Chapter 8 - a secret garden
A/N: Anything Twilight related belongs to SM. Thanks for the follows and faves. Thanks big time for the reviews I love reading each and every one. *mwah*. Sorry for the delay in updating my job has been demanding to say the least.
Esme gave Isabella a gentle pat on the back: "That's right. Now you've made a basic pancake batter. Good job!"
Bee smiled back at her with a huge grin: "I'm going to write this down later."
"We'll get you a blank recipe book so you can add in the ones you like, then you can make them again. Pancakes are great because they are not expensive to make, you make a large batch or a small batch and you can feed one or many. Best of all you can change it up with extras once you have the basic batter made."
"Like what kind of extras?" Bee asked, very excited at what flavours she could make her pancakes.
"Chocolate chips or blueberries or apple," Esme rattled off a list.
"I'd like to try all of those," Bee said with such seriousness that Esme laughed.
"Okay, well for today we're making plain pancakes."
They took the bowl over to the stove and Esme explained about the type of skillets which were best for making pancakes. She even explained about the stove using gas and how to turn it on and off safely.
When they came into the kitchen earlier that morning Esme realised that when Isabella said she had no experience she meant it. She had NO experience at all and Esme decided to start her lessons with the basics.
"Esme, thank you for agreeing to teach me to cook. I want to learn to cook good food on a tight budget; when I leave here I won't have much money and I'll need to be able to live on very little," Bee explained to Esme.
Esme wanted to tell her new daughter that there was no need for her to worry about money every again. She wanted to tell her that she loved her as a daughter already and Isabella would never be left to care for herself again but she knew she had to take baby steps. Isabella was fiercely independent and just wasn't used to other people looking after her.
"Now that the pan is greased lightly and is hot but not too hot, take a small ladle worth of batter, scoop it into the pan and tilting the pan a little like this," Esme said as she wiggled the pan a little in a very natural smooth gesture so the batter spread evenly. "Then after a few minutes on the heat, you run the spatula around the edge like this to loosen it, and slide the spatula under the pancake and then FLIP."
Bee giggled with delight and was eager to try it herself.
Esme laughed: "Then after just a minute you lift it on to the plate, stack them on top of each other and put them in the warming oven when they're all done. Okay, now it is your turn." Esme then stepped back.
Isabella stepped forward nodded her head seriously, pursed her lips and furrowed her brow. She then set about trying to replicate what Esme had shown her, mumbling the instructions to herself as she went: "...small ladle... tilt the pan... wait..." She looked to Esme for reassurance who nodded encouragingly so she turned back to her pan: "... slide the spatula... lift...FLIP! Oh, I did it! Did you see that Esme, I did it!"
Isabella bounced up and down with happiness, and when she turned to hug Esme she noticed Edward sitting at the counter watching her and smiling at them. She blushed but gave him a big smile: "I flipped my first pancake, Edward."
He chuckled: "I see that." He winked at her and she blushed again.
Esme watched the exchange with curiosity but said nothing about it: "Um… Isabella, don't forget to take the pancake out of the pan or it will be burn."
"Oh, sorry," Isabella apologised and quickly turned back to the stove to concentrate on cooking.
Esme sent Edward to lay the table, make a pot of coffee and generally help prepare breakfast while she cut up some fruit into a large bowl.
Carlisle and Emmett joined them and everyone started to chatter about their day taking their seats in the breakfast nook while Esme and Bee finished up preparing the food.
"Ta Da!" Bee proudly produced a large plate of pancakes stacked up high and still steaming, and placed it down on a placemat in the centre of the table: "My first ever batch of pancakes."
"They smell delicious Bee," Emmett said as he reached forward with his fork and grabbed two from the top of the pile. Everyone soon had pancakes, syrup and fruit all over their plates and were complimenting Isabella on her delicious pancakes.
After eating four pancakes with syrup and fresh fruit, Bella proudly announced: "We're going to fill a book with delicious recipes that I can afford to make when I'm on my own again." Edward shot a confused look at Carlisle and Esme but his parents gave a gentle shake of their heads indicating this was not the time for this conversation.
Emmett, of course, just blurted out what the others were already thinking: "Bee, what makes you think you'll ever be on your own again? You are a Cullen now my little honey bee."
Bee giggled at his nickname for her and blushed a little at his kind words. She jumped slightly when she felt Edward take her hand under the table and when she looked at him she found him smirking at her with that crooked smile of his.
"That's right, Is-a-bella, you're not going to get rid of any of us anytime soon," he teased.
