AN: My Christmas season starts with one, actually two albums. Josh Groban-Noel and my all-time favorite *N Sync- Home For Christmas for decorating every single year.
Chapter 23
Love's In Our Hearts on Christmas Day
Bella sat around the Christmas tree with the Cullen's and her father in the Cullen house Christmas morning. After breakfast, the family gathered around the tree to open presents. Walking into the Cullen house was like the walking into a Hallmark card with Christmas trees all around. There was piles of presents, everyone was truly blessed this Christmas. Bella, who doesn't even like getting presents, enjoyed all her gifts, especially Edward recording his song he created on the piano for her to putting it on her Ipod.
Bella's phone went off. It was her mother. Bella took her cell phone to another room to talk with her mother. Edward found Bella standing in the kitchen stirring the water with a wooden spoon in the dirty pot of oatmeal in the sink.
"Ok, Mom. I will talk to you soon. Bye."
"Hey, you were gone a while," Edward said, touching her arm. Bella jumped. She turned to Edward, concerned in her eyes. "Bella, what's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Bella, you can't lie for shit."
"I just don't...oh Edward." Bella stepped into Edward, wrapping her arms around his waist. Edward hugged her back.
"Bella, talk to me. Who called you?"
"My mother."
"Your mother?"
"She hasn't called since after my birthday. Renée even forgot to send me a card on my actually birthday. The card was 2 days late because she forget my actually birth date. My own mother."
"What happened?"
"She's getting a divorce, I think," Bella said.
"What?"
"My mother and Phil aren't doing so well. She's going to stay with us after Christmas, I'm supposed to tell Charlie she's coming tomorrow."
"She tells you this on Christmas morning? A day when you should be happy. That's very selfish of her," Edward said.
"I know, but that's my mother."
"Do you know what happened? What broke them up?
"No. She wouldn't exactly say. But I know it must have been bad for her to leave him so close to Christmas. She said she had been staying with friends in Florida."
"And now she wants to come here?"
"I didn't even know they were fighting. She never said anything before this morning," Bella said.
"Why is she coming here?"
"Well, I know my grandmother, her mother still lives in California. I wonder why she didn't go there but she wants to come here first."
"It must be bad between your mother and grandmother."
"It was never good between them. Even as a kid, I remember my Mom and grandmother always fighting over something. Grandma wasn't always nice to Mom."
Edward was sitting on the arm of the couch, as Bella stood before him, they were watching the rest of the family finish opened presents. She started playing with Edward's chin lovingly. He smiled. They were watching their family open presents, showing off their gifts.
"Did you get everything you wanted Beautiful?"
"I have you. I think that's plenty. For now." Edward smiled, pulling Bella into his lap, his arms going around her waist. Charlie held up tickets for a cabin fishing trip to Lake Sylvia State Park in Montesano, from Edward and Bella.
"Wow, Lake Sylvia. Harry and I always talked about getting a cabin here for a few days."
"I know Dad. You talk about it all the time." Lake Sylvia State Park is over 2 hours away, but the fishing is said to be amazing. "It was Edward's idea to get it for you. I said all you need is a new fishing pole."
"Well thank you Edward." Edward nodded.
"Uh, I don't know about this Alice," Bella said holding up a red gown. After presents, everyone was told to go shower and get changed for their fancy Christmas dinner.
"Are you kidding me. As soon as Edward sees you in this red dress…"
"Alice, that's your brother." Alice stood in a pale pink long gown with sequins on the bust and scattered down the skirt and silver sequin shoes. Rosalie of course looked amazing in a fitted black satin long dress with red sequin pumps. Mrs. Cullen in a blue flowy sleeves long dress with colorful sequin studs allover and blue sequin pumps. Bella held up the red spaghetti straps princess ball gown.
"Stop reminding me it's for my brother! It makes it yucky if you say brother." Bella shook her head. "And I have the perfect shoes!" Alice shook a pair of black suede high heels with a cute Christmas holly flower on vamp. Bella looked at the shoes.
"No," Bella said.
"Please!"
"Alice no!"
"You won't even need to leave this house."
"What?"
"I made sure to fix up the guest bedroom for your Dad," Alice said.
"What? Why?" Bella asked.
"I overheard Mom and Dad talking about helping your Dad let loose tonight, especially with all the extra hours he has been working for the last few weeks and if your mother is truly coming to stay after Christmas, your Dad needs a night to let go. I know my Dad plans on getting Chief of Police drunk." Bella covered her mouth, but couldn't contain her chuckles. Alice smiled too.
"What? That's something I would pay to see."
