.

Chapter 124

Barbecue 1

Leah

All the phones in the house rang like a symphony orchestra. An orchestra that lay directly in my bed. I startled from sleep at the same time as Marcus and we hectically searched for our cell phones in front of the bed.

Hectically, so that the noise finally stopped. Terms like nocturnal disturbance of the peace or bodily harm came to my mind.

"YES!" I shouted through the receiver.

"Hello?" Marcus cursed into his phone. "You can really count on your family!" grumbled Marcus a moment later and let himself with the back fall on the bed again.

He had had Alice on the phone and I Carlisle.

"Jake and Becky got such a nice wake up call too!" I told him about what I had heard from next door.

I let myself down on his belly, yawning, and immediately one of his hands tickled the back of my neck.

"Then your mother and David must have gotten the same discreet wake-up call, too," Marcus mumbled.

"Mhm ... mhm ... Certai ..." I mumbled.

I would have gone right back to sleep if my bedroom door hadn't blown open.

Jake was in a very unhealthy mood.

Unhealthy for HIM!

He literally threw us out of bed with such a chipper mood that just begged someone to slap him against the wall.

His luck that I was simply still too tired for that.

With difficulty we dragged ourselves out of bed and put on some clothes.

Yawning, I knocked on Mom's door. I heard nothing and peeked into her bedroom.

Empty.

If it weren't so early, I would certainly have thought about it for a moment, instead I shuffled downstairs.

I stood indecisively in front of the coffee machine. I tried to remember the operation of the device. It lasted a moment during which I yawned heartily.

I hadn't made coffee for almost three months. Neither me, nor Mom, nor Jake. Hadn't I lost some bet that should have forced me to make coffee? Too early to remember that.

Finally, we stood in the kitchen with the cups and hot coffee, which actually tasted better otherwise, and waited for things to come.

Becky was at least as tired as we were, only Jake was jittering around impatiently.

"Can you do something with your boyfriend!" I urged Becky.

She took a big sip from her cup, walked up to him and hugged him.

A gesture more from being tired than affectionate. Who gives a shit? It helped. Jake was immobilized!

It wasn't long before the rest of the barbecue company came through the front door.

Except David and Mom were all in pajamas, but with thick jackets and boots.

My God! They were all in a good mood! This was not bearable at ... sigh ... 2:18 clock!

The four kids were all so excited. Sonya was a little pale, but she was smiling gleefully. David and Mom immediately grabbed coffee and we transferred the company outside.

The cold helped with the final awakening.

David opened the Pulled Pork event by lighting the first coal.

I chuckled as he placed the pieces of meat on the grate and provided them with meat thermometers.

So gently, as if it was at least about Sonya.

The coals glowing, David put them in the grill and pushed the embers to the sides.

"Indirect heat only," he explained.

Every three hours we would now have to light new coals, for which David set a timer on his cell phone. He also got the readings from the three thermometers on his cell phone via an app so that he could keep an eye on them at all times. He also had another one that measured the internal temperature of the grill. The art of Pulled Pork on a charcoal grill was to maintain a constant two hundred and twelve to two hundred and thirty degrees, for which the grill had various possibilities of ventilation through which the heat could be regulated.

Marcus listened intently to David's words, as if he were trying to teach him the wisdom of life.

"Now then! In fifteen to twenty hours we will eat!" David solemnly declared and closed the lid of the grill.

"And what are we going to do until then?" asked Deacon enthusiastically.

"Definitely not staying out here!" David pushed his children back into the warmth again.

We spread out on the sofa and Sonya and David told us about their very first barbecue night. They were still without children at that time and on a simple grill, which, as he admitted, was not to blame for the complete failure.

By now I knew exactly what I had taken on this early morning hour for. And that it would be worth it!

Notwithstanding, we all fell asleep again, too. I closely snuggled up to Marcus, with Becky's leg hanging over mine.

That's how David's cell phone woke us up.

This time I felt considerably more balanced. New coal.

Sonya and Mom went to the kitchen and started preparing the coleslaw. This wasn't particularly time-consuming in principle, but it would have to sit in the refrigerator until tonight.

We helped as far as the number of people was not rather in the way.