She blushed even more and went back to eating yet another pancake. She loved that there was always so much food at the Cullen's house. When all the pancakes were done, everyone relaxed over coffee.
Esme stood from the table and started to collect the dirty plates: "Edward would you go to Port Angeles for me today after Isabella is finished at the library? I ordered a few things that are ready to be picked up."
"Sure Mom," Edward said. He turned to Bee: "Do you want to come with me to PA? We could grab some food while we're there, maybe even go to the movies?"
Bee gasped and bounced on her seat: "Oh, I'd love to go to the movies, if it's not too expensive. I went twice with my grandmother when I was little and it was lovely."
The whole family were in shock that Bella had only been to the movies twice in her whole life but more than that they were all intrigued to hear about her grandmother.
"Did you live with your grandmother Isabella?" Carlisle asked.
"No. Nanna Swan came to visit me sometimes but only for a day each time. My grandmother and Renee did not like each other so Nanna Swan only came when Renee was away."
Bee was loading the dishwasher while she was talking and Edward didn't think she realised she was answering questions because she was distracted, so he thought he would try his luck and ask more: "Who was Renee, Bee? Was that your mother, love?"
Bee blushed a little at the endearment and Esme and Carlisle exchanged a look of surprise
while Emmett chuckled at his brother.
Bee spoke quietly: "Um... I'm not allowed to call Renee that."
This response distracted the family from their musings over Edward's seeming obliviousness about his endearment to Isabella and drew them back again to the enigmatic young woman.
It was Esme who asked: "Do you mean Renee was your mother but you weren't allowed to call her that?"
Bee bit her bottom lip and gave a small nod.
Esme could see that these questions were now making Isabella uncomfortable, so quickly changed the subject: "Oh, well thank you for telling us that sweetheart. What time are you due at the library?"
Bee was relieved that Esme didn't push her further, she didn't wanted to talk about Renee anymore; it made her sad and a little angry. She was tired of those feelings and wanted to stay in the happy place she found herself in this morning while making pancakes with Esme. She looked to the clock and realised she was running out of time: "I am due there at 10.30 for story-time."
Edward stood from the table and helped clear away the dishes: "Okay, I'll just go change and I'll be ready to go. Meet you back down here in 15 minutes, okay Bee?"
Bee smiled, nodded and turned towards the stairs. Esme walked over to join her and they walked up the stairs together.
"Isabella, I'll help you get dressed and then we can put some makeup on you to cover the bruising if you'd like," Esme offered quietly.
"Can you do that with makeup?" Bella was rather amazed that makeup could cover bruises.
"Oh yes, you can cover all sorts of things with makeup," Esme giggled. "I'll grab my makeup purse and join you in your room."
15 minutes later Edward was sitting in the kitchen with his keys in his hand waiting for Bee to arrive.
Emmett sat down across from him: "Hey Bro, what about a double for dinner and the movies tonight? Rosie and I could join you in PA."
Emmett didn't say so but he was actually excited to take honey bee to the movies since she hadn't been since she was a small child. He was also pretty excited to see his brother so enamoured with someone, finally. He loved his brother and was starting to worry that there was something wrong with his wiring when he showed no interest in either sex. What eighteen year old guy has no interest in sex?
Edward thought about Emmett's suggestion: "I don't know man, maybe it should just be Bee and me... I'll ask her and let you know okay?"
"Sure Ed, whatever."
Isabella and Esme walked into the room and Edward noticed Bee looked really different and it took him a few seconds to figure out that it was because she was wearing makeup. He hated that shit on girls and was about to say so when Esme explained that the makeup covered the marks that Jacob had left on her He was relieved he hadn't said anything and stuck his foot in it with Bee again.
"You ready to go?" Edward spoke quietly to Bee. She nodded and headed to the garage.
"Edward, can I speak to you for a minute before you go?" Esme moved further into the kitchen as she spoke making it fairly clear she wanted to speak to him in private.
Edward turned to Bee placing the keys in her hand: "Here you go wait in the car, I'll just be a minute." He turned and went to follow his mom.
"Edward, I ordered a new iPhone, Macbook Air and iPad for Isabella and I need you to pick them up." She handed him some paperwork from the store: "I haven't told her about them and so I need you to pick them up first and then tell her they are for her."
Edward nodded and was so pleased his mom was taking such good care of Bee. She deserved some TLC.
Esme touched his arm getting his attention before he headed to the car: "And another thing, Carlisle and I went to the bank yesterday to try and organise an account for her but we need her ID, so if you could raise that with her today as well that would be great."
