Chapter Eleven: Do I Look Alright?

Bella's POV

"Look at you!" My mother gushed when we went into the main house after getting ready for Trick or Treating. She came over and spun Ava around some, getting a better look at her granddaughter. "You're the cutest Minnie Mouse I have ever seen."

"Thanks, Nana!" She squealed. "Pappy! Look!" She yelled as Dad came downstairs. His eyes widened as he looked at her, and started to laugh as she molded her costume. "How do I look?"

"Way too cute to be Minnie." He smiled as he ruffled her hair, like he did when I was little. He walked over to mom and gave her a kiss before grabbing the camera. "Picture time!"

Ava and I spent too much time taking pictures for them, but Mom had always been that way. She always told us we'd want to remember the little stuff, even if we didn't care at the time. The picture taking got a little obsessive after my Grandma Jane was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. But, in a way I understood that. She never wanted to forget my fifth birthday party of Ava dressed as Minnie.

And, neither did I.

"I just wish there was someone to take a shot of all of us," She winder to Dad when she finally let us stop.

"Mr. Masen is coming with us tonight, maybe he could do it." Ava told them as Mom handed her the pillow case to collect candy with.

"Ava, why don't you go to the bathroom before he gets here so you aren't complaining about it halfway through." I laughed. she handed me the pillow case and ran upstairs. Mom and Dad stared at me in confusion since I hadn't told them Edward was coming with us. Or, about Edward at all for that matter. "What?"

"Her teacher is going Trick or Treating with you two?" Mom asked as she crossed her arms. "Let me just take a wild guess...he's not just her teacher anymore. Is he?"

"Well, kind of." I shrugged. "I mean, we've been on a few dates."

"Bella, is this a good idea?" Dad asked as he sat down on the coffee table. "I mean, he is her teacher."

"Yeah, he's not my teacher." I pointed out. "Look, we're seeing where things go. I mean, we could end up not liking each other in that way at all."

"What if you do?" Mom asked. "Like each other in that way?"

"Right now, I don't know." I told them honestly. "He seems like a genuine guy and may I remind you that I haven't...wanted to get to know anyone since Jacob." I said. "And, Ijust like having someone around who understands that I'm a mom. He isn't pressuring me to do anything I'm not ready for and he gets that Ava comes first."

"Bells," Dad started as the doorbell rang. I shot up out of my seat to answer it before anyone else could. I laughed when I saw him through the window in the front door and opened it for him.

"Hi, Mr. Masen!" Ava screamed as she came downstairs. She walked over to us and just stared up at us two. "Can we go now?" She wined.

"Be patient, baby." I laughed. "Hi," I smiled as I looked up at Edward again.

"You look lovely." He whispered. "Ava, you might cuter than you were at school today."

"Thanks," She sighed, tapping her foot. She picked that up from my mother. "Now?"

"Yes, now." I laughed as I handed her the pillow case. "Oh, can you take a picture of the four of us? Mom wants a group shot."

"Sure," He said without hesitation. I smiled as I shut the door when he walked into the house. Mom handed him the camera and we crowded around the wall decoration. I put both hands on Ava's shoulders while my parents snuggled close to each other. Edward took the picture and Ava took my hand, pulling me towards the front door.

"I think it's time to go," I laughed.

"Well, that or you get your arm torn off." He joked as he followed us out of the house.

Ava dragged us up and down the streets in our small neighborhood until every porch light was turned off. Edward was amazed at how long she was able to stay out, considering most of the kids her age had called a quits within forty-five minutes. But, Halloween was always her favorite holiday, even over Christmas, and she was determined to get the most out of it.

By the time we had to start walking back though, she was exhausted. And, she had managed to get five streets over from our house, meaning there was a long walk in front of us.

"Here, sweetie." Edward offered as he knelt down. "Get on my back." He told her. I smiled as she climbed on his back and from that moment, I knew we could tell Ava about us being more than friends. She adored him as a teacher and I had a feeling she would adore him outside of school too.

Not only did Ava like him, he was completely in love with her too. Not many men would agree to come with us and then let her get on his back. His love for children went beyond the classroom and that really shined when he came to the hospital to visit her, and when he said yes to tonight.

I rubbed her arm in appreciation and we began walking back. From her heavy breathing, I could tell she had fallen asleep on his back and I couldn't help but laugh. The girl could fall asleep anywhere, which was good because I never had to worry if she'd get enough sleep outside of her own bed.

