Thank you for your patience and understanding at the delay for this chapter—I'm applying and interviewing for jobs and on top of that, yesterday was the anniversary of my dad's passing so I have a few traditions that have to be kept up which lead me away from home & computer.
But here we are!
Rosalie Hale's eleventh birthday arrived and per her request, a carnival party was set up on her grandfather's property. Games, entertainments, and refreshments spread out on tables under canvas tents bedecked in pink and white flowers and silver tulle set Master Hale back a pretty penny, but it was an expense he shouldered gladly. Rosalie was an only child of only children in families that adored them.
In addition, not to waste any excuse for a party, once the children were worn out and toted home, the grounds would be lit by hundreds of torches and merriment for the adults would commence. Hale functions were well known for their lavish generosity and entertainment.
Today, the weather gods had blessed the community with warm breezes and bright skies. 'Twould be a spectacular day for festivities and the buzz over who would be accompanied by whom livened up many a gossiper's conversation.
Isabella Swan and her best friend, Angela Cheney, sat under the portico, ostensibly to work on finalizing plans for the church's distribution of clothing to the less fortunate before changing clothes and attending the adult-oriented festivities, but after months of absence, Angela was happy to gab about other things.
And to show off a little.
A gentle breeze ruffled an errant lock of hair and Isabella absentmindedly brushed it back.
"Will Benjamin be alright?" she asked, looking hesitantly over her shoulder at a small box.
"He will sleep just fine," Angela replied with a serene smile.
Motherhood truly suited her, and her newborn son had so far been blessed with both of his parents' temperaments—calm, happy, and even.
"It seems like it has been forever and a day since we've been able to do this," Angela continued, turning back to her friend. "You look … happy."
Isabella nodded. She was content. She still missed her father dreadfully, but with each passing day, the pain ebbed just a little bit more.
And there was her budding relationship with Edward. If one could truly call it that. She could now say his name without feeling her cheeks flush.
"You're blushing!"
Well, so much for that theory, Isabella sighed to herself.
"I am not."
"Liar."
Angela grinned and scooted her chair closer, nearly knocking over the tea table set between them. She giggled as the china rattled and then settled.
"So, tell me all about it. What has gotten you in such a state?"
"I am not in as you put it 'such a state.'"
"Hmmm…."
Isabella shook her head, but her smile revealed more than she would have liked.
"You've got a beau!" Angela accused, her voice raising in pitch and earning a squeak from where her son lay.
Her features immediately became apologetic, and she tried to calm herself, but her joy radiated out uncontrollably.
"Tell me about him!"
"We haven't declared ourselves as anything," Isabella insisted.
"Bella…" Angela dragged out her friend's name.
"It's Emmett's tutor." Her face turned bright red as she remembered when she invited him to tea right after all evidence of mourning for her father had been removed from Swan Manor.
She stood next to the tea service, adjusting the position of first the cream and then the sugar bowl, nearly knocking a biscuit off the tray. Her heart pounded frantically as if it would bounce out of her chest. What had she been thinking, inviting her brother's tutor to tea? What if he felt no attraction toward her? No. There had been enough interactions that confirmed he was.
Isabella knew Edward had a soft spot for Alice's baked goods and had hoped mentioning them would entice him to join her if nothing else succeeded. The way to a man's heart after all…
It had worked.
Moments later, she heard the door creak as if it were partially closed and then reopened.
Isabella turned to see Edward standing just inside the receiving room, his back to her.
"I thought about closing the door to prevent Emmett from seeing us, but then thought propriety would prefer we not be behind closed doors," Edward murmured, turning to face her.
Isabella mutely nodded before motioning invitingly toward a seat and picking up the pot. Her hands shook too much to pour so he did, mentioning how rare such a thing had been while he finished his studies. She noticed his hands trembled just a bit as well.
The two talked, somewhat awkwardly at times, for over an hour, enjoying every last crumb of tea. She retold her attempt at rewriting the end of the horrible tale of Marco and Isobel, earning a laugh at how she had thrown away several sheets of paper with more crossed out text than legible words. At the end, Edward formally asked if Isabella would accompany him to Mr. Hale's party, and she had accepted.
"Emmett's tutor? Isn't he … old?" Angela's query brought Isabella's thoughts back to the present.
Angela knew Isabella's father had hired a man just before he left on the business venture from which he never returned. She had heard the tutor possessed decades of experience and a good reputation, but the potential age difference startled her.
"What?" Isabella was momentarily confused before realizing what her friend must have postulated. "Oh, no. Edward's father broke his leg and could not fulfil his contract. Having just completed his studies, he took Edward senior's place."
