BPOV.
Dessert - check. Elegant clothes - check. Prepared speech in case of awkwardness - check. But I definitely forgot something...
"Bella, stop being so nervous. I can see you shaking your foot from here. They'll love you, you'll see." Edward sent me his signature cheeky smile and extended his hand to me.
"Edward, moms never like girlfriends and wives of their precious sons. Especially those who miss family dinners."
"Maybe some of them, but definitely not mine. Ask Rose, she will confirm. And how many times do I have to tell you? Mom wasn't upset that you missed it, she understood. The important thing is that we found the time today."
Edward was adamant, all my attempts to prepare him for the worst-case scenario had failed.
"Okay, let's think positive. Tell me again about your parents."
"If it helps you, okay, I'll repeat. They're both 55 years old. Mom has her own architectural firm. She can talk for hours about architecture and design, so it's the easiest way to change the subject in a conversation, although I hope we won't need that trick today. Dad completed his medical training in his late twenties and spent some time working in a hospital. My great-grandfather, when he started the company, believed that it is deep knowledge in physiology and own experience will allow our products to be the best on the market. So, with my father, you can easily find common ground, he loves to discuss modern medicine." I nodded in agreement with this statement. Such conversation might very well last for hours. "By the way, my parents met in high school, and my dad always said it was love at the first sight. They are both the two most wonderful people in my life, I have always tried to look up to them. I can't imagine parents better. Their common passion is charity. In the past, they had just contributed financially to various foundations, but as time went on and they had more free time, mom made the decision to participate in the organization of charity events. One of the most striking of her projects is a charity ball. My mom realized a long time ago that if you organize a big event where different rich people can have a good time, their donations grow faster. First, they pay a large sum of money for the entrance, and then in return they get the opportunity to have a good time and to meet new influential acquaintances. It's a win-win."
"And for some ladies, it's a perfect chance to show off or to meet a promising suitor." I finished the idea for him, perfectly representing the contingent of such events.
"That's right." Edward playfully rolled his eyes not noticing the change in my mood.
Everything Edward described was painfully familiar to me. Jacob and his father had been frequent guests at these events. They had never been interested in the charitable component of these outings, but the perfect image and new profitable acquaintances attracted them like nothing else. Black Senior always cared about their family's image and did not hide that I fit perfectly into his idea of the perfect daughter-in-law. I was from a wealthy family, trained to be a doctor, with good manners and like a cherry on top, with good looks. His words, not mine. Billy kept telling me that every time we met, he thought I was also the perfect arm candy, so his biggest fear was that when I graduated, I wouldn't have enough time for his son. He was the first person to ask me to drop out of university before Jacob picked it up. He probably couldn't have imagined that his perfect picture of the world would be destroyed by his own son.
"Bella, are you okay? We're here."
I looked up at the windshield and inhaled in surprise. Before us stood an incredibly beautiful house with the most interesting architecture I've ever seen. It was more of a mansion than just a house, but with its extraordinary size the building seemed light and airy. Three floors with panoramic windows, the architectural illumination and the unique shape of the building fascinated me. Edward smiled with understanding.
"Mom's pride and joy, besides me of course."
I looked at Edward.
"The house is simply gorgeous. I don't know how you could trade it for an apartment in Chicago."
"Quite easy, because I knew I would always be welcome here."
I couldn't help smiling at his sweet words. I had great parents, but the Cullens' relationship sounded almost unreal.
We got out of his car and went to the house with holding hands. As soon as we were in front of the door, Edward pressed the bell without warning. My heart pounded with incredible force and I squeezed our clasped hands tighter.
"Bella, if you break my fingers, my mom's not gonna love you any faster. I'm a surgeon after all."
"Edward!" Not expecting a joke at such an important occasion, I playfully hit him on the shoulder. Right at this moment the door to the mansion was opened by an elegantly dressed woman, whom I immediately recognized as Edward's mother.
She had soft caramel colored hair and tiny body with a very beautiful face. It felt like the whole Cullen family was apparently blessed with good genes, even though I hadn't met the head of the family yet. Esme smiled at our little spat.
"I heard the last phrase, and it was well deserved, Edward." Esme turned her laughing eyes on me. "Bella! I'm so excited to finally meet you." Then, unexpectedly, Esme pulled me into a tight hug, and I was able to relax a little from such a warm welcoming.
