Chapter 9: Surprise!

BPOV

AN: I don't own anything except the plot, and the original characters.

Shortly before Thanksgiving, my mother called me to let me know that this year, instead of me and Ga-ga joining her and Daddy in New York for Thanksgiving, they would be coming to Texas. When I asked why, her only response was,

"Do you really have to ask that, Bella?"

I just sighed. Sometimes, Mom could be so callus, but other times, she would want to be all loving. It gave me whiplash, but I was thankful I was used to it. Then, she surprised me again,

"Your father tells me you're seeing a boy, is that right?"

I couldn't believe it! Daddy used to be so good at keeping a secret, like when I was four and had messed up Mom's favorite dress. He bought her a new one before she even noticed. He never told her the truth. I had hoped he could have kept Edward a secret just a little while longer…until I could have told her.

"Yes, ma'am. It's true. His name is Edward."

She continued to try and make small talk. Thankfully, she never asked me how old Edward was, or what he did as a job. I wanted to tell her that in person. My ears would never recover if I had told her on the phone. She mentioned that she and Daddy would be in town the day before Thanksgiving, which worked out for me, because I would be getting out for Thanksgiving the day before, giving me time to clean up a little before they arrived.

When I mentioned this to Edward, he smiled. He said he would be leaving the day before Thanksgiving to visit his family in Chicago, but would be by to say goodbye before he left. He had told me all about his family; his Mama, his dad, his sister, Tanya, brother-in-law, Laurent, and his niece, Charlotte, and nephew, Davis. I had even seen pictures. Charlotte and Davis were the cutest kids in the world! I knew it was too soon, but I wish I could have joined him for his family's Thanksgiving. Maybe next year, if we were still together (not that I hoped we would break up, far from it…Ga-ga always tells me that, sometimes, even the best relationships have their breaking points).

So, the two of us planned a morning date, before his flight left at one. I would drive him to the airport afterwards. We decided to have a breakfast date at my apartment. Ga-ga decided to spend the morning with her friend, and fellow gossip lover, Vera. Riley and Ali were on their way to Australia to spend time with Ali's family. When I asked Edward what he would like for me to cook, he just shrugged, saying,

"I usually don't eat breakfast. And, when I do manage to eat it, it's usually cereal. I can't cook to save my life. I can barely cook Ramen noodles."

I shouldn't have been shocked, I mean, Edward was a 33 year old bachelor. I had seen his apartment. There were so many take-out boxes in his fridge, I was surprised he had room in there for anything else! When I questioned him about it, all he said was that he just never learned to cook. So, I asked him about his likes and dislikes when it came to breakfast foods. He said he didn't have any. But, I did, so let him know,

"I am a little bit of an odd duck."

"Bella, I knew that already."

"Ha-ha, Edward, real funny. But, seriously. I don't like cooked eggs, and I don't eat pork, or pork products."

"Damn. That eliminates Eggs Benedict, doesn't it?"

"If you don't know how to cook, how in the world do you know what Eggs Benedict is?"

"It's one of my mother's favorites. But, she sometimes substitutes mushrooms for the country ham."

I nodded.

"Well, it does limit our options. What about biscuits? Banana bread? Fresh fruit?"

Edward just kissed me to shut me up. He had to leave for work, but promised he'd text me afterwards. Thankfully, I had a long afternoon full of fabric lab to keep me busy. By the time I was finished at 4, Edward had already texted me:

Bella, after thinking it over, I have decided to have biscuits with sausage gravy (don't worry, you can use turkey sausage, I won't mind). Jasper, who's from Tennessee, once made them for me, and I just couldn't get them out of my head after you mentioned baking biscuits earlier.

I just smiled. Thankfully, biscuits and gravy was something Ga-ga had taught me when I was younger, and we still made every other weekend. I couldn't wait to see how Edward reacted to breakfast. If his love for the Yummy Bars was any indication, he was going to be a puddle of melted Edward and would miss his flight after eating.

When Wednesday finally came, I woke up at 8:30, a little later than normal, but I was refreshed. After getting dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, and brushing my teeth and putting my hair into a quick bun, I walked into the kitchen, surprised to see that Ga-ga had already left with a note on the kitchen island.

