Submission
Chapter Three: The First Day
Bella Cullen
Edward seemed different, he was more confident, arrogant even and something about his change in attitude caused my heart to skip a beat. I found myself following behind him quick at his heels and breathing in his new his cologne as I trailed behind him into the kitchen where he unlocked the sliding door, before picking up a binder from the kitchen counter I hadn't seen there before he spun around at vampire speed to offer me his hand as I made my way through the doorframe feeling his eyes upon me as I watched Leah and Angela approaching us. Edward slid the door shut behind me before his delicate yet mighty hand came upon the small of my back leaning me in the direct of the white oak picnic bench just a few steps from the sliding doors, it was only thing within the backyard besides the covered pool in Angela's backyard.
To my surprise Edward didn't sit beside me but rather across from me on the bench facing me with Leah and Angela sat down either side of me. I looked over to them trying to see some indication of what had happened when Edward had gone over to see them both in their new houses but there was nothing. Angela smiled at me when her eyes met mine and as for Leah she seemed to be looking anywhere but at Edward.
Edward unclasped the black leather binder before him and withdrew three envelopes of equal size, he handed me the maroon one on top with his eyes never meeting mine, when he handed over the green envelope to Angela she thanked him which he ignored, then finally the blue one on the bottom which he handed to Leah of whom he did look at it as she accepted it.
"Inside you'll find everything you each require for your new lives. Bella we'll start with you," He said and reached out and tapped on my envelope "Open it." He instructed.
I did as he said and pulled out the stack of paper folded together.
"Bella Cullen," I read aloud "Is that meant to be my new name?" I asked Edward.
"It is."
I looked back down at the pages before me.
"So I really am your legal wife?" I asked.
"Yes." Edward answered.
I began to look through the documents as Edward explained each of them and it's purpose.
"Those are your new driving licenses, medical cards, insurance cards, birth certificates, social security cards, passports and lastly your marriage certificate." Edward explained.
"This is a lot to take in." I said.
"Keep reading." Edward instructed.
I flicked through the papers before coming to a banking information sheet which included my new bank details, my pin number and account numbers for my cheque book and finally my savings and current accounts.
"No way." I whispered.
"What is it?" Angela asked me.
"My accounts have hundreds of thousands in them."
"As does each of yours." Edward informed us all.
I looked across at him then.
"There's no way I can accept that." I said.
"It's done now." Edward responded.
"So Bella is your legal wife but what about us?" Leah asked Edward.
Edward's gaze shifted to Leah then his gaze remained upon her for what felt like forever before he finally answered "Well, why don't you open your envelope and find out?" Edward suggested.
Leah then opened her envelope withdrawing the exact same documents as I had but in blue and then Angela withdrew her green documents which were identical.
Edward began to explain "No you were born in Forks, Bella was born in Maine, Leah you were born in Iowa and Angela you are from Texas. None of you have crossed paths until today. I have forged emails between myself, Leah and Angela in which they claim they wish to rent out my properties, in this emails there is evidence of my checking their credit check and background checks which came up clear therefore I have rented out my houses to you and that's the story we stick to." Edward said.
I glanced over at Leah and Angela who appeared to be listening intently.
"Your new names are all contained within your documents, your new accounts are listed also along with your pin numbers, savings and current accounts." Edward continued.
"So that's all we have to know?" Angela asked Edward
"Your names will remain the same, my tech contact ensures me that by adding middle names it will assist us further," Edward glanced at each of us "I took the liberty of making your new middle names your mother's names to honor them." Edward said.
"Wow that's actually thoughtful." Leah said.
Edward didn't respond, he didn't even acknowledge Leah's comment.
"Every single month there will be a direct payment of five thousand dollars into each of your personal accounts. There will be an additional two thousand dollars for bills, household expenses and any extras you might require. I will only recieve statements for your personal accounts, you will each be responsible for managing your own expenses although I will be checking with my new accountant who is also a practising lawyer."
"So he'll keep his mouth shut should he suspect...anything?" Angela asked him.
"Exactly." Edward answered.
"What's his name?" I asked Edward.
"Benjamin, he has no ties to Forks nor anyone I know." Edward replied.
"Okay so what else?" Leah asked.
"That's it, you each manage your own finances, your accounts are confidential between you and Benjamin and myself." Edward told her.
"Seems fair enough." Angela said.
