Holidays for Dummies
BPOV
"Go fish!" I yelled out as Edward called out the number five.
We had been playing the game since three o'clock. After school I had ran over to his house and found him and his mother sitting by the window, staring out at the white blanket of snow. It was the first snow of the season and all the kids were more than happy to be let out a little early from class.
"Edward, dear, can you fetch me some water?" Elizabeth tried to sit up but she could only make it halfway before the coughing began.
Elizabeth Masen, Edward's mother, had been sick as far as I could remember. They came to live with Dr. Cullen and his wife a few years ago. I don't know what exactly was wrong with her but it made Edward so sad whenever he was around her.
Edward returned with the cup of water and handed it to his mother. She couldn't get a firm grasp on it and so Edward held it up to her lips for her. He was so patient with her and they absolutely adored one another. It seemed unfair for a seventh grader to have to take care of his mother like that, but I guess I had done that my whole life with Renee.
Elizabeth began coughing and sputtering. Edward looked at me with horror.
"Sit her up! I'll go find Esme," I told him and then made my way out into the hallway.
I turned to look at them one last time. Edward was crouching over Elizabeth, pounding on her back to help her stop choking. She stopped and then let out a scream as the blood began pouring out of her nose. The coughing began again and this time there was even more blood.
I ran to the kitchen where I saw Esme taking the cookies out of the oven. She saw my face and ran into the den. I couldn't smell the chocolate chip cookies or see the white snow falling down outside. I could only make out the red and smell the salt, and then I passed out.
The alarm clock went off and I sat up rubbing my eyes. I walked out to the bathroom and gasped when I looked into the mirror. I had large circles under my eyes. The past two nights had been murderous. I hadn't been able to sleep a wink since the Romeo and Juliet skit. My memories had been haunting me in my dreams. Memories that I had shut out for years were creeping into my conscious.
Sighing, I pushed all of my thoughts out of the way and walked down stairs to start on lunch. It was Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. I pulled out all of the ingredients for my turkey and fixings. It was so exciting to be fixing all this food. Granted, it was way too much for Renee and me, but always made a few pies for the Cullens.
Ah, the Cullens.
I hadn't spoken to Edward since English class on Tuesday and he hadn't bothered me either. But it was okay; I could handle it. I wasn't ready for a confrontation from him, much in less my nightmares.
Shaking my thoughts away from Edward I pulled out all of the stuff for the cranberry sauce and green bean casserole. I started on the turkey and placed it in the deep fryer to cook.
Around nine I heard Renee making her way into the kitchen. Her hair was a mess and she had on her silly bunny slippers. I tried not to laugh, but she was so cute in the mornings.
"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty. Sleep well?"
"Grrr. Go away. It's way too early for cooking." She paused and then added, "Do you need any help?"
"No thanks, Mom."
She turned and went into the living room, plopped down on the couch, and began flipping through the television channels. Once I finished up I went and sat down beside her. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was on, of course.
It had always been our tradition: cook, Macy's Parade, eat, Dog Show, and sleep. It was perfect.
I watched in amusement at all the silly balloons and dance numbers.
I went back into the kitchen a few minutes later to start on my pies. Sweet potato was the best. I decided to add a chocolate one and then whipped up some pumpkin rolls. The house smelled wonderful. Renee walked in and tried to steal some of my sausage balls. I swatted at her hand with the spoon. She giggled and then went to answer the phone that had started ringing.
I raced up stairs to take a shower before I headed over to the Cullens' house. I threw on a dark blue sweater and a pair of khakis and then tried to dry out my soaking hair.
I heard the timer go off down below and I found Renee licking up the leftover cranberry sauce in the bowl.
"What? It's like 11:30. Hurry up so we can eat."
I picked up the pies and went over to the Cullens. I took a deep breath and knocked on the front door.
Please don't be Edward. Please don't be Edward.
My inner chant proved correct and Jasper opened the door.
"Hi Jasper. Here's the pies and stuff." I handed him the food and looked down at the Welcome mat.
"Thanks! Emmett will probably eat this in like two seconds flat, you know?" Jasper chuckled and I looked up to see him staring at me.
"Okay. Happy Thanksgiving!" I leapt off the porch and made it home in less time than it would have taken Emmett to eat a whole turkey.
Jasper was…well, creepy. He made you feel unnaturally calm and serene. Is Northern accent mixed with a touch of Texan was interesting, but I couldn't help but notice the scar on his left cheek or the tattoos on his forearms.
