Disclaimer: I don't own much of anything... just a few material objects.
Rain pelted the roof as I was gathering clothes for the laundry. "Dad! Do you want me to wash your sheets too? I'm about to start a load of laundry." I called down the stairs.
"Sure Bells. Thanks again." He called back to me. "Oh, what's on the dinner menu for tonight?"
I thought about that for just a minute while stripping Charlie's bed of his light blue sheets, a random sock or two found under the top sheet, balled up at the foot of the bed. "How about orange chicken, mashed potatoes and garlic bread?" I asked as I was walking precariously down the stairs with the basket of sheets and clothes. He must have not heard me making my way down the stairs because he jumped when I hit the bottom step as he was walking past. He clutched at his chest, "Geez Bells. Don't scare your old man like that. I thought you were still upstairs. Do you need any help?" He reached out to grab the basket perched on my hip. "I've got it alright Ch-Dad." I still, for some reason, wanted to call him by his name rather than 'dad'. Ugh!
I sat the basket down in the kitchen while going through the freezer, getting out the chicken breasts to thaw and marinate. After preparing the chicken I made my way down the rickety basement stairs to the washer. I hummed to myself as I started the clothes in the washer. I made the mental note to get more wash powders for next time.
On my way back up the stairs my foot slipped off the step, but I caught myself before I flew backwards towards the cold concrete floor. I wiped my brow with the back of my hand and made my way back upstairs to visit with Charlie for a bit before I got started with dinner again. "So, what's on tonight dad?" I asked. "Baseball." He managed to grunt out. He seemed pretty distracted at this point already.
Suddenly, the phone rang. Hmm, hardly anyone calls the house on the weekends. Wonder who it is. Charlie grabbed the cordless from his side table. "Hello." After his greeting he glanced at me for about a half second before saying, "Ya. She's here. Just a second." He grimaced while handing over the phone. "Who is it dad?"
"Who else?"
I jumped up at this. It's gotta be Edward! I grabbed the phone and thanked Charlie while jogging up to my room. "Hi."
"Hello, Bella, my love. How has your afternoon gone?"
Smiling into the phone, "It's been well, Edward. Busy but things have to be done sometime you know. I seriously don't know how Charlie survived without me… What have you been doing to occupy your 'Bella-less' time?" I shook my head back and forth at that absurd statement.
"Well, not a whole lot to brag about really. I happened upon a deer earlier, just after I got home. I'm thinking it was a hybrid deer… I swear it must have been half moose or something. It was just huge!" he sighed happily.
"I'm glad you found a decent meal then." I chuckled.
"I would do almost anything to find another 'sasquatch deer'. Ha ha ha ha!"
"Anything else exciting happen?"
"Not really." He was silent for a moment then cleared his throat nervously, "I did want to talk to you about something though. Can you call me tonight before bed? I don't want to call you that late and get you into trouble of course." Whatever he wanted to talk about he seemed fairly uncertain of himself.
"What would you like to discuss over the phone that you'd rather not talk to me in person about, Edward?" I was rather curious as to why he would not be coming over tonight.
"Err. Well, I'd rather not say too much right now because I'm not quite alone in the house and… this evening I will be." He whispered that last part.
"Umm. Sure, Edward, I'll call you around 9 or 10 then ok? I need to get dinner started soon."
"Alright, love. I will patiently await your call. I love you." I blushed at my nickname.
"Love you too. Bye for now." He bade me goodbye and we hung up.
Making my way back downstairs to check on the laundry, I yet again accessed my clumsy gene and slipped, missing the fourth step. I grabbed the rail and wall simultaneously, catching myself. I think the only way I'm going to be able to get up and down now is if I just scoot on my backside. 'God! The look on Emmett's face if he ever caught me doing that?! I'd be humiliated for eternity!' I thought.
Eventually, I made it safely downstairs, got dinner started, got the laundry into the dryer and cleaned up after we ate; and all without killing myself. 'Although I did have a close call with the oven…' I ignored that pessimistic thought. I didn't want to press my luck too far so when the dryer stopped, I had Charlie to and fetch the clothes and his sheets out to haul upstairs. I'll just fold them tomorrow, it's getting late. I decided to go shower after my long trying day of cleaning, cooking and cheating death yet again.
"Charlie, I'm going to take a shower and go to bed now."