Edward nodded but he knew there was more so he waited patiently.
"Make sure she has some healthy food throughout the day and Edward... be careful with her."
He smiled and kissed his mother's cheek: "I will Mom, I promise."
When he entered the garage he found Bee standing beside his car looking intently at the keys in her hand. She looked up at him and smiled; he had started to really appreciate that smile.
She scrunched her nose as he got closer: "I think this is the one to unlock the door but I didn't want to press it in case I was wrong and it set off the alarm or something."
Edward had begun to realise that so many things that he took for granted, Bee knew very little about: "You are right, that one unlocks the car, go ahead and push it."
She pressed the button with the unlock symbol and smiled when the buttons popped up unlocking the car. Edward opened the door for her and she took a seat. He closed it firmly and ran around to his side. Once they were both in and settled, he put on some music and they headed off.
"So, how long have you been reading to the kids at the library, Bee?"
"Oh, well when I first came to town I found all the places that were heated and well lit where I could spend time studying and stay warm without having to buy anything. The library had the added bonus of free wifi for my computer which made research possible. The books in the library are pretty limited but Mrs Call, the librarian, always gets in books from other libraries when i need them. It just takes longer."
"They always had story-time on Saturdays and the lady who used to do it moved away, so I volunteered. It was my way of saying thank you, and if I am really honest, I knew they served morning tea after story time and if I did the reading I'd be able to have some. It was always yummy fresh fruit and juice. As well as that I really love children, so it was a win win for me."
Edward's heart squeezed in his chest, thinking of how hard Bee's life had been, where just finding a warm place to study and getting a free morning tea of fresh fruit was a luxury for her.
He reached across and took her hand in his, she looked surprised but didn't pull away.
"Is this okay Bee?"
"Yes, it's nice." She gave him a shy smile and he loved it.
When they arrived at the library she opened her door and waited for him at the back of the car. He was disappointed he didn't get to open her door and determined to show her that he could be a gentleman; he hadn't treated Bee well before but he was certainly going to start now.
He took her hand and they walked in to the library together. Mrs Call welcomed Bee warmly although she couldn't help notice the marks on her cheek and neck, though hidden under makeup. She scowled at the young Cullen boy holding Bee's hand wondering if he was the cause of her injuries.
"Morning Miss Bee, all your little charges are ready and waiting for you." She smiled at Bee but again she scowled at Edward.
"Morning Mrs Call… you know Edward Cullen, of course, he drove me this morning… he ... he... he is... " she stumbled not knowing what to say.
Edward leaned forward and said confidently: "I'm Bee's boyfriend." He gave Bee a smug smile and she blushed but also raised her eyebrow in challenge. Edward turned back to Mrs Call: "If she'll have me," he amended. Bee giggled and turned to go to the children's corner.
Edward lingered with Mrs Call and when Bee was out of earshot he spoke quietly to the librarian: "It wasn't me, Mrs Call, it was Jacob Black. He's been arrested and is in PA juvie awaiting a court hearing." The scowl the librarian had given him hadn't gone unnoticed and he wanted to set her straight. He was angry that she would think it was him but was glad she was so protective of Bee.
Thinking she might be an ally in helping him solve the riddle that was Bee, he thought he'd ask some questions and see if she would share information with him: "How long have you known Bee?"
"She's been coming here a few nights a week and every Saturday since she moved here with her father. He travels a lot and so she comes here for company. She's such a lovely girl and so clever. I am glad she has a boyfriend, I worry she spends too much time alone. I am very upset that she's been hurt, do you know if her father has been contacted?"
Edward was in a quandary, he didn't want to tell this kind woman that Bee had lied to her but he also wanted her to know the truth. In the end he decided to tell her what he could without lying: "I believe they tried to call him but couldn't get through. She's staying with us for now." That was the truth, just not the whole truth.
"Oh good, Esme will make sure Bee's well looked after. That young girl is far too thin, if you ask me and I often wonder if she eats properly when her father is travelling."
Edward just nodded and followed Mrs Call who led him to the story area. She turned and whispered to him: "We used to be lucky to get five children along before Bee took over Story-Time, now the room is full every single Saturday."
He turned the corner to enter the children's section of the library to find Bee sitting on a bean bag with a small boy cradled in her arms while she read aloud, surrounded by around twenty children.
"I was thinking," said Mary, "how different you are from Dickon."
"Who is Dickon?" he said. "What a queer name!"
