Song for this chapter – Mother in Law- Ernie K Doe

Almost a Shooting Star

Outtake #1

Outtake: Chapter 7 Mama Told Me Not To Come

Mother in Law

Esme's POV

Getting off the phone with Edward was getting harder and harder to do. I hoped he would heed some of my warnings, but I knew my son probably better than he knew his own self. I knew he was doing drugs, how could he not be? In this day and age anymore and being a rockstar of sorts, there wasn't any way to avoid the situation. Plus, he had already been sampling them here before he left for LA. He doesn't think I know, but I do; and I knew the scene in LA would only intrigue him more. I hated it, and that was one of the many reasons why I didn't want him going, but he was so determined. They all were. I knew it was a mistake from the beginning.

I walked into the kitchen and poured another cup of coffee, thinking about our conversation. Edward was adamant about me not telling Kate about us coming to Canada, and I wouldn't tell Kate or her family. I wanted to see my son and if that meant not telling her, I would keep that a secret in a heartbeat.

Edward probably thought I liked Kate, but I didn't. Granted, I was nice to her and always went out of my way to make sure she was comfortable at our house, but I knew the type of girl she was from the beginning; something he could never see. Plus, it was hard to like someone you thought was hurting your child.

Trust me, I knew what she was actually doing here in Seattle, and it wasn't going to class like the good little girl should. No, she was over at the University of Washington drinking and doing whatever she wanted while he was on tour trying to make it. She should have supported him or at least been faithful to him, but that wasn't what was going on. Carmen, her mother, had all but admitted to me that Kate was failing out of school, which didn't surprise me. All she wanted was a man with a paycheck so she could live the high life, and that was all she saw in my son; stars and flashing lights. She might have preached to him about moving home and going to college or getting a job down at the sawmill, but that wasn't what she wanted really.

In some ways, I guess I couldn't blame her, but I didn't like it one bit. Of course, I was sure Edward had a little something on the road with him. He had forgotten that I had been married for years and knew that men needed a release in order to be a happy and productive man. It was human nature really. I would say as a woman, I was the same, but I wasn't about to admit those things to my baby boy.

Kate wasn't really any different than the other girls Edward had liked during his life. Tanya was the first. He probably thinks that I thought she was a sweet little girl. Meanwhile, I knew that the only reason he liked her was because she was easy. He was fourteen when he brought her home. It wasn't long before every time she came over I had to change his damn sheets. I hated the idea of him being sexual active at fourteen, but he was a boy; his hormones were out of this world at that age. I reckon it had to start sometime; at least it wasn't twelve like his father.

My son also thinks I'm blind, I know nothing, but little does he understand that I have been in his shoes, at some point or another. I saw it with my brothers and their friends growing up. Men have a tendency to be blinded by the potential of getting laid, and don't see all the warning signs like someone who wasn't influenced by that. The boys these days needed to learn that a chase was a good thing, and girls needed to start letting them chase a little before you let them have it all. It's so much easier to do things that don't take time or effort. Trust me, I have seen my fair share of crap. I didn't have all the answers, but I was well on my way.

While talking to Edward, I may have pushed the reconcile issue with Kate a little harder than I should have, being the way I feel about her. However, I did believe in marriage, and if they were in love, but the distance was causing them to grow apart, then he needed to fix it. He should make sure to call her, and constantly reconnect with her, but she needed to do those things too.

Honestly, I never understood why he had married her to begin with. He told me several times and on several occasions that he was getting ready to break up with her. Then, the next thing I know, he's married. At first, I expected a grandchild in a couple of months after their marriage, but then that didn't happen. I, at least, felt a little better knowing that a potential pregnancy hadn't been the change of heart. Now, she could have used that card and I just didn't know it, but you would think he would have mentioned it somewhere along the way.

Knowing my son though, I knew what was coming, and when Edward was over something or done with it, well … he was done.

Gathering my things to leave, I heard tires on the gravel road. Knowing that Carlisle wouldn't be home for another couple of hours, I looked out the window seeing Kate's BMW pull into the driveway. Great!

Standing at the counter, I continued to drink my coffee. When the doorbell rang, I straighten my dress and walked toward the door.

"Good afternoon, Kate," I greeted as I opened the door. I killed my daughter in law with kindness. Kill them with kindness … always my motto when you knew you were not liked. It wasn't a mystery that Kate hated me as much, if not more, than I hated her.

"Evening, Mrs. Cullen," she said, taking off her jacket and hanging it on the hook at the door. Apparently, she was staying a little longer than pleasantries.

"To what do I owe this visit?" I asked curiously.

"Well, Thanksgiving is coming up, and I was wondering if you had spoken with Edward."

"Yes, I just got off the phone with him a few minutes ago," I said, grabbing my coffee from the kitchen and walking toward the living room with Kate right on my tail.

