Place and Time

A/N: This chapter took a detour, but I think you'll like where things are going.

C-9 The Seattle Whirlwind

Dad and I make it to The Elysian apartment building in Seattle well before noon on Thursday. Walking into the leasing office, we are greeted by Angela Weber, the same agent who showed us around last Saturday.

"Hi! Bella and Charlie Swan, right?"

"That's right. Hi, Angela."

"Welcome home, Bella!" Angela's eyes twinkle with humor, and I have to laugh, but she does have a point.

"Thanks! I'm really happy to be here."

"We just need to finalize a few things before you start moving in."

After signing a few more papers, she hands over my apartment and mailbox keys, a security fob to operate the elevators and garage gate, and a parking sticker for my car. Then, she takes us down to the garage and shows us how to access the loading dock, and where the platform carts are stored. When we get back to the lobby, she wishes us well with the move-in and adds that she'll be in the office until five if we have any questions or concerns.

Once we get my parking sticker on my car, I drop Dad off at the U-Haul and then park my car in the garage. It's a bit tricky backing the U-Haul up to the loading dock, but with me hollering and waving from the back and sides of the truck, Dad manages in only three tries.

It takes a while to unload and transport everything up to my apartment, but things go fairly smoothly using the carts. That is, until we get to the rather unwieldy mattress, box spring, and two-piece sofa. But with a little creative maneuvering, minimal cursing, and only one smashed thumb and a couple related tears on my part, we coerce those suckers up and into my apartment.

After Dad re-parks the U-Haul on a side street, and I return the freight elevator fob to Angela, Dad and I head back upstairs to work on my apartment.

We start in my bedroom, assembling my new bed and headboard. Afterwards, we set the bedside tables and silver lamps on either side, and then attach my mirror to my dresser. Dad decides to sort boxes by room while I make my bed with my new bedding.

I'm admiring the overall effect when my phone pings.

It's a message from Rose.

How is it going?

I push stray hairs behind my ear and reply.

It's going okay. I've got boxes of crap everywhere, but I'm in!

Her response makes me laugh.

Woot woot! Welcome to Seattle!

I'm about to send her a thank you, but I can see she's composing another message, so I wait for that to pop up.

Here's the link for the restaurant for tomorrow's dinner at seven. It's not far from you, so I'm crossing my fingers you might be able to join us.

I'm still really hesitant about crashing Rose and Emmett's rehearsal dinner, but I open the link for The Capital Grille anyway. Clicking on the map, I'm surprised to see that it is only a handful of blocks downhill from my apartment in First Hill. I hate to tell Rose I'm not planning on coming, so I take the path of least resistance.

Thanks for the hearty welcome! Wow, that restaurant IS really close. No promises but I'll do my best.

She responds with a smiley, a heart, and a string of crossed fingers.

Ugh! I don't know… Am I a terrible friend for lying? I feel like a terrible friend. With I sigh, I head out to join Dad, now unpacking boxes in the kitchen.

"I just got a text from Rose. She wants me to go to the rehearsal dinner tomorrow night, but I don't know. Wouldn't it be awkward for me to be there? I'm not in the wedding party, nor am I family."

Dad frowns a little, then shrugs. "I doubt Rose would have invited you if she felt it would be awkward. She's probably just looking forward to seeing you and knows she won't have much time for that at the wedding."

I nod. "Yeah, I guess."

I'm still not sure, but Dad doesn't push. Instead, we finish unpacking my kitchenware and then start on the living room.

The bookcase and TV stand go on one wall, and we arrange the sofa into the corner of the opposite wall and beneath the wide windows overlooking the city. The silver floor lamp fits behind the sofa's corner, and we put the dark gray side table and black lamp from Phoenix on one end. We position the glass-topped coffee table before the sofa with the rocking chair to the side. Finally, we unpack my books, shoving them in the bookcase in no real order, but I can do that some other time.

I plop down in the sofa's corner nook to survey the arrangement, and Dad takes a seat on the rocking chair. It's obvious we're both running out of gas.

"What do you think?" I ask, gesturing at the room.

He looks around, nodding. "I like it, Bells. Everything looks great—new and secondhand. A little paint sure goes a long way."

"It does, doesn't it? I still have to get some throw pillows and a few things to hang on the walls, though."

Dad shrugs. "You got plenty to look at out those windows in the meantime."

"Yeah." I turn my head to look out at the city. "The view is incredible. I can already tell this corner nook is going to be my favorite spot. I can sit and admire the view, read a book, or watch TV, all from this spot right here."

Dad smiles as he pulls his phone from his back pocket. "Might as well get a picture of you in your spot then. I'll text it to you, and you can send it on to your mom. Let her know we got you here in one piece."

"Good idea." I must look somewhat bedraggled by now, but Mom won't judge; she knows it's moving day. "Make sure to get the sofa and coffee table in the photo." I drape my arms along the back of the sofa and smile as Dad takes a couple shots.

