I adopted this plot bunny a year or so ago. It really intrigued me. I posted a poll in my group asking which story I should work on next, and this was the winner. It's definitely a WIP. I've only got a rough outline figured out and I'm going back to my roots with this … writing with a vague plan. I hope that I can do this justice.
None of this is mine … I wish it was. Sigh …
The previous chapter ran away from me, to be honest. I had a plan, I swear. Well, that plan has been moved to the next chapter, along with some other goodies. Now, just because the case with Jacob has been 'dropped', doesn't mean that he's gone from Bella's life. He still wants a piece of that pie.
Nothing will stop him from getting that pie.
Chapter Twenty
Edward
With one more kiss, I helped her off the counter and we ate breakfast. Then, we tackled the turkey. Well, I did the heavy lifting while Bella dressed the turkey. It took the two of us an hour and a half to dress the turkey before putting it into the oven. "I'm going to shower," Bella said. "I smell like butter and sage and raw poultry. Not a good combination."
"When you're done, I'll do the same. I'm going to call my parents and wish them a Happy Thanksgiving," I said.
Bella kissed me and walked toward the stairs. She stopped, looking back at me. "I love you, Edward. And, I know that you love me and that you'd never hurt me. Not like how Jacob did. I may not be ready for everything, but I want to try. Rose said that making love with someone who loves you can be magic." She wiped her cheeks and smiled at me. "I want magic."
Before I could respond, she turned on her heel and walked up the stairs.
Magic?
I could work with that.
Bella
I said that I loved Edward. In my heart, I knew it was the right thing. He'd given me the safety, protection, and support that I needed, that I desired. He was patient and kind. He was smart and ambitious. He was funny and silly, reminding me to have fun, especially while we were decorating my new home.
Let me tell you about the paint fight we had and the laughter we shared as our skin was a lovely shade of red, specifically 'Heartthrob' by Sherwin Williams, from when we painted my office. He got me on my shirt and arm while I rollered his face. I was slightly scared that he'd go off on me, but after laughing when he saw a glimpse of himself in a mirror, he owned that red paint.
What mattered the most was that he was a friend, listening to me when I raged, at Jacob, at Billy or at my history. He was my boyfriend, making me feel like a woman and not like a smattering of broken, shattered pieces. He loved to kiss and cuddle me, reminding me that I was worthy of that, of affection. He was a father-figure to my son, loving him unconditionally. It was his unconditional love for my son that solidified what I felt for him.
He accepted my son.
He accepted me, bruises, and all. He loved me, unconditionally. He may not have said it before now, but his actions showed it.
Every day.
I loved Edward. He loved me.
I was worthy of his love and giving my love in return.
Walking upstairs, I picked out an outfit for later today. I had to do some more cooking, so I decided to wear a pair of leggings and hoodie until it got closer to the time when everyone else would arrive. I closed the door to the bathroom and stripped out of my pajamas. Normally, I would have hopped into the shower and tried to avoid looking at my bruised and battered body.
Today, however, I felt compelled to take an inventory of myself.
I stood in front of the mirror. I was still too thin, but when I was stressed out, I never ate. That had stemmed from when my dad was sick. I was more focused on his health and ensure he got what he needed, not thinking of myself. It got a lot worse when I left Forks and my income wasn't steady. Seth was my priority. I'd rather he have food and I could starve, for all I cared.
Continuing my physical assessment, I wrinkled my nose at my complexion. I was pale, too pale. My skin was practically translucent against my dark brown hair. My eyes tracked down my body and I wrinkled my nose. My breasts were too small, thanks to malnutrition and breast feeding my son. I also had numerous scars on them from Jacob's teeth, cigarettes, and deep scratches. I also had the gnarly scar from being stabbed just underneath my breast. Littered along my torso, I had more cigarette burns, scars from being whipped, and other various reminders of Jacob and Billy's cruelty.
My hands moved down my stomach and I frowned, seeing the scar from my C-section. Because of Billy and Jacob not providing me medical care, I lost the ability of having more children. I mean, I could have kids via a surrogate. I still had my ovaries, but it wasn't the same. It wasn't watching your body grow and protect a baby. You couldn't feel the baby kick with a surrogate. They wouldn't know your voice, your heartbeat, your body.
Why was I thinking about that? It's not like I would ever have another child.
"Bella?" Edward asked, knocking on the door. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," I replied, clearing my head of my negative thoughts. "Sorry. I'll be out in ten minutes."
