Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, Stephanie Meyers does. However, I do own this plot and storyline. I also own my own original characters.
All publicly recognizable characters, settings, products, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 2: Monumental Shoppin'
EPOV
I wake to my alarm going off, and Lleu licking my face. I grab the phone to shut it off and turn over. My actions don't seem to deter Lleu. He just starts biting at my hair and begins to growl. He's a playful little thing at five in the morning.
"If you don't settle down, I'm going to put you in the crate," I tell him in a serious tone. He sits back, starts whining and gives me the most pitiful look.
"Okay, okay," I say while rubbing his head. "I'm up."
I take a quick shower and dress. When I'm ready for the day, I carry him down the stairs. I let him out the back door and he takes off. I guess he had to go.
While waiting for him to finish his business, I look around. I have never been in the backyard before, and it's tranquil. There is a rock waterfall that flows into a huge pool. Flower beds and shrubs are lined up along a wooden fence that encloses the a huge yard. There's an outdoor kitchen on one side of the stone patio. Lounge chairs line the other side of the pool with wrought iron tables and chairs at the end. I can already see family gatherings out here.
After Lleu is done, he prances back to the kitchen and I trail behind so that I can feed him and start on breakfast. Pulling everything I need from the fridge, I feel her before I see her. Turning, she is standing in the doorway with a dazed look on her beautiful face.
"Good morning," I greet. "Are you all right?"
"Um," she shakes her head. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Cassie comes stomping in, looking grumpy and mad. Her face is tear-streaked and she doesn't even glance at her mother as she goes to the small breakfast table, plopping down in a chair.
Bella just shakes her head and walks over to where I'm at so that she can help with breakfast.
We're soon joined by Sarah and my mother. "Why is Miss Priss in such a sour mood this morning?" Sarah whispers, glancing at Cassie.
"'Cause she thinks if she throws a fit, she'll get her way," Bella whispers. "It ain't happenin'. So she can just sit there until she finds her sweetness."
We continue making breakfast as the others start to fill the kitchen. One by one, they make their coffee and help take everything to the dining room once its done.
"Cassie," Billy states, getting her attention. "It's time to eat. Let's go to the dining room."
She gets up and walks behind him, sitting in the same chair she always does. Bella is making her a plate when Cassie looks down at the floor and smiles. She goes to bend over to pick something up when Bella lets out a stern, "No, ma'am."
I look down and see Lleu beside her chair. Picking him up, I take him to my room and shut the door. By the time I make it back to the dining room, Cassie is pouting again and Bella just rolls her eyes.
"Sorry," I apologize. "I didn't mean for her to get in trouble," I whisper to Bella.
"Not your fault," she states. "She needs to learn that no means no. I told her that she could play with him later and she's gonna wait 'til later."
Everyone eats and the kitchen is clean by seven. We're walking outside when Jake pulls up in the small coach bus with a matching enclosed cargo trailer hooked to it.
"Hey, momma," Jake greets, kissing Sarah's cheek. "Can you pick me up some of those work gloves I like?"
"Sure, honey," she answers. "Do ya' need anything else."
"Nope," he says, shaking his head. "Jessica already knows everything else."
All fourteen of us load up, with Billy driving and my dad is the passenger seat. Jessica reaches up and hands him a list of all the stores.
"Is this the order, dear?" Billy asks her.
"Yes, sir," Jessica replies. "I put the food ones last so nothin' spoils."
"You are one smart cookie," he says with a smile, winking at her.
I'm torn from their conversation by Bella's voice. "Alice, what size shoe do you wear?"
"Um," Alice stutters out. "A five or five and a half."
"You're not gonna find boots at Gander Mountain," Bella tells her. "They never have anything under a six in stock. We'll have to go to Cavender's probably."
"Oh," Alice says, a little put out. "I can just order some online."
"Nope," Bella responds. "It's next to Old Navy. I have to buy my boots there too."
I look down and notice her tiny feet. "What size shoe do you wear?" I ask her.
