31. ATTENTION
The holiday season came and went and a new year had just begun. In that short span of time, Edythe's wardrobe – things that she could still wear – started shrinking pretty quickly. She was combing through her closet again today, Arch by her side this time and I sat awkwardly like a weirdo on her black chaise, my hands folded tight in my lap as I watched them deliberate fashion which, by the way, I know absolutely nothing about.
"You know, I saw this coming – literally and metaphorically." Arch laughed, carefully folding a dress my wife couldn't wear anymore and putting it away in a clear plastic box. Edythe let out a sigh at that. She held a lavender floral-patterned dress up to her body and stood in front of her full-length mirror.
"The cut's a bit looser, I'm trying it on." Edythe said more to herself than to anyone else. She unzipped the dress and stepped into it, pulling it up over her stretchy gray shorts and white camisole. She put her arms through the flowy sleeves and started tugging up at the zip. Right when it hit the middle of her back though, it stopped moving.
"Let me help you with that, sis." Arch said, coming up behind her. He ran his tongue over his lip in concentration, pulling both sides of the back of the dress closer together. Edythe winced once, but Arch managed to make the zip go all the way up. Still, you could tell it was a little too tight on her. Of course, I wasn't going to be the one to tell her that just so you know, because I actually valued my life.
"Sorry, Edy. This one's going in the box, too." Arch matched her expression to a T, looking genuinely sad for her.
"How very disagreeable." Edythe let out a small, disappointed huff and sat down on her heels, rummaging through the bottom shelves of her open closet where she put her pants, skirts and shorts then sighed, loudly. I guess that meant it didn't look too promising, either.
"Maybe we can pick something up for you at the store. I need to get some groceries anyways." I offered up, trying my best to be helpful.
"Then I'm coming with you both." Arch smiled easily, looking from me to Edythe and back again. Of course, with anything even remotely fashion-related he'd be thrilled. Holding out a hand, he helped his sister up. That was when Carine popped in, a pale-yellow dress draped over her arm for Edythe to see.
"I couldn't help but overhear - try this one, honey. It's mine."
"Thanks, Carine." Edythe showed her mom a tired smile and took the dress from her, letting Arch help her into it. The high-cut skirt breezed easily over her curves. It looked really pretty on her and I noticed that somehow it made her seem older; more mature. More like a woman than a girl. She pulled her hair over one side of her shoulder and started for the door. I followed along right behind her but Arch was still at the top of the stairs by the time Edythe and I were already down them. A smile tugged up at the corners of his lips. It looked like he was about to say something, but Edythe swiveled around real quick, just glaring at him.
"I will end you, Archie. Don't even think about it." She pursed her lips in an angry little pout and her voice was cutting; her eyes piercing. I knew I'd definitely not want to be on the receiving end of those eyes, but apparently Arch was immune. Or maybe just crazy.
"What? It's funny." he protested out loud.
"Seriously? 'Wide load coming through?' What are you, five?" She rolled her eyes all the way up to the ceiling but her face looked like it would be blushing right about now if that were actually possible.
"I meant it in the best way, honest." He flashed her a cheery smile. "It just means that they're growing big and strong, right?"
Edythe sighed loudly, blowing a breath up into her eyes. "Some days you really are annoying." She walked away even faster with me, grabbing my hand and dragging me along behind her.
...
Edythe beat both Arch and I to the driver's seat of her silver Volvo. I took the loss. We all climbed in, me beside Edythe and Arch behind us in the backseat. It wasn't raining at first, but by the time we got to the Thriftway parking lot, the road was slicked black with rainwater, the car totally soaked. Edythe dove into a spot by one of those steel cart-corrals in the middle of the lot and we all got out, our faces getting pelted with freezing rain. I pulled my jacket tighter around me, shivering. You'd think I'd be used to this by now, living in Forks and all that these past few years. Nope. I still hated the cold and wet. Taking a small, portable umbrella out from his jacket pocket, Arch sprung it open, gathering me, him, and Edythe under it. He held it over us as we made our way across the lot. We ducked under the awning by the front entrance and he shook the umbrella out, sliding it back into his coat pocket as he ushered us into the very welcoming warmth of the store.