"No rush, gorgeous. Seth just woke up and he wanted to go for a run. I'm going with him, okay? With all that's happening, I think he shouldn't be alone," Edward explained.
"Right, right," I nodded. "Be safe."
"I will, Bella. Oh, and Bella?" he cooed. "I love you."
I melted, looking at the door. "I love you, too." I heard him sigh happily and it made my heart twist. Not a nervous, anxious twist, but an all-consuming, love twist. Shaking my head, I got in the shower. I washed my body, buffing and shaving everything that needed to be shaved. Wrapping a large towel around my body, I slathered on some lotion. Dressing in my clothes, I put some gel in my hair and allowed it to curl naturally.
Walking down the stairs, I checked on the turkey. I basted it and pulled out my computer. I figured I could use the quiet time to work on the first novel of a new series. By the time Edward and Seth came back, with sweaty faces, pink noses, and bright smiles, I had banged out two chapters. "Is it cold outside?"
"Colder than I'm used to," Edward chuckled. "But, brisk and it woke me up!"
"I'm going to shower," Seth said. "Thanks for running with me, Edward."
"No problem, Seth. You're keeping me on my toes," Edward smiled, tossing him a bottle of water. "Let me know if you want to go running again?"
"Sure thing," Seth nodded. He kissed my cheek. "Smells good in here, Mom. Thank you."
"The turkey smells delicious. You, however, do not," I snickered.
"I know, I know," Seth said, darting up to his room.
"I'm pretty ripe, too," Edward sighed, tugging off his baseball hat and running his fingers through his sweaty hair. "I just need something to eat. I grabbed an apple, and it did little to sustain me while we ran three miles. Your kid is part gazelle."
"I can make breakfast for you and my gazelle-like son," I quipped. "For now, have a string cheese and some orange juice." He shakily took what I offered, and he devoured the string cheese and drank two glasses of juice. "Better?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "I'm going to shower." He kissed my cheek. "Thank you for taking care of me, love."
"Go. Shower. You smell worse than my kid," I quipped. "I'll make omelets. Any requests?"
"Whatever is easiest, love," Edward answered, pressing a kiss to my mouth before going upstairs.
I closed my laptop and pulled out eggs, bacon, cheese, and some tater tots that I could use for hash browns. By the time that both of my boys were clean and smelling like cologne, I was nearly done with breakfast. "Mom, this smells so good. I could eat three omelets," Seth said, sitting down at the kitchen table.
"Well, you're getting one, bud," I said, putting his breakfast in front of him.
"Sit, love," Edward chided. "I've got this. You're going to be doing a lot more cooking before the day is over."
Over breakfast, Seth prattled on about rehearsals for the musical. We also talked about driving out to Oakland to visit our new puppy, who was nearly ready for pick up. We'd decided on a name. Seth suggested Walker because the dog had one blue eye, like a White Walker from Game of Thrones but I loved the name Bear. From the videos that Moira, Jasper's ex-wife, had sent us, he galumphed around like a bear. He was also pretty big for an Australian Shepherd, looking like a bear. So, Bear won.
We'd met him and he was really hyper, but super protective which was what he was born to do. He like to play with Seth, but he was protective of me, sitting at my feet and snuggling close.
Before Edward had to fly back to Los Angeles next Tuesday, we were picking up Bear. On Black Friday, while Rosalie would be dragging her husband at the butt-crack of dawn to every shop in the bay area, Edward and I were driving to Oakland to pick up the dog. I was excited, but freaking out in the same respect. I'd never had a pet.
"Mom, your cell phone is ringing," Seth said.
"Sorry," I replied, shaking my head. "Just thinking about Bear."
"I cannot wait to get him, Mom," Seth sang, stuffing his mouth.
"Dude, if I wanted seafood, I would have gone to the marina," Edward teased. "Chew, swallow and then speak, Seth."
"Sorry, Edward," Seth snickered, his mouth still full but his hand concealing my kid's meal.
I picked up my phone, seeing Rose's number. "Hey, Rosalie. You're not backing out of Thanksgiving, are you?"
"Of course not," she said. "I just need help with the stuffing. I have everything, but Emmett complained that my stuffing is too dry."
"Bring over what you have, and we can make it together," I snickered. "When are you coming?"
"In about an hour?" she answered. "I've got the potato casserole ready to go along with the asparagus. I'm roasting that and it's probably better if I do it at your place."
"I've got a convection oven where you can do the asparagus. What's your brother bringing?" I asked.
"Alcohol, wine, bread, and appetizers. His new girlfriend, Maria, is putting together a charcuterie board," Rosalie giggled.
