Author Note: Thank you for the great response to this story so far! Most of you are pleased with their slow, steady progress and looking forward to seeing Jasper again.

Thanks again to moosals for pre-reading. Stephenie Meyer owns all characters.


Chapter 29 – Perfect Day

On Tuesday morning, Edward shows up around 10am for our trip to Port Angeles. I'm a little surprised to see he doesn't have Masen with him.

"Alice has Masen," he explains. "I figured we could use some adult time. So, how was your last day of school?"

"It's always a fun day, but sad, too — saying goodbye to my students. I know I'll see them around the halls for the next several years, so it's not really goodbye. And I stopped by Angela's classroom briefly to meet next year's group.

"What time does Jasper arrive?" I ask.

"He's in the air already, should be landing at SeaTac around noon. He and Alice are going to meet us at The Lodge around 6:30, if that's OK?"

"Sure, it's fine," I agree. "Does, um, does Jasper know about us?"

"He does," Edward confirms. "Alice blabbed before I got a chance to tell him."

"Oh," I laugh. That sounds like Alice. "I don't want to put a damper on things, but… did you do anything special for your birthday last year?"

"No," he shakes his head. "Bree had to work. Plus, we'd just taken that short vacation for her parents' 40th anniversary a couple of weeks earlier. Rather than a large cake we couldn't finish, she brought home two fancy cupcakes from a local bakery."

I smile. After school yesterday, I baked and decorated a birthday cake for Edward. Alice was able to find out his favorite flavor from Jasper, and I plan to surprise him with it after dinner tonight, along with his gift.

"Did you get along with Bree's parents?" I ask curiously.

"Well enough," he shrugs. "They weren't especially supportive of my career choice initially, or my decision to quit my job and write full time."

"Oh, I remember you saying once that they were afraid Bree would end up supporting you — not that there's anything wrong with that," I add.

"Yeah," he nods. "Bree's parents both had successful careers in the corporate world. I think they would've preferred someone with a similar earning capacity to be their son-in-law, but… in the end, they just wanted their daughter to be happy."

"I assume you saw them when you went back for the trial and sentencing?"

"Yeah, they were pretty upset when I didn't bring Masen with me last month, and when I said I had no plans to come back to Chicago anytime soon."

"I imagine they miss their grandson," I murmur.

"I know, and I don't blame them. They might visit later this summer."

I immediately start wondering what Bree's parents will think of Edward dating again. What if they visit and don't like me?

Once we've arrived in Port Angeles, we walk around for a bit before choosing a restaurant for lunch, a brewery that also serves artisan pizzas. Edward gets a text from his brother while we're eating, letting him know that his plane has landed in Seattle.

I have to admit that I'm looking forward to seeing Jasper again. From the conversation I overheard at Easter, I know he at least should be happy with recent developments.

After lunch, we walk along the pier, visit a museum on marine life, and stop in at several little shops. It's a fun afternoon without a toddler who would be likely to get cranky after the first hour of adult activities. We do stop at a candy store to bring a couple of presents back for Masen.

Alice sends me a couple of texts with photos of Masen at the playground in Forks, so I can show Edward that his son is having a fun day out, too. When my phone dings a third time, I expect to see another photo from Alice, but instead it's a text message from Angela.

"They're inducing labor tomorrow!" I shout, earning stares from a few people passing by. "It's from Angela," I clarify.

Edward laughs. "Congratulations, Auntie! Or whatever the appropriate term should be."

"Auntie works," I agree with a smile. "Angela has only younger twin brothers, so Alice and I can be the aunts."

Later in the afternoon, we're back on the pier, just enjoying the sunshine from a bench near the ferry terminal, Edward's arm around my shoulders.

"Where do the ferries go?" he asks.

"Victoria."

"Oh," he replies. "That might be a fun trip one day. Do you have a passport?"

"Yeah," I nod. "I got one when I was in college in Seattle — in case we ever decided to go to Vancouver or do a Spring Break trip to Mexico."

"And did you?" he laughs.

"We did drive up to Vancouver a few times. I've never been to Victoria though. I'd love to go with you," I smile.

Edward smiles back, leaning over to kiss me gently. "I haven't done that all day."

"Well, never let me stop you." Ooops… did I just say that out loud? Thankfully he just laughs.

"Can I ask you about your mom?" he asks after a few minutes.

"Of course."

"Did she really join a nudist colony?"

"Yes," I chuckle.

"Have you seen her since she left you and your dad?"