She might as well tell him, she thought. She could talk about Dickon without mentioning the secret garden. She had liked to hear Martha talk about him. Besides, she longed to talk about him. It would seem to bring him nearer.
"He is Martha's brother. He is twelve years old," she explained. "He is not like anyone else in the world. He can charm foxes and squirrels and birds just as the natives in India charm snakes. He plays a very soft tune on a pipe and they come and listen."
Edward took a seat on the floor at the back of the room and almost immediately a little girl no more than five years old with long strawberry blond hair came and sat in his lap. He was startled at first but looked around and noticed other adults sitting with children in their laps in much the same way so he decided to go with it. He looked around the room and watched the children all listening to the story entranced by the strange old-fashioned world Bee created with her storytelling.
The adults too were quite caught up and he himself was drawn back to her rich, warm voice. She read two chapters of the book and then placed the book down: "So our young rajah Master Colin knows about the garden. What do you think of that?"
The children and Bee carried on a discussion about the chapters she had read and they wrote a list of things they needed to find out about or didn't understand in the story.
After a little while, Bee clapped her hands and invited them all to join in the morning tea.
The little strawberry blond girl went and got a cup of juice and a piece of apple before coming back and sitting in Edward's lap again. He was a fish out of water with children and really didn't know how he should react to her.
"My name is Tanya," she stated. The little girl tilted her head in this really cute way and finally she said: "You are very pretty… you look like Prince Charming. What's your name?"
Edward guffawed in laughter at being called pretty and charming in one sentence: "Edward is my name and I am certainly nothing like Prince Charming."
She tilted her head back and forth tapping her finger on her chin, Edward thought it was really cute and that she'd be a little heartbreaker when she grew up. Bee walked over to them and sat down next to them on the floor.
"Yes," young Tanya declared. "You are much more like Prince Adam before he became the Beast."
Edward and Bee laughed: "Yes, Beast is much more like me and Bee is my Beauty." He leaned over and placed a small kiss on her cheek.
"Oh, Miss Bee is Edward your boyfriend?" Tanya clapped her hands excitedly.
Edward cocked his eyebrow at Bee with a 'I'm waiting to hear the answer to this myself' look on his face.
"If he'll have me," Bee repeated his earlier response to Mrs Call. Edward gave her his half smile and she gave him a small kiss on the cheek.
Tanya in her excitement knocked her drink and it spilled all down Edwards lap. Bee gasped in shock but then couldn't contain her laughter:"Oh no, Edward."
Young Tanya looked upset and as though she was about to cry so Edward tried to wave it off as nothing: "Don't worry little Tanya, it was an accident and this sort of thing happens to me a lot."
This just made Bee laugh all the harder. Tanya gave him a small smile and went to find her mother.
Edward stood up and wiped down his pants but they were soaked through and already sticky.
He helped Bee stand up. She touched his arm and tried to look contrite for all the laughing at his expense: "I have a few things to do before I leave, why don't you scoot home, change your pants and then come back for me."
He just smirked back at her and nodded: "Won't be long, love."
After he left, Bee set out to help the older children look up the things they didn't understand from the story, it was fun to teach them how to look things up in the library and was honestly her favourite part of the whole activity besides the free morning tea.
When Edward entered his house he moved through the kitchen quickly towards the stairs but not quickly enough to avoid his brother and father who were sitting over a cup of coffee and chatting about sports.
Emmett saw the wet marks on his brother's pants and laughed: "What the hell Edward? Did you piss off Bee already? Or did you have a little 'accident'."
"Ha, Ha you moron. One of the kids in Bee's library story-time spilled juice on my lap."
"What is it with you and chicks spilling drinks on your pants, bro'!"
"No idea but at least it wasn't Bee and at least it wasn't hot coffee."
"Where is Isabella, Edward?" Carlisle was grinning but was looking for his new daughter.
"She's still at the library helping the kids look shit up from the story. It was really great, she had about 20 kids in the group all lapping up her story. The librarian told me they used to only get a handful of kids before Bee starting doing the story-time and now she can barely fit them all in."
Edward stepped towards them then with a more serious expression: "Mrs Call at the library thinks that Bee lives with her Dad and that he travels all the time. She thinks that Bee was going to the library all the time for company."
He sighed then: "But Bee told me on the way there that she used to go there because it was warm and she could use the free wifi to help her study. Dad it kills me that she was so alone and no-one noticed. That I didn't notice."
