Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, Stephanie Meyers does. However, I do own this plot and storyline. I also own my own original characters.
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Chapter 18: Take a Dive
EPOV
"I'm serious, Edward," Bella states in frustration. "Don't let them try to talk y'all into anything that's not on that list."
"Yes, dear." My voice was thick with the humor I'm trying to contain. Jasper isn't as successful as I am though and laughs hard as Bella narrows her eyes at him.
"Fine." She throws her hands up in defeat. "Get ripped-off buying stuff you don't need."
I reach out and pull her into my arms as she turns to walk away. Jasper and I are packing up my truck with the camping gear we'll need for the weekend. We're going to be leaving soon to drive to Huntsville for our underwater training to get our certification as open water divers.
It's the last weekend in June and hotter than Hell outside. Last week's camp was a success, and everyone enjoyed themselves immensely, some even signing up for the next camp. That one is two weeks away and will be nature-based.
Bella and I are both having a hard time being away from each other this weekend. She finally admitted last night that she was gonna miss me. I kept telling her all week that she was gonna miss me, but no, she didn't believe it.
"Come on, you two, cut it out," Jasper bellows from the passenger seat. "We'll be back Sunday."
"Be careful and call me if you need anything," Bella whispers before placing one last kiss on my lips.
"I'll call you tonight, pretty girl," I promise before climbing into the driver's seat.
"'Bout damn time," Jasper grumbles as he types the address into the navigation app on my iPad.
"Whatever, asshole," I rebut, starting the engine and pulling out of the driveway.
We're fifteen minutes into the drive before he breaks the silence. "Stupid question, but you love them, don't ya?"
"Bella and Cassie?" I ask as he nods in confirmation. "Yep, and I'm gonna tell her when I know she's ready to hear it."
"Good for you, man," he states, smiling my way. "You deserve someone like her. No, you deserve her, and she deserves you, too."
We drive the rest of the way to Huntsville listening to the radio and making idle chit chat, nothing serious.
Finding the Blue Lagoon was a little frustrating, but we finally pull onto the right road. Once I tell the guy at the gate why we're there and that our instructor is Wayne, he directs us to campsite C, handing me a map.
I have no idea if there is only one access road to the campsites or not, but we drive almost all the way around this huge ass lake. However, the water, even viewed from the truck, is blue. I guess I know where the name comes from.
"Damn," Jasper gasps. "That's some blue water. I wonder how clear it really is."
"I'm sure we're gonna find out," I state, trying to figure out where the hell I'm supposed to be going.
Finally, I see the sign for campsite C and pull in. There's another truck already there and a motorcycle. I pull alongside the other truck and we get out.
"You two must be the Cullens?" an older man asks, shaking our hands. "I'm Wayne."
"Edward," I greet, shaking the other guy's hand as well. "And my brother, Jasper."
"Terry," the other guy greets, shaking Jasper's hand as well.
"Well, I like to keep my open water classes small so you three are it," Wayne explains, leading us over to a picnic table. "Let's go ahead and set-up camp then we'll sit and go over your online training, and I'll answer any questions you guys have."
Jasper and I make quick work of setting up our tent, chairs, and the little grill we brought for cooking. Bella had joked that I couldn't go anywhere without a way to cook. Jasper had just finished inflating the twin mattresses when Wayne and Terry walk over.
"Damn," Wayne blurts out, his eyes wide. "You boys don't mess around."
"I like to be comfortable," Jasper explains, shrugging his shoulders, "and he likes to cook."
We were sitting at the picnic table and going over everything that we learned online, asking any questions that weren't clear to us. I guess Jasper and I had the advantage of Bella's expertise because we really didn't have many questions and even answered a few of Terry's before Wayne could.
"You boys know your shit," Wayne praises. "Are you sure you're not divers already?"
"No, sir," Jasper answers with a chuckle. "His girlfriend is a dive master. She answered a lot of our questions; made sure we were ready," he states, pointing at me.
"No shit?" Wayne clarifies. "Who's your girlfriend?"
"Bella Swan," I answer proudly. She is one hell of a woman and I have every right to be proud of her.
