There Goes My Life

Chapter Five

…

"Oh, my gosh," Bella faked a gasp as she sat across from Edward at his breakfast table in the casual but elegant restaurant that was located in their hotel's lobby.

He set his notepad down on the table, lifted an eyebrow, and asked bemusedly, "What?"

"I've broken you," she laughed, as she eyed his plate of strawberry pancakes, sprinkled with powder sugar and a dash of whip cream.

He shook his head, "What?" He repeated.

"Nothing," she smiled to herself, as she looked over the menu.

Edward's waiter stopped at their table to refill Edward's coffee, "is she with you, Sir?" he asked politely.

"Yes."

"I'll have the small order of chocolate chip pancakes, with a vanilla latte and a side of bacon, thanks," Bella ordered, handing the waiter back the menu.

"Do you live off sugar and caffeine?" Edward asked boldly with a grin.

"And instant noodles," she winked at him as he faked a shudder, "Don't judge me. Plus did you know there's a study that claims that people who like their coffee black are more likely to have psychopathic tendencies." She eyed his cup suspiciously.

He snorted, "You have an internet addiction."

"More like phone," she smiled sweetly at him, "we're in a committed relationship. You'd be horrified to know that my phone sleeps on the pillow next to me." She snarked back. "So, what are you up to this morning?"

"Making lists," he explained, as he speared a strawberry and popped it into his mouth.

"What sort of list?" She asked as she buttered her pancakes.

He slid his notepad across the table; she read it over carefully as she started on her bacon, "Apartment up for sale?"

"If I acquire custody, I can't take them back to San Francisco to my one bedroom apartment. I'll need a house. They are going to need, a lot of stuff."

"Stuff?" Bella smirked. "Like schools, doctors, clothes, and child care."

"Yes," he nodded. He straightened in his seat and took a long sip of his black coffee, "about child care," he stated, "I had a daft idea, and I want to run it by you."

"What time did you get up?" She asked as she looked him over with critical eyes. His hair was wilder than normal, and he had dark circles under his eyes.

He ran a hand over his beard, "four thirty," he admitted, putting down his coffee cup. "I spoke with my personal lawyer. He advised that when I go to my hearing at the courthouse house that I needed to have an adequate plan for child care."

Bella nodded and asked, "You called your lawyer in the middle of the night? Forget that question," she chuckled, as she caught his aggravated sigh. "Anywho, um, what's your idea?" She asked, getting back on topic.

"How do you feel about a change of careers? At least temporarily." He asked hesitantly. He placed his napkin on his plate and pushed it away from him, "before you say, no. Hear me out, please?"

She nodded slowly, putting her fork on her plate, "Fine. Okay."

"This could benefit you as much as it could me." He stated. "You'll make double the money, and you wouldn't have to pay rent, food, utilities. You can save your money to go back to school in the fall, that's what, seven months from now, which gives me six months to find someone to take over the children's care during the day."

"What about when school starts, what am I going to do then?" She asked, pointing out a worrisome flaw in his plan. She could stay in the dorm and get a part time job, she mused.

"I'll still need an evening nanny, someone to cook dinner, help put the kids to bed, plus the occasional weekend sitter when I have to travel. The pay won't be as great, but you'll still have free room and board and the majority of your weekends off."

"That is incredibly thought out," she stated, thinking over his offer. "But, why me? You could ask your mother or your sister-in-law?"

"Because I trust you, you have a way with children. I saw it in your eyes. Do you know everything? Probably not, but you know the important things. You're certified in CPR and First Aid, you took child care class while in high school, to be a certified babysitter." He paused and looked across the table at her. "Yes, I could ask my mom or Rosalie, I'm sure they'd be willing to help, but they both have their own lives. My parents are starting to travel, take vacations, see the world. I can't ask them to put their dreams on hold."

She nodded, and inquired, "What about my cat?"

"So long as it's not a total jerk and my brothers and sister don't have any allergies, Lucy shouldn't be a problem." Edward smiled hopefully.

