Disclaimer - All Characters and Copyrights belong to Stephanie Meyers.
Author's Note: Thank you as always to those that have left reviews or feedback. I am so happy to see so many people are all enjoying this story.
Chapter 8 - Spiking it in his face...
We had pulled up to the diner, and luckily the Silver bullet just kept driving down the road. Hmm...not sure what to make of that. We walked in and I noticed that several of Bella's friends were also here. She noticed as well and gave a cheerful wave towards the group. I asked her if she wanted to go hang out for a while with them while I found a table and ordered for us. She was hesitant at first, but couldn't resist when Angela Webber came and dragged her back to the group's table. I'm glad she had this opportunity to socialize with her friends again. I settled into a booth on the other side of the diner and perused the menu. Who I was I kidding. I knew exactly what I was gunning for, so when the waitress came to get my order, I got the usual steak and fries for myself and the Garden burger for Bells. You would think for someone who wanted to drink animal blood for the rest of her life, she'd start off by at least eating meat in all it's finest, instead of the vegetable by-product patty that went into her sandwich. I chuckled to myself, oh well. I noticed that Bells was soon walking towards me with a smile, while her friends were exiting the restaurant. "Have a nice visit?" I asked. "Oh, yeah. It was fun catching up with the gang. Hard to believe the first month of Summer is almost over. Soon they'll all be off to college," she stated. "True, true. But I guess you'll see them at the wedding. And then you'll be on your way to school as well. Right?" "Hmm...," she answered with a far away look. One thing, through all our conversations, I never did was bring up what I didn't want to happen to her life. I've interrogated enough people to know that once you put them of the defense, they then dig themselves in for the long haul. So, by keeping my statements open ended, I could plant the seeds of doubt without ever having conveyed my opinions in the choices she was making.
"Well, I ordered you the Garden burger, was that ok?" "Oh perfect Dad," she smiled. "And what may I ask did you order? How many legs did it once have?," she asked, and then laughed. "Ya know me too well honey. Say did you guys find everything you needed when you and Emily went shopping earlier?" Her face lit up, "Yeah we did. Oh Dad I can't wait for you to see what it's going to look like. The guy at the store was able to show us a mock up in the computer program they have. We'll even be able to put in a kitchen island with a small sink and prep area, plus it will have a counter on one side so we can have breakfast at it. Oh...and the stove they had was so beautiful, it had a grill on it for cooking your fish and steaks. Oh, plus it has a double oven for when we entertain." She continued to describe everything to me throughout the rest of the meal. She was so happy, she even agreed to cherry cobbler for desert so she could continue the conversation. As we were leaving the diner, I noticed the Silver bullet following us again. I rolled my eyes at his actions. Bella never noticed though and I was glad that nothing seemed to dampen her mood this evening.
For the next few days things seemed to run pretty smoothly. Sam and his crew had gotten the materials they needed and had begun the basic framing, plumbing and electrical. The boys seemed to loosen up around Bella when she was around. Bella kept asking me though if there was any new information on Jake. I sadly told her nothing new, and her mood would sink then. I also noticed that she would corner Seth a couple of times a day as well. They would normally go outside, and when they came back in that look on her face would be back. Of course I pretended not to notice that she was trying to get the Pack update on the situation. The story going as far as I knew was that the last thing that anyone had heard from him, he was in Canada somewhere.
Finally, the day I was excited for and dreading at the same time happened. Three weeks after the start, the kitchen was complete. I even got a little extra surprise for Bella. I thanked the guys for all their hard work, and threw in a little something extra for them. I also told Sam that I was thinking about some other additions and if I went through with them I would give him a call. Bella was still at work, when her surprise got dropped off. With everything set, I watched some TV until she came home from Newton's. Now, what I had planned was either going to blow up in my face, or else only add to the effects of my master plan. There was definitely a crack in the facade of the Edward and Bella relationship. In fact, during the entire rebuild I was able to keep fueling the flames of discord by being her constant shoulder to cry on. I was someone who neither admonished him or advocated for him either way. All I did was listen to what was frustrating her not only about the wedding but also with Jake being gone. She felt with Jake missing she could not in good conscience even think about the wedding. As a result, she had been avoiding not only Edward, but all the Cullens. The one time she attempted to see him, she came rolling back up in the drive, huffing about how he just doesn't get what they did wrong. And that he thought she was being unreasonable about delays in the wedding planning. After that conversation, well she just took solace in hanging with Sam's crew and Emily when she came along with the boys. I just prayed that this next move turns out to be the right one. When I heard her truck pull in, I got the surprise ready for her. She walked in the house, and hung her purse up, and then gave me a hug. "So honey, you ready to see the final product? She shook her head yes, and we walked into the kitchen together. The look of awe as she walked in, said it all for me without her making a sound. She spent fifteen minutes walking around and touching all the counters and cabinets. When she finally went to say something to me is when she noticed the new kitchen set I had bought. It was a hand crafted Quileute dinette set that a friend of Billy's had made. She was in awe of the level of the mastery carving it took to create the set, and then started to cry. I grabbed her in a hug, and told her that nothing was too good for her. All she kept saying was, "It's all so beautiful. Thank you Dad, thank you!"
