Hello my lovelies! I own none of these characters, just the
plot, a Durango, and a home on the edge of Hart and
Pentwater. If you ever have a chance to vacation in Mi,
please, allow me to recommend this area. Oceana County
is gorgeous. My husband and I are eager to move back
some day.
For any who were puzzled as to why he didn't just hop a
plane to England to collect his woman, he will answer in his
own words this chapter.
My thanks to Fran, beta extaordinaire! *hugz*
On with the story!
-LWTC-
Chapter 20
"Thanks, Edward," the burly truck driver patted him on his shoulder, "I couldn't have gotten that open without assistance."
"Anytime, Steve," Edward jerked his head backward toward the store, "Now come in and warm up a little bit, and have a cup of coffee on me before you head on down the road."
"Yes, sir," Steve wasn't about to turn down a free cup of Edward's coffee, "you don't gotta twist my arm!"
All the guys that ran out of the North Muskegon distribution hub wanted this route. The coffee at Cullen Conveniences and Confections had become legendary over the short time that the place had been open. Coffee aside, the guys clamored to try the new pastries and chocolate treats, but it was the easy camaraderie of the owner that had them all making 'unscheduled' stops as they drove their delivery routes along I31.
On the first Monday of every month, Edward arrived early to prepare for the gas delivery, every-other Monday in the summer months. Today, he had spent an hour helping the truck driver open the tank covers. Ice had settled in, and made them difficult to remove. Hot water, salt and a bit of backbreaking work with a long-handled ice spud did the trick. At four am, it made for a rough start to the day.
Edward looked at the time as he walked behind the counter to pour a couple of steaming mugs of coffee. He sighed as he realized it was already going on six o'clock. He was grateful to Alice for riding in with him today, as without her help he would not have been able to open the store at five, and he would already have missed out, on several dozen customers already.
He handed Steve a mug, and took his thermos to fill it, wishing all the while it was an order for extra light, no sugar. As he was about to sit down to enjoy his own cup by the fireplace, it occurred to him that he had forgotten his cell phone on the kitchen counter, and ran swiftly to retrieve it.
"Shit," Edward said aloud in surprise. "Alice, she called."
Alice bustled out of the kitchen with another tray of éclairs. She was grateful she had made enough dough to make a second batch today, as the first batch of three dozen sold out within an hour of opening. "Did she leave a message?"
Edward answered by way of lifting the phone to his ear as he retrieved his messages.
"Edward," Bella's broken voice filled his ears and heart, "I can't even … I just … Thank you. I'm sorry. I'm just so sorry," her voice was thick and choppy with tears, and it tugged at his heartstrings. He wanted to be able to wrap her in his arms. What I wouldn't give to wipe her tears, and hold her through this, he thought. "I'll try calling again later. I know you're busy with work, but I really hope you can pick up. I miss you."
How could ones' heart both break and mend at the same time? She missed him; he could hear the sincerity of her declaration in her voice. He knew that she had never grieved Charlie's loss. She had thrown herself into her research, and over the years, she had put in countless hours on her days off in an effort to avoid the emptiness that consumed her. She had run from the misery that threatened to swallow her whole. He had to acknowledge that she had, only recently stopped running, and started to develop a life she could embrace.
She had nearly declared her feelings for him last Friday. He could be patient. He would be, for her. He would continue to woo her from a distance, and draw her heart toward home. He wanted to be that home.
He was eager to have the next two workweeks already gone by. Her flight was scheduled to take off at four am GMT on the fourteenth, which was eleven pm of the thirteenth EST. He could not wait to greet her.
Edward would be sure to answer his phone when it rang again, that was for certain.
-LWTC-
"Hello, Princess," Edward answered eagerly.
"Edward," Bella sighed his name like a prayer. Hearing his voice was like acid to her conscience, and a balm to her heart. Why did I avoid this?
"Beautiful girl, I miss you."
"I miss you too," Bella admitted, while wiping her nose. "Thank you for the gifts," she rushed to add.
"You got them?"
"I did, and it's the most thoughtful, lovely thing anyone has ever done for me," Bella confessed. "It must have cost you a small fortune to have this delivered."
