Disclaimer - Any and all recognisable characters belong to their respective owners. I own the plot and the kids.
I finished my shopping and paid before putting my stuff in the boot of the car. I drove home and pulled into the garage. "Hey. Come help bring the shopping in!" I yelled. Maddie and Jenna appeared and helped me bring in the shopping and we began putting it away.
"You will never guess who I saw at the shops." I said as we tidied up.
"Who?" Jenna asked.
"Edward!"
"Who is Edward?"
"Oh he is the guy I met this morning. His daughter ran away from him in the shop and I found her. Him and his kids are coming round for dinner. And I kinda need a favour?" I asked.
"Go on." she said.
"We want to go out for a bit. If we put all kids to sleep will you keep an eye on them? Paid obviously." I asked.
"Yeah sure. But seeing as I'm doing you a huge favour can Sophie stay over tomorrow night?" she asked.
"Yeah if its ok with her parents." I said.
"Thank you. What time is your new boyfriend coming over?" she asked.
"6 and he isn't my boyfriend." I shouted after her. I finished putting the stuff away and realised I didn't know if his kids had allergies.
"Well shit." I said to myself. I grabbed my phone and tapped out a text.
'Cullen, any allergies I should know about? What are your kids favourite meals? I'm stuck for what to make for dinner. We pretty much go with the flow in this house. Xx'
I quickly sent it and went back to tidying the kitchen. A few minutes later I got a reply.
'No allergies and they love mac and cheese. I do too if that interests you. Oh and we are going for dinner tonight. Its been planned and reserved so dress pretty and don't eat loads.' Was the reply I got.
"Hmm dinner." I mused as I went up the stairs. I checked in on Maddie and Jenna who were doing an artsy thing in Jenna's bedroom. I love Jenna's bedroom. Most of the walls are painted purple and there is one that is wallpapered with white and pink flowers. Her bed sat under the wallpapered wall and was a large king size with white bedding and two white cushioned stalls at the end of the bed. She had two small windows, one with a desk designed into the space and the other was a window seat. There was loads of lighting and storage and a matching table and chair with a flower pattern that matches the wallpaper and blinds.
"Hey. Maddie one of my friends is coming round for dinner tonight and he has a little girl your age." I said walking into the room and dropping to sit on the bed.
"Really. What's her name?"
"Lizzie." I said.
"Cool." she said.
"Well her, her daddy and her brother Ethan are coming for dinner and then you lot will go to sleep and me and her daddy are going to go out for a little bit. But Jenna will be here if you need her. Is that ok?" I asked now a little nervous.
"Cool. You will come back though right?" she asked.
"Yep. You will be asleep by then but I promise to come and kiss you night ok?" I asked. She nodded and went back to what ever her and Jenna had been doing.
"Hey why don't we have a sleepover with Lizzie in my room tonight?" Jenna asked.
"Yeah. Can we mama please?" Maddie asked.
"Sure I cant see why not." I said. She smiled and carried on with what they were doing and I went to my room to see what options I had for the date tonight.
'What restaurant?" I texted him. If I don't know where we are going how can I plan what to wear.
'It's a surprise." he replied unhelpfully.
"How am I meant to know what to wear if I don't know where we are going?" I asked.
"It's a nice restaurant. Wear a pretty dress."
"Helpful!" I replied sarcastically.
"No problem. See you at 6."
"Do me a favour, bring ice cream, chocolate, crisps and juice. Jenna is having a sleepover in her room with them. We should give them stuff to eat. Bring some of Lizzie's favourite DVDs too. And something for Ethan to sleep in. Travel cot maybe?" I sent.
"No problem. X" was the reply.
"Texting your boy toy?" Jenna asked from the doorway.
"Boy toy is not acceptable either." I said sternly.
"Jeez what can I call him?" she complained.
"Umm why don't you try Edward?" I offered.
"Ok fine. What are you doing?" she asked walking into the room.
"Looking for something to wear tonight." I said.
"Where is he taking you?" she asked.
"A nice restaurant apparently. That's all he would tell me." I said. She pursed her lips in concentration before snatching my phone off my bed and disappearing into my bathroom. "Hey!" I called out but she locked the door. I huffed and went back to the wardrobe. Cant stop her now. I had been looking at a blue dress I had always liked when Jenna came back out of the bathroom.
"Oh hello thief." I said.
"Yeah yeah but I now know where you are going tonight. Although I promised him I wouldn't tell you. He sounds hot by the way." she said dropping into the middle of my bed.
"Thanks. Your not going to tell me where we are going are you?" I asked. She shook her head with a grin. "Well if I hold a dress out tell me yes or no?" I asked.
"I can do that." she said. I started pulling dresses out and got a no almost every time.
