I woke bright and early as usual. I stretched like a cat then sat up. The meeting was today. The last meeting before my holiday, can I really manage to not work? I suppose time will tell. I looked out at the grey morning and sighed. The long term weather had given some sun coming our way next week. I couldn't wait; this grey weather got me down.
I dragged a swimsuit on. I really need to get some new ones for myself and stock the pool house with spares for guests. I looked at the meagre number of clothes in my closet and sighed again. I hate clothes shopping but really need to get clothes suitable for Forks weather when I start back at school. My work clothes consist of tatty old shorts and t-shirts that I pull my overalls over and the skirt and trouser suits I use for meetings.
I grabbed a poncho style towel, pulling it over my head for the walk across to the pool. I had a corridor built from the pool house to the pool building so I didn't get cold. After doing my stretching routine I dived into the pool. It was always a slight shock when I hit the cool water but the exercise soon warmed me. The familiar muscle burn made me aware I had been swimming for a while. I glanced at the clock and knew I had to start and get ready for the meeting.
I tidied round as I ate a bowl of cereal. I swallowed down a quick glass of juice before pulling on some work clothes. I needed to load Red with the garden sculptures she had commissioned. There were seven, all taller than me. I just hoped she had a huge garden! I looked over each piece as I manhandled them up into Red. I was a good thing I had some muscle, I suppose I should have asked for some help. I'm really can be too pig headed for my own good.
I was impressed with the way these had turn out. The bases were a simple conical shape with the frame made to appear like ivy growing up. The sculptures on the top were strange as they didn't seem to have a theme I could discern. My favourite was the mountain lion that looked like it was swiping at its prey. When you saw the lion near huge brown bear it looked like they were fighting. The bear was up on its hind legs roaring. I'd had fun drawing and making those two, I had started a wilderness range off the back of these. The others were a strange mix; a mother and child, a confederate flag, a shopping bag with clothes spilling out, a stethoscope and a car with the hood open. How did all those things tie together, weird! Oh well, what the client wants, the client gets. I'd had fun with these pieces. I just wondered what the bigger project was going to be as these were by no means small.
Once I had them all loaded, covered and strapped down I headed back for a long hot shower I wanted to wash away the smell of chlorine and grease. The smell of my usual strawberry scented shampoo reminded me of picnics when I was little with Grandma, Gramps and Mom. I stood under the water letting the heat and water pressure massage my shoulders and back.
A glance at the time kicked me out of me reverie. I dried off quickly, I did my best with my hair but I didn't have a hope of getting it dry. It's so thick and unmanageable, the chlorine didn't help matters. I just threw it up into a messy bun. I pulled on a royal blue trouser suit. I had to unload all those monsters in my suit and I wonder why I go through so many suits! Hopefully it would be dark enough to hide any marks from unloading. I just prayed she likes them. I really could do without having to bring them back to make changes. I was sighing too much this morning, I need to stay positive. I didn't bother with any makeup; I only put that stuff on when I got guilted into dinner meetings. I still hadn't finished decorating the pool house so only had the mirror in the bathroom and that was steamed up, so no point checking how I look.
Tomboy that I am I never really bothered how look. Renee bought me all the suits and bullied me into wearing makeup. I'm a short bone bag with very few curves. The muscles have are the wirery sort from hard manual work, running and swimming, they don't give much definition. I have plain brown hair that never does what I tell it, brown eyes and a pasty white but clear complexion. I like my hair down as it makes a good shield to hide behind. I really live up to the ugly duckling title I acquired in Phoenix. The work scars and calluses on my whiter than white hands and arms just add to the picture. I worked so much in the last year daylight is almost alien to me. Even if I do see the sun I'm the sort that turns bright red and burns before going back white again. I'm good at being one of the lads and dressing that part. I have more in common with the guys; I never know what to talk about to girls. Gramps gang and Mom are my closest friends, how sad is that?
I put a pair of steel toe cap shoes on. I learnt the hard way that it's safer! I grabbed my briefcase and headed out to Red. I tossed my briefcase into the passenger side then walked round double checking the straps and covers on the load. Satisfied I set off.