"Follow me." Arch took a dry cart from the metal rack by the automatic doors and led us straight to the apparel department, his eyes shiny with excitement. He sped around all the racks of clothes just throwing things into it left and right and when we got to the fitting rooms, the first thing he held up for Edythe to see was this short gray dress with long sleeves. Taking either side of the garment, he held it taut, pulling on the stretchy fabric. "The best part about this is that you can wear it now," he held out a hand and motioned to her from head to foot, "and later. More bang for your buck. That's the trick, you see – you don't really need to get maternity clothes. I mean, you'd only be using them for so long, right? Plus, it might be easier to find pieces that better suit your style here." he pointed out. "Here, try it." He took the dress off the hanger, folded it, and stacked a pair of black leggings and a black scarf on top of it, handing the whole bundle off to Edythe. After scrutinizing the stack for a few seconds, she gave her brother an approving nod and disappeared into the fitting room while Arch and I sat down on some chairs outside to wait for her. I didn't really know what to do with my hands while I waited and my knee bounced up and down restlessly like a jackhammer as I crossed then uncrossed my arms. I've never been one for clothes shopping – my mom would always buy me the stuff I needed and I'd just wear whatever she picked out for me, so it was funny to see Arch and Edythe go into it like it was some kind of active process instead. A few minutes later, Edythe waltzed out with a hand on her hip, spinning around twice for us to see.
"Wow." I breathed. The gray dress clung perfectly to the curves of her body and I felt my eyes go wide – she looked good. Like, really good. And my face felt really hot just then. I covered my chin with my hand and looked down, trying to hide my splotchy red face. Considering my only job today was to literally stop and stare at my freaking beautiful goddess wife, I was doing very badly at it. Arch snickered and Edythe let out a musical laugh, leaning down so the scarf trailed over the tops of my thighs. She blew a breath into my face and her sweet, compelling scent wrapped around my head, clouding my judgement and I just blinked up at her, totally stunned. Gee, we were already married, she didn't need to do that to me.
"I'll take it." She moved my hand away from my face, tilting my chin up with the tip of her finger and letting out a bright little laugh that kicked my heart into high gear.
This went on for another half hour or so, and it was like they were tag-teaming me or something. I mean, Edythe was right – Arch really did have the best taste. Maybe I'm biased, but I couldn't think of anyone better than Edythe to showcase his insane talent for fashion given the way it made me feel to see her in all his picks because let's just say, it wasn't good for my heart.
The final outfit he picked out for her was this cute white sweater dress over a pair of nice black tights and my heart did its weird double-thump thing again when she emerged from behind the door. Maybe I really was coming down with some kind of aortic issue.
"What do you think?" she asked with a grin.
"I'm pretty sure you know my answer already." I answered, nodding very slowly. She laughed at that.
"It really doesn't take much to impress you, does it?"
"No. Not when it comes to you, at least." I readily answered, shaking my head. Her mouth pulled over to one side of her face then softened out into another smile.
"You really are good to me, you know that?" She brushed a lock of hair from my forehead, her cool touch sending a tiny shiver up my spine. But when her little finger grazed the now-healed scar there, the smile she'd worn earlier fell away and she flinched, drawing her hand back as if from an open flame. She looked away, silent again.
"I better go change." She retreated back into the fitting room before I could even say anything. It hurt, because I hated to see her like that; like she hated herself. Like she felt she deserved to be hated by me.
A hand took my shoulder. It was Arch.
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Beau. It wasn't any more your fault than it was hers." I tried to show him a smile to tell him I appreciated it, but I was still too distracted to look at him straight. The fitting room door swung open again.
"Come on." Edythe, now back in Carine's yellow dress, got to the cart in two long strides, tossing in the clothes she just got out of. I wondered how much she heard, but she wasn't saying anything about it and I wasn't going to push her. I got up first and stood beside her. Arch got up after me and motioned a thumb further into the apparel department. "I'll catch up with you both later. In the meantime, I might go pick something out for Jess, too." He flashed us a smile and left us behind. I wondered what that was about - maybe he just wanted to give us some alone time. I was still quiet.
"You said you needed to buy some groceries, did you not?" Edythe asked, looking straight out in front of her at the vast expanse of the store.
