want your hurt to stop."
He placed his lips against my neck before pulling away. As he peered down at me I reached up, brushing my thumbs under his eyes.
"I promise you, we are never coming back here," he vowed.
I smiled, trying to tiptoe kiss him, but the kid in my stomach made that such movement impossible. Of course Edward knew this and leaned down, wrapping both his arms around me.
"I love you, Bella."
"Well duh," I grinned, giving him a quick peck.
It was fifteen minutes later when Carlisle met us in front of the building. He looked stressed, which was an odd look on him. I guess if he's not fixing people up he's out of his element.
"Do you two want to go back to the hotel or go look for some dinner?"
Edward stared down at me waiting for me to choose and of course I was always hungry so it was an easy decision. "You're taking us to dinner Daddy Warbucks," I teased Edward.
He shook his head. Edward kept me tucked close into his side and Carlisle walked beside him. We walked passed the Sears Tower, now known as the Willis Tower, which was pretty awesome. Finally, Edward pointed out this Italian bistro he remembered his grandfather took him on one of his birthdays.
It was kind of fancy, but I wouldn't expect it not to be if Edward's grandfather brought him here. The hostess guided us quickly back into a corner booth. Carlisle sat first and pulled the table in closer to him so I could fit on our side. This was probably going to be an issue when I tried to get out.
"Well today has been interesting," Carlisle smiled over his menu at us.
"I want to go home," I grumbled as Edward kissed the top of my head.
"You do realize, your mother and Esme will be at the studio as soon as you walk through that door. I'm talking hovering for days," he sighed, giving me his best look of pity.
"Shut up," I warned.
"Days," he shook his head.
"We'll assure them we're okay," Edward told him. "I have work and Bella needs to not be stressed."
"Yeah, what he said," I agreed. "Bella needs not to be stressed."
I ordered lasagna and it was huge. I ate the whole thing, crying afterward because I ate the whole thing. It was so much. I caught Edward's eyes widen each time I took a bite near the home stretch. I saw Carlisle shake his head in warning to him.
The waitress came over, asking if we wanted any dessert. A huge sob wracked my body because I definitely wanted the raspberry truffle cheesecake I saw on the menu earlier, even though I had already ate enough to feed a small country.
"Can I see the menu again, please?" Edward asked the waitress over my cries.
Through my blurry eyes I saw how frazzled the girl was as she fumbled for the menu. He skimmed it and I cried.
"Two raspberry truffle cheesecakes, please?"
"For you, sir?" she asked Carlisle.
"The Italian coffee and a blueberry biscotti, please," he said just as friendly as Edward.
I looked like a crying crazy person as I curled into my husband while he shushed me and brushed my hair back.
"Did you hear what I ordered for you?" he murmured in my ear.
I nodded still holding onto him. I heard Carlisle chuckle and sent him a glare.
"It okay to eat whatever you want, baby," Edward soothed.
"But I'm huge," I sniffled.
From my side-eye view I saw Carlisle signing. I felt Edward's chin move on the top of my head. His hand came up rubbing my belly.
"You're carrying an almost full term baby, Bella," he pointed out gently taking hold of my wrist and waved it around. "Look at these arms. You really don't have an ounce of fat on you. It's just Bella then baby."
"My butt isn't baby," I mumbled.
"I love your big booty," he added lowly, but Carlisle's snort only made me aware that he heard him.
To be honest, after we graduated my hips were like bam. I became curvier in that particular area. Now though, my butt could rival or Kim K. I definitely have what my mom calls child-bearing hips. Before Em I felt like I was disproportioned with being pear shaped. Edward loved it, saying my body was sexy. I hope he's right because he's stuck with it until he dies.
"Stop," I whined, pulling away.
I kissed him quick and the waitress placed my plate in front of me like I was a feral animal.
"What's her problem?" I frowned.
"Remember crying your eyes out ten minutes ago," Carlisle smiled.
"I wasn't that bad," I argued.
Carlisle sipped his spiked coffee and Edward shoveled his cheesecake into his mouth. Really, I wasn't that bad. Edward paid the check after fifteen minutes of arguing with his uncle and then we were off to walk around a bit.
Edward pointed out various places that he remembered as a kid and we ended up in front of a swanky building when he stopped.