I tucked my hair behind my ear "Edward, that still doesn't explain the hundreds of thousands of dollars in our accounts."
Edward fought back a smirk at my ignorance "You each have empty houses, what do you suspect the money is for?"
"But it's a hell of a lot of money." Angela noted
Edward stood up from the table then looking down upon all of us.
"Your new identifications say you are each currently twenty two years old. I suggest you all begin to act like it," Edward then continued "Starting with being ready to leave in an hour, I'm taking you out of town to the only mega store, where I suggest you don't waste my time looking at price tags but act like the wives and grown ups you assured me you were capable of being out here." Edward took a step back before telling us "Act accordingly."
He then turned on his heels and let himself back into my house through the sliding door slamming it shut behind him straddling me with a glare from Leah as Edward disappeared from sight.
"What the hell is his problem?" Leah hissed.
"He's just adjusting." I said.
"He's pretty...intense isn't he?" Angela asked her gaze still fixed on the kitchen door.
"Yeah, intense is one way of putting it." Leah added.
Edward had taken the keys to the station wagon and he unloaded all of our luggage placing it inside my house before taking Leah's luggage into her house and then despite Angela's offers to help he took her luggage into her house. Edward then made his way back outside and this time he went to the trunk of his new car bringing with him brand new sets of luggage, all of them in perfect condition and probably filled with new clothes. He placed six sets of the luggage by the foot of the staircase and brought two other large cases upstairs before returning in a blur.
I looked down at the luggage by the foot of the stairs.
"So that's the clothes, you'll be keeping at, Leah and Angela's houses."
"Among other things." Edward replied
"Other things?" I asked him.
Edward ignored me then.
"Edward?" I pressed.
Edward turned to face me then and smirked at my annoyance to his lack of response.
"What other things?" I asked.
Edward then took a step closer to me lifting his hand and gently pushing my hair behind my ear "What?" Edward whispered.
I couldn't help but smile.
Edward leaned in then placing a kiss on my cheek, lingering longer than necessary as he inhaled my scent before exhaling and turning away from me.
"We have to talk about that...kiss"
"Which one?" Edward whispered "This one," He whispered as he kissed me again "Or this one?" Edward questioned before he wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me flush against his chest and kissing me in the most passionate way imaginable, he parted my lips with his tongue deepening the kiss as his hands remained firmly on my lower back, he then pulled away before pressing his forehead against mine as he exhaled.
I needed a minute to catch my breath.
"Edward," I whispered "We need to talk about...all of that."
Edward released me then stepping back from me as he said "There's nothing to talk about."
"But there is." I insisted.
"Bella, there is nothing to discuss. You wanted me to make an effort and I have, I have kept my word on the terms of your request but it changes nothing." Edward said.
I heard the kitchen door open and slid shut behind us and Angela and Leah entered with their shoulder bags slung over their shoulders.
"Are we late?" Angela asked.
I glanced to Edward as he slid on his sunglasses "I'll be in the car." he told us before walking out.
I turned back to Leah and Angela then.
"So um, I get that today is, my day," I paused "I'm never going to get use to calling it that," I sighed "Uh but when we get to the store I think it's important that we do treat this for what it is, we're going to buy everything we need for our new houses and since Edward's gonna be living with each of us..."
"He should have a say in what goes into each house." Angela finished for me.
"Exactly." I agreed.
"What if he disagrees with our choices?" Leah asked.
"Well, I guess we'll have to compromise." I suggested.
"Alright," Angela said "But it is still your day with him."
"Let's call it as it is it's his night with me. It's not like he's only going to be available to help and be with me. Even when he's staying at your house one of us might need him. So let's just be mature about this." I said.
Angela nodded in agreement but Leah crossed her arms and said nothing.
"So, what happened when he came over to see you guys at your houses anyway?"
Leah sighed "And so it begins."
"No you don't have to tell me it's just-"
"I don't mind telling you." Angela replied happily without a care in the world.
"Yeah let's all follow the first wife." Leah said before walking out.
"I didn't mean to upset her." I said to Angela.
"It's alright, she'll come around."
"But what happened when he came over?"
Angela opened her mouth to speak but instead of answering me she said "We gotta go."
"But-" I began to protest.
"Edward's waiting." Angela reminded me as she stepped passed me opening the sliding door before she called back to me "Come on."
I followed behind her as she closed the door behind us and we walked around the side of the house where Edward sat in the driver's seat with the engine running while Leah sat in the front passenger seat and Angela got into the back. I climbed into the back beside Angela.