"Oh, yeah. Almost forgot." I took out my list. We didn't need too many things, just some milk, eggs, and bread, so it wouldn't take very long at all. It wasn't too crowded today, but some of the aisles were pretty narrow and I tried not to cause too much collateral damage as I navigated the cart through them, praying I wouldn't wham into the heel of another shopper with it. Edythe had to help me with that of course, and she held on to the front of the basket, guiding me. Just as we passed through the space between the first checkout counter and the beginning of the dry goods aisles, something caught our attention at the exact same time – a small section of baby goods. It was yet another reminder of things to come; how our lives were going to change forever in a few short months, as crazy as that seemed. On the bottom shelf, there were boxes of ready-to-assemble cribs and I took one, moving her clothes and putting it in the cart basket. It was pretty heavy and Edythe made to grab it from me, but I assured her that I was just fine. The next second Edythe's arm was stretched over my head and she took down some baby toys from the top shelf.
"Oh, this really is quite precious." She held a tiny stuffed lamb out to me. I chuckled and went to browse through the rest of the shelf.
"Look what I found." I laughed, bringing the snout of a little lion plush up to nuzzle her nose.
"Perfect." Gently, she took it from me and held both animals in her hands, giving them a squeeze.
"And so, the lion fell in love with the lamb. And the two shall never be parted again." she whispered, putting them both down in the cart. Obviously, they were coming home with us. She looked up at me and brought her hand to my cheek. But her back stiffened up just then and she pulled away, looking down the rest of the aisle and angling her head this way and that with narrowed eyes. I tried to see what she was seeing, but all I really got was the back of some lady's head walking away from us.
"Um… you know her?"
"No, I don't actually." Edythe shook her head, hard. "And that is exactly why she has absolutely no right to make that sort of judgement call."
I was confused. All she did was pass us by, I don't think I heard her say anything weird to us.
Unless she was thinking it.
"What did she…?" I whispered, gesturing to the lady.
"It simply doesn't matter. Come on." She said it like she was telling herself that instead of answering me and took the front of the basket again. When we got to the eggs and dairy section near the back of the store, I parked the cart and went to the big industrial fridge case, taking down from it a gallon of milk. Edythe held her arms out, ready to catch me in case my legs gave out on me or something, which she was apparently expecting to happen.
"I'm pretty sure I'm capable of doing this much at least, Edythe." I laughed. She sighed and lowered her hands a little but still kept her eyes locked on me. I put the milk in the cart and we pushed on towards the eggs. After inspecting the dozen in the first carton I picked out, I put it down in the baby seat of the cart. I imagined how one of these days, there'd be an actual baby in it and the thought made me feel kind of weird, but kind of - excited, I guess? - at the exact same time. Who would have known? I certainly didn't, but it only made this whole experience - with Edythe by my side, of course - that much more special to me. I eyed the aisle of baby goods again from here, wondering if we should start stocking up now. I glanced at my watch then looked to my shopping list again - all that was left on it was some bread. I wanted to make it home before rush hour, so I guess the baby goods could wait for another day, we still had some more time until our lives changed forever. Imagine that. Sighing, I cut through an aisle full of snack foods to get to the bread and baked goods section of the store; turned my thoughts back to the present. While I was looking through the loaves trying to find the one stamped with the latest date, I couldn't help but notice how quiet Edythe had gotten. I turned to her and saw that her eyebrows were arched up towards the center of her forehead, her eyes sharp; uncomfortable now. I don't think I've ever seen her act like that before and I was a little worried, but just as I was about to say something about it, her mouth closed with an audible clench.
"I'm old enough to be their mother; their grandmother. A little respect would really be nice." Edythe seethed under her breath as a middle-aged lady whose hair was just graying walked by us at a distance just far enough away where she couldn't hear us talking. I mean, even I could feel her stare. It was probably worse for Edythe, though. She wrapped her coat tighter around herself.
"What's wrong?" I whispered, leaning closer to my wife. I think I kind of already knew it, though. She sighed and pulled away from me, twirling the silver wedding band that coordinated with mine around her left ring finger, almost like she was trying to draw attention to it.
"It's been a while since I cared what anyone thought of me," she started in a quiet, angry voice, "but their thoughts are just so terribly loud right now, looking at us; looking at me. It is immensely irritating. Completely insufferable." Edythe let out a huff and her eyebrows knit together, troubled. I continued to stare after the lady and wondered if anyone else thought the same thing she was thinking about us, too, because no matter how old Edythe technically was, all they could see was a girl too young to be a mom and a guy who majorly screwed up - me and her, two stupid kids who made a huge mistake. Like our child was some kind of mistake; a wrong that needed to be made right. I could feel that hotness bubbling away in my chest again and my jaw clenched, anger my initial reaction to their blatant disapproval. But then I took a breath and closed my eyes, trying to cool down a little bit. We shouldn't care what they thought about us, anyways - I mean, it was none of their business, right? Still, I could understand Edythe entirely, and my top priority now became to just try and make her feel better.
