Chapter 12 – The Bridesmaid's Dresses
Edward's POV
"Hi I'm back! Miss me?" Renee launched herself at Bella and she hugged her back. I had to reluctantly let go of my girl for a moment. Alice squeezed me and went to sit down next to Charlie.
"Where's my favorite son! Give your new momma a hug!" Oh! No! I was hugged by Renee.
"Well aren't you the hard one, all muscled and not an ounce of fat!" Luckily neither Charlie nor Renee delved into that too closely and Renee rushed upstairs to my immense relief.
"Son, are you sure you are okay? You look winded. May be you should have a beer or something. You are too calm for someone who had just been shot." Charlie was still a bit worried about my wellbeing.
"Who shot Edward?" Renee came rushing down like a bullet from upstairs.
"I did. It was a mistake." Charlie answered.
"Oh my god! Oh! my god! You're joking right?" Once again Renee rushed to me.
"Where did you get shot?" She asked as her eyes looked me over.
"On his butt." Charlie chuckled this time enjoying the fact that I was looking uncomfortable with all this attention.
"Drop your pants let me see." WHAT?
"No it's nothing. The bullet hit the hammer on my tool belt." Bella, Charlie and Alice were all grinning and trying to hold back their snickers. Traitors, well Alice and Bella, Charlie was just enjoying himself with the fact that he shot his daughter's fiancée which he found funny as it was such a cliché.
"Young man! I said drop your pants! I am not taking your word for it. I want to see with my own eyes that you are okay." Renee moved towards me as if to reach for my jeans. I gave Bella a pleading look.
"Stop poking him mom, he's uncomfortable." Bella looked at me helplessly.
"Edward, I'm also concerned, even if it just hit the hammer you must be bruised." Charlie said with a sly smile playing on his lips.
"Edward's morals are from the early 1900's; you can't expect him to drop his pants Renee." I nearly had a heart attack when Alice made this mention. What was she trying to do? She gave me a big grin, "Well the wedding theme is early 1900's, they might be wondering why."
"Good morals my foot." Charlie muttered under his breath.
"Edward, just show her where the bullet hit." 'She's going to see the bullet hole in your jeans if she's tries to check you herself,' Alice thought at me.
With shaking fingers I loosened and then pulled my pants down a bit from the back to reveal my hip where the bullet had hit. I was just showing my hip, but with everyone's eyes focused on my bare flesh it felt as if I was standing there stark naked.
"You're very lucky no bruises." "Handsome butt, my girl has won the jackpot." Renee's thoughts as usual made me more uncomfortable.
"I don't bruise that easily because of the circulation problem."
"Oh I understand good. Well, get Bella to put some balm on it." Renee winked at me. I blinked.
Before I had time to consider the balm rubbing, Bella stepped forward and lifted my pants up stepping in front of me in a protective stance and looked directly into her mom's face saying, "Are you satisfied that you've embarrassed my Edward in front of everyone?"
"Sorry Bella, I was just worried." 'And I was nosy' she thought and I had to refrain from rolling my eyes.
"Worried, more like nosy, mom." She quirked an eyebrow at her mom while stepping back further against me encircling her arms backwards around me. "In the future, I would appreciate you not embarrassing him like this again, mom, because I won't have it. Are we clear?"
"I'm sorry Bella, and you too Edward." HOLY COW, this wildly protective Bella was such a turn on that I had to discreetly adjust myself. I had an overwhelming urge to toss Bella over my shoulder and take her upstairs to ravage her. I knew it was the typical reaction of a mated vampire. Thankfully before things could get any crazier, there was a knock on the door and Leah and Sue walked in.
"Oh! This is so exciting! What have you designed so far Leah?" Alice was brimming with unadulterated glee looking on as Leah took out her designs placing them on the table.
"Well, I've got three designs. Bella what do you think?" Leah asked somewhat hesitantly.
"Oh they are gorgeous Leah! It's difficult to think which one is best." Bella answered and I could see she was genuinely pleased with the designs.
"I know let Edward decide! He's the groom after all." Alice chirped.
"Don't bother Edward about designs you girls should choose without troubling him." Charlie was grinning at Alice's excitement shaking his head at me. I sensed that he was trying to get me out of a difficult situation.
"Oh! He's a really good fashion designer himself. He's qualified from a prestigious design school in Paris." Alice put in. I groaned thinking, way to let all my secrets out in one day Alice.
"Really Edward, wow." Leah looked very impressed. Charlie's mouth was gaping open.
"You know about the business right? Edward and I started it around the time Bella first came to Forks. In fact, he named it after her, it's called La Bella fashions." Holy shit! I would have blushed seven shades of red if I could have as yet another secret was laid out there.
"You named it after me?" Bella asked in a soft voice.
"Yes."
"That was so sweet." Leah smiled at me.
"So Edward, do you still do designs?" Sue asked.
"Not much, just here and there, I run mostly the financial part of it while Alice does the designs and day-to-day stuff."
"Well, as Carlisle said it has turned out to be very lucrative I gather and you two are quite a good team." Renee put in.
