Hello my loves. How are we all? Everyone set for the holidays? I'm not feeling very festive this year which is odd because normally as soon as December first hits I'm all about Christmas.
I want to thank everyone who had been reviewing. I treasure each of them. Sorry I suck a replying to any of them.
Someone did ask about their ages and professions which I noticed have not really been mentioned yet.
Bella is 24 and co-owns a wedding boutique with Alice. She studied business at school and handles that side of things at the boutique.
Alice and Jasper are both 26. Jasper works for an IT company and Alice deals with the fashion side of things at the boutique.
Edward is 30 and an obstetrician. He's just moved to Seattle from Chicago. He is Alice's cousin on their fathers side. Edward Sr is Carlisle's older brother.
Esme and Carlisle are both in their late forties.
I hope that clears things up a bit.
Christmas was less than three weeks away and our boutique was busier than ever. One bride even had a meltdown in the middle of the floor because the red fabric Alice had ordered in for the bridesmaids headbands didn't match the exact shade of the poinsettias being used in the bouquets.
Why anyone would want to get married on Christmas day is beyond me. Honestly they should just spend it with family, gorging on sugar cookies and eggnog while watching Home Alone for the five hundredth time. I wouldn't want to spend it walking down the aisle of a chilly church in a frou-frou dress and little else. Don't these women realise how cold Seattle gets in winter? It's making me shiver at just the thought of it.
I pull my sweater tighter around me and crank up the heating a few more degrees.
"Bella!" Alice screeched from the back room. "Will you please leave the thermostat alone. The brides are sweating!"
"Yes dad." I mockingly called back, rolling my eyes but not turning the heating down. I didn't care what she said, I was freezing. I was so cold my nipples could cut fucking glass.
The door opened, sending in another gust of wintry air as two tall blondes entered the boutique.
"Good morning ladies. How can I help you today?" I asked in my best professional voice, despite the fact it felt like my teeth were chattering.
"We has appointment with Alice." The one with piercing blue eyes said in a thick accent that I couldn't quite place. It sounded Russian but I wasn't sure.
"Irina, play nice." The other one tittered. "These lovely ladies are sorting out our bridal gowns for us."
"Ah, you must be Tanya and Irina. It's lovely to meet you both. I'm Bella. I run the front of house business. Alice is a little occupied at the moment. Can I get either of you some refreshments while you wait?"
"That would be lovely. Thank you." Tanya smiled, leading her fiancée over to the plush couches in the waiting area. I left them to it while I went out the back to find Alice. She was in dressing room three, pinning a veil to a bride-to-be. "Your eleven o'clock is here." I said as I walked past on my way to the small kitchenette.
"Already?! But I still have to sort out Jessica here and we still have Jane in room four. Can you please see to them for me?" She asked as I made a couple of mimosas for the ladies in the waiting room.
"Ali, you know I'm not any good with the fashion side of things. I don't know the difference between a mermaid gown or a princess one, and what even is a sweetheart neckline?" I asked, pulling a fruit platter out of the fridge.
"Well then let them browse and pick out a few dresses to try on. It's not rocket science Bella."
"No, rocket science would be easier!" I replied, sticking my head around the dressing room door. I was met with Alice giving me the puppy dog eyes she perfected when we were younger. "Fine." I sighed getting annoyed. "But I swear if we lose these clients because you refuse to hire anyone to help you, it'll be coming out of your pocket, not mine." I picked up the tray with the fruit and drinks on and went back to Tanya and Irina in the waiting area. "Sorry about that ladies." I smiled at them while handing out their drinks. "It would appear Alice is still occupied. I will be taking over for the time being. Is there anything in particular you're both looking for?" I grabbed a notebook and pen from behind the front desk so I could take notes of what they're after.
Tanya sipped from her glass and plucked a few berries from the dish as she thought over her answer. "I would like something with a little poof, but not too much. I still want to look elegant. What about you sweetheart?" Tanya turned to her fiancée.
"I don't want dress. Want pant suit. White. Tight. Low cut." She downed her mimosa and set the glass back on the tray. "You have any vodka?"
