Sacrificial Lamb Chapter 10
BPOV
The days melted into one another and we’d reached the week of the wedding before I could even register time passing by. My days were spent with Alice. She’d taken her revenge for the food tasting incident and made me pay by involving me in every aspect of the wedding planning. Not that she listened to my opinion, mind you, but she still made me give one. I’d weighed in on engraved cocktail napkins and invitations and champagne fountains. The last got a veto that actually stood, seeing as we were all “underage”. She then decided maybe a chocolate fountain would be a fun way to go when I pointed out that if she wanted me to remain in a white dress that probably was not a good idea. She thankfully agreed.
My nights were spent with Edward, wrapped in his arms in my bed. When we weren’t kissing, we were talking about anything and everything. He was particularly interested in my childhood, asking me question after question about growing up with Renee.
“Why are you so interested in my past, Edward? Don’t you know everything about me already?”
He grinned. “I just love listening to stories about my girl, is there anything wrong with that?”
“Of course not.” So I told him stories about Renee nearly burning down the kitchen when she threw a frozen chicken in the oven. I told him about my many injuries and mishaps. He ate it all up as if it was the most fascinating thing he’d ever heard. Whenever I got tired of talking I pressed closer to him and gave him my most persuasive kisses. Though he didn’t completely relax his rigid control, he did relent enough to let me run my hands under his shirt. The feeling of those hard stomach muscles, so cold beneath my warm hands, nearly drove me wild with desire. Just a few more nights and finally I could touch him freely, with no barriers between us.
“Soon.” I told him with a smile.
“Bella,” he chuckled, pulling back from me.
“Don’t you start, Edward Cullen. A promise is a promise!”
“I know, but I’m afraid of hurting you.”
“You won’t, you can’t. I know you can’t.”
“Your utter faith in me is astounding. I don’t deserve it.”
I rolled my eyes. “How about I decide what you do and don’t deserve when it comes to me?”
He stared at me for a moment, looking utterly astounded. Then he surprised me by laughing. He hugged me to his chest and told me, “Deal. We do need to talk, though.”
I glowered at him. “Talk about what?”
“The honeymoon. Or more specifically, what happens after the honeymoon.” That surprised me.
“What do you mean?”
“After we return from…”
“From?” I asked eagerly. I’d been trying to get him to tell me where he was taking me. That, of course, was a fruitless effort.
“Our honeymoon,” he smiled at me, knowing just what I’d been hoping. Like he’d ever slip. “We’ll come back to Forks for a few weeks before we leave for Dartmouth, or so everyone assumes.”
“Okay.” I knew this, what was he getting at?
“Well, I just think it’s important that we talk about our plans.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Our plan is to move with the family to New Hampshire. Then our plan is to make me a vampire. That has not changed.” He’d better not be trying to delay, again.
He sighed. “I know that, Bella, I’m not backing out.” Relief filled me as I saw the truth in his words reflected on his face. “I’m just talking about when we get back; I think it’s very important that you spend as much time with your father as you can. If you’re truly insistent upon being changed right after we move…”
I cut him off. “I am. I’m ready to start on our forever. We’ll have nothing more hanging over our heads. I’m not going to be looking over my shoulder wondering when the Volturi will decide to check on me. I’m ready, Edward.”
He looked pained. “I know you think you are, but just listen to me for a minute. Are you really ready to say goodbye to Charlie forever?”
I felt the weight in my chest that always hit whenever I thought of not seeing Charlie again. “I know it’ll be hard. Charlie’s been without me a lot longer than he’s been with me, though. I know he’ll be okay.” If I said it enough, if I thought it enough, it would be true.
Edward looked at me as if he understood what was going on inside my head. “Bella, I know you don’t see it that way.”
“Alright, I know it will be hard. It’ll be the hardest thing I ever do. I hate that my leaving is going to hurt him. I hate that I won’t be able to see him again.”
Edward’s face softened and he reached out to touch my cheek. “It doesn’t have to be that way. We can go to school and come back and spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with him. We can do what normal college kids do when they go away to school. There’s no reason why…”
“I gave you a reason, Edward. The Volturi will want to know that I’m no longer human. I know you think they might take years to look at me again but I know they won’t. When have I ever been that lucky?”
