It's Murder Sequel
Chapter 9
EPOV
The beginning of the pregnancy triggered the worst nightmares I'd ever experienced in my life. Each morning I awoke expecting to find a frail, gaunt, pale faced Bella with bruised eyes and an anorexic body, because that was how she was in my nightmares.
Instead, I woke to see my wife already up, wolfing down the first of her two breakfasts.
She read somewhere the way to avoid morning sickness was to eat early so the moment she opened her eyes, she sprang up from our bed and made for the kitchen, stopping only to use the bathroom on the way.
Then she munched her way through half a box of crackers, a bowl of cereal and whatever fruit was on hand.
I did point out they meant any one of these foodstuffs may help but she decided not to take any chances, and as she had not experienced any nausea, she felt vindicated.
Then I would get up and cook her eggs and toast, neither of which she could get enough of. It was hard work thinking of a new way to prepare something as basic and bland as an egg, and I don't think Bella appreciated the care I took to rotate the recipes. I think she'd have eaten scrambled eggs or an omelette every day and not cared, just as long as the meal was there.
Despite all the food, she hardly gained weight but she did gain enough to keep Carlisle happy.
Our house had been painted all white inside, and had just the bare amount of furniture while my wife shopped around looking for what appealed to her.
Apparently she had to feel some sort of 'bond' with things that entered our house.
We have a bed and a piano, and even a kitchen table and two chairs plus all the white goods so I don't complain. The lack of a lounge suite and television just mean we go to bed early and cuddle, and usually discuss at length what to name the baby should it be a boy.
I know Bella wants a boy, but I'm still hoping for a girl first, just so I have the assurance that we will have a daughter. If we go on to have a whole bunch of kids, I won't mind what gender the rest are, if I have my Kristabelle first.
Bella's not too keen on our daughter's name but that just makes up for the fact I detest her boy's choice.
I have always felt like a bit of a freak being 'Edward' so many years after it ceased to be commonly used by the masses, so I can't help but feel our son will feel even more dismayed if we stick it on him.
"Can we please consider other boy's names?" was my constant plea.
"Edward is a beautiful name and my son will love it," she would reply. He was 'her' son when it came to this matter, and Kristabelle was 'my' daughter when we talked about other girl's names.
"Anyway,you promised. And there are lots of people named Edward."
"Name one. Alive, and under fifty."
"Prince Edward."
"Bella, he's 49 years old and I'm sure he hates his name too."
"Well, as you cannot prove that, you can't use it as a valid reason."
"Gosh, sorry for not going to Buckingham Palace and asking him last time I was in London," I growled.
"How about the baby has the same initials as me? That would do. Then we could name him Ethan or Eamon or even Eeyore. I'd prefer that to Edward."
"Fine, then when your daughter turns up we shall call her Goldilocks,"she replied, straddling my pelvis.
"You are not going to win by distracting me," I warned.
Bella started rocking gently but then she felt me respond to her nearness and she smirked, quickening her pace and grinding against me.
"You will be the death of me," I growled, grabbing her hips and making sure she stayed. Her second favourite trick was working me up then deciding she needing to get the laundry done, so she'd disappear and leave me panting for something more.
"Today's challenge is that you cannot remove my underwear," she stated breathlessly.
"Fine, I can do that," I answered, easing a finger inside the leg hole of her lacy panties and moving the fabric to the other side so I could slip inside her.
She sighed and continued riding me, reaching down to free the fabric covering her most sensitive bundle of nerves as well.
I smirked, and sat up, pulling her into my chest.
Sex as a nightcap was temporarily out the window now that Bella fell asleep the very second we climbed into bed, and she remained asleep all night, never stirring, whereas I woke up every few hours when the nightmares got too bad to cope with.
Some sex at those times would have been comforting, but I didn't want to disturb her. Clearly her body needed food and sleep more than romancing, at this point in time.
We'd barely finished and were looking into one another's eyes to see if that was it, just a 'quickie' or if either wanted more when the sound of our front door opening made the decision for us.
