"How is it that we've ended up making the dinner?" Edward asked with a smile. Carlisle was checking the veg while Edward was keeping a strict eye on the steaks.
"Because Bella is in a long, hot bath and your mother is reading to Eloise before putting her down for the night. It's only fair that we pull our weight and help out with the dinner," Carlisle replied like he was reading from a script.
"I take it you asked mom the same question, and that's the answer she gave you?" Edward snorted.
"Give or take a few words here and there. Now, don't let the steaks burn,"
"I won't, sheesh. I've been cooking for myself for quite a while, and I'm still alive," Edward joked.
"Your sister won't be here tonight. She's spending the night with Angela before she heads back to the city in a few days. I've got to say, though, she's really reluctant to go now that Bella's back here," Carlisle said and Edward couldn't miss the tone of his voice.
"Alice looked up to Bella as a sister, dad, and she's missed a lot of time with her. Give Alice some time to settle back in at school, and it'll be like she never left. She's still healing from surgery and Bella has come back. That's a lot to wrap your head around,"
"When did you get so wise? And here's me thinking that I was the parent. Now don't forget to turn the steaks,"
"Dad!" Edward laughed, nudging Carlisle away from the grill.
"I didn't think you had it in you. I still remember the time you tried to cook me chicken noodles when I was ill with chicken pox," Bella said with a giggle, pushing her plate away from her.
Edward smiled as he thought about that day. Bella was only about eight, and with Charlie on duty, Bella was staying at his house. He threw some noodles, a chicken breast and some water into a bowl, then tried to put it all in the microwave. Three minutes later and with the bowl steaming, he took it up to Bella, proud as punch. It wasn't until Esme caught him going up the stairs with the concoction that the news was broken to him that the chicken was still raw.
"Hey, I spent many years perfecting that whole noddle thing while I was away at college. Those noodles got me through years of my Kitchen Fear," Edward replied with mock indignation.
"Kitchen Fear? You were never afraid of the kitchen when Esme was cooking things you liked. But I'm surprised you even attempted noodles after nearly giving me food poisoning. Did you end up living on take-out?" Bella goaded.
"And it begins again. Honestly, I don't know how you two can stand being in the same room together when all you do is argue and debate," Esme cut in, smiling at the pair of them.
Carlisle was at the head of the table, trying to show Bella how to eat and hold a baby at the same time. She didn't look convinced, Edward thought.
"It's a shame Charlie couldn't be here for dinner tonight," Esme mused.
"Indeed. He called me a little while ago to tell me that he was attending an accident on the other side of Port Angeles. I told him we'd save him a plate of food," Carlisle muttered.
"Papa C, you can't lie for shit. Is he off with his girlfriend?" Bella asked with a giggled.
"Possibly, he didn't say," Carlisle said reluctantly.
Edward knew his father well enough to know that he was hiding something, but he wasn't about to raise that issue with Bella in the room.
"I don't know whether I should kiss your ass or kick it, girl," Emmett said the moment he barged into Bella's bedroom.
Edward and Bella had just got back into her bedroom after dinner and had hardly had time to sit on the edge of the bed before Rose and Emmett turned up. Edward sighed in frustration as Emmett showed his usual loud self.
It seemed that no matter what he did, he couldn't catch a break. Everyone had managed to spend some quality time with Bella but himself, and it was starting to get to him.
"Hi, Emmett," Bella said carefully, turning her body in the chair to face him. Edward fought to hold in a laugh when he looked up at Emmett. He was stood in front of her, hands on his hips and he was actually tapping his foot.
"Don't give me that 'hi Emmett' shit. You walked out on us ten years ago, and that's all you can say? Where the hell have you been, Bella? Didn't you even think to call us, send us a postcard?!" He ranted on.
"Emmett, calm down, okay? There's a lot to go through, but you can't just come in here and start on her, alright?" Rose said quietly from the doorway.
"Hi, Rose. How was the drive down here?" Edward asked, standing up from the bed and guiding Emmett away from Bella slightly.
"Ever the protector, aren't you, Edward," Emmett grouched but agreed to move a little.
"I'm getting there, Edward. We're sorting things out," Rose replied, coming further into the room. She was watching Bella warily with each step. It was like she couldn't believe that her friend was back.
A whimper from the doorway alerted everyone to the small person in Esme's arms.
"Sorry, she's hungry again," she said and walked past everyone to get to Bella. "Give it a day or two and your milk will be right up where it should do. Until then, this is how to do it," she said, handing Bella a small bottle of formula milk.
"Thanks, Esme," Bella replied with a small smile as she looked down at her daughter. Edward also smiled, looking at the pair of them.
"Anyone going to explain anything this side of Christmas? Bella's here with a baby, Edward looks all mushy, and there's no sign of this Tia chick," Emmett muttered angrily.