"Did he say whether or not he was coming home?" she asked.

"Unfortunately dear, the record label isn't allowing them to leave. They have a show scheduled the day before and after Thanksgiving and won't be able to make it back in time," I replied, sipping my coffee. I watched Kate like a hawk; this was the first time she had inquired about holidays since she had come home years ago. Usually, Edward would go to her when he was home, so she never had to come here because they would talk.

The first year she left, they talked fairly often, according to Carmen, Kate's mother. However, now Edward never called her and she never called him.

"Are they coming home for Christmas?" she inquired, biting her nail; such a nasty habit to have especially when you are nervous.

"Sorry sweetheart, they won't be home anytime soon. They are staying in LA until the label lets them know about the New Year." Yes, I was giving Kate information, but I was hoping she would hang herself somewhere along the lines. Why was she so desperate to see him?

"Well, I figured he wouldn't be home. That music of his is so important to him that he wouldn't even come to see his wife," Kate huffed. I rolled my eyes. This was another Kate classic, playing the victim. She must have thought that crying to me would make me take her side in things. I guess in a small way, I did by asking Edward to keep his vows to her, but I didn't think she was the victim. Oh no, she contributed to the problem just as well as he had and both were to blame.

"Maybe he should, my dear, but I think the two of you have out grown each other," I said, sipping my coffee again. I wasn't going to sit here with her and mix words. I wanted to see how much she truly loved him. Maybe if she thought things were over already, she would fight to keep him in her life, but I guess I couldn't call that love. Someone like Kate would use that to her advantage to get what she wanted. That's when it hit me … Kate wanted to see Edward because she wanted something out of him, but what? What would Kate need from him now? Mommy and Daddy were still taking care of her and that I strongly disagreed with, but Carmen would get mad if I said something along those lines.

"I guess I will just have to go to him. I was afraid he would do something like this, and I have already booked my flight to New York." I knew Kate had connections to the group because she knew things I didn't, but how did she find out the boys would be at Madison Square Garden? Hell, I didn't find out until last week when Edward said something about the photo shoot with Rolling Stone in New Jersey just before they played at Madison Square Garden. According to him, it was a big deal and could make or break the band. So, I decided to play dirty and ask the one question I hadn't dared.

"How's Garrett doing?" I asked because Kate had always had a thing for Garrett that Edward either overlooked or never knew about. I assumed it was because he always thought that Garrett was just her friend like he was him.

"He's good," Kate replied before she even noticed what she said. When she finally realized she had just told on herself, she wouldn't look at me.

"So, how long have Garrett and you been together? And don't act like you don't know what I am talking about Kate. You've already admitted to talking to him while on the tour." I had her right where I wanted her. Why was she talking to Garrett? I wasn't for sure that Garrett and she had something going; I knew that she had once liked him and flirted with him.

"It's not like that, Esme, not at all. He understands and helps me through the moments my husband won't or can't seem to help me with is all," Kate said, but she was wringing her hands the whole time like she was nervous. Playing the victim card again by throwing his name in there. If I wasn't convinced something was going on before … I was now, and I had to warn Edward before something happened.

"I don't believe you, Kate, now please leave my house," I said, standing from my seat beside her. I narrowed my eyes when she didn't get up right away.

"Please don't tell Edward, I want to make things work with him, and New York might be my chance." Crocodile tears came fast, like she had a reason to save her marriage when she was already flirting with disaster. I wasn't one to usually judge people because of their mistakes, and had known several friends of mine that had cheated on their husbands, but this wasn't one of those situations. We were talking about my son … my baby boy, and I wasn't about to sit around and do nothing. Especially, when my son didn't want her around; now that was something to be said about their relationship as husband and wife.

Kate stood and walked to the front door, I didn't say anymore to her. I had nothing else to say that wouldn't end up with her throwing everything back to Edward. Did she not understand they were both in the relationship together and that everything that happened wasn't solely Edward's fault, that she should carry some of the blame?

Watching Kate walked toward the car, I knew I would have to locate Edward and warn him about her. I wouldn't tell him about Garrett, just in case things with the band were going well, but I would definitely tell him she was coming.

~Outtake: Chapter 8 Feel Like Making Love~

I had tried for days on end to get Edward on the phone, but I either had just missed them or they were still on the road. The label had insisted on using a crappy old Grey Hound bus to hall the boys all over the United States, and the damn thing was a junk yard reject. I had the pleasure of seeing the bus they were using when they had pulled into Seattle. I asked Carlisle if there was some way we could purchase a nicer bus for the boys to get back and forth in, but Carlisle wouldn't agree just yet. Stating that if they made it big and the label still insisted on making them ride in hunk of junk, then he would get them something nicer. Content with his answer, I said no more about it, but when I heard they had broken down somewhere in bum fuck West Virginia, I knew I needed to work a little harder on Carlisle.

