Chapter Fourteen

Voice On The Radio

"Say it again, Bella," Edward all but begged.

She smirked at him and licked her lips, leaving him trembling in anticipation.

"Lightning 100 wants to feature us on the 'Local Lightning Spotlight,'" she said huskily, knowing that she was truly messing with him. "Is that what you wanted me to say?"

"How did this happen?" Edward's eyes were wide with fear and excitement.

"They were at Exit/In for our last show, and they were really impressed. They want us to submit three songs, and they'll play them throughout the next month. It's not huge exposure, but it will certainly help things, no? "

"Why did they contact you? My name is the one on the website, right?" Edward said helplessly.

Emmett found his voice again. "Who really cares, mate? They want to play our songs! We don't give a flying flip how they contacted us, just that they did!"

"Besides, you twit, you put Bella's home number on the site as your contact info," Jasper said lazily. The wide grin on his face belied his true emotions, though. He had been given the inside info already, since Alice had been with Bella when the call had come.

"What will we submit?" Emmett looked like a child in a toy store with way too many choices and only ten dollars.

After much discussion, and a near nuclear explosion on Edward's part, the three songs were chosen. Bella happily agreed that Edward could hand deliver the demo to the station, and the band adjourned for the night.

Bella, who had completed her two-week purgatory in the walking cast, was thrilled to finally be behind the wheel of her beloved car again. Edward offered up the keys and settled into the passenger seat. They rode home in silence, each lost in the glow of happiness that the prospect of a radio appearance had afforded.

When Bella put the car in park, Edward reached over quickly to cover her hand with his. She tried to jerk her hand back out of surprise, but he gripped her fingers quickly.

"You're amazing," he said quietly.

Bella stared at him in shock for a moment before grinning self-consciously.

"You're really not so bad yourself," she allowed. Again, she tried to remove her hand, but he would not relent.

"Before I met you, I was planning my return trip to England. I was broke, damn near homeless, and so discouraged that some days I just didn't want to get out of bed. In just three months, you've given me more than anyone ever has. Except for... Well, just... Thank you."

Bella's eyes filled with tears at his sincere gratitude. "Speaking of thanks, do you have plans for Thanksgiving? "

"Oh, emmm... I do not," Edward said, pulling his hand away finally. "It's not really a holiday in England. I don't even know when it is, actually."

"It's this Thursday," Bella informed him as she took the keys from the ignition. "I should have mentioned it earlier, because I've kind of got guests coming."

"I can clear out, no problem," Edward said quickly.

"You most certainly can not!" Bella huffed. "You're more than welcome to join us. In fact, Emmett, Rosalie, Alice, and Jasper will be there. I only remembered to ask them yesterday."

"Will it be just the six of us?" Edward wanted to know.

Bella chewed her bottom lip for a moment, then shook her head. "Charlie, Renee and Phil are coming, too. And I'm pretty sure Jake and Billy are coming with Charlie. It will be quite a houseful."

Edward shifted uncomfortably in his seat, picturing the hell the holiday could be, and the possibilities left him breathless. Just meeting her father and mother and trying to deflect the inevitable assumptions would be exhausting. Of course, with Jasper and Emmett there, he could always find someone behind which he could hide. And whoever Jake and Billy were, he'd have to…

"Hang on. Who are Jake and Billy?" he asked suddenly. He realized Bella was already out of the car and moving to shut the door. He hopped out quickly and followed her to the front door, waiting for her answer.

"Billy is my dad's closest friend, and Jake is... Well, I guess Jake is my oldest friend. I never really had a choice in the matter, so it's nice that he's such a great guy." Bella laughed as she located her house key.

Edward felt his head swimming from all the news he'd received on one night. He knew he should be jumping with joy over the radio play, but for some reason he could only focus on the name Jake. What did "oldest friend" truly mean, anyway? And why the hell should it matter to him?

"Is he an old boyfriend?" Edward wondered and then very nearly clapped his hand over his mouth when he realized he'd spoken aloud.

"Not exactly." Bella giggled. "It wasn't for his lack of trying, though."

Edward's eyes narrowed, but he tried yet again to shake off the feelings of discomfort.

"I'll be glad to see him again, though," Bella admitted. "He was the one person in Forks besides my dad that didn't treat me like the town pariah. I owe him entirely too much for the protection he provided from seriously rude people."

Edward clenched his fists at his sides, wishing suddenly that he could find some way to protect the girl in front of him. Nothing came to mind.

oOo

"Bella!" Renee cried as soon as the door was open. Edward heard the commotion as he was leaving the bathroom and hurried down the hall to hide in his room. His heart raced, and he couldn't figure out why.

He listened closely through the closed door, not really sure what he hoped to hear. When Bella knocked sharply, he jumped back and ran his hands through his hair.

"Edward? Will you come meet my mom?" she asked softly.

He paced in a quick circle, tugging at his hair a bit, then shrugged and opened the door.

"Hi," he said softly.

"Really, Edward. She's nuts, but she's not scary." Bella grinned and gestured toward the kitchen where Renee waited. "There's nothing to be afraid of. Besides, it doesn't get scary 'til Charlie gets here."

