Place and Time
A/N: Such a thrill to see so many returning regular reviewers! Thanks for the love. I'm so glad we're back together! Thank you also to those of you who gave my first-ever one-shot a shot. :)
Chapter 6: Some Moving Moments
After our busy weekend and long drive back from Seattle, Dad suggests an early dinner at the Forks Diner. I certainly don't feel like cooking, and judging by his question, neither does he.
Vera, who has waited tables for as long as I can remember, greets us from behind the counter and tells us to pick out a table. As we slide into our booth, she's right behind us with glasses of water. We order our usual, what Vera has come to call The Father/Daughter Special: two patty melts with fries and chocolate shakes.
"I can't believe I'll be living in my own apartment in just four days," I tell Dad as Vera heads off with our order.
Dad smiles and nods. "It happened fast, but I'm glad it worked out. That place has everything we both thought was important. Central location, safety features, and the layout you liked. It's good for your job hunt, too. You'll be able to send out updates with your new address. They'll see you were serious about relocating for work."
"Yeah, I'll do that as soon as I'm moved in. For now, I have to do some serious shopping. I have nothing to put inside that apartment. No furniture, kitchenware, nothing. Well, I've clothing, books, and my laptop. And that lamp I brought from Phoenix. But that's it. I need everything else."
"We'll get you what you need, Bells. You've got a few options back at the house. Just focus on what you need most. You can pick up the extras down the road."
Vera returns with our chocolate shakes as Dad and I begin sorting our way through things I'll take from home.
We decide I won't need my old desk or chair, but could definitely use my bookcase, dresser, and mirror. The twin bed and nightstand will remain behind for when I visit; I've been planning on buying a bigger bed anyway. I'll need living room furniture, like a sofa and coffee table, but Grandma Swan's old rocking chair is a start. I'm surprised when Dad offers me the flat screen in his bedroom. He says he hated to part with it when he bought the new, bigger one for the living room, but he rarely watches TV upstairs. He figures I can put it to better use.
Our dinners arrive, and we pause in our planning to indulge.
"You can go through the kitchen tonight," Dad offers after swallowing a fortifying bite of patty melt. "Take the odds and ends I don't use."
I nod, swirling a couple fries through my puddle of ketchup. "That would be great. I also want to call Mom before it gets too late. I want to let her know we found a place, and tell her I finally talked to Rose."
Dad nods, sipping his shake. "She'll be happy to hear that."
*O*
I'm fifteen minutes into my phone call with Mom. She's heard the rundown of our apartment search and my building's location, general features, and amenities. Now she's watching the video I took of my actual unit.
"Oh, baby, this looks really nice. Cozy but big enough… Everything looks updated… Wow, what a view! Oh, it even has a washer and dryer! Bella, this apartment is perfect!"
Her reaction makes me smile. "Yeah, it really checked off all the boxes."
I mention what I'm taking from the house, and she suggests that Dad spend the next couple days stripping, sanding, and re-staining my dresser, mirror, bookcase, and Grandma Swan's old rocking chair. As if Dad didn't have to also work. Or sleep. I tell her they're fine for now. I also tell her I'll check out the Second Hand Boutique in Forks and the Walmart and Big Lots in Port Angeles for other necessities, like a bed, sofa, coffee table, and TV stand.
"Just remember you have to spend a little for decent quality, Bella. Speaking of which, I totally forgot… Phil and I wanted to give you a housewarming gift, but since we can't be there, we thought we'd just transfer money into your account, and you can use it for one of your bigger purchases. From us. Like your sofa. Or bed."
I tell her that's not necessary. I've got money saved up so I can afford things. But she won't hear of it. Especially since the money already went into my account last Thursday. She just neglected to mention it.
"Okay. Wow. Well, thank you. And thank Phil, please. I didn't expect that."
"Well, of course we wanted to help out, but we wanted to surprise you. And you're more than welcome. Just be sure to send us a photo of whatever we buy you."
"I definitely will."