"Come on Jenna. I'm going to run out soon." I said. I grabbed the last dress in my wardrobe and held it out making her smile.
"That one!" she said.
"Really?" I asked. It was a white lace dress with three quarter length sleeves.
"Yep. Red nails, lipstick and your red high heels!" She said excitedly.
"Ok." I said hanging it back up. Now that my outfit was sorted I quickly showered and washed my hair and dried it so it was in soft curls before gently tying it back. I wouldn't have time later. I applied a small amount of make up so I would only need to add to it later and then dressed in some leggings and a grey jumper with some plain black ugg boots.
A quick time check showed it was 530 so I went to the kitchen to start dinner. I decided to go with macaroni and cheese. Its simple and everyone loves it. At 6 exactly the door bell rang through the house.
"Ill Get it!" Jenna yelled. I sighed as Maddie wandered into the kitchen.
"Hey baby where have you been?" I asked. I hadn't seen her since she was with Jenna.
"Playing in my room." she said. I lifted her onto one of the chairs at the breakfast bar and then went back to stirring dinner.
"Hey." his voice called as he wandered into the kitchen.
"Hey. You find the place ok?" I asked.
"Yep." he said as I turned to face him.
"Bella!" Lizzie said excitedly.
"Hey sweetie. How are you?" I asked as she attached myself to my legs.
"Fine. Thank you for letting us come round." she said. It sounded like something she had been coached to say.
"Its fine." I said ruffling her long blonde hair. "Come with me." I said leading her round the island. I lifted Maddie off the chair and placed her back on the floor.
"Maddie this is Lizzie. Lizzie, Maddie." I said introducing them. While we had been talking Edward had taken my place at the stove and was stirring the Mac and cheese.
"Why don't you girls go and play upstairs in Maddie's bedroom?" I said. They nodded and Maddie held her hand out for Lizzie before they ran off up the stairs hand in hand.
"Where is Ethan?" I asked.
"Your sister stole him when I got here and disappeared with him. Should I be worried?" he asked.
"No you should get him back in one piece." I replied.
"Well that's reassuring." he said as I hip bumped him out of the way so I could finish dinner.
"What can I do to help?" he asked.
"Can you make up some drinks?" I asked.
"Glasses are to the left of the window and juice is in the fridge." I pointed as I pulled plates out of the cupboard. I laid out three plates and a plastic bowl.
"How much are your kids going to eat?" I asked as I grabbed the saucepan.
"Here Ill do theirs." he offered taking the pan and the spoon. He placed their food on the plates and I did Maddie and Jenna's.
"Did you want some?" I asked.
"No ill eat later." he said.
"And you still wont tell me where we are going?" I asked pouting slightly.
"No and don't fight dirty." he said tapping my bottom lip.
"Ugh. Do you have to flirt in the kitchen? We eat here." Jenna complained wandering into the room holding Ethan on her hip.
"Give Ethan back to Edward and go and get two booster seats and Maddie's old high chair." I said.
"Ok." she said handing him over. I laid out the plates in front of each chair and Jenna came back with the booster seats and highchair.
"Little help?" she asked desperately. I grabbed the high chair so she could get a better grip on the booster seats. I quickly set up the highchair and then turned to hold my hands out for Ethan. Edward handed him to me and I placed him in the highchair and strapped him in.
"You got a bib or something. I don't still have any of them." I said.
"Yeah in his bag. Ill go grab it. Want me to get the girls."
"Yeah up the stairs and the second door on the left is where they should be." I said. He nodded and set off up the stairs.
"Make sure you secure them to the seat." I said pointing to the booster as I placed the saucepan in the sink.
"He is definitely as hot as he sounds. You two would make cute babies." she said.
"What! Jenna we are going on our first date in a few hours. I think you may be getting a little ahead of yourself." I said laughing.
"Just making an observation." she said. Ethan began protesting in the highchair so I lifted him out and placed him on my hip.
"Hey little man. What's up?" I asked bouncing him slightly. He settled and Edward came back in with the girls.
"Come and sit down. We have Mac and Cheese for dinner." I said. We helped the girls onto the booster seats and Jenna sat down on one end and they tucked in while I washed the pans and utensils I'd used while cooking.
"What films are you guys going to watch tonight?" I asked.
"Well we have loads of options. Nemo, simba, and we cant forget shark tale and narnia. I'm sure we will find something." Jenna said.
"Good as long as everyone agrees." I said and she nodded. They all finished dinner discussing which order to watch the movies in and I took the plates to wash them before grabbing some wipes to clean their hands and faces. Not Jenna. She can eat without covering herself. I threw a few to Edward so he could tidy Ethan a little.
"Did you bring pjs and things? Maddie needs a bath so you can bath and change them while I do her?" I offered. He nodded.
