We will post again on Sunday.
Chapter 7
I wake, feeling warmer than I should. My eyes open and I see that Bella's lying on top of me. Then I notice my arms are resting over her keeping her in place. I just keep looking at her as I try to work out why I'm lying in bed with her. The last thing I remember was talking to her until she fell asleep. I was going to give her a few more minutes before leaving; I must have fallen asleep.
She hums and scratches her nose. I know that she's slowly waking up. I shut my eyes and drop my arm from around her, so it looks like she's lying on me and I have nothing to do with it. Shitty move, I know, but I'd hate for her to freak out and have us lose the little progress we've made.
Bella's hand runs down my body and stops when she reaches the front of my pants. I feel her hand rubbing my crotch and I bite my lip to stop the moan from coming out. Suddenly, her hand stops moving and I feel her finger poke my dick. Now I know she's awake.
"What … shit," Bella says as she sits up. "Fucking way to go, Bella, molest the guy when he's sleeping," Bella mutters and she stands up on the bed. I hold back my chuckles as she mutters about trying to molest me. I feel her foot hit my leg and I know she's about to fall. My eyes spring open and I see her fall off the bed landing on the floor in a heap.
"Morning," I say looking down at her trying to hold back my laugh. "Are you okay?" I ask, and a faint chuckle comes out at the same time.
"Yeah, but I'm not sure about my ass."
I chuckle and swing my legs out of my bed, and hold out my hand for her. She takes it softly, and I pull her up to stand. I swallow when I notice how tiny she is, the top of her head only reaching to just below my shoulder. I knew she was small, but not this small. She may be even smaller than Alice is.
"Come on, it's breakfast time," I say as the smell of bacon and eggs hits me.
"Ah … if you tell me where my clothes are, I'll get dressed, and out of your hair."
I look at her frowning. "You want to leave?" I study her face and see that she looks pale and worried. I let out a sigh. "Bella, please join my family and me for breakfast. I still need to keep an eye on you anyway."
Bella looks to my bedroom door and gulps. "Edward, I'm not sure about this. It took months for you to warm up to me, and I don't think I can handle five people hating me at once."
I drop my head feeling that pang of guilt again over how I treated her when we first met.
"I'm the only asshole in this family that doesn't know how to behave when he meets someone for the first time. So, you'll be fine, I swear." I take hold of her hand and walk out, heading toward the kitchen.
Everyone just gives us a quick look as they talk. "Damn, I was all set for a second helping," Emmett jokes as Bella and I sit down.
"What would you like?" I whisper to her and she shakes her head.
"Just coffee, please."
I tilt my head at her worried still over how little she eats. It's not like she needs to lose weight; in fact, I would bet she's underweight for her height, even if she's naturally tiny.
"No, I'm sorry, dear, that does not go down in my household. You will eat a breakfast, and just ignore Emmett, he was on his third helping," my mom says while placing a plate down in front of Bella and another in front of me.
I chuckle, picking up the salt as I realize that Bella's not wanting to eat was because of what Emmett said. "Mom has a thing where we all have to be stuffed before leaving the house."
Bella nods at me and takes the salt from me as I offer it to her.
"Thank you, Mrs. Cullen. This looks great, and I can see where Edward gets his cooking skills."
My mom smiles happily as she sits down. "Yes, he has learned some from me, and it's Esme, dear."
I roll my eyes at myself, knowing that I forgot to introduce Bella to my family. This just felt normal, like we have done it many times before. "Oh, I'm sorry; Bella, this is my family. My dad Carlisle," I say pointing at him as I swallow the food in my mouth. "My sister, Alice, my sister-in-law, Rose, my brother, Emmett and my mom, Esme."
They all give Bella a nod as I say their names.
"And as you can all guess, this is Bella."
"It's nice to meet you all," Bella says softly as she starts to eat.
Alice bounces in her seat, as she looks at us smiling.
"What's got you so happy?" I ask.
"I got a text this morning telling me where my work placement is. I'm really lucky; it's nearby and according to what I've heard, one of the better locations to get placed."
I nod at her, knowing her last work placement had her in tears most of the time she was there.
"What are your plans for today?" my dad asks us all.
"Alice and I are going window shopping and then dropping in at the bookstore for some new books," Rose replies as she carries on eating.
"I'm hitting the gym and painting the living room wall," Emmett says, as he gets up for another helping.
My dad nods looking at me. "I'm not sure yet; I know I need to put the new books out on display at the library, so I may go and do that." It's Sunday and as the library is closed, if I do it today I will have peace and quiet.