"Edward!" my older brother's voice bellowed.
Bella went to shower and I followed her but made short work of washing myself and getting dressed before Emmett came upstairs to check in the bedroom.
"What's so important?" I asked, walking down the staircase zipping my pants.
"Oh, sorry, bro, didn't mean to interrupt, were you two done?" he asked with a wink. "Had you had enough?"
"Never, but we do take breaks now and then," I answered. "What calamity has befallen us now?"
"She's pregnant. Siobhan. She just got the test results and called."
"Congratulations," I crowed, slapping his back. "That's great. Now these cousins will be quite close in age. Just like we all hoped. She's, what? Nine weeks behind Bella?"
"Yeah, about that," he agreed, but he still looked worried.
"Emmett, what did you do?" I asked, switching on the coffeemaker.
"Well, you know how it failed twice and they wanted to stop and do tests and stuff?"
"Yes," I agreed cautiously, girding my loins. I hoped to God he was not going to tell me he and Siobhan had decided to short circuit the IVF and he'd impregnated her himself and left Rose out of the process.
"I got them to agree to trying one more time and this time, putting in more than one embryo," he spluttered.
"How many, Emmett?" I asked, keeping my voice calm.
'Um, four," he admitted.
"And when will you know how many took?" I inquired.
"Not for some weeks yet. I'm nervous, Edward."
"Not half as nervous as Siobhan, I imagine. Anyway, I thought research concluded there was no advantage to be gained from transferring more than two in any cycle. It still leads to the same success rate."
"But Rosie was so disappointed each time and then Bella..."
"I guess I can understand, Emmett, but I just hope you will not now have to face the decision about whether to reduce or not if all four took. And don't forget, some studies indicate IVF embryos are more likely to split into identical twins than in nature."
"Fuck. You are saying she could be carrying eight babies?" he said in horror.
"Don't freak out. Chances are only one took, so don't buy trouble. Sorry, Bro, it was just too tempting to yank your chain after the dresses you tried to choose for Rose and Bella."
"I didn't see anything wrong with those dresses," he complained, distracted. "They looked great on the models."
"Those girls were named Candy and Lolita, Emmett. The clues were there."
"Well, the dress you ordered Bella was pretty boring," he stated.
"I have a feeling Bella would prefer boring to breakaway stripper clothes," I replied drily. Her dress was beautiful, not boring. She would not thank me if I ordered some fluffy meringue dress so I'd gone with slim fitting and classy in silk.
Emmett was still struggling, trying to find a compromise between what Rose would actually agree to wear, and how he imagined her tripping down the aisle to him in his fantasies.
"I got Rose a pair of wedding panties," he confided.
"Are they...special? Crotchless maybe?" I hazarded.
"Nope. They are normal panties, white , with lace around the legs."
"Well done," I encouraged him. "I'm sure your bride will appreciate them."
"They even have embroidery," he added.
"Emmett, just tell me," I urged, needing this confession to be over.
"They have It won't spank itself written across the back," he said excitedly.
"Of course they do," I replied.
"I could get Bella some," he offered.
"No, it's fine, Emmett. Actually, I don't think panties are an option under her dress. It's so slinky and close fitting, a panty line would just spoil the look."
He swallowed.
"Where did you get that dress again?"
I had no problem telling him the designer. He only ever made one offs, so Rose's dress would not be the same anyway.
"So, what's left to organize now? I booked the wedding cars," he said, taking the coffee cup I offered, and sitting down at the table. I served him a plate of eggs and bacon and listened out for Bella.
We had done rather well. I had eased up a tiny bit and allowed him to have his colour choice for the tables. White table clothes with red crockery and black napkins. The flowers would be easy; anything red.
Emmett was searching for a florist who supplied black roses but I was pretty sure no such thing existed.
