Chapter 6: The Fairy Tale
Nothing belongs to me. I'm borrowing it from its respective owners. No profit is being made.
Sunday, August 2nd, 2009
Angela's pov
Edward had stayed behind at the main house, claiming he needed to talk to Carlisle. I stood before the cottage, stunned.
It was like a hobbit hole, romantic and secluded, and stocked with comforts. No wonder they had such a happy marriage. Esme was a genius.
The little sitting room was cozy and inviting, and I supposed the art was worth a pretty penny. There was an old sampler with the Serenity Prayer on it that I particularly liked. Probably a family heirloom:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
The kitchen was minimal. They just kept snacks in it. A washer and dryer were hidden in a cupboard in one corner of the kitchen. Bella said that was the main use of the room. Bella said they never cooked there. They always ate main meals at the big house, or went out.
Bella's bedroom looked like something out of a design magazine. It mimicked a tropical beach, with plush sand-coloured carpet, white linens and sky blue walls. On the wall was a practically life-size photograph of Edward, asleep. I was surprised he had allowed Bella to display it, seeing as how embarrassed he had been when it had been published in a wedding magazine in 2006.
My friends didn't know I owned a copy of that magazine. They were on the cover, in their exquisite wedding clothes, and I was proud of them. There were a few nice pictures of them inside. I had simply been too shy to admit that I had it, considering that the poster in the middle was this picture on their wall: Edward asleep naked on the beach in Rio.
The bed had gossamer netting hanging from plantation-style posts, and beyond the French door was a tiny garden with a hot tub set into the ground like a pond. The frogs in the garden were croaking. It was serene.
The bathroom had matching decor, with tiny, smooth river rocks embedded in patterns on the walls. Again, there was a large white jaccuzzi tub. The fittings looked like pewter, and there were more of the fluffy white towels and scented candles that graced the main house's bathrooms.
Bella showed me the walk-in closet, which she claimed terrified her. There were hundreds of garment bags hung on cedar-lined racks. She and Edward had liberated their favourite clothes from the garment bags that Alice had stuffed everything in, and placed these clothes on one rack closest to the door. Bella said Alice was not impressed with her for that, but that her sister-in-law ought to be glad that she did not give away every unnecessary piece of clothing in the room.
Last, Bella showed me Renesmee's room. It was a kid's paradise, but it was funny because it reflected how she was at that funny age between little kid and young lady. The bed, covered in a patchwork quilt, was carved out of maple by Emmett. It had funny animal faces all over it. There was a little matching carved desk and chair opposite, and not only were there crayons on it, but there were also fancy wooden fountain pens. A fat goldfish sat in a round bowl on the bedside table. There was a hand-written sign beside it that said, "Don't let Momma Bella feed me. She kills pets."
The hardwood floor was dark and warm, with a colourful braided rug. A stereo system to rival Edward's was ensconced on a built-in unit in the corner. There were toys, including baby toys, and dress-up costumes everywhere. Girl-crush posters of pop band artists and childish drawings lined the walls. A small keyboard and a tv and a computer topped off the child's possessions. Wow.
I expressed to Bella, what a lovely home she had and how pleased I was for her that she was so happy. Bella pulled me into the sitting room, asking after my parents and brothers. We barely sat down, when Nessie, Rosalie and Alice whirled in like a tornado.
"Okay, let's see what you've got!" smiled Bella, and Renesmee brought out her new things to show off. The Aunties, meanwhile, pulled everything she had outgrown out of her drawers and closet, and bagged it up to donate. Gosh, the stuff hardly looked like it had been worn. No wonder Bella had always been so resistant to shopping with Alice. She must be a shopaholic. Anyway, it was obvious that Renesmee got a lot of loving attention, and I knew Bella would not let her get too spoiled.
We were just finishing up when Bella's cell phone buzzed.
"Hello, Mr. Dreamy," she cooed, "Done with Carlisle already Dom Cullen? Pining for me? Well, yes, I do miss you, too...Oh. What's that? Great news!... Yeah, I'll bring her straight back. Oh. Stay here? ... Yeah, you're right... Okay... See you soon? Love ya! Bye." Bella closed her cell and smiled at me.
"Ben just called Edward. He's at your parents' house. Edward is going to pick him up. He'll be here in half an hour."
Alice was suddenly standing at my elbow. "Half an hour? Half an hour! You have got to be kidding me. RooOose! Emergency! You do the hair, I'll do the face. Bella? You try to find a nice shirt that will suit her. Fourth rack to the right, same size as you so don't worry. She'll have to keep the jeans, she's too tall and thin to borrow ours. Nessie! You loan a necklace to Angela. A nice thin gold chain. Oh, yes, perfect."
