A/N: Stephanie Myers owns Twilight, I am just playing in her backyard for a bit. Thanks for the lovely reviews and messages. I love them. Here's part two of the big lunch - I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 22 ~ voila!
Bella kissed my cheek and quietly excused herself to go and prepare the next course. After watching her delectable rear disappear into the kitchen, I turned back to the table to hear Emmett talking quietly with Rosalie. "You don't have anything to be ashamed of babe."
What was this? What had I missed?
"I know Emmett, it's okay, I don't mind talking about it." She patted his hand and he gave her a warm smile. I noticed he had his arm across the back of her chair and she had her other hand lightly resting on his on the table. I'd been so wrapped in Bella and Elizabeth I hadn't really noticed the growing intimacy between Emmett and Rosalie. They'd obviously been spending a lot of time together but watching them I realised they were very close to each other. Small touches, whispered conversations and not to mention that Emmett looked at Rosalie like she was something to eat. Sly fucker!
"I met Bella through Rev J and Leah," she seemed to be answering a question I'd missed from Alice but it was clear she was addressing Esme and Carlisle as well.
"Leah runs a community child care centre. I was volunteering there while I was staying in the Shelter which Rev J runs in the Community Hall next to his Church. I met Isabella one day when she was brought Lil Bit in to the centre for play time."
"The child care centre sort of grew out of the community centre actually," Leah added. "We had some families in our church group and some staying with us in the shelter who all had the same problem. They couldn't get into decent housing or get out of the shelter without a job but even if they could get work they couldn't afford child care. So Bella helped me get some funding to start the child care centre. We cover our costs with a combination of donations, funding from job placements so parents who use the child care can just pay what they can afford to cover the costs."
"How did Bella help?" My mother jumped in and asked the same question that I was about to ask.
Marcus chuckled at this point, "Bella is a bit of a business savant, my dear Esme. She is a very clever little lady."
"That's an understatement." Leah continued, "I tried for some government funding for the centre but Bella showed me a better way which would help everyone and didn't rely on government hand outs which weren't forthcoming anyway."
Leah leaned forward speaking with obvious passion as she explained further, "Bella's business idea was to bring businesses into the mix. There were local businesses who needed workers but couldn't afford to pay people full pay rates and we had people who needed work but had no training or experience. So Bells came up with the idea for our Helping Hands program."
"The workers work at half-pay for the two months while they get certified on-the-job training. They then get three months guaranteed work at three-quarter pay. The workplace give them full training and full benefits from day one which includes a contribution to the cost of daycare if the worker has children.
"At the end of the five months they are either offered a full-time or part-time job or provided with a reference and a certificate of training and Jacob looks for job placements for them.
"Jacob works closely with the businesses and with the people needing work to make sure they are doing work which suits them, which is good for them and for the business."
Jacob smiled at his wife, "Yeah, we've been running the program now for about eighteen months so I have a pretty solid network of businesses, so finding full-time and part-time work for people when they finish the program is getting easier and easier."
"That's actually how me and most of the people who work for Bella came to be here." Rosalie shrugged.
"I came to the Seattle to hide from an abusive ex. I don't have any family and I had no work experience so I ran out of money pretty fast ending up in Rev J's shelter." She looked down at her hand held tightly by my brother's. He kissed her temple and she gave him a small smile.
"I started volunteering in the child care centre to pay them back for taking me in. Bella would come in each day with Lil Bit who was only about eighteen months old. I presumed that Bella was a single mum who needed the company, because she never left Elizabeth with us. She just brought her in to play with the other children."
"She never made a fuss about it but I found out later that when she came she was actually dropping off some bread for the shelter everyday. Anyway I liked this young girl with her cute little daughter and we started hanging out. We had some things in common, no real family and we'd both been on our own since we were quite young.
"I had no idea she had her own bakery and employed so many people. She was so humble and nice. Anyway, she offered me a job through the Helping Hands program and I've been with her ever since."