"Yeah. Dad wouldn't let me visit her in Phoenix, but she came back to visit me a couple of times, like right before I started school and again when I was eight or nine. I was around 12 when she left the nudist colony and moved to Sedona. It's known for crystals and all kinds of New Age stuff. I think I visited twice over the summer while she lived there."

"Have you seen her recently?" he asks.

"Not in a few years. Renee got married again when I was a junior in high school. Her new husband, Phil, is a minor league baseball player. They moved to Jacksonville shortly after they got married, after he was traded. I never made it to Mexico over Spring Break, but I did visit her when a bunch of us went to Florida one year. That was the last time though."

"Do you ever wish you'd grown up with two parents?" he asks quietly. "I know you said Carolyn was kind of like a mom to you."

"She was great. I'm sure it wasn't the same, but it was nice to have someone to talk to about… just growing up and becoming a woman. My dad tried his best, but he was still a dad, you know? He was never great with emotional stuff."

"I'm glad Masen has you."

I turn to look at him. "You're a great father. Masen will be fine."

Edward stands suddenly, tugging on my hand until I join him. When I do, he puts his hands on my hips. "Thank you for spending my birthday with me. I knew I needed to get out of the house today."

I smile gently. "I'm always happy to spend time with you."

"How are you with PDAs?"

My smile grows wider. "Try me."

Pulling me closer, he leans down, touching his lips to mine. I give in to my urges and throw my arms around his neck, eagerly kissing him back. Pressed up against Edward, I can't help but remember the night we spent together. I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but I can't freakin' wait until things between us move forward… physically. I'll be on him at every opportunity.

All too soon, he pulls back, smiling softly as he stares into my eyes. "We probably need to be heading back."

"I know," I groan, reluctantly taking a step back. "I'll never hear the end of it from Alice if we're late."


Edward and I pull into The Lodge parking lot with two minutes to spare. Walking inside with his hand on my back, we find Jasper, Alice and Masen in the waiting area.

"Da!" Masen yells as soon as he spots his father.

"Shhhh… inside voice, buddy," Edward chuckles, taking his son from his uncle's lap. Jasper stands up and the two of them share one of those half-man hugs, while Alice and I try not to grin.

After another minute or so, we're led to a booth, where the hostess has set up a high chair on the end for Masen. I smile at her when she brings him a paper placemat and crayons to keep him occupied.

"Did you get a text from Angela?" I ask Alice.

"Yes!" She's practically vibrating in her seat. "By this time tomorrow, we might have a baby!"

"When is the induction scheduled?" Edward asks.

"Eight in the morning," I answer.

"I wouldn't be too sure about the baby being born that quickly. Bree was in labor for almost 24 hours."

My eyes widen. "How much did Masen weigh when he was born?"

"Eight pounds, six ounces. Big, but not huge," he shrugs, reaching over to ruffle his son's hair.

"Angela's doctor is predicting a nine-pounder, which is why he didn't want to wait any longer," Alice explains.

When our server comes to take our order, I've still not even looked over the menu.

"My treat, guys," Jasper says. "Get whatever you want, seriously."

"Are you guys celebrating something?" our server asks with a smile.

"It's my brother's birthday," Jasper replies. "Why don't you bring us a bottle of this—" he points at the menu"— and we should all be ready when you come back."

When he returns with the bottle of white wine, we all choose something different as our meal. I order my favorite grilled salmon, which I haven't had since my birthday last year. Jasper said we could order anything!

"How was your flight, Jasper?" I ask as I sip my wine.

"Long," he grumbles. "I was unable to get a seat with extra legroom."

"But it was worth it, right?" Alice says, elbowing him.

"Of course it was, babe," he answers, pulling her close and kissing her temple.

Everyone's meal is delicious. Masen even enjoys the fish sticks Edward ordered for him from the kids menu, though the brothers have to help him clean his plate.

"Would you like some dessert?" our waiter asks as he clears our plates. "We've got peach cobbler as a special tonight, or I can bring the dessert menus."

"No, thanks," I jump in before anyone else has a chance. "We've got birthday cake at home."

"We do?" Edward asks once our server has walked away. "Did you make it?"

"I sure did," I smile. "You didn't give me much warning, but I stopped by the Thiftway after school yesterday to get the ingredients I needed."

"Well, if it's half as good as that chocolate cake you made for Masen's birthday, I might need to buy some new pants," Jasper says, patting his flat stomach.

"I'll help you work it off," Alice says, making me cover my face with my hand to keep from laughing out loud.

"Do you want some cake, Masen?" Edward asks.

"Cake!" he parrots.

"I doubt he remembers what cake is," I chuckle.