I'd booked a harpist to play as the girl's walked down the aisle and he had booked the band to play at the reception. I'd warned him about German/techno and threatened his manhood, so I was reasonably sure he would play it safe.
"Cars?" I said as I realized the plural. "I've already booked Bella's transport to the Church."
"Nuh, wait until you see what I got. Bella will love them."
"I think we'll stick to my choice, thanks all the same," I answered, sure Bella would not want to drop into the churchyard via a bungy rope or strapped to a tandem skydiver.
"Your loss," he muttered around his second serving.
"Bella, get down here before Emmett eats everything," I called.
xxxx
BPOV
Rose and I sat outside in the surprisingly warm sun and faced Bree. It seemed like the polite thing to do, to invite her to be our joint bridesmaid, seeing Alice would be our maid of honor.
But on the other hand, after all she had been through, we wanted to give her the chance to refuse before we discussed it with anyone else.
"What would I have to do?" she asked shyly. I had a feeling even before her abduction that she had been a loner and wasn't yet comfortable with all these new friends. She'd bonded well with Esme, but then, everybody did.
And she trusted Carlisle, which was a major thing considering what the men in her life had done to her up until now.
She was still wary of Emmett but then the man was large and loud and outspoken, and had she met him before he fell for Rose, I was sure she would have stayed well away from him.
It did pain me a little that she didn't seem to like Edward.
To think that used to be my goal; to find any female who didn't instantly fall under his spell. Now I had found her and I knew her reservations about him were because of first impressions.
She'd met him as Edward Anthony Masen, millionaire prick and woman abuser. I guess in the traumatic circumstances, it was hard for her to really trust that he'd simply played a necessary role. The real Edward walking in and begging for Aro to do the decent thing, to hand over three women for their own good would never have worked.
"Whatever you want to do. I don't give a crap if you refuse to toss rose petals on the aisle as we walk down it. That's Alice's stupid idea about perfect weddings. You can just walk down before us and stand to one side, or sit down next to Esme in the front pew if you prefer," Rose replied.
"Could I maybe carry Josie in my arms, and hold Tom's hand?"
I glanced at Rose.
Kids in wedding parties was not her thing.
For a start, they were unpredictable and no bride wanted some baby screaming it's lungs out just when you went to kiss your new husband.
And anyway, the old adage, never work with kids or animals ….she wouldn't want the congregation oohing and aahing over how cute Alice's kids were instead of being gobsmacked by the outstanding beauty of the brides.
I was under no illusions that I could possibly look anywhere near as stunning as Rose would, but I've never craved that sort of attention. I'm comfortable in my own skin and anyway, the only eyes that I want to find me perfect already do. He will probably barely notice that Rose is there beside me.
It does still stun me that she had him first and he left her.
He insists it was a mutual decision but Rose has confided in me that she did think they could make a go of things, and she'd been both hurt and surprised when his interest suddenly waned once she had told him she didn't want a family.
If she'd been as keen to have babies back then as she was now, who knows? I would probably have never known Edward Cullen existed.
He'd have settled down and finished his doctor training and taken his wife Rosalie home to Forks and Bella Swan would have probably jumped off a cliff grieving for Riley.
That confuses me too.
How could I have ever imagined I'd loved him enough to want to marry him? The feelings I'd had for him did not begin to compare to how I felt for Edward.
I guess back then I thought what I felt was enough; that was all there was. It had to be enough.
God knows our paths so easily may have never crossed.
It did make me believe in Fate and soul mates and things I never knew existed.
But I'd known Edward for a long time before my thoughts had turned to love. Though thinking back, I remember the small stabs of pain I never acknowledged each time he pulled at the bar or came home to my little apartment after being in some girl's bed. I was always glad he was safe and had come to my sofa for refuge, and not slept over in their beds, but it truly never occurred to me that what I'd felt was the earliest stirrings of jealousy.
Nor had I understood the quick flash in his eyes when I introduced him to my latest beau. What had been wrong with us?
We could have explored this option years earlier had either of us pulled our heads out and smelled the coffee.
