There Goes My Life
Chapter Ten
Edward's mother, father, brother, and sister-in-law waited next to the steps of his new house, waving enthusiastically as Bella pulled into the driveway.
"Whoa ... it's blue!" Asher exclaimed, taking in the large Victorian home. "Is it an apartment?" He asked, nearly vibrating with excitement as Edward let him out of the Escalade.
"No, it's a house, all yours to live in," Bella explained with a smile, lifting Holden's car seat out as Mia tucked herself shyly into her leg as she noticed the group looking them over.
Asher's head darted, right and left, up and down, trying to take it all in, the large blue house, the trees, and the warmth of the air. He wandered to the edge of the driveway as Edward reached into the SUV to grab the diaper bag.
Asher peered down the road longingly, "there's a park, will we get to play there?" He turned back to look at them, hopefully.
"Yeah, bud. Probably not today but soon," Edward promised, steering him back up towards the house and away from the street.
"Edward," Asher pointed to the front door, his eyes wide with wonder, "the door is red!"
"That it is," he chuckled, noting the loving, warm look his mother traded with his father.
Esme squeezed her husband's hand as they watched Edward interact with the small boy, a child who instantly had her heart.
Edward ruffled Asher's untamable brown hair, "you remember my dad, Carlisle."
Asher nodded, his grip tightened on his older brother's hand as he gazed upon Carlisle and Esme, "yes, but he told us to call him Pops," he murmured.
"That I did my boy," Carlisle chuckled, stepping away from his wife to take the car seat from Bella.
Edward felt his shoulder loosen as his family opened their hearts to his young siblings. He smirked, as Mia tugged on Bella's shirt the second her arms were free. He shook his head, the little girl had Bella wrapped around her little finger, he thought as Bella scooped her up and rubbed her back reassuringly as Mia hid her face shyly.
"And this is my..." Edward visibly paused as he went to introduce Esme to his young siblings, "she's my mom, Esme." Asher nodded, and Edward continued, "This silly looking fellow, he's my big brother, Emmett and his saint of a wife, Rosalie." His green eyes brightened as Bella chuckled at his introduction.
Mia peeked a look at them from Bella's neck, he reached out and rubbed her back, "all right, let's get inside," he said, giving his mother a crooked grin as she held open the front door for everyone. He made sure his brother made it in before closing the door.
Asher trailed after Emmett and Rosalie to the living room, watching the couple with curiosity brewing in his young eyes, Emmett tossed him a large grin, egging him on as Rosalie squeezed his shoulders, "why are you in that chair?" Asher asked, the question tumbling out of his mouth and his eyes widened as he cast a fearful glance back at Edward, sending a sucker punch to his stomach.
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes and letting his emotions settle, pushing away the wave of memories his look had stirred.
Emmett laughed; he reached up and squeezed his wife's hand, "I was in an accident when I was younger, now my legs don't work."
"Oh," Asher nodded, his curiosity satisfied, "your wheelchair is really cool," he complimented, giving Emmett a grin once he realized he wasn't in trouble.
"Isn't it? Come check it out, kid, custom made, baby," Emmett beamed, motioning Asher forward, spinning his chair from side to side. He scooped up Asher once he was close enough and placed him on his lap, giving him a quick spin around the room, making the young boy laugh in delight.
Edward relaxed, leaning against the doorway, watching his family interact. It was easy to see that Emmett had quickly and easily, slipped into the role of the fun uncle.
Mia giggled, letting Rosalie lift her out of Bella's arms.
He glanced up as his father paced his hand on his shoulder, "the house is great," he murmured approvingly.
Carlisle nodded, giving him a proud grin, "your mother has worked hard, she's had a team of people in and out of here all week."
"I really appreciate it," he said, "honest; I don't know who I'd be without you guys." He gave an internal shudder at the thought; he probably would've followed Elizabeth's path.
He smiled as Carlisle chuckled, patting Holden's back as he snoozed against his chest, "c'mon, let your mother give you the tour."
"What about?" He glanced over at Mia and Asher a bit nervously.
