Chapter 31

"I hope you don't mind, but I've dog-eared a few things I thought were fantastic. Now, I wasn't sure what colors you were thinking, but blue seems to be a beautiful color on you, so that might be the way to go."

I sat cross-legged on the sofa, surrounded by about thirty bridal magazines. There were a few household type magazines you saw at the check out stands at the market thrown in there as well.

And Jesus Christ… the woman was on a serious mission.

Edward wasn't lying when he said his mom would be down to help out. She was not fucking around.

"I can't believe you already went through all of these. There are a lot of them."

She waved her hand at me as to say, whatever, and rolled her eyes. "I stopped in at CVS as soon as you were engaged to pick these up. I wanted to get a jump on ideas in case you needed advice. And of course, I'd hope you would."

I threw her a soft smile. "I wasn't sure how to ask, but yeah. I do need help."

She tilted her head and threw a look at Alice. "I told you she wouldn't mind."

Alice laughed. "All I said was to calm down a bit. You get a little hyper about things like this."

Katie, who I'd just met that morning, laughed. "Hyper is an understatement. She had the church booked before I even said yes."

Esme's leg bounced on her knee and she clucked her tongue. "I had been planning that wedding since you asked Garrett to Sadie Hawkins in your sophomore year."

Katie laughed again and I peered over at her and smiled.

She rocked the baby in one arm while flipping through a magazine on her lap. She was so different than what I'd imagined. Especially after seeing Garrett with Victoria.

Katie put that ho to shame in so many ways it wasn't even funny. She was soft and pretty and funny. She was an amazing mother and had the sweetest voice I'd ever heard.

But with all that, she was also so strong. Independent and smart. I could see her telling Garrett to kick rocks and not break a sweat.

I had a major girl crush on her already.

"Have you put any thought into what type of dress you want, Bella?" Kate asked.

I took a deep breath, held it in my cheeks, and blew it out long and slow. "I have not. I have no idea."

"Oh," Esme cried. She jumped out of her chair and reached over to grab a stack of magazines off the table. "You'd look beautiful in a ball gown. Something full and fitted at the bust."

"No!" Alice and Kate said in unison.

I had to agree. I could not see myself in something big and poofy. All that lace and fabric. I'd probably end up tripping over myself and dying.

"Mom, no one wears ball gowns anymore. Plus, I see Bella in something more modern. Simple. Something elegant."

Modern sounded good. Simple sounded even better. I wished I could get away with wearing a sundress. There was no freaking way I was wearing a ball gown.

"Well, we've been at this all afternoon, Alice. We don't have a lot of time to get things done and the dress is the most important part of planning. After she decides what she wants, we need to shop, get alterations, accessories. We only have a very small window. I'm just trying to help."

I frowned. "I think we'll be okay if I don't find a dress this weekend. I mean, it's not like we're getting married tomorrow. We just started throwing out dates."

Esme's head snapped up and her back went rigid. "Sweetheart, this wedding needs to happen soon. We only have a couple of months before the season starts. Edward travels almost constantly during the full season. There won't be time."

Wait a minute. Was she high?

"Oh, no no no no. There's no way we can do it that fast. Does Edward know this?"

Alice laughed and threw down the magazine she was looking through. "Of course he knows. He didn't tell you? I mean, you can look up the schedule of the games online."

Well, that was bitchy, but I wasn't going to focus on her snark when I had to figure out what the hell to do about planning a wedding in five minutes.

"So he will be playing all the time? He won't have any breaks? He was on breaks before playoffs."

Esme smiled. "He has more time between games during the regular season, but we don't want to rush the event, do we?"

I threw my hands in the air. Dude. That's just what she said we had to do. Rush. The. Fucking. Event. What the heck did she mean?

"I don't know what to do then. I thought I'd had more time. Maybe we can wait. Do it next summer or something."

Esme stood and gathered up our glasses and turned to head into the kitchen. "Nonsense. We can do this. I'll go get some refills and then we can get back to work."

She left the room and suddenly I felt hot and uncomfortable all over. Nothing like an over eager mother-in-law to set off a full-on panic attack.

