Welcome to Chapter Twenty-five – Hello, lovely readers – come celebrate Esme's birthday, with one or two surprising twists!
As ever, all things Twilight belong to Stephanie Meyer. I'm merely messing with her delightful creations. No copyright infringement or offense is intended.
The Cullen Dilemma
Chapter Twenty-five
We could hear excited voices in the hallway, as we hid in the kitchen being as quiet as we could and trying not to giggle.
"Oh, Edward, this is such a lovely idea. Thank you for thinking of it."
That must have been Esme's voice.
"Actually, Mum, it wasn't entirely my idea."
"Pardon, Edward?" The voice sounded rather puzzled.
"Come on through to the kitchen, we'll get drinks and I'll explain," said Edward.
The door opened and a short, slender and very chic woman entered.
"The idea was mine, Ma," said Jasper, hurrying across to wrap his mum in a hug.
"Happy Birthday!"
In the emotional scene that ensued, Ali and I kept our distance, observing the Cullens coming together as a reunited family for the first time in a long time.
Esme was beaming through copious tears.
"This has to be the best birthday, ever!" she exclaimed. "My two boys."
She pulled them into a hug.
"Come on, Carl. You too." She pulled her husband into the embrace.
"I'm proud of you two." Carlisle told his sons. Then he cuffed each one of them around the ear.
"It's bloody well taken you long enough."
"Oh, Carl, leave them alone. I'm just so happy to see them being brothers again."
As she looked up, she noticed Alice and me.
"Hello there," she said. Her eyes were as round as saucers and she wore a million megawatt smile.
"Boys – where are your manners? Aren't you going to introduce us to your friends?"
The way she emphasised the word, suggested she thought there was so much more to it than simply friends.
"Sorry, Ma," said Jasper. "This is our neighbour, Bella Swan, and her friend, Alice Brandon."
Ali and I stepped forward and shook hands with Mister Cullen, who insisted we call him Carlisle, before moving on to offer hands to Missus C.
Esme was having none of it. She pulled Alice into a hug, before holding her at arm's length and looking her up and down.
"Perfect!" she announced.
She followed the same process with me. Releasing me from her grasp, she intimated that she'd been looking forward to finally meeting me.
"Both of my sons…independently of course..." She halted mid-sentence to throw disapproving looks to each of her boys.
"Yes, both of them have been singing your praises since they moved here. I feel as if I know you already."
She pulled me in again for a second hug.
"Thank you, my dear," she whispered in my ear. "This couldn't have happened without you."
Our little hug-fest was interrupted by the timer on the oven.
"Yorkshire Pudding," I squeaked, as I extricated myself from Esme's hug. "Dinner in five, everyone."
There was a flurry of activity as final preparations were made. The table was already set, but there was wine to be poured and hands to be washed.
When the food and plates were on the table, Edward spoke.
"I know it's my house, but dad would you do the honour of carving the beef?"
"Of course, Edward." He looked around before asking, "does everyone eat beef?"
Mister C, Carlisle, worked deftly slicing the well-rested meat; it helped that Edward had very good knives.
Everyone was served meat, and then helped themselves to roast potatoes and vegetables. I nipped out to the kitchen and returned with a platter of very well-risen Yorkshires. After a lot of ooh-ing and aah-ing, we settled down to eat.
"This is wonderful," said Carlisle. "We don't tend to have large dinners like this unless the whole family is home."
"The beef's delicious," added Esme. "Is it local?"
I nodded. "It is; the local butcher had some 21-day matured joints. I'm glad you like it."
Very soon I was practically swimming in compliments and I was struggling with all the praise.
It didn't get any easier with dessert. Thankfully, Jasper noticed and drew the conversation away from me.
"So, Pa, what did you get ma for her birthday?" he asked.
"Carl is taking me away for a long weekend." Esme butted in.
"Lovely," said Alice. "Where are you going, do you know?"
"Rome," Esme replied. "I've never been but I've always wanted to go."
"It's a beautiful place. I spent a couple of months there one summer, nannying for a family, making some money for Uni."
"I've been, too," said Edward. "A business trip, but I extended the visit so I could see the sights."
Ali and Edward enthused about Rome for quite some time, while Esme and Carlisle listened intently.
"You ever been?" I asked Jasper.
"Nope!" he replied. "Looks like we're the odd ones out."
I giggled.
"But if you're ever up for visiting, let me know. We could be travel buddies like students do in summertime. Maybe we should do inter-rail."
I laughed this time.
"Yeah, yeah! You, me and a bunch of eighteen year olds – talk about a busman's holiday…"
"What's got you two grinning?" Esme asked.
"We were talking about travelling," said Jasper. "The sort of thing students do, you know?"
"Like buying a rail ticket and travelling round Europe with one small backpack." I pulled a face. "I think I'll pass on that, thanks very much."
"Did Jasper tell you about his Gap Year?" Esme grinned conspiratorially.
"Please, ma…not that tale again." Jasper groaned.
"Jasper volunteered to work with the Big 5 Wildlife Conservation Group in South Africa."
"That sounds fabulous," I said.
"It was," replied Jasper. "I got to do all kinds of research and conservation work."
"Tell Bella about the Bush Craft training, bro," said Edward.
Jasper rolled his eyes.
"We all had to have continuous training to make sure we were safe to work in a big game environment. We had to do things like identify animal tracks, know the different animals and their behaviours…that sort of thing."
"It all sounds really interesting to me."
"Thank you, Bella. It really was fascinating."
"Until the practical joke," said Edward. "You can't leave that part out."
"I wish I could," muttered Jasper. "But I know I'll get no peace until I've spilled the beans. So, we'd been learning about elephants and a few days later we were sent out to one of the research stations to do a bird count. Well, I was in a pop-up hide, minding my own business when there was an almighty noise, exactly like a herd of stampeding elephants."