"A four," she smirks. "I know, I have tiny feet."
"Damn," Rose exclaims. "I feel like an Amazon next to you two."
An hour later, we are pulling into Gander Mountain. Billy goes to the back, coming back with a large stroller, which they strap Cassie into.
The store is huge and a little overwhelming once inside. Billy takes the lead stating, "Boots first."
I notice Jessica and Sarah both grab carts, while Bella hands Jessica one of the lists. Jessica rips it in half, handing one part to Sarah. I guess they've done this before. They each take off in different directions.
We make it to the footwear department and Billy turns to us, "All righty, make sure they're sturdy and comfortable. You will live in boots on the ranch."
Jasper, Emmett, my father, and I start looking at and trying on the boots. Bella leads the ladies to the women's section next to where we are.
I find two pair I really like and both are comfortable. I'm startled by Billy's voice. "Get the Ariats. They're a better-made boot."
Jasper and Emmett decide on the same brand, just a different style. My father is still having trouble finding something comfortable, so Billy tells him to wait until Cavender's with Alice.
Next, we head to the clothing. By the time my mother makes it over to where I am, she's already carrying a shit load of clothes. I just look at her and shake my head.
"They're not all mine," she sighs. "Rose and Alice ran off somewhere, so this is theirs, too."
I take some of it from her so she doesn't fall over. We find Sarah, who directs us to put the clothes in her cart, which is already half full.
Bella walks up pushing a sleeping Cassie. "I think we're done here," she states.
We find the others and go to check out. I start to take my things from the cart when Sarah stops me with a shake of her head. I look at her confused until Billy starts unloading everything on the checkout stand.
Once everything is rung up, Billy hands the lady his credit card and directs us to all grab bags. I just follow everyone out to the trailer where Bella already has it open, waiting for us. Billy hands her the receipt and she in turn hands it to Jessica, who puts it in the bag she's carrying.
After loading everything on the trailer, Billy shuts and locks it. We climb in, but before we can even get comfortable, he's pulling into a shopping plaza with several stores. Because of the size of the bus with the trailer, he has to park in the back of the lot.
Jessica clears her throat to get everyone's attention. "Bella and I are going to Office Depot while y'all are at Old Navy. Does anyone need anything from there?" she asks.
"I do," Jasper states. "I'll go with y'all. Alice, will you just get me a couple pairs of jeans and some of those graphic tees I like?"
"Sure," she answers, kissing him quickly.
Once in Old Navy, I head straight for the henley's and grab a few. These are the most comfortable shirts. I get a few pairs of jeans, socks, and underwear. I look through the graphic tees with Alice, deciding to get a couple for myself. I take Jasper's clothes from her so she can go get her own stuff.
Billy walks up, pushing a cart, "Put all that in here. Did you get everything you needed?"
"Yes, sir," I answer. "I think that's it."
Sarah walks over, throwing some stuff in, and Billy raises his eyebrow at her.
"Cassie needs some new clothes," she states, shrugging her shoulder. "They're havin' a sale."
He just shakes his head, grumbling about 'following lists', as we go find my father, who is just standing there looking at the racks.
"Car," Billy sighs. "Don't make me dress you. Get some jeans and shirts that are comfortable. Their polos are sturdy, get some of those."
He finally grabs some and heads to the dressing room. Once he's done, we find the girls walking out of the dressing room and, surprisingly, their hands aren't that full.
Billy pays for everything again. I whisper to Sarah that we can pay for our own stuff but she shakes her head and whispers, "Bella won't allow it. Just humor her, it's her way of making sure everyone is cared for."
By the time we reach the trailer, Jasper is loading paper boxes and bags inside. He just shakes his head and starts loading our bags as well.
Bella claps her hands getting, our attention. "Okay, if ya need to go to Cavender's, you're with me. Everyone else goes with Billy to Spec's."
