74

It takes five minutes for Bella to become my mother's new best friend.

They sit on the couch, sipping blood and laughing at my expense. I've never been so embarrassed in my life, but I can't find it in me to be mad. Mom hated Gianna with a passion since the day I brought her home the Christmas before we got married. It was a mutual hate. Gianna couldn't stand my parents. But it seems like Bella fits in right alongside my family.

"He came down in his boxers the morning after I got here." Bella giggles.

"Sounds about right." Mom looks at me. "We just about had to duct tape his diapers on him when he was a toddler. He was always stripping every chance he got."

Mom has her own questions for the first vampire president's daughter, and Bella answers each one. Her questions veer toward our future, but we decline to share because we haven't sat the girls down yet.

Bella is telling her about the dog toy I bought her as an apology gift when Mom stands up and rushes to the door, right as Angela walks inside with Alice following right behind her.

"Grandma!"

There are squeals and hugs shared while Ben and Jasper enter.

This isn't the first time Jasper's met my parents, but it is Ben's. He stands off to the side, awkwardly waiting for Angela to introduce him, and offers Mom a handshake that she ignores.

"We hug in this family, young man," she says, pulling him into her arms and releasing him before turning to Angela. "He's very handsome."

Angela beams and steps into her boyfriend's embrace. "Isn't he though?"

Mom presents the girls with their cookies, and they scarf them down two by two while catching her up on everything.

Alice tells her all about the school play and the standing ovation she got opening night, and Angela gushes about meeting the President of the United States for the first time.

"We call them Nana and Pop Pop, and you'd be surprised how down to earth they are."

"I'm sure they are." Mom grins widely. "We met them a couple years ago when they visited your grandfather's hospital banquet. It was a brief introduction, but we actually met Bella back then."

I look over at my vampire, and she nods.

"Your mom called me out for hiding in the corner the entire night." She snorts.

"Sounds about right." I chuckle.