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CMF

CULLEN-MASEN FAMILY

Chapter 7

The date was wonderful, and I can hardly wait to see him again. I know Edward say's he is pretty much just into real estate owning quite a few businesses, but I just get a feeling there is a lot more to Edward than he is telling me. I tried googling him, but it only states his real estate holdings, and not much else. Now, when I search for information on his family in general quite a bit of interesting things come to light.

It seems there are interesting facts about his grand father, and his father. I have heard of the Cullen-Masen linked to the mafia, but I attributed it to just people talking. They were trying to account for their massive wealth, and it all came from illegal doings. I just can not fathom Edward being involved in such doings'. I guess I'll just have to wait, and see. Would it change things if there becomes more to us...I don't know. I really do like Edward...I'll just have to wait, and see.

I'm headed down to my studio, and see if I can get some work done. I have quite a few paintings I need to get done.

As I walk through my studio I'm trying to decide which one to start on. I got Seth to pull one of the bigger canvases, and hang it. I'm not sure who's this one will be...I'm just going to paint. I start with a new palette, a lot of base paints, broad, and rather narrow brushes. Something already coming to mind...I make a black outline for a big tree being the focal point.

I think it's turning into the tree in my dreams. A big purple tree, with huge roots branching off. In my dreams all my dogs are waiting for me. I think this is just going to be the tree. I walk off for a bottle of cold water, and I turn on my music. This really centers me into my painting.

I walk back over to my canvas, picking up my palette, brushes, and go back to work.

I have no idea how long I've been at it, but my hips, and legs are stiff. I step back looking at my work, and...it looks good. I need to take a break, but I can see some places I really need to work on, and probably a few more hours, and I'd be done with this.

I walk back over to my frig pulling me out an orange juice. I find some cheese, crackers, and some rolled meats. I pull it all out, and just notice Cane is gone. I pick up my phone calling Angela finding out she came down, saw me working, and took Cane for a while. She took both of them out for a walk, and has them at her apartment.

I ask her to bring them down while I'm on break, as I want to see them. She comes through the door in the back of the studio, and my babies come running up to me. Cane just about ran all over Peaches. To cute!

I spend my break eating, feeding my babies, talking to Angela, and she notices my work. She can see I'm just about done with it, and knows I'll work on it until it's finished since I'm so close. She offers to take them upstairs, and just sleep in the other bedroom until I come up. I tell her to go ahead, making sure my chair is down here, and charged.

They take off upstairs, I clean up my mess, and go back to work. I end up spending about four more hours, and finally finish the painting. I grab another water, sitting down in front of my work just looking at it.

I drape a cloth over it, close up my paints, put my brushes in soak, climb in my chair, and head upstairs. I am very tired. I find everyone asleep when I come up. Angela didn't make it to bed; she fell asleep on the couch. I drag the throw on the back of the couch covering her up. I go into my bedroom, climbing out of my chair, plugging it up to charge, find my babies already in bed. I grab me some pajamas, and head to take a shower.

The water feels so good on my aching body. I'll pay for this tomorrow, but I'm glad I got some work done. I sit on the bench in the corner, and let the water run over my body. I need to remember to take something for pain before I climb in bed.

Finally climbing out of the shower, I dry off, run a comb through my hair, and attempt to halfway dry my hair. I reach in the cabinet for some pain pills, and then head off to bed. I climb in pulling the covers over me, and don't remember much else.

The next day I manage to climb out of bed around noon. I grab my braces, and work my way into the kitchen for some coffee. I find Angela in there just pouring me some. Thank God...nectar of the gods. I managed to take inventory of my body as I walked in here, and I'm not as sore as I thought I'd be. Good, might try to do some more work.

Angela fixes us some brunch, of omelets with mushrooms, onions, bell pepper, diced tomatoes, and cheese. Some bacon, with toast. It was wonderful. We sit enjoying our breakfast, and talk about a few things. I mention going back down to work some more, and she tells me I need to call Edward back. That he called right before I woke up.

I finish our brunch, pour some more coffee, and call Edward.

"Hello, Bella. Thank you for calling me back. I was calling to ask you out for a picnic lunch this Friday. I thought I'd take us to Myrtle Edward's Park, and you can even bring your dogs if you'd like. I'm just anxious to get to spend more time with you. Does this sound alright?"

