Monday has arrived in all its dreaded glory…I need some coffee. This entire weeks' update will lead up to their nuptials. I hope you enjoy all the details.

As always, thank you to Team CG: Brie, kitchmill, Jenn, Kelly, and Kim.

Today we're sharing Prillylove25's celebrity encounter.

"I met JC Chasez from NSYNC. I was in Chicago with my gay BFF, Al, and we were going to see them in concert that night. We were walking past an SUV when the handle on my shopping bag broke. JC was getting out of the SUV and rushed over to help pick up my stuff. I said thank you and that he didn't have to help. He replied that his mom would beg to differ. He was very sweet. Signed something for us and gave a shout out to us in the concert that night."

What an awesome encounter! Thanks for sharing Prilly! Now enjoy the next installment.

Chapter Thirty-One

The next few weeks continued much the same way: Edward and I talking on the phone, Facetiming when we could, and sexting more than we should have. I was horny, undeniably so, which seemed so abnormal to me since I'd just handed in my v-card about six months ago.

We'd only had one fight since he'd been gone, and that was a result of the extravagant gift he had delivered to me shortly after he'd left again. It was a 2014 Mercedes Benz ML550, custom designed to his specifications, arrived needing only my signature.

"What the fuck is that in my driveway?" I hissed into the phone. "Have you lost your ever-loving mind?"

"Now, coffee girl—"

"Don't you 'coffee girl' me!" I was livid. It was gifts like these that made me look like a gold digger. "How could you?"

There was nothing worse than angry tears, especially caused by miscommunications and misunderstandings.

"I'm sorry, love." Edward sighed, and I felt bad, but I just wished he would have consulted me before making such a large purchase, especially after all of the money that went into the purchase house. "I wanted to know you were safe. Now that the paparazzi know what you drive, it's only a matter of time before they begin tailing you. I needed to know you were safely ensconced inside a vehicle with a high safety rating if they became too aggressive."

I swiped at the wetness on my cheeks. I understood where he was coming from, but couldn't he have asked me first? Would that have been too much to ask? "Why didn't you just talk to me first? My safety is something I take seriously, and I would have been willing to negotiate."

He snorted through the phone and I snickered. Even when angry he could make me laugh. "I wasn't going to negotiate safety with you."

"You just want me to say 'yes, dear' and be done with it, don't you?"

"It would be nice," he hedged.

"Well, too bad. I hope you know that I won't be changing cars out like Kim Kardashian changes outfits...I'll be driving this until it dies a slow and painful death."

"Don't tease about death—even if you're talking about the car." His tone was fierce, and I understood where he was coming from. Death wasn't something to joke about. It was a fact of life, but not a funny thing to tease about.

"Well, I'm gonna let you go so I can go check out my new ride. Don't be expecting any sexy times tonight when we facetime. I'll take care of myself without you after we finish our conversation. That's your punishment. Still love you though, and thank you!" I hung up before he could reply, ugly laughing as I ran to check the SUV out.

A text message pinged through my phone as I made my way outside. I opened it and laughed my ass off at the picture of himself he sent. His pouty face almost made me rescind my punishment, but the second the vehicle was in front of me, I knew I'd made the right decision to torture him.

It was sweet of him to think of my safety in the first place, but he still should have checked with me first.

It seemed Edward was escaping a lot of the hard things while he was working. I was now left with the task of telling our parents about the changes we'd settled on for the wedding. The unease I felt sat like a lump of coal in my stomach. I really hoped everyone would understand.

The first stop was to Edward's parents. Since they owned one of the houses on the property in Kauai, I felt it was only right to confirm they were okay with us using the houses there.

The drive didn't take nearly as long as it had before, since our house was in Beverly Hills too. I keyed in the entry code I'd been give and carefully drove up the driveway and parked behind Esme.

They had told me numerous times to just walk in when I got there, and while it was difficult to do because of the manners I'd been raised with, I abided by their instructions and walked right in with a "Hello? Anybody home?"

"In here, dear." Esme's voice called from the kitchen, so I headed that way.

"Hey, how are you today?" I asked as I hugged her.

"I'm good. I've just been working on ideas for the wedding to show you. Have a seat, and I'll go get them." She was up and out of the kitchen before I could say anything.

I set my purse down and climbed up onto the stool and sighed. If I wasn't driving I would have asked for a glass of wine—or a bottle. I was hoping for an easy conversation, and now I wasn't so sure that was going to happen.

"I saw these centerpieces and thought they would be just perfect."

I glanced down at the picture, and the design was beautiful and would have been perfect on any table inside any grand ballroom, but it just wasn't what I wanted. "It's beautiful."

"I sense a 'but' to go with that comment." When I looked up into her eyes that reminded me so much of Edward I broke down again. "Oh, sweetheart, what's going on? If you don't like the flowers it's not a big deal…It won't hurt my feelings, I promise."

I didn't know what was going on, but my emotions were on overdrive. She continued to hold me in her arms while I tried to compose myself…again.

Once I was sure I wasn't going to start bawling again, I told her everything, just like I'd done with Edward. "They really are beautiful, and if I was the type of girl who had dreamed of a big fairytale wedding, they would be perfect, but that's not me. I'm simpler than that, not to mention my parents could never afford it, and please don't offer to pay for it because that's not really what the issue is."

