Hello everyone! Sorry for the late update! My life has just been completely crazy and I haven't had time to do anything! My goal is to also update the Island today as well, but we'll see how far I get. Anyways, enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Five

I had taken several bites of my food before Carlisle turned to me.

"So Bella, Edward told me that your mother was an artist?" He asked.

I nodded and wiped my mouth. "Yeah, she travels all over the place and gathers information for her art. She's lived pretty much everywhere in the U.S."

"That's very interesting." Carlisle said. "And your father is a sheriff?"

"Yeah, in a small town in Washington state." I said. "Does Edward talk about me a lot?"

He chuckled. "Quite a bit. Don't be too freaked out though, he's stuck in a place where nothing, but horrific, disgusting things happen. You're the brightest part of his day."

"Awe," I chuckled. "He certainly is an interesting part of my day."

Esme smiled. "You've really helped him cope with being in there. We are very grateful to you."

"No, don't be. If it wasn't me, he'd be flirting with Debra all the time."

"Oh now, our little acorn likes you a lot," Emmett chuckled.

"Emmett," Esme said in a low, warning tone. "Edward doesn't like it when we call him that, so please, respect it."

"Yeah, and I don't know why you're acting like you didn't have a small acorn when you were a baby," Carlisle chuckled. "I have baby pictures we could whip out for Rosalie."

Rosalie laughed. "I have to have that thing waved in my face at bedtime, please don't ruin my dinner too."

Everyone was laughing, aside from Mrs. Cullen who looked completely disgusted.

"Then you can be the one to tell everyone that I no longer have an acorn." Emmett grinned.

"Oh Emmett," Esme chuckled. "Leave poor Rosalie alone. I can't imagine how much mouth she has to put up with at home."

"Don't worry about me Esme, I know how to fight him," She said as she pinched the tender skin under Emmett's arm.

He jerked it away quickly. "You cheat because now I can't tackle you or throw you around."

Rosalie gave him a cheeky look before leaning over and whispering something into his ear causing him to grin and waggle his eyebrows at her before licking his lips in a very suggestive way.

"Forgive them Bella," Carlisle chuckled. "They act like newlyweds, but they're both just too immature for their own good."

"No it's fine. They remind me of my parents actually." I chuckled. "They can't spend more than five minutes in a room before they're flirting with each other. I'm used to it."

"So are your parents together now?" Alice asked.

"Oh no, we spend holidays together, but that's it. I mean, their relationship is really, really complicated. My mom's had a couple boyfriends here and there, but nothing long term. She just likes my dad too much."

"What about your dad?" Emmett asked.

"He doesn't date. He's kind of a creature of habit. He likes his routines. Plus, I think he's still to hung up on my mom to date anyone else."

"Why don't the two of them stay together?" Alice asked.

"Like I said, it's complicated," I shrugged. "And none of my business. So, do you guys need to plan Edward's party or what?"

Carlisle chuckled, "Nice subject change." He smiled at me, "But she's right. He's getting out in four days, so everything needs to be planned before then."

"I think we should do a simple, small welcome home party," Esme said. "I know he'll want to just relax with his family and have some good homecooked food."

"Ah, c'mon, we should have a huge party," Alice said. "I have a new dress I've been dying to show off."

Jasper chuckled and patted her hand. "The party's not about you, Alley-cat."

She rolled her eyes at him, "We should have a huge party. Aside from my dress, Edward always loves our holiday parties."

"I know he's probably dying to see some women. My vote is strip club." Emmett chuckled.

"Emmett." Mrs. Cullen said in warning. "Whatever kind of party is thrown; the food needs to be delicious. My sweet Edward loves food and he'll want something delicious. I can make myself available to cook that night."

"I don't mind cooking, Mrs. Cullen," Esme smiled softly. "I was planning on fixing Edward's favorite."

"I am more than capable of making chicken alfredo Esme." Mrs. Cullen said, narrowing her eyes at Esme.

"Edward's favorite dinner is actually roast beef with mashed potatoes and his mom's homemade soft bread." I said, looking directly at Mrs. Cullen. "He doesn't like chicken alfredo so much, he only likes it if the sauce is thin, but it's certainly not his favorite dinner."

"Oh so he's talked about this?" Mrs. Cullen said with a condescending smile on her face.

