Chapter Forty

Bella

Where did the time go? We moved into our new house in September, just in time for fall and the next time I came up to take a breath it was the end of November. We had fallen into our own routine, Grace took up our days and sex our nights. Jasper was the kind of lover women dreamed of, sweet, thoughtful, passionate, demanding, and always fulfilling. The others rang every week and Esme had been in contact to see how we were doing, Carlisle had come back to the states but stayed in an apartment he rented in town leaving the house rebuilding for Esme. He had spoken to her on a number of occasions and asked her to spend Christmas with him but she refused. I thought he was fighting a losing battle with her, she was so hurt by his betrayal.

I invited her here for Christmas along with Peter and Charlotte so I'd have to start shopping for the festive season soon. I wasn't sure who was more excited, Grace or Jasper, they had been busy designing home-made cards to send and thinking of party games to play on Christmas Eve once the others arrived. I took her shopping for presents in town one day and it was quite an experience. She chose some strange presents, a horse tee-shirt for Peter and a matching one for herself, some perfume and a strange brooch she saw in an antique shop as we passed. I thought it was too big and clumsy looking but her heart was set on it so it went into our bags.

Buying for Jasper was more of a task, she wanted a horse for him!

"Grace I know nothing about horses. We should let daddy choose his own horse darling"

She was set on this so I suggested asking Peter to help us but she shook her head stubbornly, she knew which one she wanted for him and dragged me to …...an art gallery of all places. I was relieved that it was a picture she wanted when she dragged me through the back to a small paddock with a horse in it. To me it looked as if it was on its last legs and the guy who ran the gallery and was selling it was amazed to see us. He'd only recently decided to get rid of it.

"I don't have time to exercise it, my son left home and left me with the brute. I don't like the things much."

That much was pretty apparent, it looked neglected. He wasn't asking a lot for it and agreed to keep it until Christmas. He even agreed to deliver it to our place late on Christmas Eve, he was so glad to find a buyer. I left money for its feed and a farrier to re-shoe it. I had no idea if it needed new shoes but I let him talk me into it. Walking back through the gallery I asked Grace how she knew about the horse.

"When I was in town with daddy a few days ago I heard the man from the gallery talking. He wanted to sell it to a man who was going to have it for bait. He said there was a big wolf on his property and the horse would draw the wolf out so he could shoot it. But he wouldn't pay enough. Poor horse mummy, I didn't want the wolf to kill it."

I decided I was putty in my daughters hands. I just wondered what she had planned for me! There was only Esme to buy for then. Grace wandered through the stores looking for something and finally she stopped at a counter full of children's jewellery. I watched as she picked through the items finally coming up with a plaited bracelet with a tiny crystal heart suspended from its centre.

"Won't that be too small for Esme Grace?"

Grace shook her head,

"No, Esme has tiny wrists. I noticed that, they're like mine"

She obviously noticed more than me!

She arranged to go out with Jasper to get my present and some of the decorations although most of them were going to be home-made. Jasper was using the type of decorations his mother had used in their house and I couldn't wait. Then others were all going to arrive on Christmas Eve, then Esme rang.

"Bella I'd like to ask you a really big favour. Would you mind terribly if Emmett came with me only he will be on his own otherwise? He and Carlisle had a falling out so he's come home to me. If it would be too awkward just say and I'll stay here with him. I wont ask you to tell me now but if you could let me know in the next few days."

Once Grace had gone to bed that evening and Jasper and I had come up for air I told him of Esme's call. He lay his head on my belly stroking my thigh then sighed,

"Well Emmett wasn't involved so its OK by me if you don't mind. Grace will just be happy to have so many people in the house to see all our preparations."

"OK I'll ring her later"

"Yes much later darlin', for now I have other things on my mind"

Looking at his groin I laughed,

"So you have. Well, let me help you with that terrible swelling you are developing."

As my lips touched him he groaned and arched his hips

"God woman how did I ever manage before I found you?"

"Lets worry about what's happening now shall we?"

And I took his mind off everything but me.

I rang Esme the next morning while Grace had breakfast,

"Thank you Bella. I'll tell him, he's been really hoping you'd let him come, you know what a kid he is about Christmas."

"Have you heard any more from Carlisle?"

"No, I told him I was going away with Emmett for Christmas and I think he's going to Italy. I still can't believe what he did. Anyway, lets think about happier things shall we. Is there anything special you'd like me to bring with me?"

"No Esme I think Grace and Jasper have it all under control."

"Oh dear, that sounds interesting"

"Well I think it will be unusual. We look forward to seeing you both."

Jasper

Three days before Christmas Eve Grace sent Bella shopping alone so we could surprise her with the decorations. First we went out and chose a tree for the living room. Grace chose a big one but with a bend in it.

"Why that one?"

"Because no one else would have it daddy, not with a bend in it. I feel sorry for it"

That was my daughter, always seeing beyond the initial view of things. I carried it back as she walked beside me singing carols and swinging my hand. We put it up and left the box of decorations Bella had salvaged from Charlie's plus a lot she and Grace had bought in town, next to it. Then we cut some ivy, holly, and mistletoe and wound them on wire to make evergreen garlands which I wired to the stairs and around the mantelpiece. The huge Yule log had been brought in a few weeks ago to finish drying and was in its place ready to be lit. Over the chimney was an old rifle I'd found on one of the barns, I'd cleaned up and Grace decided it needed a festive touch so she found a rather scrawny robin ornament and had me fix it to the end of the barrel,

"The robin is safe there daddy."

I agreed but next time we looked it had fallen round and was hanging upside down from the bottom of the barrel. I went to fix it again but Grace thought it looked good as it was so the robin was left hanging upside down in pride of place. We made popcorn most of which we strung with cranberries for the tree but some Grace ate laughing and singing as she did so. She was always so happy and I fed from her constantly. For an empath she was a dream come true.

By the time Bella got back with armfuls of food and drink, why with just the two of them I couldn't imagine. She was happy, her cheeks glowing from the cold, she looked radiant and I loved her more each day.

"Grace quick, come look"

We both raced to the door to see snowflakes falling,

"Snow for Christmas yeah! We can make snow angels and build a snowman."

"If we get enough and it looks like we will."

The clouds in the distance were heavy with it, luckily it wouldn't stop our particular guests.