"Thank you for inviting me, Mrs. Cullen. I'm sorry I couldn't come last Sunday."
"Drop this nonsense. We all understand the importance of your job. And call me Esme, Mrs. Cullen is my mother-in-law, who I want nothing to do with."
Edward had mentioned his grandmother several times, and it was clear from his stories that meeting her was best avoided.
"Thank you, Esme." Looking down on my hands, I remembered my dessert. "I made a little cake, and I hope it fits into tonight's dinner."
"Oh, it wasn't necessary, I know you were tired after your shift at work, but a carrot cake will never be superfluous with those Cullen men." Edward sent us his sheepish smile, and Esme knew exactly who ordered the cake.
As Esme rolled her eyes playfully, she quickly held her son in a welcome embrace, and he kissed her on the cheek.
"Come on inside. Carlisle's in his office right now, but he should be down any minute."
Edward put his hand on my waist and got me inside the house. The first thing that caught my eye was a double staircase leading to the second floor.
"The house looks incredible, Esme. Everything is so thoughtful, and at the same time there's nothing extra."
"Thank you, dear. This house has been my dream for years. Edward, why don't you give Bella a little tour, and I'll hurry everybody up in the kitchen."
As he hugged my waist, Edward led me to look at the remaining rooms. The first floor was great, especially I liked the dining room and the posh kitchen. After going around the house, we decided to finish our tour with Dr Cullen's office. Edward knocked on the door several times before we entered. I recognized Edward's father right away in the handsome man sitting at the computer desk in the center of the room. If Edward's hair and eye color was clearly inherited from his mother, his father gave him facial features and body structure.
"Mom's not gonna be happy if she finds out you're working so late."
"Son, if you still think you can hide something from your mom, you are unbelievably naive. I've learned my lesson, trust me." Edward's father smiled with a smile that was a carbon copy of his son's smile. Or vice versa. After a second, his steely blue eyes turned to me. "And this lovely lady must be Isabella."
The natural charisma of this family was invincible.
"Mr Cullen, it's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard so much about you at work and from friends."
"The pleasure is all mine, my dear. I hope you've heard only positive things and call me Carlisle."
Mr Cullen or Carlisle walked around his desk to enclose me in a light embrace. The Cullen family surprised me with their hospitality and their geniality, it's rare for a family like this to let people into their inner circle so easily. While Jacob's father was delighted about our union, a major part of his happiness came from knowing how wealthy my family was. But I was sure, Cullens didn't know that. Edward, like Rosalee, knew only general information about my parents, and that's why I was so happy the Cullens met me so naturally, not knowing anything about my financial assets. It said volumes about them.
"I suggest we go downstairs. I think Esme has already ordered to have everything set on the table."
Once downstairs, we saw that Esme and another an unfamiliar dark-haired woman had indeed already done everything.
"Bella, meet Carmen. She's been helping us with the housework for years. Carlisle and I couldn't have done it without her."
Then Esme introduced me, and I immediately thought about my home and Mrs. Cheryl, the housekeeper of my parents, I got a little homesick. A plan formed in my head to invite Edward to New Year's Eve at my parents' home in Washington, if, of course, he was ready to meet Charlie Swan.
A minute later, everyone sat down at the table, Edward, like a true gentleman, pulled out a chair for me next to him, and his parents sat across from us. Esme gracefully put a napkin on her lap, and I couldn't help admiring the general air of elegance around her. She and Carlisle looked like the perfect couple, both radiated calm and ease, only there was a delicacy to Esme that Carlisle didn't have. Edward was so much like them.
"Bella, we're so happy to meet you. Rosalie mentioned you many times, who would have thought back then that fate would bring us all together under such a remarkable circumstance." Esme smiled warmly at us, and I mentally began to wonder what exactly Rose could tell about me.
"That's true. I would have paid closer attention to Rose's talks if I could picture how amazing a cousin from these stories would be." I turned to Edward and gave him a playful peck on the corner of his mouth.
"Wait, did you just said Rosalie told you something about me before we met? Why am I just hearing about this?"
I laughed at his surprised look.
