I was surprised at how quickly time seemed to go. With the news that I wouldn't be participating in preparation for our beach vacation, I had assumed time would go by slow and dreadfully as I waited and urged to help the cause. However, even with the lack of things I was responsible for completing before we left, there still seemed to always be something to keep me busy.
No one seemed to consider the fact that Jacob would be traveling with us, so I took it upon myself to get things suited to his different needs. Of course the first thing I did was call Esme to assure that he had an acceptable room and bathroom with all necessities, which of course they already had thought of and beyond. But, I was the only who remembered his "unique" (this was something of a running joke amongst the family) eating habits.
Jacob told me numerous times that he wouldn't complain if he had to eat raw, in wolf form. Even if I would have allowed that to happen, I could still hear in his voice as he reassured me, that he didn't pressure my decision, nor pushed the fact that he enjoyed eating raw. This only made my decision and silent oath to worry myself with Jake's food easier.
We were taking a small private plane to Rio De Janeiro, as I had only distant honeymoon, so that our immense packing wasn't an issue. I was pretty sure they had actually bought a plane and flown it themselves to bring all the hardware and furniture, but I hadn't asked because the thought made my stomach churn with guilt.
On the plus side, this meant I had no limit to Jacob's food packing. I spent a full week planning and deciding basic food needs, and going an extra week to bring special treats and snacks. We knew we would be at the island a minimum of two weeks, so there was a lot of food to be bought.
After several days I realized there was just no room for all my food if I wanted it to remain fresh and keep a low profile. If i packed it all in the fridge, someone would notice and my invisible preparation would be caught. So, seeing as no one was around to watch me, I actually purchased two freezers and stored them in a downstairs room no one ever seemed to go in.
No one took a second look at me if they saw me carrying a bag of groceries, or heading down towards that deserted, unknown room. Everyone was so busy with their own task that anyone rarely had the time to check others.
Jacob perhaps was the single most happy person I had ever met, during these two weeks. Despite the work load for preparation, everyone seemed to be in great spirits. I don't think I had ever seen Alice more excited in her plans, and once I even heard Rosalie humming serenely as she folded and packed a suitcase of clothes. But it was Jacob by far who topped this category.
As most of the family was at the island and Edward, Rosalie and Alice were extremely busy, Jacob got the duty of keeping Nessie entertained. Renesmee wasn't one of those kids you could plop in front of a television or hand a bag of markers and keep her quiet for hours. She needed stimulation, and she wasn't afraid of expressing when she was utterly bored.
So Jacob got the wonderful task of taking her places, fulfilling her needs, and keeping her company. He almost never ran duty for his pack the last week because he was always at our house. One day he would take her to the La Push beach, the next take her to downtown Seattle, while one day they would go on a nature hike half way to Canada. Renesmee was contently exhausted everyday and I would bet money that this was Jacob's perfect dream at night. Unlimited time with the light of his world.
Jacob smiled consistently, and he greeted and welcomed everyone who passed in a bright voice, whether it be six in the morning or eleven at night. He asked Edward whenever he had a spare minute if he needed any help with preparations. He told Alice several times that he could pack his own clothes at home as quickly as she needed. And never in my lifetime had I seen Rosalie Cullen and Jacob Black share so much as a smirk with each other, when one rainy morning I witnessed Jacob hand a sleeping Renesmee over to Rosalie without her even requesting a turn. Of course, a sunny smile plastered in his face through the process.
The atmosphere and personalities throughout the house, especially Jacobs, was strange but refreshing. It felt nice to all feel motivated about something. Amongst the cheerful smiles, positive thoughts, and busy planning, the days sped by overwhelmingly fast. It seemed as though in a blink of an eye three weeks had already come and gone.
We were now nearing the final few days before we would all leave, and everyone except Esme were coming home to bring the plane (inner cringe at the thought) and help pack up the final things.
It was Sunday night, with exactly five more days before we left, and I mentioned to Edward about the freezers downstairs for Jacob. He seemed only slightly put off that I had done everything without a peep, but as we discussed it he assured me that they had plenty of room for everything. After the arrangements for that were in place, we continued to chat lightly. I was startled at how little we had talked during the three weeks. We were together a lot, but amidst everything we had rarely, if ever, simply sat down and talked. Edward seemed more relaxed, and he seemed satisfied with the work he had accomplished. During the day he had officially finished all planning and packing for himself and the beach house that needed to be done.
