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 22

New routine

"I became obsessed with paying off the house."

Bells mentioned out of the blue as Eric slid down the slide by himself, he had grown tired of riding his bike and was now taking his energy out on the playground equipment.

"There was no need," I remarked, "everything would have its time."

"I dreamed of having a fairly high mortgage, Edward. At that time the shipping company was offering me the opportunity to save as much as possible and I took advantage of it, but I never measured the consequences of my abandonment. I was wrong in wanting to make up for my time with gifts, I admit it, it was stupid of me," she grimaced as she crossed her arms under her chest without taking her eyes off Eric.

"I put the truck I bought you for sale and you never wanted it," she added. "I don't think there's any point in it being parked."

"It's for the best."

Her chocolate-brown eyes were fixed on me.

"When I reacted it was too late for me... for us," she said.

"I tried to understand, Bells. And you witnessed that I tried to be patient... however, your abandonment clouded my senses. Still, I believed in your promises, I managed to put myself in your place and let you grow professionally because you were happy and that made me happy too. I was fucking proud of your accomplishments, but we know these were not the days. I swear they were the most disastrous eighteen months of my life. They became a hell where your constant late arrivals and your time on the laptop damaged my mind" I snorted. "Then came my jealousy, imagining you close to your boss and... it made everything harder, although what hurt me the most was that you missed moments with Eric. Our son has been the most affected in all of this."

"I know, you have no idea how many times I have apologized to him," she exhaled deeply. "I am doing everything in my power to regain his affection and to be able to have many memories together, really, Edward. I assure you that I am doing my best."

"I don't doubt at any moment that you are doing it. I only ask that when you return to your working life you don't forget it. Our son needs you and... the new baby will need you even more."

There was a prolonged silence.

"I never cheated on you, Bells," I felt the need to clarify. "All those stories Alice uploaded were never important to me... just like all the times I came home drunk. I wasn't hanging out in any bar or with anyone, I was at my parents' house and many times outside their house. I didn't even go inside."

She bit her lip making some slight movements with her head.

"You looked happy with that blonde."

"I don't deny that I did dance a few times with Tanya, but it didn't go beyond that. Besides, I could also say the same about you and that coworker of yours that you've been seeing lately."

"There is nothing to do with James. It's just nothing."

"Bells, what happened with your boss?" I asked as I stood in front of her and watched her face. "Why did you lose your job?"

Bells slowly rubbed her forearms.

"I had been thinking about quitting that job for a while now, it didn't matter to me anymore because I didn't have you guys."

I leaned in a little because she had shied away from my gaze.

"What else?" I insisted.

"Edward... Let's not talk about it..."

"Bells, tell me."

"He told me my place would stay as long as I agreed with him... I didn't see him again."

I slammed my left fist hard on the boxing bag. I couldn't forget that last conversation with Bells. I still remembered how I'd smashed that asshole Eleazar's face in when I looked for him in his office warning him never to go near my son's mother.

At the time I felt hypocritical. Then I understood that it was my duty to protect her.

I shook my head.

I exhaled exhaustedly and removed the sweat from my face with a small towel that I wiped across my forehead and cheeks.

I removed the boxing gloves. I had gone exactly five months without missing a single day at the gym, attending every afternoon after the office or my therapy session.

Because I was still attending my sessions, they kept me calm and had helped me fight my inner demons. After a long time of guilt and mental grievances, I was able to find inner peace and begin to heal, or rather, I was in the process.

A lot had happened in five months. My parents were excited about the baby's new arrival. I was also able to apologize to Charlie and now I could say that I was still in good communication with him, after all, he was my sons' grandfather. Yes, because we had known for two months that another boy was coming.

Another little chick to the family.

Bells was seven months pregnant and although all her aches and pains had passed, she was more tired, but she would never admit it. She was determined to take care of Eric, not only was it enough for her to run with him to take him to daycare, but in the afternoons she took him to Taekwondo classes.

It was admirable to see her so dedicated.

Bells had gone back to work. She made it within a few weeks of being off the shipping company and although my nerves were heightened the first time she asked for my help in taking care of Eric for extra hours, she was finding a way to fit in and was so smart and versatile that it didn't take more than a few days. After that, she never required my help again, and even though we still had joint custody and I still had my time with my son, she was the one who took care of him most of the time.

And I don't want to say that I became unobligated, certainly not. I was in both of their lives because I got serious about continuing to buy those weird cravings he had for the first few months.

I didn't know exactly if we were friends, but at least I tried to be supportive in everything related to our kids and the house.

But me, what happened to me? I continued working and adapted to living alone. Although it wasn't easy, I managed to stay in that apartment that I shared with my son every two weeks or whenever he wanted to spend time with me.

My life was divided between work and parenting, and occasionally going out for coffee with Jacob, Sam, or Claire. She quickly became an emotional support and a good friend.

"Fucking bastard," Jacob said as he saw me leaving the gym.

He usually attended when it was my time to go rest. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and scoffed.

"Are you going to the party this Saturday?" he asked. "You can't afford to look bad, it's a surprise party for Claire."

I grimaced.

"I'm going to Bells' first. I promised my son I'd go to help prepare for his birthday party."

"Edward, it's been seven fucking months and you're still clinging to being there. He's your son, but he doesn't have to interfere in your decisions, tell him you have a party, and you'll go another day."

"Of course not, he's my son. Eric is turning four and we are organizing his party, I can't leave them alone."

"Are you listening to yourself? You don't even behave like a single man, but a man who is co-dependent on his pregnant ex-wife and lives in her house under the pretext of being close to his son. How long are you going to let go of his memory?"

"You don't have a say if you don't have children. Just because Bells and I are divorced doesn't mean we are going to stop interacting. Our son needs us, and we are both focused on him, in his good upbringing and emotional health, we want him to be a happy child and to have the best memories of us by our example."

Jacob rolled his eyes.

"Edward, have you been fucking Bella again?

"Fuck you!" I turned around and left him talking to himself.

If he knew all the times I'd masturbated to the memory of her he'd laugh at me, but he didn't have to know.


Hello, here's the beginning of the second part of the story. I'll do the best I can to upload a few times per week or just once a week with 3 chapters or so. Again, thank you so much for your love for this story. Sending virtual hugs!

Thank you for reading.