"So, an adult Lunchable. Cool," I snickered.
"I know, right?" Rosalie sighed. "I'm trying to have an open mind."
"It could be good," I said. "At one of my signings, there was a delicious charcuterie board with brie, honey and some crusty bread."
"Okay, okay. I'll see you soon, Bells," Rosalie sang, ending the call.
"Seth, can you make sure that there's firewood for the fire pit," I said. "Also, games for the kids, too."
"Sure, Mom. Breakfast was great," Seth said, giving me a sloppy kiss to my cheek as he darted to the family room.
Edward and I finished our breakfast, and he did the dishes. As he did that, I began setting the dining room table for dinner. The décor was pretty modern, but still pretty. Edward had found a lovely centerpiece that was understated, but so pretty. Edward added some tealight candles on the table and lit some other candles in my home. It made the house smell like a combination of warm apple pie and a pumpkin cinnamon roll.
Rose arrived with Emmett and their children, dressed adorably in a sweater dress and pair of leggings. Emmett was in a pair of jeans and button-down. He hugged me before heading to the family room. He grabbed Edward, dragging him away. Rose and I worked seamlessly in the kitchen as I handled the turkey and the stuffing. I darted upstairs to change into my outfit, a lightweight tunic with a pair of leggings.
Jasper arrived with Maria and the Jenks' family, much to my surprise. I had enough food, but I wasn't expecting Jason and his wife, Cassandra. Cassandra stayed and helped us in the kitchen, opening a bottle of wine. Cassandra brought over sweet potato casserole and some pumpkin slices.
As we were putting in some of the casseroles, my phone rang. It was the gate house informed me that Caius was requesting entrance. I told the security officer to let him in. I was wringing my hands. Rose stopped my movements, with a warm smile. "I'll go get Edward," she murmured.
I nodded. She darted to the family room and most everyone came upstairs. Edward came into the kitchen. "You okay, love?"
"I'm fine. Just nervous," I said. "I mean … Caius is … You'll like him."
"He respects you. He's fighting for you. Of course, I'll like him," Edward murmured, kissing me gently. "I love you, gorgeous. Nothing will change that."
I slid my arms around his waist, snuggling against his arms. The doorbell rang and Jasper announced he'd get it. I listened to Edward's steady, heavy heartbeat. Caius's voice filled the foyer and I moved closer to Edward. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath before stepping away from Edward. "Come on."
Caius was chatting with Emmett and Rosalie. My attorney was wearing a pair of khakis and a sweater with a pair of thick-framed glasses on his face. He held a beautiful bouquet along with a bottle of wine and a casserole dish. "Bella," Caius grinned. "For you."
"You didn't need to bring anything," I said, taking the bouquet while Edward took the casserole dish and wine. "But, these are beautiful."
"I also brought wine and one of my Nonna's favorite sides for Thanksgiving. I'm as Italian as can be, so I have roasted peppers, potatoes and onions," he chuckled.
"That sound absolutely delicious," Edward said. "Edward Cullen. I've heard nothing but amazing things about you from Bella and Jasper."
"I'm a huge fan," Caius chuckled, shaking Edward's hand. "I loved your latest movie and I'm eager to see what you do with Bella's novel."
"Hmmmm, me too," I said. "Come in and make yourself comfortable." Caius grinned, walking inside and sitting down in the living room. I went to go into the kitchen, but Rose pushed me into the living room. She proclaimed that she'd call me if she needed me, but I should relax. I opened my mouth to argue, but both Edward and Jasper dragged me away. Edward sat down and pulled me into his lap. "Edward …"
"Thanksgiving is time to spend with your friends, your family. It's not your job to hide in the kitchen," Edward murmured, kissing my temple. "Sit with me, baby."
"But …" I whispered.
"The meal will be put onto the table," Jasper smirked. "Relax, Bells. I know it's in your nature to mother everyone, but let us carry the load."
"I'm going to see if Aunt Rose needs my help," Seth said, giving me a grin. Pointing to me with a mock glare, he commanded, "Mom, you stay."
"Ugh, fine," I grumbled.
"So, is anyone braving the Black Friday shopping tomorrow?" Maria asked.
"Ugh, me," Emmett grumbled. "I love my wife, but she's dragging me all over the damn city to find the best damn deals for presents."
"You may hate it, but you love spending time with your wife," I quipped.
