Chapter 33 – Bella's Birthday, Part 2
BELLA
I stood in a slip in my part of the closet, trying to find my favorite dress –a 1950s navy polka dot lace patchwork dress. Shifting through looking for another option, I found several outfit missing. I had done laundry and picked up the dry cleaning yesterday, so everything save what Edward and I wore yesterday was clean.
Settling on a retro-style gold plaid boatneck sleeveless dress, I let it slip over my head. I couldn't reach the zipper and called out for Edward, hoping he was still around the corner in in part of the closet.
He came into view button up a white dress shirt.
Turning my back to him, I glanced over my shoulder and asked, "Would you mind?"
Stepping up behind me, he pressed a kiss to the bare skin of my back before pulled the zipper up. He didn't step away, instead he brushed aside my hair. My heart started beating triple time as he skimmed his lips along my neck, slowly making his way to the spot right behind my ear. I leaned back against him, resting my head on his shoulder. Had his arm not snaked around me, I would have slid right down him and been a pile of goo at his feet. I turned my head slightly, accepting his next kiss. It was sensual yet loving. Slow and sweet. Teasing with a promise of what we didn't have time for, not with the errand he had to see to before lunch.
Raising my hand up, I wrapped it around the back on his neck and squirmed with a moan.
Drawing back, he sighed. "I wish we had the rest of the morning here at home," he whispered, mirroring my thoughts.
EDWARD
When Bella started moving against me, I had to get away, to calm down. If it wasn't for needing to pick up a special birthday gift, I would have lifted her in my arms and carried her to our bed.
"I believe I might have a tie that will compliment your dress," I said, knowing full well I did, thanks to Alice.
~~~ Reaching for Love ~~~
I hated lying to Bella. If it wasn't for a convincing argument with Charlie, I wouldn't be driving to Sammamish. Bella and Charlie haven't necessarily been moving mountains since dinner two weeks ago, but I knew they were trying to connect, or reconnect. Bella seemed happier after the nightly calls. I never pried about what they talked about. As long as she wasn't crying when she hand my phone back, I didn't have a problem with it.
When Charlie called me at work yesterday, he sounded distraught. As we talked, I found out he was scheduled to work, and he wanted to be at Bella's birthday lunch. I had suggested he try to find someone who would switch shifts with me. He was going to try to do that, and when the flowers arrived I knew, I just knew he wasn't able. There were two cards in the arrangement. One for Bella and the other for me. I found it a little strange until I read the message, I plucked out the cards after placing them in the living room.
Edward, I want to ask you a favor. As much as I wish to be at lunch today, I wasn't able to find anyone to take my shift. If I didn't have to go on duty at eight, I would have made the drive and spent time with Bella this morning. The favor, if time permits, would you bring her by the station. I have a birthday surprise for her. Call or text if not possible. I will drop of the gift after my shift.
~ Charlie
He put a wrench in what I had planned, but it wasn't like mine couldn't be adjusted. My gaze moved to Bella, sitting next to me reading Paradise Lost as I drove. She wasn't even curious as to where we were going.
"Enjoying it?" I asked.
She bit her lip. "It's a little over my head. I've heard of the Fall of Man and all, but this is far different than the children's bible Grandmother read from. Not that I'm not enjoying it."
"When I read it in college, I compared it to an opera. The less you can understand it, the better." I laughed. "It's a hard read."
She tittered. "I've never seen an opera, but I get the analogy."
Hmmm. I had a tour of the Palais Garnier tentatively on the Paris itinerary.
"Would you like to see an opera someday?"
Bella was silent for a long time. "I don't know, maybe, someday."
She was not making this easy. "Bella, if you want to go to the opera, I will get tickets," I said, veering off toward exit 17.
Again, she fell silent, looking out the window. "Sammamish?" she asked. "I thought Dad had to work."
"He does, but asked for us to come by the station." She was avoiding my question about the opera. "He has a gift for you. Are you mad at him?"
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her started fiddling with her fingers. "No. The flowers prove he's trying, and we did change the time."
The corners of my mouth turned up at the positive comment. "So, the opera?" I asked.
Bella sighed, and her bottom lip jutted out, redirecting the air-flow to the ever-present curl in front of her face. For that brief moment her brown hair fanned upwards before resettling just over her eyes. "What if I don't like it?"
The girl who understood Dracula and could discuss the themes with the best of them. "Then, we won't go again. Though, I believe you might like a few."
"Like?"
Ah, crap! "Off the top of my head, I can't think of one. We can look at a list and read the summaries before deciding on which to see." It was a stall. I knew which ones she would like. It just I wanted to see which, if any, were scheduled at the opera houses in Paris.
As I pulled into a spot in front of the station, Bella nodded. "That's a good idea."
BELLA
It was strange walking into the Sammamish Police Department. I hadn't been here since Grandmother died. The desk officer sat behind plexiglass. He looked up and smiled. "The Chief is expecting you, Bella." A buzz sounded. "Go on back."
