Author Note: Thank you for the great response to this story so far! Everyone was proud of Edward for sticking up for himself with Bree's parents.
Thanks again to moosals for pre-reading. Stephenie Meyer owns all characters.
Chapter 37 – Taste the Summer
I know we're "just" going to The Lodge, but I still put on the one new dress I've bought this summer, hoping to make a better impression on Bree's parents than my work apron did yesterday.
The colors in my dress are light enough that I don't think cat hair will show, so I go ahead and sit down while I wait. I mean, I do vacuum the couch regularly, but Sandy has a lot of medium-length fur. When she sees me sit down, she jumps up onto my lap for some pets. "Now I'm going to have to go wash my hands," I admonish her, though I really don't mind.
When Edward knocks on the door, Sandy jumps down and escapes onto her cat tree.
"Hi," I greet him, throwing the door open. "I just need to go wash my hands." Hurriedly taking care of that, I grab my purse and keys.
"You look beautiful," Edward says, pulling me in for a kiss. "I really like that dress."
"That's what you said the last two times I've worn it," I joke, locking the door behind me. I'm secretly pleased though.
Bree's mother is waiting outside the SUV, and gives me a small smile as I step in, then climb as gracefully as I can into the third row of seats. She takes her place in the second row, next to Masen's car seat, and then we're off.
The drive to The Lodge takes less than five minutes. By the time I'm out, Edward already has Masen in his arms. He rests his hand on my back as we walk inside.
Edward made reservations so we're seated right away, in the same booth we sat in with Alice and Jasper. I think it works well with a high chair on the end, since it's a bit out of the way.
"So what's good here?" Bree's father asks, looking over the menu.
"I've never had a bad meal here," I smile, "but the grilled salmon is my favorite."
He orders a bottle of wine and the calamari appetizer for the table when our waiter stops by, giving us another few minutes to choose our entrees.
"Masen, do you want fish sticks again?" Edward asks. Masen just stares at him. "One day I'm gonna ask and you'll actually have an opinion on what you want to eat."
I laugh. "If I remember correctly, they had awesome mac and cheese on the kids' menu here 15 years ago."
When we place our orders, Mrs. Tanner goes with my salmon selection. I decide to try crab cakes this time, just to try something new. You really can't go wrong with the fresh seafood near the coast.
"Bella," Mrs. Tanner begins, "am I to assume from your comment about the kids' menu that you grew up in Forks?"
"Yes, Ma'am," I smile politely.
"Are your parents still here?" her husband asks.
"My father is; he's the Chief of Police. My parents divorced many years ago, and my mother currently lives in Florida with her new husband."
"Have you always wanted to be a teacher?" Bree's mother asks with a smile.
"Not always," I shake my head. "After I started working at the bakery, I considered becoming a pastry chef, but I wanted a career where I could give back to the community."
"Teaching is a very noble profession," she smiles. "I spent my career in Human Resources."
"One of Bella's good friends teaches kindergarten at the same school," Edward says.
"Yes," I smile, "and the other is a nurse. She's dating Edward's brother Jasper."
"Oh!" Bree's mother exclaims.
"They met last December when his family was in town for the holidays and Masen's first birthday."
"I'm glad that your family has been out here, Edward," Mr. Tanner says.
"Yes," his wife chimes in, "we were worried about you moving so far away from your support system."
"So were they," he nods, "but I've found a new support system in Forks. I couldn't have survived the past year without Bella's compassion."
He smiles at me, squeezing my hand under the table.
After dinner, which Bree's father pays for, Edward drives us home. He invites Bree's parents to my house under the guise of letting Masen play with Sandy. I also baked one of my apple pies late last night, so I plan to offer that as dessert once everyone's dinner has settled.
"Kitty?" Masen asks excitedly once he sees where we're going.
"Yes, you can play with the kitten," Edward chuckles.
Stepping inside my house, l lead everyone into the living room. Sandy is sleeping on the couch, so Masen crawls up next to her, petting her gently. "He just loves her," I smile, shaking my head.
"How old is she?" Bree's mother asks, sitting on the loveseat next to her husband.
"A little over four months. Sandy just got her rabies shot last Tuesday, and she was five pounds two ounces! She's doubled in size since we found her over Memorial Day weekend."
"Oh, at the beach?" she asks. "We went to First Beach today, and Masen kept looking under every piece of driftwood, saying 'kitty'."
"Yes," I laugh. "We found Sandy under driftwood. How funny!"