Esme stayed quiet while I continued on with my vision. "I've always loved the idea of a small, intimate wedding on a beach, our closest friends standing up for us and our families as the only guests sharing in the special moment. I never once imagined I'd have to deal with paparazzi or industry people or having my wedding pictures sold to a magazine for millions of dollars. Privacy is more important to me than money. I don't want you to hate me, but I hope you can understand where I'm coming from." My eyes were pleading with her to understand.

"Oh, sweetheart, I completely understand. I'm so glad you said something before your wedding turned into a three ring circus." She got this gleam in her eye and I was actually frightened. "Besides, that's more Rose's style, so I'll get a hand in planning a wedding like that as soon as my bear of a son gets off his ass and makes her commit to a date."

The second the words left her mouth, I lost it. Tears rolled down my face as I tried desperately to stop laughing, but when Esme joined in, all hope was lost. It took a good five minutes before we were composed enough for me to continue our conversation about the type of wedding I envisioned, as well as the use of the Kauai houses.

"Oh, Bella, that's a lovely idea, but eight weeks from now? Why are you guys rushing it?" They were legitimate questions.

"It's actually pretty simple. Edward and I want to get married exactly one year to the day we met, which is why October tenth is so perfect. It's a Friday, too, so an extended weekend will work well for my father. He's not really a vacation type of person, but knowing my mother, she'll try and talk him into a longer stay."

Esme laughed, and I could tell she was picturing the conversation between my parents just like I was. She shook the rest of the chuckles off before she spoke. "That's a sweet idea. I know we can make it happen. Now, why don't I help you break the news to your father that he's going to have to take an actual vacation?"

I sighed with relief, knowing I wouldn't be facing my crazy mother alone. I hoped everything continued to go as smoothly with them as it had with her. With that final thought, we climbed in my SUV and headed into the valley.

~o~o~o~

To say it went well would be a lie. My mother had a tizzy about dresses and food and music. She pulled out the wedding binder she'd made, and I rolled my eyes. Who needs a four inch wide, three-ring binder for one little wedding? Renee, apparently.

But Esme was the balm to my mother's harebrained planning. "Renee, when I get home I'll place a call to Leanne at the St. Regis. She's the head chef there, and I'm sure she would be more than happy to help us plan the reception. I bet she can also connect me to their wedding coordinator who can help with pointing me in the right direction for the other details. Now, Bella, have you and Edward gotten the final guest list together?"

I nodded and told her that it would be only ten of us: Edward and me, our parents, Em and Rose, and my former boss, Angela, and her husband. Small and intimate, just like I pictured.

We weren't doing traditional invitations; instead we decided to do messages in a travel coffee mug with instructions to pack for a Hawaiian vacation. I explained Edward's plan to rent a jet to avoid the paps.

As the details slowly came together, I relaxed. It was truly happening. In about eight weeks I would be Mrs. Eddie Cullen, and he'd be Mr. Coffee Girl. The thought had me giggling.

"What's so funny?" Renee always needed to be in the know.

I shook my head and sobered as I realized we were still forgetting the most important part for me. "I don't have a dress yet."

You could hear a pin drop as my words settled; well, you could until Renee screeched and jumped up from her seat. "What are you waiting for? Let's go!"

"Go where, Mother?"

"Lili's, of course. They're ranked the best in the valley," she stated, as if it should have been obvious to me, and I barely resisted rolling my eyes.

"I'm sure you need an appointment for something like that, Mom. Even David's Bridal requires an appointment to try on dresses."

"Well, when I was putting the binder together I put their info in when I found them on my search. They take walk-ins, and besides, once they know they'll be dressing Edward Cullen's bride, they'll let us in." The eye roll was not contained after that.

"Mother," I said with a sigh. "I love you, I really, really do, but you've got to stop. We are not advertising anything to them. We do not want a media circus trying to capitalize on this special moment."

Renee stopped and turned to me. The expression on my face must have made her see she'd pushed too far again. "Oh, baby girl, I'm sorry. I'm just so happy for you. All I've ever wanted for you is a man who loves and supports you unconditionally, and that's Edward. I tease you because I love you, but I would never betray the love you two share. I'll be more serious from now on."

She held me tight, and other than being in Edward's arms, this felt like home again. I'd missed the closeness we used to have. Our bond was one of a kind and sometimes backwards, but it worked for us. "I love you, too, Mom."

I glanced over at Esme, who had tears in her eyes. I was sure she was thinking of Alice and wishing they shared the same bond we did. Not having her family as close anymore was taking its toll. Alice has completely vanished and no one knew where she was, though, none of us were too concerned. I just hoped she was getting the help she needed. Esme need our love and support, so I jerked my head and waved her over, inviting her to join in on our hug. "I love you, too, Esme. Thanks for raising such a sweet and cheesy man for me to fall in love with."

"It's my pleasure. I can't wait to officially have you as a daughter." Esme's arms wrapped around the both of us and it was the best feeling, being in the arms of my two mothers.

"Enough with the heavy. Let's go find you a dress to get married in!" my mother shouted.

And just like that, we turned back into giddy girls on a mission.

Thanks for reading and reviewing. The wedding planning is underway is officially under the way. See you Wednesday with more. xx Dee