EPOV
It had just started snowing as I was walking from the bus station here in Forks. I was finally home and I couldn't wait to see Bella. I wasn't sure if she wanted to see me now, it has been four years since I've been gone. She wasn't exactly happy with my choice of joining the Peace Corps after we graduated. I told her that it would only be a few years and I'd come back and finish college here. She told me she wasn't sure if she'd wait for me or not. I hoped that she did, but I sent several letters to her, if she wrote back I never received them due to being in various third world countries. I received back a few of my letters I sent and I planned to give them to her.
I contacted my parents once I was back to civilization and they said that she left Forks for a while but she was back now. When I asked if they have seen her, they gave me vague answers. Never really saying if they have or not. I found that odd because Forks isn't that big.
I walked through the park to gather my thoughts and I watched as several children played in the snow. I couldn't help but smile as they ran and tried to catch the snowflakes. I was particularly drawn to one little girl who looked to be around three or four, she was twirling around letting the snow hit her face. She was a beautiful little girl with dark brown hair and flawless ivory skin, and I couldn't see the color of her eyes. She was so mesmerizing and I couldn't help but watch her as I heard a voice calling for a child.
"Angel, come out from wherever you are!"
I knew that voice. It can't be. I looked up to the clearing to see a woman that looked like Bella, that if it wasn't her it was her doppelganger.
"Angelia, mommy has been looking everywhere for you," the woman said and now I could clearly see her, and it was Bella.
"I'm sorry mommy, I was just playin in the snow," the little girl said as she turned around again and I could see her eyes. They were the same shade of green as mine.
I felt as if all the air left my body.
I watched as Bella hugged her and then picked up some snow and tossed it at her daughter and the little girl laughed. It was the same laugh that Bella had and I watched in amazement as she picked up snow and threw it at Bella.
I wanted to run to them but I was scared that Bella would turn away from me. So I just watched them as they played for a few more minutes before they left the park. It took every ounce of self-control not to go to them, but I made the decision that I would go to Bella's house after dinner.
I walked to the diner and slid into a booth as one of the waitresses brought me a menu and a glass of water. I barely even looked up at her as I told her that I'd like the hot turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and corn and a Dr. Pepper.
She nodded as she walked away. I imagined with a frown on her face since I didn't pay her any attention.
I sat there and waited for my dinner, thinking of Bella and her daughter, our daughter. How could she keep this from me? Has she moved on? All these thoughts were running through my head as my dinner was delivered and I started eating. Do my parents know about this? Is that why they urged me to call her? Is that why they gave me vague answers about Bella? Maybe the child isn't mine, but that can't be since she appears to be close to 4 and the timing would be right. I knew I needed to get answers and the only person who would be able to answer them was Bella, but I didn't want to go off on a tangent when I saw her. I wanted us to talk and maybe if she was willing reconnect. I've never gotten over her, she's always been the woman I loved, the woman I dreamed of and wanted in my life.
I know she never understood my desire to join the Peace Corps, but it was something I wanted to do since I was a child. I didn't want to go straight to college and be bogged down in studies. I wanted to see the world and help people and the Peace Corps provided that for me.
The waitress came and check on me and I told her everything was fine. I missed the food here. I would easily gain any weight that I lost being overseas. The food in the Congo was mainly rice and beans and sometimes bits of chicken, and when we were able to get to a bigger city I was able to buy American peanut butter and crackers and that's what I ate a lot of. But I knew that when I joined up that sometimes the conditions that I'd be living in were not five star hotels.
As the waitress approached again I asked for the check, I was ready to head over to Bella's. I was nervous but I knew I had to see her and I didn't want to wait till tomorrow.
She dropped the check off and I laid my money on the table then gathered my stuff to head out as I heard my name being called behind me.
"Yo Edward, is that you?"
I turned around to see one of my best friends, Emmett McCarty, "Hey Emmett, yeah its me."
"Long time no see. What's it been four years? Have you seen Bella?"
"Yeah, about four years. I just got back today and I'm heading over to see her now," I said.
"I hope it goes well. I miss seeing her smile the way she did when she was with you, and I know you'll work things out. Good luck," he said looking down at his watch. "Um, maybe I'll see you later."
He walked away and I was a bit confused by his words, but I shrugged them off and headed out the door.
It wouldn't take me long to get to Bella's, her father's house wasn't too far from Main Street. Her father died in a freak fishing accident down in La Push during the summer before our senior year, so the house was left to her in his will. Her mother tried to get her to sell it and move to Florida but Bella wouldn't hear of it. She wanted to finish her schooling here.
I would spend many nights there with her and it always felt like our own little home. Of course being teenagers we had many parties in the Chief's house, they weren't over the top parties but still parties.
I couldn't help the smile that graced my face as I walked into the florist to buy Bella purple orchids, her favorite flower. Orchids were always her favorite, I discovered that early on in our relationship. She wasn't your typical girl who liked roses, of course I gave her roses often, but mostly I gave her orchids.
Once I had her flowers, I headed to her house. I could feel my palms sweating and I hoped that I would be able to find my voice when I finally saw her.
The snow was still falling lightly as her house came into view, her old red truck was parked by the garage. It looks like it hasn't been driven in a while and a small SUV was parked in the driveway. I was happy about that, I always worried about her driving that red truck but it was a gift from her father when she moved back to Forks.
I stood looking up at the house, the only light that was on was the light in the living room. I imagined that Bella was up reading, at least there were no other cars there.
I walked up the stairs, avoiding that one stair that squeaked and I stood at the door ready to knock. I sat my duffle bag down next to the door as I heard my heart pounding in my ears and my hand was shaking. I haven't been this nervous in a long time, the last time probably was when I got up the courage to ask Bella out.
I knocked softly and stood back waiting for her to open the door.
I shifted from foot to foot waiting for her to answer the door, and after what seemed forever the door she opened it. She stood in front of me in my old high school jersey and a pair of sweats, her hair was up in a high ponytail and she had her glasses on.
She looked at me kind of dumbstruck, not saying a word just looking at me.
"Bella," I said as I held the flowers out to her with a trembling hand.