Some fun, and meeting the whole Swan family.
Edward was funny, he was smart, and my new favorite hobby was to tease him with pop culture references.
"I can't believe you managed to get your degree online but never once heard how much Britney wigged out back in '07. Where were you, Narnia?"
"Wait, neither of us was even alive when those books were published."
I just stared at him.
"What?" He scrubbed the back of his neck.
"Those were made into movies, which apparently you also missed."
"That's something we'll have to do, rent them all and watch them together."
I laughed. "Nobody rents anything anymore, they stream it online."
"I knew that one. I just forgot," he laughed back.
Our lunch was a chance to mostly forget about what had been happening. To go on a date, so to speak, was pleasant. I hadn't really dated anybody in something close to two years.
My escort took us back to Edward's place, and I told him I'd see him soon. He waved happily from the porch, and I went home to a changing of the guard.
Sunday was a tradition in our family. We spent the day at Mom and Dad's, all of us. Rose had avoided last weekend, claiming a headache, but when I asked Emmett how she was feeling, he said there was nothing wrong with her. I knew she was pouting because Emmett was staying with me instead of her, and I did actually feel sorry for her. I knew exactly how it felt to be alone, to be scared at night. I would have spoken to her, apologized for monopolizing his time, but she took the coward's way out.
Not to mention, my father was actually afraid for my safety, and she was perfectly safe ensconced in her gated community with the security cameras and alarm system Emmett had set up.
I was in the kitchen with Mom and Alice when they arrived. I knew how to cook, but Alice was a clueless soul when it came to anything but cereal and toast. She was seated at the counter with a glass of wine, telling us about her week at work. I was putting together the salad and Mom was taking a lasagna out of the oven.
"Hi," Rose said softly as she came tentatively into the kitchen.
I turned. "Hi, Rose." I resisted asking if she was feeling better. I was going to be the better person.
"How was your week, Rose?" Mom asked politely.
"It was fine."
I rolled my eyes as I turned back to my chopping. Why couldn't she just have a conversation?
"So, as I was saying, we had a string of kids with strep. I think it's going around, so if any of you feel a sore throat, go to your doctor right away."
Mom and Alice carried the discussion while I added a hum or an agreement here or there. Rose stood awkwardly off to the side, near the back porch door.
"And this one kid was so introverted, I asked if they wanted to consider evaluating him for autism. They insisted he spoke plenty at home, and was just incredibly shy around strangers, so I dropped it."
My eyes shot to Rose as I placed the tongs in the salad bowl. She never spoke much, begged off outings and get togethers, and often stood away from the group. I suddenly thought I understood her more, and that made me feel like an asshole.
"Rose, could you take this to the table? I'm going to grab the dressings."
She nodded and took the bowl, and I followed her with the bottles. No one agreed on a salad dressing in our family.
"How are you?" I asked with sincerity.
"I'm okay," she answered quietly. All this time I'd written her off as a snotty bitch, when really she was shy and introverted.
"I'm swamped at work, stupid embezzlement cases."
She laughed a little. "You must hate math. I'm, uh, I'm in awe of what you did for that inmate."
"Oh. I've done it before," I said, now the shy one. I didn't want all the praise my family had been showing me.
"I know, but I remember his story. I was in college, and it was a cautionary tale. I always thought the facts didn't add up, though."
"They sure didn't." I shoved my hands in my pockets. "How are you really? I realize I don't know you as well as I should, and I've hogged your husband-"
"Bella. It's fine. It's not like that. I mean, I miss him. But I would never tell him not to help someone, especially his family." I threw my arms around her, startling us both. Then I dropped them just as quickly, both of us laughing.
"What's funny?" Dad asked as he came in the room.
"Nothing, I just assaulted Rose." She giggled.
He raised an eyebrow, then just shook his head. He was followed in by my brothers, and Mom brought the lasagna in soon after.
"There's the traitor!" I called as Jasper seated himself next to his wife. It was a common rib in our family, and he just stuck his tongue out.
"You're not blue either, sis, so shut it."
"True, but I could at least be cast in Law & Order alongside Emmett and Dad."
Alice snorted.
"I'll take Chicago Fire, thank you very much."
"Like they're waiting to ask any one of you," Alice laughed.
Rose joined into the laughter, and I felt some sort of new connection with her.
"Your father told me you still have a lot left to do with the inmate that was released, Bella. What's left?" Mom asked.
"I filed for compensation. After that, I have nothing left." I snuck a look at Dad, but he wasn't looking at me. "Edward, the, uh, the inmate, I suggested he accept the free counseling available. He's living with his parents until he can figure out where to go from here. He said he wants to volunteer at IPNW."
"That's lovely. What a good idea." Renee smiled indulgently. My mom was a June Cleaver type, and now that we were all adults, she did charity work and fundraisers. She was sharp with numbers, which I clearly didn't inherit from her. So I knew she was genuinely happy to hear that the wrongly convicted felon her daughter had freed from prison was going to turn around and get into volunteering to help the next guy.
I looked at her pink silk blouse and delicate jewelry, her perfect chignon, and then looked at my t-shirt and jeans. I loved her, and she was beautiful, but I hoped I never made myself get dressed up for a family dinner.
"So, does this mean you're a rockstar?" asked Jasper, which had Emmett guffawing.
"Yeah, B, can I get your autograph?" he laughed. The two fist bumped while I rolled my eyes at them. I should really quit doing that. I'm supposed to be an adult.
"Leave her alone," Rose admonished her husband.
Everybody sort of stopped talking and laughing for a minute, because Rose had just stood up for me. I gave her a smile in thanks.
At the end of the meal, Alice and I took dish duty so I could talk to her. "Did you know that Rose is just shy, and that we're mean girls?" I whispered.
Her eyes widened. "Knobby-Kneed Four-Eyes and Skeletor? We've never been mean girls, we're the ones mean girls pick on."
"Yeah, well, we were wrong. Accept your punishment."
"And what exactly is my punishment," she asked, eyes narrowed.
"I don't know, what did they do for punishment at your scary Catholic school?" I started lining up the plates like soldiers into the dishwasher.
"A smack to the knuckles with a ruler, but only if you did something awful, like break a commandment, or if you were a boy. The nuns figured all the boys were sinners, but the girls were straight up bitches and got away with it." She put the glasses in the top rack while I washed out the casserole dish.
"Uh, I'm not letting you hit me with a ruler. How about we just invite her the next time we go out?" I suggested.
"That sounds fair to me."
I made a point of hugging Rose when she left. Emmett was going home with her, and I was accepting the no named shadow my dad had picked.
Jasper gave me a little more shit about not being a cop either, and I had to get him back. "Okay, Backdraft, just watch where you're putting your hose or Alice will serve your balls for Sunday dinner."
He groaned. "And I'm definitely leaving now." He gave me a tight hug and headed out the door. Alice hugged me and kissed my cheek, still giggling as she followed him out. I just grinned, satisfied with the day.
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