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Chapter 35: Why didn't I leave earlier….
BPOV
"Bella," Esme said, looking extremely excited, "it's been too long! You look lovely dear."
Feeling a slight disoriented, I got up and realized that the entire Cullen family was there, including Vicki and James. What are the odds, I wondered, about running into them, in a city of over 8 million people. And not only that seeing Edward and Alice, 3 times in 5 days. For a brief moment, I wondered if Alice had put a tracking device on me during dinner. Calling Angie and having her buy that lotto ticket seemed like a damn good idea, this was freaking insane.
"It's great to see you," I said, actually meaning it with Esme. The woman had been extraordinarily kind to me when I had been dating Edward and sent the nicest note to me when Charlie died. In fact I still had in my desk back home. One of my regrets had been not keeping in contact with her longer. But the thoughts of her kids just killed it for me.
"Bella," Carlisle said, coming over to give me a hug, "You look amazing dear. What are the odds? Edward, Alice did you know Bella was back in town?"
"Yes, we ran into last week during dinner," Edward said, nodding at me. Vicki looked at me with frown. I couldn't blame her, the way Carlisle and Esme were mooning over me.
Then I got a good look at her and had to stop myself from staring. She was wearing a halter top and a really short mini-skirt. You couldn't wear underwear with that outfit. I knew from a Halloween party I had gone to a couple of years ago. Angie had found us slutty Jem and the Hologram costumes. I couldn't wear a bra with the costume and the skirt was too tight to wear panties. I made sure that night I was sober so I didn't fall over drunk. A picture of my bare ass did not seem like good PR for my growing firm.
"Let me see," Alice grabbing my drawing pad, breaking my trace. She gaped at the work making wonder if I was losing my touch, "Mum," she asked showing it to her.
I felt myself turning red. They were really critiquing my work. To change the subject, "What brings you guys here today," I asked.
"Alice is a curator here," James explained, "She pieced the private exhibit." He pointed to the Master of Light showing that I had seen earlier.
Shit, I realized that Alice was a professional and she was evaluating my work. Since Trent, I really hadn't down any more showings and just drew for my own enjoyment. My designs were mostly generated by computers no one outside of family and friends saw my rough stuff. Losing everything in a short amount of time back in school had killed a part of me.
Alice looked up finally and smiled at me, her eyes beaming, "You've really improved with age," she said, "What do you think Mum?"
"I believe you're right Alice," Esme replied to her daughter and then turned to her husband, "Carlisle what is the time?"
"5:30 darling," he said checking his watch.
"Bella please join us for dinner. It would lovely to catch up with you," she said smiling.
My stomach actually growled with the mention of food. I had been so excited to get here that I had forgotten to eat lunch. In fact the only thing I had today was a muffin before I came here. However that also met a cozy dinner with my exec's parents and his gorgeous fiancée.
"Esme – I don't think that Bella is dressed properly for dinner," Vicki finally said. It was the first I ever heard her voice. She had an odd combination of trying to be coquettish with a smoker's rasp. Kind of like a cross between Shirley Temple and Tallulah Banks.
I had to stop myself from responding to her, you got to be kidding me, given her lack of attire. However Edward beat me to the punch.
"Please come," Edward said warmly, it was the longest thing he had said to me since I came back to town.
"Yes – please do," Alice said, linking her arm with me, and then she whispered to me, "you'd be doing Vicki a favor, I think Mum is about to eviscerate her."
Esme and Carlisle looked at me hopefully like I was the next best thing to sliced bread. Charlie's talk about good manners came back again and the fact that all this happened 10 years ago.
"Thank you for the invitation, I would be happy to join you for dinner but I'm really not dressed up," I replied. With the exception of Vicki, they were a little on dressy causal side for a Saturday. They were wearing blouses, shirts, twill trousers, oxfords. This was definitely not my weekend sloppy attire i.e. jeans, t-shirts, sneakers.
"Nonsense," Esme said, "You're perfectly fine – we just going to a restaurant up the street." Vicki just stared at her with daggers.
"Bella – you have to come – its been too long," Alice grabbing my arm and directed me to her exhibit, "Let me give you the background tour."
"You work here," I asked in disbelief, "You're luckiest person I know."
Alice just smiled at me as showed me the paintings and explained the reasoning behind her placement. I had to say I was impressed, Alice really knew her stuff. It took me back to the art show at Trent, she had come up with the design for my paintings. The memory made me sad, we had been so close.
While their betrayal had hurt, the years had faded the hurt somewhat. A few times I had thought about reaching out to Alice but something had always stopped me. The tour that she was giving reminded me how fun she could be when she really wanted too.
"So you liked it," Alice asked, genuinely interested in my opinion.
"You know I do. This amazing Alice – do I get a backdoor tour of the rest museum," I joked with her.
