I counted his freckles as he slept, noticing that two more had sprung up on his forehead and another just beneath his left eye. I traced the veins of his hand, thanking God for keeping him relatively safe. Also, I needed to touch him to ensure he was real. He was real and alive and back with his family.
Unfortunately, Seth was injured because of Jacob’s ire, but thankfully he was alive.
It would take some time before we felt safe.
If ever, to be perfectly honest.
“Gorgeous, I love you, but you look like you’re about to collapse,” Edward said, walking out of the ensuite bathroom of the hospital room. He scrubbed his face, yawning widely as he smoothed his hair underneath his baseball cap.
“I have to keep him safe. Touching him, watching him, it’s the only way for me to ensure his safety. To know he’s okay,” I whispered, caressing my fingers down Seth’s cheek. He was sleeping hard from the pain medication Dr. Snow had given him, but he snuggled his cheek against my palm. “If I sleep, I won’t know if he’s safe.”
Edward crossed to me, picking me up and sitting down in the recliner with me in his lap. He cupped my face, forcing me to look at him. He was just as exhausted as I was, with dark circles under his green eyes along with heavy stubble and too long hair covered by a baseball cap. The latter was from the movie shoot and pulling some insane hours before this break for his birthday. He simply didn’t have the time to get his hair cut. “Bella, I love you more than anything,” he whispered, kissing my lips. “But, if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of Seth. You haven’t slept in nearly three days. You barely ate. I know you’re worried …”
“I could have lost him,” I hissed, looking at Edward. Panic was growing inside me. “I thought I did. I need to be here for him.”
“And, you will,” Edward murmured, sitting back, and tucking me against his body. “He’s sleeping. We have security outside of the room and on the floor. We’re okay.” He gently pushed my head against his shoulder. “Sleep, love. I’ll watch over him.”
“Edward,” I huffed, moving to get off his lap.
“No, Bella. You need to sleep. We’re both rattled, but he’s sleeping, just like we need to be,” he whispered, trailing his hands up and down my back soothingly. “Use my overly bony shoulders and let me protect both of you.”
“Your shoulders aren’t bony. They’re shockingly comfortable,” I snorted, pressing my cheek to his shoulder, and curling onto his lap. I yawned as he hummed quietly, rubbing my back and legs with his hands. I relaxed against him and closed my eyes, just wanting to get a few moments of rest. However, when I woke up, it was daytime, and I was still in Edward’s arms. He was talking quietly with Seth, obviously trying not to wake me up.
“Good morning, Mom,” Seth said as I shifted on Edward’s lap. “Or should I say afternoon?”
I rubbed my eyes. I looked up at Edward, who gave me a soft smile. “How did you sleep, Sleeping Beauty?” he asked.
“Um, really well,” I croaked. “How long?”
“It’s almost two in the afternoon,” Seth snickered.
