I DREAM OF RAINBOWS
Disclaimer: The Cullen's, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.
The awesome and talented dowlingnana searched out my errors and corrected them.
That was when Edward realized that his mother wasn't speaking about the accident, but, possibly his behavior. Shit, due to his own fault he was in deep trouble.
CHAPTER 18: OH, THE LIES WE TELL
"Uhu, Mom, I gotta go. Just saw the time and there's a call I need to make right away." Edward quickly told Esme, instead of answering her question. He knew that she wasn't going to let it go, but, he wasn't prepared to offer any answers at the moment. It was his own damn fault for the trouble he was about to be in; his mouth spoke without waiting for his brain to tell it what to say.
As that thought passed through his mind, he realized that he was really going to have his ass handed to him by either Emmett or Jasper, perhaps, both, once they found out about his run in with Ms. Swan. Ha, run in hell, that was a joke. He didn't run into her; he backed into her which pitched her, head first, into the opposite wall. He knocked the poor woman out, dumped her, more or less, in some guy's suite and sneaked out of the place without a glance back. Then to make matters worse, he hadn't even checked to see how the lady was doing this morning.
But, from what he learned about her last night, he knew that she had no room to be calling him out for his behavior when hers wasn't much better. She played the field the same as he did, so, it was a case of the pot calling the kettle a different color.
As his thoughts reached this point in his thinking, he was wondering how he could discretely check up on the lady's current condition without giving himself away. It didn't take long before he realized that he could simply call where she was staying with the excuse of wanting to ask her to meet with him for lunch. And, if asked, he would explain that he did want to have a final discussion with her concerning the contract they were about to sign.
Yeah, that sounded good. No one would suspect him of having a different motive for calling. It would be perfectly natural considering the town they were in and the reason for wanting the meeting. And, it was with that logic that caused the full return of Edward's confidence that he was in the clear. His tunnel vision caused him to forget his accidental confession to his mother. And, that she was likely to mention the incident to his father and his brothers. These individuals would demand an account of what happened and the reason of why it happened.
So, with a feeling of self-satisfaction, Edward relaxed thinking he had the whole situation under control and the perfect story if anyone in the family should ask him about what he had said to Esme.
XXXXXX
As Mark Strollman walked into the living room he came to a dead stop as he encountered the death glare that Rosalie was directing towards him. He was already nervous enough with having to come and inform Bella's cousin of Bella's current condition, but, with seeing the reception he was now receiving made him even more nervous. He was doing everything he could to maintain his composure and to stand his ground underneath that hardcore stare he was receiving.
Alice came into the room as he came to a dead stop and almost ran into his back. However, she realized what was about to happen and was able to sidestep the object that was frozen in her pathway. Moving forward to come to stand beside Rosalie, she took a demanding stance as she tried to patiently wait for Mark to tell them where Bella was.
Finally, getting control of his nerves, at least, as much as he was able, he launched into his explanation of Bella's current condition. He told them of what he knew about how she ended up with a concussion, but, explained, also, that most of his information came from what Bella remembered.
"Does Bella, or, rather, did she mention to you who or how this happened to her? Did she even have some idea of how she had managed to get back into your suite?"
"Ms. Hale, I'm sorry, but, all I can tell you is what she told me. She has no idea who or what had tossed her into the wall. And, she definitely has no idea how she got back into my suite.
"But, when I found out how long she had been unconscious it caused me to have some concern. All the information that I have ever heard or read, said that a person that receives a head injury should stay awake, but, if any consciousness is lost then they need to be taken for medical examination and treatment. So, that is what I did.
"And, as I mentioned it was found that there was a slight swelling of her brain. Enough red flags were raised that the ER doctor wanted to keep her for a day or two as a precaution." Mark answered Rosalie as best he could.
"Very well, Mr. Strollman, Alice and I will go see Bella and see how long she will be kept. Then we'll know if we will need to take more personal items up to the hospital for her than just for an overnight stay. We do appreciate you coming to let us know about what happened to Bella and her whereabouts. Although, I have to say that a phone call earlier when you were at the hospital or before, would have been appreciated.
"I can tell that you were nervous about coming to tell us, but, know that we don't hold you responsible. Bella is able to make her own decisions and old enough to deal with the consequences that go along with those decisions."
After a bit more discussion Mark left with a sigh of relief. Then Rosalie and Alice got ready to go see Bella.
XXXXXX
Just as Edward had a moment out of his busy morning, he reached for his phone to call and make a request for Bella to meet him for lunch, but, before he could dial the phone he was startled as his office door flew out so hard that it was thrown against the wall. In the doorway stood Edward's two brothers. He looked at them as they stood looking at him, and the whole time he tried to remain calm.
"Edward, what the hell is wrong with you? You look guilty as hell." Emmett spoke as he and Jasper entered the office. Jasper reached for the door as Emmett moved further into the office and sat down in a chair that was facing his brother. Then once Jasper had closed the door he sat down also.
"Nothing's wrong with me except for the stunt you two just pulled. What the hell do you think you were doing by busting in here like that and startling the hell out of me?"
"We just wanted to check with you to see if you signed the contract, so we can get a hold of Ms. Swan to get her signature." Jasper commented without answering Edward's question.
"Yeah, bro, we were curious about the contract. Knowing you, like we do, and all, we were hoping that you had taken the warning from yesterday to heart and signed. But, I can tell by your expression that you didn't. You haven't done a damn thing about that contract as yet.
"Look, Edward, I'm wanting to get started on this as soon as possible. I was very serious yesterday with all that I said. Don't try my patience too damn far." And, with that said Emmett rose and left the office. Edward could tell that his brother was near a breaking point and wasn't going to tolerate too much longer any more delays.