"Oh, no. He hates it," Jasper snickered. "I usually get a call around four in the morning from him, begging me to go with my sister. I had to deal with that with our parents when I was a kid. As soon as I moved out, I vowed to never go shopping on Black Friday. Cyber Monday is where it's at."
"I agree with you," Edward nodded. "I also hate shopping. Period."
"The only shopping I enjoy is grocery shopping," Caius shrugged. "I'm Italian and food is love. I just hate shopping and cooking for just me."
Maria opened her mouth, but Jasper shook his head.
"Well, you're always welcome to cook for any of us," I smiled. "I've got a persnickety almost-teenager who would usually only eats tater tots, mac and cheese and hamburgers."
"I like more than that!" Seth bellowed from the kitchen. "I just tried an asparagus."
"And?" I asked.
"It's okay," he said, smirking. "It doesn't suck."
"Language," Rose and I chided. Seth blushed and rolled his eyes. Rose came out from the kitchen, dragging him back inside. "Come help chop veggies for the salad, my little minion."
"Little? I'm almost as tall as you, Aunt Rose," Seth laughed.
"Shut it, brat," Rose giggled.
"We're also going out on Black Friday. I want an air fryer and an instant pot. Mr. Cheapskate doesn't want to pay full price," Cassandra sighed, looking at her husband.
"I'm not a cheapskate. I'm frugal," Jason explained, arching a brow at his wife. She just laughed, kissing his lips.
"What about you? Are you all facing the crowds?" Maria asked.
"No. We're picking up a new dog," I answered. "We had the dog trained and my fur child is ready for pick up tomorrow."
"What kind of dog?" Caius asked.
"An Australian shepherd," I smiled. I took out my phone, finding the picture that Jasper sent me with Edward holding Bear as a tiny puppy. "This is Bear."
"Oh, he's cute," Caius gushed. "A little small for a guard dog."
"He's bigger now," Edward nodded. "About seventy pounds. He's the alpha of the litter."
"Yeah, he's big. We need to pick up all of his doggie stuff along with the dog," I explained.
"Well, he's very cute," Maria cooed.
"Bells, the turkey's almost done. We need to put in these casseroles. How do I work this convection oven?" Rose called from the kitchen.
"Excuse me," I said, taking my phone back and handing it to Edward. Working with Rose, we got the meal ready and a half hour later, everyone was at the dining room table. The turkey was on a platter, already cut. Caius heard Rose and me bickering on how to cut the turkey and he stepped in. Despite being an attorney, he cut the turkey with a surgeon's precision.
I sat down at the last seat at the table. The head of the table … Edward was to my right and Seth was on my left. Edward took my hand, giving me a gentle smile. "I can't remember the last time I really sat down with family on a holiday," I whispered. "I mean, I've celebrated holidays with Rose, Emmett, and Jasper with their family, but …"
"Our family isn't very touchy feely," Rose snickered. "My mother has all the warmth of an ice cube and Emmett's family …"
"My dad is a drunk because my mom has dementia," Emmett shrugged. "So, we were all about creating our own family."
"Well, we like to share what we're thankful for on Thanksgiving," Edward said. "Usually, we do that during the meal, but this year is obviously different."
"You must miss your family," Jason murmured, looking at Edward.
"I miss my parents, but I had a falling out with my sister," Edward answered with a crooked grin. "It will be some time before I will speak to her, but I spoke with my parents after I went for a run. They ordered a quiet meal and will probably spend the day drinking a ton of wine."
"I like the idea of sharing what we're thankful for," I said.
"Can we do that after we fill our plates?" Emmett wheedled, looking at the table of food.
"You are a walking stomach," Rose snorted, smacking Emmett's shoulder. "I'm sorry. He was raised by bears."
We made our plates and while we dug into our meal, we went around the table, sharing what we were most thankful for. We started with the youngest at the table, moving to the oldest. The kids said the silliest things that they were thankful for. However, my son, who had so little when he was younger, really shattered my heart when he shared.
"I'm thankful for my mom," Seth said. "She's so strong and I love her so much."
"I love you, baby," I whispered, cupping Seth's cheek. He leaned forward, kissing my cheek.
"I'm also thankful for this new house," Seth smirked. "I really like having a backyard and a fire pit. Are we going to light it up tonight?"
"After we eat dinner, kiddo," I snickered.
Dinner was delicious. I'd never seen so much food on one table outside of a restaurant. I spent most of the meal just staring at my new, adoptive family. When it came time for me to share what I was thankful for, I said that I was thankful for them and thankful for their support, and love.
"You okay, Bella?" Edward asked. "You seem lost."
