Lovingly beta'd by SunflowerFran.
Chapter 20
Edward
I was in bed watching BBC News from home on the iPad. Bella slept next to me, on her front, her smooth arm across my waist.
Suddenly, my mobile rang.
"Hello."
"Hi, is this Professor Masen?"
"Yes?"
"Good morning, sir, my name is Colin O'Donnell. I'm head of security for the Life Sciences labs. You asked us to look into the camera footage of your lab because of a suspected theft?"
"Yes. Have you found something?"
My stomach leapt into my throat.
"We have, sir. Are you available to come down? We don't know what to make of the footage."
I immediately thought of Aro Volturi. Did he orchestrate this to mess with me and Bella? Colin O'Donnell wouldn't give me any additional information over the phone, so I got my ass out of bed and went to campus. Bella stayed in the house to receive a delivery of stuff we'd ordered online, including our new TVs and some of her longed-for kitchen equipment.
"Thank you for coming in, sir," Colin O'Donnell showed me into a small office off a larger control room. "We've been through the last few days of footage from your lab, and the only person who's entered apart from yourself, your girlfriend ..."
"My wife," I corrected.
"My apologies, your wife," he repeated, "And the janitor, is this guy here." He showed me a freeze-frame of a familiar figure in a purple lab coat.
"That's Riley, Professor Cullen's son. What's he doing in my lab out of hours?"
"Well, that's what's strange, sir. Let me show you."
Over the next quarter of an hour, Colin showed me footage of Riley going into my lab several times, usually in the evening after everyone else had gone home for the day. There were no cameras in the labs themselves so I could not see if he actually took the books, but he was the only suspect.
I asked Colin to show me footage of the glass-fronted reading room on Carlisle's floor, from around the same time period, and it showed Riley making notes from my books, taking up an entire table with books and research articles, much like Bella used to do in the library in Oxford when she was planning experiments. When he was done, sometimes after midnight, he packed the books and papers into his giant, pink gym bag.
"We know this kid real well, Professor Masen. Riley's been coming around the labs with his mom and dad for years, but he's never been interested in the actual work, you know? He used to run off and they'd chase him around the lobby, or make him animals out of aluminium foil to keep him occupied."
"It is odd," I agreed. "Look, could you please not mention this to Professor Cullen yet? I'd like to get to the bottom of what's going on with Riley, myself."
"Of course, sir."
"Please, call me Edward." I shook the man's hand. "Thank you."
I ran up to the lab and had a look at my bookshelves. Sure enough, the notebooks that had been missing the previous lunchtime were back, and the next two were missing. It just didn't make sense. What was he up to?
That evening, I hung back at the labs. Bella and Esme were going to some place called Pottery Barn for more house stuff, although nothing on her list involved pottery. I used the time to set up the new equipment in the lab, and read up on my new doctoral students.
The first was Mary Currie, who was from Connecticut, coming to Harvard from Duke University in North Carolina. The second was Nahuel Fernandez, who was a local Bostonian, and had done his undergrad and Masters at MIT.
Mary was from what appeared to be a wealthy background, and had been a former Fulbright Scholar. Nahuel, whose family were Brazilian, had received numerous scholarships to help pay for his courses, and had taken a year out to work at his family's butchery between his degrees. Esme had been his Masters' supervisor, so I knew he was going to be well-trained. Both professed a deep interest in the role of neurotransmitters in disease, and although my project hadn't been available to them when they applied, both chose to switch when it was offered to them.
At around seven o'clock, just as I was starting to get quite crabby and hungry, the door of my lab opened. I was sitting in the far corner, not immediately obvious from the entrance, and watched as Riley walked in, without his usual prance, and fished out two of my research notebooks from the pink bag.
"Okay, PILFy, let's see what you did after that whole Interleukin-1 receptor thing went south," he murmured as he pushed the notebooks back into place.
"I went back to my hypothesis that glutamate was mediating damage through the NMDA receptor, and Emmett McCarty took over the research into Interleukin-1," I told him, "with better results than I managed. We now believe that both IL-1 and glutamate cause cell death in ischaemia."