"Oh, my goodness! How awful! What did you do?"
"Well, we were told that if an animal charged, the best thing to do was to stay still. At the risk of being flattened in my tent, I did stay put and waited until the noise passed. When everything was calm, I came out of my hide, only to be greeted by the rest of the team with a portable tape machine and a video recorder."
Everyone round the table laughed.
"It's not that funny," said Jasper. "I was young and naïve."
"It's the sort of thing that could happen to anyone," I said. I felt as if I had to stick up for my friend.
"Thanks, Bells." He leaned in and planted a kiss on the side of my face.
"Awww." Esme smiled at her youngest son.
"There must be an equally interesting story about Edward, surely?" Alice asked her face full of curiosity.
Carlisle spoke.
"The truth is that Edward never once stepped out of line; he was an exemplary student. The only excess he could be accused of was too much time spent with his nose in a book."
"It wasn't really like that; I went out, had a few drinks and stuff. You just thought I was always studying."
"So you were actually a bad boy, Ed?" Alice was full-on teasing now. "There's definitely something about bad boys."
Edward grinned and winked in an exaggerated way.
The meal continued in good humour. It was clear that Esme was delighted to have her family together again and she seemed especially interested in Alice and me.
"So, Bella," she asked. "Are you looking forward to the football?"
"I really am," I replied honestly. "I've only ever seen it on the telly before."
"I'm afraid I've been a football widow since I met Carl." She smiled indulgently at her husband.
"You could always come with me," he offered.
"And deny Edward the opportunity? As if?"
"Do you all go, then?" asked Alice.
"Well, I've got 2 season tickets," said Carlisle. "The plan was for Es and me to go together. We thought that, as the boys had flown the nest, it was something we could enjoy together."
"Good call," I added.
"Uh-huh, you'd think so, wouldn't you? It worked for a little while, until Jasper came back from the states."
"Well, what would any mother do?" asked Esme. "He tried to buy a ticket, but they sell out so quickly."
"So ma let me use hers."
"Then Edward returned, too," added Carlisle. "So we've had to set up a rota for the second season ticket; at least until the boys can get their own."
"I'm on the list, dad," said Edward.
"Me, too," agreed Jasper. "I'm hoping for next season."
"Then perhaps I'll get to go along again," said Esme. "Do you remember when Edward refused to go, Carl?"
Carlisle chuckled.
"I do. He told us he couldn't possibly go to a game that ruffians played; he'd rather watch a gentleman's game."
"Which game was that?" asked Ali.
"Rugby!" Carlisle and Esme chorused, before collapsing into laughter.
"I told him then it was the wrong shaped ball, but he wasn't having it. Fortunately he fell off his high horse and deigns to accompany his old man on occasion nowadays."
I looked across at Edward who was blushing slightly. Alice put her hand on his arm and leaned in to say something. I pushed down the feeling of irritation and gave my full attention to the conversation that was carrying on.
Carlisle and Jasper were discussing different players and their performance so far this season. The debate got rather heated until Esme intervened and told them to simmer down.
"Are they always like this?" I asked Esme.
She nodded and smiled.
"The Cullen men are passionate about the things they love, although I sometimes have to remind them that it's only a game."
"Only a game?" roared Jasper.
"Esme Cullen, those words you uttered might well be grounds for divorce!" said her husband.
Esme giggled. She'd obviously heard those words before.
"Champagne and cake!" announced Edward, getting up from his place at the table.
"I'll help," said Alice, jumping up and following him into the kitchen. I successfully slayed the green-eyed monster once more, and chatted to Jasper, Esme and Carlisle. I'd told both Jasper and Edward that I only wanted friends and that was what I was getting. I had no right to feel jealous if they chose to have girlfriends. I was just pondering if Alice might be getting close to Edward, when there was a commotion.
The dimming of the lights announced the entry of Esme's cake, generously lit with candles. Alice led a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday to You, before encouraging Esme to blow out the candles. As soon as the flames were extinguished, Ali threw her arms around Esme's neck and hugged her wishing her a very happy day.
Edward put down the tray of glasses and picked up the champagne, deftly popping the cork and pouring it.
When everyone had a glass in their hands, Carlisle proposed a toast.
"To Esme; the best wife and mother anyone could have. Happy Birthday, sweetheart."
Glasses clinked and we all drank.
"Who'd like cake?" asked Alice, taking over slicing duties after Esme had made the first cut.
She served Esme first, then Carlisle.
"Just a little for me, please." I asked.
"I'll take whatever size comes my way," said Jasper, which made everyone laugh.
"What?" he queried. "I love cake. What's wrong with that?"
"This is delicious," Esme declared. "Did you make it, Alice? What a clever girl."
"I can't take credit," Ali said. "Bella's the one who organised this. I just helped where I could."
"I'm sure you were very helpful. Bella, this cake is marvellous; thank you so much for making my birthday so special."
"You're very welcome," I answered.
"Let's take the rest of this into the lounge," suggested Edward.
As more champagne was drunk, the conversation got louder. I'd had one glass of wine and a sip of champagne but had stopped after that. I noticed that Edward wasn't drinking either.
"Let's dance!" suggested Esme. "That's okay, isn't it darling?"
Edward grinned and nodded at his mum.
"Yeah, dancing," said Alice, who was rather tipsy. "Dance with me, Edward."
Edward pressed a few buttons on his music system before Alice grabbed him and pulled him close. Esme and Carlisle were smooching while moving around. I looked at Jasper, who'd dozed off in the corner of the sofa. I took the opportunity to slip away quietly.
Back in my own little house I began to think. I may have said that I could only handle friends but I was beginning to think that perhaps, just maybe, I was wrong.