I
was reading some romance novel on the patio while Charlie played on blanket in
the shade. Edward was working out with Emmett, rehabbing his injury, a month and
a half after the shooting. It was the weekend before my uncle’s wedding. They
were running along the shoreline of the lake, rebuilding my husband’s
endurance. He had a gnarly scar due to the infection, but he was healing and
almost back to his pre-injury self.
“Mama,”
chirped my son. He stood up on wobbly legs, using the chaise lounge to move
closer to me. “Up!”
I
put my book down, scooping my son onto my lap. “You thirsty, sweet boy?”
“Yeah,”
he nodded, idly playing with my hair that was braided over my shoulder. I
picked up a sippy cup from a cooler underneath the side table. It was cold and he
eagerly drank the apple juice. “Dada!” He pointed at Edward and Emmett as they
sprinted along the sand. My husband was creaming Emmett. They were laughing as they
made their way toward the house. “Dada!”
“Kick
his butt, Edward,” I cheered. He smiled as he darted on to the patio and slid
to a stop behind my chaise. “Woo! That’s my man.”
“Hell,
Edward. Even gimpy, you’re faster than me,” Emmett panted as he gripped the
railing of our deck. He sat down heavily, rubbing his chest. “Can’t breathe …”
“Here,
Em, have some water,” Edward said, handing water to his younger brother. Emmett
just scowled at Edward, still breathing unevenly. “Hey, don’t look at me in
that tone of voice. It’s not my fault that you’re so slow. It’s why you
were on defense on the high school football team and I was the wide receiver.”
“I’m
not slow,” Emmett muttered under his breath, slamming his water and pouring it
over his dark curls. “You’re just freakishly fast, Edward. Damn.” I cleared my
throat, arching a brow at Emmett and I held out my hand. “Come on, Bella! I’m
dying here.”
“You
owe Charlie, your adorable and malleable nephew, $15,” I smirked.
Edward
reached into his pocket and handed his brother a small card that I had
laminated for all the potty mouthed members of our family. Emmett’s jaw
dropped. “Bella’s serious about this swear jar. Charlie is a little parrot. He
repeats everything.”
“I’ll
have to pay you later. I didn’t exactly bring my wallet,” Emmett grumbled. He
looked down at his phone and he got up quickly. “I’ve got to go. I’m meeting
Lauren at Chicago Title.”
“Did
you purchase a home?” I asked. “I know you mentioned it, but I never heard
anything after that initial conversation.”
“We
did. I found a gorgeous home in Mom and Dad’s neighborhood,” Emmett said. “It’s
further in and right along the lake, similar to this place, but on a smaller
scale. It’s perfect for the two of us … and when the time is right, more.”
“Are
you thinking of proposing?” Edward questioned, holding Charlie between his legs
and idly playing with his son.
Emmett
wrinkled his nose. “I don’t know. I love Lauren. We’re a good match …”
“You’re
gun-shy,” I finished for him. “After what Rosalie did to you, cheating on you
and everything else. I don’t blame you.”
“We’ll
talk more,” Emmett said. He nodded before darting to the front of the house.
“What
do you think about Emmett’s decision about Lauren?” I asked, standing up and
picking up Charlie. It was getting warm and in the distance, I heard the faint
rumble of thunder. Edward picked up the cooler, following me into the house. I
put Charlie into his highchair, making us lunch. “Edward?”
“I
don’t blame him for being hesitant. Rosalie raked him over the coals,” Edward
answered. “But, to not marry Lauren? They are so well suited to each other. They
make each other laugh. She grounds him, loving him despite his position within
our family.” He pursed his lips. “Whatever he decides, I’ll support him. He
needs to come to whatever realization he wants to make about Lauren on his own.”
“If I had to guess, they’ll get completely hammered and then elope,” I snickered, putting a sandwich in front of Edward.
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