A/N alc1002 was reviewer 199 and mommymac0508 was number 200! Thanks for all the reviews and follows etc. I think someone is sending people (besides Krazi), but where ever you're from, thank you for stopping in. More below
Chapter 14 The End of the Rainbow
One Month before St. Patrick's Day:
…
Angela huffed between sets on the overhead press. "I don't think having a baby shower on St. Patrick's Day is a good idea."
Alice stopped in the middle of her bicep curl. "That is precisely why we should have it on St. Patrick's Day. Everyone knows it's a terrible day to have a shower, so she'll be completely surprised."
Angela wiped her sweat off the machine. 'Operation Buff Bride', another of Alice's brain storms, was in its second day of operation. The university fitness center was almost empty, but Angela really didn't want everyone to know their business, or watch her getting red and splotchy from working out. Neither of them had set a wedding date, but Alice insisted that they needed to be ready. She loved Alice, but sometimes she was maddening.
She spoke quietly, "Alice, Bella said she didn't want a shower. And on St. Paddy's day? Half the guests will be drunk."
Alice stretched her arms over her head, and glanced back at her friend. "Of course she wants a shower; she's just too polite to say so."
Shaking her head in frustration, Angela looked to see what was next on her workout.
Alice persisted. "We'll have a brunch- a perfectly charming brunch. Who gets wasted in the middle of the day on St. Paddy's anyway?"
Angela rolled her eyes. "Lots of people, including you. Don't you remember last year? You were dressed as a leprechaun, and you did the Electric Slide. Pretty sure it's on YouTube."
"It's too late, I already sent out invitations."
Angela threw her hands up in frustration. "Now you've gone too far. Why didn't you ask me? When did you even have time to send invitations?"
"I made them last night and mailed them this morning. Multi-tasking is my middle name."
"That's not what Bella's going to call you when she finds out. You're not respecting her wishes."
"Bella's got that pregnant brain thing going on. Once we get her there she'll be happy as can be. Now, down on the mat for crunches - think honeymoon bikini abs."
…
Three Weeks to St. Patrick's Day:
Alice was hunched over her laptop when Angela came into the apartment. "Where's Bella?"
"Still at work. Jasper will text me when they leave."
"Good, I have some questions about the shower." Angela looked over Alice's shoulder at her laptop screen, and asked, "Why are you ordering all those sombreros? Are you planning a Cinco De Mayo party or something?"
"No, silly," She handed Angela an invitation.
"You booked Bella's baby shower at La Mesa? A Mexican restaurant on St. Patrick's Day?"
"She lived in Arizona, she'll love it."
"Alice, I swear you pay more attention to what people wear than to what they say. She only spent two summers in Arizona when her mother lived there, and she hated it. The only time it was under 100 degrees was when there were monsoons. Oh, and they have sandstorms, too. And scorpions."
"She likes tacos and nachos and quesadilla's though, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then no worries, she won't care if we have a cactus piñata if she likes the food."
Angela plopped down next to her. "Can I at least see the list of people who said they're attending?"
Alice pulled up a different window, and Angela read down the list of names.
"That's weird. You have here that Bella's mom is coming, but Sue and Charlie emailed to say they're sending something. They wanted to know where to deliver it, and if we can make sure she gets it for the shower. That doesn't sound like someone who's coming to the party."
Alice shook her head. "Now who's not paying attention? Sue is her stepmother. Her mother is coming."
Angela's eyes popped open. "You mean Renee? Bella doesn't get along with her. She said she's a flake, she's unreliable. Once she forgot to pick her up from the airport for visitation when she was eight years old. What kind of person forgets their own kid?"
Alice waved Angela off. "So chances are she won't show anyway. You worry too much."
"I want to know what happened to OCD party planner Alice, the one who'd be having a shower at a country club or something with engraved invitations. Where did she go?"
Alice snapped her laptop closed. "I could have planned something with finger sandwiches and frilly napkins, and pink umbrellas, but that's not Bella. She wasn't going to like a fancy shower or something traditional. This will be different and fun and she'll love it. You'll see.
…
Ten days to St. Patrick's Day:
Out of the corner of her eye Bella saw Jessica heading for the break room, again. Edward Cullen was in the building today, which somehow resulted in Jessica needing extra caffeine and an extra slow stroll down the aisle while she not so subtly tried to get a glimpse into his office.
Someone was clearing their throat somewhere above her head.
"One second," Bella said, "I just have to finish this one thing."
She glanced up. Jasper stood by her desk, looking very fine in his business suit, holding his jacket over his shoulder. She and Alice both mourned when he cut his long hair, but the new style did make him look more like, in Alice's words, a 'Captain of Industry.'