Sandy jumps off the couch, so I fetch one of her feather toys for Masen to play with her. He runs around the room giggling as she chases the toy.
"Would anyone like dessert?" I ask. "I made apple pie last night."
"I do," Edward smiles, patting his stomach. "Masen, want some pie?"
"I'll fix Sandy's dinner, so he actually pays attention to us," I laugh. "I'd offer ice cream, but I don't have any vanilla. I'm not sure chocolate chip cookie dough goes with apple pie. Would anyone like whipped cream instead?"
At the chorus of yes votes, I get up and walk into the kitchen, first making up a bowl for Sandy. She's at my feet before I can even set it on the floor. Taking the cover off the pie, I cut four normal-sized slices, carefully lifting them onto plates. I bring the first two pieces to Bree's parents, then cut a small piece for Masen — minus the whipped cream — which I put in a bowl, hoping it'll be less messy.
"Here you go," I hand Edward a plate, leaving Masen's piece on the end table until he realizes what we're all eating.
"This is delicious, Bella," Mrs. Tanner says.
"Her apple pie has won first place for five years running now in the Fourth of July fair," Edward says proudly. "Actually she won in two pie categories this year. Bella is an excellent baker."
"Oh, how neat!" she smiles. "I remember when I was a kid, my mom used to enter her jellies and preserves in the Wisconsin state fair."
Masen finally figures out we're all eating, coming to investigate the plate in his father's hand. "Yours is on the table, buddy. Sit down to eat it so you don't make a mess."
"It's just apples; they're good," I tell him as he scrutinizes the contents of his bowl. I turn to Edward. "Since strawberries are his favorite, I guess I need to work on a strawberry shortcake recipe."
"I'm sure it'll be delicious. Bella made Masen a chocolate birthday cake last year. She made a cake for me, too last month."
"Oh, I really need to decide what I want to do for my dad's wedding cake!" I exclaim. "He and Sue are getting married later this week, and they're planning to have their wedding reception in the private room at The Lodge, two weeks from today."
"Are they still planning to elope?" he asks.
"Yes," I laugh. "They're combining the wedding and honeymoon."
"Where are they going?"
"He refuses to tell me!" I complain. "Leah — my future stepsister," I add for the Tanners' sake, "thinks they're going to Lake Tahoe, based on some printouts she saw in her mom's house."
"Oh, that's a lovely area," Bree's mother says.
"I've never been," I shrug. "At least it won't be 109 there like it was in Las Vegas!"
Edward laughs. "Are you still on about that? Never take her to the desert," he says to the Tanners.
"What were you doing in Las Vegas?" she asks. I wonder if she's worried we eloped.
"It was the first stop on my book signing tour," he explains.
"Oh! I thought you went to California."
"The rest of the tour was in California," he nods.
"I saw your book is about to crack the Top 10," Bree's father says. "It's a hard way to make a living, but you've done well."
"I think he'll be famous one day." I put my arm around Edward, smiling at his blush.
When I see that everyone has finished their pie, I start collecting the plates to take into the kitchen. Masen is now sprawled out on the floor, cuddled up with Sandy.
"We should probably get going," Edward says. "It's about Masen's bedtime. Come on, buddy!" he says, standing.
"Noooo!"
"Mase, you'll get to see the kitten again soon. It's time for bed." He shakes his head as he lifts Masen into his arms.
I walk them all to the door, holding it open as they step onto my porch. "I'll see you later," Edward whispers in my ear, causing goosebumps all over my body.
Once I've shut the door, I head upstairs to change out of my dress and hang it up. I just put on a pair of pajamas, then curl up on the couch with a book… and a kitten on my lap.
Around 10pm, my phone dings with an incoming text.
I'm coming over.
My eyes widen. I didn't think Edward meant later tonight! When he knocks on the door, I quickly move Sandy off my lap and rush to answer it. I'm greeted by a hard kiss as Edward slams the door behind him. I waste no time throwing my arms around his neck. Seconds later, he's lifting me up by my backside. I wrap my legs around him, not even caring where he's taking me.
Edward deposits me on my kitchen counter, his lips never leaving mine. His hands seem to be everywhere. I can feel him hard against me and I want him as badly as he seems to want me.
"You took your dress off," he whines, sucking on my neck so hard I'm afraid he'll leave a hickey.
"I… didn't want to have to wash it," I reply, barely coherent.
Edward lifts me off the counter, pulling my pajama bottoms and panties off in one swoop. When he reaches for his belt, I help him out, opening the buckle and then his zipper. He tugs his pants down then lifts me up again. I let out a scream when he impales me on his hard cock.