"At the end of my five months I was a trained barista and Bella offered me a full-time job running the front counter and coffee bar in the Bakery. I accepted of course and chose to stay on the three-quarter pay program and Bella agreed to pay for my night classes. I am almost finished my small business certificate. Bella wants to open another bakery on other side of town and she says that I can manage it once if I complete my certificate."
Just then Bella came back in the room "Well the entrée is almost ready to be plated if I could get a couple of volunteers to help… Why are you all looking at me like that?"
I looked around the table and saw everyone looking at my sweet one with a look of awe and respect. She blushed furiously and narrowed her eyes to look accusingly at Jacob and Sam. "Have you guys been telling embarrassing stories about me while I've been in the kitchen?"
There was nervous laughter from around the table and I jumped up to break the awkwardness "I'll help bring in the food… Emmett? Dad? will you help?"
I walked over to her and cupped her face with my hands. "Rosalie was just telling us about how you met, love."
She looked at Rosalie and they exchanged a warm, loving smile. "Did she tell you she's almost finished her Business course? She's at the top of her class. Isn't that great?"
Everyone started congratulating Rosalie and she blushed under their praise. Emmett gave her a kiss on the top of her head before joining me and Dad to follow Bella into the kitchen.
Bella turned towards us as we entered the kitchen, "Okay guys our entrée is Mushroom Ravioli with a white wine, spinach and tarragon cream sauce." Emmett moaned at her description.
"So let's do this like an assembly line, I'll do one plate and then you can see what to do." As she talked she demonstrated how to plate the food, she made it look so easy. "Carlisle if you could please place a small mound of the buttered spinach purée on each plate like this and then baby if you could place four of the Ravioli on each plate like this, and Emmett if you can then drizzle a small ladle of sauce over the top then i'll sprinkle each plate with some finely chopped tarragon. Voila!"
She held out the finished plate she'd done as an example. We just stood there like grinning idiots watching this gorgeous woman trying to teach us how to make this food look so beautiful on the plate.
"Woo Hoo! Bella you are going to be my favourite sister with your amazing cooking!" He leaned down and noisily kissed her cheek.
Bella giggled at his exuberance. "Okay Cullen men, we've got hungry people out there, let's get on with it."
The plates were all laid out on the bench and we made our way around them silently performing our separate tasks with a ridiculous amount of concentration trying to make each plate look as wonderful as the one Bella had demonstrated. When we were done we all stood back looking proudly at what we'd done.
Bella giggled at us. "Great work guys, now let's serve it while it's hot, shall we?"
We each carefully took two plates each and went into the dining room to distribute our plates. There were oohs and aahs from everyone as we proudly explained what it was and how we'd put it together.
"Fank oo momma. Yay! Wavy-oli" Bella placed Elizabeth's plate down in front of her.
"You're welcome, do you want momma to cut your food for you?"
"Awwey cat help me, pwease." She was clapping her hands merrily.
"It would be my pleasure sweetie." Alice reached across and started cutting Lil Bit's food for her and they drifted back into their giggling girlie bubble again. I was glad to see Alley so sweet with Elizabeth.
Bella sat next to me again and once all the plates were delivered a silence fell over the table as everyone began eating. Bella was beaming a satisfied smile. They were enjoying her food and you could see the real pleasure she drew from their enjoyment.
As I took a bite of the ravioli I couldn't help but moan, "Mmm, oh … Bella… this is so … so… oh god."
"EDWARD!" Esme shocked me out of my food stupor. "Don't you dare start making those …" she covered her mouth and whisper-yelled "sex noises again, there are children present as well as Reverend!."
"Sorry Ma." I looked sheepishly at her and then Bella.
Emmett was just shaking his head at me and I shrugged. "Can I help it if my woman makes the best food on the planet."
Everyone laughed and went back to their eating.
"This food is certainly delicious Bella. Did you make the pasta yourself?"
"Thank you Sulpicia, yes I made it this morning, I'm glad you like it. Elizabeth helped me cut out the ravioli squares, didn't you baby girl?"