Edward reversed out of the drive way before pulling out onto the street and beginning our journey into town. So it's my night with Edward and Leah takes the front seat with him? What's that about? I thought to myself as Edward drove through town.
"So what does it feel like not being able to read our minds?" Angela asked him out of the blue "It's just us right I mean, you can still hear everyone else."
"Yes" Edward replied bluntly.
"It must be weird for you huh?"
"It is." Edward answered.
Angela looked over at me then and I shrugged, Edward wasn't making this easy.
"Why don't you ask him better questions, like where he's been all this time since leaving Forks." Leah suggested.
Edward glanced over at Leah then before his gaze returned to the road before him.
"I think that's between Edward and Bella" Angela said.
"Whatever." Leah mumbled.
Edward pulled into the mega stores parking lot securing a spot right up front.
Edward unbuckles his seatbelt "I looked into this store before we left, there is a hand scanner service, you just go around the store, scan each item you want for the house. There's also a same day delivery policy for an additional charge. We have to be done in here no later than two."
"You want us to get everything in a single day?" Angela asked her voice filled with unease.
"It's a mega store, it's not that difficult." Edward responded.
Edward then looked over his shoulder at me "Shall we?" He asked me.
I unbuckled my seatbelt "Yeah, sure."
Edward then exited the car walking around the vehicle and opening my door for me, I accepted his hand as I stepped out of his SUV and Leah and Angela soon followed before we made our way across the parking lot towards the store entrance. Edward slid one of his credit cards into the slot of three scanners before handing each of us one. He quickly took my hand in his and pulled me away with him and towards the sitting room displays out of sight of Leah and Angela.
He finally let go of my hand although his finger traced my wrist as he walked by my side.
I sighed "I never thought I'd be doing this."
"Shopping? Or living as a polygamist?"
"Shhh" I hissed.
Edward chuckled then before asking "So what do you need for the sitting room?"
"I don't know, what do you suggest?"
Edward stopped dead in his tracks and spun me around to face him and I sighed.
"I don't know how to do this okay?"
"You're not a child, Bella. You know what a house needs, you know what you like and what you don't. Just point and scan and-"
"Spend your money?"
"What's the problem?"
"I don't know I just, you kissed me and-"
"I kiss you all the time." Edward interrupted.
"Not like that you don't."
Edward smirked then and I shook my head "You know what I meant." I said. "I'm not playing games, Bella. I did what you asked, I made an effort."
"I know."
"Then stop stalling and shop." Edward said before he walked away.
I sighed.
He was right, I wasn't a child, I'd asked him to save us, to take us from Forks and bring us here to Utah where we could have a new house and all I had to do was act like the grown up I was and not the pathetic Forks student I had been yesterday. I straightened up my posture and inhaled deeply before I made my way over to ivory lawson couches, I began by sitting on them in various positions ensuring I was comfortable in any and then I scanned them without checking the price tags, I wanted two of them for my front sitting room. Then I scanned two cream toned arm chairs also for the front sitting room, then for the second and smaller sitting room off the kitchen I scanned two soft orange Jackson couches with two ashbaugh arm chairs to go alongside them.
But I was nowhere near done for the sitting room and so I began to scan the next set of items, I wanted my house, no Edward and my house to be warm and welcoming, I wanted soft surface and warm tones and so I began by scanning the coffee tables. I selected two small rectangular oak coffee tables for the front sitting room along with two large oak ones for my second sitting room. I then scanned two larger circular oak coffee tables for the front sitting room along with two teak coffee tables for the kitchen sitting room.
I then began to scan the lamps, some ceiling, floor, table and wall lights. I also scanned two plasma televisions, one for each sitting room. I scanned a new television for my bedroom, I scanned two desks for my office and then I moved onto the dining room. I scanned a large white wooden dining room table and then eight matching dining chairs imaging one day that this table would be filled with Edward's children with me, his children with Leah and his children with Angela as we sat together for a holiday dinner as polygamists and proud.
I then scanned two oak corner units for the dining room along with two oak dressers and then I scanned a few utensils and crockery for the kitchen before moving onto the bedrooms. I imagined Edward's children again as I scanned a kingsized bed for my bedroom along with four large oak wardrobes and six oak chests of drawers. I scanned a queen sized bed for the spare bedroom along with two double oak wardrobes and a large oak chest of drawers.
