Alice and my lunch had turned into an afternoon affair. After we ate we met Rosalie at Vera Wang for dress fittings. Of course perhaps a fitting would have been better before eating an enormous lunch, but sometimes life doesn't work out that way.
Alice was modeling her dress for Rose and me as we sat in comfortable plush chairs. All the bridesmaids' dresses were lilac but Alice's specifically was a fitted bodice and mermaid skirt. Not something I would normally find appealing, but Alice pulled it off. She turned for us and was displaying the surprising amount of movement the fitted skirt allowed. She looked stunning and wouldn't have any problems dancing at the reception.
"Ok Bella, your turn!" Their eyes turned on me. I imagined that this is what a fish feels like with sharks circling over head. I gulped and stood with false confidence. There was no way that this could end well. My ego was deteriorating rapidly.
I walked into the changing room and undressed. I pulled the dress on without really looking at it. I figured it would be the same as Alice's. I was wrong. When I stepped from the room eyes were on me. Not just Alice and Rose, but two shop attendants and a few other patrons. They gasped when they saw me. I blushed figuring that a boob had popped out of something. I shuffled over to the 360 degree mirror covering my chest. My reflection caught me off guard.
My dress was the same lilac color as the other bridesmaids, but the style was unique. It was draped over my right shoulder and hung like a Grecian garment. I assume that was where the inspiration for the dress had come from; some ancient woman would have felt at home in such a draping. It hugged my curves and shifted as I moved. I felt beautiful.
I turned to look over my shoulder and Alice with Rose joined me in front of the mirror. We entwined our arms around each other and a few tears escaped.
"I'm getting married!" Rose sobbed, not out of sadness but I think up to that point it hadn't seemed real. There was only one week before the day and it was better late than never. We stood in each others' arms for a minute before breaking free. I wiped my face clean stepping back into the waiting area.
"That is the most beautiful dress I have ever seen!" A woman said as she came to inspect me. I assume she was shopping for her own wedding so I let her look. It seemed that women from every corner of the store had migrated to where we were at the sounds. They were all talking animatedly about their plans. Every once in a while there was a scream of glee and excitement but that was to be expected.
I glanced at my watch. I really needed to leave to go see Charlie, but I didn't want to be rude. I tried not to draw attention to myself as I slide back into the changing room, but nothing gets past Alice.
"And where are you sneaking off to?" She asked as we unzipped each other. No doubt she thought I was meeting the mystery man, but she was sadly mistaken.
"I have to go visit my father."
"Where is he? He isn't in the hospital is he? Would you like me to go with you?" Her concern brought a few tears back.
"No, nothing like that. He lives in an assisted living complex near my apartment. I go see him every other night. It's nothing big."
"May I meet him?" She asked as she pulled her shirt and pants back on. I buttoned my skirt and tried to think of a reason why not. None came.
"If you would like to, I suppose you could." With that we hung up our dresses and waved a farewell to Rosalie. She was still caught in the wedding web.
Even though Alice and I had known each other for only a couple of weeks I felt we had bonded deeply. Despite that connection I was still apprehensive to introduce her to Charlie. It wasn't the same feeling that I had with Edward, but it was similar. But I figured Charlie would like to meet a stable person in my life, and then he wouldn't have to worry about me as much.
On the way I tried to explain Charlie's predicament without being blunt. It was rather difficult.
"So let me get this straight," Alice asked recapping the conversation. "His name is Charlie, he had a stroke so he can't speak very well but he likes to listen?" I nodded. "This shouldn't be too bad. I like to talk and parents just love me." I pictured her at the club for a moment and grinned, if they only knew…
"Hey Alice, I never asked you how you and Jasper got over your hurdle." It had been pushed from my mind with all the wedding plans and work. She blushed a little and coughed trying to avoid my gaze. "Alice?" I grabbed her arm and turned her towards me. She blushed a little darker so I knew the story had to be good. She tried to wait me out but I wouldn't budge.
"Well, I called him that afternoon. We decided to meet for dinner. He was mad at me but was trying to be all noble. But when he saw me with a big smile on my face, after you told me how jealous he was, it clicked. We didn't even go into the restaurant. He came back to my place and I explained why I was mad and my revenge plan. He wasn't upset that I wanted to teach him a lesson. He was upset that I let some sleazy guy touch me. Once everything was all figured out… I jumped him. Then we ordered take-out." She blushed again with a big smile. I burst out laughing.
I pictured them sitting on a couch having a discussion, and then Alice leaping at him. From the look on her face I knew I wasn't off base in my thinking.
"So," I asked, a smile still playing at my lips. "Was he good?" I cut my gaze to her as we walked. She had a dreamy look on her face thinking about it so I knew the answer. "That good huh?"
"The best," she emphasized. I chuckled as she sighed at the memory. "I think I love him," she whispered as we neared Charlie's apartment. I might not have known Alice very long but this surprised me. She was not one to make decisions lightly.
"How can you know so soon? You've been together, what, a week, two tops?" She just smiled.
"I've known him for two years, ever since he was traded to the Seahawks. He, Edward, and Emmett were all friends so he came to family gatherings. That's also how we met Rose. Jasper and Rose's parents died a few years back in a car accident and they were basically adopted into my family. My parents love them. They spend every holiday at my house. I'm actually surprised it took Jasper and I this long to hook-up. I've liked him forever. But, my father will actually be giving Rose away at the wedding since her father can't." I nodded and knocked on Charlie's door.
He answered and had a silent question on his face when he noticed Alice.
"Hey Dad, this is my friend Alice. We work at the paper together and we're both bridesmaids in our friend Rosalie's wedding. She wanted to meet you. Is that ok?" He smiled and shrugged before hugging me. When I was released he held out a hand to Alice. She shook it and they smiled at each other.