"What are you planning for your color scheme? With the dark flooring, pale gray walls, and white trim, I'd go with darker grays, black, maybe even white for larger pieces, and accessories in metallics, with pops of red and fuchsia for fun. Or pops of orange and navy would look great. Maybe yellow and purple even? Or possibly the primary colors? Adding a little bit of sparkle would look great, too. What do you think?"
It's just like Mom to ask a question, answer it herself with four or five possibilities, and leave you more confused than ever about what your own response might have been.
"Um… I'm not sure. I'll have to see what I can find."
"I'll do some Googling tomorrow morning and send you photos of interior décor color scheme ideas. I wish I could be there to help. We'd have so much fun decorating your place together, wouldn't we?"
"We would," I agree for her sake, even as I shake my head no on my own behalf. Then I remember I have other news to distract her from spiraling into the decorating vortex.
"Hey, I almost forgot… You'll never guess who called me earlier today."
"Who?"
"Rose."
"She did?!"
"She did. And we had a really good conversation. We both apologized and patched things up."
"Oh, sweetie! Thank goodness. I'm so glad!"
"Yeah, me too. And she pretty much demanded that I attend her wedding and the reception. So, I guess I am going after all."
"That's wonderful, Bella!"
"Yeah."
"Did Rose tell you anything else about…Elmer Fudd?"
I burst into laughter, and I can hear Mom giggling. She knows that's the wrong name, but obviously doesn't remember the right one.
"His name is Emmett!"
"Oh, that's right. So what did she say about Emmett? How did they meet? What does he do? What's his family like? And more importantly, does he have a nice brother for you to meet at the wedding?"
"Oh my god, Mom. Stop!" She has me laughing again. "I don't know. We didn't have time to get into all that. Rose was running late for a fitting. She said things were really hectic right now but she'd call back in the next few days. She texted me a photo of her and Emmett, though. Here, I'll text it to you right now. Oh, and she did say he's really nice and really good to her."
"Well, that's the most important thing. Oh, here we go… Oh, my… What a hot young stud he is! Wow… With a name like Emmett, I was expecting overalls and a tractor, not this handsome hunk. And oh my, Rose looks lovely! What beautiful babies they'll make. I'm going to cross my fingers and toes that Emmett has an available identical twin for you, Bella."
"Okay, Mom. You do that. In the meantime, I'd better get going. I want to go shopping for cast-offs in Dad's kitchen cupboards and cabinets before he dozes off."
"All right. Listen, I know you'll be crazy busy this week, but touch base and send photos of your apartment if you have time, otherwise I'll talk to you after the wedding. Oh, and take lots of photos at the wedding and reception. And be sure to give Rosalie my love and best wishes. Or actually, send me her address; I'd like to mail her a card. And please tell her mom and dad hi for me."
"Okay, I'll do those things. And thank you and Phil again for my housewarming money transfer."
"You're welcome, baby. Love you."
"Love you too, Mom. Goodnight."
*O*
I scored this morning at the Second Chance Boutique. I found a set of white dishes with mugs, a set of glasses, an end table, a pair of bedside tables, a shiny silver floor lamp that barely fit in my car, and a TV stand Dad will pick up after work because it didn't fit in my car. The pieces were a bit scuffed up, but the saleslady recommended a one-step paint, and a YouTube video tutorial to go with it.
At the hardware store, I bought the paint in black and gray. Mom would be proud. I have yet to decide on my "pops of color", despite the barrage of color scheme idea photos she's been texting since eight a.m.
I stopped by the Thriftway for groceries on the way home. I owe Dad a home-cooked dinner tonight after all our meals out this weekend.
After putting away the groceries, I set up a spot in the garage and managed to clean and paint the end table and bedside tables. They look pretty good now in the dark gray. Painting the TV stand tomorrow should go even faster, now that I know what I'm doing.
I've cleaned up in the garage and I'm admiring my handiwork when Rose calls.
"Hey, Rose. How's it going?"
"Holy crap, Bella… Don't ever get married. No, scratch that. Find a great guy and get married, just don't have a wedding. It's too much work, stress, and money. Just elope and go someplace amazing instead. Sorry. I had to get that off my chest, since you asked. How are you?"