"Darlin', you have a doctor's appointment. I've been charged with making sure you get there on time."
"Jazz, I could have met you down in the parking lot. You didn't have to come fetch me." Bella straightened some papers, put them in a file, and then started to shut down her station. "I hate to be a bother."
"No bother at all."
Jessica passed behind Jasper's back and mouthed the words 'so cute' while pointing at his back.
Or maybe at his butt.
Bella couldn't help but give a wide smile.
Jasper bent over by her ear. "Now what's got my girl smiling like that?"
Bella whispered back, cutting her eyes over to Jessica. "You've got an admirer."
Jasper gave one of his brilliant grins, "Just don't tell Alice, sugar. She don't take kindly to sharing."
Edward Cullen passed on his way to the break room, mug in hand. Bella thought he looked like he'd lost weight. His eyes never sparkled any more, and he was quieter than ever. Jasper raised a hand in greeting. "Mr. Cullen, if you don't mind I'm here to steal Bella."
"No problem. Take care of her."
Bella thought it strange, the way he looked over and then down at his feet, almost race-walking to get his coffee. He didn't have that swagger she remembered from the picnic.
Jasper helped her into the sports car and wrapped the seat belt around her. As they drove away from the building, Bella thought she saw a glimpse of Edward at his office window.
She looked out the windshield at the passing scenery, but she was thinking about Edward. "Mr. Cullen seems so—down. I thought time was supposed to mend things. He seems to be getting worse."
Jasper checked over his shoulder before changing lanes. "His troubles aren't over. I don't like to tell tales, but what I do know is that his wife was no lady. There were stories. Her parents are founding partners, but she acted like they were king and queen, and she was a princess. There was a pool going round about when Tanya and Edward would get divorced. Then one day she announces that they're having a baby. Y'all would have thought she'd invented the concept the way she carried on."
"But then she died in the accident…it was just an accident, right?"
"'Course it was. But her daddy's gone a little crazy. Edward bought her a new car when he found out she was nesting; a Volvo SUV. Now her father says there was something wrong with it. I think it's just the grief talking, but Dr. Denali and his lawsuit—he's suing Edward personally, and as an officer of the company. He could bring this whole company down."
"That's ridiculous. I can't imagine Mr. Cullen…"
"I don't think he did anything wrong either, sugar. But how far would a Daddy go for his little girl?"
They turned into the parking lot by her doctor's office. Alice and Angela were both too busy to take her today, so Jasper had volunteered. As soon as the car stopped she started fumbling with the belt.
"Now hold on, little mama, let me come round." Jasper jogged around the car, opened her door and helped her out. He stood by her while she signed in at the reception desk. She saw the envious glances of some of the pregnant women waiting on the sofas as he helped her sit down. If only the illusion were real. She didn't want Jasper that way, but someone caring, a daddy who'd do anything for his little girl. Stop it, Bella. Time to live in the real world. This baby wouldn't have a daddy like that, but she'd be surrounded by other people who loved her. She hoped that would be enough.
…
Dr. Simon told her to come to her office after she finished dressing. When Bella walked in, she found Jasper seated in one of the chairs in front of Dr. Simon's desk.
She looked from Jasper to the doctor. "Um, he's just my ride. He's not the fa…"
The doctor looked over her glasses at Bella. "He's my witness. Your blood pressure is up and there's protein in your urine. You're not in any danger now, but you need to rest, control your salt, and eliminate stress. I want you in twice next week to check your numbers. Feet up whenever possible. I know you're trying to keep up with your classes, but if you're going to class, you've got to stop working."
"But, I can't stop…"
"You can and you will. I don't like the way your numbers are trending. My priorities are delivering a healthy baby, and keeping its mom healthy. Everything else comes second."
…
24 hours to SPD:
Feet up? Check.
Low sodium soup? Check.
Lecture notes? Check.
Bored to tears? Check.
Bella was alone in the apartment and needed a little lift. She knew just who to call.
The phone rang four times before a breathless voice answered. "Swan residence, Seth speaking."
"Seth Speaking? I want to talk to Seth Swan. Is he there?"
"Bella, you know it's me."
"I do. How's my favorite brother?"
"I'm your only brother."
"Then I'm lucky you're my favorite. It all worked out."
"Is Mackayla born yet?"
"Nope. She's still hiding."
"Let me talk to her."
"Okay, let me put the phone on my belly." He did this every time she called. She put the phone on her bump, but she switched it to speaker. He was too cute to miss.
"Mackayla, this is your Uncle Seth. I can't wait for you to come out, but don't come too soon cause mom says we can come when I have spring break from school and we can help Bella and stuff, but we can't come for the baby shower but we sent a crib. And I made you a dream catcher to catch your bad dreams. When you get big you can come fishing with me and dad, but he's going to be your grandpa, not your dad. Okay, mom says I have to get ready for soccer. Love you, baby."
