Chapter 15 - Surprises
"Hey Baby!" Edward beamed as he rose from the leather chair seeing his Mari enter the office.
"Hey." She smiled slightly blushing; plunging her hands into her figure hugging jean pockets, desperate to clear her mind of her morning's secretive activity.
"Finished your shopping?" He fished for her thoughts, as he walked round the desk. But she was good at wiping them clean as he heard nothing. "Damn!" He cursed aloud frustrated.
"What you damning?" She giggled nervously, praying she'd not given anything away.
"I thought you may just give me some clues about my presents via thought. But you're good!" He squinted and wagged a finger at her before pulling her into a hug.
"Well I do try. Some surprises are good you know." Her smile faded as she placed her arms around his neck and leaned close for her cuddle.
He really wasn't seeing her thoughts.
She'd actually inwardly cursed herself because she had let her mind drift as soon as she'd seen him. Their hug was interrupted by Emmett bringing in a customer. Breaking their hold both Edward and Mari's eyes drifted to the doorway.
"Oh. Hey, Mari." Emmett acknowledged her before returning to business. "Edward, this is Mr Phillips. He's brought back the Sunracer." Edward smiled politely.
"Oh yes, of course. Please come take a seat Mr Phillips. Would you like a drink?" Mari couldn't help but swoon. Edward was so attractive when he was in work mode.
The customer shifted uneasily, "Um, no thanks. I'm just here to settle up." He looked between them all in turn studying their eyes. He'd never seen such a light shade of brown before.
They were all the same shade. So, rich. So smooth. Mesmerising. Enchanting even.
"Sure!" All three vampires felt his inquisitiveness and it was Edward who broke the awkward silence.
"Let's just get your file." he approached the filing cabinet and rummaged through it retrieving the contract. "Ahh, here it is!" Emmett shot a thought to Mari to join him outside. Edward also acknowledged this by glancing at them both but carried on talking business to the customer.
"What's up?" Mari said closing the office door softly behind her. "Did it arrive?" Emmett's eyes were bright with anticipation, but he kept his voice low in case Edward was listening. He kept his thoughts on boats, disguising the real subject from Edward as he was in very close proximity.
"Yes!" She lightly clapped with glee, keeping her voice soft also. "It's wonderful Emmett. I'm really excited to see his reaction." Mari also thought of boats, just in case. Emmett jabbed his thumb behind him towards the large motorboat moored up a fair way down the jetty.
"Ok. I'm done here. I'm off home with Rosalie; she's just checking the Sunracer. You finishing up here...er...soon?" He gave her silent thumbs up. "We'll be home about seven." She gave the thumbs up too as the office door swooshed opened. Edward appeared with the male customer eyeing them both inquisitively. Flapping a handful of leaflets the customer smiled happily. "Thank you Mr Cullen. I'll be sure to recommend your company to anyone interested."
Edward held out his hand for him to shake, which the customer received with a smile. "Thanks for using 'Cullen's' Mr Phillips. Do come again." Edward grinned revealing his pearly white teeth.
"I will. I will. Good day to you." The man nodded once and walked away.
"Another happy customer?" Mari slotted her hands back into her pockets and toed the ash dirt beneath her feet.
"Sure was! He left a nice tip too. I think he thought I was going to eat him otherwise." Edward joked, making then all titter.
"Good God, I don't think I've ever been that thirsty!" Emmett scoffed. Edward disagreed. "You've had your moment's Emmett. I remember that man in the churchyard that night." Mari loved their brotherly bond. She never felt such closeness to people before.
"Oh hush up Dude. One mistake, besides he deserved it" Emmett lifted an arm and turned as he sensed Rosalie approaching from behind him. "All ok? Sweetcheeks?"
"Yes, cleaner than when it went out." She smiled. "Hey Mari."
"Hi." She replied politely.
"That will save us some time tonight. We all may be home by six if we haven't the inside to do." Edward said relieved. Emmett shook his head. "Not us Dude. We're off home. Date night!"
"What?!" Edward held out his hand palm facing up. "Sorry Bro. She's all yours." He was of course referring to the Sunracer. "Thanks a bunch!" Edward sighed.
"We'll be through her in no time. You two get off." Mari grinned. Actually thankful she'd have some time alone with Edward. With living in such a busy house, these times were hard to come by sometimes. "See you later?"
"Yes. We're hunting about midnight I think if you wish to join us?" Rosalie winked at Mari when Edward wasn't looking.
"Cool. See you then." Mari smiled back with a clear mind.
"See ya!" Emmett held up a hand as they made their way to the Jeep.
"Meh!" Edward huffed. Mari pulled him to her. "At least we get some time together alone huh?"
"Hmm. So..." He said wrapping his arms around her. "You never told me what you bought me today?" She grinned cheekily.
"No I didn't, did I? And, Mr Cullen...I'm not going to tell you! Not yet anyway!"
"You really are developing that shield technique very well indeed." He kissed her forehead.
"Am I? Oh, good!" She swallowed hard.
Was that her Gift? Involuntary Shielding. Or was he sick?
"Grab your bucket and cloth Cullen; we've got to wash the Sunracer."
"So Emmett joined your family only 29 years ago?" Mari and Edward were discussing the family whilst cleaning the boat together.
"Yeah. He was a typical 1990's kid, heavily into rap. Thankfully his music taste has changed for the better."
"How did he turn?" Mari was like a sponge she craved information. "Random bite." Edward explained.
"He was in a gang who loitered on street corners late at night. Not a bad sort of gang, just a gang of friends. They were jumped by three red eyes. Lucky for Emmett they chose the others first. They were full by the time they got to him, so they just bit not fed."
