All Grown Up: The Story of Jacob and Renesmee Part I

Finally

Chapter 3: Finally

JPOV

I howled, calling to Nessie,  as I ran through the woods to the cottage as I did every morning that I didn’t have work, and every evening that I did.  Sometimes we hung out with her parents. She would play on the piano for me in the music room, classics or songs she wrote herself.  We were keeping it simple tonight just hanging out on the beach near my place. I skidded to a halt as the porch came into view. Edward was standing there, motionless as a statue.

Edward? I said to him through my thoughts.

“Good morning, Jacob.  Would you mind phasing and coming inside?” he sounded so businesslike, no nonsense.

Nessie had never not come running out to meet me… was everything alright?

“Renesmee is safe and well,” he interrupted my thoughts before it had the chance to grow into panic where he must’ve known it was headed.  I huffed in relief, “She’s with Alice at my parents house so we could have some privacy. Speaking of, I’ll leave you to phase now.”

I nodded and he turned and crossed the porch, heading back into the cottage.  I ducked into the woods and let my body change back into human form. Edward was the master of the poker face, I didn’t know what this could be about.  It must have been something about Nessie though, otherwise they wouldn’t have stashed her at the big house out of earshot. If he was angry with me, my arms would no longer be attached to my body, I thought as I pulled on my grey sweatpants. Let’s get this over with.

I walked through the doorway cautiously, still feeling a little wary.  Bella and Edward were standing in their front room, their arms around each other’s waist. Matching poker faces.

“Hey, Bells.”

“Morning, Jake.” she answered.

I look back and forth between the two of them expectantly, waiting for one to start.

“Well, Jacob,” Edward began, “I won’t beat around the bush because I wouldn’t want you to sweat yourself to dehydration.”

I hadn’t noticed I was sweating bullets until he mentioned it. Bella elbowed him in the ribs to stop his chuckling. He cleared his throat to continue.

“It seems that the time has come where Renesmee has caught up with you in emotional and intellectual development.  Bella and I both agree that she has reached a suitable level of maturity where we feel it would be acceptable for you to express your feelings to her, in an appropriate manner of course.”

I managed to nod through my shock and joy.

“Her curfew will remain unchanged however.” Edward informed me sternly.

“Yes, sir.” I said, only half kidding.

Bella fought back a laugh which Edward ignored continuing, “We trust that you’ll always treat her with the utmost respect.

I nodded my head feverently.

“Of course the two of you are free to go wherever you choose, but I’ve taken the liberty of making reservations at Pierto’s Steakhouse under your name for this evening.”

Nessie recently found a human food she really did enjoy, rare steak.

“It sounded like something the two of you would enjoy.” He smiled at me now, his face softening.

“Well I-I guess I should go ask her if she would like… to go with me.”

They both smiled at me in a bittersweet kind of way as I turned to walk out the door feeling a little dazed.