"Mom, can we go visit Uncle Jasper, Jace, Jaylnn, and Aunt Alice?" Macy asked. I sighed and looked over at Anthony. He seemed to be sleeping soundly since I picked them up from school.My mind immediately went back to everything that's happened since that day.
Over the last four years, I got used to Edward's absence. He called one time, informing me that he was almost done and that things were looking up, but after that, he cut off all contact, changed his number, and never contacted me again.Not even after I had Anthony. While it had upset me, at first, I ignored everything and held myself together for my kids.Macy soon was able to go into preschool. And I eventually went back to work. Opting use Skype, Zoom, and other ways to say in contact, all the while maintaining the lavender business and farm running.After realizing that there was no way I could do this by myself, despite Jasper and Peter moving closer to us, I hired a few people to help.Angela and Ben arrived first. They helped me with the horses along with Kate and Garrett, who had surprisingly started going out shortly after meeting at the barbeque that caused everything to spiral.Then, I hired someone to help me with Anthony and Macy. Her name was Casey, and she was referred to me by Alice's sister, Cynthia. She worked with me until a few weeks ago when Anthony finally started school. Even our parents now lived a few miles out. We have dinner every other weekend. Every year, for Rose and Emmett's anniversary, we go and visit them, taking flowers, and then going to dinner and sharing stories about them.It hasn't gotten easier, but I've learned to live with the pain now. Especially after I received the video Rose made.She knew her time was coming, and she prepared for it. Sadly, she never realized that Emmett would be following her immediately after.She left pictures, a few bobbles, which I have given to Macy, and her favorite necklace, which she wanted me to keep.It baffled us all that the investigators found out that the car's brakes failed, which caused the crash. The only thing that still remains a mystery was how the other driver managed to flip onto their car. The violent description was enough to give me continuous vivid nightmares.
Time did eventually seem to have flown by now. My eyes blurred, and I began to tighten my hands around the steering wheel again as I blinked and heard Macy ask more questions."No, sweetie, we can't. They're-- They're on a trip. But they'll be back next week, we can go then." I told her as I drove back to the farm."What about Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Peter and Paxton?" She asked."Mace, they're in Phoenix visiting Aunt Lottie's family." I told her patiently.She sighed before pouting and turning to stare out the window. "I miss Uncle Ed… I wish he would visit like he promised." She whispered.I sighed, too, trying to keep my eyes from tearing up as I stared ahead of me. "I--I'm sure he has a reason he hasn't." I told her quietly as my grip tightened around the steering wheel.She shrugged as she tapped her fingers on the window. "Maybe." She mumbled as I turned into the long driveway.I felt my heart nearly come out of my chest as I saw the familiar motorcycle parked next to the shiny truck. I could see his outline as he sat on the bike, long legs outstretched in front of him as he stared toward us with his arms crossed over his chest."Macy, stay in the car." I told her as I set the car in park and got out."But mo--" She whined. "Macy, please, listen to me, just this once." I begged her.She sighed before nodding and crossing her arms over her chest.I sighed and shook my head before getting out.I slowly closed the door so as to not wake Anthony. "You've got some nerve fucking showing up here out of the blue after four fucking years." I growled at him as he stood up and made his way towards me."Bella, I'm sorr--" He began as I cut him off with a slap."You don't get to fucking leave for four fucking years and then come back here acting like you never left. That's not how this works." I told him, angrily.He reached up, to cup the side of his face, and stared at me wide-eyed. "Okay. That hurt." He mumbled.I had the brief satisfaction of seeing his eyes and nostrils flare in anger, as he took a step towards me."Good. You deserve it." I told him flatly."Be that as it may, I am here now. And I want to speak to you. Now, are you going to be an adult or do I need to treat you like a child?" He asked me, flatly.I scoffed, "Eat shit." I hissed.He sighed, rubbing his left hand over his face. "Alright. Childish, it is. Get those kids in the house before I lose my shit in front of them." He ordered.As I stared up at I noticed that he had more tattoos. I could see a hint of black ink under his v-neck. His neck was now adorned with ink, along with the sides of his hands. And part of his fingers. But something that stood out was the design on his left ring finger. Why would he get that tattoo when we've been separated for years? He didn't care to stay so why would he bother to brand himself like this?"Those are my kids, you have no authority over anyone here." I told him, stiffly.He smirked, "Oh? I don't? Didn't Peter tell you?" He asked, amused."Tell me what? What are you talking about?" I demanded, starting to get annoyed now at his amusement. "We're still married, Bella. I never signed those papers." He informed me.I frowned, processing what he just told me.When it sunk in, the anger I felt almost caused me to fall on my ass. "I'll kill him." I growled as I turned and made my way to the SUV.
