Life's A Beach
Chapter 12
A/N – To those of you who've stuck with this slow story, sorry for the delay! Lots going on…the good news is I've been busy with my novel, and even had my first book signing! Anyway, let's not waste any more time and get back to the happy reunion between Edward and Bella. Just one disclaimer as this moves forward – I'm not an expert on speed skating (but I am an Olympics groupie) so if someone who reads this finds something that isn't right, please take a deep breath, remember that this is fiction, and forgive me! Oh, and of course, all things Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyers, and no copyright infringement is intended.
-LaB-
Edward couldn't believe how wonderful it felt to have Bella in his arms again, to breathe in the familiar smell of her strawberry shampoo, and to feel her head tucked into his chest. "I can't believe you're here" he whispered, placing a soft kiss on her ear.
Bella nuzzled her head into his chest and couldn't stop smiling. His arms just felt so good around her, so strong and so warm. "I missed you" she said, looking up into his eyes. "I missed you so much."
Edward laughed as he rubbed his nose against hers. "Can you believe this?" He slid his hands down her arms and took her hands. "We're together again, but it's cold, rainy Chicago instead of sunny warm Hilton Head. Maybe we're doing this backwards."
"Maybe we just need to work our way back south again" she answered.
"Someday we will" he promised "but right now we need to get your bags." He lowered his head to whisper in her ear again. "I've got things I want to do and say that I can't do or say in airport baggage claim."
Bella stared at him for a moment and sprinted to where her bags waited. Ten minutes later they were in his car, her hand clasped tightly in his, with matching grins.
"I thought we'd go back to the dorm first, drop off your stuff. And…talk about…stuff" said Edward, trying not to look as crazy happy as he felt, afraid Bella would go running in the other direction if she knew how intense his feelings were. "And then, I hope this is okay, but we're having dinner with my parents tonight."
Bella couldn't help the noise she made. She clapped her free hand over her mouth.
"Did you just squeak?" Edward laughed.
"Um, yeah, I guess I did" she answered, blushing. "I just didn't realize I'd have to meet them so soon."
"I can change it to tomorrow if you want" he said. "It's our first non-beach date and I only want you to be happy. But they really want to meet you, and I'm afraid they'll drive me crazy until they do."
"No" she said. "I want to meet them, really."
He picked up the slight frown. "What? What is it?"
"I just hope they like me."
"Are you kidding? My mom's already over the moon, and she hasn't even met you."
"And your dad? How's your dad gonna be?"
Edward kept his eyes on the road but squeezed her hand. "He'll be fine. I couldn't be happier with how our conversation went. We're in such a good place right now. You will just be the icing on the cake."
Bella exhaled the breath she was holding. "Your message sounded good, but I feel so much better now that I've seen your face, seen that you really mean it about your dad. What happened?"
"Believe it or not" said Edward, still kind of amazed at what had happened, "I found out he used to be a skater. National level and everything, until he got hurt. His skating career was over in like a second. He had a really hard time dealing with all of it and just wanted me to have a happier ending than he did." He pulled the car into a space along the street. "But now he knows that trying for the Olympics, whether I make it or not, is what will make me happy. That and you." He gave her hand a quick kiss before opening his door and jogging around to open hers.
"An amazing athlete and a gentleman too" she smirked. "Does it get any better than this?"
He grabbed her suitcase and took her by the hand. "Let me show you how much better it can get."
-LaB-
Alice paced back and forth across the living room of the apartment she shared with Rosalie and Bella. "Why hasn't she called?"
Rosalie looked up from the kitchen table where she was painting her nails. She admired her left hand and blew gently on the polish. "Alice, imagine that you were seeing Jasper for the first time in almost two weeks. Would you be worried about calling me and Bella as soon as you got there?" She went back to work on her right hand. "Of course, you should be thinking about your friends but something tells me…"
"Okay, okay, point taken" said Alice. She pointed to her head. "And I would know if something bad happened, which it hasn't."
"Then stop pacing. Go call Jasper."
Alice darted off to get her phone. "But she better call soon, or else."
Rosalie began counting. "One…two…three…"
Alice burst back into the room. "Like doesn't she know we'd be worried about her?" She put the phone up to her ear. "Hey Jazz, how are you?" She fluttered her eyelashes and wandered back to her room.
"So predictable" said Rose, holding up both hands to admire her manicure.
"I am not" shouted Alice.
Rose poked at her phone with one nearly dry nail. "Call Emmett" she said. It only took one ring for him to answer.
"Hi sweet girl" came Emmett's deep voice, the southern accent making it sound even better. While not as pronounced as Jasper's, it was just enough to make Rose's heart do a little flip-flop.
"I have you on speaker" said Rose. "My nails are drying."
"I have no secrets" he exclaimed. "Anything I say to you can be heard by anyone."
"I should hope not" said Rose, lowering her voice. "Because I have some things to say to you that I don't want anyone else to hear."
Emmett started to stutter. "R..R..Rosie…"
"But first tell me you've heard from Edward and that Bella is safely in Chicago."
He started to laugh. "Nothing from Edward, but I did get a text from his mom. Bella's flight landed on time, and they are looking forward to meeting her at dinner tonight."