"Let your brother and Rose watch them for a moment, they won't even notice your gone," his mother assured him, Braxton was lounging in her arms, his newborn blue eyes seemed to be soaking in everything around him.
He motioned Bella over, "she going to need the tour too, she's going to fill in as my nanny until the fall semester at Stanford starts," he explained to his parents.
He blinked as Bella leaned up and lowly hissed in his ears, "I'm not going to Stanford," his lips curled upwards.
"We'll discuss it later," he whispered back, missing the look his parents shared.
Esme cleared her throat, "as you can see, I left most of the rooms a bit bare, filling them only with the furniture I thought was necessary. That way you'll be able to add your own touches, artwork, and style to make this place feel like your own," he nodded, following her out of the living room that flowed into a formal dining room which opened up to a modern kitchen with a small, sun filled breakfast nook.
"Nice," he complimented, grinning as he noted his teapot sat above the stove on a small shelf that displayed a wide range of his favorite teas. "Seriously, Mom. This is all way beyond." He praised, placing a small kiss to her cheek.
Esme smiled warmly, "you're welcome, Darling." She turned to Bella, "now Isabella's rooms are downstairs," she stated as she opened the door to the basement, "you have your own private entrance, bedroom, and bath with a small sitting room that connects up to the kitchen." She explained the layout, turning on the light.
He watched as Bella nodded thoughtfully, turning to look at him. His breath caught as her warm brown eyes caught his, "I'll have to go in a few," his stomach tightened, as a frown stretched across his face. "I need to pack up some of my things," she explained, sensing his tension.
She continued a touch quieter as if speaking to herself, "and explain to my roommate, apologize for the bind I'm putting her in. Figure out how I'm going to pay her," she trailed off, blushing as she realized he was listening to her ramble. "Anyways..." she said slowly, "I figured, while your family is visiting would be best," she reasoned as they paused at the stairs to figured out the baby gate, before following his parents up to the second floor.
"The nursery," Esme stated happily, opening the first door they came to.
"Oh, whoa," Bella murmured, impressed. The room looked like it belongs in one of his mother's, home design magazines. Blues and greys with pops of color.
There were a few large boxes of diapers by the changing table. Many outfits filled the closet, toys set on shelves.
He gently nudged Bella's shoulder and whispered lowly, so they weren't overheard, "my mom somehow managed to fit an entire baby store into one bedroom."
He let out a deep satisfying breath as Bella hid a snicker, it marveled him how her laughter affected him.
"I wanted the children to come home to a room that is theirs," Esme explained, crossing the hall to the larger room filled with two twin beds, one pink, one blue. It was warm, welcoming in design.
"It's lovely," Bella approved, setting the new teddy bear back on Mia's new bed.
"Thank you, dear, and Edward we just had the movers move over your old bedroom furniture. Everything not used here is in storage."
"Great, thanks," he nodded, following them back downstairs.
"If you'll give Bella and me a moment," he said excusing them, stepping into his new office, closing the door once Bella followed him inside. "What's your roommate's name?" He asked pulling out his checkbook, finding his desk was organized exactly as he left it.
"Angela Weber," she frowned, watching his hand as it scribbled across his checkbook. "Why?" She asked.
"For the trouble," he held out a check made to Angela for nine grand, her eyes widened. "The average rent around San Francisco is three thousand dollars, that'll cover your half of the rent for the next six month, giving her plenty of time to find another roommate."
"Edward," she gasped, "this is too much," she breathed startled by his generosity.
"No, what I'm asking of you is too much; this is the least I can do." He assured her. "You better go, take your time, pack, my parents will stick around until you return, I'm sure, if not, I think I can manage." His lips twitched upwards, his words teasing.
"I ... thank you, but we'll work something out later, I'll pay you back," she said stubbornly, accepting the check begrudgingly.
He rolled his eyes in mild annoyance. "Take the Escalade," he ordered.
She rolled her eyes in return, "I was going to," she assured him with a sassy smirk. "You've spoiled me."
He grunted, watching her leave.