"Holy shit!" he cried, dropping the notebook in his hand. "What the fuck are you doing here?"
"I could ask you what the fuck you're doing with my notes," I countered.
"Uh ..."
Riley eyed the door of the lab, looking a lot like a scared rabbit.
"Don't even think about it." I pointed at a lab stool. "Sit. Explain."
-cc-
Bella
"Thank you, please put those boxes on the kitchen counter," I told the first deliveryman.
"And these, Miss?" asked the second.
"On the dining table, thank you."
"You sure ordered a lotta stuff here."
"Well, we need it. My husband and I just moved here from England so we're starting from scratch."
"Husband, huh?" I nodded. "You're awful young to be married."
I swallowed my irritation.
"In some cultures I'd be considered an old maid by now," I retorted, prepared to launch into a diatribe on marriage and age and how when it was right, it was right. However, the doorbell rang, giving the deliverymen a reprieve.
"Bella, dear?" Esme called.
"Come in."
I showed the delivery drivers out and Esme breezed in, dressed immaculately in cream linen trousers and a red tunic, carrying a foil lasagne dish.
"Hello, sorry to drop in unannounced but I was making batches of lasagne for the freezer and thought you'd like one." She looked at all the boxes. "Shopping?"
"Yes, we need absolutely everything. We've bought the rest of the furniture we needed and the big electrical goods ... TVs, a washing machine and desks for our studies. I've also bought most of our kitchen equipment, laundry stuff and a few other things, but there's so much still left to get. It's not been as easy as I thought it would to buy online."
"Hmm ... you need a trip to the mall," she stated.
"Yeah, I think some things need to be bought in a shop, but I wouldn't know where to start."
"Pottery Barn," she replied breezily. I always start with Pottery Barn. I'm free today. I'd be happy to take you if you want."
"That would be fab. Are you sure you haven't got better things to do though?"
"My labs are closed this week for mandatory maintenance and I've done all the preparations for Labor Day. Riley left the house with Carlisle this morning, and Katie doesn't arrive until tomorrow, so I'm at a loose end," she replied. "And I love shopping. We could go to Burlington. It is a little way, but they have everything."
"Sounds like a plan. Let me just change and text Edward."
"Tell him you're going to come home quite late." My face fell. "I remember that shopping isn't your favourite thing, dear, but that's why it would be better to do it all in one trip."
She had a point.
Foxy, Esme's taking me shopping to Pottery Barn for house stuff. Home late. Love you B xxx
No prob, Baby. I'm staying in the lab late anyway to sort out some bits and pieces. Txt me when you're on way back. Love you too E xxx
As well as hitting Pottery Barn, we went to Macy's, Crate and Barrel, Williams Sonoma and several other stores. By the time we were ready for a bite to eat, the boot of Esme's car was jammed full of purchases.
The least I could do was to treat Esme to a sushi dinner, her favourite; even then, it was only a small token for her support and guidance.
"Oh, this spicy tuna roll is lovely," she said, licking her lips. "Try some."
I picked up a piece and placed it on my tongue.
"Wow, that's delicious," I agreed.
"One day, hopefully not too far away, Carlisle's going to take me to Japan. He's promised," she said wistfully. "I'd love to see the cherry blossoms, and the temples, and ride the bullet train, and eat sushi there, of course."
"It's a beautiful country," I replied.
"You've been?"
"When I was around fourteen, I went with my parents on a business trip there one Easter. My nanny was Japanese, and she showed me around her favourite spots while my parents worked."
"Your nanny?"
"Yeah, although, by that point she was more like my companion. She was my mother, sister, teacher, nurse and friend all rolled into one for eleven years of my life. Her name was Yoshiko."
"Where is she now?"
"The last time I heard from her she was working in Zurich. She left behind nanny work when she married a banker from UBS, and now teaches Japanese at an international school there."
"Do you miss her?"
"Hmm ... I used to, when she first left, but the fact is, she wasn't my family. She was an employee, and when she got a new job when I was seventeen, she went away, just like that. It hurt a lot, but, hey, that's life."