"Okay, so, first we need to put your apartment on the market and somehow find you a suitable house to raise four children in from across the country." She remarked, pulling in a slow breath.

Edward added and grimaced, "also, figure out how we're going to get four small children across the country." He shuddered at the thought of being trapped in an airplane for hours on end with two newborns. Between the thought of their screams and the sheer number of germs they'd be exposed to made him cringe. "How opposed are you to driving across the country?"

She raised an eyebrow, "you'd rather drive nearly three thousand miles than take an eight-hour flight?"

"Yes, because, one, flight are germy, Braxton and Holden are new, tiny, they probably have weak immune systems. Two, babies scream, three, the possibility of long layovers and bored toddlers."

"Okay, okay, point made," She nodded, "we'll drive, we can make a trip of it. Plus, it'll be good bonding time for you with your siblings before you return to work." She agreed as she took a sip of her latte.

Edward groaned internally as he watched Bella finish her breakfast as she simultaneously worked on her tablet computer.

Fuck. You were supposed to move her to a different floor, get her a different job, not invite her into your damn house, moron. He scolded himself.

"So what's up first today?" She asked as she closed her tablet and placed it in her purse.

"I'm going to call my realtor. Then we'll go purchase a vehicle that will seat six." He said as he paid the bill. "Wait for Mark to call."

"Sounds like a plan," she agreed, placing a few bills on the table.

...

"No, no, I'm not purchasing a minivan, just, no." Edward frowned firmly, "I don't care how many cupholders it has, Isabella, I'm not buying it."

Bella's serious expression faded as she burst into a fit of laughter, "I'm sorry, but sometimes you're way too easy."

"Funny," he grunted, "but, you're right, this vehicle is more for the children and you than myself," he stated rationally. "Which was your favorite?"

"While the Volvo and the Toyota Highlander were great, they didn't seem to accommodate four car seats very functionally," she admitted, "and the Chevy Suburban was roomy, functional, but I'm a bit intimidated by its size. If I had to choose, I'd go with the Tahoe or the Escalade with second-row bucket seats."

"The Escalade it is," he agreed, surprised by the thoughtfulness she had put into her answer. "Which color?"

"I like that blue one, I know you prefer black but I'd feel like an FBI agent driving around in a black SUV."

He chuckled at her answer and shook his head, "Fine," he agreed. He motioned over the car salesman and pointed out the SUV they had settled on after a morning of driving from dealership to dealership, "we'll take the Premier Escalade. The navy one."

Half way through the paperwork, Edward's phone rang, "I apologize, but I have to take this." He stepped away from the salesman's office and answered his phone, "Edward Cullen, speaking."

"Mr. Cullen, it's Mark Goldberg," Mark said into the line, "I called in a few favors down at the courthouse, and I managed to get you a hearing for Friday at nine in the morning. If everything goes well, you'll have custody of your siblings by noon."

"Friday, at nine." He nodded, "anything else I should know?" he asked as he rubbed at his beard.

"He'll look over all the paperwork I sent him, he'll speak with you, ask some questions, then come to his decision, it shouldn't take more than an hour." The social worker informed him. "Dress nicely. It wouldn't hurt to bring some proof that you're getting ready to take care of these children. Try not to stress too much. It'll just be you, me, and the judge."

"Thank you, Mark. We'll see you Friday." He ended the call. He took a deep breath before walking back into the office to finish up the paperwork.

He dangled the keys in front of Bella; she snatched them from him with a grin, "follow me back to the Enterprise office." He requested.

"Race ya," she teased.

She laughed as Edward yelled after her, "no, absolutely, no speeding, Isabella." She followed him back to the rental company.

"Now where, Boss?" She asked playfully, turning down the radio.

"Food, I'm sure you've already picked where we're going." He stated with amusement.

"You know what they say about assuming," she wiggled her eyebrow at him, "But as a matter of fact..." she paused and smirked at him, "I have. Burgers and fries."