"Come on, I'm just going to put her in her bed." I whispered as I opened the side door to the garage. Edward carried her up the steps and followed me into her room. He gently sat down on the edge of her bed, and I carefully removed her grip on him and laid her down. I pulled a blanket over her for the time being while I talked to Edward.

"Tonight was fun," He told me as I started a pot of coffee. "I didn't have siblings, so I never got to take anyone Trick or Treating."

"Well, I'm really glad you were here." I laughed. "This was the first Halloween she made it the whole time and I really didn't want to bother my parents to come get us."

"I'm glad I was here too," He whispered, reaching across the table and grabbing my hand. "Bella,"

"I think it's okay to tell Ava now." I blurted out. "She..she loves you and I can tell how much you care about her. You understand that if we don't last, it'll hurt her too and I don't meet many guys like that."

"I'll be ready to tell her whenever you are." He assured me. "Bella, I'm in. I understand Ava will always come first, and I wouldn't want it any other way. I just," He paused. "I just want a part in your life."

"Me too," I whispered. "I should go get her out of her costume and get her ready for bed." I told him. "We'll talk more tomorrow?"

"How about I take you both to dinner on Friday?" He suggested. "We'll go to her favorite restaurant."

"I'd like that a lot." I giggled as we stood up. I walked him downstairs and hugged him tightly before he left and got into his car. I leaned up against the door for a few seconds before going back upstairs to get my daughter ready for bed. I got her bath started before waking her up again.

It was a typical night. Ava played in the bath while I washed and conditioned her beautiful curls. Got her into her PJ's and Mom came over to read to her. I snuggled with her while Mom read Green Eggs and Ham. Once Ava's eyes were drooping, Mom kissed her goodnight and left while I hugged and kissed her, before saying our small prayer together.

"I love you, Ava." I whispered as I pushed the hair out of her face.

"I love you more, Mommy." She smiled as I pulled her blankets up. I gave her one last kiss before getting up and walking to the door. I looked at her one more time before gently shutting the door. Since it had been such a long night, I decided to just change into my PJ's early and read for a while before going to sleep.

I got up early the next morning and made Ava eggs and toast instead of the usual toasted bagel. Things were just going so...well lately and I was honestly just happy. By the time the toast was popping up, it was time to get Ava up. She was excited to see Eggs at her spot at the table and tug in while I used the detangler on her hair.

"Ow, Mommy!" She complained as I brushed through a few knots in her hair.

"Sorry, baby." I laughed. "I think you get these curls from your Daddy." I told her since most of the women in my family had thinner, wavier hair. But, even though it was a lot tougher to care for, she looked so beautiful with her ringlets surrounding her face. I was glad she got that from Jake.

After her hair was curled and in a headband, I told her to go brush her teeth while I picked her an outfit to wear. Once she was done, she came and got dressed without complaining about what I'd picked out for once. I usually had to pick out two or three outfits before she finally decided to wear one.

"Folders?" I asked as she grabbed her backpack. She nodded and I went through the rest of the morning checklist. She was well prepared that morning so we actually had a chance to say hi to my parents before getting into the car.

"By, Nana!" She called as she stormed into the kitchen. "Bye Pappy!"

"Goodbye, sweet pea." My Dad laughed as he hugged her tightly. He was the last person I expected to show this much love and affection for. I knew my Dad loved me to death, but he showed it very differently when I was Ava's age. It was nice to see this side of him.

"We'll see you after school." Mom assured her since it was my day to work in the afternoon at the shop. She gave them each one last hug before it was time to leave for school. She jumped in her booster seat while I got into the front. We drove the short distance to the school and she waited patiently for me to get myself out of the car to hold her hand to go inside.

I figured once she was a little older, I'd be able to just drop her off at the door and watch her go inside. But, with the kindergardeners and first graders, most parents walked them into the school. The teachers never minded and Ava was comforted when she got to hug me goodbye in her class room.

When we got there, most of the kids were already seated and Edward was helping one of them with something. He looked up and smiled at me before Ava went over to greet him.

"Hi," He smiled once the child he was helping got what he was saying.

"Hey," I sighed as another kid walked into the room.

"Hi, Bella. Mr. Masen." Jessica greeted, batting her eye lashes at Edward. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her. She would flirt with anybody and she was married with three kids.

"So, today is my parents day to pick her up." I reminded since I was never there Thursday. "I have to work late."

"I know," He whispered. "I always know when it's Thursday...there isn't anything to look forward to in the afternoon." He said, winking at me. I gently slapped his arm as the bell rang. I said my goodbyes to him and Ava before leaving the room.