"If you promise me lunch," she said winking me. Then she got serious, "Bella I know I'm about 8 years late and I was a horrid bitch to you but do you think we could have lunch, clear the air?"
"Are you going to accuse me of trying to steal your boyfriend," I asked dryly, thinking of Videogate, as I had come to think of the incident.
"Ah – no – and no orange hair either," she answered blushing a little.
"Let me think about it," I said, "It's not a yes but it's not a no either."
She nodded beaming. "But please come to dinner. A third party would really help diffuse the tension," she said.
"Esme doesn't approve of Vicki," I asked as we walked back to the rest of the family.
"That's an understatement," Alice replied darkly, "She doesn't like the fact Vicki is a model."
"She liked me – I was a painter," I said, feeling a little sorry for Edward and Vicki.
Alice shrugged her shoulders. "I couldn't tell you why. Vicki is a little flaky but the most part she is okay. She is actually a lot of fun," Alice said, smiling, obviously relieving a memory.
My popular opposite, I thought. To be honest except for the money she reminded me a lot about Tanya, tall, beautiful, just stunning. Dinner was sounding even less appealing. However Esme joined us in the wing as I was making up my mind.
"Girls," she said, "We should get going the museum is closing."
Crap, I realized looking at my watch, she was right. "Mum," Alice said, "you do realize I work here, it's very unlikely that they're going to kick me out."
"Fine – then how about you take pity on an old woman's stomach and feed her," she said ribbing her daughter. The 3 of us burst into giggles. Esme was hardly the epitome of an old woman. I could only be that gorgeous in my fifties.
"Bella – please come with us," Esme asked warmly taking my hand. That was my undoing. I had always had a soft spot for her, given how wonderful she had been to been me.
Putting on my big girl panties, I looked at her and said, "Thank you – I would love too."
The restaurant that Cullens had decided on previously was few blocks as way from the museum. It had more of a pub feel when we walked in so at least I wasn't undressed.
"So Bella," Carlisle said sitting down, "Last time we saw you were getting ready to attend university."
I laughed a little. "Yes – believe it or not, that changed a little. Right before graduation, I got a call from Cornell and they offered me a full scholarship. So I ended up there instead of RISA." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Edward frown a little and nodded. A realization floated across his face, I wondered for a brief moment what he was thinking.
"Did you end up studying architecture," Carlisle asked, getting back my attention, "Edward tells me you're here for work."
"Yes – I got my master's degree in it a couple of years ago," I explained, nibbling on a breadstick. "I'm here to work on the new wing of Children's Hospital."
"Wait, there was a piece on the design in the Times," Esme said, "You're with Black Swan designs?"
"Well – currently I am Black Swan," I explained, blushing a little, "its my firm. I set it up after I graduated college."
"You own your business," Vicki exclaimed in disbelief. Everyone looked at her like she had a second head.
"Uh – yes – I do. During college I interned in few firms and thought about starting my own," I explained, feeling my blush come back. Dammit I was a 26-year-old woman for God sakes.
"Well that is just amazing," Esme said, "See what happens when you apply yourself kids?" She looked at Vicki in particularly.
At that moment I felt bad for Vicki. She was definitely bitchy which I could understand since I was her fiancé's ex. But Esme obviously didn't like her, in fact she headed her.. I couldn't help but feel bad for Vicki. There is nothing worse then being compared to someone you perceived as threat. Vicki obviously was viewing me a threat.
Then as soon as my sympathy for Vicki appeared, she killed it. "How on Earth did someone your age get enough money to start a business? I'd imagine you had a lot of debt," Vicki asked snidely.
A sickly pallor replaced my blush, as I thought of the reason I had the money to make my own business.
"My dad a few years ago," I explained, the Cullens shuddered since they knew story, Vicki and James obviously didn't since they looked a little confused, "and I inherited some money when he died." What I didn't add was that I rather have my dad you insensitive bitch.
"Oh – I'm sorry," Vicki said, having the good grace to look embarrassed. James frowned.
"Don't be – you didn't know. Honest mistake.," I replied coolly, taking a long drink of my wine to numb the sadness and then stood, "Excuse me." The bathroom, my hiding place of choice was beckoning me.
AN: Awkward – I know. Okay for those of you wondering why Bella is doing this - it's a combination of morbid curiosity and manners her dad instilled in her. Before you write it off – I mentioned before I was bullied in Junior High. I ran one of boys years later at an ARCO of places. He was truly sorry for what he did. While we're not best friends – it felt good to clear the air.
Most of this is going to start to tie in soon. A few wanted to know if Bella is going to break up Vicki and Edward. No – she doesn't go after unavailable man and she definitely isn't going chase after a guy who was so horrible to her in high school. Despite what Esme might want. Not my style. My Esme has a bit of sneaky side to her.
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