Carlisle gave his son a comforting pat on the back: "That story about her Dad seems to be the one she came up with to explain why no-one ever saw him and why she was on her own most of the time."
"But why was she so alone Dad? It's almost like she was hiding out."
"You could be right son, but only Isabella can tell us and she needs to trust us to share her story. We have to be patient."
Edward nodded and turned to head upstairs to change his trousers so he could get back to his little Busy Bee. The more he heard of her story the more determined he was to spoil her and protect her. In fact, the urge to protect her was becoming overwhelming.
When he arrived back at the library, Bee was just finishing up with the children and resetting the children's book area back to its normal set-up.
"Edward?" she asked shyly. "Would it be okay if we stopped by my old place? I have some things, not much, but they are my things and I want to get them. Is that okay?"
"Of course, love. We can go there and then we can head to PA," he said as they walked out to his car.
Edward followed her directions to arrive at a modest house down the very end of a dead end street he'd never travelled on before despite this being such a small town. The house was set back, away from other homes in the area and backed on to a section of natural forest.
He pulled into the driveway and before Bee could get out Edward reached across and asked her to wait for him to get the door.
She looked a little confused but waited as he walked around the front of the car and then opened her door.
"I like to open the door for you Bee, is that okay?" Edward asked shyly. He was trying to be a gentleman.
"I don't understand why you want to do that but it is nice, so okay." Bee was confused by his actions but as it seemed to be important to him and she really didn't care, she agreed.
They walked towards the front of the house hand in hand but then Bee led him around the back. On the back porch, she went over to one of the windows reached up and turned a knob and then pushed on the glass in an upwards movement and the window opened. She gave him a shy smile and then proceeded to climb in through the window.
The next thing he heard the latch on the back door and she opened it with a gesture for him to follow her in.
Edward was confused: "Is this how you get in every time Bee?"
"Yes, well I don't exactly have a key. This way it looks like I always use the back door if anyone was watching me."
Once inside, Edward looked around and was honestly shocked at what he saw. There was a single fold up cot, which was neatly made with sheets a small pillow and one thin blanket folded at the end. There was a small pile of clothes which he recognised as ones Bee wore everyday to school. Next to the cot was a pile of books with the school library tag on them. He looked around the kitchen. It was very clean but completely bare with just a single plate, cup and butter knife. There was a half loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter and an apple on the bench. Sitting next to the bed was a hurricane lamp which was, as far as he could see, the only light source in the whole area.
Edward could feel the emotion welling up inside him: "Oh Bee." He reached out and drew her into a tight hug: "I am so sorry... so fucking sorry. Please forgive me love, please." Tears fell from his eyes.
Bee was completely taken aback by Edward's outburst of emotion: "What is wrong Edward? What are you sorry for?"
"Treating you so rudely, so meanly. I had no idea... I can't imagine… I am so selfish, so blind... I'm just sorry love."
She leaned out still held in his arms and gave him a small smile: "I think Tanya was right. You are just like the Beast, learning there is a whole other world out there. I didn't have much choice about my life Edward. I've just been trying to make the most of a pretty shitty situation. Could you have been nicer to me? Probably."
He hung his head in shame. She ran her fingers through his soft, messy hair.
"But most people don't see what is going on around them Edward. You can't blame yourself for not seeing what was going on with me, I worked very hard to hide ... my situation from others. "
He was desperate to understand why this beautiful, intelligent, compassionate girl was all alone in the world: "Where is your family Bee? Why are you alone?"
She dropped her head to his chest: "I... I...can't talk about that yet, Edward. Please don't ask me. Just know that I need to stay hidden and I have no family left."
He nodded. His Dad was right, he needed to be patient and not push her.
He watched silently as she packed her meagre belongings into an old cardboard box, including a locked tin she had hidden in the floorboards. She bagged up the old food and they threw it in the garbage bin outside the house. He didn't ask her about her belongings or the lock box, he wasn't going to push her again but he made up his mind that he would find out what the hell happened to bring her to this place, alone, and with next to nothing.
When they were back in the car he mentioned to Bee that Emmett and Rose would like to join them for dinner and the movie. She agreed enthusiastically, not because of Rose so much but she was starting to think very fondly of her new 'brother' Emmett, and was happy to spend more time with him.
Edward sent a text to Em letting him know Bee's decision.
Em replied almost immediately with a text that just said: 'Woo Hoo, Honey Bee'.
Edward showed it to Bee and she laughed, shaking her head. She was starting to really like Emmett.
Ash they drove to Port Angeles they listened to music with Edward talking about each band that came on to Bee's fascination.