"Would you have a nanny if or when you have kids?"
"No." My answer came out more sharply than I intended. "Sorry, Esme, I didn't mean to sound harsh, but I feel very strongly that when I have children, I want to be the parent, not a nanny or a boarding school ..."
Esme covered my hand with hers.
"You'll make an excellent mother, Bella, dear."
"Thank you," I murmured. "How did you do it?" I blurted all of a sudden. "Two kids within a year of each other, and then your PhD and a successful lab career?"
She sat back in the booth and sighed.
"I won't lie to you. It was tough, especially when Riley came along. He wasn't exactly a docile child." She paused to take a sip of her green tea. "It was a juggling act. I ended up taking eight years to do my PhD. I successfully petitioned to study part time until Riley was pre-school age, and then did a lot of my research in the evenings, when Carlisle was home. My mom helped out a lot in the early years, until the kids went to school full time."
"I won't have that kind of support," I admitted. "Edward's parents are dead, and I'm fairly sure mine will disown me when I finally tell them I got married to someone of whom they didn't approve."
"You haven't spoken to them?"
"No. It's not that unusual for us to go several months without contact. I haven't actually seen them since the Easter before last."
"It's an alien concept to me. I talk to Katie and Riley almost every day."
I didn't know how to respond to that. It was painful to think about how much love I'd simply never had.
"In hindsight, do you think it was better to have had your kids when you were still a student?"
"Yes, although I wouldn't have felt that way if Carlisle were a student, too. In that respect, it was a real advantage to have an older husband. Harvard isn't the most supportive of students when it comes to maternity leave and the like, but the benefits are stellar for staff."
"Hmm."
"Are you and Edward planning to have a child soon?"
"We both definitely want kids, and I feel like I'm nearly ready, but I worry about being a good mother and a success in my professional life."
"I felt like that too, but we muddled through. There were times when I didn't have a shower for three days, or didn't sleep more than two hours at a time, but every time my kids hugged me or told me they loved me, it made it worth the stress. Riley and Katie were there for my PhD graduation and the photo from that day is my most prized possession."
"What do you think we should do?"
"Get used to life in Massachusetts and life with each other. You've only been married a short while. Make friends here. Then you'll have more support when you do have a baby."
"That's sound advice, thank you."
"You're more than welcome, Bella, dear," she replied in her gentle, sweet voice.
"I'm looking forward to seeing Katie this weekend. She's flying in tomorrow, you said?"
"She does indeed. The science camp she was teaching at has finished, but her semester doesn't start until mid-September."
After our lovely meal, we headed back into Arlington and just half an hour later, we arrived back at the house. We finished unloading the car and then I opened the door.
"Edward?"
"I'm in the kitchen, Baby," he called. "We have company!"
"Oh?"
We brought my purchases through, and to my great surprise, Edward and Riley were sitting at the dining table, laughing, a bottle of wine between them, while Carlisle sat next to them, looking on bemusedly.
"Riley, Carlisle, what are you doing here?" asked Esme.
"Bella, honey, I have the best news," Riley cried, jumping to his feet and kissing my cheek. "Your foxy hubby's gonna be my mentor."
"Don't ask me, I only got here a minute ago," said Carlisle. "I was 'summoned' by our son."
"Hey Mom." He let go of me and hugged Esme. "I'm gonna be a new you." He and Edward chortled before Riley pirouetted back to the table and gave Edward an exuberant high-five. I wondered if the wine was the second bottle rather than the first.
"What on earth is going on?" I demanded. "Two days ago, you guys were all weird about each other. Now you're best friends?"
"Baby, let me pour you and Esme a little of this nice Merlot, and then Riley and I will tell you all about his new life plan." Edward opened the box containing our new wine glasses and wiped two with a tea towel.
"Edward, am I going to need wine for this conversation?"
"Yes, I think so, Esme."
Sceptically, I sat down and accepted the offered wine, as did Esme and Carlisle. Edward slid next to me and put his arm around my shoulders.
