Chapter 24: Father Knows Best

"Come on, Little One," I said, sitting beside her on the floor. "I know you can at least scoot."

"She doesn't know what you're asking her to do," Bella said, coming to sit beside me. She placed her hand on my back, rubbing softly. "You can't force her to crawl, Edward."

"I'm not forcing her," I defended. "I just . . . she can do it. I know she can."

She smiled, laughing a little. "She's seven months old. That's all."

"The book said—"

She put her finger to my lips, silencing me. "I recall reading between seven and ten months. You have that seven in your head, and she might not be ready. Give her time."

I sighed, nodding reluctantly. "Fine," I told her. "Okay, Little One, no more pressure. Daddy's going to let you do whatever the hell you want."

Bella picked her up, sitting Little One in her lap. "Daddy's anxious, isn't he, sweet girl? He's afraid you're going to crawl when he isn't home."

I cocked my head, questioningly. "How do you know that?"

She smiled, shrugging. "I like to think I know you. Stop worrying about it, okay? She's not only going to crawl once. Even if you're not home the first time, she'll keep doing it when you are."

"Yeah, all right. I just want to see it, you know? You can't blame Daddy for wanting that, can you, baby girl?" I asked, tickling Sofia's belly. She giggled, giving me that little grin. Her two bottom teeth were easily visible, making her look . . . just so fucking cute. "We better get going to Grandma and Grandpa's. They're hiding something, and I want to know."

Bella stood with Little One as I grabbed the car seat and diaper bag. We buckled her in, and then headed downstairs to my car. Well, Mom's car. I seriously needed to buy my own, but I didn't want to give Tanya up. I probably would never want to, so I'd be stuck driving Mom's SUV for a while longer. Thankfully, Mom didn't seem to care.

As we drove to my parent's house, Bella said, "You know, I'm kind of nervous. I mean, I shouldn't be, right? Your parents like me."

"Bella, you brought pie," I laughed. "You'll be fine. And they do like you. A lot, actually. Dad wanted you to come."

"I know, but I can't help but wonder why."

I nodded. "Me too. Something is going on. I just know it, but I can't figure out what."

It had taken a few weeks for mine and Emmett's schedule to match up, so I figured if something really serious we're going on, they wouldn't keep it for this long. Well, I hoped so, at least. I couldn't shake the feeling in my gut that something was up. It was just how Dad acted when he asked me to come. Sure, we had family dinners before and nothing was going on, so maybe I was wrong.

. . . . .

"Oh, she looks so cute!" Mom said, taking Little One from Bella as soon as we stepped into the house. "Bella put this bow on you, didn't she? Because we all know Daddy does it crooked."

"Hey!" I said. "I'm getting better."

She and Bella just laughing, knowing I really wasn't. Poor Little One and her crooked bows. We walked into the kitchen where Rosalie was. Dad, Emmett, and Ben must have been in the living room, watching some game.

"Can I put this pie in your fridge?" Bella asked, holding it. "It's Chocolate Mousse."

Mom grinned, going to stir something on the stove as she held Little One. "Of course, dear! I bet it's delicious."

"It is," I laughed, patting my stomach. "She made an extra last night for me."

"Oh, so she's spoiling you?" Rosalie asked. "Well, I hope she manages to get you fat."

"Bitch."

She laughed, punching my arm. "I was kidding. Besides, your skinny ass can't gain weight, which is why I hate you."

"Hey, you two," Mom said. "Impressionable little girl in my arms."

I looked at Bella, finding her smiling. She looked beautiful tonight, as usual. "Do you need any help, Esme?" she asked.

"Actually, dinner is about done," Mom said. "If you'd like, you can help Rosalie set the table."

"Of course."

"I need my kid," I said, holding my hands out. "It's bottle time."

Mom kissed Little One's cheek, and then passed her over to me. Bella grabbed the pre-made bottle from the diaper bag and ran it under warm water for me. Once it was done, I brought Little One into the living room with Dad and Emmett.

"Dinner's about ready," I said, sitting down and getting Sofia situated. "How's it going?"

"Seahawks are losing . . . badly," Emmett sighed.

Dad smirked. "To be fair, I told you they would."

Emmett rolled his eyes, taking a drink of his beer. "Whatever."

"So, how's my precious granddaughter?" Dad asked, looking at Little One in my arms. "Any more teeth?"

I shook my head. "Just the two still. She hasn't crawled yet, either."

"Ben didn't crawl," Emmett said. "Just did this weird ass scoot thing. Was kinda hilarious, though."

I laughed, remembering that. "Well, she's going to crawl, and she's going to wait until I'm home to do it."

"Keep telling yourself that, son," Dad said. "I missed you and Rosalie crawling, along with first words."

"I missed Ben's first words, too," Emmett said.

