Chapter 10
EPOV
Sh-, crap. This was all I needed. I felt Bella grab my hand tightly as we both turned around towards the amused grey eyes of Renata “Ren” Daniels. This was not going to be good.
“Renata.” Bella said fuming, plastering a fake smile across her face.
“Aw Belly, don’t be like that. You know its “Ren”.” She grinned, flipping a lock of her curly black hair over her shoulder. Bella let out a small scoff under her breath.
“And you know its “Bella”, now what do you want?” She said starkly. Ren ignored her.
“What, I can’t say hello to my old friend Eddie?” She grinned, flashing her overly whitened teeth. I grimaced. Renata was one of my old “friends” from school. She was one of those girls; pretty, rich and fake, but behind that façade, I knew she had a good heart; she just didn’t have enough of a backbone to say no to her snobbish friends.
She was one of my good friends, until the hierarchy of high school got to her and she left me in the dust. Not to mention when Bella and I first started dating, and Bella would come down to visit me, Renata would coincidently pop up and try to make it seem as if we were an item, nearly breaking the two of us up. I never forgave her for nearly destroying the best thing that ever happened to me and Bella certainly didn’t do so either. She didn’t hate Renata, but she didn’t particularly like her either.
“No, and the name is Edward remember?” I growled, and I could feel the muscles tightening all over my body. Bella rubbed a soothing arm up and down my back. Renata’s smile fell.
“I just wanted to say hi and I guess I was surprised to see you in here.” She said, fidgeting nervously. Well that was new. Renata Daniels fidgeting?
“Oh and why is that?” Bella huffed, planting her hands on her hips.
“I didn’t mean anything by it. I guess I’m just shocked to see the two of you again.” Renata answered.
“Oh what a shocker, considering you nearly broke us up on more than one occasion.” I huffed. She looked down at her feet.
“And for that I’m sorry. I was young and naïve; I made a lot of mistakes. That was never my intention. Life got hard and I guess succumbed to the pressure.” She replied.
“That still doesn’t make it right.” I answered.
“Oh I know, but still I just wanted to say hi, and that I’m happy for the both of you.” Renata answered and I was surprised by how genuine it sounded.
“Thank you.” Bella replied, her tone somewhere between confusion and awe. I looked down to see that Renata had a few baby items of her own in her hands. She must have seen my line of view because she gave me a small smile.
“It’s for my little girl. My partner Irina is eight months pregnant with her and I figured it never hurts to have a few more things.” She said happily. I was a little shocked for words and Bella seemed a little taken a back as well.
“Well congratulations.” I managed to muster out. She may have been mean to me in the past and I still may not like her now, but I was still genuinely happy for her and her partner. She offered me a small smile when her phone vibrated. She looked down.
“That’s Rina and I gotta run.” She answered looking down at her phone. She looked back up at me. “Despite what you may think, it was nice seeing the both of you again and congrats on your new addition to your family.” Renata grinned, before heading towards the front of the store.
Bella and I turned towards each other.
“Well that was unexpected.” I said.
“Yeah it was, but I’m happy for her.” Bella laughed, shocking the hell out of me.
“Yeah it was, but I’m happy for her.” Bella laughed, shocking the hell out of me.
“You’re happy for her?” I asked. Bella rolled her eyes at me.
“Well don’t make it seem like such a bad thing.” She huffed sarcastically. “She may have been a bi-…a bit-….well you know, since I can’t think of an alternative; but she seems to have her life in order and I can’t be mad at her for that.
Everyone deserves happiness, no matter where you get it.” She smiled, grabbing my hand. I looked over at the amazing woman beside me. Call me cheesy if you want; hell I’ll bring the fondue pot if you wanted me to. Words couldn’t describe how I was feeling right now, so I offered her a small kiss to the hand where I was rewarded with her lovely rosy blush.
“Ready to continue?” Bella asked.
“Lead the way.” I replied, knowing that no matter where my girl went, I was sure to follow.
……………………………………………..
BPOV
“Isabella Cullen?” One of the nurses called out. I let out a sigh as I rocked myself up into a standing position. Edward still wasn’t here. He had to unexpectedly run to the office to help redo a presentation that had accidently gotten deleted. That was three days ago and he worked from morning to night; usually stumbling in, in the early hours of the next day.
Edward still wasn’t here and I really hoped he hadn’t forgotten about this appointment. Luckily, Liam had the day off and offered to drop me off. He offered to come with me inside, but I felt like it was a private moment only Edward and I should see. Besides, I really didn’t want my brother all up in my goods; that would just be awkward.
Following behind the nurse, I followed the routine checkup, weight (gained 14 pounds so far!), height, BP (luckily normal) and a urine test (ugh!) to make sure I was in perfect health.