"Your turkey popped, Bella," Renee called when I entered the house.
Finally, we sat down for Thanksgiving lunch and dug in. It was delicious. Between the turkey covered in dressing, the sausage and cheese balls, and the sweet potato pie, I didn't know which one was the best.
Renee agreed it was superb and we left the dishes for later. The National Dog show had begun and it was time to get our nap on.
"Bella, Charlie called and wanted to know if you would go with him over to the Blacks." Renee looked at me through half closed eyelids and yawned.
"Oh, Mom, do I have to?" I sounded like a five-year-old but it didn't matter. Billy Black was Charlie's best friend and I hadn't been there since forever.
"Please, baby, just this once, for your father."
Of course I went. I hadn't spoken to my dad in so long and frankly I couldn't believe he had called in the first place.
I drove down to La Push and saw my dad's cruiser parked in front of the little red house. I could barely remember my time here. I tried to block out those dreadful fishing trips and annoying father-daughter moments with Charlie.
"Bells! I'm so glad you made it!" Billy was in the doorway and had a plate of ham on his lap.
"Come in. Come in. The Mariners' Recap is on."
I made my way passed him and found Charlie and Billy's son, Jacob, sitting in the Black's small living room staring at the T.V. screen.
I waited for a few minutes and then cleared my throat.
"Bells!" My father jumped up off the couch and gave me an awkward one armed hug. I gave him a small smile and he ushered me over to the couch.
"Have a seat. You remember Jacob, don't you?" I glanced over at Jacob. No, I didn't remember him, maybe if he was shorter and smaller, but this kid looked close to seven feet and those muscles had to be caused by steroids.
"Yeah, hi, Jake!" I gave my best fake smile I could muster and shook his hand.
"Hi, Bella. You look…different."
"Umph. Looks who talking." I looked around and saw a picture on top of the television.
"Oh, I do remember them." I pointed to Jacob's twin sisters. Rebecca and Rachel, I believe.
"Yup, they're about a year older than you." Billy had wheeled himself into the living area and was turning down the T.V.
"So, how's it going Bella?" I looked up at my father and snorted.
"Great, Mr. Swan." Charlie winced.
"That hurts, baby."
"Tell me about it." I watched Jacob and Billy banter back and forth over the last slice of ham. I resented them, somewhat. Charlie was never around and he had never been father-like towards me.
"How's school going? Your mom mentioned something about you dating the other week." Charlie smirked behind his mustache.
"Well, you're a little late with that. It's not true, anymore. It seems I have some serious trust issues with the male sex. I wonder where it comes from."
The room grew silent and Charlie shuffled his feet around. Jacob looked at me and then turned to Billy.
"So, did you hear about the dance? Embry's taking his cousin." Billy laughed and then gazed at me.
"Yeah, everyone's invited to that right? Son, you should take Bella!"
"What?"
"The Black and White ball at Forks, it's a tradition for La Push to come, too."
My mood was getting a workout now. One minute I was angry at Charlie and then shocked at Billy's statement.
"Bells, I'm so sorry but if you still need a date, I'm sure Jake would love to go with." Charlie looked at me and I had to say something.
"Sure. I'll call you, Jake, if it looks like I'll need you." I bet you would love that. Jacob glanced over at Charlie and gave me a goofy grin. Oh, yeah, like a kid on Christmas.
After awhile, Charlie and I made our way outside to go home.
"Thanks, Billy. Happy Thanksgiving."
I stood between the cruiser and my truck, ready to leave, when I caught sight of a book sticking out of Charlie's pocket.
"What's this Dad?" I read the cover, "Holidays for Dummies. Way to go. Did it tell you to set up your daughter with your best friend's son? You know what? I don't need your help or sympathy." I opened my door and slammed it shut and then drove home with the tears falling down my face.
Never in the past ten years had Chief Charlie Swan cared what happened to his little daughter. He had left me and my mother and he never looked back. It was too late for him to start loving me now.
When I entered my house Renee took one look at me and wrapped me in her arms.
"I'm so sorry, baby. I shouldn't have made you go. What happened?"
"Holidays for Dummies. Charlie had to read a book to figure out how to love me, how to be a family with me."
I started sobbing again and looked up to see Alice Cullen standing in my doorway.
A/N: Ha! That was pretty good. Thanksgiving at the Cullens' coming up next.
