~For my Love~
The plane ride from Seattle to Baton Rouge was long and slightly bumpy, we hit some bad weather around Mississippi. I felt like I was in an unbalanced wash machine. Trying to claim our luggage and get out of the airport was really bad. Thank god Rosalie had a driver waiting for Alice and I. The ride to the house, ha, house that isn't quite the right name for it, per everyone down here in the south it was a Plantation. And I just loved the ride there, we drove down River Road and it bent and swayed along the levee of the mighty Mississippi River. On the side of the road were several different produce stands. Some proclaiming to have the sweetest Louisiana Strawberry, and huge home grown watermelons. The only way to explain the drive was to say that you just drove into a painting of Louisiana. The land was stunning, the trees majestic but dear lord, it was a warm Louisiana summer day. Dear lord what the hell were we doing in Louisiana in October? (Yes, I said summer day in October, it is still Hot for them.) Oh that's right Rosalie Hale, our best friend and cousin, and soon to be Mrs. Emmett Cullen.
"Bella, it is sooo hot here." Alice whined
"Alice, you will get use to it. And think of all the cute summer outfits you can wear."
Alice squeaked with excitement "all the wonderful shoes and no need for a jacket!"
I loved Alice, she was my best friend since 1st grade. I shared my animal cookies with her and she played with my hair. We have been threw everything together from crayons to make-up, from thinking boys were gross to cry in each others arms when one of the losers hurt us. And every single summer since 1st grade we have spent it down in the bayou with Rose. I considered them both sisters. And now we are coming back to Louisiana to celebrate Rose and Em's wedding.
"oh, Bella"
Alice pulled me out of my wandering mind
"wait what ?" I turn my head from the window to face her
"I was asking you if we should stop and get snacks for the cottage?"
"No, Rose said that it was all taken care of, and that we better just show our asses up and be ready to look pretty and party"
"I hope that Emmett has some single friends, I really want to be able to cut loose at the wedding and have a good time"
As I looked out the window with the amazing view of the levee, my thought wandered back. I loved the cottages, we would always play in them as kids. They had 8 on the grounds of the Plantation, and they were so cute and charming. Usually they were rented out to people as a Bed and Breakfast cottages, when they were built in the 1900's they were used as slave quarters. Back then it was a cotton plantation. Now they grow local flowers, give tours, host weddings, receptions. When my aunt and uncle redid that entire area for the tourist. It even had a gift and flower shop. Alice and I were excited to be staying in one. Most of the wedding party was put up in them. So it should be a great time. Though staying in the cottage just reminded me of my lack of romance in my life. Alice things its the funniest thing that I the great Romance writer "Marie Swan" truly had no romance in her life. I keep telling Alice that its all in my head with my alter ego in the drivers seat.
When I see people together I just get the story from the way they look at each other, touch each other, see each other. Marie just comes to life to tells their stories.
Emmett and Rose had meet when Rose came to visit me and Alice at college. She had got rear-ended and Emmett was called to the accident. Only Rosalie could find the only cute single police officer in Forks. And from that moment on they have been inseparable. Rosalie has always been the most beautiful girl at school. I was jealous , hell every girl was ,of her beautiful golden blonde hair and how every boy would fall over themselves to get next to her. Beautiful was not exactly what I would call myself. My favorite thing about me is my deep chestnut brown hair. But being clumsy and accident prone was not a trait that guys at school or even in college thought was that cute. I decided that love could wait till I got out of college. Becoming an English teacher was on the very top of my to-do list. But there was this one guy at college he seemed so sweet and caring. But then things became strange and I broke it off.
Just then as if on cue, my phone alert me to a text message. Digging into my bag I grab the vibrating annoyance.
Alice lifts her eyebrow at me and I shrug.
-Isabella, why weren't you in class today?- Jake
"o, god its Jake, he wants to know why I was not in class today" I sighed
"tell him to screw off" Alice said with a smile
" I wish he took the hint and would just leave me alone" I said staring at the stupid phone
" Yes, well he probably would have except that you didn't really tell him to get lost. You are way to nice. There is something really wrong with that guy. I can just feel it." Alice said with that all knowing look, and sometimes you just don't bet against Alice
" I know Alice, I am way to nice to people" some days I wish I had Marie's personality
Quickly I send off a text to him and then turn my phone off.