Dr. Biers was still finishing up with another patient, so the nurse escorted me to another room, where she carefully helped me up onto the bed. After making sure I was okay (in which she asked me numerous times) she left and I laid there in silence. I closed my eyes. Edward should have been here by now and it was seriously making me worried. What if something had happened to him? He wasn’t answering his phone or the texts I sent him.
I took a few calming breaths. There was no point in me getting my blood pressure up when all it was going to do, but cause a few more complications. A few minutes later Dr. Biers came through the door a soft smile on his face.
“Good afternoon Mrs. Cullen.” He grinned. I laughed and shook my head.
“You know you can call me Bella you know. Mrs. Cullen is my mother in law. Besides, you did deliver me into the world so I think the whole formality thing is a little far-fetched, don’t you think?”
“I guess so. I looked at your chart and everything seems to be okay. Instead of your bi-weekly appointments, I want to see you once a week. A pregnancy at this high of risk should be monitored very carefully. I think everything will progress just fine as long as you avoid any strenuous activity and unnecessary stress.” Dr. Biers said.
“I know. Edward won’t let me lift finger.” I sighed, suddenly sad again at the fact that he still wasn’t here.
“If you don’t mind me asking, but where is he? I thought he usually accompanied you to your appointments.” He asked, shifting his glasses back up upon his nose.
“That’s the million dollar question isn’t it?” I grimaced. He gestured towards the sonogram machine.
“Ready to see those babies of yours?” I eagerly nodded my head and Dr. Biers let out a soft chuckle at my enthusiasm. He quickly turned on the machine and squirted a bit of ultrasound gel onto my stomach, where I was rewarded by the sounds of fluttering heartbeats. I felt a smile spread across my face. Dr. Biers looked at the screen and wrote a few things down on his clipboard.
“The babies’ heartbeats are nice and strong. I don’t see any abnormalities, but then again it’s a little hard to tell with so many babies in there. As you already know, you’re in the midst of your second trimester, and if you like, we can try to see if we can determine the sex of the babies. Would you like that?” he asked, and I pondered it for a moment. This was definitely something I wanted to share with Edward, but another part of me felt like I deserved to know. Quickly knowing my answer, he pressed the remote back to my stomach and looked at the screen.
“Do you want me to do each baby individually and tell you their sex or wait towards the end to find out?” He asked.
“You can do them individually.” I answered. After a few moments and prodding my stomach, his face broke out in a soft smile.
“Congrats Bella, Baby number one is a……………..”
……………………….
Something cool and soft was rubbing down the side of my face. It was late from what I could tell and I could softly hear the sound of crickets chirping in the distance. I knew it wasn’t Jerry touching me since I could feel him lying across my feet sound asleep and Liam had left hours earlier after I cried myself to sleep. I groggily opened my eyes and gazed up into a pair of green ones that looked down into my eyes full of regret and sadness.
“I’m so sorry.” He breathed. I stayed quiet as he continued to speak. He was still dressed in his tie and slacks, so I knew he had just gotten home. I looked past his piercing gaze and looked over at the alarm clock on the night stand behind him that read 1:43 a.m.
It had been eleven hours since I found out the gender about our babies; 11 hours since I grudgingly called Liam to pick me up when Edward didn’t show; 11 hours since I heard Liam holler and curse at Edward over the phone, when he realized that he had indeed forgotten about our appointment and blown up at me for interrupting his work time when he was enjoying a few beers with his coworkers at the time. Ten hours since Liam, practically dragged me up the stairs as I cried on his shoulder where I eventually fell sound asleep, which brings us back to now, where I looked back up at the green eyes that are solely focused on mine. I closed my eyes and waited for him to speak.
There was nothing for me to say.
…………………….
EPOV (Hours earlier)
“Ed, man let’s get a couple of beers. “ My friend and employee Garrett grinned.
“Yeah, I guess I could use one right about now.” I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. For the third day in a row, he and couple of my other employees had been assisting me in redoing a presentation that one of the assistants Jane Rivers “accidently” deleted and lost the backups.
“I know dude, I feel like my eyelids have bricks on them.” He groaned, stretching beside me. We had been working since 5 this morning and we still weren’t finished. I was mentally and physically exhausted. I had blown up at Bella earlier for interrupting me while I was working and turned off my phone. I knew I was being an a-hole, but I was too stressed to care at that moment.
Heading over to our favorite bar we grabbed a couple of baskets of wings and fries to go alongside our beers. We were halfway through our 2nd round of beers with our coworkers when Garrett got a call from his wife Kate. He made a motion that he would be back and quickly left the table.
That’s when I remembered that I had turned off my phone so I could work on the presentation. Damn, maybe Bella had called to check up on me. When I turned on my phone I was met by a few missed call and text messages.