Once Jasper has taken care of the bill, Edward lifts Masen from the high chair and the five of us head outside. Since the car seat is in Jasper's rental car, he offers to take Masen so we don't have to deal with it now.

As soon as Masen is out of the car and realizes we're going to my house, he runs toward the door, yelling, "Kitty!"

"Calm down," I laugh, sticking my key in the lock. "You don't want to scare her."

As if he didn't hear a word I said, Masen ducks under my arm, running toward the living room in search of Sandy, who has proven she can be trusted to have full run of my house now.

"Kitty?" he asks, stopped in the middle of the room, as he looks around for her.

I spot Sandy curled up in the condo on her cat tree, so I gently coax her out and into my arms.

"Go sit down, bud," Edward suggests.

Once Masen is seated, I set Sandy on his lap. "Hi, kitty," he says. My heart melts as he pets my kitten. He's so gentle with her.

"I can hear her purring from here," Alice smiles.

"She's probably hungry. I'm gonna go fix Sandy's dinner."

Grabbing a can of wet food from the pantry, I hear Masen giggle as soon as I've popped the pull-tab top. Seconds later, Sandy appears at my feet. "You know what that sound means in just three weeks, huh?" Shaking my head, I set her bowl on the placemat on the floor.

"Are you guys ready for cake now?" I ask, turning toward my friends. At their agreement, I pull it out of the fridge and open the top to a chorus of oohs and ahs. I didn't bother making decorator frosting, but I did buy a tube of frosting that I could use to pipe "Happy Birthday, Edward" on top of the nine-inch round cake.

Alice leads us in a round of Happy Birthday, and then I begin cutting slices of cake for everyone.

Edward's eyes light up when he sees the bright red color of the cake beneath the cream cheese frosting. "How did you know red velvet is my favorite flavor?"

"A little birdie told me," I smile, as Jasper raises his hand.

Masen crawls up onto Edward's lap to eat his own small piece — hopefully with the spoon I've given him so he doesn't make a mess.

"This is really good," Edward says with his mouth full. He swallows quickly. "Is this the bakery's recipe?"

"It is now. I found it online several years ago and started making it, and then the bakery ended up adopting it as one of theirs — ow!"

Little claws are poking right through my jeans as Sandy climbs up onto my lap. Masen giggles as her head pops up over the edge of the table. I gently hold her back from investigating my piece of cake.

"Awww… she just wants to sniff it," Alice smiles.

"Yeah, I don't trust her not to lick it."

"Well, give her some on your finger," she suggests.

I'm about to do just that when I get a better idea. "Hey, Masen, stick your pinky finger—" I hold mine out so he knows which I mean, "in the frosting then bring it over here."

With a little help from his father, Masen does as I ask, and it doesn't take long for Sandy to move closer to check it out. "Whoa!" Masen giggles when her little pink tongue darts out to lick the frosting off of his finger.

"Her tongue is like sandpaper, isn't it?" I smile. Masen starts to go back for more once she's cleaned his finger, but I reach out to stop him. "That's enough, OK? We don't want Sandy to get sick."

Once we're all finished, I cut out two slices of cake for myself, leaving the rest of the container for Edward and Jasper to take home. Masen is obviously getting tired, so we decide to call it a night. Somehow, Edward convinces his brother to take his son home, leaving him alone with me.

"So, um, I got you something," I say nervously.

"You did? I thought that awesome cake was my present," he laughs.

Smiling, I hand him the small wrapped gift, crossing my fingers that he likes it as I watch him rip the paper off. My options were severely limited since I only found out about his birthday two days ago and didn't have time for a trip to Port Angeles after work yesterday.

"Oh, this is awesome, Bella, thanks!" he smiles, pulling the leather wallet from its box. "Mine was in pretty sad shape."

"Really? I hadn't noticed," I reply with a wink. It was practically duct-taped together when he paid for our meal Friday night.

We walk to the front door hand in hand, and I smile at the way he's looking at me. "Thank you for an amazing birthday."

"I had a lot of fun, too," I assure him.

Edward leans down to kiss me and it quickly turns into more than he probably intended. I'm unable to keep from throwing my arms around his neck, and his hands are this close to being on my backside, while our tongues tangle together. I'm disappointed when he finally pulls back with a groan. "I'll see you soon." And with one more peck on the lips, he's gone.


A/N: Another successful date, with some hot kissing at the door. Still PG though. And Angela's baby is on the way!

I make awesome red velvet cake using a recipe from Paula Deen's cousin. I've never fed the frosting to my cats though.

Next update on Thursday! It's one of my favorite chapter titles thanks to the double meaning, hehe.