Chapter 43 – Early Birds

Bella

I woke up Saturday morning to the sound of banging on my front door. The sun was barely coming up, so I knew it had to be seriously early, and very cold. Whoever was at that door at this hour deserved to have me take my time letting them in. Thankfully, Edward heard the noise and answered it quickly before they woke the entire neighborhood.

"Why aren't you guys ready yet?" I heard Alice screeching from the bottom of the stairs. I knew it was only a matter of seconds before I was pounced on, so I braced myself. Sure enough, my bedroom door flew open, and Alice landed her perky little butt right next to me on the mattress, almost bouncing me out onto the floor. I pulled the covers up over my head, but she grabbed them, trying to pull them down, as I held on for dear life. I failed.

"Crap, Alice, why are you here so early?" I moaned, trying to pull the pillows over my head next. Rose had joined her, and they both launched into a tickle attack that almost made me wet the bed. The racket was loud enough to wake mom, despite her earplugs, and she came to my doorway, laughing at the sight of me writhing on the bed, being tickled mercilessly by my two attackers.

"Mommy, help!" I screamed. "Make them stop!" I was gasping for breath now, laughing so hard I was about to lose bladder control. I managed to scramble away and dash into my bathroom, locking the door behind me and hitting the toilet just in time.

"You two are some friends! You almost made me wet my bed!" I yelled at them through the door. The voice I heard in response was not one I was expecting.

"So, Bella, do we need to pick you up some incontinence pants while we're out today?" I heard Emmett snicker. Crap!

"Emmett, unless you're standing outside that door with a giant cup of coffee, I suggest you get back downstairs before I come out of here," I threatened. "Your girlfriend is already in enough trouble as it is!"

I could hear Emmett's booming laughter, as he went back downstairs, and I peeked out my bathroom door to see the only one left in my room was Alice. She was sitting up in the middle of my bed, grinning mischievously.

"Esme told us you have a dress already. So, let me see it!" she exclaimed, bouncing up and down on my mattress. I took out the bundle and unwrapped it, holding the dress up, so Alice could get a better look.

"Oh, Bella, it's beautiful!" Alice squealed, taking in the intricate lace and needlework. "You're going to look so amazing in this." Rose had come back in and sat next to Alice, looking thoughtfully at the dress and the other things in the trunk. She had a strange look on her face, and I wanted to ask her what was bothering her, but Alice was talking excitedly, not allowing for any other conversation.

While I was getting dressed, I told them how I had found everything and about Edward's "visitation" from his parents and my grandparents while he had been sick. I also let them read the sweet entry in my great-grandmother's diary.

"Wow, Bella, that's amazing, and a little creepy. It's like she knew she'd be a ghost who'd be watching over you," Alice said with her nose wrinkled.

"I'm okay with that. Better my loved ones watching out for me than some spook I can't see lurking around wanting to harm me," I said with a shudder.

"True that," Alice agreed with a knowing frown, as we headed downstairs to join everyone else.

Mom and dad were going to visit with some of the neighbors my dad had remained friends with, so we left them with their coffee and headed out for the mall. I made sure my phone had a good charge, so my camera would be all set. For some reason, I just had a feeling this was going to be a day to remember.

The mall parking lot was already packed by eight o'clock with early Christmas shoppers, so it took us a while to find a space. Parking this time of year was like playing a demented game of musical chairs. Emmett drove around for several minutes until he finally scoped out a spot where people were getting ready to leave. He waited patiently, while the occupants of the car tried to wrangle a bunch of unruly kids into their seats.

Just as they pulled out, some teenaged brat in a tiny sports car whipped around us, stealing the space Emmett had been waiting for so patiently. He had borrowed his parents' larger SUV for the day, so we could all ride together and have room for packages. It was a huge vehicle, so it wasn't like the kid couldn't see us waiting, turn signal engaged. When the teen cut into the parking space in front of Emmett, he simply put the car in park, still in the aisle, and went and planted himself outside the kid's car door. Emmett stood there, arms crossed over his massive chest, and waited for the kid to come out of the car, glaring through his car window at him the whole time.

After a few minutes at a standoff, the kid finally rolled down his window no more than an inch, and whatever Emmett said to him convinced him that he really wanted to find another spot. Emmett returned to the Suburban and waited, while the kid backed out and drove away, allowing Emmett to park.

"What did you say to him?" Edward asked with a smirk, knowing it was probably something good.

"I just promised him some extensive body work if he chose to stay in that spot," Emmett grinned. "I guess he didn't want to have to explain to his old man how his front fender ended up in his tailpipe." The kid was wise to move.