"I've heard of her and everything she does for the less fortunate. Awesome woman you got there," Wayne states, looking at me with a small smile. "She's been through Hell and back, I hear."
"She has, but it's made her who she is today," I acknowledge. "She cares about people, very giving. You don't see a lot of that anymore."
"No, you don't," Terry agrees.
"Let's go to the dive shop and get y'all some equipment," Wayne directs as he stands. "You mind driving us all up to the office, Edward?"
"No problem," I state, fishing my keys out of my pocket so I can unlock the truck. Wayne rides upfront with me as Jasper and Terry get in the back.
Wayne directs me to turn the opposite way from where we came in and we were at the office and dive shop within a few minutes. What the hell! I think to myself. I have no idea why the gate dude had me go all the way around.
We unload and follow Wayne into the dive shop. "OK, guys," he whispers. "You don't need a bunch of crap, just the basics. They'll try to sell you all kinds of shit."
Jasper busts out laughing at my disgruntled face. "Bella told ya. You need to follow her list, bro."
"Let me see this list, son," Wayne commands, holding out his hand as I pull the list out of my back pocket.
"Yep, that's about it," Wayne surmises, handing back the list. "But don't buy a slate or whistle. I'll give you those for being in my class. I'm gonna go rent our tanks, so look around and get what feels comfortable. Terry, use their list, too."
The three of us start trying on masks and fins before anyone approaches. The salesman is actually nice, and I show him the list of what we need. He explains the differences in the equipment and makes sure it fits right. We all have our stuff as he leads us to the register.
I know I'll more than likely never have to buy from this shop again so I want to make sure I try to spend the whole gift card Bella gave me. Unfortunately, my total is barely half so I tell him to ring Jasper's stuff up, too. He packs our stuff in complementary netted bags.
I still have close to fifty bucks left so I hand the card to Terry and tell him to use the rest of it. He argues, but once I explain that it's just gonna go to waste if it's not used, he reluctantly accepts it.
"That was cool, man," Jasper whispers as we load our bags into the back of the truck. "And thanks for getting my stuff; I owe you one."
"No problem," I reply with a fist pump. "We probably won't ever come back here so I wanted it gone."
We help Wayne load the tanks in the back of the truck before making our way over to the office to sign the release forms and pick up a key to the overnight guest's facilities. Jasper buys a bag of ice to put in the cooler. In this heat, the ice we packed in there at the ranch isn't going to last long.
I'm so glad we packed enough for more than just the two of us because after noticing Wayne and Terry only had snack food, there was no way I wasn't gonna include them.
"After lunch, we'll suit up so y'all can get the feel of your gear and make sure it's comfortable," Wayne informs us as he goes to open one of those lunchable cheese and deli meat things.
"Um, I hope that's your snack because we're eating burgers for lunch," I state, looking at him and Terry. "This food's gotta be eaten and we have plenty."
Jasper pulls out the container with all the fixings while I throw the burgers on the grill. I grab the buns and plates outta the box I kept in the truck. It may not be gourmet, but they are homemade.
The burgers are cooked so I plate them, taking them over to the table so everyone can fix their own.
"Hell," Terry grunts out, finishing his first bite. "These are good and this bun is awesome."
"The buns are gluten-free and homemade," Jasper explains. "Bella's daughter can't have gluten so Edward and Bella make everything themselves. We all avoid gluten now, and, actually, I feel better, healthier, since I quit eating it."
"Wow," Wayne comments. "That's awesome. I need to eat better and stop buying all the processed food."
We enjoy our lunch and then clean up. I strip off my jeans and shoes leaving me in a T-shirt and board shorts. I slip on the flip-flops that Bella insisted are a diver's must have. I have to agree with her, seeing all the gravel and rocks we have to walk over to get to the teaching platform, as Wayne calls it.
Once on the platform, I slip off my flip-flops and start gearing up, making sure my fins and mask are adjusted correctly and not too tight.
"All right." Wayne commands our attention after making sure we had everything on correctly. "How do you feel?"
Jasper is still messing with one of his fins so Wayne stops to help him. The strap is twisted but once they get that fixed, we're all good.
