Chapter 17: Renee Days

Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight.

Bella couldn't look her mother in the eye the next day, she was so embarrassed. Jacob sat there at the breakfast table winking at Renee—he was no help at all. The rat actually had a look of satisfaction on his face. And darn right—he had been very satisfied the night before. How could he sit there so calm, with her mother eyeing the two of them? Ugh! She just wanted to crawl in a hole. Maybe if he had stuck to their bargain LIKE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO, she wouldn't feel so self conscious. How did he manage to get her motor running all the time anyway? He was not playing fair with those dark seductive eyes and that muscular body and those kissable lips. Ahhhh! She felt the scarlet spreading again. Stupid blush reaction. Now they both knew what she was thinking too.

Renee put down the knife she was cutting her pancakes with and spoke up. "You're being ridiculous, Bella. Everyone knows what goes on in the bedroom. Believe it or not, the whole world has caught onto it. I mean, Phil and I—"

"Stop—TMI, Mom, don't go any further. I don't want to know."

Geesh, just because she was married, didn't mean she should listen to her parents' escapades. She'd rather feign ignorance, and in this case, it would definitely be bliss.

Jacob's stack of pancakes were busily being digested in his stomach. He stood up and rinsed off the empty plate in the sink. He turned back, and gazing into Bella's pleading eyes, dove in to rescue her from all this awkwardness. Standing behind Bella's chair, he leaned over and placed his arms about her shoulders, resting his chin on her neck. He cleared his throat once, then asked Renee, "So, what's on the agenda for today?"

"I don't know, Jacob, dear. What is on your agenda for today? I know what's on mine, and that is, to keep your prying eyes out of the bedroom, while I see about your wife's wedding gown."

"Crap—he was hoping to get a glimpse of it. What was with this big superstitious nonsense about not seeing the bride in her wedding dress until the ceremony, especially since they were already married for god's sake?

Bella stepped into the gown, and Renee fussed with the buttons on the back. She spun her around to get a good look, holding her at arm's length. "Oh, honey, you're going to look absolutely stunning in this dress. I would have liked to see a longer train on it, but it's definitely you. No frills. Hmm . . . would have preferred satin myself or something with a lot of lace too, but this is your wedding, so . . ."

Bella ignored Renee's comments, but then thought about her sweetheart. She started to gnaw on her lower lip. "Do you think Jake will like it?"

That old nervous tic did not get past Renee's critical eye. "Are you still biting that bottom lip of yours? Honestly—you're a grown woman, Bella; when are you going to stop doing that? It's such a juvenile habit."

Renee didn't wait for Bella's response, but instead sailed into, "Will Jacob like it? I'm sure he'd prefer seeing you naked, but yes, I think he will."

Frowning, Bella responded, "Mother . . ."

"I'm just telling the truth. Don't have a hissy fit over it. I can't see why you get so upset with everything I say!"

Without taking a breath, she complained, "What about a veil? I didn't see one in the garment bag. Didn't you get one? How can you get married without a veil?"

Those chocolate eyes did a roll in her head. "In case you haven't noticed, I already did."

"Yes, I did notice, and I'm still stewing over that." Renee jerked a thumb over her shoulder indicating where Jacob would be sitting, sorting laundry. "Seeing the beefcake in the other room, though, I don't blame you in the slightest. You are one lucky girl.

"So what about a veil? Aren't you going to wear one?" She began impatiently tapping her foot.

"No, I decided not to. Besides, Jake is making me something to put in my hair."

Renee puffed out the sleeves on the gown, and straightened the seams at the shoulders. Her clear blue eyes looked up at her daughter. "Do you think that's wise?"

"Jake is very artistic, Mom. It'll be beautiful, I'm sure."

"Well, if you say so." She smoothed Bella's hair away from her face.

Bella drew her mother's hands into her own, parking them in front of her waistline. I know so. He's an excellent craftsman. You should see his wood carvings. He's an expert at beads and feathers too. I have a very talented husband." He does a lot more than hit a ball with a bat, and run around a baseball diamond, she thought. "Jake is very skillful with his hands."

Both of Renee's eyebrows raised an inch. "I'll bet he is. Okay, enough with the hands. Let's see the shoes, kiddo."

Pointing to the closet, Bella said, "They're in the silver shoe box on the top shelf."

