New Beginnings

Chapter 4

I can't believe my Sophia is getting married today.

I thought the day that Steven came and asked for her hand in marriage might be his last day on earth.

I'll remember it forever.

"Mom, dad, I'm bringing Steven home with me at Christmas this year, I hope it's OK." Sophia had asked on her weekly Skype session.

"Why? And who is this Steven?" Edward spat his name like it was venom.

"Dad! I've been telling you about Steven for 2 years now!" Sophia pouted.

"Well, I don't recall a Steven!" he protested.

"Dad!" Sophia protested.

This went on for 30 minutes of the Skype call before Edward agreed to let Steven come home with her at Christmas.

Christmas break arrives and as Sophia is taking a shower in her room, yes Edward made them stay in separate rooms, even though they were in graduate school, Steven joined us in the kitchen and declared his love for our daughter. He asked for her hand in marriage.

I thought Edward was going to stroke and ruin the surprise, I almost had to smack him.

I felt bad for Steven because Edward was being as ass.

Steven really was a nice guy. Much nicer than Baylee's husband and Steven was going to be a surgeon!

He didn't even have a problem when Charlene came out and told us she was gay, so I had to set him straight on Steven and made him apologize.

"Sorry Steven, Sophia is my baby girl and I was always extra protective of her. And since I don't really know you it's hard." Edward apologized.

"AndifBellawouldallowitI'dcallgrandpaandrunabackgroundcheck" he mumbled before kicking the counted and walking out the back door.

"Ugh! I'm so sorry Steven. These men are so protective of their daughters." I shook my head and hugged him and welcomed him to the family.

As I helped Sophia into her dress I smiled.

Her and Steven had decided to move closer to us, Steven had taken a job at the hospital with Edward and given him permission a couple of years ago to run that background check.

"You know, if I want to come work for you sir, you'll have to run one anyway." He shook Edward's hand after he'd proposed to Sophia. And of course Sophia was a lot like me and blew up at her father at the time.

"Mom, why are you all smiles?" she asked.

"Think back on when Steven proposed." I smiled at her.

"Ugh! Dad and his stupid 'background' check." She laughed.

"Yeah." Baylee and Charlene joined in on the laughter.

"I didn't have to worry about that." Charlene boasted.

"Of course not! You've got another woman!" Baylee snapped. She and her sister didn't see eye to eye on that, more like Baylee's husband, so therefore, Baylee. I'm so glad she didn't have children, as much as I'd love to have grandchildren from her, not with him!

The door cracked open and speak of the devil.

"Bay, come here!" he yelled and her head dipped. Oh hell no! This is NOT my daughter. I followed her.

"What the fuck are you wearing? There's nothing there! Do you want all the men looking at your fat ass?" he snapped in a low menacing tone.

"My sister picked these out. I didn't have a say Jon!" she whispered.

"Don't take that tone with me!" he snapped again. "You'll pay tonight." He huffed and walked away.

As she turned to close the door I stood with my arms crossed, I knew he was as ass, but not abusive.

"You will NOT be going with him! You'll be coming home with dad and me." I stated.

"No mom. It'll make it worse." She shivered.

"Babe, I know what you're going through. We need to have a talk tonight. Trust me." I wrapped her in my arms tightly. But right now it's about Sophia, so let's smile." I kissed her temple.

I pulled out my cellphone and tapped out a text for my son to join us.

"Mom, what's up?" Blayne asked.

My son, he was handsome, smart and given me twin grandbabies.

Michael and Michelle they were 2 and although we didn't get to see them a lot since they lived in Texas, he was in the Army, we just went to them several times a year and when he went on deployment they'd come stay with us, so his wife Cathy didn't have to be on base alone. She was a great fit to our family as well.

"Blayne, I need you to get Uncle Emmett and get Baylee's low life husband out of her quietly. Don't let dad know, get him in here first. He's liable to beat the shit out of him. Got it. And do it NOW! Thanks." I kissed his cheek and gave him the 'I'll explain later look'.

