The Writer and the Witch
Chapter 09
Preparations
Summary: Bella, along with Alice and Rosalie, have moved from their home town of Salem, MA to Houston Texas, have bought a new home, and are starting new businesses - both for money and for fun. Edward Cullen, the Writer, was raised in the house the trio of sisters have purchased. Wonder what mischief they can manage to get themselves into?
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer started it all for us. What the characters do here, is all mine.
A/N: My undying thanks to my Beta JoanOfArt; buggins74, AnakinsRealMom, and Gabby1017 who pre-read for me. Wouldn't be able to do this without you! I have a great team helping me bring this weirdness.
~o0o~
The Writer and the Witch
Chapter 09
Preparations
Previously: from chapter 7
"That went rather well, don't you think Bella?" Rosalie asked.
"Hmm, what? Oh yes, it went very well," Shaking her head, "You liked Emmett?" Bella asked.
Responding with a shrug Rosalie said, "Yeah, I guess. He kinda grew on me as the evening progressed. Sorta like a fungus."
The sisters started laughing and went inside and then to bed.
~o0o~
Now that Bella had reeled Edward Cullen into her web, so to speak, it was time to get down to the business of making lotions, soaps, and other various concoctions that Bella would sell in her shop.
With Alice's ability to grow seedlings into fully mature plants in a matter of 24 hours, Bella already had enough to start on the first batches of goods to sell. She'd gone into the larger greenhouse that contained the herbs she'd need. She cut all the herbs necessary, washed them in the sinks in the greenhouse and hung them, then began on the second group, and so on through the morning.
She'd put her cell phone in her back pocket of her old comfy jeans and felt it vibrating when she was about half way through the process of washing and drying some of the matured herbs. Drying her hands, she figured who it was calling, therefore was not disappointed when she saw the name on the display, Edward Cullen.
"Hello Edward. How are you this fine morning?"
"Bella! I'm fine, how 'bout yourself? What are you doin'?"
Smiling to herself she answered, "I'm working in the greenhouse getting ready to prepare a batch of herbs for soaps, lotions, skin toners, you know, everyday stuff."
The next words out of Edward's mouth surprised Bella and shocked Edward, "Double, double, toil and trouble; fire burn, and cauldron bubble." Where the hell did that come from? Edward laughed. "I have no idea where that came from."
Laughing Bella answered, "Well it's appropriate! Ha! If the boy only knew. That's what it looks like once I get everything ready to start cooking." She heard Edward relax, "I have two very large copper kettles that I use to cook the herbs down for the essential oils in them. Then I use the oils for the soaps, lotions, etc. Then I dry out what's left over and eventually turn that into paper for various things."
"Wow Bella, I didn't realize that you really used your own home grown herbs."
"That's right! You haven't seen our herbarium, or rather our greenhouse."
"No as a matter of fact I haven't, yet." Edward answered fishing.
Laughing Bella answered, "Why don't you come have supper tonight with us and I'll give you the fifty cent tour."
"Really?" Edward asked. "I honestly wasn't fishing for an invitation tonight..."
"It's alright Edward," Bella said smiling, "Come by 7:00 p.m. you're not here ready to eat, too bad. I'll see you then."
Bella started to disconnect the call but Edward yelled. "Bella!"
"Yes, Edward?" Bella asked.
"Can I bring some wine or anything?"
"Not necessary Edward. We even make our own wine. You might like it, but if you're really picky bring your own. Okay? Now, goodbye, I have work to do!"
Bella was disconnecting the call when both Alice and Rosalie walked into the greenhouse.
"Were you just talking to Edward?" Alice asked.
Bella just continued absentmindedly concentrating on what she was doing taking the freshly washed herbs from the dryer.
"Hmmmm Rosemary," Rosalie moaned, "I love that smell. Going to be making bath oil?
Bella chose to answer Rosalie and ignored Alice's question.
"Yes, a fresh batch of herbs for both. I pulled the caldrons out already for the cooking, but I forgot to get the hoods for the condensation." Bella said looking up at Rosalie.
"Ok. Fine. I'll go find them and have them ready for you when you come inside. Will you need help carrying the herbs?" Rose asked.
"Nope, that's what the wheelbarrow is for."
"Bella, if you think I'm going to let you ignore me and not answer my question about who you were talking to..." Alice actually stomped her foot.
"Ok Alice, yes I was talking to Edward. Yes, I've invited him to supper tonight at 7:00 p.m. Invite Jasper if you'd like and Rose if you want to ask Emmett, please do, though if he's coming we'd better cook two roasts instead of one," Bella laughed.
Alice jumped up and down clapping her hands and squealing. She started to turn and run to find her phone when Bella stopped he. "I need you to plant some more rosemary please so I can use it tomorrow."
Turning Alice walked into the back of the greenhouse and began to set up the trays to hold the plants.
About an hour later, Alice had finished with the planting prep. She stood back smiling at her work. She then took a deep calming breath, stilled her mind and stood extremely still. She reached within herself and found the energy connection necessary for that which needed doing.
