Folktale

Chapter 28

Bella's P.O.V 

I shut the door gently and set the lock in place. Edward is lying in bed with Toby watching some cartoon videos on his phone. He had an arm wrapped protectively around Toby while the other laid behind his head. When I walk in, he looks at me through his eyelashes for a second and then back down at the video he's watching with Toby. I guess we're already starting with this. I walk to his side of the bed and sit next to his, turning his head to me. 

"Are you okay?" 

"I'm fine," he said, though I knew it was a lie. The last thing he wanted was for Jacob to be one of the first people we'd seen since we got here. "How is he?"

"He seems fine," I admit. I'll be honest too, seeing Jacob came to a great shock. But I know Edward still feels somewhat guilty for what happened and no matter how much I try to convince him otherwise, he won't budge. "Edward, it's been ten years. I think he's over it."

Edward rolls his eyes. "I'm not worried about that anymore, Bella. It's just..." His press into a fine line and exhaled deeply through his nose. "I'm sorry, I know that wasn't acceptable behavior taking Toby like that and storming off. It's just... Seeing him so close to Toby, it triggered something in me." He drips my hand in his and squeezing it against his chest. "It's irrational of me, I know, but I don't think I want him close to my kid or you and I obviously can't carry you over my shoulder and take you away anymore. And yes, I know we're adults and everything now, but I can't help how I feel."

"I don't think it's irrational." I lean my chin on his chest and play with his hair that falls over his forehead. "You've always been a tad too protective of me, I wouldn't be surprised if you weren't protective of our boy. But it's Jacob, Edward, he's harmless. He wasn't a threat to us when I dated him ten years ago, I doubt he's going to be a threat ten years later and when I'm married to you." I peck him on the lips twice and stay there, nose to nose, lips to lips and say, "And I don't know what makes you think you can't carry me over your shoulder anymore. You can do that anytime you want."

Edward smiles. "Well, if this little boy falls asleep soon, I might as well take you up on that offer."

* * *

The occasional talks with Emmett over the years prompted the eventual somewhat reconsolidation between Rosalie and me. I mean, we weren't as close as we were before, but in good speaking terms to the point where she invited me to a barbeque, she and Emmett were having at their place. Only Toby and I were going because Edward was going back to the hospital to finish his internship. I still had another two weeks left before I went in as a nurse because we needed to find a daycare for Toby and do some last-minute touches at the estate.

At first, I thought it'd be hard to break the ice when I arrived at their house. Angela and Ben were there, apparently, they married years ago and they received me with open arms. It was the exact opposite of what I expected and of course, the presence of Toby was the ice breaker. I'm surprised that as far as our old friend group goes, I'm the only one who has a kid. I would've have thought Rosalie and Emmett would have procreated by now. 

From the moment I walked through the front door with Toby, Rosalie took him in her arms and rained him with kisses. Toby, being the shy little thing he is, immediately wanted to go back in my arms and hideaway. 

We all settled in their backyard as Emmett stood by the grill. I politely reject the beer Rosalie offers me and take my water, taking a seat next to Angela as she awes at Toby. 

"I can't believe one of us has a baby," she muses, messing with his curly hair. "I mean, I know we're close to our thirties but this is adulting hard."