"Don't worry about them." I took her shoulders, blocking her view of everyone else behind me so she wouldn't have to see their probing stares. "They don't even know us, okay? You did nothing wrong."
"But maybe I did," her voice got all quiet, dropping off into nothing. "For falling in love with you."
That took me aback. It felt like my body was getting stabbed by a thousand cold, sharp needles all at once.
"What do you mean?"
She shook her head. "It's not just what they think of me, Beau - if I were an ordinary human girl, I could have still taken all that no matter how...unpleasant... their commentary might've been, trust me. People talking - that would've been the worst we'd really have to deal with if I were still human, right? But no matter how much I want it to be true, I'm not human, I'm not normal, and yet, I shamelessly pursued you. even when I knew it was utterly selfish of me to have wanted you like that." She said it like it was a one-sided thing when it was literally anything but. I tried telling her so, but she stopped me, taking a step back with our hands in-between us. "Just think about it, Beau - if I were still human, then you wouldn't have a target on your back because of me; my family wouldn't have a target on their backs because of me. And for that I know I'm selfish, too, for wanting this child." Her voice grew thick and she let go of my hands to touch her stomach, cradling it. "I know I should feel ashamed and yet, I cannot bring myself to regret any of it at all - you, him, us - because you have given me everything and more, Beau, things I didn't even think I could have asked for. And that truly makes me happy, Beau. Am I selfish for that? Am I?" Her eyes widened, fear and pain creeping up in them.
"Oh, Edythe." I shook my head and felt a choking lump rise up in my throat. "Of course you're not. Just don't worry about any of that sort of stuff, okay? We're going to be fine." I stroked her face. "I love you, Edythe. That's never, ever going to change. And I'll never be sorry that I do. Never."
"I love you, too." She let out a shaky sigh and rested her hand on my cheek, looking up at me. "Thank you, Beau." she whispered in a voice as quiet as a breath. I kissed her forehead and pulled her tight to my chest.
...
"Are you feeling a little better now, Edythe?" I asked, weaving my fingers through hers. She showed me a little nod and brought our hands up to her lips, brushing a kiss on my wrist. "Let's go."
We started towards the checkout counters with this calm quiet between us, leaning close to each other. Cutting through the produce section, I grabbed some apples and bananas that were on sale and we dove into the line of the first register we saw. When it was our turn, Edythe took out her wallet, getting ready to pay. She glanced up to look at the poor fellow working the register and he dropped the bananas instantly, bruising them when his eyes found hers. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" He was just a kid, maybe a little younger than me - definitely still in high school, the poor sap. His hair was a mop of tangled brown and his eyes were a glassy, delicate green, like they'd break on you if you pushed him too hard. His cheeks burned a deep red, and I couldn't help but feel for him, especially in the presence of my literal goddess wife. It was only natural, really. "It's quite alright." Edythe assured him, flashing her signature dimples. He dropped the price scanner and it bounced on the floor. I went to pick it up for him, but he beat me to it.
"Sorry!" he apologized again, quickly replacing it in its holder. Edythe chuckled. Did she think he was cute or something?
"He reminds me a little of you." she whispered, smiling. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing to hear as her husband and I didn't really know how to respond.
"What's your number?" The boy suddenly asked but shuddered, squeezing his eyes shut. "Ah, that is - I meant - what's your name? Then possibly your number? Maybe?" Wow. You know how they always say "shoot your shot"? Well, Mr. Cashier guy over here was really taking that to heart. This kid, I tell you.
"It's Swan. Mrs. Swan." Edythe touched my chest with her left hand - you know, the one with the wedding ring on it - and cradled her stomach with the other.
The kid flushed three shades of red and it almost looked as if his life all but flashed before his eyes. "Oh my gosh, I didn't know - it's just that you looked so young and... and... I'm so sorry, ma'am!" It was only then he stopped to look at me, for the first time ever, and he made this pained face like he was about to cry. "And... and sir." He bowed his head, ashamed. I mean, hitting on a married pregnant lady with her husband right there? Yeah, yikes. That's really gotta blow for the kid.
