Time to find out what Edward has planned for Bella's birthday.
As always, grateful for all the lovely comments and for Gabby's help.
That Friday, Edward left work early to finish last minute arrangements for Bella's birthday. The whole week had been hectic, and Bella was still mad at him.
He'd left Felix home that morning, telling him to take Bella to the hospital to have the plaster removed from her foot.
Edward had taken his car to work, which had been the longest ride he'd had on his own since the accident. On the way back home, Edward called Jasper, which he had avoided to do since he'd texted his friend that he'd miss their appointment on Wednesday. If Tanya hadn't scared him with telling him that Bella had chosen to leave the house then get into a stranger's car, maybe he wouldn't have skipped their therapy session.
"Look who grew the balls to call," Jasper answered in a terse voice, sounded too loud in the car's speakers.
"I know you're mad, but shit happened. Look, it's been a long week," Edward muttered, glaring out the windshield.
"You have ten minutes until my next patient arrives. Is Bella still mad with you?"
"How did you know?"
"She's friends with Alice, man. Do the math."
"Shit." Edward winced at the idea of Alice knowing what he'd done to Bella. "Did Bella tell her…"
"I don't think they shared details, because Alice asked me what in the hell did you do to upset Bella. I have to admit that I hate being in the middle like this."
"Okay, so…it's Bella's birthday tomorrow," Edward said slowly.
"I know. She told Alice, they made plans for Sunday," Jasper said amused.
"Good thing she didn't try squeezing in Alice, too, in her tight schedule for tomorrow," Edward sneered. "Of course, what Bella doesn't know is that none of her plans are going to work."
"Edward, should I remind you how Bella is not like any of the women you've been with previously? Be careful how far you push her, before you lose her."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You know very well what it means, Edward. Bella won't let you dictate her life. She needs her freedom."
"She has it," Edward snapped.
"Then, forget whatever you plan on doing tomorrow. If you constrict her with something, she'll bail. No matter how much she cares about you. Bella is not someone to stick around if you plan on controlling her life."
"Shit."
"I have to go now. Keep in mind what I just told you."
Edward ended the call, shifting the gear and pressing the acceleration. He had to forget about his plan to take her away for the weekend. He'd managed to get a room at a nice hotel in San Francisco, because the owner owed him a favor, but it seemed like he'd have to cancel that.
Edward had to stand back and accept that he had to share Bella on her birthday. He glared at the road ahead, seeing red. He had to find a new plan, and an idea came to him as he was about to pass the road leading to Jasper's house. Checking the traffic on his right, he turned the wheel, slowing down on the rocky path.
If Alice wasn't home, he'd have to call her, but the more he thought about his new plan, the better it sounded. Bella had to like it, too.
Alice was surprised to see him at the door, but allowed him inside.
"Hi, Edward," she said slowly.
"Hey! You okay?" She looked a little too pale.
"Kid's against cookies, and I'm craving cookies." Alice rubbed a hand over her bump, wincing.
Edward hadn't seen Alice in a while, but his attention was drawn to her small stomach pushing against her shirt. He'd talked to Jasper about this, seeing Alice pregnant, and Edward hadn't understood at the moment why they needed to cover this matter.
Seeing her now, proved that Jasper had known how it would hit Edward again.
"Edward?" Alice asked, worried.
"Yeah? I just wanted to ask you something," he said, looking anywhere but at her.
He definitely didn't need another breakdown, about what it could have been. He was there to work on a surprise for Bella.
"Sure. Want to sit down?" Alice led him to the living room. "Anything to drink?"
"No, I'm good. Listen, Alice." He sank into the couch. "I know you've been talking to Bella and that you know her birthday is tomorrow."
"She said she was busy tomorrow. Did you plan something nice for her?" She grinned.
"The thing is…she plans on spending her day with her friend and with her brother, and then if there's enough hours left in the day, she'll spend the rest of me."
Alice giggled, watching him entertained. "Jealousy looks ugly on you."
"Shut up and help me."
She stared at him incredulously. "How?"