"Alight, Bella. Goodnight." Charlie said distractedly.
I went up to my room to get my pajamas and shower stuff. There were some super fluffy towels in the cabinet; at least Charlie got some things right. I smiled to myself as I got the water to warm up to the ideal temperature. I also figured that I'd go ahead and shave my legs since Edward wouldn't be coming over tonight; just in case I nicked my skin. I hate to make him uncomfortable around me. It's bad enough that he's in love with the scent of my blood. Why tempt him any further?
I slowly slid into the shower, the water steaming heavily, and mist undulating in the slight breeze caused by the water flowing from the shower head. I've always loved the warmth the water created on my skin. Even in Phoenix, I'd loved those hot, steaming showers, after a long day of school. I stood under the steady flow, rinsing off the day and everything that didn't have to do with my immediate comfort. Wiping my eyes of water, I grabbed my shampoo and lathered up my hair, working it slowly and tenderly, rubbing every inch of my brunette locks. I didn't normally like my hair, but that was when I was out in the 'real world'. In the shower I doted on my wonderful locks. I felt like I was a goddess bathing under a waterfall in a surreal, magical, forest. Running my fingers through my hair to rinse out the shampoo, I thought about Edward and how it would feel to have his fingers run through my wet hair. My breathing became heavy with that simple thought. I longed to be with him intimately. Although I did have my initial fears about how he would receive me. Would he like how my body looks? What would he say, or for that matter, what would he be thinking? Does he think about me that way? I surely think about him often enough. Pulling myself from those dangerous thoughts I poured conditioner onto my palms and worked it through my hair just as gently as before. Once again rinsing my hair, my thoughts drifted back to Edward, these thoughts were not as provocative though. I wondered if we'd discuss our wedding arrangement again. He seemed to avoid honeymoon conversations as if it were the plague.
I let out a breath, huffing. Edward. Why did he have to be so stubborn? With him, unless it was legitimate scientific discussions about reproduction in humans/animals/plants, he shied away from you. He never liked to talk about intimate subjects with anyone; that thought made me feel minutely better about the situation. I suppose I could bring up the subject tonight over the phone. Edward said he'd be alone at home, therefore nobody to giggle behind his back and make him even more nervous. I'll see what I can do. I was smiling now even bigger than earlier. With this all in mind I decided to hurry up and finish my shower. I soaped up quickly, just barely remembering that I was going to shave, then rinsed off under the rapidly cooling water. Charlie might want to invest in a larger water heater, I smugly thought. I stepped carefully out of the shower and toweled off and threw on my pajamas. Taking my brush through my tangles as I made my way back to my room, I put away my shower supplies and put away my dirty laundry into the hamper. Going back into the bathroom to put away my hairbrush, I got out my toothbrush and cleaned my teeth thoroughly. I rinsed my mouth, dried my hands and face and made my way back to my cold bedroom, ready to snuggle up in my comforter.
Looking at my alarm clock I noted that it was already 9:21pm. Smiling, I picked up the cordless handset next to my bed and dialed Edward's number. He answered on the first ring as usual. He can be so predictable sometimes.
"Hello, my love. Did you enjoy your dinner?"
"Hello, Edward. Yes, I loved my dinner. I like most things that I make myself. Has everyone made their arrangements for this fine evening?"
"Yes, love, everyone is gone, aside from me." He yet again sounded nervous and followed up with clearing his throat unnecessarily. "There's something I wanted to talk to you about, and I'm a bit unsure of myself, thus the phone call instead of seeing you in person. But of course, if you'd rather I come see you tonight, this chat can wait till another time." He said hopefully. 'Nah.' I thought to myself. He's nervous about something, make him squirm a bit first and see where this is going.
"No, Edward, it's alright. I'd like to talk to you about a few things too. I'm not sure that I could speak about it in person either. " I confessed.
He cleared his throat again and nearly squeaked when he started to speak again, "So… Bella, what are you wearing?" He spoke clearly and slowly but I'd swear I didn't hear him say what I thought he just said.
I nervously cracked, "Huh? Umm, Edward, are you ok? This isn't Emmett trying to fake me out is it? I'll kick your ass if it is… Well, maybe not but I'll find something to do to hurt you!"
"Love, I am Edward." He said even slower and very seriously. "This is kind of what I wanted to talk to you about…"
I seriously thought I was going to faint at that.
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