I can't seem to do anything but sit smiling while he talks on. "Yes Edward, it sounds wonderful. Thank you for inviting my babies, too. I know they will enjoy it. They love that park."

"Alright then, I'll pick you up about eleven thirty Friday afternoon then. I can hardly wait to see you, Bella."

"I can't wait to see you either. See you Friday, Edward."

"See you, Bella. Thank you."

I went downstairs taking Peachs, and Cane going to do some work today...at least a few hours. Angela said she would order us a pizza later for dinner.

We got downstairs, and I pulled a grouping of three canvases. I was thinking of doing a split painting, and I had to hurry. I called Angela to come down, and help me. I had to hurry, and get ths down on canvas. She got down here, and we started pulling paints. I got my palette, and went to work. I was working on getting just the right shade of teal, a touch of grey, flesh...as if...yes, I was naming it...In Flight. I could see an archangel taking flight in my mind. I just had to get it down on canvas.

Angela knew how I work sometimes. It was a blind rush, just something that came to me kind of in a flash. Some of my best paintings came to me in this fashion.

I didn't work but about three hours, and it was done. I ended up doing only one canvas, but it was still huge. I tagged a post-it on the side..the name of it was...In Flight.

I was exhausted again. Angela helped me put everything away. I covered the painting, gathered my babies, cutting out lights, and we went upstairs for the night. For it to just be Sunday night I had made some amazing progress with my work.

I'm not sure what it was, but twice now I've been out with Edward, or talked to him on the phone. I have gotten two amazing paintings both times. Is he an inspiration...my muse?

Muse...a person or personified force who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist. (Oxford)

Could he be mine?

Angela was going downstairs to do some laundry, and I just needed to think. I poured myself a glass of red wine. I had bought a couple bottles of what we had the other night at dinner. It was very good.

I sat in the living room with my babies. I lit a fire as it was getting cool in the evenings. I got lost in thoughts about Edward. I was going to see if this 'muse' thing was...what, possible? I'd wait, and see especially after our picnic this coming Friday. I still got five more days to see what else spills out of this fountain.

A few hours later Angela comes down to inform me she is expecting them to be delivering our pizza in a matter of minutes. I go to get her money to pay, and she said it was her treat. Angela left in the elevator to wait for our delivery, and I fixed us both a small salad. I also poured some more wine for us both. I got a couple bowls for Peaches, and Cane as I would cut them both a piece of pizza up for their dinner.

She came back up, and we sat down to enjoy our dinner. It was very good, and what they say about Chicago having the best is so wrong. We have a place on Magnolia called Soprano's Pizzeria. They do delivery, and have quite an array of pizzas. They also have different pasta dishs, also.

We finish our dinner, cleaning things up. I pour us another glass of wine, and we go into the living room turning on the television. We surf for the weather, then turn into some news. Not much going on except the same depressing bunch of crap. To much going on in my own life to worry about the worlds.

We then look for some local news, and activities going on in Seattle. We had planned on going to Pike Place Market probably Wednesday weather permitting. I love to go shopping there. It is getting late, so we both decide to call it a night. Angela heads downstairs locking things up as she goes. She will take the elevator down to her floor, then lock it so no one can just come in.

I am definitely calling about the personal elevator for the back of the loft. It would be so much easier for the two of us during the day.

I go fix the bed for my babies, putting Peaches in the bed with me. Cane will either sleep in his bed beside me, or jump on the foot of the bed.

I grab my pajamas, and go take a quick shower. I come out, brush my teeth, plait my hair, turning out lights I go climb into bed with my babies. Another day tomorrow of God only knows what.

I wake to the sounds of booming thunder. I get up grabbing my braces, walking into the kitchen to see it is storming outside. It seems we have a late fall thunderstorm moved in over night. Lovely.

I go put on some coffee, and then head into the bedroom to get dressed. My babies do not like the storms, so I put on their jackets that sooth them when it storms, and thunders. I also got a blanket for them both, but just get Peaches. I get some leggings, a big sweater, and my boots. I don't plan on doing anything, but that can change at the drop of a hat.

Angela comes up, fixing us a light breakfast. She decides to put on a roast to make some vegetable beef soup later today, along with some corn muffins. Sounds good to me. I plan on going downstairs, and maybe work a little.