"Oh." Mari rinsed her cloth in the soapy filled bucket. Edward continued. "I was on my way to collect Carlisle from work as his car was in getting fixed." He chuckled to himself. "Which is a whole different story for another day." He glanced over to Mari, who met his gaze with a smile.
"Intriguing..." she replied before continuing to wipe down the paintwork.
"Anyway..." he said returning to the original story. "I saw the aftermath of the attack and hearing his howling I realised it was only going to attract the wrong attention. I did consider ending his misery. But I couldn't bring myself to be that type of monster again. So I bundled him into the car. Carlisle dealt with the rest of his transformation." He shrugged.
"Was Rosalie already with you then?" she asked as she scrubbed. "Yes Rose joined us in 1936. Emmett loves the older woman." He grinned. "Well she hardly looks her age does she?" Mari giggled. "I guess this is still fairly strange to you huh?" Edward tossed his cloth into the bucket making it splash. "Ah!" Mari was still only a yearling after all.
"I still find it odd I will remain like this forever."
"Well. You will, and I for one, like that idea very much." Edward stalked towards her and wrapped a damp arm around her waist, his face nuzzled into the dip in the nape of her neck. With his free hand, he brushed aside her long auburn hair allowing him free access. Mari's breath hitched at his touch. Familiar stirrings plagued her from within.
"Edward." She began. "This isn't getting the boat done."
"Spoil sport." He grinned flashing his fangs. She turned around to face him still in his hold.
"I'm not spoiling it. But I'm finding restraining myself increasingly difficult. I don't know how long I can resist you Edward." Her voice wavered slightly.
"Okay." He released her, backing off allowing her to catch her breath. They both then returned to cleaning the boat in silence. The rest of the day at the office was fairly non eventful. They had cleaned the Sunracer and had no new customers so eventually they locked up for the day and headed for home. Mari drove as Edward looked a bit washed out after his first full day back to work and she wanted to keep her mind on something other than what was about to happen.
Everyone was now gathered in the living room, drinks in hand. They sensed the two were on their way home and were excited to see Edward's reaction. His gift was in the bigger of the two rooms as that was the only place it could fit. As Mari and Edward pulled up in the Volvo outside, Esme smiled.
"They're here." They all fell silent.
"Renesmee's here." Jacob's bike was leaning to the right on the kickstand at the bottom of the stone steps that led up to the house. Edward face lit up at the thought of her being there.
"Nice of them to visit." Mari smiled as she pressed the lock button on the remote key.
This was it. She hoped he'd like it.
He'd not mentioned his birthday since that morning and neither had she.
"Hello?!" Edward said stepping inside the house, looking around the hall and lounge area. It was strangely quiet. Usually there was an argument going on; roaring laughter, TV or music blasting. Nothing! How odd? He thought to himself.
Renesmee called out from the back living room, making Mari draw in a long breath. "I'm in the living room Dad!" Edward turned his course and Mari followed close behind. He entered the room and the sight before him made him stagger back slightly.
"Happy Birthday!" They all chorused. He looked around at everyone with a stunned face.
How could he have forgotten it was his Birthday? It had totally slipped his mind.
"Happy Birthday Edward!" Mari said joining him by his side. It was then as he hugged her; the family parted and revealed his gift. His face went from stun to shock.
"Mari? Is...Is that..Mine?" He stuttered looking between her and his gift.
"Yep!" She beamed delighted he liked it.
"Go ahead Edward, why don't you play for us?" Carlisle smiled beckoning him to the black stool that sat in front of his new very own, shiny Grand Piano.
"It's just like my old one!" He said quietly stepping up to it and he ran a stony digit along the polished surface.
"It's exactly like your old one." Alice squealed. Mari reached out and held his hand.
"I heard you had to sell your last one, thinking it wouldn't fit in here when you moved." Edward looked at her in astonishment. She continued "So, I tracked it down. This is your old piano Edward."
"No!" He gasped staring at her gift, glassy eyed.
No-one had ever done anything like this for him before.
"Yes." Mari said softly.
"Mari. I..." He turned to her again about to say he couldn't possibly accept it, but she cut him short by waving her hand in front of her face. Causing a ripple of laughter "Oh shush your noise, just play the damn thing?!"
"How the heck did you keep this quiet?" He said wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.
"With great difficulty!" Emmett piped up. "Now play it Dude!" Edward left Mari's side and sat down gently on the stool and pulled it in closer to the sparkling keys. Renesmee came behind him placing her hands tenderly on each of his shoulders. He turned his head to her briefly and touched her left hand. He knew exactly what she wanted him to play. He went straight into 'Renesmee's Lullaby' making her smile. Everyone exchanged a tender look; they all remembered him teaching Renesmee to play when she was little. The family knew just how he loved playing, but Mari had never heard him play before. She came close and lent on the smooth shining lid and watched in awe, astounded by how easy he made it look. It warmed Mari's cold heart. He did it so effortlessly.
She sat for hours, just listening to him tinkle away. He played some traditional pieces alongside some of his own. His passion for music overflowed in abundance. As beautiful as it was to listen to him, it was hugely apparent that he loved playing it far more. Renesmee placed a kiss on the top of his head and bent low to whisper into his ear.
"Happy Birthday Dad."
A/N: Hey all, seems like ages since we had a chapter. Big thanks to my very busy Beta Dodger McClure for squeezing me in between her hectic personal schedule. I'm really thankful. xx
More thank you's to my pre-reader CaptainClaire3 love Ooo.
To my readers. thank you for sticking around.
There are five chapter left. Stick with it xx
Love to all.
DeathToBeReborn. xx