I frowned, looking down at Little One who drank happily in my arms. "You'll be grounded if you do that," I said.

Once Little One finished her bottle and was burped, everyone met in the dining room for Mom's amazing roast. As usual, conversation flowed easily. Dad, Emmett, and I talked about work, as Mom told Bella to get used to it. Everything seemed fine. I'd even say great, actually. I couldn't help but still wonder what the fuck was going on and why we were having this dinner. For a moment, I began to believe I was wrong — that there was nothing going on — but then Dad cleared his throat, pulling our attention to him.

He took Mom's hand over the table and smiled. "We're so glad that you all could come tonight. Sometimes, it's just nice to have the whole family in one place. Dinner was lovely, sweetheart," he told Mom.

"Thank you," she said, smiling.

"Well, I actually do have something to tell you all."

"Is something wrong, Dad?" Rosalie asked, adjusting Ben in her lap as she fed him.

He shook his head. "Not at all. I hope you all actually find this to be good news, like your mother and I do. Later next year, I'll be stepping down as Chief of Surgery."

I let his words sink in, shocked at them. I . . . I couldn't believe what he had just said. He wasn't supposed to be retiring yet. That wasn't the plan, not even close, actually. Dad was still speaking, but I had tuned it out. "What?" I asked, interrupting him.

"I'm retiring, son," he said.

I shook my head, finding myself angry. "No. No, you said—"

He lifted his hand, stopping me. "I know what we discussed, Edward, but plans change."

"Are you kidding me?" I laughed dryly. "I can't take over for you yet. I don't have enough experience."

"No, you can't. But if you'll let me explain—"

I stood up, tossing my napkin on the table. "This is bullshit. You promised!"

"Edward!" Mom scolded, narrowing her eyes at me.

I pushed my chair back and left the room, heading out back to the patio. I was pissed. When I took my job here, he promised that once he retired, I'd take over for him. That wasn't supposed to be for five or six more years, at the least. If he retired now, I wouldn't get the job. Fuck, Emmett would probably get it, which was complete bullshit.

I paced the patio for a good five minutes before the door opened. I turned my head, finding Dad coming out. I ran my hand through my hair, looking back out toward the forest as I tried to contain my anger.

"You lied to me," I said.

"Plans change, Edward, and you acting like a spoiled brat won't help anything."

I looked back at him, narrowing my eyes. "I'm your son! It should be my job."

"It's not your right, son. Now, sit down and let's talk like adults, all right?" He sat down in one of the patio chairs and motioned for me to join him. I leaned back against the railing for a moment, and then sighed, coming to sit next to him.

"Why?" I asked. "Who gets the job? Emmett?"

"I'm not sure yet. I won't lie to you — he's my choice — but it's the board's decision. Edward, it's time for me to step down. I've worked hard my entire life. I didn't have anything given to me, like you did."

I scoffed. "I didn't ask for this job here."

"You're right, but I gave it to you. You are an exceptional surgeon, which is why, but you're my son. That certainly didn't hurt you. My point is that I've worked hard. I'll be sixty next year, and I want to enjoy my life. I . . . went to the doctor a few weeks ago."

I straightened up in the seat, creasing my brow. "Dad, are you okay?"

He nodded, waving me off. "I'll be fine. I had been having chest pains, and you know how your mother is. Anyway, my blood pressure is through the roof, but I'm taking medication and working to reduce my stress. My job is stressful, Edward. You can't even begin to understand that. I'm always at work, and when I'm not, I'm bringing work home with me. I'm ready to slow down. Financially, I can. I need to, son. I want to be there to see my grandchildren grow up, and if I keep going like I am, I won't. I want to be able to devote time to your mother, which she deserves."

"What medication did he put you on? How's your cholesterol?"

"Edward, I'm fine. Don't worry about that. I didn't plan for this, okay? I fully believed I'd be working for at least another five years when I told you what I did. I didn't lie to you. I'm sorry if you feel I did, but at this point in my life, I need to think about me. Do you understand that?"

I ran my hands over my face, sighing. "I want that job, Dad."

"You can't have it," he said simply. "Someday, I know you'll make an excellent chief, but you're not ready."

"And Emmett is? Because, honestly, I really don't agree with that."

He shrugged. "I'm not sure, but I have a year to show him the ropes. I'm going to start handing certain responsibilities to him, so that it'll take some stress off of me. If by the time I retire the board doesn't believe he's up for the job, they'll probably bring someone new in. I'm not doing this to hurt you."

I nodded reluctantly. "Yeah, I know."

"You're an exceptional surgeon, and I believe that if you wanted, you could get a job wherever you'd like. I hope you stay here, though. This community needs you, and this family needs you."