Angela hummed, looking out over the yard, deep in thought before turning back to her friend.
"So, tell me all about him."
Isabella launched into a lively discussion of Edward's intelligence, his ability to understand Emmett and all the quirks that made up the boy, and examples of his alternative teaching style. Angela nodded and interjected her approval at the appropriate time, all the while watching her friend's face. It was clear Isabella was smitten with the young man.
"…And we have met for tea almost every day ever since."
Isabella watched Angela for any signs of disapproval, pleased that she found none yet nervous, for her friend's countenance remained a blank slate.
"And would that be him?" Angela finally spoke, motioning toward a gentleman approaching with young Emmett in tow.
Isabella sat a little straighter in her chair, adjusting her skirts and picking off an invisible bit of lint, a sweet smile gracing her lips.
"I would take that as a 'yes'," Angela giggled. She knew that look Isabella wore for she often sported the same when her beloved appeared.
"Behave," Isabella hissed, trying to keep a happy look while sounding serious.
"He is quite handsome."
"Shush!"
Isabella didn't disagree, but she did not want Angela's voice to carry.
The two watched as Edward motioned toward a group of rosebushes and carefully clipped off a group of young blooms. Although they could not hear the conversation, it was evident he was showing Emmett something as he nipped off any thorns and wrapped a clean handkerchief around the end before the two approached the portico where the women sat.
"Afternoon, Miss Bella," Edward said formally, not missing the raised eyebrow he received from her friend. "I was showing Emmett how to properly dress a few roses when presenting them to someone you care about."
"And does Mr. Emmett care for Miss Rosalie?" Angela teased.
"I don't hate her. That's all," Emmett grumped, already bothered that he was required to dress up for a carnival he was currently missing.
"I think it is quite kind of you to trim off the thorns," Isabella replied just as Edward presented her with a small sprig of flowers of her own.
She took them with a sweet smile of thanks.
"Shouldn't you already be at the party?"
"We were," Edward said, eyeing his young charge suspiciously. "But someone forgot Miss Rosalie's present."
"I see. So you returned to retrieve it."
Emmett nodded and looked up to Edward who gave a quick nod. At receiving permission, the boy ran into the house lest he miss more of the party than absolutely necessary.
"I would not have been so terrible if I had not left gift atop his trousers," Edward said with a sigh, watching the child disappear up the stairs.
"So the flowers?" Angela inquired, motioning to the small bunch Edward still held.
"An apology for missing the opening of gifts."
"I don't think Rosalie will mind," Isabella added for she knew the girl liked trinkets and any additions, no matter the timing, would be greatly appreciated.
"No, and it gave me an extra opportunity to see you."
For a moment the couple appeared to completely forget Angela's presence and just enjoy being near one another. They more than likely would have continued had Benjamin not begun howling in his box.
"Ah, seems like someone needs a change," Angela mused, recognizing the cry immediately. She rose and quickly gathered her son and disappeared into the house.
"Would you care to sit?" Isabella inquired, motioning to the newly emptied chair.
"I'm certain the second I did, Emmett would appear."
She nodded, knowing he was more than likely correct.
"Thank you for the roses. I might find a comb and wear them tonight. They would be lovely with my dress."
She held up the spray over her right ear and looked up for his approval.
Edward silently took the roses and bent down to hold them over her left side.
"This side, please."
She looked up at him, confused at what he was asking and why.
"In some cultures, flowers over your right ear mean you are available, Miss Bella," he murmured softly, leaning closer to whisper into her ear. "Left means you are spoken for."
His fingers lightly traced down her cheek to her jaw.
Before she could respond, the clomp of elephant-like shoes through the hall echoed out onto the portico, and Emmett burst through the door, clutching a small silk bag.
"I've got it," he gasped between huffs of breath. "Let's go!"
The boy grabbed Edward's hand and dragged him off. Isabella watched as the two trotted over the yard toward the Hale estate. Her thoughts were interrupted by Angela's soft laugh.
"What?" she demanded, spinning in her chair to see her friend rocking her son in her arms.
She softened ever so slightly, wondering if that was what her life had in store for her.
"It seems that you and I have quite a bit to talk about, Miss Bella," Angela replied with a wicked grin.
Next week, it's carnival time and Edward and Isabella go public with their relationship.
Thank you so much for your continued support. I treasure each and every one of you.
DeJean
P.S. Have you seen the stories posted so far for the Mobward contest? I'm a judge, and I can tell you, it's going to be a difficult choice!