"Babe, it's not even midday yet. You can't have any hard liquor this early in the day."
"Lyubov, I drink vodka for breakfast in old country."
"Well it's frowned upon here. You can have some when we get back home." Tanya patted Irina's knee and turned back to me. "Sorry about that. Shall we go and have a look at the dresses now?"
"Of course." I flipped the closed sign on the door and quickly turned the lock. Didn't want anyone walking away with our stock while I was otherwise occupied. I really did need to convince Alice about hiring a seasonal temp.
I put Irina in front of our white pant suits while I tried to help Tanya find something poofy-but-not.
Twenty minutes later I was stressed and frazzled. Tanya had looked at over fifteen dresses, tried on five already and was still looking. No wonder Alice stays so trim. This is a complete workout in itself.
"No I don't like the lace on this one. Can I have a look at my first option again?"
I bit my tongue as I took the dress from Tanya with a smile and climbed the small step ladder to hang it back up on the rack. When I got to the top my head started to spin and when I reached up to hang the dress it felt like the world had slipped away from under me. I'm falling but two strong arms stop me from hitting the ground.
"OH MY GOD! IRINA HAS SHE DIED?" A screeching voice came from my left. "HELP! HELP! SHE'S DEAD!"
"What is going on out here?" I hear Alice ask. "Bella? What's happened to her?"
"She was putting away a dress and the next minute she's falling. Luckily Irina was able to catch her." Tanya dry sobbed. "I think she's died."
"She's not dead lyubov. Just fainted. See, still breathing." I felt Irina lay me down on the carpet and check my pulse.
"Should I call an ambulance?" Alice asked, her voice filled with worry.
"No need. I am EMT, but she will need to see doctor."
Ugh just what I need. A visit to a doctor. I groaned and opened my eyes to see three sets staring back down at me.
"Oh thank goodness." Alice sighed. "I'm taking you to the hospital."
"No Ali. I'm alright. I don't need to go." I replied, struggling to sit up but Irina held me down.
"You need to stay still until blood returns to normal."
"I. Am. Fine." I grit out between clenched teeth. "Now let me up."
"Fine." Irina backed away. "But know it is against medical advice."
I rolled my eyes and stood, but when I went to walk away I stumbled into a display of dresses.
"Right, that is it. I am taking you to see daddy at the clinic." Alice stated as she helped me gain my balance. "No arguments."
"Fine." I sighed. "But if Carlisle says there's nothing wrong with me will you then drop it?"
"Of course." She turned to Tanya and Irina. "Ladies, I'm sorry, but we're going to have to cut your visit short. I can give you a personal after hours visit tomorrow to make up for it."
"No need. We've found what we want." Irina held up the outfit she had picked and Tanya was clinging to the dress she had tried on three dresses ago.
If she'd just stuck with that one all of this could have been avoided.
Alice rung up the women's purchases and ushered them out with promises of free alterations if they needed them and profuse apologies for not getting the full bridal experience.
"Alice I really don't think going to see your dad is necessary."
"Bella, shut up and get in the car." She tossed me her keys while she locked up the shop.
The drive to the open clinic located on the bottom floor of the hospital was quiet and tense. It seemed like Alice wanted to say something but thought better of it.
"Hey Shelley." She greeted the clinics long time serving receptionist. "Who's running today?"
"Oh, hello Alice. It's Doctor Cullen." She replied, looking down at her clipboard. "There's not many people in front of you, so I should be able to sneak you in now if you're desperate?" Shelley dropped her voice low so the other patients waiting couldn't hear her.
"That would be perfect. Thank you." Alice said with a wink. "It's for Isabella Swan."
"No worries. Take this and fill it out. Room two is free." She handed me a clipboard and pen with a sheet of paper attached for all of my information to be filled out on.
We got settled in the examination room and Alice took the clipboard from me. "Hey! I'm meant to fill that out."