"I'm not going anywhere, at least right now. I have Sofia to worry about and . . . I can't do that to Bella. I love her, and I'm not leaving her."

He smiled. "Look at you, son! Since you moved here, you've grown up. You've become a father, a boyfriend, a man. I'm so proud of you. Honestly, I wanted to hand this job to you someday. It was a dream of mine, but things change. I hope you can understand why I'm doing this."

"I do, Dad. I don't like it, but I do. You're not going to keel over on me, are you? Because that would seriously fucking suck." I smirked.

He laughed, shaking his head. "No, I'm not going anywhere. And knowing me, stepping down as chief won't keep me from working in some form. I just need to take a step back and slow down."

"Good. I'm . . . sorry for acting like a child."

"I believe I said spoiled brat, but that works, too. Now, you need to go apologize to your mother for what you did at the dinner table. I believe we have pie to eat, yes?"

I stood up with him, nodding. "And it's delicious."

He patted my back. "I bet. Thank you for understanding."

After I apologized to Mom, I went with Bella into the kitchen to get the pie and plates out. I could just tell she was pissed at me, which I understood. I hadn't acted so childish in a long time, and I did regret it.

"I'm sorry," I said, moving behind her. "How I acted was wrong, and I hope maybe we can talk about it later?"

She turned in my arms and nodded. "Yeah, of course. Are you okay?"

"I am, just a little bummed, I guess. I wanted to be chief someday, but that's probably not going to happen now, especially if Emmett gets the job."

"Well, if it helps at all, I'm sure you would have been amazing." She smiled. "I love you."

I leaned down, pressing my lips to hers as I caressed behind her ear. "I love you, too," I said as we parted.

. . . . .

Once we got home, Bella came with into my apartment — where she had basically been living for the past few weeks. Little One passed out in the car, so I put her down in her crib and went into the living room with Bella. She had tossed her shoes to the floor and had her legs folded under her as she smiled up at me. I sat down beside her, and pulled her into my arms.

"So, that was an interesting dinner," she said.

I laughed softly. "Very, and I certainly didn't see that coming. I am sorry for blowing up like I did and just leaving you in there."

"That was kind of bad. You reminded me of one of my students." She smirked.

"My dad called me a spoiled brat, if you can believe that."

"Oh, I can because you acted like one."

"Ouch," I laughed.

"Are you okay, Edward?" she asked as her eyes held a sympathetic look. "I know it upset you."

I nodded. "It pissed me off, but after talking to him, I understand where my dad is coming from. Did you know that throughout medical school he held a job because my grandparents were still pissed at them for eloping? He had to support himself and my mother, even while working his ass off in school. He's worked hard his entire life, so he deserves to retire early. It's not what I want, but I get it."

"You could always . . . get another job, couldn't you?"

"I could, but I don't want to. If in a few years a better opportunity presents itself, I'll think about it. But right now, I'm where I want to be. He's right, you know. I'm not ready for that job. I still don't think Emmett is either, but he's a better choice than me, I guess," I sighed.

"If in a few years you want a different job, I'll follow you."

I cocked my head, surprised at her words. "What?"

"Well, we're still just starting, but I love you and I want you to be happy. We shouldn't even talk about it yet, but I felt like I needed to say that. Let's drop it, okay?"

I smiled, kissing her neck. "You think you'll want to be with me forever?"

She blushed, nibbling on her lip. "I don't know. Maybe."

I moved my lips to hers, pulling her bottom lip free and kissing her. "I think I want to be with you forever, too."

. . . . .

The next morning, I put Little One on the floor after giving her baby food. As she played, I drank my coffee and watched the news, finding it boring as hell. Bella had to work, but I had the day off so I kept Sofia with me instead of taking her to daycare. When I looked down at her, I about chocked on my coffee.

I watched as she gathered her knees under her and crawled. It was honest to god crawling, even though it didn't quite look right. Still, she was moving, thrusting herself forward along the floor.

"Holy shit," I said, setting my mug down and getting on the floor next to her. Suddenly, she stopped and laid down on her belly. "No, no, I saw you, Little One. Don't be all shy now! I need my phone."

I hurried off the floor and grabbed it from the end table, pulling up my video camera. "Come on, baby girl. Bella will want to see this. Just crawl a little more."

Yeah, I was begging, but my kid just fucking crawled! I laughed, continuing to try and coerce her into doing it again. I took one of her toys and put it out in front of her, hoping she'd go for it. She did. I even got it on camera. Fuck yes, my kid crawled. Screw that book saying seven to ten months. Little One did it at seven, just like I knew she would.

"That's my girl," I said, picking her up off of the floor. "I knew you could do it."

I kissed her cheek over and over, making her giggle. I texted the video to Bella, Mom, and Dad, because seriously, Little One just fucking crawled. Everyone needed to know this shit.