DISCLAIMER: The story doesn't belong to me; the characters are property of S. Meyer, and the plot belongs to Annalau Thank you so much for letting me share your story in English!

Gracias Laura, por darme esta oportunidad!

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Chapter 9

A weekend

Months ago…

I felt exhausted.

I had slept a scant three hours and not because I was out partying or having a passionate night with my husband, no. It was for the simple reason that I had decided to bring work home. It was for the simple reason that I had decided to bring work home.

It was the first time anxiety had overtaken me, making me do what I swore I would never do: work at home.

I still wondered: how did I dare? Edward and I were two days into our reconciliation after my dreadful birthday failure. Maybe the marathon of make-up sex encouraged me to scale another level and it was that I was able to get up the courage to work from home.

Or maybe what triggered my absurd behavior and obsession with working was discovering that James wanted my place.

The noises distracted me.

My little boy was running around the house non-stop screaming. He had his energy at an all-time high and it was barely ten in the morning.

My head was going to explode.

"Baby," I called to him as I put the pancakes on the table. "Chicky, food is served."

I saw him stand on his tiptoes and furrow his eyebrows in displeasure.

"And my funny beakfat?"

I pursed my lips. I didn't understand what he was talking about. Many times I had to guess every word my child articulated. According to the pediatrician it was normal for his age.

I scratched my head.

"Eric, it's time to eat, please do because I have a busy day."

His eyes went back to the blue plate. There were his pancakes dipped in syrup and broken into small pieces.

"You told me you were going to make me a funny beakfat, Mommy," he explained, "with googly eyes and bee-shaped fruit."

"My love..." I called his attention by standing at her height and slid my fingers through his hair, "please try to eat what I prepared, okay?"

My little boy looked disappointedly at his plate.

I would make him a new breakfast; I couldn't see his disappointment in that cute little face. It was the idea, a perfect plan when the sound of a new email made me turn to the laptop. I quickly checked and it was James. He was asking for my part of the job, and I didn't have it ready.

I started pulling out the little figures that I would make a new breakfast with.

I ignored him, at least I wanted to. Instead, my stupid conscience was telling me to answer him and tell him the truth.

I didn't understand what was wrong with me. Why this damn need to be better at work, I was clinging to stand out above everyone else and it was clear that James was doing the same to unseat me.

I had realized that the asshole wanted my place.

It was no coincidence that in just weeks he knew every damn code that took me over a year to learn.

[I'm a little late, I'll send you the clauses later.]

It didn't take long for him to respond with stupid laughing emojis. Jerk.

The anger got the better of me. I opened again the page where I was working and forgot everything. My senses were over the keys and screen.

.

.

.

I shook my head slightly; my neck was stiff and sore.

"Where is Eric?"

Edward's harsh voice startled me. I immediately got down from the highchair and looked into the dining room, my boy was gone, and the plate of pancakes was still untouched.

I shook my head. I forgot to prepare his breakfast, the one my son wanted, how could that happen to me?

"I gave him breakfast, maybe he's watching TV," I replied nervously.

"You were supposed to be taking care of him while I do my part in the laundry, weren't you?"

I nodded.

I heard him cursing and ran after him. Chicky was not in the living room, not in his room, not in the laundry room, not in any corner of the house.

My heart pounded wildly in my chest as I looked at the open back door; my steps grew heavier and heavier, and I could only pray he wasn't in the pool.

Edward and I managed to run, perhaps we were both immersed in so many fears alike. And I was thankful the place was empty, but where was my baby? My baby chick.

Edward faced me.

"What's wrong with you?" he shouted angrily, "How could you not notice he wasn't there?"

"He... he was there, eating breakfast while I..." my voice trailed off.

Edward turned around and walked to the front yard. My heart stopped for a nanosecond at the sight of my muddy baby, playing with a small puddle.

He smiled at us and between his little white teeth was black mud.

I ran and took him in my arms, hugged him tightly to my chest feeling relieved. My chick was fine and that was all that mattered.

We didn't talk anymore that day.

Edward just ignored me, and I felt terrible because I failed to do my job. Still frustrated that I had failed at the office, I spent the rest of the weekend with my baby and tried to make up for my mistake on Monday night.

"My love," I crawled across the bed and straddled his hips, "listen to me," I asked, holding his cheeks. "I'm sorry for what happened, I swear I didn't mean to."

He snorted; his eyes fixed on mine. Still feeling the anger he felt against me, he held my hips with his hands.

"What's happening to us, Bells? We're not the same anymore, we're just arguing, and I don't like it."

"I don't like it either," I admitted. "Bear with me."

He shook his head from side to side.

"I don't want you to bring work home, it's not fair to our son or to us."

"I wanted to move some work forward, love. That jerk I'm training is obviously after my place; I can't let him. I won't give him a chance to take what's mine."

Of course, I had guessed James' intentions and he wasn't going to take my place.

"Bells..." his voice was firm as his hands were on my face, cradling it. "Please, let's not lose what we have. I love you with my life and I just need you to stay in what we had, we were so complicit, and we don't even have that anymore."

"I promise we won't lose anything. I love you Edward and I would never do anything to hurt you."

"Your overwork makes me angry," he acknowledged. "Would you do that for me?"

"Do what?"

"I don't work at home. No overtime. And forget about emails. Lately you keep answering every single one no matter what time it is."

I put a hand to my chest in a sort of promise.

"I promise it won't happen again."


I have to admit that I'm a bit afraid of your reactions in the following chapters. Still, I will go ahead and say: do you want more chapters? It's your decision, I'll leave it in your hands. For now I would like to know your opinions.

Infinitely grateful for your interest. Remember that every update will be announced on Facebook as well! (my account and some groups besides mine!)

Thank you so much for reading!