Rosalie chuckled. "Not sure that's what Bella had planned for her first night in Chicago. But you'd meet my parents if I asked you, wouldn't you? Emmett?"
After a tiny moment of silence, Emmett replied. "Yes, ma'am. I'd do anything that would make you happy."
"Good answer."
-LaB-
"Mmmmmm….what time is it" whispered Bella.
Edward reached across her to the night table and grabbed his watch. "Oh, crap, we have twenty minutes before we have to meet my parents."
"Twenty minutes?" Bella shot up off the bed and ran for the shower. "I call first shower!"
"I could help" Edward called to her. "It would save time."
"No it wouldn't" she said. "I have to look like a good girlfriend." She shut the door and Edward heard the water go on. He leaned his head against the door and spoke softly. "You'll look like the perfect girlfriend, because that's what you are."
Twenty-two minutes later, Edward opened the door of the restaurant and motioned for Bella to go ahead. He quickly placed a hand on the small of her back and escorted her toward the hostess.
"Do you have a reservation?"
"Actually" said Edward, pointing toward a table near the windows, "We're with the crazy people at that table. The ones who are waving." He turned to Bella. "Ready to meet the parents?"
The hostess took one look at the table where Esme waved frantically while Carlisle tried not to laugh. She shot Bella a sympathetic look. "Good luck" she said, and escorted them to the table.
Esme nearly jumped out of her chair. "Hello, dear. You must be Bella."
"Very perceptive, mother" said Edward with a smirk.
"Oh shush, you. Let me enjoy this." Esme wrapped Bella in a hug. "It's so good to meet you."
"You too" said Bella, discretely wiping a tear from her eye. Esme's warm welcome and tender hug made her think of her own mother, and how much she missed her.
"Now look, Esme, you've made her cry already." Carlisle stepped forward and gave Bella a quick hug. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Bella."
Edward rolled his eyes and pulled her back against him. "In case you haven't guessed, these are my parents. Esme and Carlisle Cullen. Mom, Dad, this is my Bella."
"Sit down, dear" said Esme, patting the chair next to her. Bella sat and Edward took the chair on the other side of her. The hostess handed them menus, flashed one last sympathetic look at Bella, and left. "Now, I want to hear all about how you and Edward met."
"Actually, his dog knocked me down on the beach" said Bella, with a quick smirk at Edward.
"Edward!" scolded his mother.
"Did you know he had a dog?" Carlisle asked his wife.
"Not until I saw the picture on his phone" said Esme.
"You have a picture of the dog on your phone?" asked Bella, slightly miffed at playing second fiddle to a dog.
"No….I mean yes, I have a picture of Aro, which I showed mom, but my background picture is you in that blue bikini."
"You showed your mother a picture of me in the blue bikini?" Bella's voice was nearly a shriek.
"I didn't get to see a picture of the dog or a picture of Bella in a bikini" Carlisle complained.
"Don't show that picture to your father" said Bella and Esme at the same time. They looked at each other and burst into giggles.
"We're doomed" said Edward to his father. "They've ganged up on us already."
Carlisle summoned the waiter and ordered 2 glasses of scotch. "Drink up, son. It won't save you, but it'll make it less painful. Trust me."
The food was delicious, and the meal was filled with pleasant conversation about Edward and Bella's college experiences, the latest information on Jasper's success with his restaurant, and what Emmett was doing to get into or stay out of trouble these days. Esme laughed and clapped her hands when she heard about Alice and Rosalie and how they'd captured the hearts of Edward's two best friends. As they were finishing dessert, Carlisle set down his napkin and cleared his throat.
Edward didn't have a good feeling about this.
"Bella" he began "now that Edward has decided to try and make the national team, how do you see your relationship and how it will effect him? He'll need to be focused and…"
"What the hell, Dad?" Edward turned bright red. "You just decided this week to support me, and now you're questioning Bella?"
Bella put her hand on Edward's shoulder. "No, Edward. He's right." She looked Carlisle dead in the eyes. "If he's going to support you, he needs to be in 100 percent. That means he has the right to protect you from anything or anyone else that might distract you from your goals."
Esme grinned and raised her eyebrows to Edward, who just sat there stunned.
Bella continued. "I'm there for Edward 100 percent too – and more. I want him to succeed, at this or anything else he chooses, but most of all this, because I know how much it means to him. I know he has to be focused, but I'm pretty sure that's not a problem because he's managed to balance school and skating and family and friends so far. But you don't have to worry about me disrupting his focus, because I will be the most determined, most loving, most supportive fan he has ever had." She looked at Esme. "I'll do whatever he needs me to do to be there for him, even if that means leaving him alone. But I think we'll be better together than we will be apart."
Carlisle flashed his son a big smile. "I thought so" he said smugly "but I wanted to know that we were all on the same page. I can admit that I was wrong" he said seriously "but I'm all in." He grabbed Edward's hand and Bella's, motioning for Esme to do the same. When all four of them had their hands joined, he lifted them in the air. "Here's to Team Edward!"
"To Team Edward" they shouted, and dissolved into laughter. Edward looked at his mother and father, and then at Bella. He was never more sure of what he wanted in his life.