"Yes it has." And no one bets against Alice.
"Edward, I want to thank you for the scholarship. It is a dream come true for me." Leah smiled at me. I gasped.
"How did you know?" I hadn't told anyone about it.
"Billy told us about how you have set up a fund to help the kids on the reservation. He said everyone should know who was helping them and old animosities should be forgotten." Sue interjected. Charlie was staring at me in disbelief mixed with wonder.
"I'm so glad Edward." Bella smiled at me. Alice noticed my discomfort and embarrassment at being found out.
At this rate, I might as well just climb atop the Space Needle in Seattle and make and announcement that I am indeed a vampire, over a hundred years old, Bella and I have been naked together on more than one occasion a washing machine was crushed and several clothing items destroyed due to our amorous naked activities. Did I leave anything out? Oh yes, let's not forget that all of me sparkles in the sunlight; I remembered the day I proposed to Bella in the meadow. I shook my head to clear my less that gentlemanly thoughts.
"Enough about philanthropy, if we continue to talk about all that Edward does with his millions; we wouldn't have time to discuss the dresses." Alice continued. Bella frowned at me. I guess she still didn't know exactly how wealthy I was.
"So Edward, which one would you select?" I looked at them closely studying the cut. We were going with the early twentieth century theme. I was going to be having the wedding that I should have had all those years ago. I knew Alice and Bella were working to recreate it for me. Bella told me that she loved how romantic the clothing was from that time, so it was as much for her as it was for me.
"Well since we are going with the early twentieth century theme, I think the third design with the delicate work would look the best." Alice beamed at me.
"Yes of course. Bella what do you think?"
"I like it." She smiled at me.
"Well then I'll get to work and order the fabric. Once I have the samples, I'll meet you again and get your opinions, okay Leah? And if you think of anything else, just let me know."
"That would be great. Will you be sewing it?"
"Yes of course. Esme will also help. Oh! And I'll need your measurements." Alice smiled at Leah.
"Well, could you take it now?"
"Well Edward and Bella are both accomplished measurers, but I guess I'll take it just this once." The pixie laughed as Bella blushed a deep red while I didn't know where to hide my head as Charlie gave me a speculative glance.
"A man of many talents." Charlie mumbled and then thought 'wonder how many he has used on my daughter.' A gentleman never talks Charlie, but rest assured Bella will always be satisfied.
"Charlie, Edward is exceptionally talented and brilliant, he has a photographic memory." Alice gushed. 'What Edward? You do have a photographic memory we all do, so technically I'm not lying.' I sighed in defeat.
"I didn't know that. So that's how you do so well in business as well as in school." Charlie didn't seem to think anything odd in it; in fact, his earlier worries about how I had amassed such a large fortune at such a tender age seemed to be put to rest. 'See I told you Edward.' Alice gave me a conspiratory smile.
"Leah would you like to work in our boutique in Port Angeles until your term starts in Paris? I'm really short staffed and you know us well and how we operate. I'm reluctant to trust strangers with the business." I asked Leah.
While we were talking Leah's mind had drifted to things like how she was going to get necessary clothing, toiletries and other things ready for her trip to Paris. The scholarship only covered tuition and housing along with a small spending allowance for food. I had not thought to include a clothing budget since I tend to forget not everyone has an Alice shopping for them or the means to do it.
"Edward you have done so much already." 'You read my mind didn't you? How does everyone put up with you knowing what they think all the time?' Leah sounded a bit annoyed with me, but she smiled at me when she thought this at me. I had to hold back a smile.
"Leah, you would be doing us a favor. Alice is very busy with the wedding preparations and the fact of the matter is I trust you with our business. Also, you know us well and I know you will do a great job. You can also do a design portfolio while you are at it, and not only would it would mean we'd have some new designs, you'd have designs that were being made and some real life experience. Not everything is learned through books." I gave Leah a meaningful look when I talked about how well she knew us. She finally nodded.
"Thank you Edward. I would love the opportunity." Sue looked really happy; they had had a difficult time financially after Harry's death. She thanked me as well in her thoughts.
"Hey, I've brought the wedding folder; let me show you what we've covered up to now." Alice pulled out her famous, or should I say infamous, files.
"Bella, let's get some tea for everyone." Renee pulled Bella into the kitchen.
"So how was yesterday night? Did you enjoy yourself? How did you sneak Edward into the room?" I nearly dropped the file I was holding when Renee asked Bella these questions. I could see Bella's horrified look from Renee's thoughts.
"Mom…I didn't…"
"Don't lie. His aftershave is all over the bed sheets. I can smell him everywhere in the room." Oh shit! Bella blushed a bright red. Leah gave me a wide eyed look. I realized that she could also hear them with her wolf senses. I groaned. At least, Sue and Charlie didn't seem to hear them. Alice was grinning, with that damn pixie grin, enjoying all this way too much. To get even with her I decided to set her closet on fire. Well that wiped the grin offer her face and I smiled at her. She knew I'd never do it, but just the thought was enough to make her crazy.