"Yeah we have pjs and things like that. Oh our dinner reservation is at 2000 by the way." he added.
"Ok. What time do we need to leave?" I asked.
"About quarter to." he said. I nodded. It was 1845 now so I had about an hour.
"Ok." I said.
"Why don't I bath Maddie for you?" Jenna offered. "You can get ready that way." she added.
"You sure?"
"Yeah. Its not like I have anything else to do." she added.
"Ok that's helpful thanks."
"No problem. Come on Maddie lets find some PJ's for you." she offered. "Want to come Lizzie." she asked as she lifted Maddie down.
"Yes please." she replied softly. Jenna smiled and lifted her down. They disappeared upstairs and Edward held Ethan out to me. I settled him on my hip.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Cleaning the highchair." he said.
"With a baby wipe. Why not use a cloth?" I asked.
"Pass me one and I will." he said teasingly. I grabbed one out of the sink and handed it to him. He quickly cleaned up and folded the chair back down while Ethan played with a curl that had come loose from my ponytail.
"Where do you want this to go?" he asked.
"Oh through there into the garage." I said. He nodded and put that away coming back for the booster seats. Once everything was away he came back into the kitchen.
"Did you bring a travel cot?" I asked.
"Yeah its in the car. Should I go and get it?" he asked leaning forward to tuck the curl behind my ear.
"Yeah. We can set it up now." I said. He nodded and turned to go out to his car. I went upstairs with Ethan to see Jenna. They were in Maddie's room debating different PJ options.
"Hey. Can I talk to you for a second?" I asked.
"Sure." Jenna replied coming outside.
"We are going to set up Ethan's travel cot. Where do you want it bearing in mind he will be out before the girls?" I asked.
"Well if you put him in the spare room then when you guys get back, Edward can stay in their with him." she suggested.
"Ok but you will keep an eye on him yes?" I asked.
"Sure." she replied.
"Ok." I said.
"Here ill take him while you set everything up." she said pulling him from my arms and going back to the girls.
"Mama can Lizzie wear these?" Maddie asked holding up some pink and brown monkey PJ's.
"If she wants to." I said before going to help Edward.
"Right the girls are staying in Jenna's room as far as I can tell and we are setting Ethan up in the spare room where you will stay once we get back." I said.
"Ok." he replied.
We went upstairs and set everything up, putting sheets in the cot before Edward went to help Jenna bath the girls in Maddie's bathroom. While they set up I grabbed spare quilts and pillows and put them in Jenna's room. I looked in the bathroom and saw Edward and Jenna had all kids in the bath together. Edward lifted Ethan out first and wrapped him in a towel. "Go get ready. We will be fine." Jenna said.
"Ok I'm going." I said.
I wandered into my room and refreshed my make up making it a little more date worthy. Soft smokey eyes and bright red lipstick. I re did my hair and let the curls hang around my shoulders. I grabbed the white dress and slipped it on over my white lacy underwear and then slipped into my shoes. A few sprays of perfume and sorting my handbag out I was ready. "Hey you ready?" Jenna asked.
"Yep. How do I look?" I asked.
"Hot." She said with a grin.
"Thanks." I laughed. "Kids ok?" I asked as I checked myself in the mirror.
"Yep. Ethan is sleeping and the girls are setting up blankets."
"Try not to let them stay up ridiculously late." I said.
"Hey me and Peyton didn't sleep last night I'm exhausted. Ill probably be asleep just after them."
"Ok. Lets go."
"Edwards waiting downstairs." she said. I nodded and I went down to where he was waiting. Clearly he had changed at some point. Now dressed in black slacks and a black button up shirt with a black jacket over the top. Jenna made her self scarce while I went downstairs.
"Hey. You look amazing." he said as I hit the bottom step.
"You don't look so bad yourself Cullen." I replied smoothing my hand down his lapel.
"Ready to leave?" he asked.
"Sure. Jenna!" I yelled up the stairs.
"Yeah." she asked from the top.
"Not too late, lock the doors, windows and set the alarm when we leave. Keep an eye on Ethan and no rated movies. We will be back later and keep your phone near you. Ring if you need us ok?" I said.
"Yep I know." she said descending the stairs now in her PJ's. A black vest top and black spotty trousers with black fluffy socks.
"Nice look." I teased.
"Hey I'm getting comfy. Go and flirt for a few hours. I have everything here covered."
"Any problems and the Webers are in next door. Phone number is on the fridge." I said. She nodded and all but pushed us out of the door.
"Turn the alarm on!" I yelled.
"Yes mom!" She yelled back sarcastically as the door slammed shut.
"I like your sister. She seems nice." Edward said as he grabbed my hand and led me to his car.
The Date will be in the next chapter. The more reviews i get the quicker chapter 3 will be posted.