"Now we're gonna swim around, get used to using your mask and snorkel," he explains as we sit on the edge of the platform and ease off into the water. We aren't wearing tanks so I know he's just teaching us to breathe through the snorkel. We swim around for a few minutes, making adjustments or learning how to keep our masks from fogging up.
"See that platform in the middle of the lake?" Wayne asks and we nod. "I want you to snorkel all the way there; don't raise your head above water until you reach it."
We do as he says and by the time we reach the platform, he is sitting on it with a smirk.
"You need to always know where your buddy is," he instructs. "You look out for yourself and your buddy at all times. You should never be diving alone. If you're in a group of three, decide ahead of time who watches out for whom. For example, Edward, your buddy is Terry. Terry, your buddy is Jasper and Jasper's buddy is Edward. Make sense?"
"Got it," the three of us reply, hopping up onto the platform where there are actual benches. It's like an outdoor classroom in the middle of a lake.
"Edward and I are going on a boating trip with Bella at the end of the summer," Jasper starts to explain, looking at me. At my nod, he continues. "She's taking her daughter out in the Gulf for a week, and the three of us are going diving at a few places while the other couple stays on the boat to take care of Cassie. Is there anything Edward and I should be prepared for?"
"Well, you'll be with a dive master so you already have an advantage," he muses. "I'll make sure you're comfortable watching each other so she doesn't try to watch you both. In addition to that, I'll show you how to repair your dive gear in case something should break. It sucks when a trip gets ruined because your gear malfunctions."
"Thanks, man," Jasper sighs, and I nod in agreement. He likes to be prepared and wants to know as much as possible, and I don't blame him. I want this trip to be fun and relaxing for Bella, without her having to worry about the two of us.
We snorkel back to our camp platform making sure to always know where our buddy is. We stay in the water close to camp, getting use to our BCDs and regulators while using the tanks. It takes a few tries to get the hang of it and not panic or surface too fast. By the time he tells us to get out of the water, the three of us are exhausted, but comfortable.
I make tacos for dinner, which surprises them all. I already have the meat cooked from home and just wrapped it in foil so all I had to do was heat the whole thing on the grill and warm up the tortillas.
After dinner, sleep found me quickly. I didn't even notice the heat, or that I was sleeping on what Jasper described as a pool float.
I wake when apparently I was gonna turn over, but my body is protesting. I finally manage to crawl to my bag for some aspirin. Today is going to be Hell. I never realized what a workout swimming could be, and decide that I'm going to start getting in the pool more often to swim laps like Bella does.
I'm brought out of my musings by the sound of Jasper groaning, I throw the bottle of aspirin at him along with a bottle of water. He grunts out his thanks as I lay back down for a few minutes, hoping that the pain meds kick in quickly.
About an hour later, Jasper and I are both feeling better. He agrees that we need to start swimming more often. I heat up breakfast on the grill, which is the kolaches that Bella made. The three of us are moving slow and Wayne just laughs at our moans.
"If you have access to a pool, you should practice diving in it," Wayne suggests once we're geared up and sitting on the platform. "Keeps everything fresh and helps you stay in shape."
We spend the day learning everything we can about open water diving using our new slates to communicate. We only take breaks to refill our tanks, eat lunch, and to rest for an hour in between dives before getting back in the water again. After the sun sets, Wayne hands us all underwater lights and we complete a night dive. You really have to keep your bearings to know where your buddy is when it gets dark. It's a very different experience.
After we all take a shower at the guest facilities, I throw steaks on the grill along with some vegetables I sliced up.
I decide to take aspirin before bed hoping it will help with the pain. Wayne had told us at dinner that we were gonna dive once more in the morning, just to make sure that we had everything down, then he would go over the ins and outs of our gear.
It was sprinkling when we woke Sunday morning, and I'm disappointed until Wayne told us the rain didn't matter as long as it's not lightning or storming, so we're still gonna get to dive. We explore as much of the lagoon as we can in the forty-five minutes he gave us before we had to surface. Then he spends an hour showing us everything we need to know about our gear and how to repair it before we turn the tanks in and say our goodbyes.
I'm completely worn out and my body is aching when we arrive back home. Hugs greet us, and of course, I get sweet kisses from Bella. She's looking a little pale today, so I make a mental note to keep an eye on her.