Seth yelled over the phone, "BELLA, I got to go to soccer, bye."
She said, "Have a good game," but she was pretty sure he'd already hung up.
A baby shower? Now she had some roommates to question. She dialed the prime suspect.
Jasper answered Alice's phone. "Everything alright, sugar?"
"Me and Baby Swan are fine, but I think I need to kill your fiancée."
"That won't do darling. Hold on."
She heard some rustling, steps, then a door closed.
"What'd my dearest Alice do now?"
"A baby shower Jazz? She planned a shower?! I bet she's hot gluing something right now, that's the only reason she'd let you hold her phone."
"Hot glue may be involved."
"Jasper! I said I didn't want a baby shower. I don't want to sit there with a paper plate hat made of bows on my head, and people guessing how big my belly is around. I don't want everyone looking at me," she started crying. "I'm a whale!"
"No tears, sugar. Angela reined her in a bit. Last count there're only twenty people coming, and no games. Do you want me to tell you when it is? Would that make you feel better?"
In a small voice she answered, "Yes."
"Tomorrow. Alice is going to ask you to go to brunch at La Mesa.
"Really? Well, I like La Mesa."
"See? Nothing to worry about. Does Alice get to live another day?"
"I guess. But no paper plate hats."
…
St. Patrick's Day. Two hours to 'Surprise' Shower:
"I don't know, Alice. My shoes are too tight, I have a headache, I think we should skip brunch today." Bella did have a headache, but only a little one. She held in her smile as she watched Alice become more flustered.
"Bella, once the baby comes it'll be really hard to go out just us girls. And you love Le Mesa. Remember the fresh guacamole they make right at the table? And the cute bartender?"
"Ugh, why did you have to remind me? He makes those killer margaritas and I can't even have one. Let's just go after the baby is born."
She'd never seen Alice this close to combustion. She'd been messing with her all morning. Part of her felt guilty, but part of her was having too much fun.
"And my feet are swollen. Maybe I should just stay here with my feet up, and you two go."
She had to stop herself from laughing when Alice excused herself from the room. She listened to Alice's frantic whispering on her phone. How long should she string her along? Of course she planned on going, the guacamole was fantastic, but teasing Alice was really working for her.
Alice returned, standing stiffly. "Bella, I need to tell you something."
"What? That today's my baby shower and you need me to get dressed so we can go?"
"What? What! You knew—who told you? It was supposed to be a surprise. I can't believe this, I tried so hard to surprise you, I wanted it to be perfect…"
Alice started crying. It wasn't fun anymore. Bella reached around her friend and hugged her. "Seth told me by accident. I'm sorry I found out, and for teasing you. But I did tell you no shower."
"Bu-Bu-But…" Alice blubbered.
"To make it up to you, I'll let you do my makeup AND hair."
Alice was suddenly revived. "YES! I'll get the curling iron."
…
Technically, Bella had said no paper plate hat made with bows, not no hat at all. So when Alice presented her with the hot pink sombrero with the word 'Mamacita' bedazzled across the front brim, she just smiled and put it on.
Her entire nursing study group was at the table, all seven of them, wearing green, orange, red, dark blue and purple sombreros. Alice wore the only yellow one, of course. Liz and Kat, the girls she'd met while doing her semester abroad were playing the maracas, on which Alice had written the date in pink glitter. Pitchers of margaritas crowded the platters of tortilla chips, salsa, guacamole, taquitos, black beans with rice, quesadillas and huevos rancheros set across the long table. A rainbow colored cactus Piñata stood as the center piece
Ben sat back and let out a burp. "Sorry, but that was really good."
Bella was glad he and Jasper were there, sitting on one side of her. They were, after Alice and Ange, her best friends - her best friends in the world. A tiny tear started to form. She tried to will it away, and ignore that her heart missed having her old best friends in her life. She knew Sue and Seth were coming in a few weeks, but she would have liked to have seen someone from her family today. Another tear began, but she sniffed and wiped her eyes. She noticed the napkins. It was another of Alice's touches, orange, green and yellow cloth in cactus napkin rings, not the paper napkins the restaurant usually used. She reached over and hugged her friend. "Thanks for doing all this, Allie. You too, Ange."
Alice put her hand out to Angela and said, "Pay up. She just thanked me."
…
Jessica rushed over to Bella, her bouncing boobs visible from half way across the restaurant. "Bella, so sorry I'm late." She leaned over to give Bella a side hug, pointing her chest at Jasper as her rack spilled out of her extra low cut blouse. She leered at him, "Why Jasper, I didn't see you sitting there! I thought these things were for girls only!" She ended with a little shake, letting Jasper know exactly how her girls felt about it.