For the many bathrooms in the house I scanned everything we needed including towels, wash cloths, bath mats, shower curtains, shower screens, bathroom cabinets, tooth brushes, soap dispensers, toilet brush holders, tissue boxes and storage boxes. I then scanned the necessities for the laundry room.
I then scanned a computer for my office desk and then I scanned a CD player, record player and DVD player with a vast collection of music and film before I finished off with scanning the window blinds.
I had just finished looking at some paint samples when I looked across the store to find Edward standing with Leah. He scanned a painting on the display before they began to talk amongst themselves.
I watched as Edward shook his head at something Leah said to him and I couldn't help but wonder if Leah was filling his head with negative things about me. I thought back to Edward's kiss earlier today and how one day he might kiss her the same way. We were polygamists now, Leah had every right to Edward's affection. I continued to watch them as Edward scanned a vase as Leah talked to him.
I wondered what they were talking about.
I fought the urge to go over and instead quickly turned and headed in the opposite direction. I scanned tins of paint and some wallpaper for the master bedroom. For the kitchen I scanned every item I would need as the spell would need as the spell would allow Edward to finally taste my cooking although he would still have to hunt just as Leah would have to transform every so often. I scanned, a blender, food processor, cake mixer, pasta machine, mini chopper, grater, whisk, pastry brush, cheese grater, cake decorating kit, large kitchen knives, chopping boards, ladles, oven gloves, tea towels, a toaster, a microwave and a coffee machine.
I then scanned a washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, iron and vacuum cleaner.
I then made my way towards the garden and scanned a lawn mower and then some plants and seeds before I moved onto the utility room and scanned everything we needed.
I then scanned a fridge freezer, two fridge freezers one for the kitchen and one for the basement.
It was only then I caught sight of Edward with Angela in the sitting room display section, Angela had sunk down into a bean bag and was laughing at her efforts to get out of it.
Edward helped her to her feet before Angela scanned the bean bag. Edward then scanned a few lamps before he scanned two large arm chairs and a single seater. Edward didn't mind a freaking bean bag being inside his house? Oh god don't start this, it's not your house it's their house and it's none of your business. I chastised myself before I made my way over to them.
"Hey" I said as I approached them.
"Hi" Angela greeted.
Edward scanned a side table before saying "Let's finish up and move on."
Edward then walked away.
I glanced to Angela "Is he okay?"
"I think he's fine." Angela replied.
I exhaled before I asked her "Did he talk to you?"
"Yeah, he did."
"What about?"
"The house," Angela replied "Listen Bella, I get that it's weird, this situation we're in but I also believe that we can make it work if we all put our minds to it."
I nodded in agreement "I know."
"Good." Angela said
"Where's Leah?" I asked her.
Angela pointed across from us to where Edward now stood whispering something into Leah's ear making her roll her eyes in response.
"Did you expect them to be like this so quickly?" Angela asked me.
"No" I replied honestly "They have to make the effort we can't risk the spell."
"I don't see them liking each other, Bella. They trust each other, otherwise the spell wouldn't have worked but still, I don't see them getting along."
"So you don't think deep down she...might like him?"
"No and I mean that." Angela replied.
"What about him?" I asked her.
"He's being civil to Leah because he made a promise to us but I don't think he likes her either." Angela replied.
I exhaled, relieved that Edward didn't seem to be developing feelings for Leah or Angela and that my kiss with him this morning was perhaps just that, a kiss between us and not a kiss between him and one of the wives.
"So what did you scan?" Angela asked me.
"Everything for my house," I paused "I mean our house."
"...Everything?"
"Yeah why haven't you?"
"I've got a couch and a few...dishes." Angela replied.
"Have you seen the kitchen section?" I asked her "There's loads to scan there."
"Yeah that's not such a good idea, I can't cook."
"At all?"
"Nope not even toast."
"How did I not know this?"
"Because yesterday we were in high school."
I smiled then "I guess that's true."
"We better catch up with Edward and Leah." Angela said before we walked away together.
When we got to the check out area I had scanned items amounting in total to just shy of $20,000. Leah had scanned just under £17,000 and Angela had scanned only £5,000 making me wonder what she and Edward had been up to instead of getting what they needed for their house.
We headed out of the store and Edward unlocked his SUV and this time I was quick to get into the passenger seat, as today was my day with Edward.
And it wasn't close to over.