Bella,

I decided to meet with Vera earlier than expected. I also put all of your ingredients together in the fridge, so you don't have to search all over the kitchen for them. Hope you and Edward have a great 'date', and that he has a wonderful Thanksgiving. Give him my love!

Lots of love,

Ga-ga

When I looked in the fridge, there they were. My mixing bowl, complete with everything I needed for biscuits already inside, was waiting for me, as well as the turkey sausage. I was happy Ga-ga had already sliced the butter into little cubes, because that was the hardest part for me. I immediately got to work, incorporating the butter into the flour mixture, and then adding the buttermilk. When I had barely put the biscuits in the oven, there was a knock on the door. I ran to it, and looked in the peephole. It was Edward, earlier than usual. I let him in, and he greeted me with a quick kiss on the lips.

"Good morning, love!"

"Morning, Edward."

"I brought coffee…two creams and four Splendas, iced, right?"

"You know me so well."

"I also brought your grandmother some, but it seems as though she isn't here."

"No, she went to spend the morning with her friend, Vera."

"That's fine, I'll just put it in the refrigerator, if that's okay."

"That's more than okay, Edward. She'll love that you thought of her. Come on in to the kitchen, I was just about to get started on the gravy."

"Are you sure that it won't implode because I'm here?"

"Oh, Edward, you are so funny. I don't think so, but if you want to just stay at the table, and talk to me while I cook, that'd be fine, too."

Edward decided to play it safe and sit and the table, but, occasionally, he would come up behind me and kiss the back of my neck, and put his hands around my waist. I would immediately swat him away, and he would chuckle, and go back to his seat, as though nothing was wrong. Finally, I was plating the biscuits and gravy, and then went back to join Edward at the table. Before we started eating, I asked him to say the blessing, so he grabbed my hands, and closed his eyes and began to pray,

"Dear Lord, we thank you for this wonderful day, and for everything you have given to us. I especially thank you for Bella and her wonderful cooking. Thank you for providing for us, and help keep us safe during Thanksgiving, especially as I fly to Chicago later today. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen."

I almost teared up listening to his prayer. Edward was very private about his faith, but he did make it known that he attended church growing up, and still believed, but was not as strong about it as I was.

When we had finished breakfast, he volunteered to do the dishes, saying,

"Since you can cook, and I can't, I'll gladly do the dishes." My heart melted. I had always told Ga-ga that, should I ever get married one day, I would cook for my husband every day, under one condition…he would do the dishes. 'I'll cook, he'll clean.' Edward was a dream come true.

He got started. After about fifteen minutes, I was concerned, so I came to inspect his cleaning, you know, to be sure a 33 year old bachelor knew how to properly wash dishes, he flicked some water on my face.

"Hey! I was just making sure you knew how to do the dishes. No need to get me all wet!"

"Bella; I'm 33 years old…I've washed the dishes before."

So, I got some water in my hands, and splashed him in the chest. He grinned evilly.

"Okay, little girl, I was just being funny. Now, it's war!"

I was suddenly thankful I was wearing a black shirt. He let all the water out of the sink, which showed me he had finished the dishes, and had put them away before I got in there, and then took the sprayer from the sink, and aimed. I giggled,

"You wouldn't think of hurting little old me, now would you, baby?"

"Think again, little girl."

He immediately sprayed me with a blast of water. Before I could react, he was picking me up, and tickling my sides. He knew that was my weakness. I started laughing so hard, I couldn't breathe. All too soon, he had me on the living room floor, tickling me mercilessly. I kept trying to get him to stop, but he didn't. Then, suddenly, he let me catch my breath. But, before I could chastise him, his lips were on mine again. I melted into the kiss, enjoying every bit. His tongue was soon on my lips, begging for entrance. I allowed it, and soon, we were heavily making out. Then, I heard a set of keys in the door. We broke apart, but were still in an awkward position when I heard it.

"Isabella Marie Swan, what the hell are you doing, and who the hell is this?"

I would recognize that voice anywhere…Mom!

Edward stood to his feet with me following him. We held hands, and I decided to do the talking.

"I'm sorry, Mom. This is my boyfriend, Edward Masen; we were having a breakfast date before I would take him to the airport for him to fly home for Thanksgiving."