-Jake at my cousin wedding, be back on Monday- Bella
Anyone who was of importance to me would be at the plantation all weekend.
"Alice come on we are going to be late to the luncheon" I whined while picking at the basket of fruit that was in the cottage. "I am starving"
"Oh, Bella, Fashion takes time" Alice hollered from her room
Just then Alice comes bouncing into the room in a very Alice like way. Her body covered in a very romantic flowing strapless knee length dress in aloud plum purple color with a pair of very sexy peekaboo toe stiletto heel. This was "So Alice", I envy her and how she was always so put together and beautiful.
"Isabella Marie Swan" Alice squeals "You can not wear jeans and a t-shirt" Alice grabbed her heart pretending a fake heart attack, Geez always so dramatic
"oh, Alice" I began to complain, but she would not have it. Within 10 minutes I was re-dressed with Hair and make-up done. She dressed me in a deep blue cocktail dress with a long "V" neck cut neckline that showed off more of my cleavage than I was used to. Attaching a string of pearls around my neck and talking me into a ridiculous pair of heels. When I walked to the mirror it was hard to believe it was me. My hair was tussled with a slight wave to it. My eyes were bright and a hint of sexy. Wow was all I could think.
"Soooo, How does Bella Barbie look now?" I asked the little pixie a impish grin spreads across her tiny face
" Hot,, of course, and Sexy of course , Now you look the part of Rose's Bridesmaid"
"Ugh, fine can we go Now? Please"
Walking from the cottages on the concert trail lined with azalea and morning glory vines. With huge and ancient Live Oaks covering over us in a beautiful canopy to the southern lawn of the plantation, at it was like walking threw a childhood memory. I always thought of this place "Magical" with the majestic 200 year old live oak's that line 800 feet of the front entrance. How off the top balcony me , Rose and Alice would watch the boats go by on the mighty Mississippi river. Pretending that we were princesses stuck in the castle waiting for our princes. I always thought Rosalie was lucky to have grown up here. She was the belle of the plantation.
Alice and I slowly approached the luncheon. Tables were spread out under the oaks with exaggerate blue and gold linens and amazing center pieces with Magnolia's and pink star gazer lilies. Wow my aunt really out did herself. I couldn't wait to see what they came up with as the final design for the wedding. Everything was beautiful and then on cue from the gods, a soft breeze blew the smell of Magnolia's threw the air. And with the jazz band playing on the back porch everything was complete. Straight from one of Marie's novels.
Alice pointed out Rosalie and we began to slowly make our way towards her. Me stopping to say hello to a relative or two and Alice grabbing us a couple of Appletini's.
Rose looked amazing as always and no one could take their eyes off her. Standing there statuesque and stunning, her beautiful blonde hair knotted at the nape of her neck, with 2 small magnolia's nested in the top of it. Her dress was a soft pink that fit her snug at the bodice and then flowed to her knees in a chiffon wispy sort of way.
"Bella, Alice" Rosalie called to us, I just smiled back at her.
Just as we arrive at her side a extremely lovely women with caramel hair and a motherly smile turned to Rose
.
"Rosalie everything is enchanting" said the caramel haired women
Rose smiles at her and said "Bella and Alice I would like you to meet my soon to be family. This is Dr. Carlisle Cullen and Esme Cullen."
"Carlisle and Esme these are my cousins and best friends Isabella Swan and Alice Brandon"
Alice and I both smile and nod our heads in hello.
What a beautiful couple, it is very hard to believe that they have a son Emmett's age. They barely look in the mid-thirties. And Dr. Cullen was gorgeous. He could be my doctor any day. I ran a risk of hurting myself in theses shoes, Maybe it was a good thing he was a doctor. Hopefully I wouldn't need him today
"Isabella, Alice; it is very nice to meet you" Dr. Cullen says while extending his hand to me
"Dr. Cullen , Please call me Bella" I say shaking his hand.