"Don't worry, Bella. You don't have to agree to anything right now. Esme gets carried away, but she means well. But the thing is, she's right. It'd be much better to get a wedding together for the off months. That way you guys aren't in a hurry and you can enjoy it. Have a honeymoon. All of that."

I turned to face Kate, and damn. I was so grateful she was along for the ride. Why she was so interested, I had no idea. But she'd kind of tucked me under one of her wings and I was glad she was there.

Because Alice? She was being a real dick.

"What's your favorite color, Bella? For flowers, and bridesmaids' dresses and linens?

I sighed and then turned again to face Alice who sat across the room, legs tucked underneath her and a bored look on her face. I wanted to tell her my favorite colors were black and blue like my knuckles once I knocked her out.

"Is there a problem, Alice? I mean, did I do something to piss you off? Because you're acting really bitchy."

Kate snorted and put a hand on my arm. "Yeah, the problem is she's bitter because she's not getting married."

"Shut up, Kate. That's not it."

Okay, so… what was her issue. There was something and it was getting bigger and uglier by the minute. I did not want to have to bitch slap my fiance's sister in front of my soon to be mother in law.

That's just rude as hell.

"Is it Victoria?"

I felt two sets of eyes snap on me and the room went completely silent.

Shit.

"I'm sorry, Kate. I didn't mean to bring her up."

God. Could I get any stupider. I mean, hello!

"Don't worry about it, Bella. It doesn't bother me. We've already worked through that whole situation. He got the shit end of the stick out of it, and he knows it. I got peace and quiet and he got a psycho stalker. He knows he messed up and he's working his ass off to prove he's worthy of where he's at. End of. Honest."

Well damn. Kate was a freaking saint. I didn't get it. At all. There was no way in hell I'd be okay with Edward detouring with a chick, but hey. What did I know about their relationship?

"Why would Victoria have anything to do with anything? Why even bring her up?"

"Uh, because you're friends? Maybe I'm getting a vibe that you don't like me being with Edward."

Before she could answer, Esme walked in and dropped the tray with our drinks on the table. "Who doesn't want you to be with Edward?"

I threw a glare at Alice and then smiled up at Esme. "No one. We were just talking."

She hummed and took her seat across from us again. "I heard. But it's darling how you try to save me from drama, Bella. You'll learn soon enough I hear and know it all."

Damn. That stung.

"I didn't mean to lie. I just didn't want you to be upset."

She turned to Alice, ignoring me. "What is your problem? You've been a snit for weeks, and I want to know why. If you're not ready to talk about it, or don't want to talk about it, you should head on home and stop pissing on our planning. You're being a real spoiled brat."

Alice's face twisted into rage and she slammed the magazine down and got off the couch. I was stunned. This girl could do dramatic like I'd never seen, and I was pretty damn theatrical.

"It has nothing to do with your darlings and this stupid wedding, okay? I have shit on my mind and I don't want to talk about it."

She turned on me.

"I'm not friends with Victoria. I've known her a long time, but we're not buddies, if that's what you're worried about. I was more or less playing double team so I could see what she was up to. I didn't trust her not to mess with my brother."

I raised an eyebrow. "And do you trust me not to mess with your brother?"

She threw her arms in the air and huffed. "I do, Bella. You're fine. Great. You're perfect for him. It has nothing to do with you, I swear. For once, this is all about me. Not Garrett, not Jasper, and not fucking Edward. Me!"

"Language," Esme scolded. "I think you need to go home. Take a nap. Have a nip of whiskey. Something to get that burr out of your butt."

I couldn't help myself. I snorted.

Alice glared.

The baby starting crying, and then it was just total chaos. Kate bounced the baby, Esme jumped up and ran over to help, do I don't know what, and Alice continued to seethe with both hands on her hips like she wanted to tear down the entire house.

And then my phone rang.

I looked down at the phone and groaned. It was like my mother could sense when I was dealing with shit and just wanted to turn the knife a little more. Her timing was horrendous.

But at that moment, she was the less of two evils.

"I need to take this call. It's my mom."

No one paid any attention as I slipped out of the den and went up the stairs, pushing answer on my phone as I cleared the landing and slid into Edward's old bedroom.