I laugh. "I'm fine, thanks."
"I'm sorry I had to cut our conversation short yesterday. I wanted to ask what you're doing back in Forks. Is Charlie okay?"
"Oh, yeah, Dad's fine. I didn't want to move to Jacksonville with Mom and Phil or stay in Phoenix by myself, so, I came back to Washington. I'm moving into an apartment in Seattle this Thursday."
"You are?! Where?"
"In First Hill, straight up from downtown. It's called The Elysian. I forget the address."
"First Hill isn't very far from us at all! Emmet and I have an apartment in Bellevue, about ten miles away. Oh man, I wish we could help you move in on Thursday but we've got wedding hoopla, family coming into town, last-minute—"
"Don't even think about it. Dad's helping me, and I don't have much stuff. We'll be fine."
"All right. Well, I also wanted to let you know that I looked into getting you a room at the hotel where we'll all be staying, but they're completely booked up now."
"Oh, that's fine. That never even occurred to me. And honestly, I'd rather stay at my new apartment and drive or take an Uber."
"Okay, well…" She hesitates, and I can hear her sigh.
"Rose? What's wrong?"
"I'm just so pissed off at myself for not trying to contact you sooner! You should have been in my wedding, Bella, but now there's no time. You're my oldest friend; you should have been my maid of honor."
It is kind of a bittersweet situation, but it's also a completely unplanned, unexpected, and unavoidable one. It's definitely not something either of us should feel bad about.
"Rose, you did try contacting me sooner. You tried almost two months ago. It's not your fault that wedding invitation took seven weeks and four road trips around the country to find me." I hear a soft snort of amusement from her. "And you certainly don't get all the credit—we're both at fault for not trying to patch things up sooner. I'm just happy we're back in touch now, and I'm thrilled I'll get to be there on your wedding day. Think about it—a week ago, neither of us even suspected we'd be talking to each other right now."
"I guess you're right about that. It just feels wrong that you won't be part of the ceremony."
"No, it's a good thing. You know I don't do well in any kind of spotlight situation. I'd just trip and fall while going down the aisle, and bring the rest of the wedding party down with me. Like dominoes. It would be total chaos. Bodies everywhere."
Rose is giggling at the thought, so, mission accomplished.
"Who all is in this wedding party, anyway? Who would have been my fellow dominoes? Anyone I know?"
"Oh, yeah. Alice is my maid of honor. She moved back from Los Angeles around the time I left Royce. She contacted my parents, trying to track me down, and there I was, living with the 'rents. She lives here in Seattle now and is very involved with anything and everything creative. You know Alice."
"Yeah. We didn't keep in touch very well, but I can imagine she's still very artsy."
"My other bridesmaids are my cousin, Jessica. I know you remember her; kind of a ding-a-ling, but very out-going and funny. And Tanya, my roommate from college, freshman and sophomore years. And then Emmett's sister, Kate. She's really nice. And of course, there's Emmett's groomsmen."
"Well, I look forward to meeting Kate. And Emmett, of course. And it'll be great to catch up with Alice, Jessica, and Tanya. And— Oh, crap!"
"What?"
"Dad's here! I didn't realize it was so late. I've got to get dinner started."
"All right. If I don't talk to you sooner, I'll see you at the church on Saturday. I'll be the one in white!"
I laugh. "Okay. Take care and don't stress out. Love you lots."
"Love you lots."
*O*
I've just managed to throw together the Chicken Tot Pie casserole and get it in the oven when my phone pings.
It's a text from Rose.
Remember our trip to Catalina Island with my parents and their friends from Chicago? Their son and Emmet have been friends since college! Small world, huh?! It's been ten years, but do you remember Edward Cullen? He's one of Emmett's groomsmen!
Holy crap…
Of course, I remember Edward Cullen.
How do you forget your very awkward first kiss with your secret first crush? A boy you barely knew.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed those moving conversations. Now there's an Edward. And a first kiss, apparently. ;)