It wasn't far to the Cullen's place. I would have missed the turning had I not had such comprehensive instructions to find it. It was a long drive up to the house; I took it steady not wanting to disturb my precious cargo. The house was beautiful; I noticed the differences between this and my nearly complete house. The landscaping round the house was spectacular, not so much a garden as tamed nature gradually merging with the forest that bounded the vista. The pieces in the back would work well in this huge area. I checked the time yet again as I neared the house, five minutes early. Good, I checked the contents of my briefcase, and then I checked my phone for messages: All in order, excellent.
It was 10am on the dot when I knocked on the door. I heard a squeal as the door was pulled open. I was greeted by an excited pixie like person, even shorter than me. She exuded so much energy I couldn't help but grin. Her beauty was unearthly. She was even paler than me, if that is even possible, short dark spiky hair and the most unusual golden eye colour. I was still trying to take in her appearance when she grabbed my hand in her icy hard hand and dragged me into the house talking at me almost too fast to understand.
"You must be Bella Swan, so pleased to meet you. You only look my age. How old are you? Why would you be working if you are only my age, you must be older. You have such great skin. Oh, we are going to be such great friends," sang this strange apparition, with what I could only describe as verbal diarrhoea.
"Alice, give poor Bella chance. Hello dear, I'm pleased to final meet you face to face. I'm Esme Cullen, this is my daughter Alice. Please forgive her exuberance!" The lilting voice of Mrs Cullen cut off Alice as she came into sight. She looked across to calm the ball of energy she named as Alice. She had the same unearthly beauty, skin and eyes of her daughter but features didn't look like a relation much less a daughter. She didn't look old enough to have a child of school age never mind a daughter the same age as me.
I found my voice at last and greeted them both, "Mrs Cullen. Alice. I pleased to meet you both."
"Esme, please call me just Esme," she responded gently, before asking "Would you like anything to drink dear?"
"A glass of water would be lovely, Thank you," I replied gratefully.
They both went into the kitchen giving me a chance to look round the open living area I stood in. It was serene and welcoming. It felt like a lived in home yet there was no clutter. A huge flat screen graced one wall. I noticed large well concealed doors by the TV and assumed they housed cupboard space for DVD's and possibly games when I spotted a controller peeking out under coffee table. Scanning round the room I saw a gorgeous baby grand piano and wondered who played. I missed hearing Grandma and Mom playing. My attempts always seemed so poor in comparison to them. I was caught still staring and reminiscing as Esme passed me a glass of water. Our fingers met for a moment as I took the glass, her fingers were just as cold and hard as her daughters.
"Do you play?" she asked kindly as I took a quick sip of water.
"A little," I replied, "I miss hearing a piano played. I grew up round music." I could hear the loss and longing in my voice even though I tried to keep it light.
"This house is beautiful. Did you design the interior?" I quickly said to try and change the subject away from me.
"Thank you! Yes, I designed it all. I love my job" Esme said enthusiastically before asking, "How is the work going on the house with the plans I sent?"
We talked about the house and its rapid progress. I was overjoyed when Esme offered to work on the interior for me. She suggested the same terms as for the architect plans. At this rate her garden ornaments would end up costing her nothing but her own time, she even agreed to do the pool house for me as well. She insisted on paying for three of the pieces no matter how hard I tried to insist she shouldn't pay for any, with all the work she was doing for Black Swan Designs.
I slipped up a couple of times by saying the work was for me. I explained it away by going into detail. That the house was been built to entertain Black Swan clients in but I would be living in the house. Explaining since my Dad is Police Chief and works such long unpredictable shifts, he wanted to know I was safe when he would be absent. The site having its own security and the house would be on a separate system linked to the station. Plus he didn't want me driving too much at night after my morning and nightly swimming. They joked about how lucky I was to have a huge house, pool and gym at my disposal. Then went on to say I must be well thought of and trusted to be given such responsibility. I could see in their faces they were trying to figure 'why her?'