"Let's give her a party at my place."
Alice threw her head back, laughing loudly. "You want me to plan a party in less than twelve hours?" Then she turned serious. "Challenge accepted." She clapped eagerly.
"Anything you need, let me know."
"We're going shopping now. Give me a few minutes to change my clothes."
While he waited, Edward called Felix.
"Sir?" Felix's voice sounded wary, which led Edward to believe that something had happened.
"Are you done at the hospital?"
"Oh, yes. It didn't take long. Apparently knowing a doctor puts you as a top priority around there."
"Ha! So, you're home?" Edward probed. He hated dragging answers out of people.
"I'm home," Felix replied. "Ms. Swan was kidnapped by your father."
"Fuck!" Edward spat, heading to the door, then he stopped. He had other plans for the evening. "Did he say what…why…you should have called me immediately!"
"Well, Ms. Swan isn't in any danger."
"Go and save her from my parents," he demanded.
"Okay, sir."
Edward pocketed his phone, groaning loudly. He could only imagine what his parents were telling Bella, or how Bella might feel, being stuck there. She hadn't been comfortable to go over to their place for dinner, and now, to be there without him.
What were his parents thinking?
Alice skipped to his side. "I'm ready. Did something happen?" she asked, noticing the change in his behavior.
Edward handed her his car keys. "You drive."
He got in the passenger seat, snapping the seatbelt in place, before calling his mother. Five long rings later, she answered sounding cheerful.
"Edward, honey! We were just talking about you!"
"You, Dad….and Bella?" he snapped.
"Oh, Felix must have told you," she said, not sounding surprised. "Bella is such a sweet girl."
"I'm aware," he deadpanned. "She doesn't need you grilling her!"
"That's not why we invited her over. I remembered it was her birthday, and I figured you'd want her for yourself tomorrow."
"Good God." Edward palmed his face. "Can you give her a break?"
"I don't know why you're such a grouch. Bella didn't object to being here," his mom muttered.
"Because Bella's too mannered and she respects you enough to not complain about it. But you're going to hear it from me."
Alice shot him a curious look, which Edward dismissed with a hand.
"Felix is on his way to get Bella back to my house. You're going to apologize for kidnapping her, when she probably had other plans how to spend the day."
"She doesn't mind being here, Edward. I don't know why you're so worried. We had a nice chat, and we got to know each other a little more. I really like her."
"Good. Stop scaring her away, then!"
Edward hung up before his mother could say anything else. He highly doubted Bella was comfortable being there with his parents.
"What happened?" Alice asked, worried.
"My parents kidnapped Bella."
She gasped, meeting my eyes.
"It's not as bad as I'm making it sound, but I know for a fact that Bella's not okay with this," Edward explained.
Alice nodded, chewing on her lip. "About this party…what do you have in mind?"
"Something small…her friends, you and Jasper…and just about that."
"Good. Because small is all I can do with the short time frame."
The shopping trip meant almost emptying five different stores. By the time Edward drove Alice back home, he was exhausted, but he couldn't return home until he'd run a few more errands.
Jasper greeted them at the door, his narrowed eyes on Alice. "You left without your phone!"
"It was my fault," Edward said, stepping in between them. "I hurried her along. I've decided to be the bigger man and give Bella what she wanted – time with her friends and her brother…and me."
Alice nodded meekly. "I offered to help him plan the party," she mumbled. "I'm sorry, Master."
Jasper shot Edward a curious look, before pulling Alice into his arms. "I didn't think my words would get to you when we talked earlier."
"I hope you understand I'll do about anything to keep Bella happy. I have to go. See you tomorrow."
"We'll be over bright early!" Alice chirped, snuggling into Jasper's embrace.
"Don't be mad at her," Edward reminded him. Jasper only nodded.
Edward decided to deal with the less evil of the two, and dropped by Bella's studio. When no one answered, he figured James was at the bar, which led to a trip there.
Sure enough, James was in the middle of a conversation with his old friend Garrett, when Edward stepped into the bar. James looked up when Edward stopped next to their sides. He'd officially met Garrett some time ago, and he seemed like a very nice guy.