"Eh-wed and Lil Bit help momma wif wavy-oli." Esme looked at me with a laughing smile.
"Edward you are spending a lot of time in the kitchen for a man who refused to learn to cook." Esme was enjoying teasing me a little too much today.
Bella placed her hand on my thigh and squeezed. "Well, I guess I just needed the right incentive Ma." I leaned over and placed a small kiss on Bella's cheek.
Esme looked at Bella for a long moment and then asked the question she'd been dying to ask. "Bella, dear, how is it that you know Edward's Uncle Marcus so well?"
Bella looked as though she was collecting her thoughts to answer when Marcus answered for her. "Isabella's step-father Phil Dwyer was a new client of Volturi Inc. at the time of the terrible accident which took his life as well as the life of Isabella's mother."
Sulpicia obviously didn't know this story at all as she looked shocked and upset by Marcus' comment. Aro gently rubbed her back. Sulpicia had always been a very cold, reserved creature. She never liked too much emotion but Aro's love for her always seemed so protective. I suppose she was what you'd call 'delicate'. Personally, when I was younger I just thought she was a bitch and avoided spending time with her. Thank fuck my mother stipulated that I live with Esme in her Will and that the Cullens fought for custody of me.
"Jason Jenks was Phil and Renee's lawyer, he contacted me to tell me about the instructions in Phil's and Renee's Wills with respect to their finances and about their two daughters. I went to see Isabella while she was in hospital recovering from the accident."
"I didn't know Phil very well really, we'd only met a few times. He came to Volturi Inc. wanting to move the management of his substantial holdings since he was living here and planned to stay. He was such a down to earth man." Bella nodded and smiled a small sad smile, she reached under the table to grip my hand. I squeezed hers, resting it on my thigh as I drew lazy circles on her palm with thumb. I hoped it would be comforting.
Marcus smiled at Bella and Lil Bit as he spoke. "You'd never know from his behaviour or manners that Phil was an incredibly wealthy man. He lived quite modestly. I knew he had a new wife and baby and that his wife also had a teenage daughter from a previous marriage."
"Jenks explained that Phil had left all his wealth to both his children. This didn't surprise me as on the few occasions I had met with him he spoke with great pride about pretty little baby girl and his beautiful step-daughter Isabella. He bragged about her have an IQ that was 'off the charts'."
Embarrassed, Bella stood up to leave but I pulled her back to me. "Stay with me love," I whispered in her ear. She looked uncomfortable but she nodded and sat a little closer to me.
"When I first actually met Bella she was still in hospital. She had horrible injuries from the accident and was involved in quite intensive physical therapy. I tried to introduce myself but she threw a pillow at me and told me in quite clear and colourful terms to extricate myself expeditiously." Marcus chuckled and Bella dropped her head clearly embarrassed by this part of the story.
"I was so awful to you Marcus. I am so sorry for being so rude. I'll never forgive myself for being so …. awful." Bella gave Marcus an apologetic look. I was astounded, I couldn't imagine Bella could be rude to anyone.
"Bella," Jacob said softly. "You were in a lot of pain, you'd just lost your parents and you had to rely on total strangers to help you. Please forgive yourself for being human. We all have."
That was the first time I really saw the Reverend in Jacob. His tone was compassionate but authoritative. Bella nodded and smiled at him. Clearly this was a conversation they'd had before.
Jacob turned to Esme, "She had a lot to deal with, the loss of her parents, a baby sister who was being cared for by strangers...excuse me Sam, Emily but you were strangers to her then…. and in walks Marcus trying to talk to her about money. She didn't give a fig for money. She wanted nothing to do with him."
My sweet one squirmed in her seat, clearly she didn't like to be the centre of attention and they were touching on a very sad and difficult time of her life.
Marcus continued, "Anyway, I started visiting Bella every day. I decided not to talk about the inheritance but instead tried to get to know her. I spoke to her of my darling sister Elizabeth, Edward's mother, whom we also lost in a car accident. It was common ground for us to build a friendship.