"Yeah, sorry dude. Usually that means she's taken." I motioned to the ring then her belly and the baby stuff on the conveyor belt, touching the back of my neck.
"Y-yes, of course. I'm really, really sorry."
I put my hands up, palms facing out towards him. "No hard feelings. Don't worry about it, man. It happens." Of course, this happened a lot more often with me and Edythe than for anyone else I knew. The boy still couldn't look at us straight. After he rung everything up and mumbled the total, Edythe, feeling bad for him I guess, showed him a little smile, thanked him and wished him a great day. Although his cheeks were still red, he definitely brightened up some when she did that.
By the time we found ourselves in the parking lot, it had stopped raining. Arch was already by the car, waving at us. I don't think it was a coincidence, he probably already knew beforehand what time we were going to get done at. I waved back, then turned to look at Edythe again and saw that she was smiling.
"I can't believe it. I actually got a ma'am." She threw her head back, laughing.
"And I got a sir." I chuckled and we kissed right there in the parking lot. We hurried over to Arch and he helped us load all the stuff in the Volvo. He eyed the crib then the stuffed lion and lamb, smiling to himself. But whatever he was smiling about, he was keeping it a secret from us. Even Edythe looked a little thrown by it, but not in a bad way if you know what I mean, just kind of curious. Afterwards, Edythe drove us back home. Standing in the driveway, I secured the crib box under one arm and carried two bags of groceries in the other hand, Edythe and Arch taking care of the rest before I could even protest. I looked after the blurs of light they turned into and once inside, I dropped off the two bags with food on the kitchen counter where they'd left the others and sprinted up the stairs to the room Edythe and I shared, dropping the crib off there and hurrying down the steps to help them put it all away. They were already done by the time I reentered the kitchen, though.
"Wow, you guys are really fast." They exchanged a knowing smile with each other and turned back towards me again. Edythe held one last bag out to me. In it were the little stuffed animals we picked out together and something else I didn't remember getting – a photo album. Sliding it out, I turned it over and sideways and ran my finger down its colorful spine, cracking it open to look inside. That's when I realized it wasn't just any ordinary photo album but one of those "Baby's First Year" scrapbooks instead, and I felt my eyes go wide as I took it in. Edythe came up to me and traced the small silver teddy bear medallion inset on the front cover with the tip of her finger, showing me a happy smile.
"You love it, I know." It was Arch. I couldn't help but grin at him.
"Thanks, Arch." I chuckled.
"Yeah, yeah. I saw their first birthday you know, in another vision. It was through your eyes." He smiled. "That's what gave me the idea in the first place. I figured you'd want to keep track of how they got there; how much they've grown."
I slid the album back in the paper bag and showed Arch another smile. "That really is thoughtful of you, Arch. Thanks again." His vision made me happy for another reason too, though – that the odds of us having a shot at a future together was getting more and more real; more and more possible. Together, Edythe and I went upstairs and put the bag down nicely with the crib and the box of baby things Dad gave us in the brightest corner of our room. I was feeling all giddy inside looking at the stuff and a flash of determination streaked across my face as a little thought came to mind and I reached for the crib. Maybe it was the adrenaline or whatever, but suddenly I felt like I could take on the world – or, at least, take a jab at this whole parenting thing and start fixing up the baby's crib. Peeling the tape off with my fingernail, I opened the box and slid out the contents – the base, headboard, footboard, rails, and a little pack of screws plus other odds and ends – and laid them all out. It was more parts than I was expecting, and I was wondering if I was missing anything. I went to look at the instruction manual for comparison but realized I couldn't find it. I kind of panicked there for a second but when I turned the box over and shook it, the booklet came fluttering out easily. With one finger on the page, I looked from the stuff I had laid out in front of me to the illustrations and back again, checking things off mentally. When I made sure they were all there, I started downstairs for the toolbox, but Edythe beat me to it and was gone and back again at my side before I could even blink.
"Here you go." She held the red box out to me, pushing us both back into the room. Lowering herself to her knees, she motioned for me to do the same. "So we're doing this, huh?" she asked, her eyes burning bright with excitement. She put the toolbox down and flipped the lid open, already digging through it.
"I can't make you do that. Let me, I've got this." I insisted, taking the box from her.