"So, I found out who had been borrowing my research notebooks ..." he began, before pointing at Riley.
"You?"
"Yeah ... turns out neuroscience is frickin' amazing."
He went onto explain that he found the project Carlisle gave him interesting but easy, and began eavesdropping on the conversations of Carlisle's doctoral students. He started reading about some of the topics they mentioned, and one of them mentioned Edward's projects. The next day, Riley saw Edward stacking the bookshelves in his lab, and decided to read some of his research. The more he read, the more he wanted to know. I knew that feeling, implicitly.
"Riley, I think you need to tell your parents everything," Edward murmured when he was done.
"Aww ..."
"Riley."
"Fine!" He turned to Carlisle and Esme. "So, folks, I know I said I did all arts, my freshman year, but I also did a few science courses, and aced them. After chatting to Edward, I've decided on my major."
"And what's it going to be, son?" asked Carlisle, his voice a little hoarse.
"Neural Science. I can't be doing the artsy stuff anymore. I'm so sick of pretending I give a shit about literary composition and the difference between Impressionism and Pointillism."
"But I don't understand. You hated science in high school. You skipped out on half your Bio classes. It got embarrassing, us being called by your principal every week. When you passed it with an 'A' and you said Katie helped you, was that a lie?"
"Yeah, sorry, Daddy-O. She agreed to cover for me."
"And your SAT scores? You said they were a fluke."
"Not a fluke, Mom. I worked my tiny ass off."
"And what about quitting on Yale and U-Dub?"
"All those Yale guys walk around like they're such hot shit, when they're pretentious bores, and not an original idea among them. And U-Dub was great, but I got so frickin' bored of the courses I picked, and they wouldn't let me change my course-load to include sciences, so I just stopped going to class. That's why they 'suggested' I leave."
"Why didn't you tell us you wanted to explore Neurosciences as a career option? We could have done so much for you ..." asked Esme before gulping at her wine.
"That's why, Mom!" Riley exclaimed. "I'm such a cliché. Two parents and a sister who are neuroscientists, and now, the only thing I can actually imagine myself doing is fucking neuroscience. So much for being an individual."
"Riles, you can still be you and be a neuroscientist," I told him. "It'll be what you do, not who you are."
"But I'm always gonna be compared to Mom and Dad."
"So? Push yourself to be better than anyone else, including them. Work in different research areas. Forge your own path."
"Edward, Riley said you're going to be his mentor?"
"Yeah ... Carlisle, we talked for ages in my lab tonight. Riley, as much as he's tried to fight it, has the mind of a scientist. He's analytical, logical and meticulous. As a teacher, I want to nurture his talents. I'm sure you know the feeling."
Carlisle's eyes flickered over me and he smiled.
"I do."
Edward kissed my temple.
"The way I see it ... You're looking after my beloved wife, so the least I can do is look after your beloved son."
"Riley, if you want to be a neuroscientist, son, I'm over the moon," stated Carlisle. "But if you wanted to be a journalist or a chef or a pole dancer at that club of Freddie's, I'd be just as happy, as long as you are happy." Carlisle and Esme both reached for Riley's hands.
"We've known for years that you weren't satisfied with your life, but we just didn't know how to help you get what you wanted."
Riley started to sob quietly and Esme and Carlisle got up, surrounded him and hugged him tightly. Edward and I watched their display of family love quietly, arms around each other, and I tried not to cry myself.
I didn't know why my parents didn't or couldn't love me so deeply, but I knew one thing for sure.
When Edward and I are parents, our children will know, every single day that they are wanted and loved.
-cc-
Three days later, The Fox, Randall and I were cruising down the I-93 on the way to the Cape, surrounded by blue sky and an even bluer ocean, the hot sun making everything look a little hazy. The Cullens were already at their beach house with Katie, having picked her up from Logan Airport the day before. The beautiful house was in East Sandwich, and had its own private beach a few steps away. As it was only ninety minutes' drive away from Arlington, the family spent a lot of time there, even in the winter. It was remote and peaceful, and I was ecstatic to have been invited back.