Marcus, on the other hand, was concerned. The meat had already reached a core temperature of over one hundred and twenty-three degrees in the first three hours.

David reassured him. This was normal and soon the first so-called plateau phase would come, in which the temperature would remain constant for several hours. We would just have to stay calm. Again and again he went to the grill and adjusted the vents.

"Early morning exercise?" Jake asked afterwards to the large crowd.

Everyone agreed. No one was decidedly tired, although it was still pretty darn early. The Mitchell family took a brief leave to change clothes and wash up at least.

Jake and I took this opportunity to make a patrol as wolves. We hurried so that we were back in time.

It was fun to walk together with everyone then. Jake and I walked next to Sonya and Mom. Just in case. Sonya walked leisurely because of her circumstances. Mom went slowly to minimize the risk of tripping. She didn't succeed very well. A few times I held her, but I became puzzled.

"Was Dad there last night?" I asked Jake quietly so Mom and Sonya wouldn't hear me. I didn't want to spring this on Mom in case I was wrong.

"Certainly not. Why?"

"Mom smells a little bit like him."

"Maybe she just put on one of his T-shirts," Jake said with a shrug, and I nodded.

That's probably what it was. After all, when Marcus wasn't around, I liked to wear his T-shirts. I chuckled at the thought of how Jake would look in Becky's tight tops.

We just did a little round to warm up. Then we stood in David and Sonya's garden and did all kinds of exercises that were actually childish in themselves. Jumping jack, running in place, squats, jumping rope. Everyone contributed some kind of tasks.

It was silly, but we all joined in and had a blast! Of course Sonya only did what did not harm the baby or her, but even Mom felt dizzy in between and sat down.

"Are you all right, Mom? You're pretty pale. Even by your standards!" I asked.

"Yes, yes. It's all good, Leah. Just not used to this much exercise on an empty stomach. I'll be fine again," Mom explained.

"Then it's probably time for breakfast!" Jake then stated.

"How long until the next coal?" inquired Marcus.

"Is easily enough that we can all shower in peace," David looked at his phone.

No sooner said than done.

When we were home, Marcus took from Mom the cup of coffee she had just helped herself to and pressed a banana into her hand instead.

"If you get dizzy on an empty stomach, you should eat something first before more caffeine, Bella!" said my strict boyfriend.

I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. Becky and Jake were also chuckling next to me.

Mom looked like she didn't know what to say to that now. She looked outraged! She stared at the banana and cast a longing glance at the cup Marcus was already drinking.

"Who is actually the mother here and should be giving lectures?" she then asked rather delayed.

"But you're not my mother!" countered Marcus with a mischievous smile.

"Should I call Carlisle or Dad to ask their opinion on this?" Jake interjected into the discussion.

Mom grumbled and angrily stomped past us up the stairs - carrying the banana.

As usual, Jake went before me in the shower. He was faster than me, which is why I could take my time afterwards. At least when Becky was not here. So, I reminded him on the way up not to dawdle too much. In the hallway, I asked if anyone had any objections to loud music.

A unanimous 'No' rang through the house and I turned on the stereo with loud rock music. Because I didn't want to overhear Becky and Jake washing each other. If they came to it at all.

I just watched my boyfriend take off his clothes, sweaty from sports, and throw them into my laundry basket with panache.

It was kind of strange. We hadn't been together that long. Since the 'Twilight', where we knew each other, only five weeks had passed so far. Three since he knew what I was. Yet it felt like he had always been a part of my life. As if this was his home. He now spent most nights with me instead of with his sister. It didn't bother me at all, no! Objectively I just found it kind of fast. If a friend told me something like that, I'd ask if she wasn't rushing everything. But it was so nice when he was here. I had also specifically asked Mom and Dad if they would mind if Marcus was with us so often. But they had both denied this with a smile. Aside from the fact that they BOTH liked Marcus a lot, the focus for them was that I was happy. And damn it, I was!

On that occasion, I had also asked about Becky. After all, Jake was forbidden to have his girlfriend stay with us for no reason. Becky appeared confident and cheerful as usual, so I didn't really understand it anymore.