Eventually, Renesmee climbed up onto my lap from wherever she had previously been. She curled her tiny body into a ball, resting her head on my shoulder, fitting perfectly, as she always seemed to. She was tired, but I expected this by now. This had become somewhat of a routine. Every night Renesmee would finally be all mine again, and she would always be near sleep. Some days I got a full blown play-by-play of her day, while sometimes I only got a brief and very general description of her activities. Tonight, as she pressed a palm to my cheek, all I saw was the La Push beach. She included a quick image of her standing ankle deep in the freezing water, but nothing more. La Push was the most frequent, and favoured, destination by Renesmee, so I had already seen this play-by-play.
The three of us began a light, before bed conversation (something that made us seem like a relatively normal family) with no hurry to go back to the cottage. Minutes, maybe hours, went by but no one really felt like moving. We all remained content and relaxed in the dimly lit family room of the Cullens house, in the silence, simply enjoying each others company. Renesmee's eye lids were dropping longer and more often, soon barely staying open.
Edward and I stayed, cuddled and quiet, with our sleeping Renesmee, but our peace was too quickly interrupted. A rushed and stressed Alice stepped into the family room, with a loud entrance, before seeing Renesmee's unconscious body and becoming completely silent. She screwed up her face, and raised her hands in apology, but in a flash moved onto her next subject. In a seemingly floating motion, she drifted beside us in utter silence and spoke in a frantic whisper. "Sorry about that. Anyway I was just wondering if you needed Renesmee for anything tomorrow, and possibly tonight?" Alice asked in a tone too casual.
I looked down at Renesmee, and back to Alice before raising my eyebrows sarcastically. "What could I possibly need her for tonight? She's sleeping," I stated bluntly.
Edward chuckled as Alice grimaced. "You know what I meant", she said with a wave of her delicate hand. Without a moment's pause she continued,"Well I wanted to ask if me and Rose could maybe take her for the day tomorrow. Like aunt and niece, day out. We're thinking of implementing this day once a month," she said in a tone that made me suspicious.
"Okaaay..." I answered slowly and skeptically. "You can take her regardless. I don't need some ridiculous, made up day to give her to you. I'm not that possessive, you know," I said sarcastically.
"Oh, alright, great," she said in a rush of words, not stopping to even look at me before speeding on. "Actually, we were thinking maybe we could just take her like right now. That would probably be easiest. I mean, if you're up for that, of course," Alice asked me very formally and cautiously. "We even have some change of clothes for her packed, so we wouldn't need to bother you at all."
"Yes, alright." I said very teemingly. I squinted my eyes, and paused to look at her. "Now that just sounded...yeah, that just sounded kind of creepy. So, if you would just assure me you aren't planning on kidnapping her..." I trailed off into a question, looking at her mischievously and slighty confused.
Alice let out a short, bluntly cut laugh. "No, no. Nothing of the short."
I laughed as well, hushed under my breath as not to wake Renesmee. "Yes, Alice you can take her for as long as you'd like. You know that, but what's with all the secretive-ness?" I said chuckling again. "Just tell me what you'd like her for!" I whispered to her, not angry just curious.
"Oh isn't it fairly obvious," not Alice but Edward answered. He looked at Alice knowingly, as she smiled like a child back at him. His lips formed a smirk and he shook his head. "Alice, of course, wants to shop. And to deny her of this new and exciting experience would be a sin, don't you agree Bella?" He turned to me dramatically with his hands wide, as Alice smiled and nodded towards me enthusiastically.
I laughed fully now, understanding. "Oh I should have known. But of course Alice! You may take my child, for the important task of shopping!" I said dramatically, playing along with the act. Alice smiled at me, but seemed to take what I said very seriously, because she took a step towards me, gently scooped up Renesmee's sleeping form, and gracefully fluttered out.
"We'll be back by tomorrow evening. We won't by anywhere unreachable. Don't worry," she said extra sweetly and left the room so fast I couldn't even question her.
I turned to Edward in shock, but I couldn't hide my amusement. If it was anyone other than Alice and Rosalie I would be chasing them as fast as I could. But it was Alice. I'd long since decided to trust my life in the hands of Alice, which meant I could trust her with Edward and Renesmee. Plus, this was kind of funny.
Edward had his mouth open like a fish, and his eyebrows furrowed in confusion, but the shape of his lips was smiling. He just shrugged and shook his head. I was preparing to stand, when we heard a quiet door slam, in front of the house. The door of Alice's yellow Porsche.
The next second, a car tire squealed, we heard the engine start, a moment of speeding tires, and nothing. I looked back at my husband, my eyes wide and angry, this time in actual concern.
Edward looked blankly at me for a second, and I thought he might be actually scared. But his solemnly emotionless face just eased up, and he started laughing. Laughing. His head hung back and his chest bopped up and down as the laughter bubbled out of him. Wholehearted, deep laughter.