When they arrived, he once more opened her car door for her before guiding her into the Mall. They went directly to the Apple store where Edward talked through the ordered purchases with the sales girl and together they set up the phone, computer and iPad while Bee roamed the store marvelling at all the technology and testing things out.
When Edward was done he took Bee to Starbucks so he could broach the subject of the items he'd picked up actually being for her. She was bouncing with excitement to be in the coffee shop.
"I know you usually drink black coffee, but is that because you like it or because it was all you could afford?" he whispered in her ear as they looked over the menu selection up on the wall listing all the different blends and coffees available. "Put it this way, love. If you could try any coffee which one appeals to you most?"
She smiled at looked at the menu again: "Something with caramel?" she said more as a question than a statement. She could never remember having caramel in her life but she really liked the sound of it and in books children often enjoyed eating caramels.
He chuckled, guided her to a table and left her with the packages while he went to order.
When he returned he placed the Caramel Flan Latte down in front of her with a bowl of hearty veggie and brown rice salad. He went back to the counter to collect his macchiato and ham & swiss panini. Bee's eyes practically bulged at the sight of the food and the coffee before her. She mumbled a small thank you before lifting the beverage to her lips and moaning as she enjoyed the tasty treat. Bee proceeded to almost reverentially eat her food and Edward smirked, pleased with himself for having chosen wisely
When they were done, Edward pulled out the phone from the bag of Apple products he'd picked up at the store. He cleared his throat and took out the phone which was already in a lovely purple case: "This is your phone Bee. Esme ordered it for you with this other stuff. I set it up for you while we were in the store and I even programmed in my number and the numbers for the rest of the family. Do you want me to show you how it works?"
Bee sat stunned as Edward moved to sit beside her and showed her all the different applications on her phone and explained what Facebook was and Twitter. He talked about iTunes and how he'd help her load music on her phone when they got home. He showed her how to unlock the phone and how to answer it. She nodded here and there but really had no idea what he was talking about.
"Edward?" she said softly.
"Yes love," he answered. He had been waiting for her to wake from her stunned state and was bracing himself for her to be angry, but of course Bee always surprised him.
"Your parents are very good people aren't they," it wasn't a question. She was stating a fact.
He smiled: "Yes love. They are very good people." He had no idea where she was going with this but he thought he'd just wait for her to get to the point.
"There's no point in me fighting this is there?" Bee was astounded by the generosity.
"Not really, no. It's not like Mom and Dad are trying to buy your affections or anything like that. They're just happy you are living with us and they want you to have what we have because... well because, to them you are a Cullen now."
She gave a small nod and a tear rolled down her cheek. She gave him a huge smile as she wiped away the tear: "Well let's see what else you have in that magic bag."
He chuckled, relieved that she understood and then showed her the laptop and iPad: "Emmett can show you around the laptop better than me but I made sure to load up your iPad with a Kindle app. I'll show you how to download books on to this and then you'll have all your favourite books with you all the time. It's really my favourite app."
She smiled not really understanding what he meant but excited to find out how she could possibly have all her favourite books with her all the time.
He'd received several texts from Emmett about going to the movie first and then going to dinner. Apparently, Jasper and Alice were meeting them for dinner but not the movie since they'd been kicked out of the complex last time for getting busy in the back row.
When they arrived at the cineplex Rosalie took Bee to the ladies and touched up the make-up covering her bruises. Bee was amazed at how sweet and tender Rosalie was being, having always considered her to be quite a harsh, cold person.
Emmett was bursting with excitement about what movies they could see but Edward was adamant that Bee should decide. Rosalie gave Bee the synopsis of each movie but Edward watched her eyes light up when Rose described one film and he knew that was the one they would be watching.
Emmett went and bought two large buckets of popcorn for the couples to share as well as four drinks and some ice-cream cones.
Emmett groaned when he realised which film Bee had chosen while Edward went to the ticket counter to buy the tickets: "Four for Cinema three, thanks."
"Frozen?" The man selling tickets chuckled as he issued the tickets, at yet another young man being dragged to see the movie by his girl.
Edward sighed resigned: "Frozen."
A/N: Well I hope this chapter was worth the wait. We've learned a little more about Bee ... so sweet that he is going to see Frozen with her.
Book credit: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
First published in book form in 1911 following the publication in 1910 of a serial version in a US magazine. Set in England, it is one of Burnett's most popular novels and is considered a classic of English children's literature. Several stage and film adaptations have been made.