“You can’t make a decision on giving up your life under duress, Bella.”
I sighed. “Edward, that’s not the only reason for my choice, it’s just the most pressing. I want this. I want you and I want forever. I want forever to start as soon as possible. I know I have to give up things to make it happen but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”
“But Charlie…”
“Charlie will be alright, eventually. This wedding is part of that. He’s letting me go, in the traditional way. Edward, please.” I needed to stop; I didn’t want to think about the bad anymore. I still had a month to spend with my father and I’d make the most of it.
“Alright, Bella, as long as you’re sure.” He hugged me to him and I buried my face back in his chest. “You better get some sleep. Renee will be here in the morning.” I groaned. He laughed at me. “I won’t be here when you wake up. You need some quality mother/daughter time I’m sure.” I raised my head and glared at him. “I have to go hunting with my brothers anyway; it’s their bachelor party for me.” I nodded and drifted off to sleep.
I woke to an overly cheery voice and a cold hand shaking my shoulder. “Bella, time to wake up. We have lots to do today!”
“Go away, Alice.” I mumbled into my pillow.
“I can’t do that, Bella. It’s the day before the wedding and we’ve got a final fitting, then we have to get you dressed and ready. Your mother will be here in two hours and then we’ll head to the house for some female bonding and your bachelorette party.”
I was still half in dreamland and wasn’t really paying attention to a word that Alice said but the words “bachelorette party” managed to penetrate my consciousness. I sat straight up and stared at her. “What did you say?”
“Oh good, you’re up. Get out of bed and strip; I’ve got the dress ready for you.” She went on obliviously.
“Alice, what did you say?” I had to have misheard.
She put her hands on her hips. “I said, strip, you need to try on your dress one last time.”
“Before that!”
“Um, your mom will be here in two hours?”
“No, Alice, you said something about a bachelorette party?” This was a nightmare, clearly.
She beamed at me. “Well yes, you only get married once. We had to throw you a party. We wanted to wait until your mom got in so it’s tonight. Don’t worry; the boys are taking Edward out too.” She giggled at whatever she saw happening.
“Alice Cullen, I do not want a bachelorette party!”
She just smiled serenely. “Bella, you’re having one so you may as well get over it. Up now, we don’t have all day.”
I folded my arms. “I’m not getting up until you call off this ridiculous party. Cancel your stripper or whatever you have planned.”
“Please, Bella, like I’d get you a stripper? We’re just going to get together at the house and eat and gossip and give presents.”
“Presents?” Gah, would they never stop burying me in gifts.
Alice’s smile faded. “We already had this discussion. The Cullen family gives presents, lots of them. Get over it. Now get up!”
I just sat and stared at her. Her eyes narrowed and that cute face of hers looked a lot more like a vampire than a pixie in that moment. She leaned over and lifted me out of the bed with no effort whatsoever. I hated being the only weakling in the Cullen family. “Now, are you going to take off your clothes and put on the dress or do I have to do it for you?” The threat was evident on her face and in her tone. I hurriedly whipped off my clothes, no use in having Alice destroy my favorite pajamas. She slipped the dress over my shoulders and smiled in satisfaction.
I looked in the mirror and let out a gasp. It was the first time I’d really looked at the dress as she’d put it together. It looked like something a Greek goddess would have worn. It was a strapless chiffon dress with a jeweled halter neck. It bunched a little in the front and fell straight down. I felt utterly beautiful in it, even with my bed head. “Alice, it’s perfect.”
“It is!” She clapped her hands. “Okay, off it comes; you’ll have it back on soon enough!” She took the dress off and pushed me toward the shower. “Go get cleaned up, I’ll put some clothes out for you.” Clothes I’d never seen before, no doubt.
Once I was dressed, Alice and I went downstairs and waited for Renee and Phil to arrive. They pulled up shortly after noon and I was quickly embraced in the flurry of energy that was Renee. Having her and Alice in the same room for any length of time was seriously going to drain me. “Bella! My baby girl is getting married. Look at you, you’re so grown up!”