Bella entered her tiny, two-bedroom apartment she shared with Angela. She hung her set of house keys up on the hook with a little sigh.
"You're back," her roommate and longtime best friend beamed, jumping off the sofa and hugging her. "I missed you."
"Be honest, you barely noticed I wasn't around." She laughed, lifting Ben's coffee mug off the breakfast counter and giving it a little shake before placing it in the sink.
"That's not true," Angela giggled, "well, maybe a little, Ben asked me to marry him." She squealed, showing Bella her tiny diamond ring.
"It's gorgeous, when?" Bella complimented, laughing as Angela shrugged cluelessly.
"We don't know, we're still working out the details. Our families want a huge wedding but ... I dunno, so not my style." She groaned.
"Elope," Bella suggested with a mischievous smirk.
"My mother would murder me, like, truly murder me dead, but a big wedding will cost a fortune." She sighed, pouring them both a glass of wine. Bella nodded synthetically. "Soo... anyways, B. How was the trip with Mr. Sexy Boss?"
She sank down on the sofa, taking a sip of the wine, "long, my heart completely broke for him, A. And when it put itself back together, it gave itself to him without my permission I might add." She groaned, "don't say anything, I'm a fool, I know."
"So, you didn't break any office rules?" Angela wiggled her eyebrow suggestively.
Bella snorted, "goodness no, I don't think Edward has ever broken a rule in his entire adult life."
"Oh," Bella giggled at her disappointment, "so, he's Edward now, huh?"
She nodded, going to the spare closet and pulling out the spare boxes they kept tucked away. "He asked me to be his nanny."
"Kinky," Angela laughed, ducking the flowery throw pillow Bella tossed at her head.
"I'm serious, A." She said, packing away her knickknacks that set on top of her dresser. "The pay is outrageous and comes with a bunch of benefits. He insists on paying for my college so long as I keep working for him."
"So, what's the catch?" Angela asked, sitting on the edge of her bed.
"I have to move in with him. It'll be a full-time gig, at least for six months until he can find someone else to cover the day shift. I'll take over in the evening," She explained, turning to look at her.
"Sounds crazy."
"It is," she agreed. "And here," she handed her the check," it's my portion of the rent for the next six month, until you and Ben can find another roommate." She smiled apologetically.
Angela's eyes widened as she took in the amount. Bella shrugged, "he didn't ask me how much my portion of the rent was, he assumed, insisted since he put you in this position. He doesn't know we split the rent three ways."
She nodded, "So... a nanny, huh?"
Bella took another sip before putting the glass on her windowsill. "Yeah."
"How's that going?"
"I have no idea what I'm doing," she admitted weakly, putting her clothes into a couple trash bags. "And you know when I don't know what I'm doing, I just fake it until I make it."
"That is classic Bella," Angela grinned, motioning for her to continue, "but when he asked, I couldn't say no, okay. I know, I'm creating a disaster of my own making."
"Mhmm," she agreed, taking a long drink and stroking Lucy.
"But I can't walk away; I'll figure it out as I go. I've been winging this adulting thing for a while now." She murmured, putting the picture of her parents in a box.
"You'll be fine; you're just nervous B. You have all the skills one needs to be a kick-ass child-carer," Angela assured her, helping her carry her first load of boxes down to the SUV.
Once her room was cleared of all her things with only the bed, dresser and desk left they flopped down onto the bare mattress.
"How are we going to move this stuff?" Angela groaned.
Bella grinned at her, "keep it, it'll make renting out the room easier, my new room is fully furnished, and when I move out, I'll be able to afford a better set. Now about this wedding..."
"You'll be my maid of honor, of course," Angela started; Bella nodded and listened as she devoured two slices of pizzas as the sun started to set. "Don't be a stranger, B. I mean it, don't run yourself into the ground, working too hard. Sunday brunch, be here."
"I'll pencil it in," she winked, blowing her a kiss before driving away.
Author Note …
As always, a big thank you to my wonderful Beta, Sunflower Fran.
I hope everyone is well, thank you for reading and please Review!
Extra hugs for everyone who needs one,
- Emily