"Actually yeah, he has," I said. "All he talks about is his mother's cooking. It's the first thing he wants to eat when he gets out. It's probably best if Esme is the one who cooks, since that's been the one thing Edward has been looking forward to the most when he gets out."

"Thank you Bella," Esme said as she patted my leg again. "Do you have any suggestions for the party?"

"I don't think you should have one, but I know all of you have missed him so much since he's been locked up so I'm not going to try to convince you otherwise." I thought about it for a moment. "I think you definitely should cook Esme, but I think you guys should throw him a small, prison themed party."

"A what?" Carlisle asked as he picked up his drink.

"A prison themed party," I said. "You know, a little joke about him being in prison. You guys could wear costumes, hang chains up, tape some bars up on the windows. Make funny, prison themed food, like a shiv in a cupcake or something."

"You think he'd enjoy that?" Esme asked.

"I think he'd get a kick out of it. Or it might annoy him. Either way, it'd be really funny."

Emmett was laughing. "Okay I change my vote. We should do a prison themed party."

"That's just not appropriate." Mrs. Cullen said. "If we do a prison-themed party for Edward's coming home party, then I will just not attend."

"That might not be a bad idea, Edward really just wants to see his close family when he gets out." I said in a matter-of-factly voice. "Transitioning from prison to the real world is a huge one, he needs to be surrounded by loved ones."

"That is it!" Mrs. Cullen said as she stood. She pointed a long, manicured finger at me. "I think you've overstayed your welcome. You have been quite rude this evening and I think it's time you leave."

I shrugged and threw my cloth napkin down. "That's fine with me." I said as I stood and looked at Esme. "Esme, the sauce was incredible." I turned to Mrs. Cullen. "The noodles were underdone, and they sucked. Let Esme do the cooking because your cooking makes me sick."

Mrs. Cullen gaped. "You are a foul-mouthed… bastard child!" She spat out. "Get out! And do my grandson a favor, stop interacting with him! You are beneath him!"

I smiled when I saw her fluster. "That is true, I am a bastard child, but at least my family loves me. These people only put up with you because they have too. Do them a favor and die already."

"Get out." She snapped.

"If it were me, I would've socked you in the mouth years ago. Esme you are a saint for putting up with her, Carlisle," I said as I turned to him. "You're a nice guy, but it's kind of a dick move to keep letting you mother insult your wife."

Carlisle was clearly too stunned to speak, but quite frankly, I didn't care if he had anything to say. I said what needed to be said. Mrs. Cullen was a bitch who needed a reality check.

"I'll drive you home," Jasper said quickly as he wiped his mouth and followed me.

"Of course. Birds of a feather flock together." Mrs. Cullen spat out which caused Jasper's back to tighten.

"Grandmother!" Alice hissed, shooting her with a dirty look.

"It's the truth!" Mrs. Cullen hissed back meeting Alice's harsh gaze of her own.

"Goodnight Mrs. Cullen. It was so great to meet you. I can't wait to see you again. We should have lunch together," I said, knowing full well I was egging her on. This woman was a huge bitch and Esme was a literal angel. She did not deserve to be degraded by this demon.

"Leave now." Mrs. Cullen snapped before looking at Carlisle. "Carlisle, make this sporca puttana leave now!"

"You're mother's the dirty whore," I said to her before turning and leaving, Jasper on my heels, steadily trying to shove me out of the room.

"Carlisle I can't believe—!"

"That's enough, mother." Carlisle said firmly.

I was halfway out of the dining room when Mrs. Cullen said something that made me spin around very quickly and my anger reach its boiling point.

"You two take notes! Children of whores always act this way! They have no home training!" She said to Rosalie and Alice.

Jasper was way too slow to grab me. I balled my fist and connected with her mouth before any other rational thought popped into my brain. I put all of my anger into that punch because she fell backwards over her chair and held her bloody nose.

"My mother is not a whore." I snapped. "And if you call her that again, I'm going to do worse to your face. Bitch."

Jasper grabbed me by the shoulders and forced me out of the room and down the hall. I didn't give him any more trouble I just walked out.

"I can call an Uber." I snapped.

"Dude, just shut up and get in the car." Jasper said in a tired voice. "Please Bella. Let's just get the fuck out of here."

I felt bad after hearing the tiredness in Jasper's voice, so I just got into the front seat of the car and slid down a bit. It took a few minutes but once my anger cooled, I realized how ridiculous I had acted. My cheeks turned red as I thought of my actions.