"What about you, Bella, do have much planned for today?"
Bella looks to my dad in shock. "Studying was in the cards, but I'm not sure about what happened last night or what I will even need to do after a gas leak."
I catch the frown on Bella's face, before she drops her head.
"Sorry, Bella, they called last night, when you were getting examined at the hospital. The gas line to your stove broke and they fixed it, but they recommended that you get a new stove; there's no other damage. I have your house keys and I've locked it all up for you. I didn't know your codes to turn the alarm on, though."
Bella raises her head and smiles at my dad. "That's okay. I forget to turn on the alarm most of the time anyway. Thank you, and I take it I'll need to go shopping for a stove."
My dad nods at her and chuckles lightly. "How's school going? Are you able to keep up with all of your work? Edward here isn't pushing you too much, is he?"
Bella looks to me. "No, he's been helping me a lot; the temporary CEO is a little crazy. She likes to tell me fibs; I can't really explain it. To my face she's friendly, nice and smiles, saying she'll help me. But – I have this feeling … as if I'm on guard anytime she's around."
Bella shakes her head a little. "It's more the company's board of directors that are pushing me. They're afraid of having an eighteen-year-old in charge–not that I blame them." Bella's worry and hurt is so clear; I think everyone picked up on it.
"You're doing great, and if you're still worried, I can continue helping you in August, Bella. I'm sure my dad, who has run a few companies, could help you until you find your feet, too."
She nods at me, before turning a bit to look at my mom. "Esme, do you like working at the supermarket?"
My mom blushes and shrugs, while Alice and Rose glare at Bella, but I know now that Bella doesn't see anything negative in what she said.
"I'm just asking because I wanted to know if I could hire you to teach me how to cook? Oh, if you say yes, could you also teach me sewing and household stuff? I would pay you. I think thirty dollars an hour is fair, or whatever you think is reasonable, if it's not. Please think about it before saying no."
"Bella, I could work at the supermarket and still teach you for free."
Bella shakes her head. "No, please, that doesn't sound fair to you. My dad used to have loads of staff, and their pay was always very high. Most of them made thirty an hour, or more. That's why I suggested that amount."
I turn to look at Bella in shock, because that is a lot.
"I know not everyone is born with what I have, but it's what I know. If you like working at the supermarket, that's fine, but I still want to pay you."
My mom sighs a little and nods at her. "We'll talk later."
Bella grins and bobs her head.
Alice, Rose and Emmett leave, while I show Bella the bathroom, so she can get washed and dressed.
"Are you going to take her job offer?" I ask my mom as I sit down next to her.
"I'm not sure; seems a lot just to teach her how to cook and sew."
I nod at her and then grin. "She hasn't been eating right and her place is huge. You could give her place a good cleaning, and help her make food."
My mom smiles as she thinks about it all. "Yes, that would put it up a little"
"She never had a mom; not from what she told me."
Mom shakes her head and I can see her empathy for Bella. "Fine, I'll take her job offer, but she needs to reduce the amount she gives me."
I kiss my mom's cheek. "Think she'd give me a job?" My dad chuckles, and I look to him and he gives me the 'what?' look back. "I'm no fool," he says playfully.
"If you'd like, you could help me with all this stuff I need to go through; like selling some of the cars and other things?"
We all turn seeing Bella standing there and my dad chuckles as he pales a little. "I was merely joking, my dear," my father says and Bella pouts.
"Well, could you maybe think about it? See, the advisers that I have…well, I have a feeling they are only worried about what is right for them, and how to get more money. I would like an outsider's opinion on some things. You know, like check out some charities to give to and such. Plus, I have no idea about what to do to sell the cars and that. Oh, and you could teach me how to drive. I would ask Edward, but he drives a little fast." Bella's eyes light up.
"I would gladly teach you how to drive; no money needed, my dear."
Bella pouts and my dad walks over to her and taps her nose. "You have given my son and wife a job and you are helping to save our family business, let me repay your kindness."
Bella bites her lip, and I can see her trying to think of a way to make him take the money. After a few seconds she nods at him with a smile. "Thank you."
My dad shakes his head and hugs her to him. "You have a very kind soul. Now, let's go and get you a new stove."
Bella chuckles and I grab our jackets as we head out. We all head to Bella's house first to measure the space that we have to fit the new stove. Once that's done, we take her to a local appliance center.
"Hi there – need any help?" the store clerk asks my father.
"We're here with this young lady to pick out a stove."