“Mom,” I laughed, returning her hug. “You just saw me a couple of months ago, I haven’t changed that much.”
“Yes you have, you’re a woman now.” The waterworks started, I got my easy tears from my mother. She released me and turned to Alice. “You must be Alice, I’m so happy to meet you!” And then Alice was embraced as well.
She laughed. “Yes, Renee, I’m so glad to meet you. I hope you’re ready for tonight.”
A sparkle entered my mother’s eyes. “More than ready! “ Oh no. What were they planning? Mom looked around. “Where’s Charlie?”
“At work, mom.”
“He’ll be off at six and meet up with the guys then, it’s all arranged.” Alice informed her. What was arranged? I looked at Alice questioningly.
“The bachelor party, Bella. What do you think the guys will be doing while we have our fun? They’re having their own!”
“Does Edward know?”
She grinned mischievously. “He knows only what we wanted him to know.” Well, at least he was in for a surprise as well. I wondered what they were going to do with him. “Let’s head over to our house. Phil, you can wait with Carlisle until the guys are ready to go.”
Alice herded us out to the Mercedes. She was practically vibrating with excitement and my mother looked nearly as overcome as she was. This was going to be one long day. We pulled up in front of the Cullen house and my mother started exclaiming right away. “Oh, it’s so lovely! It’s the perfect place for a wedding.”
Alice grinned in kinship with my mother. “Let me show you what we’ve done out back. Bella, you just go inside, no peeking.” I gratefully escaped into the house while Alice led Renee and Phil to the backyard.
Esme came down the stairs and wrapped me in her loving embrace. I relaxed into her. “Bella, dear, you look stressed. Come, sit with me for awhile.” She led me gently to the couch and kept her arms around me. “What’s wrong? You’re not having second thoughts, are you?” A look of fear flitted over her perfect features.
“Oh no, Esme!” I hastened to reassure her. “I’m not worried about the wedding. I’m worried about this bachelorette party.” She relaxed at that.
“There’s nothing to worry about, Bella, really. I didn’t let Alice go wild. It’s just going to be us and Angela and Jessica.” I groaned at the mention of Jessica. I’d managed to put her out of my mind since I’d asked her to be in the wedding. “We’ll have food and talk and open some presents. That’s all, I promise!”
“Alright, I’ll hold you to that. I think I’m going to head up to Edward’s room for awhile, until the party starts.” Esme laughed at the obvious reluctance in my voice. I made my escape and threw myself into our bed, wishing he was there next to me. He would be after today. The thought of that brought a smile to my face. I closed my eyes knowing that tomorrow I’d be Bella Cullen.
I woke to a soft, cool hand tracing my cheek. My eyes opened and I took in the beautiful eyes of my love. “Good evening, sweetheart.” His gorgeous voice was like a caress in itself. “I’ve been sent to summon you down to the living room.” He smirked. “Your party is about to start. Alice only gave me five minutes with you before she’s kicking me out of the house for the night.”
I frowned at that. “It’s my party; shouldn’t I get to do what I want to do?” With that I sat up and pressed a kiss to his waiting lips.
“You would think so, but then you would be forgetting that we put my sister in charge of all wedding activities. I don’t know about you, but I’m afraid to deviate from her orders. She’s vicious when she doesn’t get her way.” I sighed. “Come on, love, it’ll be over before you know it.”
“What are you going to be doing anyway?” I asked.
“For once in my life, I haven’t any idea. They’ve all managed to keep it from me. I think only Alice actually knows. She gave Jasper a piece of paper and told him to open it after they leave.” He sounded irritated.
“Welcome to the world the rest of us live in.” At least if I had to suffer, he’d be suffering too.
“Bellaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.” The voice came from downstairs. There was a hint of anger mixed in with the exasperation.
