*waves* Hello! Remember me? I still don't own Twilight, but I have a great friend & beta, Javamomma0921, that makes my words better (even when I go and add more to a chapter after she returns her version).
More at the end…
~HOH~
Chapter 9: Road trip!
On Friday, the sun shone uncharacteristically down upon the grounds of Hands-On History. Taking advantage of every sunny moment, Bella's team converged outside the main building to carpool to Masen Manor, travel mugs of hot coffee clutched in their hands as they tried to wipe away the last bit of sleep from their eyes.
Bella's PA, Eric, handed out jump drives with the latest collections of reports. He chattered amiably as he flitted from person to person, his leprechaun green satin shirt shimmering in the sunshine.
"Come on, sweethearts, up and at 'em!" Eric grinned.
"You're one of those disgusting morning people, aren't you?" Alice grumbled before taking a deep draw on her java. "Oh, that's good."
"And you most certainly are not," he teased, presenting her with a good-natured grin and a jump drive.
"Thank you," she muttered before returning to her liquid wake-up call.
"Everyone have their copies?" he asked, glancing at each person's hand. Somehow, he had been able to find lanyards that color coordinated with each person's main vehicle. Alice's was bright yellow; Jasper's was a royal blue; Bella's was brown; Emmett's was bright blue; Rosalie's was fire engine red; and Edward's was purple and black herringbone.
Bella smiled to herself as she remembered the motorcycle she had ridden on just a few weeks before.
"Okay," Eric grinned, stepping back from the group. He gazed proudly at the group. "I'll grab the last minute printouts upstairs and follow you to Masen Manor with Ms. Green and Ms. Mobolade."
He turned and strutted into the Hands-On History headquarters, the rising sun sparkling off of his glasses.
"That was just too cute," Emmett muttered, watching Eric leave before looking at his lanyard.
"You leave him alone," Alice chided. "He can't help it that he's flamboyant."
"You should see his wife," Jasper whispered, earning a glare from his own. "Well, she's rather…"
"I believe the phrase you're searching for is 'over the top,'" Rose offered.
"He's married?" Bella gasped.
"Oh, yeah. Wife's a real sweetheart. Can't remember her name, though," Emmett replied. He thought for a moment and still could not come up with her name.
The others shook their heads as well, unable to remember Eric's wife's name, though each had distinct memories of having met her before at various functions. Eventually, each person dismissed the topic and went on with the business at hand.
"So everyone has their assignments?" Bella inquired as she stifled a yawn, checking over her legal pad.
She was greeted with a rumble of agreement.
"Then let's get this show on the road!"
Everyone piled into Emmett and Rosalie's SUV. Rosalie grabbed the shotgun position, earning a curious glance from Alice. Usually Rosalie and Alice sat together but apparently this trip was going to be different. As a result, Alice grabbed Bella by the hand and pulled her into the back seat.
"I want to go over some of the design sketches I've made," Alice smiled in explanation.
"So what are you going to investigate, boss lady?" Emmett asked as he carefully pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward Masen Manor.
"I'm going to talk to the curators and present preliminary findings while everyone examines their areas. They are hosting a period dinner for us this evening as a thank you for everyone's hard work." Bella did not look up from her notes as she spoke.
"I received an e-mail requesting I play one of Anthony Masen's compositions," Edward interjected gently from the center row, "so I will begin in the ball room to ensure everything is set up for that."
Bella smiled to herself at the idea of watching Edward play. She remembered the passion she had felt just listening to the recording on his MP3 player and wondered if seeing him at the piano would be just as moving.
"You're blushing?" Alice whispered, leaning close so no one else could hear.
"No!" Bella whispered, her hands flying to feel her hot cheeks. She knew she was blushing and her reaction earned a knowing smile from Alice who was now quite awake.
"So what's going on between you and my brother?" Alice quietly demanded, scooting into the center seat and buckling the belt.
It was a good thing she was short-waisted and Emmett could see over her with no problem.
"Nothing, Alice," Bella whisper-yelled.
"That's not what he said."
