Chapter 19
1451 Words
Sitting in the car on the way home I allowed my attention to go to the rear view mirror to look at my daughter. It felt weird knowing that in the past year I had fallen in love, was married and had a daughter, who now looked like an adult.
“Edward!” Bella shouted.
My attention shifted suddenly to the road just in time to swerve back into my lane, missing a semi that was carrying logs. When it had passed us I pulled over to the side of the road to redeem myself.
“Edward, what is going on?” Bella asked.
Before I could answer Renesmee began crying. “Dammit.” I sighed before turning around in the seat. “I’m sorry Renesmee I didn’t mean to scare you.” I apologized before running my thumb along her cheek to eliminate the tears that had started to fall.
“It’s okay.” Renesmee whispered. Her lip quivered slightly as she forced herself to stop crying. “I wasn’t scared.” She lied.
“Renesmee it is okay to be afraid.” Bella said before running her fingers along her flushed cheeks.
After Renesmee had settled down we continued to the house which was two miles down the road. When I parked I told Renesmee to go inside and get washed up for dinner.
“I was just thinking about Renesmee’s future.” I began.
“Okay and what about it?” Bella asked.
“I just don’t like the idea of an arranged marriage.”
Bella adjusted in her seat. “It’s not arranged.”
“But she doesn’t get to choose. Since the day she was born and Jake imprinted on her it was basically decided that when she was old enough and we allowed it that her and Jake would start their lives together.” Bella was silent. “Just because she is perfect for Jacob doesn’t mean that Jacob is perfect for her.”
“So what are you saying? You want Renesmee to explore her options?” Bella asked me.
I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m just saying I want her to be with Jacob because she loves him and not because of her lack of options she was given.”
Bella began rubbing her temples as she dissected what I had said to her. Then after a few human minutes she agreed.
“Jacob won’t like the idea of Renesmee seeing other people much.” Bella said to me.
“Well that is his problem.”
Getting out of the car I waited for Bella and then we headed inside. Just as the door opened Renesmee was at my side jumping up and down while waving a paper at me. I smiled. She still had a childs heart.
“Look daddy!” she said before handing it to me.
I read it and then looked at Carlisle who was walking towards me.
"What is this?” I asked as I handed him the paper.
“It’s the registration receipt for Renesmee to go to Lakeside Upper School. Alice had a vision that she would be starting there in the next week.” He explained. “I know its short notice but the move could be good.”
“Edward.” Bella said as she pulled me back out the front door for privacy. “What do you think? I mean Alice’s visions are subjective so if we choose to not allow this then it won’t happen.”
Taking a deep breath I looked in through the window and watched the happiness radiate from my daughter. She seemed happy to be returning to school and her happiness was all that counted. While she was in school Bella and I would have the opportunity to start college. That was part of the plan before Renesmee came into the picture, college.
“I think we should let Renesmee decide.” I said before opening the door and leading Bella back in.
“Daddy!” Renesmee said as she wrapped her arms around me. “Can I go please! I want to go back to school.” She whimpered.
“Of course.” I said a sincere smile on my face.
“Oh this is so exciting. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She squealed before running off upstairs. “Alice I need you to help me pick out clothes.”
"Renesmee Alice isn't here." Esme called up the stairs.
"Where is Alice?" Bella asked Carlisle.
"Alice is setting up the lake house." Esme said as she walked into the room from the kitchen. "I just got off the phone with Alice and she said to tell you Sunday it will be ready and Friday there will be a thunderstorm."
Thunderstorms were the only time when my family was able to play baseball, our favorite pastime. Because of the noise it caused the thunder was a easy cover.
"Baseball." Bella said with a grin. I knew she remembered what Thunderstorms meant for my family.
"This time you won't be sidelined." Emmett said as he joined us. "I call first dibbs for you on my team." He threw his arm over Bella's shoulder.
Bella shrugged out of his arm. "I wish Alice would have told me I would have bought an outfit for the game. All my clothes are too nice to get ruined thanks to Alice." She said to Esme.
"Alice never tells us anything she see's unless it is necessary."
"Well I think this is necessary because I have nothing to wear." Bella said.
"Alice left you and Renesmee something upstairs on the bed. She had it detailed especially for you both." Esme said before pulling Carlisle aside saying she needed to discuss something with him.
"Well I definitely want to see what Alice got you and Renesmee." I told my wife before taking her hand and leading her upstairs.
As we came onto the landing Renesmee was holding a article of clothing in her hands. When she saw us she blushed.
"It had my name on it." She looked down at the bed and picked up another wrapped parcel. "And this one has yours mommy." she said.
Bella took the parcel into her hands and opened it. Inside was an outfit, identical to Renesmee's. The outfit was the exact same look as the one Rosalie had worn the first time Bella joined the family for baseball. The only difference was where there was color there was royal blue on Bella's outfit and powder blue on Renesmee's.
"Wait, what is all of this?" Bella said as she realized she was holding one too many pieces of clothing.
Taking it into my hand I looked at the shape and size only to realize that this was meant for me.
"I guess Alice wants us to match." I grinned.
"Royal blue." Bella smirked.
Royal blue was a color that held many memories. Bella's prom dress, Bella's stones for the wedding, Bella's awakening dress. Blue was our color.
"We should invite grampa to come and play with us." Renesmee suggested.
I looked at Renesmee before turning to my wife.
"I don't know if that would be a good idea. Remember last time." Bella responded.
I took her hands into mine. "You don't have to worry Bella. The only threats that would convince me you were right to say no are dead and gone. Your father is safe. Plus I think it'd be good to include him in our lives as much as possible. Let him get to know you."
"But he does know me." Bella frowned.
"He knew the human you. Now he needs to know the vampire you, the real you." I said before kissing her on the lips.
"I'm afraid." Bella murmered. "What if he gets to know too much of the real me and decides he doesn't love me."
I frowned before bringing Bella into my arms. "I can assure you from all the thoughts I have heard from Charlie's mind that, that will never ever happen. He's proud of the choices you have made for you and the life you want to live. He just doesn't know how to show that so his way of expressing his feelings is to get to know everything there is to know about who you have become. He loves you unconditionally and irrevocablly."
Bella's frown turned into the biggest grin that reached upwards to her eyes. "Okay, then lets invite him." she said confidently. "I want him to know everything."
- Writer