He rolled his eyes, and before he could speak, Bella cut him off. "Don't. I know you secretly love a good burger. I won't even order a soda. We'll work it off later. Tonight, you can have salmon and a light salad back at the hotel." She appealed to him.

"Fine," he agreed.

She smiled triumphantly and pulled into the drive-through of a mom and pop diner. After they received their order, she drove down the street to a nearby park and parked. She smirked as he let out a soft groan as he bit into his greasy, burger.

"I talked to my parents," Edward stated, "they know." He glanced down at his watch. "They probably all know by now; grapevine that is my family." He chuckled, "My mother and Rosalie, they've put together a short list of rental houses available, all with four bedrooms." He flicked through the choices on his iPad.

Bella leaned over the console and tapped his iPad, "Not this house," she stated, and he lifted an eyebrow as she zoomed in on one of the pictures, "the staircase has no railing."

"Right," he agreed and hit the delete button and moved on to the next. Together they narrowed it down to two suitable choices. "I'd consider buying, but we're on course to expand and open another branch in eighteen months." He revealed, nibbling on a fry.

"Ah. Smart. You don't want to be tangled up with trying to sell a house while trying to buy another much more permanent one, somewhere else." She smiled catching on. She looked at the new listing that Rosalie sent him. "I think this is the house you're looking for." She smiled, showing him a picture of the Italianate Victorian home with blue siding and a bright red front door. "It's in the coveted Liberty Hill district. It's a two-unit building that has been converted to a single family home. The floor plan is open, three stories; the main and upper levels have four bedrooms and three baths and a large kitchen. The lower level has a mother-in-law suite, with its own private entry and bath."

He wiped off his hands and flicked through the pictures, he tapped out a quick message to Rosalie. "My father and Rose, they're going to go view it, make sure the pictures aren't misleading." He stated, throwing his trash away.

Bella looked over his list, "the apartment is up for sale, you've purchased a vehicle, and you found, hopefully, the house you need."

He nodded, "yeah, my personal accountant might have a stroke," he jested as he rubbed his eyes.

"Edward. Let me take you back to the hotel. You're exhausted. We've accomplished a lot today." She faked a tired yawn of her own.

Edward frowned and he looked her over, "very well," he agreed, reading the tiredness across her own face.

She gave him a grateful smile, drove them back to the hotel, and handed him the keys to the SUV. "I'll see you in the morning for breakfast, I'm going to take a nap, go for a swim, maybe order in room service, and rent a movie."

His lips quirked, "breakfast at eight," he agreed. He made sure she reached her room safely before heading down to his own.

He turned on his television, kicked off his shoes, tossed his tie on the desk and flopped down on the king size bed ungracefully. He was sound asleep before the first set of commercials came on.

...

He reached for his phone and pressed it to his ear, "Hello?" He mumbled into his cell, his voice low and raspy from being pulled out of deep sleep.

"Hey honey," his mom greeted him, followed by his father's voice, letting him know he was on speakerphone, "Edward did we wake you?"

"It's fine," he rolled over and glanced at the clock, "I needed to get up, anyways. So, what's up?"

"The house was lovely, recently remodeled," his mother approved, his father spoke before he could, "Rosalie has a few connections with the company renting out the house, and she managed to get you a year lease at an agreeable price. Don't worry about the security deposit or the first month's rent. Your mother and I took care of it."

"I'll pay you back," he promised, sitting up and massaging the back of his neck.

"And I said not to worry about it, just fax back the rental agreement with your signature," Carlisle informed him. "Now, how was your day?" He asked.

"Social worker called this morning. My court date is Friday," his father interrupted him.

"This Friday?"

"Yes, this Friday, in less than a day and a half. Elizabeth's burial is Saturday," he informed them as he fixed his hair; he grabbed his wallet and headed down to the hotel bar.

"Edward," Esme frowned, "you're avoiding," she called him out gently.

"Mama," he sighed dramatically, making him feel like a child under her roof again, "I'm not evading the question. I'm stressed. I'm trying to rearrange my entire life."

"And how is that going?" she asked, her tone softened with understanding.