"Oh wait, I've got one more surprise for you." She gave be a puzzled look. "Now, I know you've been spending a lot of time with me, but I also know you have been missing this guy for quite a while." I went to the back door and opened it, and said, "Come on in son." Her face went from puzzled, to hopeful, and then straight disappointment and shock, as Edward rounded the corner. I couldn't help but noticed he picked up on her reaction as well. "Edward...um...it's good to see you," she quickly recovered. She went to hug him, and I noticed she flinched when his arms went around her. "Love, I was so happy when Charlie suggested I come over and share in this moment of happiness with you." I noticed as he peered around the room taking in the changes, that he did not look too impressed. "So, what do you think of this surprise for my little girl, not too bad huh?" (I just knew he hated it.). "Why, it's charming and quite agreeable for you Charlie. I wish I knew you were going to attempt something like this though, my mother would have been more than happy to design something elegant for you." As I looked over I could see the flames in Bella's eyes. I think she just figured out that her fiancée in an attempt to belittle me, basically told her that her design taste was "nice and quaint." Even for a low brow like me, I knew he stepped in it. "Why thank you son." I might as well play this hick roll up to him. "I am mighty proud of our Bells here. She designed the whole thing herself," I turned and smiled at her. I noticed that she had put some space between her and Edward. He cringed when he heard that news. It almost like he read the room wrong. Oh wait, that's right, he can't read the room at all. As her mind's a blank for him, and I have been concentrating on catching a big mouth bass on my next fishing trip. All he was getting from me was a flatline of happy thoughts, which he assumed was because I designed this simple room by myself. I turned back to the couple, and noticed that every time he stepped closer to her, she made a move the other way. Not so much magnets anymore are we? I laughed to myself at the way Renee had once described them to me during one of our conversations.
I decided to set the next volley up and asked, "Well I think we were going to be starting dinner soon, you going to stay around Ed?" He winced at my use of his name. Well at least I didn't call him Edmund. "Well sir...". But before he could finish that thought, Bella cut in. "Sorry Dad, the Cullens are supposed to be going to an event in Seattle tonight, and he just won't be able get out of it." "But, Bella love, I'm sure the family would understand if I skipped this event so that we can get back to a good place in our relationship." "NO...Edward, I wouldn't dream of disappointing your family. They so look forward to these shows. Now you run along now, there will be plenty of time to talk later." "Well, if you are positive I can't talk you out of it, I will get going then." He went to kiss her on the mouth, but only got the side of her head as she pulled away from it. He sighed and began to walk to the front door. However, before he got there, Bella called out to him, " Oh Edward!" He quickly turned around with that cocky grin, that I hate so much, "Yes love." Please let Esme know that the next time we decide to make a change around here, we will be sure to consult her first, so it doesn't come across as humble as our attempt on our own came out." She smiled big, as the smirk dropped off his face, and then they retreated to their different corners of the ring. As I saw him drive down the street, I chuckled to myself, and went into the kitchen where I found Bella not crying, but happily marinating the chicken she planned to grill tonight on the new stove. I walked over to her and lightly touched her shoulder, and said, "I'm sorry honey, I didn't think that would happen. I just thought maybe you guys needed to talk, but it should've been on your own terms. I shouldn't have made that decision for you. Only a real control freak would think it was ok to ambush you that way, and I'm afraid I ruined your joy over the kitchen." She sighed, "No Dad, that's ok, you tried. I just forget how he can be sometimes, and I just didn't appreciate the comments he made...". She looked at me, and I feigned innocence on what comments, that rude little prick, might of said to me. "You know what never mind, let's enjoy this first meal in our new kitchen. Do you want to help Dad?" "Just point me where you want me honey," I said. We chuckled together and prepared to enjoy the evening with just the two of us. I had set the volley up for how this evening might go down. And Bella did not disappoint in spiking the ball in his face.