"I'm faster at writing then you are and it's neater." She grinned. "Besides, I know all of this stuff anyway." It was quiet for five minutes as Alice filled out my sheet." Hey Bell, how long ago was it you last slept with Sam? It's got to be almost a year now, hasn't it?"
"Why? What's that got to do with anything?" I queried, looking up from the game I was playing on my phone.
"It wants to know when your last sexual encounter was, and doing it yourself doesn't count." She wiggled two fingers crudely in the air while she smirked.
"Oh ha-ha Alice." I said humourlessly. "Um, actually it was Halloween." I grit my teeth at the outburst that was sure to follow.
"WHAT?!" She screeched, whipping her head around to glare at me. "When? How? Who? What?"
Oh god, I think I broke Alice. Her mouth continued to flap open and closed but no sound was coming out. It was quite comical really.
Okay, I can do this. Come on Bella, sell her the biggest lie you can muster. "I snuck out of the hospital ball early and went to a club down the street from the hotel. I got drunk and hooked up with a random guy before regretting it and going home. I didn't even get his name, let alone see what he looked like."
"Do you have any idea how dangerous that is Bella?! He could be carrying all sorts of STD's or god knows what else. How could you have been so careless?"
Well fuck me, Alice bought the lie. I think I deserve an award of some type for that. "He said he was clean. I believed him."
"Wow. Just wow. I can add stupid as well as gullible to that list."
"Fuck you Alice." I spat. "You're the one that keeps telling me to play the field a bit and the one moment I do I get judged for it. Tell your dad thanks for squeezing me in but I really don't need to see a doctor right now." I got up to leave as a mother fucking adonis walked into the room.
"Was it something I said?" He asked in a liquid honey voice. Holy sex on a stick this guy was hotter than hellfire.
"Edward? What are you doing here?" Alice piped up from where I had left her.
"Running clinic." He replied in a 'duh' tone. They carried on a short conversation which I paid no mind to and chose to blatantly check Edward out instead.
This was the elusive cousin that Alice always rambled on about. You could tell he takes after the male side of the family as he has the same straight nose and jawline as his uncle Carlisle. His hair and eye colour must come from his mother.
"What are you doing here Alice? The appointment is for an Isabella Swan." He huffed, annoyed by his cousin.
My head snapped up from where I was staring at his ass in those scrubs, at the sound of my name. "That would be me." I said with a sheepish smile.
"And what can I do for you today Isabella?" He asked with a smile as he went to sit behind the desk in the room.
"Alice insisted I come because I fainted." I replied with a roll of my eyes. "I told her I'm fine but she refused to listen to me." I huffed.
"Way to play it down Bella." Alice glared at me. "She was up a step ladder when she fell."
"And you didn't hurt yourself?" Edward directed his question at me.
I opened my mouth to reply but Alice spoke for me. "One of my clients caught her. Thankfully she's an EMT and was able to give her a quick once over. She said she was fine but her pulse was a little elevated."
"Are you prone to fainting spells Miss Swan?"
When the room fell silent I looked up to see both Edward and Alice staring at me. "Oh, I actually get a say this time?" I asked sarcastically. "Because I thought Polly Parrot over here was going to stick her beak in again."
"Don't be such a child Bella."
"Oh, so I'm a child now as well as all those other things you called me."
"I never said that."
"Ladies please!" Edward said loudly, slapping his hand on the desk. "Alice will you leave so I can give Miss Swan her examination in private." He directed Alice towards the door as he motioned for me to get onto the table. He closed the door behind a protesting Alice and returned to my side. "Now Miss Swan -"
"Please, call me Bella."
"Okay, Bella, can you tell me more about this fainting spell?" He asked, getting out his penlight to check my pupils before moving further down.
"I just got dizzy at the top of a small step ladder. That is all. Alice is blowing this way out of proportion."
"That may be so, but healthy young women don't just usually faint without due cause." He snapped on some disposable gloves and got me to raise my shirt and lie back. "When was the last time you ate?" He queried as he probed and prodded my abdomen.
"Oh, uhh probably around half seven this morning. I had some fruit for breakfast."