"It's very nice to meet you Mr. Swan." From that moment on Charlie was putty in Alice's capable hands. We sat together just chatting for a long time. Charlie didn't seem self conscious whenever he stumbled over a word. Instead he just concentrated and worked out the sounds. It made me very happy.
I was sad to leave since we were having such a good time, but Charlie was looking a little sallow. He needed to go to sleep to regain his strength. I kissed his cheek and Alice followed suit before we both hugged him goodbye. He touched my shoulder before I left and I asked Alice to wait in the lobby for me.
"I –joy –eeting f-ends, the C-llens are g-od pe-ple." He declared with a smile. I got the gist of the message but I was a bit confused. Cullens plural? He only knows one… I bade him goodnight again and went to meet Alice.
I dropped her off at her stoop.
"Do you want to come up for a drink? You've had a long day."
"No, I just want to go home and go to bed. I'm beat." I smiled and walked away. Alice was still watching me when I turned a corner.
I was emotionally exhausted. I had cried more today than I had for a month. I just wanted to climb in my bed and snuggle with Maurice. As I neared my building I noticed something strange. There was someone sitting on the stoop. At first I thought it was the paparazzi again, but it was a single person. A man to be exact. I knew who I wanted it to be, but I severely doubted it would be him.
When I was only a half a block away Mikhail stood and smiled at me. He had a bouquet of daisies in his hand. I didn't know what to do. I plastered a smile on my face and made my way over.
"Hi there," I greeted standing at the bottom on the steps. He smiled.
"Hello." I waited for him to state his purpose but he didn't.
"So what's up?" He came down the stairs to me since I didn't climb to him. We sat and he handed me the flowers.
"These are for you." He seemed nervous, unlike his normal smooth façade.
"Thank you, they're lovely."
"I had to bring them to you in person. I went to your office today looking for you to see if you have liked the flowers I have been sending. Your desk was covered but you were nowhere around. I ended up finding that small woman, Allie?"
"Alice."
"Right, Alice. I asked her where you were and she responded that you didn't write in the office anymore. She didn't think that you would be at home either. This was news to me. I wasn't sure what to do. I have never had to try so hard to impress a lady and here I found myself walking around the city looking for any place you might be working." I was startled by his confession. He searched the whole city for me to ask how I liked his flowers? "Anyway, I could not find you. You disappeared into the air. Since you wouldn't be at work the only other place I knew you would end up is home. So here I am." He smiled wearily.
"How long have you been sitting here?"
"About an hour and a half."
"How is asking me how I liked the flower worth sitting on a stoop for an hour and a half. Why didn't you just call and ask me?" I felt like I was missing something, an important piece to this strange puzzle.
"I wanted to see you," he seemed a little offended.
"Ok." We sat in awkward silence before I caved. "Would you like to come up?" I wondered if my exhaustion was evident in my voice. I didn't really want company right now but I didn't want to be rude.
"Yes please." He replied helping me to my feet. I climbed the stairs slowly before unlocking my door. Maurice sauntered into the hallway and stared at me. I scratched his head on the way to the kitchen. "Is this Maurice?" Mikhail asked following my cat. He reached down to pet him but Maurice moved between my legs and the counter just out of reach. I suppressed a smiled and scooped some food into a bowl before placing it on the ground. Mikhail moved forward to try and pet him again but I stopped him.
"I wouldn't pet him while he's eating. He gets a bit territorial." Maurice glanced up at Mikhail while licking his lips. His eyes closed to slits and he let out a cat growl. I didn't think they would warm up to each other. "Would you like some wine or coffee?"
"Wine please." I grabbed a bottle from my rack and popped the cork. I set it on the counter and leaned my hip next to it.
"So, since you spent most of the day chasing after me I assume you didn't get much work done." He shrugged.
"I've been less than useless ever since that night at the jazz club." I had a strange feeling about this. Like something I didn't want to happen was already in the making.
"Why have you been useless?" I whispered. I didn't want to hear the answer but I needed to. Mikhail's eyes flicked to the wine and he took over.
"I think it has breathed long enough." He poured some in the glasses I handed him. I lead him into the living room. I could either sit on the sofa so we sat together, or I could sit in the chair so we wouldn't. Mikhail made the decision by sitting on the sofa and patting the cushion next to him. I folded my legs under myself as I sat careful not to spill my wine.
Mikhail went to move close but Maurice jumped into my lap. He turned a circle then lay down keeping his eyes on Mikhail. I stroked his head and he purred, his gaze never wavering.
"So, why have you been useless?" He looked pained that I didn't just know the answer.
"Because of you." My heart beat hard one time and then seemed to stop. My entire body froze.
"What are you talking about? You barely even know me; you must be having some latent problem you haven't figured out yet. I have nothing to do with it! Maybe you should see a psychiatrist; I know a few good ones…"
"Bella," his eyes bore into me. I felt trapped and I didn't know what to do. "Never have I felt this way for someone. Women are nothing to me, but you, you are special."
"No! I'm really not! I'm completely average in every way. Ask anybody and they'll tell you. Don't do this." The last bit was a desperate request.
"Bella," he began while reaching for my hand. Maurice hissed and scratched him. "Merde!" Mikhail yelled sloshing wine onto my carpet.
"I think you should go." I decided as I stood. I held Maurice in my arms as a shield and placed my glass on a coaster.
"Isabella I can't get you out of my head. I come here to tell you how I fell and you kick me out?"
"I didn't ask you to feel ANYTHING for me. I just wanted companionship and look what it got me." I was talking more to myself than him but I was too upset to stop.
"I don't want to leave things this way. We haven't finished our conversation."
"I just, I can't deal with this right now. I'll call you eventually, now please, just, leave." His eyes burned but he didn't protest again. He walked out of the apartment and shut the door behind him.