Promises To Keep
By Ciara Shayee
Happily Ever After. It's a lovely concept; one Bella is ready to embrace after twelve years in captivity. Finally home with her family, she wants to live a quiet life with the ones she loves most. But they're not alone looking for happy endings in the wake of her captor's demise. Big questions still go unanswered. The past may be behind them, but that doesn't mean it can't catch up
Promises To Keep
Prologue
August 11th, 2019
“Mamma, Mamma, Mamma!”
Bella laughed, shaking her head as she pulled a platter of mini quiches and sausage rolls from the fridge. When she turned, knocking the door closed with her hip, she revealed the toothy grin of her son. Laughter bubbled up from her stomach as she took in the mess all over his face; he had blue icing over his cheeks and a smudge of what looked like frosting across his forehead.
Prologue
August 11th, 2019
“Mamma, Mamma, Mamma!”
Bella laughed, shaking her head as she pulled a platter of mini quiches and sausage rolls from the fridge. When she turned, knocking the door closed with her hip, she revealed the toothy grin of her son. Laughter bubbled up from her stomach as she took in the mess all over his face; he had blue icing over his cheeks and a smudge of what looked like frosting across his forehead.
“Baby boy, what on Earth have you been doing? You’re a mess!”
Bodhi shrugged, completely unconcerned by his dirty face, and wiped his rosy cheeks with the back of his hand. “Mamma, the c-cakes are all g-g-gone!”
“Well, sweet boy, it looks like you might have had enough cake for just now…”
Uh oh; there’s the pout. “But, Mamma—”
“Coo-ee!”
Sensing a great opportunity to distract her son, Bella gestured for him to go and greet his new guests. “Mimi and PopPop are here, baby. Go say ‘hi,’ please.”
Bodhi looked between the platter of food in his mother’s hands and the doorway, sighing and trudging toward the latter as Esme and Carlisle appeared. His face brightened as soon as he spotted the brightly wrapped box in Carlisle’s arms.
“Mimi! PopPop!”
Esme swung Bodhi up into her arms; no mean feat considering his size. He definitely took after Archie and Charlie and already had their stocky build, even at only three years old. “Happy birthday, gorgeous boy! Are you having a fandabidozi day?”
Bodhi grinned, flashing his teeth and leaning in when Esme pointed at her cheek, silently requesting a kiss. “The b-bestest day, M-Mimi!”
“Good! And how old are you, again?” Carlisle asked with a teasing wink for Bella. She grinned and watched Esme and Carlisle love on her boy for a moment before heading outside with the food. Unsurprisingly, just an hour into her boy’s party the food was already dwindling. Luckily, they’d prepared a feast, having anticipated their large family’s hearty appetite.
“Ah, there you are! Uncle El wants a photo of you with the kids. Do you want me to take over food duty?” Rosalie offered, looping her arm through Bella’s once she’d set the food down and had taken a step back to take a quick look around.
The garden was full of family and friends. With the fence between the Swan and Hale houses long-gone, they had just about enough room to accommodate everyone. If the family grew any bigger they’d have to look at breaking into Jasper and Alice’s garden next-door, or having large gatherings like this one at another location better equipped to deal with the rapidly expanding group.
Begins posting September 20th.
A sequel, looking forward to it.
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