Edward was driving the hire car, and after a slightly shaky start driving the wrong way round the block, seemed to have gotten the hang of driving on the right hand side of the road, although he was grumbling about it.
"I'm just saying, I miss the left hand side. And I can't tell you how weird it feels driving when I'm in what I consider the passenger seat."
"Well, you're gonna have to get used to it," I told him from my place in the backseat. "I'm expecting you to help me learn to drive soon."
Randall, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, guffawed out loud.
"I'm pretty sure teaching your better half to drive is one of the quickest ways to splitsville!"
I laughed back, but to my surprise, Edward didn't, instead turning his head slightly towards Randall in a way that indicated he was a little irritated. Randall picked up on it instantly and suggested playing some tunes.
"Any preferences?" he asked.
"Motown," Edward and I chorused before chuckling. "Sorry, we've become one of those couples!" I added, leaning forward and pecking Edward on the cheek.
When we were about fifteen minutes away, Randall's phone started ringing.
"Oh, it's Riley ... Hi, no, Bella's phone's off for charging ... okay ... I'll put you on speakerphone."
A moment later, the car was filled with Riley's voice.
"Okay guys, listen good," Riley said, sounding as if he was whispering.
"Yeah?"
"Can you swing by a mini-mart and pick up a shit-ton of candy, ice-cream and cookie dough?"
"Sure, but why?"
"Katie's just dumped her boyfriend. That fucking, retarded, stinky-dick asshole has been sticking it in her RA and she's heartbroken, guys. When she stops crying, she's gonna want a steady supply of sugar."
"Oh, hell," replied Edward. "But is all that stuff really necessary? We're almost there."
"Bella, you there, honey?"
"I'm here, Riles."
"If you just found out Edward was humping your friend ..."
"She'd hang, draw, quarter and castrate me before she did anything else, Riley."
"Too bloody right," I agreed. I curled my arms around The Fox's neck. He kissed the inside of my wrists, a reassurance that he would never betray me. "But then, yes, I would need to consume my body weight in chocolate and talk shit about men."
"All right, then, Riley," agreed Edward.
Half an hour later, having purchased a huge bag of sweets and ice cream at a tiny supermarket we found on the way, we pulled into the garage of the large, duck-egg blue house. Riley came running out immediately.
"Hi-hi-hi and thank you, thank you, thank you!" he cried, blowing us air kisses and grabbing the grocery bag from me. "She's past the sobbing and is pacing the kitchen, muttering."
When I walked into the kitchen, poor Katie looked ashen. Her long, golden-blonde hair, the exact same colour as Carlisle's, minus the grey, was tied in a lank ponytail, and she was still wearing her pyjamas.
"How could he? I just don't understand. I thought what we had was solid, but for him to be screwing around for months ... I didn't think he was that kind of guy ... Oh, Mom, what am I gonna do?"
"Katie-kins." Riley held up the bag. "Men Suck Sundae?"
She nodded, fresh tears rolling down her dewy cheeks, before spying me, Edward and Randall hovering in the doorway.
"H-hello."
I walked over and gave her a hug. She was taller than me, around 5'7", slender and willowy.
"Hey, Katie, it's great to see you again. Sorry you're hurting right now."
"Hey, likewise. Sorry I'm casting a downer on the party." She looked over my shoulder at Randall and Edward. "Oh, God, I look like crap in front of two hot guys."
"You should see me when I cry; snot-fest. Totally unattractive, and yet, Edward still married me," I whispered in her ear.
"He's the older one, right?"
"Yep. The other is Randall, Edward's doctoral student and our friend."
"Hmm."
She stood up straighter and dried her blue eyes before walking over to them.
"Hi, Edward," she began, shaking his hand. "I'm Katharine Cullen, but everyone calls me Kate or Katie. It's lovely to meet you after hearing so much about you from my family."
"Hi," replied Edward.
"And Randall, is it?"
"Yes, Randall Smith."
"Great to meet you, too. Sorry about all this." She gestured to herself.
