AN: The second chapter for today, to make up for missing yesterday's posting
Another surprise meeting, and Alec isn't redeeming himself at all
My thanks to MeteorOnAMoonlessNight and Midnight Cougar for helping my words to make the best sense
Disclaimer: SM owns it all, but can I borrow Edward, please?
Boyfriends of Christmas Past Chapter 5
Summary
A trip back home for the holidays shows Bella everything she didn't know had been missing from her life.
Chapter 5
Bella
"Bella Swan? Is that you?"
The familiar voice shook me out of my memories and I turned toward it.
"Esme?" I squealed delightedly. "I heard you'd moved back to Forks. I'm so happy to see you."
Leaving my cart in the middle of the aisle, I practically bowled her over when I flung my arms around her. We'd been very close throughout my teenage years; she was my surrogate mom when I needed one the most. She hugged me just as tightly before holding me at arm's length and beaming at me. She'd barely changed, her hair still a gorgeous auburn, and the green eyes Edward had inherited.
"Oh, Bella, it's so good to see you. How did you know we were back in Forks? Did your father tell you?"
"No, he never said a word. I ran into Edward outside the new coffee shop, and he told me. He tells me you missed Forks and you're back in your old house. I haven't visited for a while, and I couldn't imagine missing it, but somehow it feels more like home now."
"Carlisle's around here somewhere. It would be great to catch up with you if you have the time. Are you back for good or a visit?"
"A visit this time, Esme. I'd love to meet up, though right now I think I'd best get this home to Dad." I stepped back to grab the cart.
"Oh, here he is. Carlisle, it's Bella," she called.
Carlisle looked even more distinguished, if it were possible. His hair had silvered at the temples, but his smile was as warm and welcoming as it had always been.
"Bella, what a lovely surprise." I was engulfed in his arms, the familiar scent of his cologne surrounding me. "You're visiting your father, I hear."
"Where did you hear that, Carlisle? I've only been back since yesterday afternoon."
"Oh, you know the Forks grapevine. Anything new spreads like wildfire." Esme laughed. It was so true, and I wondered if Alec had been mentioned.
"We're having a party on New Year's Eve, so if we don't manage to get together before then, why don't you come along? Pass our invite on to your dad, and of course, the young man you came with is welcome. In fact, why don't you come earlier in the day, and we can spend more time together."
That answered my thoughts on whether anyone knew about Alec, so the chances were Edward would also have heard. I refused to think about what that meant right now.
"Sounds perfect, Esme. I've missed you both so much, and I can't wait to hear all about Chicago."
Esme handed me a card with Cullen Designs written on it, a landline, and a cell number. "Here's my number, Bella. Call me if you can make it earlier, or I'll see you on the day of the party." She leaned in and hugged me again, kissing my temple. "It's so good to see you, Bella," she repeated.
With a final hug from each of them, I headed toward the checkout.
~ oOo ~
When I arrived back at the house, Alec was still on the phone and Dad was in the kitchen having finished work, preparing himself a sandwich.
"Hey, Dad. You're home early."
"Yep, thought I'd take a couple of hours off to help you decorate. We could take a trip out to the Lazy J for a Christmas tree. It's been years since we had a real one, and I'd like to do it right this year. How does that sound?"
"That's a great idea, just let me get the groceries put away, and I'm all yours."
I stepped back outside to grab a few bags, Dad following me. Between us, we quickly transferred the groceries from the truck to the kitchen cupboards. While Dad went upstairs to change out of his uniform, I went into the living room to speak to Alec, who was now studying the script for his latest movie.
"Hey, Alec, Dad and I are going to Port Angeles to cut down a tree. Coming?"
"Hmm?" was the only answer I got.
"Alec, are you listening to me? Alec!"
Eventually, he turned to look at me. "What, Bella? Can't you see I'm busy?"
"Of course I can, but it's Christmas Eve. Surely you can take a few hours off? Dad and I are cutting a tree, and I'd like you to come with us."
"Erm, I really do have to learn my lines, Bella." Alec had the grace to look a little apologetic.