Billy reaches in the trailer and pulls out one of those hand truck dolly things, like the delivery guy for the restaurant would use. Jasper, Emmett, Ben, Jessica, and I follow him to Spec's.
"Not that I object," Emmett starts, "but what are we doing at a liquor store, and with a hand truck at that?"
"Stockin' up," Billy laughs out. "We aren't against gettin' our drink on."
Once in the store, Jessica starts reading off the list. "Um, Edward, Sarah has cooking wine on here."
"Got it," I answer, walking toward the wines. I start looking for the ones I would use when Jasper shows up with a cardboard box and we start filling it.
We have seven boxes of wine and liquor along with numerous cases of beer by the time we're done. Emmett pulls the dolly to the trailer and we unload it all, while Billy straps it down so it doesn't slide around. We stand around chatting, waiting for the others.
When they show up, Cassie is crying and Jessica immediately jumps up from where she's sitting, rushing over to them. She helps Bella get her out of the stroller and into the bus.
"Lunch is next," Sarah states as they hand their bags to Jasper to put in the trailer. Billy nods his head, locking it and gets in the driver's seat as we all climb in.
Our next stop is Caffe' Capri. Bella explains they have a gluten-free menu. It's actually a really nice place. We take up a few booths and tables, but the waiter is extremely accommodating.
Angela, Bella, Rose, and Jessica all order the gluten-free pasta along with Cassie while the rest of us order the lasagna. The sauce is excellent and I tell the waiter to pass on my praise to the chef. He explains it's a family recipe and he will pass on the complement.
"Edward," Bella calls from her place in the booth. I raise my head in acknowledgement and get up from my place at the table near the booth, not wanting to shout in the restaurant. Once over by her, I quickly squat down and look up at her.
"Alice said that you need to get Lleu a few things."
"Yeah," I answer, wiping my mouth. "He needs a bed and food bowls."
"We need to go to Tractor Supply," she states. "They'll have all of that there. They also have exercise pens. We should get him one so he doesn't have to stay in the house while we're all outside workin'."
"Sounds good," I reply, standing back up and start to make my way back to my seat. I love how she uses 'we.'
"And what do we need at Tractor Supply?" Billy asks, raising his eyebrow at her with a smirk.
"I want a chicken coop," she states, shrugging her shoulders, ignoring his playful jab. "You know I've been wantin' chickens, and Jake hasn't been able to build me a pen yet. So I'm gonna buy one."
"And you ain't gonna find what you want at a store," Billy tells her. "Jasper can build you one. Then you just have to buy the accessories."
"Why do you say that?" she asks, challenging.
"How many chickens ya want?" he rebuts.
"We eat a lot of eggs," she smirks at him.
"So, you need a chicken house," he smirks back. "Not a coop that holds three or four birds. And I know you. They'll be pets and you're gonna want them to have room to run around."
Her face falls in disappointment. I want to go to her but I know I can't right now. I have to take this slow.
"Jasper has too much on his plate already." She frowns in disappointment. "I'll just wait til after the summer."
I notice Jasper reach into Alice's purse and pull out their iPad, holding it in his lap while looking at it. A smile forms on his face and he looks up, catching my eye.
"Billy," Jasper begins. "When we were here in January, there was a small wooden shed behind the main barn."
"That old, gray, storage shed back in the corner?" Billy asks as Jasper nods. "It's the old tack room. Before the mare barn was built, we had a smaller barn and we used it for the extra tack."
"Is it being used for anything now?" Jasper inquires.
"Naw," Billy answers. "It just hasn't been knocked down..." he doesn't finish as he shakes his head and smiles at Jasper. "It would be perfect and it's right next to a water spigot."
"Do you know what the dimensions are?" Jasper requests, looking down at the iPad.
"I think it's eight by ten," he returns. "It could be a bit bigger."
Jasper finally looks up, addressing Bella, "Is twenty chickens enough?"
"Well, yeah," she answers hesitantly. "What are you two goin' on about?"
"We're gonna build you a chicken house," Jasper responds. "But you can only have twenty chickens max, for now."