I send the best photo off to Mom, letting her know we made it, I'm moved in, but I'm still organizing. Then I thank her and Phil for the sofa and coffee table pictured.

I still have plenty to unpack and put away, but I can work on that tonight after Dad leaves or tomorrow. Instead, Dad suggests we check out the little corner market across the street since we've got four hands to carry grocery bags.

We return a short while later with enough grocery staples to tide me over for a few days.

"That little market will be handy for emergencies," Dad says, unloading bags while I put things away in the pantry and fridge.

"Yeah. It's a bit pricier than a big supermarket, but it sure is convenient if I need something in a hurry."

It's almost six o'clock now, and Dad and I are starving. We decide to try the little pizza shop around the corner for dinner. It'll give us a chance to relax and revive a little before he has to leave.

Our pepperoni and mushroom pizza really hits the spot, and we wash it down with icy cold Cokes. I think we both needed that little jolt of caffeine.

"You know, I worried about you living in Seattle on your own," Dad says as we're finishing up. "But this area seems pretty nice, and your apartment building has good security. I'm glad you're in touch with Rose too. At least you know someone here in the city."

"Yeah. Rose mentioned Alice lives somewhere here now too, and I'm sure I'll meet other people through them. And there's Angela Weber, from the leasing office. She seems friendly and approachable if I needed something. Hopefully I'll find a job pretty quickly and get to know some co-workers too."

Now that it's almost seven, traffic should be lighter, and Dad wants to get on the road so he can hopefully make it back to Forks by eleven. He pays the bill and walks me back to the front of my building where we say our goodbyes and exchange a hug.

"Thank you so much for everything, Dad. Seriously. I can't believe we got so much done."

"You're welcome, Bells. Glad I could help. Just keep in touch so I know how things are going."

"I will."

"And don't forget to keep your pepper spray on you when you go out, just in case."

"I know. I always do. Love you, Dad."

"Love you too. Take care."

"You too. And will you text me so I know you got home okay?"

He smiles. "I'll be fine, but okay."

I wait by the door as he walks back down the street to the U-Haul, and we exchange a wave as he drives by.

That's when it really hits me. For as independent as I've been while living with Mom or Dad, this is the first time in my life that I'll truly be on my own.

It's thrilling.

It's also daunting.

*O*

I'm in the middle of organizing and hanging up clothing in my closet when Mom calls, and I take a little break to chat.

"Hi, Mom."

"Hi, baby! I got your text. I'm so glad the move went well. And I loved the photo. Your new sofa looks so comfy and that coffee table has some serious bling! Great choices, Bella."

"Thanks. I really like both pieces, so thank you to you and Phil."

"Of course! Are you still busy organizing?"

"Yeah. Everything is where it belongs, but I'm still putting things away."

"Is Charlie still there?"

"No, he left about twenty minutes ago, but we got everything put together and sorted by room. We also made a grocery store run to a little market across the street, so I'm stocked up for a few days. Then we tried out a pizza shop around the corner for dinner, and that was good."

"Wow, you've really been busy. I can't wait to see your place once you're settled in. Maybe we can Facetime, and you can take me on a tour?"

"Sure, we can do that."

"I can't wait to hear about Rose's wedding too. And I'm still hopeful Emmett will introduce you to an identical twin brother."

I can hear the humor in her voice and I laugh outright at her comment about Emmet's imaginary twin.

"Sorry, Mom. I hate to burst your bubble, but Emmett doesn't have a twin brother. I hear he has a sister, but I don't think they're twins, and she wouldn't be my jam anyway." Now I can hear Mom laughing. "Oh, but I did find out how Rose and Emmett met, and what they both do for work…"

I relate the story of Emmett's multiple pricey stops at the Bellevue BMW dealership, his ploy to keep seeing assistant manager Rose before he finally asked her out. Mom laughs and says Emmett sounds like a real cutie. When I tell her he's a physical therapist, she says he might know someone looking to hire an ultrasound technician. I tell her I refuse to hit him up for a job connection at his wedding. And by the time they return from their honeymoon, I'll hopefully already have some job prospects. Then I wrap things up because I need to get back to unpacking.

"I'd better get going, Mom. I'll call on Sunday to fill you in on the wedding and take you on a Facetime tour of my apartment, okay?"

"All right, baby. Sounds good. Goodnight. Love you."

"Love you too, Mom. Goodnight."

I get back to hanging up the rest of my clothes.

And then the phone rings again.

It's Mom again.

"I wanted to remind you to send me Rose's address so I can send them a card and some money."

Holy crap! I forgot about a wedding gift! Thank goodness Mom mentioned it. I make a mental note to put that on my list of things to do tomorrow.

"Sure. I'll get you that address before the weekend is over. I promise."

"And I was also wondering what you're planning on wearing to the wedding. Do you have something nice?"