But they said that the concern about their psychological condition was not over yet. As long as she was confronted with this reminder again and again through conversations with various lawyers, this ban would remain in place and would only be lifted in exceptional cases. As long as the danger would remain that Becky would suffer a relapse.

That's how I had talked to Jake about Marcus, too. I thought it was unfair to him that Marcus was allowed to stay here at any time, but he had to spend most nights alone.

His comment to that was, "Enjoy life and love and don't think about your little brother!"

Marcus had noticed my languishing look and pulled me into his arms.

I kissed over his smooth skin. I liked the salty taste and licked along his collarbone with pleasure. With excitingly hands he pushed my sweatshirt over my head and caressed himself along the crook of my neck to my cleavage. Before he got to take off my sports bra, there was a knock on my standing open room door.

"Bathroom's free!" grinned Jake and left again.

We changed scenery but continued where we had left off in my room. Only the undressing sped up a bit.

For this, the shower lasted all the longer ...

Afterwards we stood in my room dressed. I turned off the music and we made our way downstairs. Mom's door was still closed. Not a sound could be heard. I sent Marcus downstairs and knocked softly.

No answer.

"Mom?" I asked, opening the door a crack.

A gush of warm air came my way, which didn't surprise me.

For two weeks now, the heater in Mom's bedroom had been on high. Because of Dad. So that she would not freeze in his arms.

I pushed the door open a little wider and saw Mom sitting in the armchair, lost in thought. In her bathrobe and with a towel tied around her hair. Her gaze went in the direction of the bed.

I sat down with her and hugged my mother.

"Tomorrow he'll be back again," I said consolingly.

She nodded and dropped her head on my shoulder.

"It's so strange that he's not here," she murmured sadly.

I could understand that. Dad was here every morning, waking us up and giving us a loving kiss.

Well, me on the forehead. For Mom, it would probably be more like her mouth. It was really strange. So unfamiliar. But the whole morning went differently than usual, which is why I hadn't been so aware of it until now. Besides, Becky was with Jake, and Marcus with me, which is why we were quite distracted.

We just sat there, and I held my mom.

Again, I thought I had Dad's smell in my nose. Sure, the whole house was drenched in his cold sweetness, but it was different. Stronger and at the same time barely perceptible. Maybe it was just because Dad hadn't been here since yesterday and the aroma somehow wore off.

After a few minutes, I saw Jake at the door, but he left immediately again.

'Coward!' I thought, but immediately took it back.

I heard him. He was on the phone with Dad and came back with the phone. We gave Mom another kiss on the cheeks and left her alone with Dad's voice.

"Dearest. Didn't I forbid you to be sad?" I heard Edward before we reached the hallway.

"Well!", Jake then began, offended. "I basically understand why they forbid that Becky be with me all the time. But shouldn't we maybe be more worried about Mom not even making it through ONE night without Dad?"

I tried to think of an answer, but somehow I couldn't find one.

"With Bella, things are a little different than with Becky!" clarified David, who had just come up the stairs. "Edward has left her once before. That's why I think that she reacts so sensitively to this situation."

"So, what are we going to do about Mom?" I inquired.

"Well, what else? Distract her!" grinned David.

"She's on the phone with Edward," I said. That was somehow now more the opposite of distracting.

"Then we'll give them a few minutes," David said, and together we went downstairs, where the barbecue party was already busily gathering breakfast.

Someone had picked up rolls and croissants from the bakery. When the table was set, David went upstairs to get Mom. But before we finally got down to eating, Jake proudly put new charcoal on the grill - under the judging eyes of David. Mom was also with us again, smiling. Breakfast dragged on in high spirits.

Meanwhile, we had a decent time for Saturday morning - 9:48 a.m.

But it would surely take another eight hours until the meal. If we were right about the time.

"Of course, we've been thinking about, what we can do all day today!" noted Sonya in response to a general inquiry, exchanging a conspiratorial look with Mom.

All the children and young people swallowed.

Woe betide if they got the idea that we could clean up our rooms or do chores or something.

"We're baking Christmas cookies!" Mom took away our fears though.

We breathed a sigh of relief, quickly cleaned up the table and the kitchen, only to cause a new mess.

