As promised I'm updating sooner than usual. Traceybuie thank you for reviewing the last chapter.
EPOV
"Get dressed young lady I'm coming in. Don't expect to avoid me hiding in the bathroom. I mean to talk to you…" I heard part of Renee's tirade as she continued to open the door. It was a split second decision I knew I had to get out of there. I grabbed my torn cloths in one hand and Bella in the other and jumped out of the window on to the roof. I had never been more thankful for my speed. I ran across the roof and went in through Bella's bedroom window locking her room door in the same breath. It was only then that I placed a now very dazed looking Bella on the bed.
At the same moment I saw in my mind Renee's surprise to find the bathroom empty. Renee had opened the bathroom thinking that Bella was pulling a teenage stunt and had hidden herself in the bathroom to avoid talking to her. I understood from Renee's thoughts that earlier in the day Bella had announced our engagement and had kept the phone when Renee had started questioning her about marrying so young. She had then got on the next available flight to come and talk some sense into Bella. Her thoughts were jumbled and she was very upset. She was thinking about the mistakes she made marrying Charlie so young in life and that Bella was also going to make the same mistake. On top of that she thought about how I had left Bella and the way she had looked like a zombie the last time she came to Forks to take Bella back with her. I cringed at her memories.
"Why didn't you lock the door love?" It was the first question that came to my mind.
"Charlie never comes in and it's just the two of us so I didn't bother…" Then a mischievous smile spread across her face.
"I think I should start locking the window though" She laughed.
"As if that would keep me out." I heard Renee leave the bathroom deciding to check the bedroom.
"Oh shit. Renee is about to come in here." Bella scrambled out of the bed and started frantically pulling out her clothes I quickly helped her and she was dressed in seconds.
Just then we heard the knock on the door. Bella looked at the door then at me. Her eyes grew huge. Then she started laughing.
"What?" I couldn't for the life of me figure out why she was laughing. She pointed to me and then to my hands where I still clutched what was left of my clothing. Holy shit! I was still naked and I was flaunting my self in front of Bella. In the total chaos I had forgotten about my nudity. I quickly covered myself with what was left of my clothing.
"I know you are in there Bella open up. I want to speak to you." Renee was impatient and tried to open this door too. I was glad I had had the presence of mind to lock it.
"Here, wear this Edward. Ask Alice to get you some cloths. I'll try to get Renee to go downstairs with me." I quickly draped the towel Bella tossed me and hid under the bed. As soon as she opened the door Renee came rushing in.
"What are you doing so long in the bedroom?" She sounded angry.
"I just had a wash mom and I was changing." Bella sounded very calm but I could still hear her accelerated heartbeat.
"Didn't you hear me call out to you? You could have answered." This is the first time I had heard Renee getting mad at Bella. They seemed to have a very easy going relationship from the observations I made during her last trip to Phoenix.
"The room is sound proof mom. Charlie's snoring and my sleep talking kept both of us awake. So we decided to sound proof it. Even if I called out you wouldn't have heard me." Bella sounded like a patient adult explaining things to a wayward child. I had to smile at this.
"Hrrmp. Well sit down. I have some things to say to you. You kept the phone before I could say anything." Renee took a seat on the bed. Oh no! She wasn't going to go downstairs.
"Mom we should go downstairs. It's more comfortable. Let me make you some tea or coffee for you. You must be tired." I saw Bella's worried face in Renee's mind.
"No. I don't need anything to drink right now. What I need right now is for you to explain what is going on?"
She was adamant and I saw a look of defeat in Bella's face. She sat on the bed and I slowly moved to Bella's side of the bed. What a situation to be in. This was awkward and embarrassing. And to think I hadn't even noticed my nudity in my excitement. Luckily Bella had laughed it off. She definitely got an eye full of me this time. This thought alone was enough to give me another hard-on. Great! That's all I needed. Luckily the bed had enough room underneath to accommodate me. I don't think Renee would have been very impressed with a strange pole piercing the middle of the bed. Specially when that pole distinctly looked like a certain anatomical body part.
"Nothing mom. It's just that Edward and I decided to get married."
"What's the rush? There is plenty of time. And I haven't even met this Edward yet. I know how he hurt you the first time. Are you sure he's not going to leave you again?"
Renee was remembering the way Bella had looked the last time she saw her. I realised Renee was only angry because she thought Bella was making a big mistake by marrying me. From what she knew of me I had been the cause of all the heartache her daughter suffered. Oh how I wished I could turn back the clock and take all that pain away from Bella. I could understand that it was her love for Bella that had made Renee so worried and had her hopping on the next plane over here.
"We will be going away to university together mom. It would be better all around if I was married to him by then. I don't want to have my reputation spoiled."
"Ha. As if you would ever consider sleeping with anyone Bella." She then took a closer look at Bella when a delectable blush spread through her face.
"Oh! Are you having sex with him?" Renee sounded surprised.
"No mom I am not. But I would like to so don't you think it's for the best if we got married first."
"Marriage is a big step. How are you going to support yourselves? I don't think the scholarship you are aiming for would cover everything."
"Edward has plenty of money. We don't have to worry about that."
"Charlie told me but I find it hard to believe a kid his age would have that much money. So I'm still suspicious about all this. Are you pregnant Bella? Is that why you are rushing in to marriage?"
"I'm not pregnant! And I don't think I'll ever get pregnant. We are marrying because we love each other." Bella was getting a bit upset. I could tell from the way her face changed expressions.
"Bella honey, listen to me! Are you sure marriage will be enough to hold him to you this time. Is he serious about all this? Or did you tell him you won't sleep with him unless he marries you?"
"No mom it's nothing like that. Of course we are waiting for marriage to go all the way but he's not marrying me so that he can have sex with me mom. He's marrying me because he loves me."