"Don't go making this about money, Princess … and stop the stinkin' thinkin' that's telling you you are not worth it," Edward challenged her. "You are worth so much more."
"Thank you," came her simple, albeit hesitant reply.
"I'm going to be honest here, Bella," Edward sighed, "I nearly got on a plane. I was ready to leave everything and come to England to demand that you come back … to me, but I realize you don't need demands. You don't need anyone to make you feel inferior. You do that well enough all by yourself." What you need is a pair of open arms to run to, he almost added. "I'm right here, honey, and I'm not going anywhere."
-LWTC-
Bella spent the better part of an hour on the phone with Edward, apologizing often, until he begged her to stop. He was tender, patient and understanding—to a fault. She knew there would never be another man in her life like this. If she thought she loved him before, she was wrong. Before was infatuation … before was a crush, with warm, tingly butterflies in her belly. What she knew in her heart now was that she could not spend her life without him. Infatuation had given way to devotion, and Dr. Isabella Swan was never going back to her former life. If that man was hers, then she belonged to him—with him.
Bella found herself reaching for her phone again …
-LWTC-
"Alice?"
"Bella," Alice gushed with excitement at seeing her best friend's name flash across her caller id. "I've missed you! How are you, bestie? Is Katy being good to you? What's the weather like there? Are you eating enough-"
"Alice," Bella's firm voice broke through the rambling questioning of the spritely woman. "I need a favor."
"What kind of favor?"
"What are you doing next Sunday night?"
"I don't have plans, except preparing the dough and fillings for baking Monday morning. Why?"
"I need someone to pick me up at Muskegon Airport at eleven pm."
"Oh my goodness," Alice squealed into the receiver. "You're coming home for the Gala?"
"I am, … but I really could use help getting ready, seeing as I already called and cancelled my appointment at the salon."
"No worries, sweetie! Rose and I have your back," Alice assured her.
"Don't you think you should wait and ask her first," Bella questioned as she giggled at her dear friend's eagerness.
"Babe," Rose grabbed the phone from her sister-in-law, "I'm right here. We got this."
Bella found herself laughing for the first time in three days. It felt good. She knew it was time to move beyond the self-blame. Intellectually, she knew that there was never any blame to be cast, but her perfectionistic proclivities tended to point fingers in her own direction. It was now time to let go. It was time to move forward.
Bella spent the rest of her afternoon and evening wrapped up snugly in the blanket Edward had gotten for her as she drank a couple of glasses of the delicious wine while reading Jane Eyre.
By the time she fell asleep, her eyes were dry, and the puffiness had receded from around them.
-LWTC-
"Alice, I need a favor."
"This ought to be good," Alice smirked. "Okay, lover-boy, what do you need me to do?"
"You go girlie-shopping with Bella all the time, right?"
"Uh," Alice chortled, "We have gone 'girlie-shopping' as you so delicately put it." She rolled her eyes as she looked at Edward's eager expression.
"So, you know what perfume she wears?"
"Duh!"
"Shut up, Pixie-sticks," Edward gently shoved her shoulder in a brotherly gesture. "What's that fruity one that I love so much?"
"The one that smells kind of like a scented candle on her?"
"Yeah, that one," Edward nodded. "I know it has a sweet, berry-like undertone, but I can't place it."
"That's because it isn't berries, it's pomegranate," Alice shrugged. "She wears Midnight Pomegranate from Bath and Body Works."
"Okay, um …." Edward started batting his lashes, and gave her his sweetest puppy-dog-pout.
"Let me guess … another favor," Alice's voice exuded irritation.
"Can you watch the counter for me tomorrow, pu-lease? I have some experimenting to do in the kitchen," Edward pleaded as he explained.
"Fine, but you and your girlfriend owe me a weekend of babysitting," Alice's grin turned evil. "And I mean soon."
"Done." Edward said, giving his sister-in-law a kiss on the top of her head before he walked away, whistling.
-LWTC-
Bella's week flew by in a flurry of thoughtful gifts and notes. There were useful items, like a scarf, hat and gloves in a lovely shade of periwinkle, and a lovely, down-filled coat in the softest shade of dove-gray. With them came his letter that told her that she should "Keep warm in these until I can keep you warm in my arms."