"And nothing since then?"
"No. I was too busy at work."
"And is that usual for you? Not eating during the day?" He frowned as he worked his fingers lower on my stomach and the surrounding area.
"Sometimes." I bit back a moan as his touch seemed to evoke something in me. "I don't skip meals all the time. I don't have an eating disorder if that's what you think."
"I haven't come to any conclusions yet Miss Swan." He pressed an area that made me gasp. "Sore?"
"No. Just uncomfortable."
"When was your last sexual encounter?"
"Ugh, what is with that question today?"
"Excuse me?"
"Sorry. It's what Alice and I were arguing about before you walked in."
"I see. And what was the answer?"
"The first of November." I lied. It's not like twenty four hours is going to make the world of difference. "It was a one night stand. Not that I'm prone to doing that sort of thing. It was a drunken, spur of the moment, mistake. Why?"
"Any contraceptives used?"
"I'm on the pill. Why?"
"Anything else?"
"No."
"Hmm." Edward frowned a little.
"What's the matter? What's 'hmm' supposed to mean?" I was getting frustrated by his lack of answer.
"Miss Swan, when was your last menstrual cycle?"
"I told you it's Bella and it was in Octo...ber..." Shit. I had completely missed Novembers cycle. How could I have not noticed that?
"Miss Swan I believe you could be pregnant."
"But I'm not. I took two tests. Both were negative and I'm on the pill."
"It's not always one hundred percent effective."
"It's never failed me before."
"Were you taking any other medication at the time?"
"I was taking some pills for an ear infection."
"Antibiotics can render the contraceptive pill ineffective."
"WHAT? I wasn't told that! Shit! This can't be happening to me."
"Let me take some bloods for testing. Just to be sure and rule out any other causes for your fainting spell." He said, helping me sit up and preparing a needle and some vials for taking my blood. "Tell me about those tests and when you took them."
To take my mind off of what he was about to do, I told Edward all about how Esme put the tests out for me and how she cottoned on to the fact I hadn't been acting like myself, then the results both showing up a negative answer.
"Those tests aren't always accurate. Sometimes they show false positives and others -such as in your case- negatives. Also the time of day you take them can be a contributing factor. Usually the first urination of the day gives the best results. There we go. All done." He pressed a small band aid over the injection site. "I'll send these off as a rush job and should have your answer within the hour. Would you like me to send Alice back in?"
"Please." I whispered, pulling my sleeve back into place.
"Everything will be okay Bella, what ever the outcome." He said with a small smile as he exited the room.
A few moments later Alice was back by my side. "I'm sorry Bells. I didn't mean any of those things I said. I guess I was just shocked that you would be so spontaneous. What did Edward have to say?"
"He thinks I might be pregnant." I turned to her with fear filled eyes. "What am I going to do Alice?"
"Let's just wait and see what Edward has to say first, okay? Then we can freak out." She put her arm around me as I rest my head on her shoulder.
000
After what felt like the longest wait of my life Edward finally re-appeared with a printed sheet of paper. He sat back behind the desk and gave me a tight lipped smile.
"Come on Edward, spit it out." Alice huffed.
"Well Miss Swan, we have detected a high level of HCG in your blood."
"Oh god." I wailed. "What is that? Am I going to die?" Many different scenarios played out in my head of me dying from some form of sexual related illness. I think I started hyperventilating somewhere between my blood drying up and my skin falling off. What can I say? I have a very active imagination.
"Miss Swan, please calm down. It's not good for either of you right now." Edward was suddenly crouched in front of me. "I promise, you're not going to die. Come on, breathe with me." He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "That's it. In through the nose and out slowly via the mouth."
I copied him a few times before I felt my breathing and pulse regulate. "I'm not going to die?" I asked in a small voice.
"Of course not Bella. You're bringing life into the world. You're pregnant." Edward smiled, but for the second time that day, I fainted.
We all knew it was coming except for Bella clearly.
In the next chapter we will briefly hear from Edward. Who's looking forward to hearing what he has to say about things?
Let me know.
Much love x