"You don't need the fence posts," Billy states, looking over Jasper's shoulder at the iPad. "We have plenty of those at the ranch. And I'd use hardware cloth instead of poultry netting, so the coons can't get'em."
"Yeah," Jasper agrees. "It's sturdier, too. What about those windows, we could use them for cross-ventilation."
"Use some welded panels, and take the glass out," Billy replies. "And we have the spring and latch, too. We just need the hinges for the gate."
Jessica slides a pad and pen toward Jasper and he nods a quick thanks to her. I look up and Bella is just staring at them with misty eyes.
The waiter walks over and my father stealthily gets his attention, slipping his credit card to the man. Once the water returns, he hands my father his card and the receipt to sign. Dad quickly scribbles his signature and hands it back to the waiter and stands, " Let's get going. I know we have a few more places we need to get to before heading home."
Bella starts looking around for the waiter, but my father just grabs her arm and whispers to her. She pouts at him but then smiles, shaking her head. We load into the bus for our next destination.
The girls all get excited as we pull into Bed, Bath and Beyond. I'm excited to decorate my rooms too, but I'm not going to tell them that.
Cassie's asleep, so I gently pick her up and lay her in the stroller that Billy has already set up. Once inside, everyone grabs their own cart and splits off, going in different directions.
I head to the bath area first, since it's the easy part. I quickly grab a shower curtain in brown and blues, a liner, and a stainless steel accessory set. Eyeing towels, washcloths, and hand towels in the same colors, I add them to my cart. Next, I find a nice striped rug and a hamper. Bathroom complete, and it only took ten minutes.
Heading to the bedroom section, I spot Bella juggling some pictures and stop to help her. "Let me help," I say, taking them from her.
"I can't decide," she says flustered. "I like them both, but they don't go together."
"Okay," I agree. Being around my mother has taught me a little about design. "What sort of theme are you going for?"
"Um," she hesitates, closing her eyes. "Kinda bed and breakfast, but for a little girl."
"I'd say go with the birds and flowers then," I answer. "And stick with the green and pink colors. Do they have any others that go with this one?" I ask, holding up the pink birds with a green background.
"Yeah," she replies, turning around and picking up two more pictures. "These look like a set."
"Perfect," I exclaim. "She'll love it, and it's calming too."
"Yes," she burst out. "That's what I was trying to say. I want it calm and relaxing."
"Then this will be perfect," I state. "Maybe paint the walls a sage green and use mauve as an accent."
"Perfect," she exclaims. "Now, let me help you. What are you doing?"
"Espresso and sea blue," I answer. "Like a beach house."
"Oh, wow," she states with wonder. "I just saw some wall art that would be perfect."
She grabs my hand, pulling me to the other side of the display. Her hand feels so perfect in mine and I stumble a little with that realization.
We find five pictures for the two rooms, and a set of four plaques for the bathroom. Once we're done, we find the others in the bedroom section. My mother excitedly digs through my basket.
"Oh, Edward," she gushes. "This is all perfect. Now lets find the rest."
Bella and I explain what she wants to do for Cassie's room and my mother's in designer heaven.
We both find bedspreads we like, while my mother starts accenting them with sheets, shams, and pillows. I just shake my head and walk over to the rugs hanging on a wall, finding one with a starfish design for the sitting room and a block design for the bedroom. I also find one that would match Cassie's room and Bella agrees it would be perfect. I show all three rugs to the sales lady and she states they will be waiting up front when we're ready to check out.
Ten baskets! That is how many are lined up for us to check out. Bella and my father have been arguing over who is paying. When she stomps her foot and puts her hands on her tiny hips, he finally concedes. He does let her know that he isn't happy about her paying for everything, and she quickly counters about him buying lunch. He just rolls his eyes at her smirk and starts loading the bags as the flustered sales clerk checks us out.