During dinner, Jasper and I are bombarded with question after question about our weekend. Jasper and I both describe the experience and tell them about Wayne and Terry.
"So y'all are both comfortable with everything?" Bella probes with a small smile.
"As comfortable as can be after only one weekend," Jasper proclaims. "But we're gonna practice in the pool more. Oh, and start swimming laps because I'm not spending our boating trip in pain." He grunts as everyone chuckles at his pout.
Sleep finds me easily tonight. I guess sleeping in a tent in one hundred-degree heat makes you appreciate a soft bed and A/C even more. However, I'm awakened around one in the morning with an uneasy feeling. I lay there for a few minutes before getting up to get a drink and see if that helps. As soon as I hit the bottom step, I hear quiet sobs coming from the living room.
What I find breaks my heart. Bella's sitting on the couch sobbing while wrapped in a blanket. I'm immediately next to her, pulling her into my arms. "Pretty girl," I sigh. "What is it?"
"The pain," she chokes. "The medicine … isn't kickin' … in yet."
"Oh, babe," I mumble, hating that she is in so much pain. "What can I do to help? Do you want me to fix you some hot tea?"
"Yeah," she chokes out, still crying softly. "Thanks."
"I'll be right back, pretty girl," I assure her as I wrap the blanket a little tighter around her.
I'm standing at the stove waiting for the kettle to boil when Mac wanders in, looking alarmed. "Go snuggle Momma," I coax as he takes off toward the living room.
I finish fixing Bella's tea and carry it into the living room where she and Mac are lying on the couch. She sits up when she sees me, wincing, so I know the pain is still in full force.
It's close to three o'clock in the morning before she falls asleep against my chest. I lay us down on the couch, pulling the blanket over us hoping to get a few more hours sleep. Mac snuggles at our feet on top of the blanket.
I'm woken up by a gentle shake of my shoulder and look up to see Billy, a frown on his face. I put my finger to my lips, urging him to be quiet as I gently untangle myself and slip out from behind Bella, hoping I don't disturb her.
I find Billy in the kitchen making the coffee. "I found her sobbing around one. Does this happen often?"
He looks over at me, eyes filled with anguish. "Not too often, usually if she's doesn't get enough rest or has been overactive."
"She was in so much pain, she could barely move," I offer, taking the cup full of the hot black liquid he is handing me.
His frown deepens as he makes his own cup. "She didn't over-do it yesterday," he notes. I can tell that he is going over the previous day in his head. "She and Cassie mostly played on the splash pad. She bathed all the dogs."
"I forgot to take my pills." We turn toward the doorway to see a weeping Bella. "I'm sorry."
I hold out my hand and motion for her to come to me, pulling her onto my lap when she's close enough to reach. "Shh, pretty girl. How do you feel this morning?"
"Sore," she groans, shifting until she's comfortable. Billy gets up and pours her a glass of juice, handing it to her with her pills. He doesn't say anything, but I know we'll both be making sure she doesn't forget again.
"What's the plan for Thursday?" Billy asks, easing the tension.
"I want steak," Bella pleads, turning to me. "And those foil potatoes, oh, fireworks over the lake for Cassie, too."
The week is busy, as we get ready for the Fourth of July celebrations and for the camp the following weekend. I take Mist out riding a few times, although we don't venture far since I'm still getting use to riding and the area.
Bella is feeling better after her late night ordeal, but she doesn't miss another dose of her medicine. Billy and I make sure of that.
Alice and I are giving a few of the horses a bath when Jasper comes barreling out of the office, Bella hot on his heels. The next thing we see is Jasper's truck speeding down the dirt road. I look over to Alice, who just shrugs her shoulders, and we go back to the horses.
We have bathed five horses by the time we hear Jasper's truck coming up the road. I look up and see him pulling a huge wagon. It's one of those covered wagons you see used for hayrides at the fair.
Billy comes out of the office as Jasper pulls in front of the barn, he and Bella climb out of the truck.
"They were just gonna trash it?" Billy muses, walking over to look at the wagon. "Is there anything wrong with it?"