"Not lost, just pensive," I answered. "I never had this and I …" A few tears fell down my cheeks. "Excuse me." I got up and wandered to the back of the house. I slipped out into the backyard. I shivered as I sat down on the chair. I curled up, trying to use the calming technique that Caius had helped me through a month ago. The back door opened. "Edward, I'm fine."
"It's not Edward," Caius chuckled.
"Sorry, Caius," I sniffled, wiping my cheeks.
"Here, sweetie," he said, handing me a handkerchief. I muttered my thanks, dabbing at my eyes. "You managed longer than I expected."
"I'm a mess," I groaned. "I never had this. My dad usually worked on Thanksgiving. I'd spend time with him at the police station or all by myself. When I thought I had a family, I was a freaking slave in my own home. Hell, it wasn't my home. I slept on a couch, in squalor. This? It seems like it's a dream."
"Bella, this is the first Thanksgiving that I didn't spend drunk off my ass," Caius murmured, squeezing my hand. "Thanksgiving is to celebrate family and what you're thankful for. Up until a month ago, I didn't have much to thankful for …" He smiled at me. "Bella, I was hesitant to come today because there should be a line between attorney and client. You are more than a client to me. You're a friend and you've accepted me into your family. All those people? They love you so much. Blood doesn't make family. What you have with those people? That's family."
"You're my family, too," I whispered. I turned to him, throwing my arms around his neck, and hugging him tightly. "You remind me so much of my dad, Caius. You're so good. You didn't deserve what happened to you, just like my dad didn't deserve to die of cancer."
He returned my embrace, cupping my head. "Your father would be so proud of you, Bella," Caius breathed. "So proud."
I closed my eyes and let a few more tears streak down my cheeks. "Thank you for being here, Caius. You are a part of our weird adoptive family. You've been claimed and will be loved for the rest of your life."
"I'll take it," he laughed, kissing the crown of my head. "Come on. It's cold outside and your son is worried about you. He's pretty much going to sit on you to make sure you don't do the dishes. Your boyfriend will handle the cleanup."
"He's the only one who knows where all the dishes go," I snickered. "He helped me set up the kitchen." I wiped my cheeks, turning to go inside.
"One more thing," Caius said, taking my hand. "I know that I remind you of your father, but I'm not your father. I want to say … Edward is an amazing person and he's clear how much he loves you. Cherish that, sweetheart."
"Every moment of every day," I smiled.
"And if he hurts you, I'll kick his ass," Caius growled with an amused grin.
"He's probably thinking the same thing about you," I quipped as we walked inside.
"Perhaps, I'll help him with the dishes so I can get to know him better," Caius nodded. "Go. Relax. You did a lot for dinner. You deserve to kick your feet up."
The rest of the night was tear-free and actually a lot of fun. We ended up playing a version of Pictionary. The girls played against the guys. Unfortunately, we had zero artistic abilities and were really bad at guessing. The guys creamed us. Edward and Jasper were actually good at drawing, much to my surprise.
People started to leave around nine. Rose and Emmett left with their kids first since they had to get up at the ass-crack of dawn for Black Friday shopping. Caius left next with Jason and Cassandra. I gave my attorney … no, my friend … the biggest hug. It felt familiar, comfortable, and safe. "Call me if you need to talk," Caius murmured. "And, thank you for making me feel like family."
"You are family," I murmured, kissing his cheek. "Same goes for you."
"You got it, sweetheart," Caius nodded. "Edward, it was a pleasure to meet you."
"You, too," Edward smiled, shaking Caius's hand. "Drive safe."
"He will," Cassandra smirked. "I'm driving his car home since he's a bit tipsy."
"Not tipsy, but I'd rather err on the side of the caution," Caius snickered. "So, Cassandra is driving me home and Jason is following us." He kissed my cheek, following Jason and Cassandra out to their cars.
Jasper and Maria stayed for another hour, but they left when Maria started nodding off. She was beyond tipsy, well on her way to completely drunk. She also tried to suck of Jasper's face. He had to pry her off his body on more than one occasion when his nieces and nephews were watching.
Suffice it to say, Maria might not last long. She was a nice enough girl, but there are boundaries you don't cross when there were kids involved. Even if they aren't your kids. Edward had always been respectful of my son. He never crossed a line, usually holding my hand or giving me a hug. The most he'd done was a kiss, even if it was all too fleeting.
"Mom, I'm going to bed. I'm so full," Seth groaned, rubbing his belly. "Good night. I love you."
