oOo
"Emmett!" Rosalie shouted once the door had closed behind her and Edward. "Emmett!"
Since there was no reply, she took a few of the steps leading upstairs and called again, taking off her coat at the same time.
"Can you please not make this a big drama?" Edward said.
"I'm not making it a drama! I'm happy for you!"
"Then can we just have tea and talk like normal people?" Edward looked at her. "Please?"
Rosalie considered it for a moment.
"Okay," she relented.
"Thank the Lord," Edward muttered as he followed her to the kitchen.
He sat down at the round wooden table by the window, and Rosalie joined him once she'd set up tea.
"Okay, so tell me."
Edward knew that his sister wouldn't let him get away without some information, and he knew that she was only well meaning.
"After my horrible behaviour the night of your party, I met her queuing up in Boots. We talked for a bit, and then went to have a sandwich, and then for a walk."
"I'm surprised she talked to you after the party," Rosalie quipped drily. She got up to prepare the tea. "And I'm surprised you even remembered her."
"I know, right?" Edward felt himself get excited.
He was such a goner. Talking about his non-girlfriend to his sister was the highlight of his day.
"So you went for a walk?" Rosalie gestured for him to continue.
"And we talked all the time, and, Ro, I felt so… relaxed with her. I know… I know she's younger, but she's very, very mature, and intelligent, and well read. She studies Linguistics at Westminster. She loves dogs. She's funny, and she doesn't take any bullshit, and she has the cutest little flat."
"You've been to her house?"
"Um, yeah?" Edward drummed his fingers on the table.
"So… You see each other regularly?"
Edward nodded.
"And you took her to the ballet?"
"She used to be a dancer," Edward smiled.
"But she's not your girlfriend?"
He shrugged.
"No."
"But you want her to be," Rosalie stated.
"Yes," he whispered, staring at the polished wood of the table.
Edward almost had a heart attack when Rosalie jumped up, ran to the open door and yelled, "Emmett! Emmet, get your arse down here!"
Edward dropped his head on the table, but despite the gesture, he smiled.
"What is it, honeybee?"
Emmett appeared after a minute. He was still in sweatpants and a T-shirt. He was always wearing those funny T-shirts. This one said I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers done.
Emmett was almost seven years younger than Rosalie, and judging by the way he kissed her in greeting, Edward assumed that their marriage was still flourishing. Their wedding had been the year after Irina's death, and since Edward had pretty much been out of everything at the time, he didn't know Emmett all too well, but he liked him.
"Hey, Edward. Why is Rosie screaming like that?"
"Edward found a girl," Rosalie stage-whispered. "And he doesn't want to admit it, but I think he's smitten!"
"Ro," Edward groaned, feeling like a teenager.
And if he was honest, it felt damn good.
oOo
Dearest readers, this will be the last chapter before the holidays. I'll resume posting on the 28th.
Thank you for the support you've given this story – I can't say it often enough: I couldn't do it without you! Each and every one of your reviews, be it a smiley, a quick "nice" or a catalogue of questions – you make me do this. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.
Have a wonderful Christmas; see you in a few!
xoxo
Your
harperpitt