"It would go much faster if only you'd let me help." Her voice got all light and she pulled the box right back to her.
"But you're pregnant!"
She narrowed her eyes at me. "And your point is…?" She shrugged after a long minute and her slender fingers danced in the air, punctuating my stupidity. I shook my head – I mean, even when mocking me she was so utterly beautiful. Without even realizing it, my face just started gravitating in towards hers like a magnet and I closed my eyes, anticipating the sweetness of her cool lips on mine.
I leaned in and ended up kissing her finger instead.
She tutted me. "We do it together. Final offer."
"Deal." I caved.
Moving her finger away, she grinned and covered my lips with hers - a reward for my cooperation - then turned to look at the crib parts again with a smile on her face.
"So, where should we start?" She flipped through the instruction manual super quick – how anyone can read that fast vampire or not was beyond me – and cast it aside. Then she took up the headboard, laying it flat out on the floor in front of her. From another small plastic bag, she took out a long golden nail.
"Beau? I need you to stand this up." She pointed to the headboard. I nodded and did exactly what I was told and she attached the golden nail onto what I assume was the inside of the headboard easily. Then she attached one of the rails - the taller one - to the headboard and screwed that in before aligning it with the shorter railing and connected the mattress support to the base of the crib with me pretty much just handing her the things she needed and occasionally holding stuff up and in place. I mean, for her saying that we were doing this thing together, I seemed to be doing very little and she, too much. Just as she grabbed the footboard - the final piece - I leapt up and stopped her.
"I got this." I cracked my knuckles, thrusting my palms out. I screwed the footboard into both railings and thought I did a pretty good job with it but realized when, with Edythe's help, I stood it up and saw that the legs were uneven. She threw her head back and laughed out loud at the sight.
"Shall we try that again?" She smirked, resting her fingers on the corner of her lip.
I snatched up the screwdriver and started over again from the top. One of the screws got stuck when I tried to twirl it in again and the next thing I know I was practically whamming it into the crib with the screwdriver handle like a hammer into a nail just fuming, and I heard my wife mocking me again.
"Patience, Beau. What did that poor crib ever do to you?"
"I'll get this thing to fit if it's the last thing I do!" I said through my teeth, hoping it'd motivate me if I just hyped myself up a little more. I mean, if this was pretty much all I could do, then you bet I was going to do a thorough job. Miraculously or perhaps through sheer willpower, it actually seemed to work. The screw unstuck itself and I was finally able to start on the other side. After tightening both screws, I stood the crib up again and let out a sigh of relief when I saw that it was level to the ground for once. Even Edythe looked kind of impressed. I deliberately let go of the screwdriver and it clattered loudly to the floor in a total mic drop moment. I stood back and made a motion like I was wiping my hands off and tossed my wife a smug grin over my shoulder.
"Pretty cool, don't you think?"
"Totally." She nodded, but the way her eyes narrowed at me kind of confirmed the opposite. I frowned, almost hurt.
"Aw, come on. You have to admit that was pretty neat."
Her wide crimson eyes looked amused, and the corners of her lips were right on the point of breaking into another smile. "Fine. I'll give you that." She patted my chest twice with her hands and laughed. "Now, we just have to figure out where exactly to put it," her mouth pulled over to one side of her face and she crossed one arm over her torso, resting her head in her other hand, thinking as her eyes swept the room from left to right.
"What about that corner?" I offered up, motioning to the right of the window if you were looking at it from here.
"Mm. I like it." Edythe nodded thoughtfully. I started towards the crib but then felt this cool, sudden rush of air whizz past me and realized it was only her. Before I could even fathom what she was going to do, she had the crib high up in the air with one hand.
"Edythe! What do you think you're doing?" I sprinted over at top human speed and took the other side from her.
She gave me a confused look. "I'm relocating the crib to the place which you yourself suggested, of course. What does it look like to you?"
"You'll hurt yourself doing that!"
"Did it seem too heavy for me?" she asked, blinking. I motioned to her from head to foot with my free hand, pushing up a sound of disbelief from the back of my throat. Wasn't it obvious?
"Oh, Beau. You worry too much." She waved me off. "I'm perfectly fine and so is he. Trust me." She started off with the crib again but I tightened my grip on it.
"Sorry, no can do."
"Oh, come on, Beau. I'm pregnant, not helpless. Is that concept very hard for you humans to understand?" She rolled her eyes. "Plus, we both already know I'm much stronger than you." She smirked.