"Hey mom."

"Sweetheart," she sang. "You never called me back. I was worried."

I rolled my eyes at the ceiling. "Mom, I told you I wouldn't have any time until after playoffs. We're running around like crazy from place to place."

"Well, aren't we important," she snapped.

Just what I needed. This crazy broad and her attitude. Why were women so freaking annoying?

"If you want to get technical, yeah. My fiancé is super important. He's a star hockey player on a team in the playoffs for the title of best team in the United States. I'd say it's more important than me listening to you bitch about the way Phil's feet smell."

I had no idea if that's what the playoffs thingy was called, or what it meant. I knew it meant they got a big trophy and a bunch of big dicks were wagging about it, but whatever. I wanted Edward to win because he was Edward and he wanted to.

Otherwise.

Meh. Whatever.

"I realize," she said. "Which is why it would have been nice to have had a seat to watch my daughter's fiancé play while she was in Orlando. Phil would have loved to have been invited. Imagine how impressed he'd be with the VIP treatment at a professional hockey game."

I rolled my eyes again. I swear, she was going to give me a migraine. "Why would I invite Phil? Plus, who says I get VIP tickets and shit, mom? Is that what this is about? You want to brag about being able to get freebies from Edward? That's not happening, which is why I didn't call you while we were there. This is his job. It's not a chance for you to schmooze."

"He's going to be my son-in-law. I'm proud to say my daughter is marrying a hockey player. That's not a crime, Bella. You're so dramatic."

This. Bitch.

"If I was engaged to someone who worked at say, Jiffy Lube, or a police officer or something, would you want to flaunt that to your friends? No. You wouldn't. You want to attach yourself to me now because you think there is some benefit to you. You think Edward is some kind of commodity to make you look good. It doesn't work that way, and I'm not letting you mess this up. I wouldn't care if Edward was the guy who washed the doggy poo out of the kennels at the shelter. I wouldn't care if he was a bum on the street, mom. I love him because he makes me smile and feel safe. You wouldn't know how that kind of happiness feels because you don't feel shit."

"Bella," she snapped. "Why are you getting so upset with me. I truly only want to share your life and your life happens to involve a man who plays hockey. What is going on? Are you two having trouble."

I ran my fingers through my hair and pulled my feet up underneath me and leaned against the wall. Oh how I wished my mom was the type of person I could vent with. Someone I could feel safe sharing my worries and get advice.

But no. She wasn't that woman.

"Actually, no, mom. Everything is great. In fact, I need to let you go. I'm in the middle of doing some wedding planning and people are waiting on me. I'll try to call you sometime next week. Okay?"

"We should talk about the wedding planning together. I want to be involved, too."

I wanted to laugh but didn't. That wasn't gonna happen.

"I'll let you know if I need anything, mom. I'm going dress shopping while I'm here in Chicago, so I need to get a move on."

"I was thinking," she started. I rolled my eyes. I wasn't going to get off the damn phone any time soon.

"My wedding dress from my wedding to George is gorgeous. It was expensive, and it should fit you. Maybe needs to be let out a little at the hips, but it would work."

"No," I said emphatically. "I'm wearing a dress of my own. It's my damn wedding and I want my own damn dress. This isn't about you. At all. Sorry mom, but you have to understand how sick I am of your shit. You haven't once asked if I'm excited about getting married, or if I'm nervous, or how the fuck I feel about it. Never have you said how happy you are for me. It's all about the superficial bullshit I don't care about and I'm done. Do. Not. Fuck. This. Up. Not now, not ever. It's mine."

"You're being selfish, Bella. You're my daughter, and I have dreamed about your wedding day. I want to be part of the wedding. That isn't too much to ask."

I thought about her words as they whirled through my ears and into my brain and then thought about the women in the other room. All of them were being pushy, frankly.

And I'd had it with all of them.

It was one thing to help me out, but it was another thing to think I was an idiot. And that's when all the lightbulbs went off in my head.

"Mom, I need to go. I'll call you another time when I'm not so pissy and you're not so bitchy."

I clicked the call off and threw the phone on the bed. I paced the room, running my fingers through my hair. My idea was going to make everyone flip their wigs, but that was the whole point. I was the one losing my wig and they were making it a whole scene.