"Well, if you can't spare the time, that's okay," I said. "But, filming doesn't start until the tenth of January," I pointed out.
Alec looked torn, but eventually, he stood and gave a half-smile. "You're right, a couple of hours won't hurt. Give me a few minutes to freshen up and change my shoes and I'll be ready to go."
Thirty minutes later, we were headed toward Port Angeles in the truck. The Escalade was definitely not the right sort of vehicle for collecting a tree, and I didn't think Alec would appreciate riding in the back of the cruiser. I sat between Dad and Alec with an awkward silence surrounding us. I leaned forward and switched on the radio, tuning it to a station playing Christmas music.
The songs they were playing were those Mom and Dad had played every year for as long as I could remember, and even after she left, we continued the tradition. Knowing the words to most of them, Dad and I sang along, getting into the spirit of Christmas. It was how we'd always spent Christmas Eve.
Alec was silent beside me, seeming not to know the songs playing, and not joining in. Sadly, I realized there were huge gaps in my knowledge of his life before L.A., and I felt a little guilty. I'd not told him much about mine, other than my need to get out of Forks.
Arriving at the Lazy J, Dad and I fell back into our old ways very quickly, discussing the merits of the trees we passed, looking for that perfect one. It was another of those Christmas traditions I hadn't realized I missed.
We'd wandered away from the crowded areas, venturing into the snowy walkways farther away from the bright lights of the entrance yard, still looking for that elusive something. Alec trudged along behind us, not adding anything to the discussion between me and Dad, and although I understood the trip was out of the ordinary for him, I was still a little pissed that he was making no effort at all; he might as well have stayed in L.A.
"What about this one, Bella?"
I walked around the one Dad pointed out and wrinkled my nose. "Not quite, Dad. See how it's uneven on one side?"
Dad rolled his eyes and moved onto the next one. "What about this one? It's even all round."
"Nah, the trunk's too wide. It wouldn't fit in the stand. Do we still have that, or should we buy a new one?"
"We do, and it's fine, Bells. Packed away in the attic next to the box of decorations."
Alec moved up beside me and slid his hand into my glove-covered one, while Dad moved on ahead. "Can we go, Bella? I have things to do, and I'm getting cold."
I looked at him. "Just a little longer, Alec, okay? I didn't realize how much I'd missed this tradition, and I wanted you to enjoy it as much as I do."
Alec merely nodded, looking chilled and not very happy.
I turned down another aisle, a little darker as the height of the trees hid more of the lights from the front. The trees here were bushier and taller. It would have been intimidating and a little scary had I not been here every year up until I was nineteen.
And there it was—the perfect tree. "Hey, Dad," I called. "Over here; I've found it."
"I think I saw it first." A familiar velvety voice spoke from the shadows cast by the line of trees.
My heart beat a little faster from both the unexpected voice and the person behind it. Turning, Edward's tall frame was closer to me than I'd expected. He seemed taller and bulkier, his torso encased in a heavy parka, a beanie pulled down over his ears. His long legs were covered in dark wash jeans, and a well-worn pair of boots completed the picture.
I tried to ignore the effect he had on me, and I was very glad for the shadows and the cold that hid the sudden flush of heat I could feel steal across my face.
"Hello again, Edward." I smiled at him. "What are you here for? I mean… I know what you're here to get, but what are you buying a tree for? Not that you can't, of course…" I trailed off and took a deep breath before starting again. "Sorry for the word-vomit," I said. "What I mean is, are you getting a tree for yourself or your parents?"
Edward huffed a laugh and looked thoroughly amused. "My house. It's not finished yet, but I thought it was time I decorated it, or at least put up a tree."
"You're building your own house?" I questioned. "Where?"
"About a mile past my parents' house." Edward gripped the back of his neck and he looked down.
My heart skipped a beat as I realized he must have bought land not far from the meadow we'd discovered the spring after we'd gotten together. I refused to let my mind conjure up a reason for, or attach any significance to, his decision to build on or close to what we'd always called "our meadow."
