The Learning Curve: Chapter 120

Edward Cullen's House

If I seemed calm, it was a lie. I was shaking in my boots. Or my Oxfords, as I happened to be wearing. Bella's mother wasn't an obstacle to us getting married, I knew – but the last thing I wanted was a mother-in-law who hated me. It was bad enough that I had a father-in-law who fantasized about having me at the end of his shotgun.

Renee and I sat facing one another at the kitchen table. I'd offered to pour her more coffee, but she declined. That left us with only one thing to talk about.

"Edward…I'm sure I seem unreasonable to you. My initial reaction was maybe a little…melodramatic. But you have to see where I'm coming from. This is my only daughter. I know she's not like me. She's always been steadier in her choices than I am. But that doesn't make this any less of a mistake. Getting married young…it leads to strife down the road, and because Bella's like her father, she's not going to leave if she becomes unhappy. She's going to stick with it and be miserable."

I tried not to take the assumption that Bella would be unhappy too personally, but it smarted.

"Mrs. Dwyer, I'm under no illusions that it's going to be easy," I began carefully. "I know that life could pull us in different directions. But I'm ready to do what's necessary. You asked what would happen if I got into med school somewhere far from where Bella found a job – you have to know that I would be just as willing to put off medical school for her as she would be to put her career on hold for me. We're going to have the tough discussions and we're going to make compromises."

She nodded slowly, staring off at a point somewhere above my left shoulder. "I suppose you'll do as you like, won't you? Kids never do listen. Lord knows I didn't. Just be careful. I'd hate to see either one of you get hurt."

I let out a breath that had been weighing heavily on my lungs. "Do we…have your blessing? I know you don't entirely approve, but –"

Renee waved her hand to stop me. "No, I'm on board. I'm not going to ruin my only daughter's first and possibly only wedding with a bunch of fussing. I just wanted to say some things that needed to be said."

"Okay," I said bemusedly. "Thanks, then."

"Now," Renee said, leaning forward and crossing her arms on the table. "What's this I hear about Alice making Bella's dress?"

"Uh…well, it's just what you hear. Alice is making the dress. Bella gave her what she could afford. She's just making something simple."

"Do you think Alice would let me chip in some more money and keep it a secret from Bella?"

I couldn't help laughing. "Are you kidding? Alice would love you forever."

Renee pointed a finger at me. "You have to keep it a secret, too."

I gulped, knowing the likelihood of that was…slim, if Bella got wind of something. "I'll take it to my grave."

Renee rolled her eyes. "Just keep it to yourself until the wedding day."

A/N: Spending another Saturday morning at work. Hope yours is better.