Removing her hands from her daughter's grasp, Rene walked to the closet and got down the box. She let out a gasp when she took off the lid. "Oh, Bella, tell me you're not wearing these. You couldn't wear a proper pair of hi heels on your wedding day?"

Letting out an exasperated sigh, Bella explained, "I don't need to tell you how klutzy I am. And trying to walk in the sand in heels—I'd end up tripping and flopping around on the shore like a beached flounder."

"Well, okay, I see your point. Let's get you out of that dress before handsome starts feeling abandoned."

Renee began unbuttoning the gown, and a couple of snickers slipped from her mouth. Bella's head twisted around to see what her mother was laughing about. "What's so funny?"

"Oh, baby, I take it back about Jacob liking this dress. There are so many tiny buttons. With his big fingers, he'll wind up ripping this off of you in his hurry to get at what's inside."

They both laughed as Bella stepped out of the gown and put it back in the garment bag. She left her mother in the room, as she went through her luggage looking for her mascara.

Jacob was still sitting on the couch going through and folding up the laundry. He was definitely stalling because there wasn't that much laundry. He was chuckling softly to himself. Bella sat next to him quickly and delivered a sharp elbow to his ribs.

"You heard every word in there, didn't you? Admit it."

He rubbed his side where she poked him. "I tried not to listen, but your mom is

so . . . so . . . interesting. Yeah, that's it."

She frowned. He was being way too polite.

"Hey—don't give me that look—I'm being politically correct here. I will say one thing though. If she ever has to come and live with us, I'm moving out to the garage." He looked at Bella's frowny little face, adding, "And I'm taking you with me."

That evening after dinner was eaten and everything put away, Renee offered, "What do you two do for fun around here?" She looked at the love birds, who exchanged glances. "I mean besides that. Do you have any games to play? Oh, never mind. I have an idea."

Renee made a round trip to the spare bedroom and came back with a deck of cards and a square plastic container full of poker chips. Jacob and Bella followed her to the kitchen table where she dealt out the cards in a rapid style fashion. Okay, kiddies, ante up."

She won the first round and the second, and starting getting bored. "You old married couple are no fun. Let's up the stakes—strip poker!"

Bella's eyes got bigger than usual. Geesh, Phil was apparently not a very good influence on her mother. "I don't think that's a good idea," Bella complained.

"What's the matter, sweetie? You don't want to share a peek at your hottie with dear ol' Mom?"

Tossing her head from side to side, Renee taunted, "Oh, for god's sake, honey, loosen up. Take your shirt off Jacob. You're not shy, are you? Show off your guns!"

"Jake—don't you dar—"

Too late, he already whipped it up over his head.

"Where's your sense of humor? I was just kidding, you can put it back on . . . Wait a second; what's that?" Pointing at him, she said, "Stand up, Jacob—now, turn around. Uh huh." Drinking in the view, she scrutinized him front and back. "Okay, now, you can put your shirt on."

His expression was unreadable as he pulled the tee back over his torso. What must he be thinking? Oh, no—there was a hint of a smile threatening to curl up the corner of his lips. Yeah, interesting was an understatement, he thought.

Bella fairly huffed out a comment. "Do I need to remind you that you're a married woman, and my mother?"

"I may be married, sweetheart, but I'm not dead. Am I, Jacob?"

Jacob put out his hands out, palms forward. "Don't look at me. Leave me outta this."

Standing up from the table, Bella said, "Game night's over, Mom. Jake, you wanna take a walk with me?"

Answering for him, Renee chimed in, "That's a good idea, let me get my coat."

While Renee retrieved her coat, Jacob put up his index and middle finger. "Two more days," he mouthed silently.

Two more days—would she be able to stand it that long?"

The next day wasn't quite as eventful. Renee was on her best behavior around the Quileute woman. She went over all the plans with Leah, who was doing a fabulous job of keeping things organized. It seemed like Renee was actually impressed for a change, and miracle of miracles, her gums weren't flapping a mile a minute either.

When nighttime arrived, the threesome all hit the sack early.

Bella was anxious about the activities of the next day. Jacob was snuggled up to her side, well aware of her concern. His arm snaked around her shoulder, with his shoulder acting as a pillow for her head. "What are you so nervous about, Bells? Think of it as a big party being thrown for us." He squeezed her arm and kissed the top of her head to reassure her.

"Just promise me that you won't leave my side."

"Sure, sure. I'll bring my gorilla glue," he chuckled.