-1Chapter 29: Dinner Guests
Esme POV
All week long I had heard from my children about the new boy at school and I had heard from Carlisle about his new associate.
The children were not too impressed with the new boy. Carlisle however was liking his new associate
I wanted to meet them for myself so I asked Carlisle to invite them over for dinner tonight. I spent all day cleaning the house and preparing dinner for our guests. When the children came home from school, I had the girls help me finish up.
Peter and Charlotte Mcalister and their son Brady were supposed to arrive at 6 o' clock.
When dinner was ready and the table set. All of us girls went upstairs to get ourselves ready. The men had already done that.
I knew my children were not real thrilled about all this but they would do it for me and their father without too much complaint.
Around 5:30, the doorbell rang. Carlisle answered it. A woman with blonde hair and blue eyes came in. She was an inch or two shorter than me and her husband was tall and dark haired with a medium build.
All three of them had ice blue eyes. It was obvious that Brady took after his father in looks. I went to stand beside Carlisle as they entered.
"Peter , Charlotte, Brady welcome to our home.", Carlisle greeted them. " I'd like you to meet my wife Esme and our children will be down soon. Won't you come in and have a seat?", he continued.
"Thank you Carlisle. This is my wife Charlotte and our son, Brady. I believe he is in the same class as your children.", Peter said.
"You have a lovely home, Esme. I hear you designed and decorated it yourself.", Charlotte said addressing me.
"Yes, I did and thank you Charlotte.", I replied. "Pardon me while I let the children know you are here.", I told her.
I went upstairs to the second floor knowing they could hear me and told the kids to come downstairs. 5 minutes later each couple begin filing down the stairs.
"Children, please come over and introduce yourselves to our guests.", I requested.
I knew they didn't really want to but I was proud of them for not showing it. Alice and Jasper came over first.
"How do you do, Mr. and Mrs. Mcalister? I'm Jasper and this is Alice.", Jasper was polite but I could tell he was on edge.
"Nice to meet you both and hello to you also Brady.", Alice greeted.
"It's nice to meet both of you as well. My You do have beautiful children Esme. I can see why Carlisle is always talking to Peter about them." Charlotte commented after meeting all of them.
Edward and Bella were on edge most of all and kept somewhat of some distance, I saw the glances between all my children and Brady. I knew by those looks things weren't good. I could feel the tension.
"Bella, where's Darci?", I asked.
"She's asleep, I had just finished feeding her when you called for us to come down.", she replied.
"Who is Darci, dear?", Charlotees asked Bella.
"Darci is mine and Bella's daughter. Bella and I are going to be married soon and I am going to adopt Darci legally.", Edward answered proudly.
Bella beamed a smile up at him. I was so glad Edward had found his mate and she made him so happy.
"Oh, I see. I forget that all of you are adopted children." Charlotte said.
"Dinner is ready shall we all go in? I hope you like Duck in orange sauce.", I said.
We all went into the dining room and took our places. We all talked and ate, well our human guests and Bella ate while the rest of us appeared to eat. Conversation flowed well until Brady spoke up.
"So Bella, how is it that you have a daughter so early in life and Edward why are you so eager to tie yourself to her and the baby?", Brady asked.
I was surprised by his boldness. I saw the look that passed over Bella and Edward's faces as well as the rest of my children. I was nervous all of a sudden, but with as much grace as she could muster Bella answered politely.
"Well that happens to be a long and very personal story. I only share it with those closest to me, the ones I trust."
"Hmmm, guess that means I will have to work really hard to get close to you then.", he said with a smirky grin.
I didn't like the undertone of his words and it was easy to see the rest of the children didn't either. Alice suddenly had a paniced look in her eyes. That couldn't be good. Edward was scowling and I could hear the low rumble of a growl in his chest.
"Edward, you didn't answer my question to you?", Brady proceeded.
