9Prologue – Raising the Littles
REVISED 10-11-2017
Song: 'Highway Don't Care' Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban
'I love you' a message popped up on my phone. 'Both of you'.
Edward and I had found out a month ago that I was pregnant, and now at 3 months I had a bump, something that Edward was extremely happy about. Being only seventeen, still juniors in high school, it wasn't ideal; yet we were both excited. I texted Edward back,
'We love you too' then set my phone down knowing that Edward would be leaving from his job in a city over soon, so that we could go to my doctor's appointment. It was still too early for me to leave so I tidied up my room and tidied my already clean room; my doctor and Edward called it nesting, but I just found it calming. I was interrupted by an alarm on my phone reminding it was time to leave for my appointment. I grabbed my cell phone and keys. I turned on the radio enjoying the country music flowing through the speaker, but found my mind wandering, so I turned it off. I smiled as I arrived at my doctor's office. I looked around and saw that Edward wasn't yet there so I parked in one of the "Expecting Mother" spots that sat next to the Handicap parking spots. Checking in at the front desk, I filled out the required paperwork and waited for Edward to show up. My mind wandered to when I told my father I was pregnant.
My father, Charlie Swan, deputy police officer was a man who prided himself on his composure, was shocked. Threatening to castrate Edward, he had started charging toward the door. I stopped him, telling him how I knew that me being pregnant wasn't ideal, but it wasn't horrible either. He had grumbled, and called Edward's parents; Elizabeth and Edward Masen Sr.
Edward had already told his parents, because we had agreed to tell our parents at the same time. They, like my father, weren't thrilled, yet understood our decision to keep our baby. Edward surprised me on our anniversary a month ago, getting down on one knee and asking me to marry him. At first I had been mad, thinking that he only wanted to marry me due to the babies, but after he calmed me down; Edward explained that he had been planning on ask me since before we found out that I was pregnant, and that he had asked Elizabeth for his grandmother's ring over six months before he proposed. I found myself smiling.
Shaking my head away from my musings, I looked at my phone, checking to see if Edward had texted me, but he hadn't. I wasn't worried though, Chicago was well-known for its traffic.
"Isabella Swan" A nurse in pink scrubs called my name. I smiled at her and stood. As I walked in a part of me started to become angry, Edward had promised not to forget this appointment. I needed his support. The nurse checked my weight and blood pressure before she then lead me into an exam room.
Congratulations, you're having twins. The doctor's voice rang through my head, over and over. You're having twins. Twins. As I walked out of the doctor's office I called Edward again. It was my fourth call. I had given up texting him halfway through the appointment. Again, I received his voicemail. At this point, I was seething. Where the hell was he!?
Just as I sat down in my car, my phone rang, and 'Barefoot Cinderella' from Hannah Montana filled the small area. Edward's ringtone (it had been the same since were thirteen). I answered it as soon as I could grasp my phone and press the green button.
"Edward? Hello?"
"Is this Isabella Swan?" A male voice I didn't recognize asked.
"Yes" I responded, confused why someone had Edward's phone.
"This is Officer Downs, your father asked me to call you. We responded to an accident on the highway, your dad asked that I call to notify you. Edward was involved." I suddenly felt chills as the worst ran through my mind.
"Is he okay?" I asked attentively, my voice shaking. I heard the man on the end take a deep breath,
"He was hit head on by a drunk driver. We think he was bleeding out and an animal took his body. I'm so sorry. Charlie said that he has already contacted Edward's parents. He wants you to wait for him at the doctor's office. He's on his way to you."
I felt numb. I dropped my phone and stared out the front window of my car. He's gone. Edward's gone. Unconsciously, my hand dropped to my expanded middle section where our children were growing. A tear slipped my eye as I mourned the fact that my children would never meet their father.