There was a knock at the door and I turned to see Alice peek her head in. Just what I needed after the phone call with my mom.

"Alice, it's not a good time."

"I just wanted to apologize. I've been horrible, and I want to explain."

I really, really wasn't in the mood. But I waved her in anyway.

She sat on Edward's bed and looked around the room, a small smile on her face.

"I overheard a little of your conversation. I'm sorry. I wasn't eavesdropping. You were just kind of loud."

I sat on the little chair at the old desk and stared at her. She looked so much different than the bratty bitch she'dbeen downstairs, and after the day I'd had, I figured I owed her a chance to explain why she'd been so nasty to me.

Screw that.

I deserved to hear why she'd been so nasty to me.

"My mother brings it out in me. I'm really stressed out. She gets on my nerves."

She rolled her eyes. "I can relate."

I gave her a look of disbelief. "No, Esme's great. My mother is Satan's ugly sister. You have no idea."

She laughed. "Esme is great to you. My mother is a pain in my ass. She's on me all the time, and I almost can't stand it anymore."

Oh. OH.

She had mom issues.

"I had no idea. You two seem to get along well. And she is always so nice."

She waved her hand and leaned forward. "She is nice all the time. I am not nice all the time. I have a lot of shit going on, and I can't talk to her about it. Worse, she bugs me about the stupidest shit and has no idea what she's talking about. I am a grown woman and she treats me like I'm ten. They all do."

I decided to go for it. Open the door and let her know I could be a great listener. I wasn't, mostly, but I could see she was about to lose it. I could try.

"You want to talk about it?"

She groaned. "I guess. I mean, yeah, but not really. Okay—but you have to swear you won't say anything to anyone. You have to promise."

I made a cross on my heart and nodded. "This won't leave the room. Promise."

She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders and blurted it out. "I think I'm pregnant."

"Jesus," I breathed. "What?"

That was totally not what I was expecting at all. And to be honest, I wanted to not know it real fast.

"Wait a minute—you were drinking with us. A month ago! Your kid could have brain damage, Alice!"

Her eyes narrowed. "Not helping, Bella," she spat. "I just found out. Like, two days ago. I didn't know. I mean, I don't even think I'm that far along. Maybe six, seven weeks."

"Holy fuck," I said. I gaped at her like I was seeing a Martian. This was insane. I didn't even think she was going out with anyone.

"Who is it? The dad I mean? I didn't know you were dating anyone."

She groaned and buried her head in her hands. "It's a mess. No one knows about it. I didn't mean for this to happen."

I looked around the room like the answers to this fucking puzzle would appear any minute and explain how the fuck I got dragged into this freaking disaster secret club. I couldn't handle someone's secret. I was terrible at keeping my mouth shut. I could already feel the hives tickling my skin with the urge to spill all the torrid details to someone.

Like Edward.

He was going to shit his pants.

"Okay, well, you don't have to tell me. But, Alice, what are you going to do? You have to tell your mom."

She looked up at me wild-eyed. "Hell no. Bella, you can't. She can't know."

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Well, pretty sure when you're pregnant, you typically grow a baby. And that causes you to get bigger. You know, in the stomach area. I think she'll figure it out eventually."

"Do you have to be such a freak all the time? God, no shit I'll get bigger. But I can't tell her yet. She's going to freak out."

Uh, hell yes she was. And so was Carl. And Edward. And Jasper.

Shit. I was freaking out.

"Does the guy know?"

She shook her head and when she looked up at me, her eyes were full of tears. It was the most vulnerable I'd ever seen Alice.

"He's married."

My eyes popped out of my head.

"Married? Holy crap."

She dropped her head and started to bawl, and that was it for me. I'd apologize to her later, but I flat out lied when I said I'd keep her secret.

I was calling Edward.

HEY

Thanks for waiting!

It's been a shitty month, between starting a new job, pain in the ass family, and the holidays and I just haven't had time to get to updates! But I promise things are slowing down again so they're gonna come quickly once again.

Hope you are all enjoying the holiday madness!

Have a great weekend.

XO

Jami