Edward, where in the hell r u?-B I looked down at it confusedly. She knew where I was, I checked through the other text messages.
Love, I’m already in the room, are you here yet?-B
Are you still mad about what happened earlier, because this isn’t funny! Where are you?-B
Edward Anthony! You officially suck. Thank you for forgetting the most important apt. ever. I guess our babies don’t matter to you after all-B What the hell? What was she talking about? Appointment?
That’s when it hit me and then I realized I was in deep shit….shoo…..oh fuck Bella wasn’t here right now. I was screwed. I had forgotten all about our appointment today and it was the one where we would find out the sex of the babies. Was I that obsessed with work that I could forget something like this, and here I was sipping on beer and laughing with friends. I definitely deserved the worst father and husband award. After scrolling through the texts a few more times, I saw that I had a few missed calls. The first three from Bella, and I ignored them knowing she was going to rip me a new one for missing our appointment. The last two were from Liam and I grudgingly opened my voicemail it wondering what he wanted.
“Hey Assward! You’re lucky I’m not kicking your ass right now. I had to pick up and drop off my baby sister, because her douche of a husband forgot. And then you hollered at her too, you’re lucky my-“Beep”. His message quickly ended. I headed to the next one.
“Grr, my dad and I come and get you. You made her cry! You better fix things with Booger before that pretty face of yours ends up under my shoe. Now fix it.” Liam screamed and abruptly ended the message. Fuck! I scrubbed my hands up and down my face. I had to figure out a way to fix this, I just had to.
……………………………………….
She was sound asleep by time I got home. Of course she would be. It was after one in the morning and the days’ events must have worn her out. I trailed my hand down her cheek reveling in the soft texture and radiance her skin took as the soft moonlight hit it. I was broken from my little reverie as she shifted in her sleep, her eyes groggily opening as she looked up bleary at me. After a few blinks her beautiful eyes stared up at me.
“I’m so sorry.” I breathed meaning every word of it. She closed her eyes and I could see the well of tears threatening to release themselves as she let out a soft sigh.
“Baby, please look at me.” I whispered and Bella opened her eyes, a few tears falling down her eyes. I felt like a jerk.
“I’m sorry. I guess I got so obsessed with work that I let it cloud my mind. I would never intentionally forget something as important as an appointment for our children. I want you to know that. I hope you know that.” I continued, pressing a chaste kiss to her nose.
“You hurt me.” She whispered. I stroked a few stray strands away from her face.
“I know love, I know. I’m sorry for even blowing up at you. My mom would have my behind bent over her lap if she knew how I treated you. Words can’t even describe how I feel right now. Please say that you forgive me.” I begged.
“Can we talk about this later? I’m so tired.” Bella answered and my heart sunk a little bit, but she did offer to talk about this later. I closed my eyes in defeat.
“Edward?” she whispered.
“Yes love?” I asked, not opening my eyes.
“Can you please hold me? I just need your arms around me right now.” She whispered so quietly that she sounded like a small child.
“Anything you want love.” I answered stripping down to my boxers. I laid down beside her, as she cuddled her head against my chest. It wasn’t long before her breath evened out and she began mumbling random sayings in her sleep.
I stayed awake despite being dead on my feet. I just kept staring down at her beautiful profile wondering again how such an amazing woman could be in love with a man like me. I had to make it up to her, I just had to.
“Edward.” Bella sighed in her sleep, a soft contented smile on her face as she snuggled further onto my chest. I felt my face break out in a small smile as I fell asleep moments later, knowing that I still probably wasn’t forgiven, but at least it was progress.
………………………………………
“Wake up!” a voice hollered. I grumbled and rolled over shoving a pillow over my face.
“I swear this boy is just like a teenager.” The voice muttered again. I groaned as I pressed the pillow further down on my head while I absentmindedly searched for Bella. I felt nothing. I raised my head slightly to see if she was there, when the covers were abruptly ripped off of me, letting the cool air hit my skin.
“What the fuck!” I screeched and felt a sharp pain hit the side of my thigh.
“Edward Anthony, watch your language.” My mother huffed and I rolled over on my back to see my mother perched on the edge of my bed a mischievous look in her green eyes.
“You’ve got some explaining to do.” She replied, giving me the eyes that made me tell her everything.
“Mom.” I groaned, laying my arm across my eyes.
“Tsk, tsk my boy. Now get up. You know the drill.” My mom huffed and I grudgingly sat up.
It was going to be a long day.
……………..
BPOV
“You ready for tonight?” Alice chirped as she combed through my dark locks. I was half listening to her, still thinking about last night. When morning came, Edward looked so peaceful and I didn’t want to wake him up. I had carefully extracted myself from his arms and went downstairs to get breakfast where I saw Esme and Alice perched at my kitchen counter, pastries and coffee in tow.
