As Halloween approaches, Edward hits me with the big news. He's being stationed in Virginia for the next four years. It's a blow for us, but he's excited about the new opportunity, and I can't help but be enthusiastic and supportive of his new role.
On the outside, I'm the epitome of a supportive military girlfriend, but inside, I'm a mess. I'm trying to keep my shit together while also trying to help Rose plan her wedding and be happy as Jasper and Alice cement their relationship by moving in with each other.
He's leaving soon, and I want to spend as much time with him as possible. Rose has given me all the time in the world to beg off of MOH duties, and Alice has gladly picked up the slack. Edward has already found a place to live, and I'm doing a virtual tour of the house as I sit at work, trying to get to the end of my day.
I'm startled by a knock on my office door. When I look up, I see a smiling Ben hovering in the entryway.
"Are you busy? Can I come in?" he asks with one of those Ben smiles I truly liked.
I wave him inside. "Of course. What can I do for you?"
He takes a seat opposite my desk and smiles. "I hear you were looking for a transfer. Is that true?"
I hesitate but only because the reason I'm looking for a transfer is the reason I broke things off with the man sitting across from me right now. "I am. I wasn't exactly sure where I was heading, but it looks like Virginia." I want to leave this as open as possible.
"I might know of an opening coming up soon. It won't be available for another few months, and that's if everything falls into place," Ben proceeds to tell me about someone leaving our company to go to corporate and some restructuring among the smaller branches, leaving a spot open in Richmond. "I don't know where you're thinking of settling, but it could be an option."
I'm a little stunned to say anything for a few minutes. He doesn't owe me anything, but isn't this just like Ben? To be so kind and forward, so helpful. "Thank you. I really appreciate this. I think the Norfolk area is going to be the home base or roundabouts. Why are you telling me?"
Ben shrugs. "Nothing bad happened between us. You were honest with me the entire time we dated, and I value that. Plus, the Richmond branch would be really lucky to have someone like you."
"Thank you, Ben. Seriously." I stand up and walk around the desk to hug him. As he pulls away, Edward walks in, clad in uniform.
"This must be the reason for the move. Edward?" Ben extends his hand to my boyfriend, and Edward grasps his firmly.
"Ben? Nice to meet you." His eyes dart over to me as they shake hands.
"He was just telling me about a potential opening in Richmond," I offer, trying to clear the air but realizing there isn't any tension here.
"Oh! That's amazing. Thank you." Edward is a little more enthusiastic, and Ben laughs.
"For sure. All right, I better get back to work. See you later, Bella. Nice to meet you." Ben waves as he walks out, and I turn to Edward.
"Hi." We both say at the same time.
"Can I spring you outta here a little early? Mom and Carlisle want to take us to dinner," he says, and I round back to my desk to check the time.
"Probably. I thought we were doing lunch and dinner tomorrow with your dad?" I ask as I shoot a quick email to my boss, letting him know I'm leaving for my long weekend. Edward has his pinning ceremony tomorrow, and his family's in town. It's a big deal.
"Ceremony and stuff with Dad tomorrow. Mom and Carl wanted a night with us alone," he says with a shrug, and I smile.
"And your sister? Where is she?" Edward's sister, Chelsea, is actually his half-sister. A product of the marriage between his mother, Esme, and his stepfather, Carlisle.
"Chels is with her boyfriend. He came with her, and I already don't like him." Edward growls slightly, and I have to remind him that his little sister is 22. Plenty old enough to make her own decisions and her own mistakes.
"Come on, let's go home." I drag him out of my office.
With Edward leaving in a few months, he's moved in with me. It's nice, but I know it'll make me sad and make my condo feel so empty when he finally leaves. Once we get home and changed, we meet up with his mom and Carlisle at our favorite little Italian place where they now know our names.
After we've ordered and spent some time playing twenty questions, Esme pulls out the big guns. "Have you talked about getting married?" It's an innocent enough question, even from a prying mother.
The truth is that Edward and I have talked about it … we're just not sure where we've landed on the subject.
He's explained to me the idea that there is a pay bump for getting married, and there are some benefits that I would be entitled to, but it's still the decision to make a lifelong commitment to each other.
"Mom, I already told you that we've talked about it. Can I get pinned and settled into being a Chief in a new city before we move forward in my personal life?" Edward reaches for my hand under the table and squeezes my fingers.
Carlisle thumps the table. "He's right, Es. He needs to establish himself in his new duty station. They've already said that Bella is going to move out there to be with him. Let the kids decide what they're doing. It's their lives." He wraps an arm around her shoulders, pressing a kiss to her temple.
She quiets down about the distant future and instead focuses on the ceremony tomorrow. Edward isn't the only one being pinned; there are going to be four other people being honored. He's selected his mom and me to pin him. I was so touched that I cried, and then when I practiced on him, I dropped the pin three times.
He has every faith in me for the actual ceremony.
After dinner, we all head back to my … our condo when Esme pulls me aside to apologize.
"I don't mean to pressure you two. I want you happy, and if you are, then so am I," she tells me as I make tea for all of us.
"It took Edward and me a long time to get to happy, so we might stay right here for as long as we want. I hope you understand that," I tell her as I grab two cups.
"I do, and I'm so glad to see you two thriving together." She grabs the other two cups and walks into the living room ahead of me.
Me too, Esme. Me too.