"Do I have to wear a really lame dress?" Bree was asking.
"God only knows," Rose answered, raising her eyebrows.
"Hey, the guys don't know we are even asking you so I think there would be no problem letting Alice get you a dress that coordinates with hers. She will be choosing the children's outfits," I stated.
Alice had put her foot down and refused to even consider letting the guys pick out her outfit. We either wanted her in the wedding party and would agree to her making her own clothing arrangements, or she would not be involved at all.
That was her ultimation.
Rose and I had given in immediately and Edward had been pleased to have one less dress to fight with his brother over.
I truly did not want to let my imagination take me to what dress my dear friend Rose would be wearing. Brief images of peekaboo nipple holes and a too short mini skirt that could rip away and reveal...
I shuddered.
Whenever I saw those panties with the crude sayings, I thought of Emmett.
I had no concerns about what Edward would choose. My dress would be classy and stunningly beautiful and better than what I would choose for myself.
"Well, that's settled. Bree will wear something she and Alice agree suits her, and she will take the babies down the aisle with her," Rose said with a smile. "Let's find Alice."
xxxx
EPOV
Emmett's bachelor party was surprisingly restrained. There were lap dancers but to avail oneself of their services necessitated leaving the bar and going into a back room, and Emmett was staying put , merely watching the strippers on stage.
He did have the good sense to realize a quick thrill with a stranger could wipe away his whole life with Rose.
I merely waved my wedding ring around and told the guys I was long past qualifying for a bachelor party myself, so they could all do whatever they wanted but they had to leave us out of it. Of course we got heckled and teased but so what? At our ages,peer pressure was meaningless. If any of these guys wanted to risk their own partnerships by getting a quick thrill with a paid expert, that was their business. I deliberately sat facing the window so I would not even know who went through that door.
Jasper was sticking by Emmett's side and making sure they both stuck to lite beer.
Charlie and Carlisle were both present, so the three of us sat at 'the old people's table' and discussed again whether or not we had managed to cancel every single harebrained idea Emmett had run with for the wedding.
"Where that boy got the idea for having a girl pop out of the wedding cake is beyond me," my Dad said, shaking his head. "They didn't even have a wedding cake mock up, nobody has ever wanted one before."
"That's because most men do not want to start their married life being served divorce papers before the honeymoon," Charlie sighed. "So, Edward. You are taking Bella away on a honeymoon, despite this not being your actual wedding, that we parents were not invited to?"
"I'm really sorry about that, but I'm sure you understand why I did what I did? Once Bella agreed to marry me, there was no way I was sitting back and letting her get cold feet while Alice and Esme buzzed around forcing her to choose floral arrangements and menus. I know her limitations. She wanted to marry me but that was as much as she could cope with. She was never going to change into Wedding Day Barbie, no matter what. It had to be done then and there with the minimum fuss, before she came to her senses," I explained. "But yes, we are going on honeymoon. Better late than never."
"Seems little point, considering," Charlie said dryly.
"Girls want to have a honeymoon to look back on and remember as the glory days, when things get fraught at home, with screaming babies and broken appliances refusing to work, ,and husbands who work too much," Carlisle replied. "They need to remind themselves for those two blissful weeks, all she wanted was to be with her chosen man. That marrying him was a good idea."
"I never had one myself," Bella's Dad replied, placing his glass on the table. "No point. Renee had already set the rules. All she wanted was to get that pregnancy over with and get out of town. I've never known how to make it up to Bella. I begged Renee to agree to a bit of a fairy story where she and I were mutually in love and both delighted when our baby arrived, but that woman insisted Bella had to know the truth. I truly do hold her responsible for every disastrous relationship Bella had before she met Edward."