"Exactly, so you won't have to worry about being embarrassed. We're family," Alice said.
"You said that for Thanksgiving and about 50 more people showed up."
"Well, it was the first time in forever that many Cullens and Platts, and Cullen friends could come. I haven't seen my grandparents on both sides together in years. I think Mom and Dad blabbed to many people about Edward dating and they had to see Edward's girlfriend."
Bella thought back to Thanksgiving and meeting Esme's parents, some uncles, cousins, and Carlisle's pastor of a father. Father Cullen, as he made everyone call him, was very strict and didn't like the fact that Rosalie was with Emmett, Alice was with Jasper, and Bella was dating Edward, his prodigy grandson. Father Cullen wanted to know why Esme and Carlisle would allow their children to incest, which caused a minor rift between Carlisle and his father. Carlisle knew it wasn't incest since the kids were all related, though they did grow up together. He defended his kids relationships with each other. Carlisle knew to other it would be weird, even freakish, but Father Cullen also warned Edward not to be distracted by a girl. It was surprising when Charlie came to defend his daughter to Father Cullen. Bella couldn't be more proud of her father.
"But don't worry, Father Cullen won't be here today."
"He didn't like me very much."
"Father Cullen is not a very nice man. My Dad has always been a disappointment to that Anglican pastor."
"But Carlisle is a brilliant doctor."
"Doesn't matter. Father Cullen wanted my Dad to follow in his footsteps, but Carlisle dreamed of helping others and my Dad has never regretted his choice."
Bella walked down the stairs to Edward who was waiting. He looked so handsome in his black suit. He held his hand out. Bella gladly accepted his hand. As they held hands, Edward leaned down and whispered in her ear.
"You look beautiful." She smiled.
"Please don't let me go." Edward looked down at Bella' feet. He loved her black suede shoes, but the heel was not Bella.
"Alice!"
"Stop it. I have to try," Bella said.
"No, you don't. You have to be you and heels are not you, Bella."
"It can be, if I keep trying."
"Are you sure?" Bella nodded. "Fine, ok. Come. Mom made another feast." Bella smiled.
"She always does." Edward kept his hands on Bella, as they mingled, keeping her steady in those heels.
"Oh, look at you two" Mrs. Platts, Esme's mother gushed. "My god, you are so pretty." Bella blushed. "She is very pretty Edward."
"Thanks Nana."
Charlie arrived shortly before dinner. He changed out of his police uniform for dinner into a nice dress shirt and black slacks. He still had on his brown leather boots, but it was a start. Bella gasped, covering her mouth when her father showed up not in his police uniform.
"Dad!" Bella gushed, covering her mouth.
"I know, I look good."
"Oh Dad!"
"Now where is that good food."
"This way sir," Edward said.
With Christmas here, Carlisle and Esme were ready to celebrate with family and friends. Bella loved how Esme incorporated vegetarian dishes along with a traditional Christmas dinner. Once dinner was ready, Bella stood next to Edward as the dishes were laid out on the table.
"Oh dear, try the mushroom walnut bourguignon with cauliflower mashed potatoes, I got the dish from your Nana's recipe book."
"My Nana?"
"Oh that's why you wanted the Swan family recipe book?" Charlie asked.
"Yeah," Esme said passing around the plate of sliced ham. Esme created a traditional Christmas dinner with a large turkey and roasted ham, along with some vegan dishes just for Bella since she didn't eat meat. Bella reached for the beetroot tart and roasted baked parsnip.
Esme had Edward on the piano, playing Christmas songs as the family horribly sang around.
Bella laughed with Alice as Carlisle and Charlie were joking, after their 3rd tumbler of whiskey. Alice nodded. Edward pulled Bella to sit next to him.
"Any re quests?" Edward asked as they finished singing "Jingle Bells".
"Let It Snow!" Alice said.
"I asked Bella."
"Umm… Love's In Our Hearts?"
"Oh, that's a good one too," Alice said. Edward started playing, "Love's In Our Hearts on Christmas Day" by N Sync. Bella was in the mood for the popular jazz Christmas tune.
Loves in our hearts on Christmas
Though far apart
As one we pray
Loves in our hearts
On Christmas day
Snowflake melts in your eye and turns to tear
But you cheek it stays dry
With your warm smile so near
I have no fear
We're gonna make it
Loves in our hearts on Christmas
Though far apart
As one we pray
Loves in our hearts (love is in our hearts)
On Christmas day
Edward and Bella locked eyes during the song as they played the piano together. The song is great for practicing held half notes in the bass and 8th notes in the treble clef. Edward loves playing the piano with Bella. Their souls were always one together.