Randall took her offered hand but didn't let go.
"Katie, on behalf of the male species, I apologise. The fuckwit who cheated on you clearly doesn't know a good thing when he has it."
He gave a little bow and Katie let out a short, sharp laugh.
"Thank you. My brother's right. You're funny."
"I aim to please."
Hi there, Randall, I'm Esme. Welcome to our home."
"Yes, welcome," echoed Carlisle, who shook Randall's hand enthusiastically.
"Thank you for having me," he replied, his eyes straying back to Katie.
"Katie, have your sundae, get dressed and then come down to the beach with us. No moping over an undeserving idiot boy. Riley, why don't you pour everyone something to drink, while I show Edward, Bella, and Randall their rooms?"
"Sure Mom."
Esme had given us a large guest room, decorated in tones of azure and sandstone, which had a sea view. The beach was quiet and unspoilt by the trappings of tourism, and I couldn't wait to get out there.
When we returned downstairs, Riley thrust a glass of fragrant iced tea into our hands and all of us, except Katie, headed down the boardwalk to the sand. A set of deckchairs and a table were already set out. We plopped into them and I kicked off my flip-flops, and sighed as the light grains worked their way through my toes.
Edward leaned over and placed his lips on my shoulder, just over the strap of my blue camisole top.
"I just saw a ton of stress lift from your body when you hit the sand," he murmured.
"Uh-huh," I replied, rubbing his chin with my fingers. "Isn't it beautiful here?"
"Stunning," he agreed, although he didn't take his eyes off me. "Maybe we could take a paddle later?" A slight hoarseness to his voice belied the train of his thoughts but hopefully only to me.
My Dirty Fox. We've only been here five minutes and he's thinking of skinny dipping and beach sex.
"Oh, yes, it's very refreshing," interjected Esme, "And at this time of year, the water's not too cold, although Riley went through a phase of cold water swimming when he was a teenager. I'm not sure why. He did it every morning we were here for nearly a year, even in the winter."
I had to bite my lip to stop myself laughing at her words, said with such earnestness. I glanced at Riley, who was doing the same.
"Mom, do you remember Jeremy who used to live down the block?"
"Sure."
"He's why."
"Oh?" Carlisle laughed loudly, and suddenly Esme's face morphed with realisation. "Oh ..."
"He used to run along the beach every single morning," Riley sighed. "In his track shorts, sometimes no shirt ..."
"Oh, God, did I really need to know that?"
"You did if you thought the reason I was swimming was for exercise!"
We all laughed.
I stole a sideways glance at The Fox; he caught me and we both nodded slightly. Oh, yeah, we were definitely sneaking away for a swim later.
The conversation moved onto plans for the weekend, which were very laidback. The Cullens had planned little more than a couple of beach games and a barbecue for tonight. For Saturday, they suggested a little sightseeing and dinner at a seafood restaurant. It sounded perfect.
Soon after, Katie, looking refreshed and more relaxed, came walking down the boardwalk, dressed in denim pedal pushers and a Stanford t-shirt.
"What did I miss?" she asked, sitting down in a chair between Riley and Randall.
"Not much, we were just chatting about your brother's former swimming habits and plans for the weekend," I replied.
"Oh, the Jeremy days!" she giggled. Riley kicked sand at her feet. "As long as we go to Lobster Jack's, I don't mind what else we do."
"Lobster Jack's?" asked Randall.
"Our favourite seafood restaurant, and it's got a great bar, too."
"I've already booked a table, Katie," said Carlisle. "Tomorrow at seven."
"Thanks, Dad."
"Well, I'm going to start lunch," Esme announced, getting up. "Just sandwiches and chips. I hope that's okay?"
Everyone agreed.
"Would you like a hand, Esme?"
"It's okay, Bella. Carlisle will help, won't you, dear?" She looked at her husband pointedly.
Carlisle sprang up with a level of enthusiasm I'd expect from Riley.
"Yes, you all chill out here, we'll be back soon," he said before offering his arm to Esme.
"What do you reckon, Katie-kins?" asked Riley after a minute.