We kiss hungrily, and I pull and tug at his hair while he fucks me into oblivion. We've had sex several times since we got home from California, but it's never been this hot and passionate, like he needs to be inside me or else he'll die.
"Oh God… Edward!" I scream as I come, shockwaves still rippling through my body when I feel Edward reach his peak. He takes a few moments to catch his breath before carefully lowering us to the floor, his cock still inside me.
"What did I do to deserve that?" I pant.
"Just being amazing," he says, smiling at me. "They were a tough crowd, but you won them over."
"Do they know where you are right now?"
He chuckles. "No, I left after they went to bed. Masen's door is open, so I know they'll hear him if he cries." He runs one finger along the edge of my pajama top. "I really wanted to fuck you in that dress."
"Next time," I promise him. He hugs me close, and as I lift my head, I see Sandy standing in the doorway, her head cocked to the side as she watches us. "Sandy! You weren't watching, were you?"
Edward turns his head, laughing when he sees her. Given our position, his laughter does something to both of us. "How about we take this up to your bedroom? I've probably got time for a second round before I need to get back."
"Best idea I've heard today," I reply, kissing him.
On our next girls' night, I arrive at the diner at pretty much the same time as Angela. I help her get a sleeping Chloe out of the car, then hold the door for her as we step inside.
"No Alice yet," she comments. Someone is in our booth — the nerve — but the one in front of it is free.
Angela and I order drinks for the three of us and start chatting. When five minutes have passed with no sign of Alice, I pull out my phone to text her, but she walks in before I can send the message.
"Sorry I'm late, guys," she says, yawning as she sits down next to me. "I took a nap and lost track of time."
"Since when do you nap?" I ask.
She shakes her head. "I haven't been sleeping well."
"You're not still sick, are you?" Angela asks in alarm.
"I don't know, maybe. Some days are better than others."
"Maybe you should see a doctor," I suggest. I feel silly telling that to a nurse, but she's been sick for two weeks now.
"Maybe these long shifts are finally catching up with me," she shrugs. "I'm just dragging until noon or one o'clock every day."
"Uhhhh… scratch Bella's advice," Angela says. "Maybe you should take a pregnancy test."
Alice laughs out loud. "I'm not pregnant."
"Are you sure?" Angela asks, raising an eyebrow. I have to agree with her — Alice's symptoms almost sound like pregnancy symptoms.
"Yes, I'm sure!" she swears. "I've had an IUD since just before my senior year of college, so four years now. Those things last like five or six years, right?"
"Yeah, the one I had lasted five years," Angela confirms. "IUDs are highly effective, but you know nothing is foolproof. Have you missed any periods since Jasper was last here?"
"I don't get periods," Alice says, shaking her head. "They disappeared completely after a couple of years with the IUD."
"Maybe I should try that," I chuckle. My periods are pretty light with birth control pills, but none at all would be awesome.
"Seriously, go buy a test on your way home, just to put my mind at ease," Angela insists.
"Fine." Alice rolls her eyes. "I still think it's exhaustion or something."
"Earlier you thought it was a stomach virus," I remind her.
"Yeah, but I haven't thrown up since the very beginning. Mostly I just feel… off." She shrugs again. "Anyway," she waves her hand, "how did the visit from Bree's parents turn out?"
"Well, they were definitely upset at first to learn that Edward was dating again 'so soon'," I add in air quotes, "but… they came around. He did a great job of defending our relationship. I was so proud of him," I gush. "It means that he really believes he's not in the wrong."
"That's great," Angela smiles. "No L-word yet, I take it?"
"No, not yet," I sigh. "He said some awfully sweet things though."
"How long were they in town?" Alice asks.
"Friday through Monday. They left for Seattle on Monday, since they had an early flight home on Tuesday morning. Edward said they've promised to visit more often. And he agreed to consider taking Masen to see them. They live in a suburb of Milwaukee, not in Chicago, but it's a lot easier to fly to Chicago than Milwaukee, so he'd possibly still have to deal with it."
"Well, at least Masen will have your parents close by as additional grandparents," Angela smiles.
"Now who's getting ahead of herself?" I smirk.
A/N: I was stuck on a title for this one until I realized they were always eating.
Bella won over the Tanners, Masen had some fun with Sandy, and Edward got a little frisky after dinner!
And, Angela and Bella think Alice might be pregnant. Only one of you (KDMCAM) suggested that after the previous chapter.
Next update on Thursday!