The store clerk's eyes sparkle as he looks at Bella. I find myself struggling to hold back a growl as he places his arm around her shoulder.
"We have some great stoves, love. Do you know what kind you want? Oh, and are Mom and Dad buying?" The clerk looks over his shoulder to my mom and dad with a grin.
"I ... I'm not sure – they're not my parents," Bella stutters out trying to move away from him. I let out a sigh, trying to calm myself before I move to them, and take the guy's arm off of Bella.
The guy looks at me with a frown as Bella moves to my other side.
"So, these are the best of the best," the clerk says, and Bella looks from the stove to me. The clerk takes some time and tells us the benefits of the top five stoves, at the end he just smiles at Bella.
"Which one do you think?" she asks, looking at me with a confused expression on her face.
I chuckle a little as she looks even more confused than what she was. "If it were me, I would go for this one," I say pointing at the one in the middle. I look to my mom and dad and raise my brow in question.
"Yes, I agree, Bella. This is my number one stove choice, too," my mom says with a smile, looking at the stove with sparkling eyes.
"Okay, I will take two please," Bella says right away.
"Two?" the clerk asks.
"Yes, one for me and another for Mrs. Cullen, I mean, Esme," Bella says pointing at my mom whose mouth is hanging open.
"Bella, there's no reason to buy me one."
Bella tilts her head at my mom. "Please, it would cheer me up."
I chuckle as my mom looks at me then to Bella, who has this sad face on her. My mom chuckles and hugs Bella to her. "You don't need to buy my friendship, dear, it's free."
"I know it's just…I hate buying stuff just for me, and I would really like to buy it for you, please?"
My mom sighs. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"
Bella looks down biting her lip.
"Bella," my mom says with worry.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but you seem to like the stove so much," Bella sobs a little at the end. I put my arm around her feeling confused over why she's getting upset over this.
I give my mom and dad a little head nod and they walk away with the clerk. "Bella, what's wrong?" I ask pulling her over to the side.
She shrugs her shoulders a little. "Your parents think I'm a snob that's trying to buy them."
I shake my head at her. "They don't, Bella, they just want you to know that their friendship with you doesn't depend on you buying them stuff. I know that some of your boyfriends made you feel that way – but they, my parents, really like you for you."
"I would still like to get the stove for your mom, too."
"Okay, that fine, but that's it." Bella looks up at me biting her lip.
"What?" I say with a raised eyebrow.
"I was going to take you all out for lunch."
I smile shaking my head. "Lunch is a given, but I'm paying." I give her a wink, taking her hand in mine, and walk over to my parents. Bella signs and pays for the two stoves and arranges delivery.
My dad drives us to the restaurant our family normally goes to when we eat out. Bella takes the seat next to mine and my parents sit across from us.
"Bella, tell me about your dad?"
I swallow, looking at my mom, silently telling her to shut up.
"His name was Charlie and he was great; a real good guy. I still miss him so much. He always made time for me no matter what. When I was younger, he even had tea parties with me and dressed up in costumes for me.
"He had this friend—best friend—that would spend so much time with us, he was often around for Sunday dinner. He passed away and my dad took it real hard. I think my dad was sick before this, but I didn't notice it; no one did. But after his friend died, it was so clear and it seemed to get worse so fast.
"As soon as I got used to the idea of his illness, he got sicker. He just seemed to get worse every day. I felt like I was always running to catch up with him. Near the end, he seemed to have forgotten me, even showing him pictures didn't jog his memory. I think that hurt the most, him forgetting me. Forgetting what a great dad he was and that I was his daughter."
My mom smiles a little nodding. "It does get easier, sweetie. I know it doesn't feel like that just now, but it does and it will." My mom says softly, covering Bella's hand with her own. We spent the rest of our lunch just chatting and laughing. When the bill comes, my dad scoops it up, paying before I can.
A/N: Apparently no one wants Edward to pay. So what did you think of Bella's actions in the beginning, middle and end? Don't you just love Esme? So what are your thoughts? See you Sunday with another update.
On a side note, Nikky and I would like to thank whoever it is that keeps nominating us for the Top 10 finished fics each month's vote. As of July this year we've been in the poll 5 times with 6 stories and all of you wonderful readers have voted for us, without us pimping out to you on here that we were even on the poll. Six completed stories in the top ten, since January 2014! You all are fantastic, thank you. We are beyond honored that Year Of Hell, has now been added to the poll for finished fics in July. Thank you, seriously, for making us feel so loved. (Nikky) & Kasi~