"Jasper, I'm so sorry," I said as we drove out of the Cullen's estate.

He shrugged and let out a heavy sigh. "It is what it is Bella. I mean she has had it coming for years."

"Oh, no I'm not sorry about punching that old bitch," I said. "I'm sorry that you had to be the one associated with me."

He shrugged again. "It's fine. Mrs. Cullens has her opinions."

"Yeah, but they're kind of shitty. Obviously that birds of a feather comment affected you."

"Well, you know I already told you that you and I are in the same boat when it comes to money. Apparently we're in the same boat about our parents. The only difference is, I don't know who my father is. I just have my mother."

I made a face. "I only wish I punched her harder."

He looked over at me. "Bella, I get that you're fiery and have a strong head on your shoulders and you want to stick up for yourself and everyone else around you, but you need to chill out. You should've just ignored Mrs. Cullen like everyone else does."

"I'm not doing that."

He sighed heavily. "Look, if you're going to date Edward, there's a lot of shit you need to get used to. Dealing with people who look down on you is one of those things. And if you punch everyone who says something to you that you don't like, then you're just proving to them that you're nothing more than a street thug raised by a single mother."

My eyebrows raised. "That's really specific."

"Yeah well, maybe you aren't the only one who has to hear it."

I sighed, knowing I had definitely ruined Esme's dinner and any plans to talk about Edward's coming home party. I felt bad that I had misbehaved, but how could I let that bitch keep running her mouth? It was wrong.

I jumped when Jasper's phone rang. He sighed when he saw Alice's name.

"I gotta answer it." He said as he reached forward and touched the answer button on the screen. "Hey Alice."

I braced myself for the mouthful she was probably about to give him and me.

"Jazzy, I'm so sorry," She sniffled quietly into the phone. "Please come back. I'm sorry."

"It's fine, Alice. I'm not mad." He said.

"I'm sorry. Please come back."

"I need to drive Bella home then I might meet you at your apartment. I need to work tonight."

"Please don't pull away, I'm sorry. You know I don't think like she does. I don't care about your family situation. I love your mom and I think she did such a good job. She raised a really wonderful man, please, please come back."

Jasper sighed softly. "Alice I know you don't think like that. And I'm not pulling away. I really have to work."

She let out the softest sigh. "I'm sorry she said that."

"You don't have to be sorry Alice."

"Will you please come back?" She asked.

"I can't right now. But I'll come to your apartment later, okay?"

"O-okay," She sniffled.

"Are you going to be okay?" He asked her.

"Yeah," She inhaled softly. "P-please come to my apartment later. I need to see you."

"I will Alley-cat," Jasper said. "I'm going to hop off here now. Why don't you run some damage control? I'm sure your family is really upset."

I winced at his words. I bet Edward's family was really upset now. I didn't stop to think how this would affect them. Damn, I felt even more awful.

When my phone vibrated, I picked it up, expecting it to be Edward. He usually texted me around this time, but it was a random number.

Bella, this is Carlisle. Would you mind meeting me for lunch tomorrow? I know you aren't working, and I would really appreciate it if you met me for lunch. – Carlisle.

"Oh shit." I muttered as I stared at the message.

"What?" Jasper asked.

"Carlisle just texted me. He wants me to meet him for lunch."

"Huh." Was all Jasper said.

"Do you think he's going to kill me for punching his mother?"

"No. That's not Carlisle's style." Jasper so nonchalantly. "You should meet him."

"Why?"

"It's obviously very important. Carlisle's usually slammed with meetings and with work. He cleared time to have lunch with you. I wouldn't snub him. Not after punching his mother."

I snorted sarcastically said. "What is he, the godfather?"

When Jasper didn't answer, I groaned and looked over at him. "Oh c'mon, don't play that game. Edward tried. Mobs aren't real."

"Believe what you want, I don't care. But Carlisle is the head honcho." Jasper said. "You definitely don't want to snub him because he's the one running the show."

I rolled my eyes. "What would Carlisle do if I snubbed him?"

"Probably nothing. But I don't recommend it. Just have lunch with him. Carlisle's not a yeller or a big cusser. At most, you'll get a gentle reprimand and a warning."

I stared at the message, unmoving.

"It's the least you can do." Jasper said. "I mean, you punched the man's mother. You at least owe him one lunch."

I sighed heavily before replying.