Sonya and Mom had found some new recipes on the internet that they wanted to try. After all, we had time. We split into three small groups, each of which defaced a different corner of the kitchen. David, Sonya, Daniel and Mom. Jake and Becky with Luces. Deacon was baking with Marcus and me. And Emma was jumping all over the place.

Around noon and 3.00 p.m. coal had to be added again.

David's children took over spraying the pieces of meat with apple juice. It already smelled wonderful. The juice gave the smoky meat a sweet note, which could be perceived even now.

My mouth was watering.

Marcus had renewed the coal last time and now Daniel was visibly proud that he was also allowed to do so.

Sonya retreated to her house and wanted to rest a bit before they would then get to work with Mom on the rest of the preparations for the real barbecue.

The kitchen looked like a battlefield. There was hardly a spot where flour, colorful sugar sprinkles or powdered sugar was not scattered. The remains of a lost egg had spread somewhat across the floor. Hardly a child was without chocolate stains on their face.

I had none! Well, Marcus had licked it from my cheeks.

But everyone pitched in to return the kitchen to its natural state. Becky and I washed the countless bowls, trays and whatever else we had used in the two basins. The kids dried off, and Jake put everything back in its place. Marcus wiped down the surfaces. He even found flour on the wall cupboards. Emma dashed across the floor with a child's broom, but actually spread everything around even more. David fetched the vacuum cleaner, everything else was futile and Mom immediately mopped up after him. We proudly inspected our work. A kitchen shining like new and a huge pile of delicious cookies.

"You cleaned up nicely!" noted Emma.

She strutted between us with a bowl, which she had probably secretly stolen to lick out. The evidence of this was hard to miss on her mouth and fingers, plus she was still smacking with relish. She placed them dutifully on the sink and turned to face us.

"Whats'n?" she asked sugary sweet, who probably didn't get why we were all staring at her more or less stunned with amusement.

We laughed and David picked up the angel in his arms, with Emma holding onto his T-shirt with her smeared hands.

Well, we would all have to change anyway. The baking had not passed us by without a trace.

"Do I have any clothes here still?" asked David, turning to Mom.

"Sure. Everything is neatly washed and ironed in the guest room in the closet. There's also a sweater for Emma. You forgot it last time," Mom said.

David smiled kind of sentimentally and gave Mom a kiss on the forehead.

"Be quiet when you're changing. Mommy is probably still asleep!" David reminded his boys as he looked at his watch.

Sonya had said she wanted to set her alarm so she wouldn't sleep too long, but time wasn't up yet. When I was standing after changing back downstairs with Marcus and nibbling on the cookies, the phone rang.

"Hello, little one! How's the cookie baking going? Is the kitchen still standing?" asked Dad cheerfully.

"You knew about that?" I inquired.

"Sure," he just said, and I heard the smile in his voice.

I told him short and sweet and promised to show him pictures of the kitchen battle tomorrow. I immediately sent him a picture that I had taken of the meat sizzling away.

He opined that was a touch too long dead for his taste.

I asked how his trip was going.

"Nice. I even caught a few cougars," he announced.

Um ... ecstatically? ... proud? "Sounds delicious," I said out of courtesy, making a disgusted face.

"Liar!" he titled me.

We chatted for a moment. About how yesterday was with our friends, that we were cruelly woken up this morning, that our kitchen is too small for ten people to bake in, but it was pretty fun. And successful.

"How is Bella?" he then asked, and his voice changed.

It seemed to tremble a little.

"You don't find it easy to be so far away either?" I asked seriously.

"No. It hurts me not to be with her!" he muttered.

"David's plan to distract her is definitely working as long as she's not alone," I said.

She hadn't seemed sad or lonely since I'd seen her in the armchair this morning, but had been laughing with all of us. I wanted to reassure Dad, but then asked myself if I hadn't sounded too optimistic. Mom was happy. Without him. Did that possibly hurt him even more? But I didn't know what it looked like inside her. If maybe she was just forcing herself to obvious cheerfulness.

I was already on my way to Mom's. I knocked casually on her ajar door and entered.

I wasn't sure what to make of the picture that presented itself to me.

Therefore, I handed the phone to Mom without a word and left very quickly again.

Thanks for reading!