"Edward? Is that you?" a voice called. Bella stepped aside and allowed Renee the first glimpse of her roommate. "Come on, dear, I don't bite!"

"Mrs. Dwyer," he said, sticking his hand out. "It's nice to meet you."

"You, too, Edward. Come on out and keep Phil company while I help Bella in the kitchen."

"It's all done, Mom," Bella said quickly, shooting Edward a soothing glance.

"Nonsense. There's no way you've got food ready for eleven people. Come on, now. Don't make me do it myself."

Bella sighed and followed after her mother, looking back over her shoulder with an apologetic look. Edward shuffled to the living room with a sigh and saw a man no older than forty sitting on the couch. Phil was trying to figure out the remote control, and his face lit up when he saw Edward.

"Hey, man. You know how to work this thing?" Phil said.

Edward was relieved there would be no pleasantries, and he took the remote eagerly. With the push of a few buttons, he had the football pre-game show blaring in seconds.

"Charlie will be glad to have it going when he gets here," Phil chuckled. "You got a team?"

"I don't really follow American football," Edward admitted. "I'm a Manchester United fan. I like it okay, though."

He said this with a shrug, hoping he didn't sound like a total git. Bella's laugh filtered in from the kitchen, and Edward smiled.

"She's a diamond, that one," Phil said, seriously.

Edward whipped his head around to reply, but Phil was already engrossed in the football festivities again.

oOo

"Bella," Renee whispered. "He's gorgeous! How can you stand there and say there's nothing going on."

"Seriously, Re—Mom." Bella argued with a laugh. "I'm not at all his type."

"Is he gay?" Renee asked, still whispering.

"No! Mom, leave it out. He's not gay. He prefers leggy blondes. He just needed a place to go, and I happened to have the room. Do not bug him about this."

Renee pursed her lips and pretended to lock them with a key before looking around the kitchen. "You really do have everything ready, don't you? What am I going to do? I'm supposed to be the mom here. The one who comes in and tells you that your stuffing is all wrong."

"I wouldn't let you near the stuffing with a ten-foot pole." Bella threw her arm around her mother's shoulders. "But we can set the table. I'll get Edward and Phil to move the tables together. The china Grandma left is in the glass cabinet in the front hall."

"I'm glad you're singing again," Renee said, as she gathered up the silverware. "Is he really as good as you say he is?"

"I think he might someday be even better," Bella sighed. She plucked down eleven Fostoria glasses and left them on the counter for Renee to handle.

The ladies had just put the finishing touches on the table when Bella heard the front door open again. She didn't even need to peek to know that it was Alice, Rosalie, Jasper, and Emmett. She could hear the laughter from her spot in the dining room.

"I love this holiday," Emmett cried as he stepped through the door and took in the massive amounts of food on the table. "I'm going to call the queen personally and tell her that Thanksgiving should be the next national holiday England declares."

He reached for a turkey leg, but Rosalie smacked his hand so hard that Edward heard it in the living room. His laughter carried through the house, and Emmett had the decency to look chagrined.

Charlie, Billy, and Jake all arrived at that moment to great fanfare. Edward watched as the humongous Jacob enveloped Bella into a hug. As he set her down, Jake placed a playful kiss to her lips and received a punch to the shoulder for his efforts.

"You look fantastic, Bells," he shouted, taking in her brown suede pants and blue sleeveless sweater. Edward found himself agreeing and not much liking the tall Native American boy.

It seemed that Bella had explained his presence to everyone, so there were no awkward introductions to be made. He did receive a very thoughtful look from Charlie, but the man never spoke a word. Before Edward knew it, everyone had gathered around the table. Bella had thoughtfully placed Charlie at one end and Phil at the other, so neither man felt he was giving up his spot at the head.

"I think we should go around the table and say something we're thankful for," Alice suggested.

"I think we should just eat," Emmett countered, reaching again for the turkey. He was again rebuffed by his girlfriend. Everyone chuckled as he rubbed his hand with a sly grin.

Edward listened as each guest proclaimed their thanks for Bella in some way or another and knew it was time to man up and admit his own gratitude.

"I'm thankful for Bella's generosity, and her refusal to give up," he added quietly.

"Stop, guys," Bella whispered, tears running unchecked down her face.

Edward reached over and caressed one away with a smile. Bella looked down at her hands before suddenly standing.

"What timing!" She scooted back from the table quickly.

Everyone watched quizzically as she limped quickly to the living room.

"Bella, what are you doing?" Renee called.

"I'm showing you all what I'm thankful for," she called back.

Suddenly, the sound of a radio filled the house. The unmistakable sounds of a DJ could be heard, and then—

"That's our song!" Emmett stood quickly and threw his hands in the air, tossing his turkey leg across the room.

Edward sat in shock as he heard Bella's voice join his, pouring through the speakers and into the house. When Bella entered the room again, everyone was standing, hugging, dancing, and crying with joy.

"I'm so thankful for Edward's talent," Bella said, when the song had ended. "And I'm thankful that he's willing to share it with us."

She smiled at him warmly, and he placed a hand to her cheek.

"Can we eat now? I am literally starving!" Emmett said, and everyone at the table broke into laughter.