The silence filling the room was, quite honestly, a little eerie. That’s how quiet it was. I was blow away by his confession. He loved me that much there was no question whatsoever, and even though we were now married, he would still let me go in the drop of hat if that’s what I needed to be happy. This made me feel both happy and sad.

I couldn’t ponder the double meaning in his last words as Rosalie recovered first.

“I’m sorry,” she started in an exasperated sigh. “I know she wouldn’t cheat on you Edward. I can’t help some of my old instincts. This subject is a tad bit tough for me.”

“That still doesn’t make it-“

“It doesn’t make it right, I know. I’m sorry Bella . . . really. I haven’t been treating you as much of a sister have I? I just get . . . jealous.” She admitted sounding sheepish.

It still amazed me when Rose was so candid about her feelings, especially in the here and now, with her whole family present. How could I be upset with her?

“It’s alright Rosalie,” I choked out a whisper. Edward look less inclined to forgive, but his battle stance eased up into something more casual.

“So, any more comments,” Esme asked her children in a dangerous tone.

A chorus of shaking head answered back. Only Alice remained still.

“Alice?”

“Only one,” she smiled simply. “Bella?”

“Yeah,” her grin was starting to take on an Alice look I knew all to well.

“Do you know what this means?”

“I can guess . . .”

“Baby shower,” she sang in pure delight.

A roomful of laughter, congratulations, and planning zoomed around me. They might be worried but at least they were all pleased . . . mostly anyway. My mother and father would be another story.

– – – – – – – – – – – –

We left the Cullen house soon afterward, heading out to the market for groceries. Charlie wanted me to search through my room and make sure I hadn’t left anything important behind. I would continue to stock up the refrigerator for as long as possible and make sure he was well fed.

Plus, once he arrived home from work I would have to tell him our news. A nice home cooked meal was usually the trick into buttering him up. Hopefully today would be no exception. The nervousness was overwhelming.