Pulling the dishes from the dish washer, I heard the phone ring; quickly, I walked over and picked the phone up.

"Hello," I said, leaning against the counter, hoping it was Edward. Kate had called a couple of times to apologize to me, but I didn't know why she was sorry to begin with. I didn't like the way she was treating my son, and I made no bones about it when I told her that over the phone. She still wanted to know if he was coming home so she could cancel her flight if he was. She was so persistent to see him, which still caused me great concern; I knew she had something up her sleeve.

"Hey, Mom," Edward said. I was so happy to hear from him instead of me having to call the label to figure out where they were and call all the hotels in the area to find him.

"Hello, Baby Boy! Where are you now?" I asked, smiling. I loved to hear his voice because I knew he was still alive and well for that moment.

"New Jersey … Mom, the reason I called was because I wanted to tell you something …" he said "… I've met someone on tour and Mom, I'm in love with her. I mean, really in love. It's nothing like Kate. I want her to meet you and Dad when you come up to Montreal. Her Dad is the Chief of Police in Forks. I think Dad knows him, but I can't remember." I giggled. Edward never rambled like this; something must really be going good for him.

"God, Mom, she's amazing and I want you guys to like her, but I want to warn you, she is a little young. Seventeen … she's seventeen, but she is mature and she takes care of herself. Her mother doesn't even treat her right. I'm in love … so in fucking love with her that my heart hurts."

He was definitely something with this girl, but I didn't know if it was love or infatuation. I would have to see them together before I could decided. However, I had to warn him about Kate if this mystery girl was with him.

"Edward," I said, trying to talk over him as he still talked nonstop about his gal.

"Edward," I said, again laughing. I will say I had never heard him like this before, so that was something positive.

"Yeah," he said, finally breaking from his rambling.

"I hate to tell you this, but I don't want to see your happiness go away …" I took a deep breath, hating what I was about to say "… Kate's coming to New York. I never said anything about Montreal, and she came here wondering about Thanksgiving then Christmas."

"Why haven't you called before now to let me know?" he asked, sounding irrigated.

"I tried, but I just missed you in Kentucky, and when I called the label, they said something about having to be on the bus for longer; something about West Virginia and the bus breaking down."

"She can't come here, Mom; I don't want her to come. She will ruin everything I have here with Izzy."

"I know, Edward, I know, but you are going to have to figure out something to do. For the love of God, if you love Izzy, please don't sleep with Kate. Not only is she up to something, but if Izzy found out, it would probably break her heart and the love you have for her will break you in two," I sighed, hoping he heeded my warning.

"What am I going to fucking do?" he cried. My heart broke hearing the desperation in his voice. I wish I could call Kate and tell her he was done, or tell her he was coming home to make her stay. However, I would bet she was already on a plane heading there as we spoke.

"I don't know what to tell you to do, baby boy, but remember if you love something, set it free … if it returns, it was meant to be," I said. I knew it was true, the saying, and I hoped like hell it worked out, but I couldn't see him getting rid of Kate so easily. This poor Izzy would be heartbroken if she felt half of what Edward potentially felt. I just couldn't see ruining her chances with someone as involved as my son. I hated suggesting it and thinking about Izzy first, but she was young on the road with rockstars, and what if … she didn't love him as much as he loved her. If she wasn't and he wasn't going to give up Kate, she should walk out now verses later.

"I'll have to figure out something. God, Mom, why? Why now? She hasn't spoken to me since she left LA. Even when we came to Seattle, she barely saw me. She disappeared for hours, and even though I had already met Izzy, I was intrigued, but now … now I love her and want to be better for her. I've even thought about giving up this whole rockstar thing for her."

It was official. He was in love and in deep, and I knew whatever decision he made or did when Kate arrived … it would kill him. I rubbed my forehead with my hand knowing in this moment things were about to get a lot worse for my son.

"I have to get off the phone, but please … please think about things before you go off on a tangent and do something that could ruin the both of you potentially. Please think," I begged. I loved my son dearly, but he was notorious for doing the first thing he thought of and his first thoughts weren't always that well planned out. My son still had a lot of growing to do even though he was already an adult.

"I will, Mom, I promise," he said. I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.

"I love you, baby boy, and will talk to you later," I said.

"I love you too, and thanks," he said, hanging up the phone.

I prayed a silent prayer that he would think and not rush into something he was ill prepared to handle. He already had the record label breathing down his neck, Kate and her madness, Izzy and whether or not she would be able to understand the situation. I just prayed that he wouldn't allow everything to spiral out of control.

A/N: Thank you for reading and supporting this wonderful cause.