Alice spun me around and the next thing I knew my t-shirt was gone and Bella was tugging a fitted mauve eyelet blouse with cap sleeves over my head. Then, I was seated on a chair while the Cullen women decorated me and fussed with my hair. When they were all done, I was just about unrecognizable. I was also dizzy.
I think I just had my first guinea pig Barbie experience.
"You need to get some contact lenses, girlfriend," ordered Alice, "Ben needs to get a better look at your gorgeous eyes. We'll go shopping in a couple of weeks. This week will be too busy for you." Alice and Rose and Bella rapidly removed the evidence of my makeover. Then we all sat down again, as though nothing had ever happened. It reminded be of Sense and Sensibility.
There was a light knock, and in walked Edward with Ben at his side. Ben looked shy and sheepish. Everyone said hello. I couldn't talk. I only had eyes for Ben. He was staring back at me. Alice and Rose waved and took Renesmee outside.
"Do you want us to stay, Angela, or are you going to be okay by yourself?" Edward turned suddenly, and looked at Ben as though Ben had said something unpleasant.
"I'll be fine, thank you both."
"You make sure that you behave like a gentleman," Edward growled. Ben nodded and blushed.
In the blink of an eye, all the Cullens were gone. I looked at Ben. He shrugged his hands out, and the next thing I knew, his head was in my lap and his arms were around me, and he was telling me what kind of great ass he had been and how sorry he was for it and he was begging me to take him back. I tentatively touched his hair, breathing in his scent. I hadn't really breathed in so long. He met my eyes, and I smiled into his.
We talked for hours in my best friends' sitting room. Ben really had behaved like an ass, and I told him so. I think he was a little shocked that I said the word. I think he was also a little shocked that I didn't try to dissuade him from criticizing himself. Not that it didn't matter to me what he had done, but at least he hadn't cheated on me while we were together, so as long as he kept his promise to never do it again I would give him a chance. I would never lie down and let him hurt me again. I would fight back. And if he hurt me again, I told him I'd sic Edward on him.
I had been so starved for Ben's company. For his touch. I palmed his cheek, and ran my hand through his hair. Then, he kissed me. The next thing I knew, he was on his knees and I was dancing around wearing his ring. Blissfully happy. I launched myself into his arms and knocked him down onto the sofa. I sat facing onto his lap and hugged his face to my chest while he crushed me to it. He kissed my chest and I let him, my face soaked with tears, and I held his face in my hands and thanked God.
Ben rocked me on his lap while I cried out all the feelings I'd bottled up. Really charming, I thought. A soggy, swollen-nosed, red-faced fiancée. Then, we had a bit of a laugh over ourselves, because he didn't look any better than me. We just sat there, holding tight, for a long time. Then, Ben thought perhaps we should go find our friends before they assumed we had taken over their home permanently.
We walked down the little path back to the main house. It was almost suppertime. The path was a bit spooky, but was impossible to get lost, because there were little garden lights placed every so often along the way. Eventually, we saw the roof of Carlisle and Esme's home, and in a few more minutes, we were there.
All the Cullens and Jake were lounging around on the front porch and at a picnic bench that had been pulled up in the driveway.
"So how did it go?" Edward asked casually, hands folded across his middle as he leaned back on his elbows on the steps. In answer, I held up my hand and waggled it, grinning. Everybody exclaimed and clapped, and Alice and Bella and Nessie ran up squealing to hug me. Edward was next. "I thought it would be something like that," he stated. Then he pulled me into a hug and kissed the top of my head.
When Edward turned to Ben, he gave him a stern look and put both hands on Ben's shoulders. Ben looked more than a little apprehensive. "Ben, you have been a good friend over the years, but that girl there is my little angel, and if you ever hurt her again, I am going to kill you. Understand?" Ben gulped and nodded. He was definitely taking Edward seriously.
"Good. I'm glad to have you back. And I'm glad you've come to your senses. Welcome to the family, little bro." And then Edward hugged Ben and gave him a pat on the back.
"Edward? Thanks for talking some sense into me. I'm sorry for everything I put Angela through. I'll never forget what you've done for us." Ben's voice was a little husky.
"Aw, don't worry about it. That's what friends do for each other. Now, some of you have not eaten. It is time for you to demolish these hotdogs before my son Jacob eats them all." Edward manoeuvered Ben onto the bench and gestured for me to come and join him. Nessie and Jake hurried over and grabbed plates.
My son Jacob? Private joke, I guess. Sometimes Edward said such funny things. You'd think he was 100 years old.