Chapter 41 - Christmas & Changing Plans

EDWARD

Christmas had always held a mystifying wonder for me. As a child, I woke early rushing to my parents' room, jumping up in bed with them, and pestering them to get up as Santa had come in the night. We would wonder down to the living room where I would tear through all my presents, oohing and aahing over all the toys. Even as a teenager, I woke with the same rush to see if my childlike wishes were fulfilled, but I had learned patience. Although, I had secretly wished to jump in bed with my parents and beg them to get up.

As an adult rushing wasn't the order of the day. I arrive at my parents around noon, we'd eat Christmas dinner, play games, and open gifts. It was more important to spend time together than to get straight to presents.

As a married man and father-to-be, Christmas took on a new meaning. The childhood excitement was back, patience being fed to the dogs once again. Not that I had patience in spades, to begin with. All I wanted from the moment I awoke was to shake Bella awake. Glancing at the clock, I saw it was on six in the morning. I had gone to bed long after Bella and was up before her.

Maybe my excitement was from already being in Forks and at my parents' house, and not being on the road. I shook my head, nah. It was most definitely being able to spend it with Bella.

Slipping out of bed, I made my way to the kitchen to make breakfast. Bella had prepped homemade cinnamon rolls and her note card was still on the counter. Reading it, I found the oven temperature and how long to bake them. Her homemade red and green icing was in the refrigerator, so I pulled it out along with the eggs and sausage. By the time Bella walked into my parents' kitchen, I had scrambled eggs and sausage on the plate with a cinnamon roll for her. Plates were warming in the oven for my parents and Charlie.

She stopped in her tracks when she saw the plate on the breakfast bar. "Uh," she said, looking over at me.

With a half-smile, I replied, "You're not the only one who can follow instructions and have been known to cook on occasion." I winked at her. "So, I thought I'd whip up breakfast for everyone."

"Thank you." She kissed my cheek when I sat next to her.

BELLA

The smells of cinnamon greeted me as I came down the stairs, I wondered if Edward threw the rolls in the over. Baby Swan–since I refused to use his father's last name of Black and Cullen was unthinkable, though I hadn't ruled it out–kicked enthusiastically as my mouth watered. I couldn't help but chuckle. Baby Swan kicked often, and it didn't matter if it involved food or not.

Edward had his back to me when I entered the kitchen. Momentary surprised washed over me I saw a plate of food on the breakfast bar and him preparing another. I had told Esme last night, I would make breakfast. This was a nice surprise. Until this moment, I didn't even know Edward could cook. He had thrown a steak or three on the grill, but that wasn't cooking in my book. All he had to do was time the flip right and sit back and wait. The same went for tossing a frozen meal in the oven or microwave. Cooking involved actively working with the ingredients to make a meal.

Edward and I were still alone in the kitchen. I could hear someone moving around upstairs, but they had yet to grace us with their presence.

"You know, I'm going to expect you to cook more often."

He turned smiling eyes on me. "You can hold me to it and helping out around the house in other ways too. And, for the record, I never expected you to do all the cooking and cleaning, love. Yes, it's been nice coming home with dinner ready to go on the table, however I would like to be your sous-chef from time to time."

My eyes fell to the countertop. I was a little ashamed I hadn't thought of that. The skills I learned cooking and baking came from helping Grandma Swan in the kitchen.

"Hey," he said, lifting my chin up. "Don't beat yourself up. I love the fact you take care of me and our home." Edward leaned toward me, nipping my lips.

~~ Reaching for Love ~~

With hours until dinner, everyone gathered in living room. Carlisle put a CD of classical Christmas music in as the rest of us settled around a folding table. It was kind of strange sitting at a card table among all the sparkling opulence and evident wealth around me. Not that the Cullens care about the money or what anyone thought. And from what I've heard from Edward, the people of Forks didn't care either.

Esme had brought out a stack of games the night before. Both Dad's and Edward's eyes strayed to the small pile of gifts under the tree as I selected a game.

RENEE

I recognized Charlie the moment I saw him at the grocery store. What the hell was he doing in Forks? Then I saw Isabella and understanding came. Our daughter married into the wealthiest family in the town… the Cullens.

"Maybe the baby the girl carries isn't important. Ransoming her and the brat would get us money faster," I explained to Felix.

The appreciative growl on the other end of the phone was all the thanks I needed. I hung up, not wanting to be on the phone too long.

New plans needed to be made and supplies stolen.