Bella's jaw dropped. Her eyes darted to Edward who was just in the seat in front of her, but he was leaning forward, discussing the best route to Masen Manor with Emmett. It appeared that the GPS was not recognizing the address and wanting to take them through Sault Sainte Marie.
"But that's in Michigan!" Rosalie huffed, crossing her arms and glaring at the electronic device.
"Let Edward look at it, babe," Emmett insisted. "Maybe it just needs to be restarted."
"I'm perfectly capable of doing that," she grumbled, poking at the screen.
"He's talked about us? Really? What's he said?" Bella hurriedly whispered, taking full advantage of Edward being distracted.
"'Nothing, Alice?'" Alice grinned broadly, making quotation marks in the air at her words.
Bella slumped into her seat. She'd been had.
"I like him," she whispered.
"He likes you as well."
Bella felt happier about this revelation than she had thought she would. It had been quite a while since her last serious relationship. Triple majoring was not conducive to such frivolity as dating and the like, and she was really out of practice.
"But I know my dear brother and if I had to guess I'd say he's worried about propriety and doing what others expect him to do. It'll be difficult for him to let go of that."
A slow smile graced Alice's lips before she continued. "But I think you are just the woman to help him do just that."
Bella's silence told Alice far more than any answer could.
"So has he even kissed you yet?" Alice whispered, pulling out her sketchbook and flipping through a few pages. She glared at the back of Edward's head.
As if he knew she was looking at him, Edward turned around and gave a questioning look at Bella and Alice.
"If I didn't know better, I'd think the two of you were planning something," he said, smiling innocently.
"You just turn around and let us girls talk. You've taken Bella to lunch every day this week and last. It's my turn to learn more about her," Alice said, motioning for him to do just that before she began to draw frantically upon the crisp white paper.
"Okay," Edward smiled, winking at Bella.
Seconds later, her phone buzzed and Bella pulled it out.
Don't let the little dictator monopolize all of your time.
Bella laughed out loud, earning a glare from Alice.
She quickly typed a response. It appears the end of no one knowing about 'us' is about to come to an end.
Edward quickly read his phone and shot a concerned look into the rear view mirror.
Do you not want anyone to know about us?
Bella read the message and shook her head. After reading the personnel manual, Bella had no problem what-so-ever letting others know she was dating Edward, even if so far the dates had only been to a few nearby restaurants over lunch and a few after-work phone calls.
I would be proud to be seen with you anywhere, Edward.
The smile that lit up his face warmed Bella.
So are you going to tell Alice or should I? (Please say YOU will!)
Bella snorted as she read Edward's response.
"Okay, you two…" Alice began, lunging for Edward's phone.
She missed, earning a triumphant grin to which she responded with sticking out her tongue.
"So, Little B," Emmett interrupted, looking into the rear view mirror. "I thought the weather was supposed to be clear all day."
"It was." Bella strained to see out the window and sure enough, a line of ominously dark clouds stretched across the sky as far as she could see. They were rolling in rather quickly and it was certain they were about to get wet.
"Looks like Weather Channel needs to look out a window every now and then," he continued as a low rumble sounded in the distance.
Fat rain drops began to fall from the sky and in the matter of minutes, the passengers in the SUV began to wonder if they should have brought an ark. The windshield wipers sprung to life, sluicing the window as best as they could but still the road became harder and harder to see. Emmett slowed down and smiled reassuringly at the other passengers although deep inside he was feeling less secure than he was indicating.
A loud crack of thunder snapped through the air and a fiery flash startled everyone. Just ahead of the SUV, an old pine tree creaked and groaned before falling directly in their path. With a pump of the brakes, Emmett skillfully steered the fishtailing vehicle, avoiding the tree that now blocked the majority of the road.
And then, as suddenly as the storm began, it dried up. Even the road was clear and dry as they rounded the curve.
"Now that was just plain odd," Jasper muttered, shaking his head in disbelief, turning to look behind them at the fallen tree and torrential downpour.