I grab my babies, and we head down. Once in my studio I turn on the fireplace, place Peaches on the couch, and Cane just follows me every where. Silly dog.

I go pulling the cloths off my paintings checking them. They are both dry, so I go to label them. The one I did the other night is named, In Flight. The other one kind of from my dreams is called, What Dreams May Come.

I go to the small kitchen area to make some tea. I come back with a glass of iced sweet tea, and sit looking at my work.

After a bit I look up, and Seth has joined me. He is standing there admiring my work. "When did you do these, Bella? They are magnificient."

I explain the bigger one took me all day to finish, but the other one only took one day with Angela's help. It was one of those 'just came to me' moments. He just stands there shaking his head. He goes to move them together a little further down, and ask what I want to pull for my next work. I ask him to pull another big canvas, and put up a grouping of three canvas together. Also, to hang a bunch of big ones; 40x30, some 24x16, and about four 60x 40.

After looking it over, I ask him to hang me a bunch more of the 24x16, and 40x 30's. I tell him I might have a muse, and there's a chance it might effect my work. He just stands there looking at me. "A...muse?" I just kind of shrug.

"We'll see. Now, can you move one of the really big canvases, or do you need help? I'd like to have it ready, as I got to do a big one for the airport, aquarium, probably one 80x100. That's the size I'm going with."

"I can do it myself if we still have those hand trucks. I can just lay a cloth down, and load it over to here. Do you want me to hang it here on the wall?"

"Hold on, let me try something. I might can get us some help," picking up my phone. I call Edward hoping he's at the warehouse, or possibly Emmett. "Hello. Bella? Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I just wondered if you, or Emmett was at the loft. I could sure use some help, if possible."

"Uummm, how about fifteen minutes, and we'll both be there. Is that alright?"

"Yes, thank you. I'll see you in a bit."

Angela sends the elevator down for them "So, who is this Edward, Bella? A friend?" Seth asks.

"Yes, also my new neighbor. He's having the warehouse across from me converted into an apartment. He's very nice."

"Hello, Bella," comes Edward, and Emmett across the studio.

"Be nice, Seth," I whisper to him.

"Hey, I'm glad you made it. It's still pretty awful out there. I didn't pull you from work, did I?" asking worriedly.

"No, we were not far from here. I'm glad I came. I need to check on the work they got done anyway. So, what can we do to help?"

"I'm sorry. This is Seth, an art student at Washington University. He comes, and helps me a lot. We just ran into a problem trying to hang one of the bigger canvases. I've got to still do the paintings for the airport, and other places."

"Ok, where is this canvas? Come on Emmett."

"Oh, here are some gloves so they don't get any oils from your skin. It effects the paints."

They both take the gloves, and turn to the canvas. "Uh, Bella this is kind of big. So, where do you want this hanged?" I point at the hooks near the ceiling. Edward, Emmett, and Seth raise it, and it slides right on the hooks.

"Alright, there you go. That's a mighty big canvas. I really want to see your work when you finish that, please."

"Can I offer ya'll some coffee, coke, water, anything?" I ask as I move to the small kitchen.

"No, we're fine, Bella. I'm glad I could...we could help. All you got to do is call, alright? I don't want you hurt," he say's as he runs his finger down my cheek. "Now, don't get so into your work that you forget about our date this Friday. Hopefully we'll have good weather for our picnic."

"Thank you both for your help. I remember Friday. I'll be waiting,"I say as I walk them to the elevator. "Thank you, Emmett." He just smiles, and nods at me.

"I'll see you Friday, Bella," as he leans in kissing my cheek right near my lips.

"Friday, for sure," I say as the elevator closes.

I walk back over to Angela, and Seth. "You do know he is the Boss...of the Seattle mafia. Well, pretty much the whole west coast, right?" Seth say's looking at me.

"How would you know this Seth?" almost angrily at him.

"Because my brother works for him. That's how I know," grabbing his jacket, and storming out.

Alright, another chapter, and this one was not going to wait. It just came pouring out. I hope ya'll enjoy it, and don't forget to check out the group page for lots of cool, and sexy pics.

Please let me know what ya'll think.

Thanks muches...