My worry became slightly annoyance, and I started shaking him. "Edwaaaard!" I moaned his name, like a child. He composed his face to look at me, but the corners of his lips kept pulling up at the side.
I tried to give my most convincing "threatening" expression. We locked eyes for several moments, but he just kept silent and amused. Finally I gave up with a giant "huff", and stormed out.
Unfortunately, I left my cell phone in the living room, which forced me to do the walk-of-shame, and go back to the room I had previously stormed out of. Edward started laughing even more as he handed me the little device. I snatched it up, and grimaced at him. Partly scolding him. Partly mentally beating myself for forgetting the phone.
I heard his settling laughter still in the kitchen, and I couldn't take it, so I ran until I found silence upstairs in Edward's room. I dialed the numbers furiously, pretending the extra aggravation I put into the pounding was like a hit at Alice and Edward. A small, immature smile spread over my face at the thought.
The phone rang eight times. I happened to know that Alice's cell phone had exactly nine rings until it went to voicemail. During this time, I planned the ferocious speech I would leave on Alice's voicemail. But my thoughts were interrupted when Alice's voice suddenly came through the phone.
"Helllooo..." Alice said guiltily, pretending to be casual and carefree. She dragged out her "hello" into silence, obviously expecting me to start badgering her.
I remained silent, hoping to let my irritation and venom seep through the phone. I waited for her to begin, but she didn't speak. I could bet at first she thought that it was a mistake, and she was off the hook. After about five minutes though, she realized she wasn't getting away with anything.
"I'm gonna hang up," she said skeptically.
I growled.
I heard her and another crystal voice, Rosalie, sigh. "Just tell her Alice," Rosalie said exasperated. "Okaaay, fiiiine," Alice said dramatically, stretching out every word. "What are you calling for Bella?" Alice asked me innocently.
I growled again. Louder and more menacingly.
"Alright, fine," she said annoyed. "We have Renesmee. She's in the back of my Porsche, in a safety seat. We changed her into her pajamas, and she has a winter coat on, hat and gloves. She has lots of options for tomorrow's clothes, that we packed, don't worry."
As if I cared about her clothing and safety arrangements. Clearly, Alice was beating around the bush, and it made me more irritated.
"Firstly, she doesn't need a winter coat, it's July, so you can admit that that was a bunch of bullshit. Two, you still haven't answered my question," I told her sarcastically.
"You didn't ask any-" I cut off her witty retort with a hiss.
"Okay fine. We're driving to New York for the day." Alice said casually.
My jaw dropped. "New York, as in N.Y.C?" I asked dumbfounded.
"No...the other New York, Bella," she answered my stupid question. "Obviously New York City. We will be shopping there," Alice informed me.
"Are you kidding Alice? Like honestly, if you're not joking I'm going to be pissed," I said seriously.
"No Bella, I'm not joking at all. This is literally a once in a lifetime opportunity for all of us, and I will not be forced to shop away my savings in Forks," she snapped sharply.
I inhaled deeply, ignoring the way she said Forks and the "savings". As if anyone had to save around here. I controlled my voice and asked calmly, "Why do you need Renesmee then?"
Alice answered quickly and surely, "Because I refuse to have my niece wear that ugly little orange bathing suit you put her in anymore. That's nice for when you're playing in a creek."
"You know she looks beautiful in anything," I replied.
"Yes, but she looks half less beautiful," Alice retorted, annoyed.
"Who's going to see her anyway?" I questioned her.
"Ugh, no one! Baby Saks just opened and I've never been there before. Plus I heard Barney's has an unbelievably adorable section for kids. Alright, you caught me. Besides, Rosalie wants to pretend Renesmee's hers for the day," Alice admitted grudgingly. I heard a embarrassed and frustrated Rosalie hiss beside Alice.
It's true, I'm not much of a shopper and I was aggravated with Alice for being so secretive, but I couldn't be angry. I had no argument against them, and maybe this could be the thanks for everything they've ever done for me. I sighed sharply, but content.
"Well, have fun shopping," I said warmly. There was a moment of silence, and you could practically feel the shock of Alice and Rose, coming through the phone. "Thanks Bella. Don't worry, you'll be very happy when we get back," Alice assured me happily. "Bye Bella!"
"Bye," I told them, shaking my head with laughter and love.
"WE LOVE YOU!" I heard a distant voice, Rosalie again, yell from the phone. "Oh, yeah, love you too Bella," Alice said distractedly. I chuckled fondly and told her sarcastically, "Yeah, yeaah."
Alice's peels of silver laughs were the last thing I heard as I shut the phone. I walked back to Edward, with a wide smile on my face, an expectant and excited feeling all around me, and an exploding heart.