I… couldn't argue with that. But still, to let her do something like this herself felt wrong as the husband; as the dad, you know what I mean? It was the least I could do.
I shook my head. "Yeah, still a no. We'll do it together. Final offer." I answered readily with a shrug, throwing her words from earlier right back at her.
"Stubborn." she muttered under her breath but I could tell there was the hint of a smile in her voice and she finally allowed me to assist her. It looked nice by the window and I was pretty proud of myself for suggesting it in the first place.
"Would you look at that - it really is quite lovely." Edythe breathed, clasping her hands together. All we needed now was the mattress and bedding. After taking some measurements and writing them down in my phone, I stood back again and Edythe stayed looking at the crib, her eyes shiny with excitement. Then she started listing off a bunch of colors in a quiet voice like she was talking to herself, and her face had a reaction to every last one of them. I couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing." I shrugged, hiding my smile.
"I do hope for your sake that you aren't satirizing me." She pulled me in by the collar of my shirt, her bottom lip caught between the gleam of her white teeth as she looked up at me with crimson doe eyes. Her voice got lower; more velvety and I felt like I was melting.
"And what if I was…?" I challenged, waggling my eyebrows.
"Then you must pay the consequences for your actions, of course." The next thing I know, she pushed me down hard on the bed with an invisibly-fast movement and suddenly I wasn't on my feet anymore. I toppled backwards onto the mattress, hearing it creak under our weight as she eased herself on top of me. Her face drew nearer and nearer to mine and her cool lips traced a path down my cheek then my chin and then my throat, making me feel cold then hot one right after the other in the best kind of way. Unable to resist the way she moved; how her body worked on mine, my fingers tangled in her hair and my lips crushed against hers again and again.
"Well, if this is my punishment, then how am I ever going to learn? You should really try another tactic, you know." I said between breaths, running my hands up and down her satin arms.
She pinned me down and brought my hands to her chest. "Lucky for you, I've got plenty." She brushed her lips against my knuckles and tugged off my shirt, throwing it onto the floor. Her lips started moving again, but this time they trailed along down the center of my bare chest, down my stomach, down… Oh, that one is new. Alrighty, then.
She pulled me up again and sat herself in my lap. I dove for her neck, bracing her body against mine. My fingers found the zip in the back of her dress and I pulled the sleeves down her arms; watched as they hooked over the bends of her elbows and hung off her glorious body but in my very humble opinion, she was still entirely overdressed. Just as I tugged down on the skirt part of the dress though, I felt this weird sort of - thrashing? – against the palm of my hand. Edythe let out a hiss and tightened her grip on my fingers.
"What's wrong?" I asked, panic creeping up in my voice. She closed her eyes, swallowing once before answering me.
"He's at it again." She sighed and, pulling the zip of her dress up with one hand, leaned over and reached for the little glass vial of venom that Carine gave her on the nightstand. When she pulled up her skirt, I saw the flash of those black, pulsing lines again and winced involuntarily. They were bigger now, but when she dabbed more of the venom on them, they disappeared a lot quicker than they ever had before, like her skin was adapting – evolving – along with the baby. She put the little vial away and turned to look at me with bemused eyes, shaking her head.
"He was so confused!" she declared with a bright laugh.
"Confused?" I tilted my head.
Edythe looked up at the roof, shifting her jaw. "Mm, how should I put it? It's new - the feeling, that is - or at least, his ability to 'vocalize' it and communicate it to me, if you know what I mean. It's the first time I've heard something like it." I thought about that for a long minute but wished I hadn't. My cheeks got all red and splotchy. I didn't want to scar my future child for life or anything like that, so reluctantly I tossed my shirt on again and sat back on the bed, leaning up against a pillow. Wow, he wasn't even born yet, and he was already interrupting us! At this rate, he was going to be an only child for life. I guess seeing the look on my face, Edythe threw her head back, laughing.
"Oh, Beau. Don't be that way."
"What way?"
"That way." she repeated, her tone adding the "duh". I tried to think of what my face looked like to her now. Did I really seem that desperate?
"Oh."