"I love you, too, baby," I said, hugging my son. "I don't know what time we're leaving to pick up Bear. Uncle Jasper said he'd call us."
"Cool," Seth yawned. "Night, Edward. Do you want to run tomorrow?"
"I should since I ate half of the turkey and most of the sides, but we'll see," he chuckled. "I'm like you … tired."
"Kay," Seth nodded, walking up the stairs and closing his bedroom door.
"You're more than tired, aren't you?" I asked.
"I'm drunk," he snorted, drinking some water. "I don't normally drink wine and I think I polished off an entire bottle of Pinot Grigio."
"You're not slurring," I snickered.
"Water," he retorted, putting his empty glass in the sink. "And the massive amount of carbs I have in my belly." His arms slid around my waist, and he kissed my neck. "I want to snuggle with you, love. Just because I'm ginned doesn't mean I forgot your puffy eyes and tear-stained cheeks. Today was tough for you?"
"Not in a way that you would expect. I just never had this. It was me and my dad until I was seventeen. I spent Thanksgiving when I was eighteen in the hospital because he had some sort of infection," I shrugged. "So, it just hit me that this is my family now. You're my family now."
"You won't be alone. Ever again, Bella," Edward murmured, kissing me. "Now, let's go to bed. I want to hold you all night. I love you, so fucking much." He tightened his arms around my body.
"I love you, too," I sighed. "But, my bed is calling."
"Damn straight," he growled.
xx Blockbuster xx
The next morning was lazy. The only thing we accomplished was making breakfast, which was mainly leftovers. Edward and I were curled up on the couch, watching television while Seth was working on some homework. As he was working on a science worksheet, he looked up at me. "Are we going to decorate for Christmas?" Seth asked.
"Probably, but we lost all of our holiday decorations when the apartment was broken into," I frowned. "We'd need to start from scratch."
"Today, we're supposed to pick up your dog. Tomorrow, we can get decorations," Edward suggested. "I can help put them up before I fly back on Tuesday."
"Can't you stay, Edward?" Seth asked. "I really like having you around."
"Trust me, buddy, I want to stay. I love being here with you and your mom," Edward murmured. "I have meetings I have to deal with that I cannot get out of. I did as much as I could, but my assistant director and casting directors, we need to talk face to face. I also want to see my parents. But, if you need me, I'm a phone call away and I can fly up, too." He sat up and yawned. "I talked to Emmett yesterday, and he said that they're going to visit Rose and Jasper's family for the holidays. It was demanded. Maybe, you, your mom and your dog can come down for Christmas."
"Can we, Mom?" Seth pleaded.
"Let me think about it and talk to Edward before making any decisions," I said, shooting Edward a scowl. He just grinned crookedly. My phone rang. I slid my finger across the screen. "Hello?"
"Hey, Bells. It's Jasper. You guys ready to pick up your pooch?" he asked.
"Yeah," I sighed. "Are you coming here?"
"I'm getting in the car. I've called Moira and Annika and they're ready with Bear," Jasper replied excitedly. "See you in a little bit, sweet girl."
I hung up, looking at Edward. "Jasper's on his way for us to pick up the dog."
"Awesome," Seth said. "I'm going to get my shoes on." He closed his folder and darted up the stairs.
"Visiting Los Angeles?" I asked, arching a brow at my boyfriend. I slipped on a pair of socks before putting my feet into my sneakers.
"I don't want you here by yourself, Bella," Edward said, pulling me into his lap. "If Emmett, Jasper and Rose are going to visit their ice cube parents, you'd be here on your own. What if Jacob decides to turn into an assface and …?"
"Okay, okay," I said, caressing his scruffy face. "You win. It'll be interesting to be in Los Angeles during Christmas. Do they string up twinkle lights on palm trees?"
"No, but I'll make sure that I have a real tree for you," Edward smirked. "I'm going to get my shoes. Be right back." He kissed my neck, nipping at my earlobe before he got up off from the couch.
Jasper arrived a few moments later. He was holding a tray of coffees and a box of donuts. He walked inside, kissing my cheek. "You ready for this, sweet girl?" he asked.
"Slightly terrified," I snorted. "What if the dog hates me?"
"The dog won't hate you. Bear was so protective of you when you went to meet him for the first time," Jasper explained. "Here, drink some coffee and have a bear claw."
"Really, Jas?" I deadpanned as he handed me the massive donut. "I'm still full from last night."
"I got them because we're picking up Bear," he guffawed. "Bear claws … Bear, the dog? Get it?"