"Would you like to see the pieces I bought with me first or discuss the other project?" I asked when we came to a lull in the conversation about my new house.
"Shall we go out and see what you have bought, do you want to leave you case here?" she said with a glint of anticipation.
Alice was bouncing beside her. It looked like it was all she could do to keep quiet. I nodded, placing the now empty glass and briefcase on the table. I got up and headed through the door unable to keep the huge grin from spreading across my face in response to Alice's excitement.
"Where would you like them unloading?" I questioned as we reached Red.
"Here is fine for now, do you need any help?" Esme replied.
"No, just give me a minute." I answered as I quickly removed the straps and covers then started unloading. Easily getting them off Red and positioning them in a line on the lawn by the side of the drive. I even managed not to get dirty in the process. Once I removed the last of the packing materials that kept them safe in transit I looked over to try and gauge their reaction to the pieces. They were both staring at me, shock etched on their faces.
"Is there a problem?" I asked nervously.
"Well, no. We are both a bit surprised you unloaded them so easily by yourself. They don't look insubstantial and you aren't exactly strapping. You seem to make such light work of it," Esme replied as she looked me over again. "There is more to you than meets the eye," she finished.
"And you," I responded under my breath, thinking about their cold, hard touch and strange eyes.
They heard me, I saw a hint of concern passed across Esme's face but she caught the tiny; almost twitch as Alice shook her head to indicate a negative, that everything was OK. Esme then smiled and nodded. Confirming to me there was more to them, than they appeared to be.
Since Black Swan Designs had taken off one of the hardest lessons I had to learn was keeping quiet and not guessing about something I had insufficient information on. At school we were taught in exams that it is better to guess an answer if you are unsure, to put in the best you can come up with on the spur of the moment. You might get part marks for your answer. I learnt when working it is far better to say you are unsure, then go and find the correct details, get all your facts straight first. I realised the Cullen's had a secret but I would bide my time and learn more before letting them know I saw more than they intended, if I ever did let them know. I know I should respect others privacy, 'treat others as you would like to be treated yourself' and all that, but I never could let a good mystery stay hidden. I was too nosey for my own good, but I would keep their secret.
The rest of the morning was spent looking and talking about each piece. I saw from the corner of my eye Alice surreptitiously moved a piece. She was even shorter than me yet she picked it up one handed, something I could never hope to achieve. It was all I could manage to roll them into their current positions. I made no indication I had seen but stored it away wondering what I was dealing with. I watched them more carefully but tried not to be obvious about it. There were so many little things that were not quite right, I couldn't weigh it up. They were both friendly and likeable but they had their own secrets. I had to deal with so many people with this job I prided myself that I was good at reading people; seeing past appearances. These people felt to be good, genuine ones but I got the impression you shouldn't cross them. There was a hint of a hard edge I didn't want to be on the wrong side of. Powerful friends, terrifying enemies!
They both gushed enthusiastically over all the pieces, sometimes giggling as they looked again at particular ones. They questioned me constantly over all aspects of the pieces and the business. They pushed hard about who had constructed the pieces. I told them that as we had only recently set up the new site the constructions teams were still not fully in place and their training wasn't complete so I had constructed these pieces.
I usually preferred to withhold information like that. It always causes disbelief, today was no exception. Small, young school girl welding and constructing things like these just didn't add up for most people. I really hated it when I was treated like a 'little girl' incapable of doing things. It's bad enough having the sexist chauvinism without being treated like a child on top. It's the quickest way to make me lose my temper. I have a long fuse when it come to my temper but when I go up, I do it big style. I try very hard to prove I can do things if only by doing them far better than the chauvinistic types that put me down but that hasn't always been enough.
I remember one particularly bad lecturer for a sheet metal course Renee and I did. Mom only went the first session but I stuck it out. The lecturer glared at us as we entered and informed everyone "I don't know why females bother doing things like this, they are useless men's work," then he stood with his back to us as he proceeded to demonstrate to the class the project we would work on for the week. I stuck it out. At the end of the week he gave us our grades and certificates in front of the class. I got, by far, the highest grade in the class and his parting comment was "you know, for a lass, you're not bad." The rest of the class laughed but I took it as the compliment he implied. I think I had stubbornness and determination knocked into me with experiences like that.
