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In from the Cold ~ Chapter 10.
No one said anything about the fact they watched Edward lift me out of the 4X4. Or the fact his arm was wrapped around me as we walked in the house together. They had seen me hug all of the family before and I guessed Esme had told them where we had come from. Jasper came over and pulled me into a gentle hug before kissing my cheek softly. "Are you alright there Darlin'?" I nodded.
Emmett lifted me up and squeezed me tight, before Jasper told him to be gentle with me, at the same time Edward did.
Charlie was talking to Carlisle and they both came over and gave me a hug.
"Been to see your Mum?" Charlie asked.
I nodded quietly.
"Did you go for any particular reason?"
"Nope…just, was just thinking about her."
They both nodded. Mine & Edward's parents had all grown up together.
"I better get on with pudding." I said to Esme after she hugged me to. I never went with out plenty of affection from my family.
"Do you want any help?" Edward asked softly. "Yes please," I replied.
We unpacked the ingredients, Edward prepared the small dishes, including several extra ones and melted me some luxurious dark chocolate. We worked away quietly. He moved hair behind my ear and I rested my head against his shoulder.
If anyone guessed I was not caring any more.
I needed my Edward, and he was there for me.
The table was set and dinner was ready, when Esme appeared with a small rose bowl full of pale pink roses.
She placed them in the centre of the table.
I realised how she always did this, and it was only now I understood they were for Renee.
I looked at her and a single tear rolled down my face.
Edward wiped it away and we all sat down to eat. He held my hand under the table and I smiled as best as I could.
Gentle conversation started. Charlie was very quiet until Carlisle asked if he had been fishing this weekend.
"Nope, not done any this weekend."
That was new. I couldn't remember when he had not gone fishing.
"Oh? What have you been up to instead?" Jasper asked.
"I, well…I was going to talk to you about this later Bell's …but…I went on a date."
They all looked at me, and I smiled back at my Dad.
"A date?" I asked, biting my lip to stop me grinning from ear to ear.
"Uh huh…Charlie…do you want some carrots?" Carlisle nodded and looked back at me, I realised he was a secret keeper for Charlie too. I smirked at him.
I wonder how many other secrets he was keeping.
"I want to know more about this date!" Emmett asked laughing at Charlie's blushing cheeks.
"Maybe Charlie doesn't want to tell you." Edward spoke up and passed potatoes to my Dad.
"Why would he not want us to talk about it?" Alice asked giggling with excitement.
"I am very happy for you Daddy, and when you are ready to tell us more I will be really pleased hear about it!"
I turned and kissed my Dad's cheek. Edward gave my knee a squeeze.
"Charlie…I am more than happy to tell you all about my love life! You need any tips, you know who to ask!" Emmett chuckled.
Rose gave the back of his head a slap. "What…tell him how good I am Baby!" he winked at Rose.
"Emmett son, thank you, but I do not want to think about beautiful Rose in that way at all!" Charlie laughed as Rose blushed and nodded back at him.
Emmett shook his head and mumbled, "You could just image me…" which caused us all to burst out laughing and various calls of "Ewww" and "Gross!" to be shouted round the table before he finished the sentence.
"So thanksgiving next week…" said Rose trying to change the subject. "What are we all bringing?"
"We will take the starters." Alice said taking out a note book, she was such an organised person all of the time!
"We will do desserts?" Edward said looking at me.
"We…? You can't cook Edward!" Emmett laughed.
"Bella is teaching me."
I nodded. It was the first I had heard of it but realised it was another excuse to give them to explain all the time I was spending with Edward.
"What is Bella getting in return?" Jasper laughed. "I mean she is a fantastic cook…"
I looked at Edward. "Oh he is teaching me…"I blushed. "The piano." Edward finished.
"It was meant to be a surprise," he continued. "We were going to play you a special song next week, but I am not sure we are ready yet."
"I think we will be ready." I said smiling.
"I will look forward to hearing that." Carlisle nodded.
The dishes for next week's meal were planed and divided up between us all. Charlie offered to take fish and we all laughed.
"Charlie, can we set the table for anyone else this year?" Esme asked quietly.
"I was hoping you would Esme. I am dating Sue Clearwater. Her kids are away this year and she will be all by herself."
"I really like Sue and her kids Dad." I grinned.
"She really likes you too Bella." he smiled back.
"We have a lot to be thankful for this year," said Carlisle as he lifted his glass to make a toast.
"To love and friendships, old and new."
We all repeated the toast and I held Edwards hand a bit tighter as he gave me a loving squeeze.
"What about you Bella?" asked Emmett.
"What about me Emmie?"
"Is anyone attracting the Beautiful Bella's eye yet?"
"Why do you ask?" Alice asked him.
"Because there is this lad I know that Rose works with, and he would be just perfect for you."
"Who?" Rose questioned.
"Mike Newton!" Emmett said, as if Rose should have known the answer.
"I have been on a date with him." I shook my head.
"Which one was he?" Charlie asked.
"The Golden Labrador…" Edward answered before I could. Alice looked at him.
"How did you know that?"
"I saw him on the way here, and he waved, so I told Edward about my date with him." I lied quickly.
I had of course told Edward all about the dates I had been on, where no one was going good enough because none of them were Edward.
"Awe…I though Mike was so sweet Bella!" Emmett gushed.
"For who…? Not for me, Emmett he kept following me like a puppy and answered me, yes Bella, no Bella…all the time!" I shuddered. "He is a nice boy, just not my kind of boy."
"What is your kind of boy?" Rose asked.
Oh I had walked into that one.
"I don't have a type…" I muttered.
"Leave her alone." Carlisle chastised them all.