Swinging his attention from Emmett's retreating back, Edward looked at a still seated Jasper with a very questioning look and asked, "Well, do you have something to add?"
"Not really, but, I was waiting to hear why you haven't signed the damn thing as yet." Jasper responded.
"No, I haven't, not yet anyway, but, before you two decided to burst in here, I was about to call Ms. Swan to ask her to lunch. I wanted to try one more time, before signing, to see if I could talk her into changing her mind about a change or two to the contract; changes that I'm wanting changed to give us the advantage instead of her. After all that's my job, to give our company the advantage.
"If she was still holding on to her position, then I would have to accept defeat and sign it as it stands now. But, I just had to try at least one more time."
"I see. So, you have to make one last ditch effort to get your way, before giving up." Jasper said with a bit of a lighthearted chuckle. "Oh, by the way, how were your flowers received by Ms. Swan? Any response from that delivery?"
"No. No, I haven't, but, then I don't think there has been time for her to get back with me. And, bro, to be honest, I don't really expect to hear from her after the scene that played out yesterday.""
"Perhaps you're right, but, since you were going to try to pitch your cause one last time, don't let me stop you from making the call that you had planned." And, Edward waited for Jasper to leave, but, Jasper showed no signs of moving. Instead, he remained firmly seated with an expectant air about him, waiting for Edward to make his call. Then as the minutes ticked by, he asked, "Well, why are you waiting? Make the call!"
Edward felt like the walls were about to slowly close in on him, and it took every bit of control he could mustard to keep from displaying a nervous swallow in front of Jasper. He reached for his phone as if he was going to dial, but, hesitated as he quickly looked over to Jasper. "I just remembered that I don't have her phone number. Would you mind sharing?"
"Not at all. I did wonder when you would realize that fact." So, saying, Jasper gave Edward the phone number he would need to be able to reach Bella.
So, once again Edward reached for his phone and dialed the number Jasper had given him, but, as he listened all he was able to hear was constant ringing; no answer. A voice machine finally answered and a message was heard requesting the caller to leave certain information for a return call. Edward did leave a message. Then after a couple of minutes had passed, he hung up and looked over at his brother once more. "Well, as you can see, I received no answer."
"Okay. Why don't you try her agent's number? He might be able to tell you how to reach her." So, seeing a nod from Edward, Jasper supplied that information and waited once more to see what the final outcome might be.
For a third time Edward picked up his phone and dialed the number to speak with Bella Swan's agent. Just about the time he was ready to hang up two things happened at the same time: his mother and father walked into the office and Mark Strollman answered the phone.
There is a saying about being caught between a rock and a hard place and at the particular moment that is how Edward felt. Then to make matters worse, Emmett came back in behind their parents. He couldn't very well hang up on Mark and the advantage of being on the phone right then kept him from having to deal with the problem that was taking a seat across from him. And, Edward knew that he was going to have to do some quick thinking to be able to find the right words to save his ass.
Edward quickly explained to Mark the reason for his call and then received a shock which appeared on his face. Mark told him that Bella was in the hospital due to a concussion. Then Mark told him that he would be sure to pass the invitation on to his client once he returned to the hospital to see her. With that said both men hung up.
"Mom, Dad, what brings you down here?"
Esme Cullen looked at her son and shook her head before saying, "I would like an explanation of what I think you said on the phone a little earlier to me."
"Oh, that. I accidentally ran into a slight acquaintance last night. Apparently, he was coming out of one door while I was backing out of another and we bumped into each other. It pitched him forward into the wall.
"I was thinking about trying to get in touch with him just to make sure he was all right and my attention wasn't completely on whatever it was that you were asking me." He quickly explained while silently praying that his family buys that nonsense.
"I was telling you that you should be ashamed for your treatment of Ms. Swan yesterday. Then you come out with your verbiage about an accident. It sounded as if you were telling me that you had injured that young woman."
"As I said just now, my mind was on other things and I wasn't really paying the proper attention to what you were saying. Sorry, Mom."
During the whole time the two had been talking the other three occupants of the room kept a steady stare going between mother and son. They weren't quite sure what to think of the whole conversation. Jasper and Emmett were completely in the dark about what was being discussed. While Carlisle, even though, his wife had told him about what she believed Edward had said, had been sure that she had misunderstood Edward. And, now after listening to Edward's explanation he was pretty sure that he had been right in his assumption of things.
"All right, I'll accept that for now." She said to which Edward mentally breathed a sigh of relief because after all he did tell the truth, but, just left out certain details. He thought he was in the clear until the next question out of her mouth was, "What caused such a shocked expression on your face when you were speaking to Mr. Strollman as we came in?"
But, before he could answer his PA came in to inform him that his next appointment had arrived and was waiting in the outer office. Esme looked at her son, then rose up out of her chair to leave, but, not before having the last word. "Edward, I still would like to know why you told me about an accident right after I had mentioned Ms. Swan and your horrible treatment of her."
"Mom, as I said, I really wasn't paying attention to all that you were saying, but, when you said I should be ashamed of myself I believed from those few words that some media had published the accident and that you had seen or read about it."
So, as Esme and Carlisle left Edward, she called to her other two sons and told them that they could treat their parents to lunch. And, with that everyone left, but, Edward who was having a hard time believing that he had escaped the wrath of his mother.
A/N: Now, Edward knows that he had caused more damage to Bella than what he had thought. He also managed to talk his way around Esme's demand of what he had accidentally leaked to her on the phone. How well do you think Esme really bought Edward's story? Did he really manage to bluff his way around the situation?
Your thoughts and comments as always are welcomed.