"I don't think Bella bears a grudge any more," I stated. "Once she realised her life could have been a hell of a lot worse... She did a brief stint dealing with abused kids, and I know she's grateful you did your best for her and protected her. Kept her safe all her childhood, . There's many a single father who doesn't bother. She was very glad that you were her Dad and did so much to make her happy. Anyway, once she came to the conclusion she couldn't change her childhood and make it into the ideal one she had wanted, she focused all her attention on making the rest of her life as wonderful as she wanted it to be. I will do everything in my power to make sure she has the life she wants, Charlie."
"Thanks, son," he replied, moving his hand across the table and placing it next to mine so it almost touched. It was possibly as close as Charlie would ever come to giving me a manhug.
The party was getting out of hand around us, and Jasper came over, asking for help.
"Some dickhead spiked Emmett's glass while we were in the bathroom. He's off his face."
We went and led Emmett out the door for some fresh air before taking him home to his bride.
The following day was a bit of a haze and we'd deliberately done the bachelor party two days before the wedding, so heads could recover and no grooms would pass out in church.
Emmett drank a lot of water, and swallowed a few painkillers and generally looked pale.
Luckily the girls were too preoccupied squealing over the outfits Alice 'just happened to have on hand' should Rose and Bella want Tom and Josette in the bridal party, so they were more concerned with having little rehearsals where Tom balanced Rose and Emmett's wedding rings on a little pillow as he walked beside Bree carrying a frilly baby girl.
Alice was openly showing off the dresses she and Bree would wear. They were made in a shiny silk fabric that morphed from deep pink to lilac in turn.
"Shit. We need to change the flowers and the table napkins," I informed my brother.
"You do it," he moaned, holding a cold pack to his head.
I went inside and scrolled through my phone to call for a last minute emergency supply of replacements, and Alice followed me in and snatched it from my hand.
"I have everything you need. You cannot think I'd sit back and let you two screw this up? I have already cancelled the red and black shit. This is a wedding, not a vampire convention. Everything is taken care of."
"Thank you, Alice," I sighed wearily. "I should have just handed over to you from the start."
"That was what Bella and Rose expected you to do," she snapped. "As if they really wanted you two clowns organising the biggest day of their lives. Show me the dresses. I do happen to have two rather perfect replacements, should we need them."
"Bella's dress is perfect," I assured her. "And you will be stunned by the one Emmett chose. It's lovely."
xxxx
I left my Mother fussing around her eldest son on the morning of the Big Day. Something in my gut was warning me I'd missed one major arrangement, though I had no idea what.
"I'm ready; I'll meet you at the church."
The thought it would be bad luck to see my bride before the wedding was moot, seeing we were married. I stood outside the house and waited for the girls to appear.
Right on time, the open horse drawn carriage I'd booked arrived on the doorstep.
The girls stepped outside and I was stunned yet again at their beauty. Of course I was prejudiced and thought Bella outshone Rose by a large margin, but, I had to admit, Emmett's bride looked amazing as well.
Both wore the silky slim fitting gowns we'd had made, so Alice had not managed to talk them into her white lace creations.
Rose turned to Bella, and fell into her arms, crying. I was close enough to hear them both.
"My God, I can't believe Emmett agreed to anything so romantic," Rose was saying in awe. "You can bet he is going to get one heck of a wedding night tonight after all this. Everything is so wonderful I almost expected a bikie gang to be waiting to take me on the back of a Harley."
I grabbed my phone and called the driver.
"Take them the scenic route, please. I need to beat them back to the church."
He waved a hand in my direction and I headed for where my car stood undercover in the forest.
"Hey, is this the road to the Cullen house? I got so totally lost, I must be late," a voice called above the roar of an oversized engine. A similar vehicle behind it growled as the engine revved.
"Um, sorry. There's been a change of plan. We don't need you anymore. Let me pay you for your time," I said, reaching for my wallet and handing the driver enough cash to make him whistle and forgive his dismissal.
He used his cell to inform the other driver it was a bust, and both roared away back where they'd come from and I headed for the church.
Emmett was waiting with a shit eating grin on his face.
"Really, Emmett?" I scolded. "Monster Trucks?"