"Well Bella, please call me Carlisle and this is my beautiful wife Esme" he smiles at me then turns his head to his wife.
"So Alice, I hear that you are the mind behind the Masterpiece that Rose will be wearing that the wedding" Dr Cullen says while shaking Alice's hand
"Yes sir, It will be the talk of the town. I am hoping that Rosalie will let me take lots of picture of her for my portfolio." Alice beamed her high voltage smile at Rose.
Surprising me, Esme loops her arm threw mine and says with a brilliant smile"Well, I am sure you can talk her into it"
I smiled at Esme " Alice does have a way of getting what she wants" Rose snorts in a very UN-lady like way.
Alice looks from me to Rose with her mad pixie face and Rose and I cant help but laugh. Just then two very handsome gentlemen walk up. A tall blonde with longer wavy hair that just brushes his nose, he has the bluest eyes I have ever seen and I feel Alice grab my arm and gives it a slight wiggle as he walks up to us. The other one had the sexy smirk on his face. With the messiest copper brown hair I have ever seen. His features were just shy of perfect, so strong and masculine looking. His body was built but not over done and I caught myself thinking about what was under his perfectly presses blue shirt. Just then I heard Rosalie speak,
"Girls, these are my soon to be Brothers in law" she looked at me and Alice with that all to known smile.
"Jasper Cullen and Edward Cullen these are my cousins and very best friends, Isabella Swan and Alice Brandon" she waves her hand at us like we are prizing on a game show.
Jasper nods his head like a good southern gentlemen to me, but then reaches out taking Alice's hand into his two and caressing it softly, he slowly brings it up to his lips and kisses the top of it. Alice smiles and gingerly bats her eyelashes at him. "Um hum" someone clears there throat and Jasper drops her hand and smiles.
I smile at Edward as he accepts my hand to shake it. "I prefer Bella, and it is very nice to meet you" Edward squeezes my hand slightly and winks ( oh my god , he winked at me) then lets it go. Wow! he is gorgeous.
"Just call me Alice" she giggles "and it is nice to see were Emmett gets his good looks from" she winks at Jasper
"well, thank you" says Carlisle with a laugh
"So Rosalie, is this "the" Isabella, I mean Bella, you were telling us about that's the amazing author with the angelic voice?" Esme says lifting an eyebrow at me, her arm still looped threw mine
" Now I wouldn't say angelic..." I begin to protest but Alice interrupts me
"Oh, don't you be modest Bella you sing quite well, I think angelic is a good description Rose"
"as for her writing skills lets just say she could make anyone's story sound like an epic love story, She is a very talented women"
I blush of course and Edward smiled at me with this sexy little crooked smile. I notice his eyes look me up and down, of course I blush redder. I must remember to thank Alice for playing dress up Bella barbie and embarrassing me.
What's when it hits me, this is that Edward. The one Rose said would be playing the piano while I sing at the wedding. He is "the" Edward Cullen, Music Artist, song writer and panty dropper. Oh, how in the hell am I going to possible sing with this gorgeous creature. Before I could stop myself, my mouth was saying the words.
"So I guess we shall be spending sometime together then" Edward looks up at me from under his lashes and in that moment our eyes lock and I realize he has the most hypnotizing green eyes. And I can't turn away. He smirks at me and winks "Rosalie, have you and Em pick a song yet?" he speaks to Rose without losing eye contact with me.
"Yes, everything you need is in the music room. Bella, you remember where that is?"
Alice squeezes my arm, I take a deep breathe in and look deeper into his eyes. "Um, yes I remember Rose."
"Well, Bella we look forward to hearing you and Edward together" Esme pulls me into a very motherly hug. Releasing me she takes Carlisle's arm and walks away with Rosalie to find Emmett. Somewhere in my clouded mind I find myself agreeing to meet with Edward tonight at 7 to start rehearsals. We only have 2 days to get it together. The rest of the evening was spent greeting family and friends. Enjoy several glasses of wine. And then just when I thought that Edward wasn't looking I would sneak a peek at him. Of course I knew where he was the entire party. I could feel his presents. What the hell is going on here? I am having a hard time thinking strait, How am I going to sing?