"Hey, man! Bella's not working tonight," Garrett said. "Wait, you already know that. You brought me the medical slip."
Edward laughed. "Yeah, I'm here to talk to both of you, actually." He met James's eyes, noticing the man watching him, confused. "I'm throwing Bella a birthday party. It's a surprise, so you only have to show up."
"You know, we've already made plans for tomorrow?" James questioned.
"Yeah, I know. You can cancel them."
James pursed his lips. "She won't accept a party without a fight. She confirmed to meet me at the ice cream parlor around ten o'clock. How about I carry on with my plans for ice cream with my sister, then I tell her to show me your place?"
Edward refrained to laugh at that absurd thought. "See if it works," he said, not having a better idea. "But be sure she's back by lunch."
"You got it." James grinned.
"You're invited, too," Edward told Garrett. "You can bring some of her other friends, too."
"My girl is visiting for the weekend, and I know Bella misses her. We'll drop by," Garrett agreed.
Edward pulled the notepad from the table, scribbling his address and phone number. "Thank you."
James followed him to the door. Edward frowned at him, still upset with the way the man had treated Bella.
"I just wanted to thank you for taking such good care of my baby sister," James said. "I plan on returning to her life."
"It's up to Bella if she'll accept you."
"We're working on it." He cracked a smile. "See you tomorrow!"
Edward got in his car, slowly driving to Jacob's garage. This wasn't ideal, but by inviting her best friend, Edward hoped he showed Bella that he didn't mind their friendship. Of course, they both knew how much he disliked that guy, but Edward had to be the bigger man and show he trusted Bella.
Jacob was working on the skeleton of a bike, loud rock music spilling from the speakers in the garage. There were a couple other employees at the far end of the large room, huddled around a V8 engine.
Jacob looked up from screwing a nut when Edward's shadow obscured his view. He narrowed his eyes, wiping his hands on his stained jeans.
"We're booked at the moment," he barked.
"I'm not here for business," Edward said slowly.
Jacob straightened up. "Then why are you here? To threaten me about daring to steal Bella from you tomorrow?"
Edward tried not to show he was surprised at his words. Of course, Bella had complained to her friend about what a Neanderthal of a boyfriend she had.
"That's why I'm here."
"Figures," Jacob muttered. "Forget about it, dude. You can't shackle her away in your castle and keep her from seeing her friends!"
"Actually, I'm here to invite you to her party. It's a surprise, so she doesn't know about it. I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell her." Edward kept his eyes on Jacob's dark ones, seeing slight confusion and amazement cross his features. "Come by my place around noon."
"I was supposed to have coffee with her in the morning, but she changed the time for lunch. I figured, you had something to do with it."
"I guess Bella's seeing her brother in the morning."
"Her brother?" Jacob roared, grabbing the other men's attention. "You mean that asshole is in town? And she's seeing him?"
Edward almost regretted saying anything. Bella hadn't told her friend the news, apparently. "I'm sure Bella will tell you everything tomorrow."
Jacob shook in his anger, one hand clutching the helm of the motorbike. "And you're okay with him here? Do you even know the story?"
"I know enough. It's not up to me if she decides to reconcile with him." Edward shrugged.
Jacob huffed. "Whatever. Mind if I bring along some of her other friends? We haven't gotten together in a long time."
"Of course. Got something to write down my address?" Edward asked.
Jacob snatched a yellow post-it note from the floor and a pencil, thrusting them into Edward's hands.
"If that shithead says anything to upset me, I won't be held responsible for busting his face," Jacob snapped, accepting the post-it note back, with Edward's address.
"You'll have to fight me for punching him first," Edward joked.
Jacob grumbled. "Whatever."
Edward hoped he wasn't going to regret the decision to invite him over. Even though, it made Bella happy, he could only imagine Jacob wouldn't make it easy for him to keep his temper in check.
The 1000th review will get a little special something. =)
What do you think about Edward's new plan?