She took one more deep calming breath, expelled it, opened her eyes and walked between the two rows of freshly planted seeds holding her hands about one to two inches over the planted seeds. Alice felt the energy coming down from the sun through her starting at the top of her head, through her throat center into her heart center and then spreading through her arms into the palms of her hands and from there flowed into the awaiting beds of seeds.
If someone were watching they would have seen a very quiet and glowing Alice walking slowly holding her hands out with a faint greenish gold light being projected down into the soil.
As she passed over the beds a green haze formed and moments later tiny shoots of something growing up. Shortly after it first appeared the small plants began to gain height and breadth and seconds after that the plants were about 6 inches tall.
Rosalie watched from the back porch where she was sitting drinking some sweet tea. It never ceased to amaze Rosalie watching Alice work bringing forth new life like she did.
Bella was also watching Alice work from the kitchen window. She too always found it amazing to see the life force work its way through Alice. Rosalie had a glow about her also when she worked her particular brand of magic. She was the first to sing their praises, but today was a busy one; today was cooking day, so Bella really didn't have the time to spend marveling at her sistersplus they were going to have the boys over for dinner and that had to be prepared.
~o0o~
Six-thirty that night found the sisters in their individual rooms getting themselves dressed for the night. Alice, who didn't know how to dress casual was wearing jeans but they were a $1,200.00 pair of Roberto Cavalli's. She paired these with a white knit silk tank, adding a leopard print silk scarf and a suede three inch wide belt latched around her narrow hips. Her shoes were the same color brown suede but with four inch heels. Even casual wear had to have class Alice thought as she looked at herself in the huge mirror that was the door to her closet. She ran a brush through her short almost white blond hair checked her make up for the umpteenth time, nodded and headed down stairs to the dining room.
Rosalie was not the stickler for fashion Alice was, but she too was wearing a name brand of distressed jeans by Dolce & Gabbana with a humble price tag of only $3,100.00 a pair. The top she chose was a camisole made of beige silk topped with a French lace beige over blouse matching the camisole perfectly. Her shoes were four inch platforms heels with embroidered roses and leaves on the uppers. She finished her make up and ran a brush through her blond hair. She was ready, though Rose was not sure what she felt for Emmett. She liked him, kinda, but she was not head over heels as Alice was but like she'd told Bella, Emmett was growing on her.
Bella who really cared nothing for fashion pulled on a clean pair of jeans from J. C. Penny and a cute little camisole with a white background and turquoise flowers around the bottom edge. Her shoes were leather sandals that were a golden yellow color. She pulled her hair back into a messy bun, made sure her face was clean but didn't bother with any makeup. He would see her as she was tonight. If his own desire had taken over, he would not care what she was wearing nor how much makeup she didn't have on. She headed downstairs for their huge kitchen.
~o0o~
Bella opened the oven and basted the two roasts carrots and potatoes one last time. Wouldn't do to have the meat dry out. Then she checked the copper cauldrons and the oily liquid dripping from spouts on the covers. The smell of Rosemary permeated the entire house. It was such a clean smell.
Alice and Rosalie were putting the finishing touches on the dining table. Alice of course had to add candles and some fresh flowers from the small English style flower garden behind the house.
At seven on the dot the doorbell rang and Rosalie answered the door. She actually felt a twinge in her stomach when she saw Emmett smiling down at her.
Alice was all but running but couldn't beat Rosalie, so she stood behind her sister impatiently waiting for Jasper. Bella stayed in the kitchen waiting for Edward to find her. She was checking the other pots on the stove to make sure they wouldn't boil dry while she showed Edward the greenhouse.
She looked up to see Edward leaning against the door jam watching her work. She smiled, and he grinned at her.
"You look lovely Bella. It smells divine in here! I can't wait to see what you've cooked up for me, er, us tonight."
"Hello Edward." Bella grinned, "We've about 15 minutes before everything's ready to serve so how 'bout let's make it a quick tour?"
She headed for the door that lead out onto the back part of the porch that surrounded the house. She stopped and turned grinning, "Well, you coming?"
Edward grinned back and pushed himself away from the door and followed Bella outside.
Edward had never seen a working greenhouse before and he was impressed that the sisters had gotten it up and running so quickly. He couldn't get over how large all the plants were. "Did you buy mature plants and put them in here?" Edward asked.
"No, Alice has a way with growing things." Bella looked at Edward briefly before continuing. "We all have a talent of some kind Edward. Rosalie can find things, and I can make herbal concoctions without measuring or following a recipe. It's just comes to me," Bella said. Then grabbing his hand she pulled him to the door of the greenhouse and he followed in her tow.
Alice, Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett were standing around the dining room table, waiting for Bella and Edward to come back inside. When the sisters heard the screen door from the back into the kitchen shut they came to help Bella bring the food to the table. The men offered to help but Bella told them to just take a seat and relax. "We have this."
~o0o~