"So tell me, what did you do?"
"Mom!"
"Come on! Are you being safe? I'll buy you condoms if you need them. They have those fancy ones these days. Phil liked the…
"Mom I don't want to know what Phil liked!"
"Well, whatever, anyway you should have told me you needed time with him. I could have slept on the sofa or something. Does Charlie know?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. But then Renee was actually relieved to know that Bella was having a normal relationship with someone since before me she had not dated anyone at all which had had Renee worried.
"Of course not Mom, please don't tell him."
"Okay okay! No way am I telling the Chief. He'd have a coronary, not to mention he might actually shoot him on purpose." Renee and Bella both giggled.
"How do you smuggle him upstairs? I'm sure this is not the first time he came up" Renee can observant at times.
"He comes through the window." Bella looked horrified and clapped a hand over her mouth. It was obvious that she hadn't thought what she was going to say.
"My god! Quite an athlete, how does he do that?"
"Well, he climbs the tree next to the window and then he's got this rope thing like in the movies where he hooks it and slings over."
"Wow. How romantic! Oh! And you've got the room sound proofed. What a genius girl! So you've outwitted the police chief. I'm impressed." Renee giggled. Leah was now giggling non-stop as well along with Alice. Charlie gave them an odd look, but his thoughts were on what Sue was telling him.
"So what did you do yesterday? Let me guess, you did the handyman fantasy thing right? I saw the tool belt on his hip. He looks hot with it." Holy shit! I swear Renee could read minds!
"Mom! Okay yes, we did and it was great. And before you ask, we are still waiting for the wedding to go all the way." Oh god! I looked at Leah and this time she was blushing. 'Edward I won't tell anyone about this. You have my word on it.' I nodded my head gratefully.
"Well, I'm glad you have someone who loves you so much. I can see the way he looks at you. It's as if his whole world starts and finishes with you. You're very lucky."
"I know mom. Let's take the tea inside." Renee and Bella came back into the living room. Everyone poured tea and went through the wedding files again. Leah saw me trying to drink the awful looking tea.
"Edward can I have your tea? I put too much sugar in mine. I know you drink yours with a lot of sugar." She handed me her empty cup and took my full one which was poured for me by Renee. 'You're so lucky.' Alice grumbled as she swallowed her cup. Lucky, seriously, that was one of the only lucky things to have happened so far today.
"Well that's about it for today I guess. I'll check out shoes and other accessories to go with the dress and show it to you all, and then we can finalize the whole outfit." Alice picked up the designs and put them in her bag.
"Leah, I'll get the employment contract ready as soon as possible and contact you. Could you start may be next Monday?" I looked at Alice for confirmation.
'Don't look at me, I can't read the stars.' Alice gave me an annoyed look. It was then that I realized that she couldn't see Leah's future.
"Could you arrange for Leah to be introduced to the staff?"
"Of course. I know you are busy with Bella." Alice gave me a mischievous look. She showed me in a very compromising position with Bella in the meadow. Charlie blanched remembering the intimacy between Bella and me that he had witnessed earlier.
"Alice!" I growled at her. Everyone looked at me in surprise.
"Sorry." 'Shit! I'd forgotten we weren't alone.'
"You are just like Seth and Leah! Kids! Charlie you're lucky you only had Bella. It's not easy to settle sibling bickering." She smiled fondly at us. She seemed to have forgotten that we weren't kids, but 100 year old vampires.
"You know Edward, are you sure you want to go to medical school? You would make a good cop. I saw the way you moved and how quickly you responded to the threat of danger without losing your head. And if you have a photographic memory…"
"Thanks Charlie, but I'm not very comfortable with weapons and I have always loved the way Carlisle manages to help so many people. It has been my dream since he first adopted me to follow in his footsteps."
"I think he's right Charlie. He'll make an excellent doctor; he even came and treated Jacob when Carlisle was away." Sue stated.
"Really? That was very nice of you." Charlie was looking at me as if I'd grown two heads within the course of the day.
"Yes, Carlisle has always taken the time to teach me things at home. You could say I've been home schooled by him when it comes to handling wounds and other things. I have volunteered when he was short staffed." I didn't go to mention that it was mostly during the second world war.
"That's great, so when you do go to medical school you'll have a leg up on everyone else." Charlie stated and then thought how nice it was that I was so close with my dad and how even though he's so busy, he makes time for his kids.
"That I will." Well that and I already have two medical degrees.
I was breathing a sigh of relief that the day actually went incredibly well. It seemed that every time there was something I freaked out about that I thought they'd find weird or odd, it actually ended up turning in our favor. In fact, in the course of a few hours Charlie's opinion about me had majorly shifted that now he was thinking that his daughter was choosing well. To my surprise he was even glad that Bella hadn't fallen for Mike Newton whom he had initially thought would be a good match for Bella. I had to hold back a growl at that thought. However, above all, I was clearly and quickly becoming the favored Cullen. The pixie had competition.
AN: Thank you very much Dazzleglo for prereading and making this chapter more hilarious. You are the best.
Please do review and let me know what you think.