Bella had finally impressed upon Jessica that Jasper was neither her baby daddy, nor her boyfriend, but that he was engaged to someone else. Jessica seemed to be ignoring that last part.
Alice hissed in Bella's ear, "Who's that girl? I'd like to know her name before I cut her."
"That's Jessica from NJMC. You're the one who invited her."
"That hussy works with my Jazzy?"
"Mm hmm. She runs the Ministry of Gossip."
The mariachi band was returning to their table, they circulated around the restaurant every Sunday for the brunch crowd, but that day they looked like Alice had attacked them with her crafting supplies. Their tight trousers, short jackets, bowties and sombreros were encrusted with sparkling gems. The guitarist strummed and sang, the violinist played, but when the trumpeter joined in the volume was too much. Bella's head felt like it was going to explode. She hadn't had a drop of alcohol, but everything was starting to look blurry. The margaritas had kicked in; just about everyone at the table were shaking their maracas in time with the beat, and Kat and Liz were dancing around with the musicians.
She rubbed her temples and held her eyes shut. At least her sombrero blocked some of the light. At last the song was over, and the band started strolling to the next table, revealing a woman who'd been standing behind them. She wore a blinking 'Kiss Me, I'm Irish' button, an off the shoulder green sweater, had spiked blonde hair with dark roots and wore skin tight blue jeans with high heeled boots. She held out in front of her a small teddy bear that wore an 'I Heart New York' tee shirt, the kind they sold in the airport.
"Bella, Baby, I'm here!"
Bella hoped it was a trick of the light, but as much as she blinked and wished her away, when she opened her eyes, Renee still stood in front of her.
…
Alice gave up her seat for Renee, who gave Bella a quick peck and reached for the nachos.
Renee flagged down the waiter. "These are cold." She pointed to the three quarters empty platter of loaded nachos. "Could you heat them up, and don't be so skimpy on the jalapeños."
Bella said, "They're about to serve dessert."
Renee picked at the quesadillas. "Well I'm looking for some real food." She leaned into Bella, trying to be subtle, but from the smell of beer on her breath, Bella could tell she'd had a few before she got there.
Renee's whisper could be heard by most of the table. "So, who's the horn dog who knocked you up? The short guy's cute, but Blondie over there, I'd like to umm..." Renee bit her finger and growled, making it very clear what she'd like to do to Jasper.
Bella felt her face getting redder. "Jasper and Ben are engaged."
"What?" Renee spat out, "I forgot they allow that kind of thing around here."
Bella started to explain, "Not like that…" but Alice put her finger across her lips in the symbol to be quiet. Bella nodded. Renee would be easier to deal with if she thought Ben and Jasper were off the table.
"So you didn't manage to hang onto your man? Just as well. Sure as hell didn't work out with me and that Robocop Charlie. Marriage is for losers, who wants to be stuck with just one dick for the rest of their lives." She grabbed someone's margarita took a swig and stood. "Am I right girls, or am I right?" She looked directly at Jasper and Ben. "Who wants to get stuck sucking the same cock…"
Bella grabbed her by the arm, "Mom, sit down!"
"Hey, I told you, don't call me that in public. Wow, you really gained weight in your face, you're so puffy." She twisted her head as far as she could in both directions. "Where're my nachos?"
Poor, sweet Angela tried to intervene. She reached for the teddy bear hanging out of Renee's hand. "Is that for the baby?"
"Damn right it is." She waved the bear in Angela's face. "Can you believe this shit, me being a grandma at my age? You'd think she could keep her legs together. How many times did I tell her how much having a baby screwed up my life?"
Her words rung in Bella's ears. She'd heard them over and over her entire life. It was just too loud in the restaurant, and the colors, the light, the band playing two tables over, and her manic mother next to her were too much. When she opened her eyes, everything had a halo around it and the light hurt so much, she closed them again. She felt strange, dizzy, then suddenly freezing cold. She could feel herself shaking, but at the same time it was like she was watching herself. Jasper seemed so far away. She watched her hand reach out and grab his shirt.
Everything was finally getting quiet and dark and peaceful. She heard his voice in the distance. "Ange, Ben, help me! Something's wrong!"
…
...
...
A/N Sorry about the cliffie. Don't hurt me. Next chapter is with the talented Miss Winkles, who is whipping it into shape. Swoonward will return in a big way soon, just a little more patience. For those not familiar with American traditions, St. Patrick's Day, particularly in the North Eastern part of the US, is a huge celebration, with virtually everyone pretending to be Irish for the day. There are parades, green beer, people wearing green, so Renee would go practically unnoticed on that day.