"That is such a dad joke," I snickered.
"I'm working with half a brain today," Jasper snorted. "Maria is a pretty girl and a brilliant author, but last night was a mistake. I spent too much time trying to keep her tongue out of my mouth. My nieces and nephews were scarred because of her. The tricky part is ending things with her while maintaining a professional relationship."
"I wouldn't say scarred, Uncle Jasper," Seth said, pulling on his jacket. "More like moderately disturbed. Are all girls like that?"
"No, Seth. Most girls are like your mom or Aunt Rose," Jasper explained. "They have class."
"Jasper," I sighed. "Really?"
"I'll shut up. But, when you start dating, find someone who's more like your mom," Jasper snickered. "Classy, kind, and smart." He checked his watch. "Are we ready?"
"Just waiting for Edward," I replied.
"I'm here! Are all taking one car?" Edward asked.
"No. I may not be a psycho like my sister, but I do want to get some good deals for my nieces and nephews. The Cyber Monday deals are not as good as the deals I saw online today," Jasper snickered. "Lily is asking for an iPad and Emmett wants to get some updated gaming system, so I'm looking for some new games for that system. I remember when all we wanted was a Cabbage Patch Kid or a Super Soaker. Now, it's all high-tech shit."
"I was happy with a new book or a warm blanket," Seth shrugged. "One time, Mom got me a used Gameboy. It lasted for a year, and I loved it. But, that was the same year we stayed in one place, and we were able to get a library card. That was golden."
Edward slid his arm around Seth's shoulder. "A library card is one of the best things ever. You have access to the world with that card."
Tears welled in my eyes. Seth rarely spoke about our lives before we lived in San Francisco. We had so little, but we made the most of what we did have. "I'm going to wait in the car," Seth murmured, heading down to the garage.
"I feel like the world's biggest douche," Jasper growled, scrubbing his face. "I know that you guys had next to nothing, but hearing Seth talk about it? Fuck … Now, I want to buy him all the things."
"Don't, Jasper," Edward cut in. "We'll follow you to Moira's. Give us a minute."
"Okay," Jasper grumbled. "There's coffee and bear claws." He kissed my cheek. "I'm sorry, Bells."
Jasper left and Edward stepped in front of me. "You okay?"
"I'm fine. I'll be fine. I tried to make it up to Seth for what he didn't have," I explained. "But, hearing that getting a book or a warm blanket was a great Christmas shatters my heart a little more."
"Did Seth ever question your love for him?" Edward asked.
"No. I always told him that I loved him. He was my world. He still is," I answered. "I just hate that he was so …"
"You loved him. You will always love him. He adores you. He treasured what you were able to give him. Focus on that, love," Edward encouraged. "When he had access to a library? That was a good memory for Seth. Now, let's make another good memory … picking up your fur baby."
I nodded, picking up my coat and my purse. Edward helped me into my coat. I pressed my keys into his hand. He gently brushed his lips over mine. We went down to the garage, getting into the car. Edward backed out and we followed Jasper to Oakland. Holiday music was playing on the radio.
About forty minutes later, we pulled up to a gorgeous Victorian home. "It looks like a gingerbread house," I smiled. "So pretty."
"It is pretty, but not as pretty as you," Edward grinned, picking up my hand and kissing my palm.
"He's right, Mom," Seth offered. "You are really pretty."
"Both of you are charmers," I smiled. "I love you both so very much."
"Love you, too, Mom," Seth said with a goofy grin. "Now, I want to get our dog." He hopped out of the car, walking to the backyard with Jasper.
"Come on, gorgeous," Edward said. "Your fur baby awaits."
We got out of the car, following the same path that my son used. Walking past the house, we saw the veterinary clinic in their backyard. Moira was standing outside, holding Bear's leash. The dog shot up, his butt wriggling since he didn't have much of a tail. However, Moira gave him a command and he sat back down. I walked over to Moira with a smile. "It's nice to see you," I said. "I can't believe how big he's gotten." I crouched down, petting Bear's ears. "Hey, Bear. You are such a good boy." He gave me a doggy grin, holding up his right paw. I giggled as I shook it. Bear licked my cheek. "Okay, he's really smart."
"He is," Moira said, handing me the leash. "Come inside. We need to go over all the commands and then we'll load you up with the goodies we have for you and Bear."