"Rosalie tried to set me up with every single man she knew for years. You were just one of them. I just knew that she had a cousin, and that he lives somewhere not close, but plans to move back here someday. Speaking of which, I just remembered that about a year or two ago you came here for Christmas, Rose then persuaded me to go to your family dinner with her. I decided I'm going to be a little redundant at the family party."
The realization that we might have met a lot earlier struck not only me, Esme and Carlisle sat with amazed smiles, and Edward had the most surprised face.
"We almost met two years ago?" I silently nodded and smiled, remembering that day.
"But there's one little detail. Weren't you dating Tanya back then? That would be a very awkward introduction."
At her name, Esme and her son grimaced at the same time.
"I'm sure after that party, we wouldn't have dated for much longer, because I'd have spent the whole evening staring at you."
I laughed at his words. How did he manage to be so romantic when talking about his ex?
"You and your smooth talks."
"He's all like his father! Carlisle is exactly the same." Esme turned and kissed her husband.
"Hey, there is no need to harm Bella's psyche when mine has been thoroughly spoilt since childhood. I'm sure one of those kisses led to my birth."
Carlisle just winked at his son and hugged Esme.
"It's okay, my parents are the same. When you take thought about it, it's really sweet. They have been together for thirty years, and are still absolutely in love with each other. Most people are envious of them."
"So true. Carlisle and I have been together for almost forty years, we are high school sweethearts. With the right person, feelings only get stronger over the years. It's a gift."
Esme's words made me involuntarily dream of Edward and me years from now, and a smile appeared on my face. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a similar smile on Edward's face.
After that, the four of us had an easy conversation for several minutes. Edward placed his arm around the back of my chair and sometimes stroked my shoulder, sending electrical pulses all over my body.
"Bella, Edward said you agreed to come to our charity ball. I was so glad to hear this. This is a very important event for our entire family.
"Of course, this is a great honor for me. I just wish I could help with the organization. But perhaps you could help me choose the right dress?"
"This is a wonderful idea! We should also call Rosalie to make you a little more comfortable. Getting to know a guy's mother can be nerve-racking event. I still remember that day." Carlisle smiled guiltily and kissed the top of Esme's head. "Forty years together, and this woman still terrifies me."
At first, I wanted to refuse and say that I would be comfortable enough with Esme alone, but then I changed my mind and decided not to risk it. I knew that Rose would definitely be able to save the situation if there was any awkwardness.
"Rosalie will be happy, I know she hasn't chosen her dress yet."
After we finished our delicious dinner, Esme asked Carmen to bring us my dessert.
"Is that a carrot cake I see!?"
"Yes, Bella baked it. Our shameless son made her cook after work."
"Hey! I didn't force her, she wanted to."
"I really didn't want to come empty-handed. Making cake for me was the easiest thing."
I knew I had done something right when Esme smiled and gently shook her head. Carlisle and Edward immediately began quickly eat the dessert, pure enjoyment showing on their faces.
"If I wasn't married to your mom, I would propose to Bella right now." Carlisle's praise made me blush a little.
"All right, old man, keep your thoughts to yourself. If I play my cards right, she'll still be your relative." Eduard's words almost made me choke.
"Old man? Ha... You mean when Rosalie dumps Emmett and proposes to Bella? Cause Bella is unlikely to marry such a rude man like you. By the way, Bella, did Edward ever tell you how he was afraid to sleep with the lights off until he was fifteen? I'm not sure he stopped doing it now. Think about whether you need such a chicken. And there was more... "
"All right, all right, all right, dad. We get it, you're not an old man. You're only 55 and you're in your prime. And if Emmett doesn't decide on his wedding suit soon, I think Rosalie will really be ready to marry any willing person. Not that anyone's gonna let her marry Bella, she's mine." I laughed at Edward's needless jealousy, he just pulled me closer and placed a wet kiss on my cheek. "And actually, I wasn't afraid of the dark, I just liked it that way."
"We all believed you, son."
"Who'd have thought you are so possessive, Cullen. If my best friend, who's desperate, asks me to marry her, then I will do it. At least she definitely sleeps without a nightlight."
Everyone laughed at Edward's pouty face.
"And why did I believe that introducing you to your parents would be a good idea?"
Thank you for reading and sorry for the long pause. Your comments and messages motivate me. By the way, we're about to meet Jacob.