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 24

Party

It was almost 2 am.

"Sorry I was late."

I apologized to Claire as I gave her a small gift. The place was half empty and I assumed that the party was over, even though there was no music, and the lights were on illuminating the entire small restaurant.

"Don't worry, Edward" She opened her gift without wasting time and smiled when she saw that it was a white gold bracelet. "It's beautiful! Thank you."

She gave me a big hug.

"I think it's pretty late," I ran a hand through my hair.

"Yes. It ended half an hour ago" she whispered. "Jacob just left, you know, new conquest."

We both laughed.

"Then I'd better get going too," I said. "My son will be celebrating his birthday in a few hours, and I need to be fresh for his party."

"Were you with them?"

"Yes. I stayed for dinner and after that, we stayed up talking and I was running late."

Claire put her hand on my arm and gave me a sincere smile.

"I'm so glad, Edward. Your family must always come before everyone else."

I stared into her dark eyes and nodded. She had a completely happy countenance, and I knew it wasn't just because of the party.

"Let me guess about that happiness," I said. "Are you still exchanging messages with your ex?"

Claire's smile was wider. I could have sworn she was about to start jumping up and down with excitement.

"He's coming to see me tomorrow," she revealed as her eyes exuded a pronounced sparkle. "I'm nervous, Edward. It's been so long, I'm afraid I'll hyperventilate when I have him in front of me."

I raised my eyebrows. It was no secret that Claire had feelings for her ex-husband. She had confessed to me months ago that her heart was still in love, even if her brain said it wasn't. According to her, she was living in a pitched battle between her reasoning and her weak feelings.

"A date with your ex. Sounds strange," I told her. Immediately my mind betrayed me and took me on a date with Bells. There were flowers and balloons just like the first time.

"Did you imagine it?" Claire asked. "Don't try to deny it."

"I did."

We walked to the small, secluded terrace. Claire asked me to place the bracelet around her wrist and I did. She kept admiring it.

It wasn't really an ostentatious bracelet. It was a gift chosen for a friend, even at the jewelry store I asked them to make it something nice, but not to be misunderstood.

It was silly to think that a simple gift could be understood otherwise. Although Jacob surely would. It was more than said that for Claire and me, it was a birthday gift. There was no feeling between us other than sincere friendship.

"I don't think a children's party would be a very good choice for you," I commented, remembering that I had invited her.

Eric had met her a few months ago and had liked her.

"Oh... of course we'll go. I'm willing to be introduced to the woman of your dreams...of your life and, once again, to say hello to Chickee who is quickly turning into a rooster. I already have his present at home."

"I still think Jared will feel weird at a kid's party. Don't take this the wrong way, but it's not a good idea for a date."

"The place is the least of it when you're with the right person. I assure you; you'd be happy even if you were in the middle of the desert with no water but with Bells by your side."

I laughed. I couldn't disprove his theory because he was simply right.

"Do you think Bells will ever agree to a date?"

She narrowed her eyes.

"Do you mean a date with you or with another guy?" she asked.

I shook my head. She was too beautiful, and I could guess that some guy or other was starting to hang around her, but I had been keeping those bitter thoughts away from me for a long time.

Bells didn't deserve any more shit from me.

"With me," I clarified. "It would be strange, we already know each other," I shrugged my shoulders, "I know her tastes and what she hates."

"Tell me something, are you thinking of going out with her? Because we know you still love her, but I had no idea you wanted to start courting her."

I exhaled. I felt like smoking a cigarette, almost in the wee hours of the morning that ugly habit came back with a vengeance, maybe it was a way to quiet my thoughts and give them peace.

I put my hands in my pockets.

"I'm afraid it's premature," I said. "We get along great, Claire. We can have a calm and harmonious conversation. We talk about our working day; she gives her opinion or gives me advice when I ask for it. Several times we have cooked together or else she always makes sure I am well-fed; she takes care of me in many ways. We just never went out together again; it hasn't happened again. We have gone to Eric's daycare separately; we have been to every event for our son, and each went in our own vehicle. I was even with her that day of the ultrasound and when we left we each chose our own way, and I don't understand."

"Calm down. Don't get worked up, it is normal that there is still a line between you, you are divorced and that is your boundary."

"I'm afraid that if I take one more step everything will break."

"It's little by little, Edward. You can't run away when you haven't learned to crawl. The thing with Jared and I happened slowly, and I still don't know what plan we're on, we're just going to find out, only now we're mature enough to know that if there isn't that spark between us, if we don't mesh as we should, we'll each go our separate ways."

"It would hurt too much if it can't be us because it would be the biggest setback of my life. She's here, Claire," I touched my chest. "I love her deeply and with all my being."

I was taken aback when Claire wiped away her tears.

"Wow... you made me cry," she mentioned trying to smile. "Then don't stop, Edward. Take a chance for her, for your family, but mostly for you. Fall in love with her and don't dwell on what would have been, give yourself a chance."

She pushed my back and made me walk.

"It's time for you to do something productive and go get your girl," she said leading me out of the restaurant.

I turned around and smiled as I waved my hand.

"Best of luck with Jared, I'll see you at the party. Oh... and happy birthday."

Claire just nodded, smiling at me.

"Come on, champ. You can make her fall in love," she formed a heart shape with her fingers. Win her over.

I laughed. I walked in the pitch blackness of the early morning towards the car.

I wanted to take a chance with my Bells, too.


This chapter has a second part, which is the actual birthday party (Eric's not Claire's)

Thank you for reading 3