"That's an understatement," Rosalie agreed, shuffling in her seat. "Em?"
"Again?" he sighed before catching himself. The big man cowered under the glare of his wife. "Sorry. I'll find the next place."
The remainder of the trip passed with companionable ease with stories being shared, laughter with each other rather than at each other, and a few groans as the request for a third bathroom stop became an order. It was accompanied by a loving slap to the back of Emmett's head by Rosalie, the requestor, when she curtly reminded him just why she needed to stop every so often before she kissed him on the cheek. A round of congratulations about their impending parenthood made the stop a lot more bearable for those anxious to see the newly restored Masen Manor.
Emmett's SUV pulled into the long, winding driveway leading to the Masen home. All eyes focused on the carefully manicured lawn and the bright yellow Federal style home at the end of the cobblestone drive. It was a simple design with only two Ionic columns gracing the front porch but Bella's breath was taken away at the regal beauty the home exuded. Surely this grand lady had not been allowed to wallow since the early 1900s, she thought sadly. Regardless, it was obvious the new caretakers had lavished the home with well needed care.
As the Hands-On History team piled out of the vehicle, a man and a woman stood at the front door, eager smiles gracing their lips.
"Welcome to Masen Manor!" the gentleman called, throwing up one hand in a friendly wave. He was clad in khaki pants and a non-descript blue oxford button up shirt but his bearing was one of genuine welcome. "My name is Eleazar Cortez and this is my wife, Carmen. Welcome to history reborn!"
Warm greetings were exchanged before the team was ushered into the simply elegant foyer. Everyone's eyes feasted upon the graceful lines of polished oak with touches of silver or pewter hardware.
"This is just beautiful," Bella whispered more to herself than to anyone in particular.
A sudden movement caught her eye, but by the time Bella turned, she only saw a flash of green and no more. Deciding it was probably a fluttering curtain or the light filtering through a tree, Bella shrugged and rejoined the group that had stepped further into the house.
"I have coffee and tea in the study if anyone is in need of refreshment," Carmen smiled, her voice carrying the soft lilt of her Castillian background.
"If it's all the same, I'd rather visit the stables while the weather holds out," Rosalie replied, looking toward the west and the darkening sky. "We ran into a terrible downpour on the way here."
Carmen's eyes flew open. "I was certain today was supposed to be completely clear!"
"As were we," Jasper interjected. "But we just about hydroplaned coming up the hills and if it weren't for Emmett's fine driving skills, we may have ended up on the side of the road."
The or worse remained unspoken but thought by all.
"Well, I'm glad you are alright," Eleazar stated honestly, shaking his head in disbelief.
"So if you don't mind," Rosalie continued, motioning toward the outside.
"Oh, by all means!" Carmen smiled broadly. "You all do what you need to do. Eli and I will be in the house. Just call for us!"
Several others murmured equally valid reasons to jump feet first into their on-site research and moments later, Bella stood alone with Eleazar and Carmen in the foyer.
"Well, if you have no other plans, I'd love to show you our preliminary findings," Bella smiled, pulling out a thick file.
From another room, a telephone began to ring.
"I must get that," Carmen said apologetically. "Why don't you take Miss Swan to the library and I'll join you as soon as I can."
"Of course, my love. Shall we?"
"After you," Bella smiled, anxious to show her findings so she could explore Masen Manor on her own.
~HOH~
I thank you, dear readers, from the bottom of my heart for your patience—my trip to India was fabulous. We met people from all walks of life, taught at a conference on leadership, visited a children's home, and showed my daughters a little bit of the world that they never would have experienced had we not gone. I could talk for hours, but I'll spare you that here. PMs are a different story all together, though…
Unfortunately, when I returned, I had a bad reaction to the anti-malaria medicine I was on and spent 3 days recovering. And then my writing vibe just up and vanished. Java will tell you I struggled hard with finding the voice that spoke so clearly before the trip. But, I think it is back, and we can unravel the mystery of Anthony and Marie!
Next chapter will be much longer, and you won't have to wait over a month for it.
Promise.
~DeJean