Thanks to Kitty, Mary, & Donna for their incredible help and to you guys for reading, pimping, and reviewing!
I own nothing, except for amy errors... I was falling asleep as I edited/reread through this. You have been warned!
Day 9
Bella…
Just as she said, the next day Alice helped me carry the boxes of decorations to the hospital. We hung lights and dressed the little tree in Mrs. Cope's room and Alice sang and danced around the room in a ridiculous Rudolph sweater and a flashing Santa hat.
Mrs. Cope didn't say anything, the stroke had left her paralysed down her right side and unable to speak, but one side of her mouth turned up slightly and it made both of us feel incredibly happy. When we'd finished the room, Alice insisted on doing Mrs. Cope's nails to match and while she did that I read to her.
"Red is very you, Mrs. Cope," Alice said admiring her work. "You'll be the most festive patient in here."
"Bella?" I looked around and saw Edward standing in the doorway, lingering like he wasn't sure he even wanted to be there. "Can I?"
"Sure," I said and he came into the room.
"I stopped by to see you yesterday, but you must have taken the night off." He had his hands stuffed in his pockets, and shifted his weight from foot to foot.
"Oh, yeah we had a night at home yesterday. Did you want me for something in particular?" I asked him but he shook his head.
"Nothing major. I just wanted to check out the tree." He grinned. "It looks good."
"I have Alice to thank for that, I'm awful with anything like this." I smiled. "Edward, this is Alice, my roommate. Alice, this is Edward. Dr. C's son and Tanya's boyfriend."
"Hi, Edward," she said and gave me a discreet thumbs up when he wasn't looking.
"I'm sorry," he said frowning at my friend. "Have we met before?"
"Well actually-"
"Alice knows Rose too," I said, cutting her off sharply. "And she's here a lot with me, so that's probably why she looks so familiar." I saw Alice roll her eyes, but she kept her mouth shut.
"Mm, yeah, probably." He nodded and turned his attention back to me. "I was going to see if you wanted to get a coffee or something to eat? Dad said you'd been busy."
"Maybe another time," I said and saw his face fall slightly. "I've just started reading to her."
"I'll stay and read to her," Alice said and handed me my coat. "We'll have some fun, right, Mrs. Cope?"
"Um… okay then, I guess that's… yeah." I thought it was a bad idea but I also loved Edward's company and therein was the trouble.
"You'll make sure she gets home safe, right, Edward?" Alice asked sweetly and I cringed at how obvious she sounded.
"Of course." Edward smiled and looked at me. "Shall we go?"
He took me to a small coffee shop and as soon as we sat down my phone rang. "Should I be scared?" I asked him showing him the caller I.D. "Did you do anything to piss her off tonight?"
"Honestly, no, we haven't seen each other for a day or two. I've been working a lot, Bella." He shrugged. "If she throws a Tanyatrum, it's not my doing."
"It better not be your doing," I muttered and then answered in my politest voice, "Hi, Miss. Denali. Is everything okay?"
"Finally you answered." Tanya sighed impatiently.
"I'm sorry-"
"Yes, yes, whatever. Look, I'm spending the night at the spa, but I'll be home first thing in the morning. You need to make sure my breakfast is delivered for seven thirty. I want wheat toast, no butter with a poached egg white, and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. Make sure there's no pulp—I detest pulp." She sounded pissed off. "And check my messages at home… I was expecting Eddie to call but once again he appears to have vanished without a trace. This is all very exhausting."
"Breakfast and check for Eddie's message." I emphasised Eddie for his benefit and he laughed quietly.
"I need you to call Didiyme as a matter of urgency. You'll find the number in my rolodex. I have to know when my order will be ready and tell them the sooner the better. It's imperative they finish it promptly."
"Is she on eastern time?" I asked and she huffed in frsutration.
"Didiyme is a company based in Milan for goodness sake, so make sure you call them at nine sharp—their time. Really, Isabella, do you live underneath a rock?"
I ignored her jibe and fished out the pen and paper I always carried with me. I scribbled down her instructions and saw Edward reading them with an unimpressed look on his face. His brow furrowed and he shook his head.
"Seriously?" he mouthed, pointing to the breakfast order.
"I think that's it for now. I'll call if I need anything else, so make sure you answer your phone." She hung up without a thanks or goodbye.
"I should go and take care of this." I pointed to the list feeling deflated already. "It would seem I have a call to make at four in the morning and breakfast to arrange."
"No, Bella." He snatched the list out of my hand. "Maybe I should talk to her about this. It really is outrageous for her to drop all of these demands on you when you're not even at work. I don't recognize her anymore. You don't get to leave until you've finished your coffee and I'm holding your list to ransom until then."
"I have it memorised," I said flippantly. "You can tear it up for all I care."
"Really?" He started to screw the note up and I waved furiously for him to stop. He chuckled. "You care."
"I wish I didn't," I admitted. "I really wish I didn't."
More to come tomorrow.
TTFN