Tractor Supply is quick and easy for me. I grab a fold-up exercise pen, water and feed dishes along with a small, fluffy dog bed and head to check out. Bella and Jasper have a basket full of stuff. I don't even want to know what some of it is used for.
Lowe's is another story. Jasper grabs a flatbed cart and heads off in search of his supplies. Billy is right behind him with two lists in his hands. We all just kind of stand there, looking at their retreating figures.
Jessica turns around, shaking her head. "I say we leave them here and go next door. We can get everything else that we need from Sam's. They're gonna be awhile."
"I agree," Bella states. "Emmett and Ben can stay here and help them, while the rest of us walk over there."
We all agree, so Emmett and Ben run after them as we turn to leave. We walk over to the warehouse store next door.
Jessica directs my dad and me to each grab a flatbed cart as she rips the list in half and hands part to Sarah. Rose grabs a basket and we are off. I follow Bella and Jessica along with Angela and Rose. My mother, Alice, and my father all follow Sarah. While Jessica points, we load everything on the flatbed and Bella is steadily putting things in the basket, never taking one of her hands off the stroller. Rose sees what she's doing and walks over.
"You tell me what you need and I'll grab it," she instructs Bella, who thanks her.
We meet back up with the others and I have to shake my head. There is just so much stuff. I guess I never realized how much nineteen people use.
"Why is Bella buying everyone's personal items?" I ask Sarah, still puzzled as to why we can't purchase our own stuff.
"She stocks the whole ranch with everything you'd need. If you want something different, that is when you buy it yourself," Sarah explains.
We already have our purchases loaded in the trailer by the time Billy and Jasper show up. Ben and Emmett both look a little flustered and pale when they arrive at the trailer.
"They're crazy," Emmett announces. "It's like taking children in a toy store. I guarantee all that shit was not on the list."
Sarah just shakes her head and helps Cassie onto the bus. Jessica holds her hand out and Billy slowly hands her the receipt. She just smirks at him and walks to get on the bus. I help them load all their building supplies before retreating to my seat.
There's a Sherwin-Williams right down the road that we stop at to pick out our paint. The salesman's eyes go wide as we all walk in and head toward the color boards. Billy speaks with him and he goes to the back and comes back with three other guys. They all jump in to help us. I pick out three colors with their help. After a little bit of a debate, I decide to go with sea salt, a shade of blue, for the bathroom, watery and turkish coffee for the other two rooms.
Bella was having a hard time because the guy helping her didn't really understand what she was trying to describe, so I walked over to see if I could alleviate some of her frustration. After using their visualizer computer, we find the perfect colors for Cassie's room. This is a lot of paint, I think to myself as we carry gallons out to the trailer along with all the supplies we will need.
The next stop is a small produce market and I start looking around. Sarah is beside me as we pick out fruits and vegetables. We don't get the produce that they grow on the ranch. The only time we would do that would be if they are running low or not producing enough. It doesn't take long to check out as we only purchase a few things.
Next is the grocery store, and again, we don't have to get much. Most of it is dairy and some canned goods. Sarah and I are the only two who go in, making quick work of it.
Our last stop is the meat market and I'm in heaven. There are cases of every kind of cut of meat you could want. Emmett walks in, looks around, and quickly walks back out.
"I think he's still recovering from the steak challenge," Rose comments. That leads us to explaining to Sarah, Billy, and Jessica about Emmett taking the steak challenge at The Big Texan. They're laughing so hard, tears are even pouring down Billy's face.
After calming down, Billy greets a man who explains his order is ready whenever we are. Sarah and I pick out cheeses, seasonings, bread, and some seafood. I even pick out some oils and relishes to try. Once at the meat case, we add a few things to the order and the man helps us load it all into the ice chests.
Once again, I find us loading more into the trailer. Bella has gone out of her way to help us feel at home. Her generosity and hospitality is definitely endless. I glance over to Cassie and see that she has her head tilted to one side, quietly napping. It has been a long day. However, only one simple though haunts me a good portion of the ride home.
We still have to unload everything when we get home.
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