"Are you sure Bella? And this waiting for marriage thing, what happens if you don't enjoy having sex with him after you had already married him?
Bella blushed a deep red. "Mom!"
"How close have you been? Are you sure you want to commit to this man. Charlie says he is a good person. But what do you know of him?"
"His sister is my best girlfriend ok? And I've known him for more than two years now mom"
"But people change. Charlie said he had some sort of a breakdown after leaving you? Is it true?"
"He missed me mom. He didn't want to leave me either but his father's work took his family away form Forks. And he thought it best to break it off with me rather than try to have a long distance relationship"
"Well that was stupid. And if he missed you as much as he says he did why did his sister have to come for you? Why didn't he come?"
"He was too upset mom and he was sick. And his parents were scared for him. He never stopped loving me mom just like I never stopped loving him."
"Oh Bella!" Renee hugged Bella to her. And I saw silent tears running down both their faces. I felt as if I was invading private time between a mother and a daughter although their topic of discussion was me.
"I love him mom. I want to be with him. Please try to understand."
"But you are still my baby Bella. It was just yesterday that I watched you walk for the first time. And now you are getting married. Can I at least be a part of the arraignments and help you with the wedding?"
"Of course mom. Alice, Edward's sister is organising the wedding."
"His little sister? That girl would barely know what to do, she's your age right? She needs adult supervision." Renee was thinking of all the ways to organise the wedding. I cringed to think of the visions Alice must be having now. This was going to be a really interesting. I hoped Renee didn't plan to stay all four weeks.
"Their mother is also helping and so is the other sister Rosalie. Leah is doing the brides maid dresses. And Alice is doing the bridal. I've asked Alice and Leah to be my bride's maids."
"Well that's nice of you to think of Leah. But Bella you must be crazy to let a teenager do your wedding dress. God knows why Charlie is so besotted with her. From what I heard he's putty in her hands."
"Yes. But don't underestimate Alice mom. She has fashion experience in Paris. In fact she had done a design course there."
"When did she get the time to do all that?" Bella looked flabbergasted at her slip of her tongue. But she was quick to recover.
"She did summer school and a correspondence course."
"And you said that his father was a doctor right?"
"Yes."
"Well, I'm not going to leave here till I know what is really going on. I still feel you are hiding something from me." Bella to my relief managed to put her blank face. Although I hated seeing it this time I was glad.
"What about Phil mom? I thought his injuries didn't let him do things by himself."
"Oh, his sister is there with him. She came for a two month visit and I'm having school holidays. So I'm in no hurry to get back. And Bella, you are my priority. I intend to stay till the wedding. I want to make sure you are making the right decision. I can't wait to meet your future in-laws. We can go visit them tomorrow."
"Well, umm I'll have to ask them whether they are free. They have busy schedules."
Bella sounded reluctant. After all even Charlie hadn't yet come inside our house on a visit.
"They shouldn't be too busy to meet with me. Well what are you waiting for call them."
"Ok let's go down." To my relief they both got up and went out of the room.
"And I'm really looking forward to meeting this little sister. I have heard so much about her. She seems to be quite a character."
"Well I guess when you meet her you'll know how capable she is in handling things. She has a sort of a sixth sense and I'm sure she'll surprise you." Bella had a smug smile on her lips.
The said little sister jumped in from the window the moment they left the room to my utter relief. I quickly pulled on the cloths she brought.
"Brother dearest, I really think you should carry around an extra set of clothing."
"ALICE"
"What? Honestly I can't go rushing around bringing clothes to you all the time. At the rate you are ruining clothes you should be thankful that I buy extra for you."
"Why, thank you Alice." I aimed to sound sarcastic but I knew Alice knew how grateful I was to her.
"You are welcome." The pixie put on a smug smile.
"Oh by the way Edward Bella wants me to tell you to stay till she comes back to the room"
"I was going to stay. Alice is it safe for me to stay the night? Will Renee catch me?"
"I'm not really sure. The way she's changing her decisions I don't know what to expect."
Just then Alice's phone rang.
"Hello Alice, is it ok if I brought my mother over to your place tomorrow?" Bella asked while, I heard Renee speaking in the background asking her to put Esme on the phone.
"I've got to go. If I have to put Esme on I have to get back to the house." Alice thought at me and rushed off.
"Sure Bella. Just decide a little early before you come and make sure I see it."
"Sure…umm could you put Esme on line?" I could hear the whoosing sound of Alice running in the background but I didn't think Bella could pick it.
"Oh she's in the kitchen."
"Is it a bad time I could call later." Bella was also carrying on this conversation as if she actually believed Esme had anything to do in the kitchen. Oh dear we had to get some more human food. There was so much we had to do before Renee visited us. I'd better ask Bella to tell me what needs to be done to make sure whether everything is in order before Renee visited.
"No wait. I'll go get her."
"Hello Bella. How are you?"
"I'm fine Esme. My mother's here for a visit and she's wondering whether…" That's all Bella could say before Renee grabbed the phone.
"Hello Esme. I'm Renee Bella's mother. I just heard about the engagement and would really like to meet Bella's future family. Can we drop in sometime tomorrow?"
"Sure you are welcome anytime."
"As you can imagine I have a few concerns about this sudden engagement."
"I understand. We can talk tomorrow. Just give us a call before you come." Renee was about to say something else. Oh no, she was going to ask about me but Bella grabbed the phone back and said bye to Esme.
I sent out a silent prayer that everything would work out well. I had never realised how difficult it would be to handle a human mother-in-law in addition to a father-in-law. Charlie was cool. He didn't look too closely at day to day things. He had accepted us because he knew Carlisle and respected him. But Renee was going to be another story entirely. She seemed to be looking in to every little detail. It was going to be difficult to carry out our human charade in front of her.
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