Dad's arrival, trailed by Alec, forestalled the uncomfortable silence that could have developed. Edward's eyes narrowed as Alec stepped up beside me, draping his arm possessively over my shoulders. Somehow, he'd sensed Edward wasn't just anybody and was already staking his claim.
"Hey, Edward, how's work going? And that house? You finished it yet?
Dad's cheerful greeting diffused the tension building around the three of us, and I took the opportunity to slide out from under Alec's arm.
"Evening, Charlie. Business is going well, thanks. I've a couple of renovation projects coming up in the new year, and I've just agreed to a general maintenance contract with Anderson's to maintain their properties, and some smaller private jobs, too. I'll likely have to take on some help as soon as the weather improves."
"That's great, Edward. There are a few things needed around the house, and the roof needs replacing sometime this year. Why don't you pop over after the new year and give me a quote?"
"Sure thing, Charlie. I'll give you a call and we can set things up. I was just telling Bella the house is coming along; still plenty to do though, but it's liveable. That's why I'm here—I decided it was high time I put up a tree in my house."
"Edward, this is Alec Reynolds, my boyfriend." Only someone who knew Edward intimately would've seen him stiffen, although why the information would've disturbed him, I wasn't prepared to think about. "Alec, this is an old school friend, Edward Cullen."
The handshake between the two men was short, though I could see Alec's knuckles whiten as he tried his normal technique for putting someone down. It was something he always did when he felt threatened, though nothing about the situation was in the least bit like that.
"You should come see the house, Bella, and you too, Alec, of course, before you head back to L.A."
He nodded at the man beside me whose face had morphed into a scowl. I was mortified at how rude Alec was being, and changed the subject, pointing out the tree both Edward and I had liked.
"Edward already chose the tree I found, Dad," I said. "We'll have to keep looking."
"It's fine, Bella, you take it," Edward said. "It was a toss-up between this one and the one over there." Edward pointed at another tree on the other side of the snowy aisle.
"Well, if you're sure, Edward. Dad?"
"Bella. I have to get back. So can we choose and get going, please?" Alec's voice interrupted the discussion, and Dad and Edward swiftly set to cutting the trees down.
Alec drew me out of the way. "Come on, Bella, let's leave them to it."
I would've preferred to stay, but Alec insisted on heading back to wait in the truck. Waiting inside the cab was uncomfortable, and I could practically feel Alec's unspoken words. I reached for the radio, anything to break the silence.
"Who's he to you, Bella?" Alec's voice was calm, though I knew he wasn't.
"We were at school together, like I told you, Alec." I turned to face him. "What's this about?"
"I don't like the way he looks at you. It's not appropriate."
"What? How? I haven't seen him for nine years, Alec. He hasn't looked at me in any way you could construe as inappropriate." Something told me not to mention he'd been my boyfriend for six months, someone very special to me.
"I don't want you to speak to him again, Bella."
I looked at him in shock, which was quickly followed by a sharp spike of anger. I couldn't believe he was telling me what to do. Before I could formulate an answer, Dad and Edward appeared from the depths of the snowy aisles, each dragging a tree.
Hopping out of the cab, I walked around to the rear of my truck and unlatched the tailgate. Edward dropped his tree beside his truck and leaped onto the bed of mine, pulling our tree into position. Once it was tied in place, he jumped down, and they dragged the other tree over to Edward's truck, situating it and tying it down.
Raising his hand as he jumped to the ground, he covered the distance between us in a few strides. He towered over me, his hands tucked into his pockets.
"Mom's having a party on New Year's Eve. Say you'll come, Bella. Everyone will be there."
"I caught up with your mom and dad in Thriftway earlier this afternoon. She extended the invitation to Dad and Alec, and of course, I accepted for all of us. I'm looking forward to it."
"That's good." He stopped and dragged his fingers through his hair, dislodging his beanie. "I'll see you soon, Bella."
Slipping his beanie back on his head, he turned and walked to his truck, jumped in, and started the engine, before winding down the window and waving as he pulled out onto the main road.
~ oOo ~