"Hold a sec," he muted his call and ordered his dinner, "and a double shot of Johnny Walker Blue, neat, thanks." He placed a tip on the counter before, resuming his call, "back, sorry. I had a productive day. I hired a nanny, I bought a vehicle, Rosalie put my apartment up for sale, and I started a book on infant care; it's terrifying. I'd rather read a Stephen King novel." He grunted and rolled his eyes as his father tried to muffle his laughter. "Mom, I know you partially retired, but would you mind..."

"Of course sweetheart," she agreed before he could finish with his request for her to furnish the house.

He smiled at his own good fortune. "Thanks, I'll send you a budget later." He took a sip of the rich, smoky whiskey that burned its way down his throat, "and I hate to ask," he paused briefly to take in his parents' shared chuckle ... he could picture them trading glances. "Could you hire a child-proofing company tomorrow, I'm sure you know the best one to use, send me a copy of the agreement, contract, something."

"We'll do that," his father said Edward turned on his tablet and opened Facebook. "And Edward, I'll admit, I had some initial reservations, but I see you're taking on this responsibility as seriously as you have always done. I'm, we're very proud of you."

Edward's ears burned and he finished his glass. He raised it up to the bartender.

"Who's the guy hanging off Alice?" He blurted out with a frown, as he scrolled through her newest pictures.

"Jasper Whitlock," Edward wrinkled his nose, the name sounded oddly familiar.

His father added before he could ask, sensing his blank. "He's a catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers."

He shook his head and objected firmly, "he's too old for her."

"Who's too old for who?" Bella asked curiously, dropping down into the seat next to him at the bar. He could smell the chlorine on her skin, her wet hair was styled in a messy side braided, a simple, royal blue sundress covered up her bathing suit.

She ordered a Cherry Coke as he turned his attention back to his phone. "Mom, Dad, I've got to go," he declared, "love you too," he added before ending the call. "Alice, she's recently started spending a lot of time with Jasper Whitlock." He informed Bella, showing her a picture of the young couple.

Bella chewed on her bottom lip, "he's not that old, he's what, twenty-eight at the most. I also imagine he's financially secure, he plays professional ball, so he's not interested in Alice's trust."

"She's too young to be tangling herself up with some guy," Edward stated, downing his glass. "She needs to enjoy her discovery year, go back to school, get a few more years of life under her belt before she starts anything serious." He scoffed, "Baseball player. She's going to get hurt."

Bella held back a grin, "One. She's not a little girl anymore, Edward. You can't control what makes or who makes her happy. I know your heart is in the right place, but Alice is far more mature than you want to realize. So step back and have some faith in her." She squeezed his hand once.

He grunted, rolling her words over in his mind as he let out a long sigh.

"And she's young; maybe it's not as serious as you're imagining. They could just be having fun together while they're in the same place at the same time. Don't stress out until after you speak with her. Remember she flies to Europe in six weeks for that backpacking trip she's been planning for months."

His shoulders loosened, and he cocked an eyebrow at her, "how do you that?"

"I'm Bella, it's what I do," she smirked at him; her soft brown eyes glinted with amusement.

He shook his head.

She pushed his whiskey glass away and told the bartender, "He'll have water, no lemon." She placed an individual packet of Unisom SleepGel in front of him, "and an oatmeal cookie when he finishes his fish," she ordered for him.

"Bella?"

"Take the medicine with a mug of hot lavender tea. Your tea will be brought to your room at nine. Get a good night's rest, you need it." She said, accepting her to-go container. "Oh, also on TNT at eight thirty is a rerun of The Goonies. See you at breakfast, Edward."

Before he could respond, she glided away from the bar.

Author Note...

A big Thank you to Sunflower Fran for beta'ing.

I pray everyone is doing wonderfully. Second grade is kicking my butt with it's never ending art projects.

This chapter was brought to you by Pepsi and endless episodes of Caillou, Paw Patrol, and DanTDM Youtube videos.

I hope you enjoyed this new chapter and please leave a Review.

- Emily