Much thanks to Fran. You buffed and shined, and brought out your
red pen. I appreciate you. You make magic happen…

Everyone loved the image of Uncle Edward on the sofa with the
kiddos. One reader pointed out that there is a time delay for the
West Coast in the airing of the Parade. Well…let's call Edward a
purist. Imagine him watching live on satellite. ;)

I don't own Twilight. Not infringement intended.

-LWTC-

Chapter 10

Rose—who had only been privy to the smallest bits of information—was taken by surprise as Edward spilled his guts to the three women who were his most trusted advisors. She hadn't gotten to know Bella as well as Alice or Esme, having only been in her company twice. Her shock was not aimed at the fact that they were beginning to get together, rather that they had taken so long.

"Let me get this straight," Rose scrubbed at her face, letting out an exasperated sigh, "you make her breakfast and lunch every day. She adds a half hour of travel time to work … every day … and you two aren't even doing the horizontal tango?"

"Could you be any crasser?"

"Rose," Esme and Edward raised their voices simultaneously.

Rose simply cocked a bitch-brow and looked at Edward incredulously, ignoring the outburst from her mother and brother. Then, she narrowed her eyes and lowered her voice in a menacing manner.

"So, do I have this right? You come home from Chicago—where you were sticking it into anything with breasts and designer heels—with your tail tucked between your legs over some drunken indiscretion, swearing an oath of celibacy…" Rose winced as she heard her mother's gasp. She knew that Esme was voluntarily, and blissfully ignorant about Edward's behavior while he was away, but right now, it was more important for to her to get her big brother to see the bigger picture. "You sat there and swore to Emmett and me that you would keep yourself open so that when the 'real deal' walked in, you'd know it."

"Is this how I raised you to think;" Esme's trembling voice rasped out, "to believe? He finds the right girl, so he should just drop trou?"

Rose winced at her mother's pained words, thinking about how her statement could be construed. It bothered her immensely that she had offended her mother's sensibilities. Carlisle and Esme had raised their children in traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs, taught them right from wrong, and made sure that they were firmly inundated with the concept that true love waits. This was a concept that all five of her children claimed to believe, but didn't always live up to. Rose knew that it pained her and that Esme felt as though she had failed her children on some level. Nothing could have been further from the truth. She was a great mother, and they were all blessed to have been raised by her gentle heart, even Emmett and Alice, who she had claimed as her own before they ever formed romantic attachments to her own children.

"Mom, I know we haven't always lived up to your moral expectations, but I honestly didn't mean that I think he should have sex with her immediately." She grabbed Esme's hand and gave it a squeeze. "I just think, that after all this time, he needs to let go of this perpetual self-punishment. I think he's atoned, don't you?"

"Well, I guess the cat's out of the bag …" Edward sighed heavily; he shook his head, and squinched his eyes shut, "Mom, I came home because I realized I was walking headlong into a life of full-blown depravity. Like Rose said, I was with so many women," his throat had become thick, and he swallowed heavily. "Anyhow, the last straw was the day I got the call from Godiva™. I'd been on a two-day bender, and I woke up Monday morning in a strange apartment, with two young women. I didn't know their names, and their ages were questionable. It made me sick—literally physically ill. At that moment, I knew … I could see the path I was choosing, and I knew if I didn't make a drastic change, I would lose myself. I'd already lost all self-respect; I didn't want to lose my soul, too."

Esme just shook her head and wiped a stray tear off her cheek. Clearing her throat, she turned to Edward and grabbed his face between her hands.

"You love her?" It was more of a statement of fact than a question.

Edward nodded slowly.

"I have prayed long and hard that God would send you the right woman," her eyes bored into his, and he could see her focus—her will for him to absorb her words. "I believe that my prayers have finally been answered, and right now you're going to listen good. You are going to woo that woman gently. You are going to shower her with attention, and affection," Esme placed her right hand over his heart, and grabbed his jaw with her left, narrowing her focus even more. "You are going to do whatever it takes to make her see the reality of your love for her … and then you are going to make her my daughter."

"Yes ma'am," Edward nodded, swallowing hard.

"Next time the opportunity presents itself, you kiss that girl; I don't care if POTUS walks into your store," Esme cocked a brow. "You show her that she is more deserving of your attention. Stop living in the regrets of the past."

"Mom, I can't ..." Edward started to argue, his face dropped in shame.

"… You can, and you will! Did you pray, and ask Daddy-God for forgiveness?"

"Yes."

"Then it's gone, Edward. It's 'under the blood,' and your slate is clean. Now, stop wallowing in the lies and condemnations that the enemy of your soul would have you believe, and start living again."

Alice—who had been silent through the entire exchange—decided that it was time to drop the heavy, and lighten the atmosphere.

"I think you should start thinking about her Christmas gifts."

"What?" Three voices asked in unison.

"You know you aren't going to get her just one gift, Edward," Alice rolled her eyes and sighed, shaking her head as if talking to a child. "Start planning them now, and give them to her at unexpected intervals throughout the month. Make them things you know will mean something between you," she smirked, and looked at him through her lashes, "make her-her very own chocolate, and name it after her."

"Oooh, yes," Rose clapped her hands and giggled as she got on board with Alice's idea.

"I bet we could help you come up with tons of ideas, Edward," Esme's grin widened, and her eyes danced mischievously as she got caught up in the excitement that had filled the room so quickly.

"Oh, I have a few ideas of my own," Edward smiled and looked at his hands. This talk with the girls had genuinely helped him to let go of the weight that had kept him trapped in a cycle of self-loathing for far too long. He wished he had just gone to his mother and father when he first moved home, but at the time, he had been afraid to see the disappointment in their eyes. He should have known that their love would see past his failures and that they would point him to the Grace he had ignored for far too long.

Yes, today was Thanksgiving Day, and Edward had so much for which to give thanks.

-LWTC-

I'm on my way. Is there anything you guys need me to stop and pick up on my way? (B)

Just bring yourself, beautiful. xo (E)

Bella blinked and blushed as she read the incoming text. Edward had occasionally told her how lovely she looked in a particular outfit, and had even called her beautiful a few times over the past few weeks … but this felt different. Everything felt different between them since the incident, as she had come to refer to it. That hug and kiss at the end was a new addition. It made her heart race, and her lips tingled as she closed her eyes once again, reveling in the memory of their almost kiss.

Does he really feel this, too?

-LWTC-

Carlisle was carving the bird, Emmet and Jasper were entertaining the kiddos, and the women were setting the buffet.

Edward was pacing.

He worried, and he checked his phone every few minutes. He knew it should take approximately an hour and ten minutes for Bella to arrive from Muskegon, but his overwhelming eagerness to see her again had gotten the better of him. He could still smell her sweet fragrance in his memory; still feel her warmth pressed against him. All he wanted at this moment was to pull her into his arms and hold her.

-LWTC-

Well, how are we feeling? DO we think this was THE knock
in the head that he needed? Is he going to show her how he
feels? *excited giggle*

I appreciate every one of my readers. Thank you all for taking
your time to join me on this journey.
*huggles*

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