Edward's POV
I stepped across the threshold of Victoria Secret clutching my phone with Emmett on the other end for back-up and immoral support. It felt like I'd passed the point of no return when I was spotted by two very female shop assistants. They came from separate parts of the store simultaneously and I got the impression of being herded. The shorter black haired one spotted the red haired one on her way to me and picked up the pace to reach me first. I back stepped to keep from coming in contact with either of them.
The shorter girl with black hair cropped close to her head smiled in greeting and while she gave me the ever popular, "Hello, how can I help you?" She brazenly took stock of me, gazing up and down my form while sucking on a fountain pen in her mouth. She tried to wave off the taller girl, but red hair came over as if oblivious to the situation. Red hair seemed to be wearing a store sample in the form of a satin kimono. I wondered if this was an everyday employee practice. She moved very close to me as she asked, "Afternoon sir, do you see anything you like?" It was at this point that Emmett guffawed so loudly he could be heard five feet from the phone. I had continued my backing up strategy and collided with a rack of very small pieces of clothing. I assumed they were clothing; they were about the size of an eye patch. How they got them on hangers I'll never know.
I steadied the rack of unmentionables before it toppled to the floor. I felt a wave of relief in doing so until I turned back around to face the shop girls and panic set in again.
"Good…" I croaked, and then cleared my throat. "Good afternoon." I addressed the girl closest to me.
"Can I help you find something?" She asked, the smirk fading; time for business. Her name was Jessica as it was prominently displayed on a name tag above her right breast. She was truly in earnest; her mind flipping through the different articles for sale. I wished I could just stop her when she came to the right one, but that was out of the question.
"Um, yes…" I started but then froze having no idea how to phrase my inquiry. The racks of clothing were so numerous and close together that I put my hands into my jacket pockets afraid I might touch something.
The taller redhead joined in. "Would you like something for your girlfriend?" I turned to her, but was still speechless. She tried again, "For your wife, maybe?"
"Yes!" I said a bit too loudly. I jumped on the notion because it seemed more acceptable making a purchase of this kind for a spouse. "I would like…that is, she would like…um…" and we were interrupted by Emmett's audible cackle coming from my pocket. I put the phone to my ear. He insisted on talking to the shop girl himself. I was hesitant, but he had not yet led me astray on this venture. I handed the phone to Jessica like an offering. She sighed, but accepted it.
"Hello?" She said with an eye roll and listened. "Okay…yes I can see that." The kimono girl lost interest and walked off to help another customer. My attention was drawn back to Jessica as she giggled into the phone. "Don't they all? Sure, we have an assortment. What size? Is there any certain price range…excellent, no problem, just leave it all to me." She closed the phone and handed it back to me. I was a bit stunned as my lifeline from Emmett had just been cut short.
Jessica grinned at me, understanding in her eyes. "Come this way…Edward." So introductions had been made over the phone. "I'll bring you a few things for your approval and you can choose which you prefer, and color." Bless you; was all I could think of. I tried to say it with my eyes. She had me stand at the end of the checkout counter and as promised brought me items to accept or decline. I tried not to look too long at each piece. When she decided we were finished she started ringing it up. I handed her my credit card and a healthy tip.
Tipping has always confused me, not the amount of the tip but who to tip and when. Some vendors expect a tip and others aren't allowed to accept them. Jessica had no qualms about it. I signed the paper slip she handed me and made a hasty retreat. "Come back anytime, Mr. Cullen." She said to my back, and she meant it.
I was walking in the door to our bungalow when Emmett phoned back. I told him it was a great success and thanked him for his assistance. He waited until I threw out the expected, anytime-I-can-do-anything-for-you spiel before he let the hammer drop.
"Glad to hear you say that bro, because I'm coming for a little visit."
"Oh?" I looked longingly at the pink bag in my hand. "Uh, that's great…when?" I asked although I knew the answer as well as if I'd been Alice. I could hear the road noise in the background.
"Soon."
"I see." I may as well accept my fate. "Will Rosalie be with you as well?"
Silence.
"Emmett, are you still there?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm here. No, Rose won't be coming on this trip. See, the old man…" He paused to laugh at his own joke. "Asked me to help out with your apprentice."
"Sarah?" What the hell? "What do you mean help out?" I was beginning to get annoyed.
"You'll see, my ETA is in two hours, so make up the guest room." And he hung up.
I closed my phone. Maybe it would be alright. Maybe he wouldn't do anything stupid.
Right.
The shiny bag crinkled in my other hand. It was time for more current matters. I went into the bedroom Bella and I shared. There was a small chest of drawers near the door and I opened the top one. Bella kept her undergarments here; mostly white cotton, simple items. I pulled the delicate items from the bag and did inventory. A skirted lace garter belt in ivory, a matching demi bra with a satin bow and a little strip of material Jessica said went with the ensemble; a thong? I even had silk hose with seams down the back. I swallowed hard and placed them in her drawer. Just in time too, since I heard Bella's step on the front porch and then the knob turning on the front door.
Bella was taking a full load of classes. I decided to skip the entire semester. I can't begin to tell you how many classrooms in how many universities and how many schools I've sat in over the years. I would've attended her classes with her, but she wanted to do the work herself and knew if I were there I wouldn't be able to help myself.
I met her at the door, took her school messenger bag from her and set it on the floor. She hugged me in response and mumbled into my chest, "I'm starving."
I kissed the top of her head and breathed in her jasmine scented shampoo. "I'll make you something. What would you like?" She shrugged.
"We have the Tillamook cheese you like. I'll make you a sandwich, and we have some cookies that Sarah brought over." I suggested.
"Sarah cooks now?"
"Sort of." She liked to cook for her human boyfriend. I held up a very flat cookie for her inspection. "It was her first attempt in many, many…..many years."