She melted.
Edward spoiled Bella and Katy with a spa-day for two, with tea in Leeds. They were massaged, buffed, given Mani/Pedis, and facials, and lunch/tea was provided for them. They told her that "You are precious to me, and deserve to be treated as a Princess for a day."
She swooned.
He sent her a personalized, engraved stethoscope; a Littmann™ Master Cardiology Series with a brass finish. The engraving read:
Dr. Isabella Swan
I am listening with my whole heart,
Edward
She cried.
-LWTC-
Every day that week, they talked on the phone. They even managed to Skype once. Bella found herself wanting to touch his face on the screen. They kept their conversations brief; due in part to the high cost of service, and because they both had so many things to say that really needed to be said in person.
Both Edward and Bella were getting eager for her return … at least Bella had the comfort of knowing that it was only three more days as opposed to his thinking it to be ten.
-LWTC-
Friday morning, Bella found herself pacing at the door. Every day of the week so far, her delivery would arrive by nine am via Lexus, and the funny-man who kept sidestepping her queries about his boss, and his own identity. It was now nearly ten, and he had yet to arrive.
She was about to text Edward to ask if she should be expecting anything, when she heard a car pulling into the drive. It was the same Lexus, and the same man was driving, but there was a man getting out of the back seat whom she had never seen before. He was carrying a Styrofoam cooler, and two cards.
Bella answered the door as he approached, and eyed him with a smile on her face.
"Mr. Clearwater, I presume?"
"Seth Clearwater, Miss," he grinned, "or should I say Doctor Swan?"
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Seth." Bella held out her hand, and giggled as he shook it. "I assume you know Edward?"
"Not really," Seth admitted, "although we have spoken on the phone frequently this week, and passed several emails."
"I suppose you already know what is in the box?"
"No, not precisely," Seth eyed the box, clearly curious. "It only just arrived by airmail. I have to admit, I am dying to know what he thought up today."
"Well, let's find out, shall we?"
Bella enthusiastically took the foam box and ushered Seth into the living room. She grabbed a letter-opener off Katy's desk, and swiftly cut the tape that held it sealed shut.
She gasped as she opened the lid to find a Cullen Confections signature box surrounded by ice blocks. She lifted the box out gingerly and bit her lip as she grinned. Her eyes shone with her excitement, and Seth was pleased to see her response. He had been pulling for the American gentleman whom he had been assisting in the wooing of this girl for the last week.
When Bella lifted the lid to the candy box, she was puzzled. These were unlike any of the candies Edward had ever displayed in the case. They were a dark chocolate, shaped like small tiaras, there appeared to be edible rubies as jewels, and they had edible, gold glitter sparkling on them. They looked too pretty to eat.
Seth handed her a card when she looked to him. He had read the letter, and already knew the explanation for the candies. He watched as she read the words that Edward had emailed to him the previous night.
Dearest Princess,
You are the sweetest part of my life … so much more precious
to me than anything else could be. Words cannot convey how
absolutely enraptured I am by you.
You are my first thought in the morning, and my last thought
at night. I long to see your smiling face as you drink your first
cup of coffee each morning. I yearn for the sound of your voice
as you greet me. I pine for the soft scent that surrounds me as
you hug me goodbye.
You inspire me. You are my Princess … you deserve a golden
tiara to adorn your head, replete with fine jewels. Alice told me
that the scent that haunts my dreams and waking memories
is called Midnight Pomegranate. I used these facts to create a
new candy. I call them Bella's Crowning Glories.
The dark, bittersweet chocolate reminds me that you have a
less than sweet background, but in spite of that less than ideal
beginning, you possess a sweet and tender heart. The center
of the candy is a pomegranate preserve I created just for
you. As you can see, the three spires of the tiara are accented
with a pomegranate 'ruby.'
I hope you will enjoy eating them as much as I enjoyed
making them for you. They will be in the refrigerated case
every day, from now on. They are yours, Princess, as am I.
With every beat of my heart,
Edward
She was ready to go home.
-LWTC-
Chocolateward for the win! LOL
Thank you all for your lovely reviews and love for this story.
I am so glad you are all with me on this journey!
*huggles*