"Twenty-five, maybe even thirty," Katie replied. "'I couldn't find the mustard, kids, but eventually your father found some on the top shelf in the pantry,'" she added in a near perfect imitation of her mother's voice.
"Nah, I think twenty, tops, and I couldn't decide whether to make turkey or ham, so eventually I just made both."
"She spent half of last night in my room 'cause I was so upset. They're gonna take their time."
"What on Earth are you talking about?" Edward enquired, just before I could ask.
"Whenever Mom tells Dad he's helping 'make lunch,' it means she wants to do the naughty in the laundry room."
"Or the closet. Or the pantry. They have a thing for small spaces."
Edward and I laughed out loud, recalling Carlisle and Esme's story about the supply cupboard and the Christmas party.
"Jeez, why do you know that about your parents?" exclaimed Randall. "As far as I'm concerned, mine had me by immaculate conception!"
"Dude, it was unavoidable. They're total horn-monsters. I'm surprised that we didn't figure it out earlier than fifteen."
Randall turned to Katie, who shrugged.
"They're just very passionate about each other. They're madly in ... in ..." her voice threatened to crack. "Love." She swallowed hard and took a deep breath to compose herself.
"Oh, sis ..."
"Sorry, it just hit me. My relationship was never like that, and yet ..."
"Kate, would you like to take a little stroll with me to that old beach hut over there?" Randall pointed out the ramshackle structure in the distance. She looked up at him in surprise and he beamed back at her. "Lunch is going to be a little while, after all. Maybe you could tell me about the local area."
"Err ... Sure."
Randall stood up and Katie followed. As soon as they were out of earshot, Riley did a little wiggle in his chair.
"I knew it! The moment I met Pony, I knew he was perfect for Katie."
"Riley, you practically hit on him."
"Did not! I was just testing out his straightness on her behalf," he replied, pouting. "I was hoping they'd hit it off, and that she'd realise that she had options other than that dickhead. As it happens, he's history anyway."
"And you're delighted," Edward observed.
"Naturally. She deserves to be treated like a lady, by a true gentleman, like you treat Bella."
Edward grinned and captured my hand. I caught his gaze and he brushed my wrist with his thumb, making me sigh.
"Well, looks like Mom and Dad aren't the only ones who need a spell in the laundry room."
"Sorry," I mumbled, my face heating up.
"Don't be embarrassed, honey. You're a newlywed." A high-pitched giggle from down the beach diverted our attention. Katie was running away from Randall as he chased her holding a piece of seaweed. "I bet you're glad his attention is diverted too, huh, guys?"
"Sorry, what?"
"Well, since Pony laid eyes on Katie, he hasn't done his whole yearning, pining face that he does around you."
"Nah, sorry, Riles, you've made a mistake there. Randall's never been into me."
"I beg to differ. He was totally hot for you."
"Edward, back me up."
We both looked at Edward who froze like a deer in the headlights, before gripping my hand tighter.
"Uh ..."
"See? I'm right. I'm so fucking right."
"Edward?" Edward said nothing. "Foxy."
"Baby ... He's right."
"And you knew?" He nodded. "For sure?"
"Yeah ..."
He kept something from me? But ... But ... we weren't supposed to have secrets from one another.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"He asked me not to."
"Did you not explain that we share everything?" I could feel my voice going up an octave as my temper rose.
Three days ago I was telling Esme that we were nearly ready for kids and yet, he was hiding things from me. How could we be successful parents if we didn't have a solid foundation?
"Baby ..."
"Don't!"
I had to get away before I cried, or punched him, or both.
I jumped to my feet.
"Don't follow me!"
-cc-
So … it was Riley, and he didn't mean it maliciously, but the situation does highlight the stress Aro is putting on Bella and Edward.
Thank you all for your lovely comments. I loved all your theories on who might have taken the books.
The next update will be next Sunday or Monday.
Thanks for reading.
CC xxx
*Interleukin-1: Family of tiny proteins involved in cell signalling. They play a huge role in cell injury.