"Only out of politeness will I answer because frankly I don't feel it is anyone's business as to how Bella has a child at her age let alone as to why I choose to be with her and be a father to Darci.", he explained. "I fell in love with Bella the first time I saw her and I fell even more in love with her when I knew she had a child and saw what a wonderful mother she is. Bella has many qualities that I love and that draw me to her. It would take the rest of eternity to list them all. I find more reasons everyday to fall even more in love with her than the day before. I realize we are young but I know for certain that Bella and I do belong together and no one but Bella herself can or will ever make me leave her.", he finished.
"Surely you don't mind some healthy competition. You seem seure enough in yourself and your relationship with Bella that it shouldn't bother you for other men to look at her and wish they could have her.", Brady quipped.
I watched as Edward's body tensed. His anger was simmering just below the surface. I knew he couldn't be pushed much further without exploding. He was fiercely protective of Bella and Darci. He would go to any length to keep them safe. It wasn't the competition he was worroed about. We all knew, including Edward that Bella was devoted to him and him alone. It was now obvious to me why the children did not like this young man. I could see he was not to be trusted. I was now anxious for the evening to come to an end.
"Brady, I think you shouldn't impose your ideas on others unless it is asked for.", Charlotte gently admonished her son.
"Everyone is entitled to an opinion, mom. I was simply voicing my curiosity is all and expressing my wish to get closer to all the Cullens. They seem to be quite popular at school. I know being part of a clique shouldn't be important but it's the way thigs have always been.", Brady explained.
The evening moved along slowly but finally Peter stood up and announced they should go. I could feel the atmosphere suddenly get lighter. It was if the whole house sighed with relief.
"I'm glad we had this time to get to your family, Peter. It was truly enlightening.", Carlisle said shaking peter's hand.
"It was nice meeting you Charlotte.", I said. She thanked me and said goodnight to all the kids.
Soon they were gone and we all sat down in the living room to talk. Edward was fuming.
Carlisle POV
I haven't felt that much tension in awhile. I was glad though to have first hand experience to know what my children had been talking about all week long.
Brady was in fact going to be somewhat of a pain at least until he learned that Edward wasn't going anywhere.
"Now dad, do you see what we were talking about, how creepy and pushy he is?", Jasper asked me.
"He's not getting anywhere near Bella or our baby. I will not have it. I'd just as soon rip the miserable little morsel to shreds as have him anywhere close to Bella.", Edward said.
"I know son. Calm down I want to keep all my children safe and I want you all to be happy. I want to aviod violence if possible though.", I replied.
"If my visions are anywhere near correct. It would be better and safer for Edward and Bella to go ahead and marry. Then arrange it with the school to take the grad exam and get out a bit early. Go to Isle Esme for an extended honeymoon. When school is out the rest of join you. Brady is not going to give up easily and in one vision Bella and Darci are in grave danger because of his actions." Alice told us.
"Bella what do you think about that, sweetheart?", I asked her.
"I'm fine with it, dad. I don't mind becoming an official Cullen a bit sooner that it was planned.", she answered smiling at Edward. He put his arm around her and pulled her close.
"That suits me fine as well, love. The sooner your officially mine and Darci is my both of ours the happier I am.", Edward commented.
We talked at great length and made plans. We would do what we had to to keep Bella and Darci safe. Hopefully without any violence. I'll be honest and say I was very worried for my family. Bella and Darci have been through enough.
We talked about our plans some more and aniled some aspects of it down. It was decided for definite that Esme and I would go to the school board and arrange for Bella nd Edward to go ahead and take the graduation exam.
After they received their diplomas, they would be married. Bella's name would legally change to Cullen. Edward would legally adopt Darci and she too would officially be a Cullen. Bella also consented to having her middle name changed. It would be changed to Darci Esme Cullen.
Once we had some plans nailed down Alice's vision began getting brighter and less ominous. Everyone went their own way since it was Friday night. All the kids decided to go out for awhile and have some fun.
Darci was out for the night since she was sleeping through the night now for the most part. Esme and I had sometime alone. It was my intention to make the best of it.
Once the house was locked up and the alram set we made our way upstairs to our bedroom.
