A/N So here's chapter 2. Don't get used to so frequent updates, I write when I can and have the muse. Right now, things are good for writing. ;)
Like the chapter before this is unbeta'd.
Be careful what you wish for
BPOV
"Bella, have you thought about going tonight?" Riley asked while passing the couch. Ugh, the dinner at his colleague's tonight. I had no intention of going right from the minute Riley told me about it a week ago. It's hardly appropriate to visit a stranger and ask them if you could just spend the whole evening on their couch with your feet up. Preferably eat dinner there, too. "I wasn't planning on it. Why?" I looked up from my book when I felt the cushion behind me dip from Riley's weight. He was leaning on it with his forearms and smiled at me.
"Oh come on! You already made me go to the clinic picnic by myself three weeks ago. And besides, this dinner is hosted for you anyway." I raised one eyebrow, giving him a skeptical look. "Yeah, you know, because we're new here and we're having our first baby soon. Get to know other parents and so on". Wait, what? Other parents? "What do you mean, 'other parents'? How many people are going to be there?" He waved his hand dismissively. "Relax, it's just the Whitlocks. But they have 4 kids." My eyes grew a little wide. "Wow 4 kids. How old are they?" Riley rubbed his chin. "I don't know really. They can't be that old, I mean, Cal's like what? 35? Somewhere in his mid 30s, those kids can't be older than 10."
I didn't know how to answer, so I continued reading my book. After a minute or two I noticed Riley from the corner of my eye. He was mock-pouting and trying to get my attention. It worked and I chuckled. "Will you really not consider coming with me? I'll feel really stupid going to a family dinner, hosted for my wife, all alone" He gave me a kiss on the cheek and I leaned into him. I closed my eyes and sighed. "When do you have to leave?" I asked. Riley stood up and checked his watch. "Hm, right now I suppose." I looked down, double-checking that I wasn't still in my sweats and stood up. I had changed earlier when I managed to spill ketchup onto myself. The big red stain on my thigh had really bothered me, so I put the pants in the wash and wore jeans instead. "Ok, ok, you win, I'm coming with you."
I stood up and gave Riley a quick kiss on the lips before heading towards the front door. There I slipped on my shoes, grabbed my jacket and my purse and we headed out the front door.
Since I had no idea where Riley's colleague lived I let him drive. At first I believed we were heading toward the suburbs but was soon proven wrong when we left the city limits behind us altogether. "Honey, are you sure this is where we're supposed to go?" "I think so. I've never been there but this is the way he described. When he said he lived a bit away from town I didn't think he literally meant in the middle of nowhere." I laughed at that. "It can't be far anymore, the driveway should be around here somewhere". And he was right, about a minute later we took a right turn into a beautiful and very long driveway. Bushes and trees adorned both sides, it was very green and reminded me of Forks a little bit.
At the end of the driveway the trees gave way to a spacious front yard. It was neatly trimmed, with a few bushes here and there. At the base of the veranda there were two lovely flowerbeds, overflowing with beautiful blooming flowers. The house was huge, more an Edwardian mansion than a house really. It's pale yellow siding a lovely contrast to all the green surrounding it.
Riley parked our car in front of the garage. At least, I assumed it was the garage, because it was the size of a small outbuilding. The garage doors were a giveaway though. I wondered why the Whitlocks needed so much space for cars, but with four kids, you could never have enough space I suppose.
"Well, here we are" Riley said, rubbing his hands together. I looked down, caressing my belly, smiling when I felt a slight flutter on the inside. I grabbed Riley's hand and placed it where my hand had been earlier. The baby stilled of course and my husband's eyebrows knit together in concentration. I was just about ready to give up and open my car door when I felt another slight nudge. Judging from the expression on Riley's face he felt it too, his grin lighting up his whole face. "Well somebody's excited, aren't you, baby?" he cooed, rubbing circles on my abdomen. I chuckled "Come on, they must be wondering why we're taking so long".
With that we both got out of the car and walked up to the front door. It was a beautiful white wooden door with a colorful stained glass inlay. Riley rang the doorbell and I took the time to look around some more. I noticed a comfortable looking porch swing on the right and there were flowerpots, decorated with cute details, everywhere. Mrs. Whitlock must be quite the gardener.
I heard the door open. "Why hello, come on inside!" I froze. That voice. No, I must be mistaking. Just a freak similarity or something. I turned around slowly, my eyes growing wide when I saw the blond standing at the door. Before I had a chance to really process what was happening I was ushered inside and helped out of my coat. "Sweetie, this is Carlisle, my colleague. At work everyone calls him Cal though, in an attempt to make his name sound less old fashioned" Riley winked at that. Must be some inside joke at the hospital.
I was unsure of how to react. Should I just go with it and thank him for the introduction and act as if I had no idea who these people were? I couldn't do that. It would make this whole dinner so awkward. But I could hardly tell Riley that I knew Carlisle and his family, could I? Carlisle's expression was no help, he seemed equally as shocked as I was.
At that moment, Alice appeared at Carlisle's elbow. She nodded once and then grinned widely. I guess that meant I didn't have to spend the evening pretending I didn't know who they were. "Hi Carlisle" I turned slightly and waved at the pixie, who was now standing next to him. "Hi Alice!" "Wait, what? You know them?" This time Riley's eyes were wide and he had a funny look on his face. "Uh, yeah. Alice and I went to high school together." "Oh. Well, then this isn't weird at all now, is it?" I laughed, "No, it's not" I took a few steps forward, intent on going further into the house. Alice took me by the elbow and led me to the living room. "Is Edward here?" I whispered, so Riley wouldn't notice. He and Carlisle were following behind us. Alice just shook her head slightly. Huh. I didn't know if I was relieved or disappointed by that answer.
Esme, Emmett and even Rosalie greeted me with hugs. The latter really surprised me and I wondered if Rosalie was the first vampire to suffer from dementia. She was so different, she must have forgotten how much she hated me back in Forks. At first I thought Jasper wasn't part of the dinner altogether until I spotted him in a corner. He was staying back, so far back in fact, that it seemed he was trying to hide in the bookcase. Quite a feat for a 6 foot 3 vampire. Since his eyes were a warm golden color I didn't think it was the bloodlust that was bothering him. I walked up to him and spread my arms wide. "Aren't you going to say hello to an old friend?" I asked. His eyes softened and he enveloped me in a big hug. "I missed you, all of you." I mumbled into his shoulder, but I knew they had heard me. "I am so so sorry Bells." Jasper whispered into my ear. "You have nothing to be sorry for" I whispered back. In a louder voice I added "I have someone I want you to meet". With that I made my way back to Riley and took his hand. "Well everyone, this is my husband Riley Biers."
