Thank you for your fabulous reviews and words of encouragement! Unfortunately some of you have PMs switched off and I can`t contact you. Just know that I read and appreciate all your messages immensely : -)

Let`s catch up with Edward today.

Chapter 10

Edward

"Hello, my baby boy!" My Mom sings enthusiastically in to the phone. "How is the first week of the new year going for you? I hear you were out at another party last night? I hope I didn`t wake you!"

"No, Mom, you didn`t. I`m doing great and the party was a bomb. I just woke up a few minutes ago when Tanya brought Cody back."

"You mean Tanya the new neighbor? Is that where Cody spent last night?"

"Yes, the new neighbor. She also has a dog and I left Cody at her place on New Year`s Eve; she celebrated quietly at home with a friend. The fireworks have been going on every night this week and Tanya offered to look after Cody when I went out again. I didn`t want him to be home alone and scared."

"Oh, that`s so thoughtful of her!" My mother coos. "How old is Tanya, Edward?"

I scratch my head and answer before realizing her reason for inquiring, "I`m not sure, but she said she`d finished college a couple of years ago, so I`d say mid-twenties."

"Oh, really?" The voice on the other side jumps up an octave. I should have known.

"Really, Mom," I can`t stop but laugh. "She`s funny, smart, attractive, loves animals and she`s a good neighbor."

"Well, how about inviting the smart, attractive, funny girl to Jasper`s wedding?"

What?

Trust Esme Cullen to throw you a bolt from the blue.

"To be honest, Mom, I haven`t thought about it but we`ll cross that bridge when we get there. Better tell me about you and Dad, as far as I know you partied last night as well! Is Dad feeling any better?"

"Oh, sweetie, he isn`t himself at all. He`s had this thing for the past three days. He was actually relatively fine last night and we had a wonderful time with your Aunt and Uncle, just a nice private party of four, but this morning Dad started getting sick again."

"Stomach flu is nasty, it`ll take a few days to get over the virus. Send him my best and tell him not to worry about the clinic, I will do just fine until he gets back, OK?"

"I will, Honey, of course. He`s sleeping now. I`m going to take a nap, too. And you relax and think about the wedding and Tanya, alright? I`d like to meet this girl actually," she ends with a yawn.

As I put on a tracksuit and pick a jacket, Cody`s tail wags with excitement.

"Wanna go out, boy? Huh? Let`s go for a run. Did you hear my Dad is still sick? I`ll be working extra hours for a few more days, we might ask Tanya if she could babysit you for a while sometimes."

Cody blinks his big brown eyes and licks my hand.

As I jog and play with Cody in the park I overhear two people joking about some fete they attended, and laugh to myself at their mention of champagne and caviar.