"Oh, um…" I scan the contents of my still-open closet: lots of scrubs, jeans, and casual tops, a couple nicer blouses, some skirts, and a handful of dresses—most of which are casual sundresses. But then my eyes land on a possibility. "I have that dress I wore for graduation at ASU. Maybe that one?"

"Oh, yes! The floral print with the mesh neckline. That was so pretty on you, Bella. That's perfect. Okay, that's all. I'll let you go now. Bye, sweetie."

"Bye, Mom."

Closing my closet door, I move over to start filling up my dresser.

I no sooner get the first drawer opened when my phone rings. Again.

It's Mom. Again.

"Hey. What did you forget?"

"Sorry to bug you again, but please remember to give Lillian and Roger Hale my love when you see them."

"I will. I won't forget."

"Okay. And take lots of photos."

"I will, Mom."

"All right. I think that's it then. Bye-bye."

"Bye, Mom."

Just as I'm setting my phone back down on the dresser, it rings again! For the fourth time! I don't even look at it as I snatch it back up and answer.

"Now what?!" There's a hesitation on the other end of the line, and I realize how rude I sounded. "I'm sorry, Mom. It's been a really long day and I'm just tired."

"Um…Bella…?"

I don't recognize the voice, but it's definitely not Mom.

"Oh. Sorry. Yes, this is Bella. Who's this?"

"Hi. It's Alice. Alice Brandon."

"Oh, my gosh! Alice?!"

"Yeah. I'm sorry, Bella, am I calling at a bad time?"

"No! Not at all. I'm sorry. I just got three calls in a row from my mom and I thought you were her, calling me for a fourth freaking time."

"Oh!" Alice laughs, and the sound takes me right back to our high school days. "So, I'm guessing Renee hasn't changed much over the years?"

I laugh. "Nope. Mom still has her moments. So, how are you, Alice?"

"I'm doing well, thanks. Busy with Rose's wedding, of course, but things will settle back down after this weekend."

"Yeah. I'm sure it's been hectic. I know Rose has had a busy week."

"Well, and it sounds like you've had a hectic couple of days too! Rose told me you would be moving into an apartment here in Seattle today, so you must be exhausted, but I promise I won't keep you on the phone long. We'll have time to do more catching up tomorrow."

"We will?"

"Only if you say yes."

"To what?"

"To being my date for the rehearsal dinner!"

"Alice, I don't think—"

"Just hear me out, please, Bella. Rose has been beside herself because she didn't contact you sooner so she could have included you in the wedding. And I know she invited you to the rehearsal dinner tomorrow night to try to include you, but I can totally see how that would make you feel…kind of…awkward. And I can also see how you might not want to tell Rose that because you don't want to hurt her feelings. But the good news is, I have a plan that will make you part of Rose's special day aaaaannnd allow you to attend tomorrow night's rehearsal dinner without feeling like you don't belong, because of course, you'll belong!"

"Wait… What are you talking about? What plan?"

"I have a wedding job for you!"

"A wedding job? What kind of wedding job?"

"You're going to be Rose and Emmett's Guestbook Girl!"

"Guestbook Girl?"

"Yes! You greet the guests as they arrive at the church and ask them to write a personal note and sign Rose and Emmett's guestbook!"

"And Rose wants me to do this?"

"No! She has no idea! But that's the beauty of my plan! Rose is going to be delighted when she sees you walk into the restaurant tomorrow night, and she'll be even happier when I introduce you as her Guestbook Girl! See?! It's the perfect plan! I've been wracking my brain, trying to figure out how to get you involved in the wedding so Rose won't be sad when she sees you on her wedding day, wishing you had been part of the plan, because you WILL be part of the plan! So, what do you say? Are you willing to take on the mantle of Guestbook Girl?"

"Um…sure. I guess I could do that, if you really think Rose would want that."

"Trust me, she'll be so happy. It'll be a great surprise."

"Well, okay then. Sign me up for Guestbook Girl."

"Hurray! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Listen, I know you've had a long day today, so I'll let you go, but I can't wait to see you tomorrow! I'll swing by your place at about 6:45 to pick you up, and we can go to the restaurant together. Just be sure to text me your address, okay?"

"Yeah, okay. I will."

"Whoo-hoo! This is absolutely awesome! See you tomorrow, Bella!"

"See you tomorrow, Alice. I'm looking forward to it."

Disconnecting the call, I flop back on my bed, mentally drained but smiling. I think I might still be a dozen sentences behind Alice in that exuberant conversation, but of three things I'm certain:

Alice is the same ball of energy I remember from high school, I have been finagled into Rose and Emmett's wedding as their Guestbook Girl, and tomorrow evening, I will be at their rehearsal dinner.

A/N: Alice wouldn't leave me alone, so it looks like we're going to the rehearsal dinner before we get to the wedding.