"Some boards are gonna need replacing," Bella prattles, clearly excited. "Old man Stephenson said that his wife thought it was an eyesore and wanted it gone. I'm just grateful that he thought of us instead of just trashing it."
"If I get the wood tomorrow ..." Jasper starts climbing up into the wagon and looking around, jumping a little to test the flooring, I assume, "... we could rebuild the inside; make bench seating and room for wheelchairs. We can design it so that they will lock down to the floor. And instead of this gate at the back, we could replace that with a ramp."
"Is the axle and frame in good condition?" Billy inquires, looking under the wagon. "We need to get some better tires."
"Rose or Jake will have to check out the axle," Jasper surmises. "I don't see anything wrong with the frame though."
Once Rose and Emmett arrive back home after visiting Heidi, she checks out the wagon and deems it in good condition. Rose also agrees with Billy about needing new tires; the ones currently on it were dry rotted, according to her.
Thursday morning after breakfast and chores, I marinate the steaks and put them in the fridge so that they'll be ready for tonight. Bella and my mother have gone into town to get fireworks.
Jasper is putting all his extra time into getting the wagon, with the help of Sam and Tyler, ready for the camp next weekend.
Another thing Bella is excited about is the jet ski Sam had brought to the ranch for her to check out. Jake and Rose have looked it over, making sure it runs good, which it does. It looks brand new and only has a few hours on it. Bella has it in the lake where she and Cassie are riding it already. She hates that Sam is having to sell it, but understands why he needs to.
Something has been bugging Bella since she and Jasper came back from Mr. Stephenson's ranch. Every time I ask her what's wrong, she would tell me that she is just thinking. I don't like the uneasy feeling those words give me, so I'm gonna resolve it today. We're in a new relationship and I don't want anything to come between us. Communication is important, and dammit, we are gonna communicate.
After lunch, everyone goes their separate ways, needing to get things done before the evening festivities. I walk into the kitchen where Bella, Sarah, and my mother are cleaning up.
"Would you ladies watch Cassie, please?" I ask my mother and Sarah. "Bella and I need to take a walk. We'll be at the lake," I state, looking at Bella pointedly, leaving no room for argument.
"Sure," Sarah whispers, glancing between Bella and me.
I lead Bella by the hand and we silently walk down to the lake. Once on the pier, I sit down and pull her gently beside me, wrapping my arm around her. She doesn't say anything, but I can tell that she's watching me out of the corner of her eye.
"I think communication, honesty, and trust are very important in a successful relationship," I address, glancing at her. "I want us to have a successful relationship, Bella. You and Cassie are my world."
"As you are ours," she vows softly.
"You're not alone anymore," I insist, pulling her closer. "If something is on your mind, I'm here to listen and help you figure it out. It would be the same if something was bugging me, I'd come to you. Let me help you figure this burden out, pretty girl."
"I apologize if you thought I was keeping something from you, that wasn't my intention," she begins quietly. "The Stephenson's were friends of my grandparents. My grandfather actually sold them the land that they live on now. They're both elderly and have no children. When Jasper and I went over there, Mr. Stephenson told me his wife has cancer. This is her second diagnosis, and she doesn't want to fight it again. She wants to live out the rest of her life in peace. He wants to give me the land. Not sell it to me, but give it to me. Those two people were there for me when I lost Mike and my dad. They have always been there for me. I just don't feel right accepting the land without them getting anything in return."
She's in tears when she finishes and I pull her onto my lap, holding her as she sobs.
"I think you're looking at it all wrong, sweetheart," I argue gently. "You're like a granddaughter to them. Who takes care of the land for them? Who makes sure they have what they need? Who fixed their roof last month when that storm blew the shingles off?"
She looks at me with wide eyes, realization shining brightly. I want to tell her how loved she is, how much I love her, but I know it's too soon, so I bite my tongue.
Bella throws her arms around my neck and kisses me hard before jumping up from my lap and pulling on my hands to get me to stand.
"Where are we going, pretty girl?" I beg as she pulls me toward the garage. "Are you kidnapping me?"
"We're going to get the Stephenson's," she declares with a soft smile. "I want them here for the holiday."
And, that's what we do. I drive over to their place, and Bella marches into their house and demands that her adopted grandparents be at dinner tonight. They both hug and kiss her before assuring her they will be there.