What's wrong? Carlisle signed.
He shook his head, letting out the breath he was holding. A man in a crisp charcoal suit hurried out. He looked to be in his forties, but still had neatly cropped blonde hair. His Blackberry was in hand as he tried waving down a cab. A few swipes at his nose and then a car pulled up.
"James, your suit case," A voice called.
Edward's arm had me tucked firmly against him. I looked up, noticing that his jaw was clenched. "Damn it," Carlisle muttered.
My eyes focused on the woman who was now kissing the taxi man. She looked like a Real Housewife from Orange County. Her blond hair was in curls down her back and her blue sequined dress hit about mid thigh. I shook my head because through all of the botox and fake boobs, I was staring at Lizzie Platt.
"Oh my God," I breathed.
Once the man was in the car and she turned, her eyes instantly landed on Edward. She squinted; even from where I was standing I saw the blackness in her eyes. Lizzie was loaded. Her eyes then widened.
"Eddie?" The words fell from her lips as my grasp tightened on Edward.
Her manicured fingers reached out to touch him, but Carlisle stepped in front of us to stop her.
"Elizabeth, go back to wherever you came from. He's not Eddie," he said firmly.
Tears streamed down her face, but she went to move around Carlisle to get to us again. "Eddie, you came back," she cried.
"Carlisle," I could feel the quake in my voice as Edward tightened his hold.
Lizzie's eyes saw me now and she took in what was in front of her. "Who is she?" she screamed, accusation filling her cries.
"Christ," Carlisle mumbled.
It was when Edward's muffled voice firm and steady hit my ears. "I am not Eddie. I am Edward, your son. Eddie died twelve years ago."
Her head shook furiously. "No," she sobbed.
"Yes and this is my wife Isabella… You need to leave or at least let us around you. You're scaring her," he said, moving me behind him.
Elizabeth's hand came up and touched his face. "Edward's a kid," she argued.
I watched Edward's eyes flick up to where Carlisle stood.
Calm her; I'm getting the doorman. He signed.
Edward nodded and I just fisted the back of his shirt. "I'm a grown man, Lizzie. Look at me."
"You look so much like him," she breathed, bringing her other hand to her chest.
"I know," he sighed. "Do you remember the last time you saw me?"
I got what he was doing. He was trying to bring her back to the present, which she wasn't in at the moment.
"Esme's," she frowned, nodding toward me. "That little girl was there."
"That was almost seven years ago," he informed her.
"I…I…" she cried out hysterically.
"Mrs. Hunter let's get you in the building," the doorman urged gently.
"B-but," she looked very confused.
"I'm sorry Mr. Masen," the doorman replied, shuffling passed us with Lizzie.
I blinked, still shaken from what just happened. Edward pulled me into his arms, holding me close as he kissed my head.
"This is the building I grew up in. That man that got into the cab was Eddie's best friend. He also gave him and Lizzie their coke supply," he explained.
I pulled back a smidge to peer up at Edward. "Can we leave and never come back?"
"Yes," he smiled sadly.
"I'm going to have to tell Esme we found her sister. Your grandparents will want to make a trip out here," Carlisle sighed.
"She just came back like she never even left."
"Obviously she had ties to this place and she knew she could count on that man for what she needed. I know it sucks, kiddo," he told me.
"Lizzie has always been a needy person. Eddie brought her up only to tear her back down again. She lives in an endless cycle of abusive relationships. James was always slithering around. I was ten when I walked in on the two of them when I came back from boarding school. He envied Eddie. They always thought there was more than just an overdose on his death," Edward shrugged.
I couldn't believe how calm he was when he was all tense ten minutes ago. "His nonchalance is scaring me," I spoke up.
"No, I know the kind of people Lizzie and Eddie were. My parents are and will always be Esme and Carlisle Cullen."
"And don't you forget it," Carlisle grinned, pulling Edward into a bear hug. "Let's get a cab back to the hotel."
"The sooner we do that, the sooner we can finally get home," I added, patting my belly.
Home was a place we could always find; it was and always would be with our families, no matter where they were.
A/N: This is the last chapter, next is the epi! Share your thoughts please. Dolphin62598 and rainydays23 were my betas for this chapter.