"Yeah. Oh." She laughed again, pulling her legs up sideways on the mattress. Cradling her stomach, she closed her eyes, concentrating on something. Then her lips blossomed into a smile. Without thinking, I scooted in closer to her and touched my own hands to her stomach as if somehow, I could see the very same things she was seeing, too. I wanted it now, more badly than I could have imagined before. It was nothing short of amazing. I felt those fluttery movements again and laughed despite myself – it made me feel kind of funny, but in the best kind of way.
"What's he thinking?" It was my turn to ask that now.
"He loves the sound of my voice," she chuckled.
"Well, duh."
"And yours, too. He can recognize them both already." She smiled softly. "And he loves the sound of your heart beating. He can hear it even now." She covered her lips with one hand. "And… he loves us. Very, very much." She looked down, shaking her head. "What have I ever done to deserve you?" Her voice was barely above a whisper - there was so much love in it, but there was also a sense of anguish which tinged her words and made my heart clench up in my chest.
I brought my hands up to either side of her face and brushed my lips against her forehead.
…
The next day, Edythe and I were sitting on the big couch downstairs. I was looking through that page in the newspaper where job listings were posted - I figured since we weren't heading up to college just yet, it wouldn't hurt to get some work experience in before then. Besides, doing this gave me an excuse not to think about Ivan nor the Volturi and everything else that could go wrong – I mean, it was less than two months away, maybe even sooner if anything changes. I just couldn't take that right now. Pushing the thought out to the furthest reaches of my mind, I hovered a finger over a promising opportunity – a private English tutor for a kid in high school posted by his parents. It was my best subject growing up and I turned to tell Edythe about it but saw that she was distracted. It looked like she was talking to herself again. Though I couldn't make out the words, she was all smiles and immediately I knew what that meant – she was talking to the baby. Just then, her crimson eyes locked on mine and she showed me a grin like the big finish to a fireworks display.
"What is it?" I asked, laughing.
"He wants to talk to you." She beamed.
"Yeah right."
"I told you, he's very smart."
"What would he want to talk to me for, though? I'm very boring."
"Beau." She gave me a look from under the fringe of her thick eyelashes.
"I don't know-"
"Come on Beau, just say something to him. I'll translate." She almost sounded mad.
"I feel weird."
"Don't be such a baby. That spot has already been filled, you know." She gave me a tiny shove with the tip of her finger and laughed.
"Fine." I caved. I put a thoughtful finger to my chin and came up with a very brilliant idea, mainly to get back at her. "Alright. You asked." I shrugged, lowering my hands onto her stomach.
I cleared my throat. "Hey, kid. It's me, your dad. Mind if I ask you a favor? Whatever you are, just please don't be as cruel to me as your mother. I don't think I could take it." I entreated her growing belly very kindly. I looked up again at my wife, biting back a smile. She narrowed her eyes sharply at me and I think she was silently contemplating very seriously how she could murder me a hundred different ways that instant.
"Of all the things…" she huffed, looking at me with those beautiful angry eyes of hers and I shrugged, pulling my lips up into a smug grin.
And then I heard my stomach let out a huge growl. I winced in embarrassment - I guess that's what I got for igniting my wife's ire.
I got to my feet and started towards the kitchen. "I'm going to get a snack. Do you want something?" I asked, motioning a thumb over my shoulder. She smiled a slow, easy grin at me. I guess I was expecting her to be craving some human food because of the baby at first, but that grin made me realize she was wanting something else entirely today, and my face turned white then green then white again. But, I was ready to do it; ready to do it for her.
"Mm, I do… but I wouldn't want to subject your – ah, what was it now? – right, your weak vasovagal system to any more abuse." She stood up and joined me, touching her cool fingers to my white cheeks. "So, I'm coming with you."
"Deal." She slid her hand in mine and we swung them between us as we made our way to the kitchen. But just as we passed by the large window in the back of the living room, we heard a loud gasp.
It was Archie.
"Arch? What are you seeing?" Edythe had both her hands on his shoulders now and she shook them, hard.
"Why… why didn't I see that coming?" His voice was no louder than a whisper.
"Arch? Arch, what do you mean? Talk to us." I stayed watching his face – his eyes were still closed and my heart seized up in my chest. After an eternal moment, he began to speak.
"This is strange. He wasn't supposed to. Not yet, at least."
"Supposed to what?" Edythe's voice was shrill now. Jules and everyone else in the house came to meet us in the room, surrounding us on all sides.
"To leave." Arch turned towards Edythe and took her hand. "Ivan's left home, Edy."