Emmett and Seth are gonna set off the fireworks later tonight from a floating platform they constructed and hauled out into the middle of the lake using the jet ski.
I'm getting the rest of dinner ready with the help of Angela and Sarah. The steaks are ready to go on the grill, so Angela walks around asking how each person wants theirs cooked. We're going to eat under the pavilion. It has ceiling fans, so no one will get too hot.
It's a beautiful night, so much laughing and love is being shared that it brings tears to my eyes. I tried to hide them, but my mother, always the omniscient one, wraps her arms around my waist whispering, "I know, baby, I know."
Cassie loves the fireworks, just not the noise they make. She stays in Bella's lap as they are set off, but giggles as the colors splatter above us. She's completely wiped out as Bella says her goodnights, making sure the Stephenson's are all right getting home.
The others clean up as Bella and I take Cassie to the house for the night. Bella gets her ready for bed while I take care of the dogs. Dasher is never a problem. However, the two pups can be a handful; always getting into things they shouldn't. This time, it's one of the couch pillows they chewed up. Bella walks in while I'm cleaning up their mess. She just shakes her head as she grabs the broom and dustpan.
Friday, Bella and I take Cassie riding on the trails after breakfast while it's not too hot. We spend the rest of the day playing in the pool and letting the pups run around the yard.
On Saturday, Sarah and I go grocery shopping and to the meat market. We make sure we have everything for the camp the next weekend. Bella is spending the day with Cassie, going to visit Mr. Brady. Sue told her on the Fourth of July that he isn't doing so great, and it probably won't be long before he gives up.
Sunday, Jasper, Bella, and I use the pool at the activity center to practice diving. She had ordered both my brother and I some gear and clothes for our trip and wants us to make sure that we're comfortable with it all. She even ordered us dive bags and showed us how to clean and store all our gear. I'm surprised to learn she has her own dive tanks, which makes it easier, although we will have to have them refilled before our trip.
The week is busy getting everything ready for the campers, who will be arriving on Friday. Jasper is finished with the wagon. Bella loves it, and we all love seeing her smile. Rose, Emmett, and Ben are setting up the activities while the other guys keep the chores caught up.
Bella and Billy have had a few discussions lately regarding needing more help. Bella decided to contact one of her old professors from A&M and see if he knows of anyone who would want to work on a ranch. She has all these wonderful ideas to not only carry on the legacy left to her, but to expand it even more with the horse training. With the courtyard barn already in the building phase, she knows we can't all handle the work ourselves.
Mr. Stephenson has one man who works for him that is responsible for his livestock and keeping the small barn he has in order. Bella promised him that she would keep the man employed after she takes possession of their property. Mrs. Stephenson wants everything taken care of as soon as possible because she knows she doesn't have long and doesn't want her husband to have any more burdens than he is already dealing with. I think we all know the man will be lost once his wife passes on, but Bella will be there for him.
Friday morning is full of excitement, waiting for the campers to arrive. This is the first nature camp on the ranch, and all of the children are not special needs. There were a few open spaces left, so Bella contacted Kate and she had the spaces filled within an hour.
I'm brought out of my musings as the coaches' roar up the road, coming to a stop next to the activities center. We jump into action, unloading everyone and their possessions. As soon as each family signs in, we direct them to their assigned cabins, explaining that once they've settled in to meet up with us at the pavilion.
Heidi is here for the weekend, but not as a guest, she's family now and sticking close to Rose. Because of the heat, Dasher is in his alert vest and next to Cassie. Bella wasn't taking any chances with Cassie having a seizure.
"Welcome, campers," Bella announces over the PA system as everyone gathers under the pavilion. "We're gonna have a blast this weekend. Now, who wants to learn about nature?"
Several kids scream "me" while bouncing on their feet.
"Well then, let's get to it," she laughs out at their excitement. "These two ladies" —she gestures toward Alice and Jessica— "are passing out a booklet. Over the course of the next two days, you'll get to find everything that's in that book." With so much enthusiasm among the children and parents, Bella's smile grows.