Edward decided to try and diffuse the situation,

"Mr. and Mrs. Swan, it is a pleasure to meet you, although I wish it were under better circumstances."

My father just grunted. He usually let Mom do all the talking. When she finally spoke again, it surprised me,

"Well, Mr. Masen, I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving. Maybe we will meet again."

Edward shook the look of shock from his face, shook my father's hand, and then walked out the door, explaining that he needed to finish packing before I took him to the airport, and that he'd see me in about 45 minutes.

As soon as he left, Daddy started,

"Isabella, what in the world was that public display of affection your mother and I just witnessed? From the looks of it, had we not walked in, you would have lost your virginity right here on Mother's living room floor!"

I turned beet red. Of course my father had to bring up the virgin thing again. I know it was important to me, but it made things awkward when my father talked about the fact that his daughter was a virgin.

"Daddy, Mom, I just wanted to do something nice for my boyfriend before he left for Thanksgiving, that's all! After we finished breakfast, we somehow got into a water fight, which turned into a tickle fight, which, then, turned into what you walked in on. It was not going to lead into us having sex-"

My father let out a groan,

"Isabella, you will not use that term!"

I laughed internally…would he have preferred I use one of Edward's favorite words…fuck?

"Sorry, Daddy, make love. I was about to have Edward stop when you two walked in, please don't be concerned."

"Charles, dear," Mom continued, "did you notice that he has a lot of tattoos and piercings? I wonder what kind of work he does that allows him to have all of those. Certainly not a lawyer, that's for sure."

I couldn't believe her judgmental tone. Just because Edward was covered in tattoos, and had gauges in his ears, and a lip piercing, didn't mean he was a bad person. I decided to keep quiet about his job, in case she decided to say something like "A tattoo artist? How could a tattoo artist ever be good enough for my baby?" Thankfully, Daddy caught onto my rising blood pressure (I'm sure it showed in my face), and changed the subject,

"So, Isabella, what have you and Mother done to help prepare for Thanksgiving?"

I let out the breath I had been holding,

"Well, we have roasted and mashed the sweet potatoes for sweet potato casserole, made the cornbread for dressing, and started cutting up the various veggies we will need to cook everything. I'm hoping to help Ga-ga finish cutting them once I get back from the airport, and she gets back from Vera's. Then, I get started on the pies. We still want coconut, sweet potato, and chocolate, right?"

My mother nodded, and then, thankfully, kept the conversation light after that. She even volunteered to help cut up veggies while I was at the airport with Edward.

Before I left to get Edward, my father stopped me,

"Isabella, I just want you to know that, no matter who you date, it's going to be hard for your mother to accept him. That's just who she is. You're her baby. It's hard for her to understand that she's going to have to let you go one day. She wants to keep you forever. I know it is hard to imagine, but we almost lost you when you were born. Your cord had wrapped around your neck so many times that a knot had formed. You were actually blue when you were born. The doctors were worried that they had just delivered a stillborn. They let me cut the cord, and were prepared to tell your mother and me to just enjoy the few moments we had with you when all of a sudden, we heard you. A faint little cry, but a cry nonetheless. Suddenly, all the color returned to your face, and the doctors exclaimed,

'She's an angel, a little beautiful angel!' We were so happy that we couldn't contain our tears. As you were taken away to get weighed, measured, and cleaned, your mother promised me that nothing bad would ever happen to you; she would be protective over you forever. That's why she is so judgmental of things; she almost lost you once, and it was out of her control. Now, she can control certain things in your life, and wants to continue to do so, so that she doesn't lose you again."

I couldn't believe it. That explained so much, but it still didn't completely excuse her judgment of Edward. So, I decided to talk with her about it after Thanksgiving. After all, why taint a perfectly good holiday with family drama?

AN: I am SO thankful for many things this Thanksgiving. I am thankful for a new job (even in it eats away at my writing time). I am thankful for health (even if I did get pink eye right before Thanksgiving). But, most of all, I am thankful for you…the readers. Without you, I would not be where I am today. I would not have so many reviews, and likes. I am in awe of you! I hope that this chapter (all 2620 words of it) will help tide you over until my next update, which may not be until I get out for Christmas (in December). So many of you are so kind in your reviews (and, for that, I am, once again, thankful). I hope you will love this one just like you did the others! Review, please!