I walked with my dog into the clinic, to a large pen. Annika, Moira's wife, handed my son a piece of paper. "These are the commands for Bear. There a few that are quite obvious. However, the ones that are important are the ones at the bottom. These will turn this loveable little bundle of squirm into an attack dog. We have a friend who is willing to take the brunt of Bear's attack for a demonstration. Jasper, are you ready?"
My friend walked out, wearing a thick body suit and helmet. "The shit I do for you, sweet girl. I'm going to be maimed by Bear. I would like to father children someday."
"Got it," I said.
"Try this one first," Annika explained, pointing to a command on the paper. She unhooked Bear's leash and I said the command. Bear took off, a snarl ripping through his throat. Jasper whimpered, holding his arm up and Bear clamped down.
"Holy crap!" Seth squeaked.
"You okay, Jasper?" Edward asked.
"The dog is possessed!" Jasper wailed, trying to shake him off. "But, in an attack, that's a good thing."
"Bear won't let go until you say this," Annika said. I nodded, commanding Bear to calm down. The dog stopped, keeping a protective stance in front of Jasper. "To bring him back and calm him down, say this."
After I called Bear back, he sat down at my feet, panting. He looked back up at me, his tongue lolling out of his face. "It's like a switch," I whispered, crouching down and petting Bear's head.
"It is a switch. Bear is a sweet dog, but he'll turn into a monster if you say any of these commands at the bottom," Annika explained. "Jasper, you can go change."
"Thank you," Jasper breathed, darting out of the large room and into the clinic.
"Come on, we'll finish up in the clinic," Moira said, clipping the leash to Bear's collar. She handed the leash to me. We followed Moira into a conference room. There were a whole bunch of dog goodies. "This is for you and Bear. He'll need to come back in a few months for some boosters for his immunizations."
"Seth, let's load the stuff up in the back of the SUV," Edward said as Jasper walked into the conference room. "Jasper, you come, too. I'm certain you're a little afraid of Bear, hmmm?"
"Uh, yeah," Jasper nodded, picking up a large bag of dog food. "He was so cute when he was puppy."
"He's still cute," I giggled.
"He's cute with a mouthful of jagged teeth," Jasper grumbled, practically sprinting out of the room.
"You're such a drama queen, Uncle Jasper," Seth quipped.
The three of them left the conference room. Once the door closed, I looked at Moira and Annika. "Will Bear attack Jasper like that from now on?" I asked.
"No, he won't," Annika explained. "The only time he'll attack without being commanded is if you or your son are in direct danger. He's obviously very protective of you."
"Which is a good thing," Moira smiled, handing me a file folder. "These are all the ownership papers and information about the breed. I also microchipped him. Here is the information about that. If you have any questions, please feel free to call anytime. The clinic number is on the card stapled to the folder."
"I think I'm good," I answered. "Thank you, Moira and Annika, for training him and everything."
"It's our pleasure," Annika replied, hugging me. "Bring him by any time!"
With some more hugs and promises that we'd send pictures to Moira and Annika, we left the clinic. Jasper went to pet Bear, and he licked my friend, which made him snicker. Apparently, there were no hard feelings between them.
The rest of the holiday weekend went by too quickly. On Saturday, Edward and I got Christmas decorations and we put them up. Once the tree was up, Bear got comfortable under the tree. I took pictures and sent them to Moira and Annika, who asked if they could print out of the photo to put on their website. I eagerly agreed.
Bear was really cute under the tree like a present.
Bear was definitely my dog. He followed me like a spotted shadow. The only time he wasn't with me was at bedtime. He had a crate that held his bed. The crate was in the kitchen. Bear went into the crate, but his sad, puppy eyes said that he wanted to be in bed with me.
Edward left on Tuesday, after Seth went to school. His eyes were so sad, and I knew he wanted to stay. Unfortunately, the meetings he needed to have had to be done face-to-face. With a sweet kiss at the airport, he left. However, his departure didn't feel like I was ripping my heart out from my chest. Waiting back at home, Bear's ass wriggled excitedly, and he gave me puppy kisses.
That night, when I went to bed, I encouraged Bear to join me. He was all too eager to curl up on Edward's side of the bed. It wasn't the same as snuggling up to Edward, but I didn't feel so alone.
Or afraid.
A/N: You all still with me? A picture of Bear, along with Moira, Annika and their lovely home are on my blog. I also have pictures from Thanksgiving and some of the Christmas décor, as well.
Anyhow, up next will be Christmas and meeting Carlisle and Esme. We're also going to have some citrusy moments. Not a full glass of lemonade, but just enough to quench your thirst.
Leave me your thoughts and thanks for reading! See you on the flippity flip!