"Thank you Carlisle." I grinned at him.
"It would be good for you to have someone to care for you Bells."
"Not you too Dad…!" I grumbled. "I have plenty of people who care about me!" I replied.
"Who?" Emmett asked.
"All of you guys." I shrugged my shoulders. "You are all I need."
"That's not what I mean!" Charlie spoke up.
"You start dating and then you feel the need to set me up with someone?"
My tone was sharper this time.
"Seriously Dad, I am really happy for you, but I do not need anyone setting me up with anyone else."
"Well what about you Edward? You could do with some action. A nice bit of fun…" Emmett wiggled his eyebrows at his younger brother.
"That is enough Emmett." Edward growled.
"What…it might loosen you up a wee bit if you get some…"
"I said enough!" Edward banged his hand down on the table. I lifted my hand and covered his fist gently.
"It was all your idea to date Tanya and that was no so good for me." Edward was upset talking about this.
Esme shuddered at the mention of Tanya's name.
"Can we please change the subject?"
I lifted Edward's hand from the table and lowered it onto my leg, his thumb moved in small circles on the back of my hand.
Emmett continued to mumble, when Carlisle told him to grow up and be quiet.
"I am just saying…."
"That is the point Emmett." I looked at him, he was hurting Edward and I was getting pissed.
"We don't want you to say anything about it, neither Edward nor I want your help in finding someone thank you. We will find who we are meant to be with when we are meant to find them. I know you care about us but…enough."
Alice looked at me smirking, "Who knew Bella was such a tiger?"
I shook my head and sighed.
"I just…"
"It's ok Bella Love." Edward nodded.
Emmett looked at me and then Edward.
"Bella…Love…did you take that CD I liked?" Carlisle spoke up.
"Oh no I forgot it sorry."
"That's ok. Take it with you the next time you come over will you please?"
"Sure will."
"I am telling you Carlisle you are not playing it in here!" Esme shook her head and we all laughed.
"Oh I can't wait for these new puddings Bella, they smell delicious."
"Edward helped me make them." I smiled. "Come on, lets go see if they are ready?" I stood up and motioned for him to follow me.
"I am so sorry Love!" I whispered as we enter the kitchen, taking his hand in mine and kissing the back of it.
"We should just tell them…get them to lay off you!"
I was pissed at Emmett and my Dad now.
"We will not tell them today, not if it is just because they are nagging us!" he replied sighing.
The timer sounded on the oven, Edward lifted the puddings out to cool slightly. I whipped ups some cream and dusted the pudding with a little cocoa once I had turned them out onto plates. They were all sitting on two trays ready to take through.
I dipped my finger into the cream and offered it up to Edward. He smiled and took my finger completely into his mouth, gently sucking it before he released it with pop as I giggled.
"I love you, my little Tiger!"
He kissed my lips and I moaned a little at the contact.
"I have always wanted to make out with you on my bed upstairs you know…" he raised his eyebrows and smirked at me.
"Well…we will have to keep that for another day but I can say I have always wanted that too!"
"You love that are my little Tiger you know that!" he growled.
"I thought you loved my Kitty more!" I winked.
"Right, I am now unable to walk into the dining room due to my predicament!" I scooped another small amount of cream and sucked it off my finger as he watched, growling softly at me.
I was giggling even louder when Esme came through to put the coffee on.
"What are you two laughing about?"
"He was laughing at me being a tiger with Emmett." I answered her.
"You were always very protective of each other, even as children." She smiled and pulled us both together into a hug before kissing both our cheeks. She had to pull Edward down to reach his cheek.
She shook her head and gazed at us both, a far away look in her eyes. I almost asked her what she was thinking about, but thought better of it.
We took coffee and dessert through to everyone. Emmett, Jasper and Edward all had two of them each! I struggled to eat mine, and Carlisle helped me out with half of it, since Esme would not let him have two!
The rest of the night passed easily. We sat and chatted, Charlie left after a while to go and see Sue before it got too late.
Alice, Jasper, Emmett and Rose left before we did.
I sat in-between Esme and Edward. I was getting sleepy and desperate to snuggle into Edward's side.
"You like you are tired there Sweetie." Esme whispered, watching as Edward brushed some hair away from my face as I yawned.
"Edward, take her home Love."
"Come on Bells, I will drop you home." He whispered.
"No, Edward…I mean take her home." She knew as well. I looked up at Carlisle.
He shook his head. "I said nothing."
"You knew Carlisle?" Esme raised her eyebrow at him.
"I guessed." He shrugged his shoulders.
"How did you know Esme?" I asked. Edward sighed as he pulled me onto his lap. I relaxed and I snuggled into his embrace, content as last.
"I saw the way you two always looked at each other yesterday, and then I wondered if the picture on your bedside was the one you used to have at your place. But just now, the way he wanted to hold you as tried not to cuddle into him. It was more than before, I know you two always snuggled but this…I saw a new love in your eyes tonight."
She smiled at me and patted our entwined hands.
"Come on Honey, let's go home." Edward whispered before kissing my cheek.
We gathered up our belongings, got the dogs ready to go and Esme appeared with the pink roses from the table and a short wide vase to put them in.
"This is for you Sweetie."
"I love you Esme, and you too Carlisle." They both pulled me into their embrace and kissed my cheek.
We waved as we drove away, heading home for the evening. I felt better knowing that Esme knew about our relationship.
We settled the dogs down for the evening, and I placed my vase of roses on the mantle in the centre of the room.
Edward went and looked through my box of photographs before returning with my favourite one. Renee was sitting on our front porch, I was on one side and Edward was on the other. My mother had an arm around both of us.
It was the last time she held us both.