“Hello, earth to Bella.” Alice huffed, hitting a tangle in my hair.
“Ouch! Yes I am ready for tonight, despite the fact that I’m going to look like a whale.” I muttered. Tonight the hospital was having a benefit honoring Carlisle and his contributions. Everyone was going to be there and see me in all of my glory.
“Isabella Cullen, you will not look like a whale. I specially designed this dress for you and you will not look like a whale!” Alice screeched.
“Well I sure feel like one.” I sighed, fingering a strand of my now straight hair.
“Bella, sweetie look at me.” Alice said. I looked over at her.
“You are one hot mama and don’t let no one tell you otherwise. Understood?” She glared.
“Understood?” She huffed again.
“Yes Alice. I understand. I’m one hot mama okay.” I grinned.
“Good, now let’s get dressed. Rose took the kids over to her parents for the night so we have the night to ourselves.” Alice said, pulling out huge red bag.
“What is all that?” I groaned.
“Just the basics.” She grinned mischievously pulling out numerous beauty supplies. I stifled the groan that threatened to release itself. While Alice was distracted, I moved the small box I brought with me carefully to the side.
“What’s that?” she asked curiously. I smiled to myself.
“Oh, just the basics.” I grinned.
……………………………..
“Come on, one more dance.” Alice said as she begged Jasper for another dance.
“Not tonight darlin, my dogs are killing me.” He said, running a hand through his messy blonde locks.
“Aw, you’re no fun.” She huffed, coming to sit down beside Rosalie, Tanya, and I. All in all, tonight was going extremely well. We laughed, cried, drunk a few drinks (well I had water) and danced. I was feeling a little tired and looked around for Edward to see if he wanted to leave, but he was nowhere to be found.
“Does anyone know where Edward is?” I asked. Everyone shook their heads no in response although I saw them all share a knowing glance. Things were still a little strained between the two of us. We both acted like nothing happened, but there was still this weird sense of awkwardness between us and I didn’t like it.
I was just about to get up and look for him when the lights dimmed and all the attention focused on the stage where the band played. I still couldn’t see much, but when a figure walked on stage and I saw that unmistakable shade of bronze hair, I knew it was him. Jasper and Emmett trailed on behind him and I was even surprised to see Liam up there. Edward headed towards the microphone post, while Jasper headed towards the keyboard with Liam and Emmett on guitar.
I was wondering why in the hell they were even up there when the opening notes of Creed’s With Arms Wide Open began playing.
Well I just heard the news today
It seems my life is going to change
I close my eyes, begin to pray
Then tears of joy stream down my face
It seems my life is going to change
I close my eyes, begin to pray
Then tears of joy stream down my face
His voice was so soft at first and then gradually turned into a husky tenor.
With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open
Well I don't know if I'm ready
To be the man I have to be
I'll take a breath, I'll take her by my side
We stand in awe, we've created life
With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open
I'll show you everything ...oh yeah
With arms wide open...wide open
Liam and Emmett broke out into their guitar solos and Edward looked out lovingly into the crowd and he smiled as his eyes focused on mine.
If I had just one wish
Only one demand
I hope he's not like me
I hope he understands
That he can take this life
And hold it by the hand
And he can greet the world
With arms wide open...
With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open
I'll show you everything...oh yeah
With arms wide open....wide open
The crowd broke out into a standing ovation. I could feel the tears streaming down my face as Edward took a bow and headed off the stage and towards me. He was just amazing. The meaning behind those words just showed me how much he invested in this. In us.
He must have taken my tears as a sign of distress, because he began tugging on his bronze locks.
“Love, I’m so sor-.” I cut him off as I crushed my lips to his, my belly softly hitting his stomach between us as I pulled him closer. I heard cheers and cackles around me as Edward ran his hands through my hair. We pulled apart both breathless. Edward rested his forehead against mine.
“I take it that I’m forgiven?” He asked; his usually green grass eyes were now a dark jade.
“You’re more than forgiven.” I breathed, stepping back away from him. I grabbed his hand and pulled him along over to our table. Letting his hand go momentarily I reached under the table and grabbed the box I had hidden under here earlier. I had planned on giving it to him earlier, but it didn’t feel like the right time. I turned around and looked at him nervously.
“Here.” I blushed. He looked at the box in his hands.
“What is this?” Edward asked and I threw a sly look at Liam. He knew what was in the box.
“Why don’t you open it and find out.” I grinned as Edward tore off the paper and carefully opened the box, pulling out the picture frame.
“Really?” he gasped, his green eyes immediately welling up with tears.
“Yep.” I smiled as he hugged me and looked back at the picture frame that had 6 little blue hats perfectly arranged in them.
“All boys?” He gasped.
“All boys.”
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