"Thanks, John."
Edward lagged behind me as I led the way into the bullpen. It looked the same with partial wall cubicles in clusters of four, dotted throughout the space. Two or three detectives looked up, smiling at me. "Your dad's in the conference room," one said.
Conference room? Why would he be there? His office was in the center of the back wall. I'd been in there several times when I was in grade and middle school.
"Where is it again?" I asked.
"The hall on the right and straight back," the same detective said, pointing in the general direction.
Veering in said direction, I followed the hall to the end. The blinds were closed, but I could see light around the edges. Again, I wondered why the conference room. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Edward still walking down the hall. He motioned to go ahead.
My hand moved to the doorknob, twisting and pulling the door open. The mouthwatering smell of fried chicken greeted me. Peering inside, I saw white, pink, and purple balloons and a pair of metallic gold number two balloons. The conference room table was set for eleven.
"Are you going to stand there all day, Bells?" Dad asked.
Smiling, I walked in and saw Edward's parents. Edward's and my friends were there too. Looking around, I saw a table with presents.
"Uh?" I said intelligently.
My gaze moved around the room again, finding a stack of books in the center of the food table. A birthday banner was above the table in the same colors as the balloons.
EDWARD
When Bella finally turned to face me where I learned in the doorway, there were tears in the corner of her eyes. They seemed to be questioning "how." I pointed to Charlie.
She spun on her heel and rushed to Charlie, throwing her arms around him. It caught him by surprise, but soon he was returning her embrace. After pressing a kiss to his cheek, she whispered in his ear.
Last night, after Bella called and told him about the time change, she handed me her phone. Charlie and I talked for over a half hour, scheming. I had already ordered the cake and the decorations. Charlie wanted to take care of rest of the meal, refusing to let me chip in.
The conference room looked amazing, and I hoped Mom or Alice had taken pictures.
Charlie escorted Bella to the head of the table and motioned for me take one of the seats on either side of her. Alice and Rosalie acted as waitresses and set plates in front of Bella and me. I was a little confused by this. Once everyone was settled around the table with their plates, Charlie stood with glass of punch in his hand.
Clearing his throat, he spoke, "Today, we gather to celebrate Bella's birthday. I've missed so many over the years, and I'm grateful to be able to celebrate with her today." He looked over at Bella and then me. "But that is not all we celebrate today. We celebrate the marriage of Bella and Edward. Not all of us could be there when they wed, and I am sure we all can agree, Bella and Edward are the best of friends. And I am ecstatic to be able to call Edward, son."
"Cheers," everyone said, as I leaned over and pecked Bella's lips.
Never had I expected Charlie had something up his sleeve.
~~~ Reaching for Love ~~~
Mom was passing Bella gifts and picked up one wrapped in ivory paper with a gold bow. I caught Mom's eye and shook my head. Bella was still busy with the last gift, so I mouthed "last." Mom smiled and put it back down, picking up a small gift.
Bella gasped, turning a velvet box for all the see. A graceful swan pendant embellished with stunning blue and white sapphires. The light twinkled off the stones. Silently, Bella stood and walked over to where Charlie sat. She shocked him again by sitting on his lap and hugging him. A camera flash went off as he cradled the back of her head. It made my heart swell to see Bella with her father.
Many more gifts were opened before Mom handed Bella the last one. Luckily, Charlie knew about this gift. When I told him last night, he said he didn't care if it would overshadow his, he was just happy to celebrate with her this year.
I watched as Bella pulled the ribbon and let it cascade to the floor followed by the cream paper. Swiping my hands down my pants, I nervously watched her lifted the lid. Heard the crinkle as she pulled back the tissue paper. On top of a print out of airline tickets, I had a placed a picture I hadn't even known about until Alice gave it to me. It was of Bella and me watching the show outside the Mirage. Even though it was just of our backs, it was my second favorite from our time in Vegas. My first was of us under the scale-model Eiffel Tower. I had gotten her laughing right as I photographer snapped the picture.
"Oh, what a lovely picture," Mom said, drawing me out of my memories.
Bella started to turn to place the box on the table behind her.
"Look under the frame, love," I said.
She glanced over at me with a raised eyebrow, before lifting the frame and passing it to Mom. Her left hand flew to her chest after reading the first of four printouts. "Seattle to New York." She again glanced over at me. "We're going to New York."
I shook my head. "Next page," I remarked.
The box fell from her lap, landing face down on the pile of paper at her feet. "Paris," she whispered.
I nodded. "We leave this evening," I announced. "Just the two of us for six days and five nights in Paree."
What happened next I wasn't expecting. Bella just sat there mouth hanging up, like she was a codfish.
No one said anything.
Bella blinked and closed her mouth. Slowly, a smiled lit her face. "We need to pack."
"I've already packed for you," Alice stated as I said, "The bags are in the car."
Bella's smile got bigger.
Before we left the station to head to meet Mike, Bella selected a couple of books.