I live by many of Gramps sayings. 'Honesty is the best policy, but sometimes keeping quiet is better', 'Patience is a virtue, Possess it if you can, Seldom found in woman, Never found in man' and 'a stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet' were the ones that came in mind today. I was always amused at Gramps with the patience one, I teased him he teach by example. I tried to answer their many questions with as little information as I could but they were very astute.
I found out the theme I had been unable to guess. Each piece represented a member of the family. Esme and Alice told me a little of their family. All the children were adopted. Well, that explained the ages and differences in the features but not the likeness. Yet another puzzle piece about this family.
I guessed both Esme's and Alice's representations, mother figure and shopping bag. They explained the others to me. The animals were for two brothers because of their personalities, the others represented the others main interest; a doctor, a civil war buff and a mechanic. I was amused when the car was for the other sister. I surprised them again when I mentioned I had put the new engine in Red and the restoration work I had done. They would, well, whisper to each other is the closest description but it seemed they were talking very fast and low. Too fast and low for me to hear but they had no problems understanding each other. If they saw me looking at them as they did it they stopped immediately. Strange!
They happily signed for the work without any changes being needed. It was such a refreshing change. The main reason I disliked commissions so much was down to a handful of awkward customers. One customer in particular came to mind. I hated it when a customer changed their minds constantly after the work had been completed, that was the reason for the consultations, design briefs and all the sketches and even models in some cases.
When I offered for a team with a crane to come over and position the pieces for them they declined saying the final positions had not yet been decided. The rest of the family would be back from their camping trip in a few days and they would move them round until they were happy. I was surprised they declined as these were large pieces. Rolling them off the back of the truck was one thing but manoeuvring them round this garden would not be easy. I left the offer open if they changed their mind.
I got all the details I needed for the big job. They wanted a large piece to stand in front of the hospital. How do you design something that portrays hope and healing? Ideas were already flitting round my mind. They told me about wanting to up the profile of the hospital. They wanted to do some fund raising and we talked round ideas they had. I offered to make a smaller replica of the showpiece they had commissioned that they could auction off to raise funds for the hospital. After questioning if I was in a position to make such a generous offer they accepted appreciatively.
Esme excused herself to take a phone call and I sat talking to Alice. I found her so easy to talk to. She was delighted when she realised I would be starting Forks High school in the same year as her and one of her brothers.
Esme returned asking when she could visit to see the main house and pool house so she could start work on the interior designs. I told her I would happily fit in with her schedule as I had two weeks holiday coming up. So tomorrow it was, she was free for a couple of hours in the morning.
Alice was bouncing again at this point as she asked if she come to. How could I say no to such a cheerful soul! She then asked if I would like to go clothes shopping for the new school year after seeing her Mom. I really needed to go shopping and having someone to go with made the prospect much less daunting, I jumped at the chance. That set her bouncy excitable side off again. I wondered what I was letting myself in for.
It was nearly 3pm by the time I came away. I hadn't enjoyed myself so much for a long time. I was starving when I got in. Lunch had slipped my mind entirely. They hadn't eaten or drunk anything all the time I was there. I added that to my growing list of things that were slightly off kilter about them.
My mind was buzzing with ideas for the Cullen project so I spent the rest of the day sketching and experimenting getting the ideas to come together. By late evening I had a complete design proposal with a small model ready to deliver. I had promised to forward some ideas to her by the same time next week. I was so pleased to have not only the ideas but the entire proposal ready. I could now make the most of my holiday time. Yay!
I did some yoga before working through a karate kata to loosen up. I had been feeling so stiff and lethargic from spending so much time hunched over a desk working on the proposal. After a session in the gym I went to bed exhausted but with a clear head and a smile for a change. I was looking forward to the following day. It wouldn't be dull with Alice about!