"Remember, Bella I brought you that book of Elizabeth's on Greek Myths? Do you still have it my precious angel?"
"Actually, yes I do Marcus … Oh Edward, I should give it to you … it was your mother's after all." Bella rose from the table and headed to the library in the lounge room.
"It was too young for Bella. She is so bright, even at sixteen she was so mature. But Elizabeth loved that book and the legends especially the legend of Artemis."
Jacob chuckled, "Bella became so obsessed with that book and that legend. She started collecting books and reading text books on ancient legends. You certainly distracted her from her sadness Marcus. It was more than I could do and that's for sure."
"Found it." Bella came back in the room triumphantly waving a book in the air. She walked back to me, sat down next me and handed me an old well-worn book on Greek Myths. I took it from her. When I opened it I gasped at the sight of my mother's name obviously written when she was a young woman. I was surprised how familiar it was to me but I had other books of hers with similar inscriptions, "This book belongs to Elizabeth Volturi. If lost please return it to me as I love it very much."
I had no words. I was in a sort of shock. My Bella had my mother's book. The connections between Bella and I amazed me.
Bella pushed away from the table, "I think that's enough memory lane for today. I'll just check on lunch. Could you clear the plates, baby?"
Alice jumped up suddenly. "No Edward, it's my turn to help." She was joined by Rosalie, Leah and Emily all rushing to clear the plates so they could follow Bella into the kitchen.
The others at the table broke into lots of different conversations. I just sat there in shock looking at my mother's book. As I flicked through the pages a well worn piece of card fell from the book. I bent down to the floor to pick it up and I noticed the words on it were also in my mother's younger handwriting. This was my mother's card. I put the book down and reading the card I couldn't believe it. I stood up from the table so suddenly my chair fell. Everyone at the table looked at me in shock.
My eyes met Esme's and I opened my mouth as if to speak but I couldn't. I smiled at her and headed into to the kitchen to find my Bella. Most of the people at the table fascinated by my sudden strange behaviour followed me into the kitchen.
Clasping my mother's handwritten card in my hand I burst into the kitchen, my eyes searching for my Bella.
She saw me and before she could say anything I strode over to her took her face in my hands and kissed her deeply, passionately, pouring all my love into the kiss. I didn't give a fuck who was in the room. I didn't care for the polite throat clearing, the embarrassed laughter or even my brother's loud hollering.
Nothing could distract me from that kiss, until I could feel a small hand tug at my arm and Lil Bit's voice broke through "Ed-wed wuvs my momma."
I pulled away from the kiss and looked at Bella's shining happy face still held in my hands. "Yes, Elizabeth. I do."
Bella leaned forward and kissed me with a soft, gently kiss. "I do… too. "
We realized then that the kitchen was filled with our friends and family all watching us with a mix of love and laughter. Bella and I both broke into an embarrassed blush.
"What's happening baby?" Bella asked me, lightly touching my cheek.
I handed her the card. She looked down and read the words. She let out a sudden laugh and her eyes shot back to meet mine. "I forgot all about this. I loved it so much and read it whenever I opened up the book that I memorised it."
We both looked down at the card which had written in my mother's teenage hand:
'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.'
I knew then that my mother was still watching over me. She used to say them to me when I was angry or upset as a child. No wonder these words touched me so deeply when Bella sent them to me in her text. No wonder I could so easily use them to comfort myself whenever I stupidly became fearful of my love for Bella. I also now knew that my mother had sent me an angel to love me. That my sweet one was mine, she was meant for me.
A/N: Three cheers and my thanks for my Beta Gooseonline!
I know this is shorter than my recent chapters but this seemed a natural place to break. So much here - Bella and Rose backstory - Bella and Marcus backstory - Bella and Edward's mother! that was unexpected.
Well we have some fun stuff ahead friends. Alice's fashion show is coming up where we'll meet James' wife Victoria and Tanya may even put in an appearance… going to be a fun night! I'd love to hear your thoughts on this chapter.