The booklets contain different animals, plants, and objects that the campers will learn about this weekend. Rose took the items and made it into a scavenger hunt of sorts with riddles. They will need to learn about the object before they can go find it.
Bella is in the process of splitting the group of kids up, three to an adult, which will be their team for the weekend. The parents can tag along or just relax at the activity center. They even have access to the pool for their enjoyment.
I'm in the middle of getting lunch in order when Cassie comes rushing into the kitchen calling out "Da." I turn to see her holding a flower up to show me, smiling brightly. "Wow, baby girl. Whatcha got there?"
"Pretty," she whispers to me as she hands me the flower.
"Let's put it in some water," I announce, reaching for a small juice glass and filling it with water for her. She sticks the flower in the glass and then shows me her booklet where there's a sticker showing that she found the flower.
I look up to the doorway when I hear sniffling. Bella is standing there with a wide smile, wiping tears from her eyes. "Hey, pretty girl, come here," I direct, pulling her into my arms when she is within reach.
"She wanted to show you the flower she found," Bella whispers into my neck.
"Thank you," I reply, softly kissing her lips quickly. "Lunch will be ready soon."
Lunch is a loud affair, hyperactive children ready to go find more stuff from their booklets and parents trying to get them to eat. Just as we're finishing up with the meal, Jasper pulls the wagon, hooked to a tractor, up next to the pavilion. Jake and Tyler climb down, lowering the ramp so that the children can be loaded up for their adventure ride through the ranch where they will make a few stops for them to find some of the other things from their booklets.
My father is loading a medical bag onto the wagon as the kids are helped on. Cassie hugs me quickly before going to stand in line for her turn to get on. I just shake my head and clean up her plate.
Once the children are on their ride, with most of the ranch staff either riding with them or following in the tour Jeep, Sarah and I clean up the pavilion with the help of a few of the parents.
I'm sitting on the edge of the pool with my feet in the water when Sarah takes a seat beside me. "Billy found a boat he thinks Bella will like," she advises with a snort. "He's gonna tell her about it next week."
"Cool." I beam, my spirits high. "I can't wait for our trip. We need to make a list of the food we need to take. And if we catch any fish, that would be great, too."
"Yeah," she agrees. "We'll work on that soon."
Emily comes to sit with us, looking tired but happy. She has her hand on her small baby bump as she splashes her feet in the pool. That's how the three of us relax until it's time to go start preparing for dinner.
Instead of firing up the huge pit, which we'll be using tomorrow, Sarah and I decide to make it easy. Therefore, we make spaghetti casseroles and lasagnas with bread and salad. It's also cheap, so we can stay within our budget.
After dinner, we all help get everyone to their respective cabins before heading to the house. I assist Bella in getting Cassie ready for bed, even reading her a story while Bella takes a shower.
When Cassie is asleep, I make my way to Bella's room to say goodnight. My breath catches as she walks out if her bathroom in a T-shirt and boxer shorts, clearly ready for bed.
I lose my filter as I step further into the room. "You're absolutely beautiful," I whisper as she turns and smiles at me, her blush spreading across her face.
"Thank you," she mumbles, wrapping her arms around herself.
"Come here, pretty girl," I murmur, pulling her into my embrace. "Don't hide from me. You are beautiful and I don't just mean your looks. I'm still trying to figure out how you hold such a big heart in such a little body."
"You sweet talkin' me, Edward?" she giggles. "'Cause if ya are, I might have to show you my appreciation."
"Hmm," I hum as her hands run up my chest. "Only if you let me appreciate you in return."
She pulls me to her bed and we both collapse, me landing on top of her. I capture her sweet lips and she moans, opening her mouth so I can deepen the kiss. I flip us so she's on top of me. I can feel her hardening nipples pressing against my chest. I turn sideways, so I can hover over her. I know I won't let this go very far, but with her in my arms, it feels so unbelievably right. I find it hard to control myself.
"Soon, pretty girl," I whisper against her lips as she sighs. "You make it easy for me to lose control."
"Edward," she whispers in response.
"I know," I pant, recovering from our intense make-out session. "I feel it, too."
Once Bella drifts off to sleep, I slip out of her bed and quietly make my way to my own room.
Soon can't come quick enough.
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