To say that I was angry would be putting it lightly.I was livid when I called Peter and he explained to me what he had done.Edward was smirking as he leaned against the counter, picking at his cuticles. "Satisfied enough, now?" He asked, amused. I grumbled and stomped my way towards the living room where Anthony and Macy were watching a movie. As soon as I entered, Macy paused the movie and turned towards me. "Momma is he going to stay?" Macy asked, hopefully. "Yes, I am, princess." Edward said, speaking from behind me.Macy blinked at his sudden appearance, before she nodded in response, and turned to unpause the movie and sat back to watch it.Edward frowned as he stood there with a bothered expression. "Huh. She's got Rose's attitude." He noted.It wasn't the only thing Macy got from her, but nowadays it was best to allow Macy to show anyone instead of explaining. It saved me a lot of energy.So, I nodded in response, before moving around him and heading back to the kitchen. I had already called Jasper, explaining the situation, and he agreed that something was weird about the situation. So, he was heading back here while Alice stayed in Bora Bora with the kids. I sighed, and shook my head as I moved around the kitchen to start making dinner."Will you please listen to me? I'm not trying to piss you off. I swear." He said as he followed me."Aren't you? Because you leaving wasn't enough. You left Macy, and me alone to deal with everything because your friends needed help. So, how'd that turn out for you? It must have been a hell of a problem for you to stay away for four years. No calls, not one. So, tell me, why should I listen to you now?" I asked him, tensely.He stared at me, jaw clenched. As I stared back at him, blankly."I was in jail. They wanted me to go because the tattoo shop was mine. But Alec, Demtri, and Felix start running drugs through there without my knowledgThey had been caught and needed someone to take the fall for it. So, they all planned everything that happened here. And I'm sorry that I believed them, but I thought something else was happening. I wouldn't have left if I knew what was really happening." He told me.I gripped the side of the counter as I stared up at him, "If that is true, then why didn't you call?" I asked him."Because Peter told me what was happening after I left. I was only going to sell the shop and come back, but I got there Demetri planted something in my things, and I was taken in. I called Peter, because he was the one I knew would understand. He helped prove my innocence. Even then I still got a few years for something Felix, Demetri, and Alec had done. I'm sorry but I didn't want to involve you in this shit, I didn't want you or Macy, or the baby to be affected." He told me.I swallowed hard, and looked down at my hands, still clutching the counter as the weight of everything fell on my shoulders."Aren't you going to say something?" He asked me."I can't." I answered, quietly."Why not?" He asked."Because I don't want to speak while I am this angry. If I do, l-I'll probably say something we're both going to regret." I told him, honestly."I didn't stay away willingly. I need you to believe that." He begged. "You're an adult, Edward. What you decide to do is your problem, alone." I finally said.He sighed, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left, but what was I supposed to do? I panicked." I scoffed, "I'm not going to do this right now. My kids are awake, I don't want them to hear something that they're not supposed to." I told him flatly. He nodded before looking towards the living room, "Do they know-- who I am?" He asked me.I nodded, "I may be angry at you, but I am not going to badmouth you to them. That's not who I am." I replied, as I looked around the room.He gave me an appreciative nod before exhaling heavily, "I take it Peter and Jasper are coming here?" He asked.I nodded as I busied myself preparing the food in front of me. Once it was clear I wasn't going to talk anymore, he sighed and sat down to watch as I prepared dinner."Momma, can I have a snack?" Macy asked as I dropped the cut veggies into the pan to sautée them. I turned to smile at her, "Of course, sweetheart, what would you like? Cut up fruit? Some yogurt? Or--?" I trailed off.She frowned, thinking for a little bit before shaking her head, "Do we have any cookies and yogurt left?" She asked.I nodded before moving to pull out the cookie crumbs, and yogurt, serving a bit of both.Once it was served, I pulled out a spoon, and offered it to her, smiling as she took it and went to sit at the table."Doesn't she eat junk? Like chips or juice?" Edward asked, confused.I shrugged, "She does. But she usually prefers to eat those on the weekends while watching movies." I informed him."You've done an amazing job with her, Iz." He told me quietly.I nodded, before wordlessly turning back to the stove.Once the food was ready, I silently served us all, and set the table."Who are you?" Anthony asked Edward, as he eyed him curiously, causing me to stiffen."He's our dad, Ant. He's finally back." Macy told him as she looked at me for reassurance. Unfortunately for her, I couldn't reassure her, because I didn't know why he was here."Well? Are you?" Anthony asked him, curiously. Edward smiled, "I sure am, buddy." He told him, before throwing me a smile. I scoffed and pretended to not hear him.After dinner was done, I sent the kids up stairs to get ready for bed, while I cleaned the dishes."Are we going to talk?" He asked me, quietly.I set down the plate I was working on and sighed, "I am not saying anything until Jasper gets here. Go ahead and call your lawyer though, because you're going to need them." I told him, as I dried my hands and went up the stairs.
As expected, Jasper and Peter arrived with their families the next morning. I had only just gotten back from taking the kids to school when they did."Where is he?" Jasper asked, as Alice and the kids followed us inside."In the living room." I told him promptly. He nodded before making his way into the living room and shutting the door behind Peter.I wordlessly turned and headed to the kitchen as Alice told the kids to sit on the table with their tablets."You think they're mad?" Alice asked, turning to look at me."Probably. Jasper is going to blow a gasket when he finds out that Peter helped Edward out." I told her as I handed her some coffee.She made an appreciative noise and sipped on it. "You think anything bad will happen?" She asked as we turned to the sound of yelling.
"Definitely." I replied with a wide smile.