After driving home, I made myself some breakfast and jumped in the shower before work. When it was ten o'clock, I grabbed my keys, says goodbye to Dad, and drove over to the boutique.

"Hi, Mrs. Hale." I smiled as I walked through the door. The store was busy for so early in the morning, but November and December were always the craziest months with people trying to stay on top of their Christmas shopping. I headed to the small back room to put my things away and grab a cup of coffee until my shift officially started.

"Mike?" I asked when I saw him and Rosalie sitting on the couch. "What are you doing here?"

"Heidi and I got into a fight," He sighed. "And, she kicked me out of the apartment."

"I told you she was out of your league." Rosalie taunted. Rosalie and Mike were step siblings, but they were friends way before their parents decided to get married. But, since Rosalie was his 'older sister' (Only by four months) she declared it her right to badger him, but when it really counted, they were there for each other.

"Yea, bite me." Mike barked. "I need more guy friends."

"You really do." I agreed as I checked my watch. "I need to go clock in. Lunch, Rose?"

"Yeah, I have to meet a client not, but I'll meet you out front." She told me as she grabbed her coat. Rosalie worked at a local interior design company and she was quickly working her way to the top. She was the one who helped my parents decorate the garage apartment, which inspired her to go to art school.

I was proud to call her one of my best friends.

"I'm sure you guys will work everything out." I told Mike, giving him a smile. They'd been dating for a few years now, but I thought it was time he moved on. She wasn't good for him and when I saw them together, she mostly abused him. Mentally and physically. I loved Mike like a brother, and hated seeing him like this.

She kicked him out of their apartment more than a good girlfriend should.

"Thanks, Bells." He sighed as he stood up and kissed my cheek. "I'll see you later." He whispered and walked out. I took one last sip of coffee before going into the store front and helping a woman who had just walked in.

"Hello!" I called through the main house when I got home that night. I could hear my Dad and Ava in the kitchen, hard at work on her math homework for the night. I smiled when I saw both of them with their heads in the book. "What are you two doing?"

"Math," Ava groaned. We were alike in many ways, and our hatred for math was one of those things we agreed on. "But, Pappy is helping me."

"Be sure to thank him." I smiled as I grabbed a mug from the cupboard. If there was one thing I knew they would always have ready in my parents house, it was coffee. Every time I was here there always seemed to be a fresh pot ready, and it'd been that way since I was Ava's age.

Thursday was always the night we had dinner in the main house, and I always made it with Moms help. The two of us had been cooking together since I was twelve, and I hoped it was something I would later do with Ava. My dad and Ava played with her kitchen set in the living room while mom and I cooked our real dinner.

It was a tradition I hoped to carry on, even after Ava and I were moved out.

Once dinner was ready, Ava said the prayer for us and we dug in. It had been a long day for everyone, so we kept it simple. Chicken and fresh mashed potatoes.

"How was work, sweetie?" Dad asked as he took a bite of salad.

"Good," I smiled. Mrs. Hale was a wonderful boss and I was so thankful to her for offering the job to me when I got pregnant. I would have been screwed if it weren't for her and Rosalie. "Mike was there this morning."

"He hasn't been around much," Mom observed. She always liked Mike and was quite upset when I started dating Tyler sophomore year rather than Mike.

"He has his own life." I shrugged. "Plus, he's been having major girl problems."

"That Heidi girl is trouble." Dad told me. "I've pulled her over for dangerous driving more times than I can count. And she wasn't very pleasant either."

"Who is when getting pulled over?" I laughed. "She isn't good for him. I wished he would just end it."

"Mommy!" Ava interrupted just as Mom was about to say something else. But, this is what it was like when we all had dinner together. We tried to have a conversation and Ava would feel left out, so she'd pipe in. I got used to it after a while, but I still wished she'd learn to wait.

"Yes, Ava?" I asked.

"I got a sticker on my spelling test!" She squealed. "One of the big ones too!"

"That's fantastic, baby!" I smiled as I hugged her from my seat. "See, I knew you could do it."

"Mr. Masen said I had the best in the class." She announced. "Can we hang it on the fridge?"

"Of course, Ava." I told her as the doorbell rang. I put my napkin back on the table and got up to answer it while my parents kept Ava talking. I thought it would be one of the neighbors, or even Alice...but I was not expecting who was on the doorstep to be there.

"Jake," I breathed. "What...why are you here?"

"Hi, Bella." He smiled. "I moved to Seattle."