Edward came in looking confused.

"Why do you need me?" he asked.

"We need to get ready, it's almost time for you to walk your daughter down the aisle silly." I thought you might want a few moments alone." I hugged him tightly.

"Bella…" he warned.

"No." I stopped him. "Later."

He sighed and shook his head.

I smiled and kissed him.

"Be with your daughter." I placed a hand on his cheek, took a few pictures of my own and peeked out the door.

Blayne gave me a thumbs up.

We stood in the back until it was time to go to our seats.

The wedding was perfect, I cried like a baby, Edward held me and calmed me down.

The reception was perfect and went off without a hitch, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect family for Sophia to marry into.

Steven's family was a little more refined than ours, but not a lot. Not to the point where they couldn't have fun. They were just all doctors and lawyers and I mean every single one of them. I think there were a couple of Wall Street traders and high end accountants.

I saw Baylee arguing on her phone and knew it had to be Jon, especially when her head went into a submissive pose, one I remember all too well, even after all these years. I knew this is why she didn't come around a lot and 'worked' all the time, even if they did live a few towns over.

I knew the signs all too well I lived them for too many years.

"Bay, come on, let's go home and talk. Sophia and Steven are getting ready to leave." I hugged her close.

"Mom…" she tried to warn like her dad.

"No, we need to talk." I put on my mom voice.

We sent off the newlyweds and then wished everyone a goodnight, sighting Baylee had a headache.

I told Edward to stay and enjoy what he paid for.

He gave me a look and I shook my head.

We drove home in silence and when we got home I instructed Baylee to take a nice hot shower to relax herself while I changed and made some hot tea. I'd already set the alarm so I felt safe, so I washed up quickly, knowing Baylee took long showers.

I made our tea and waited for her to come down.

"OK, what's so important mom?" she said sitting beside me on the couch.

"Let me start by telling you what happened to me… It was pretty and in the end, you will be divorcing Jon. I don't care if you move back in with your dad and I or we help you get a place of your own. But this will end after tonight." I stated firmly.

"His name was James and he used to hit me, starve me and keep me from my family… Sound familiar?" I asked.

I looked at Baylee and she had tears streaming down her face.

"He abused me for years Bay, I'd almost given up. Rose helped save me…" I went on to tell her everything and even showed her the pictures of my abuse that we'd kept, I don't know why, maybe incase this ever happened to one of our own.

But by the end of the night she was ready to call the lawyers.

I called Edward and he was home in a flash.

We called together the family, always did.

Filed for divorce, waited until the asshole went to work, took all of Baylee's things, Emmett shredded 90% of his things and when Baylee check their account she was amazed at the amount of money in there. She took her 50% and we moved her back into her old room for now.

All our children were doing great for themselves.

Blayne was an officer in the Army with no interest in leaving anytime soon and his wife was fine with that, she'd grown up and Army brat.

Charlene and her partner ran a successful coffee shop/art gallery in downtown Seattle.

Sophia and Steven had been married for three years now and had given me little Kayla. She was quiet and shy, Steven's mom said Steven had been like that when he was little and although Sophia was quiet, she was never shy. So this was new for Edward and me.

I watched her while they worked and I loved it, I spoiled her to the ends of the earth. Rose and I took her everywhere, because Rose watched a couple of her grandchildren as well.

Baylee was now on her own, her ex had left the area, with heavy persuasion and she'd met a nice guy at her new job since she'd moved back to town.

He worked with Emmett and was actually a few years older and divorced too.

He had a daughter who was 10 and the sweetest thing, she loved Baylee immediately. I guess her mother had been abusive.

I was just happy all my children were happy and safe.

And I had most of them close.

I was very blessed with my family.

AN:

Thanks for taking this ride with me…

I hope you all enjoyed it!

Sorry it took so long for the final chapter…

I had to get it just right though, I can't leave it half-assed, it'd bother me…

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