“I told you. Come on, Bella.” I let him tug me out the door this time. May as well get it over with. We descended the stairs and came into a transformed living room. There were presents and wedding decorations and appetizers and cake. At least I’d get some food out of the deal. The room was filled with people, the men waiting to take Edward on their mystery outing and the girls there for the party. I smiled when I saw Angela. I’d missed her.
“Angela!” I walked forward and she enveloped me in a hug.
“Congratulations, Bella, I’m so happy for you.” I glanced over her shoulder and saw someone who looked not quite so happy.
“Hey, Jess.”
“Hi, Bella. Thanks for inviting me!” She almost sounded sincere. Edward must not have liked something in her thoughts because he came over and wrapped his arms around my waist.
“I’m going to miss you.” I turned and pressed up against him, reaching around his shoulders and pulling him closer.
“I’ll miss you too.”
“I’ll be home sometime before midnight so I get a chance to see you before the wedding. I have something for you.” I nearly groaned at the thought of another present but something in his eyes kept me from doing so.
“I have something for you too.” He smiled, surprised and relieved that I was being gracious for once. I had to try to be better about that, it made him so happy to give me things. Alice was right, as usual.
Emmett came up and pulled Edward gently from my arms. “Time to go, bro! Don’t worry, sis, we’ll have him back for the wedding!”
I laughed. “You’d better, Emmett, don’t make me come after you.” He guffawed at the idea of me being a threat to him. I leaned over and whispered in his ear, “Maybe not now, but after my change, I’ll be stronger than you. Don’t forget it.”
He grinned. “I’ll take you on, then! Come on guys!” He swept Jasper, my father, Phil, Carlisle and Edward out of the room. I took a deep breath and turned back to face the girls. I was surprised to see that Rose was sitting on the couch next to Esme.
Alice ran up and grabbed me. “Now the bride gets to sit here.” She led me over to a recliner and slapped a tiara and veil on my head.
“Alice, is this really…” She silenced me with a look. Time to just suck it up in silence, clearly.
“There! Now, we decided that since you are indeed a blushing bride in every sense of the word, that the more experienced ladies would give you a little guidance before your big night tomorrow.” Oh my God. She did not just announce to the room that I was a virgin, did she? I glanced over and saw by Jessica’s smirk that yes, she really had.
My mother started laughing. “Bella, I don’t think I’ve ever seen your face any redder! There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I mean, I can’t fathom why you and Edward decided to wait until marriage in this day and age, but it’s a legitimate choice. Of course I think you should definitely give him a go before you say I do, just to make sure you’re compatible and all, but there’s no time now.”
Esme tried valiantly to come to my rescue. “Now, Renee, Edward is a good boy. He wanted to do right by Bella and wait until they were married first.”
Renee actually choked with laughter. “What year is it, 1920?” I risked a glance at Alice and saw she was biting her lip. “In this day and age the kids don’t even wait until they know one another’s last name, let alone until marriage!” Kill me now, please.
Alice must have sensed my distress. “Well, even if I am a bit biased since he’s my brother, I have to say that Bella is getting one of the last true gentlemen out there.” Thank you, Alice. “Anyway, Bella, we’re not going to get down and dirty with the details, but we thought we could just give you some tips. We were all innocent once.”
“Speak for yourself!” Was my mother drunk? Esme had given her a glass of champagne but I don’t think she’d taken more than a sip.
“Mom, I don’t think…”
“Ladies, let me tell you the story of my first time with Bella’s father.” No. This could not be happening. My mother had always been the queen of over-sharing but she would surely not tell a room of virtual strangers and her daughter about sex with my father.
Rose grinned. “Do tell, Renee. The strong, silent types like Charlie are usually wild in the sack, aren’t they?” She would encourage her. “Did he jump you on your first date?”
“First date!” Renee shrieked. “Honey, we didn’t even get to the first date!” What? Rose and Alice looked delighted. Jessica shook with laughter. Esme had a demure smile. Angela had the courtesy to at appear mortified like I was; she was shifting in her seat and looking at the front door, as if contemplating bolting for it. I’d be right behind her if she went for it.
“You see, I met Charlie when he arrested me.” So much for that nice story they told me about a picnic in the park. “I was skinny dipping in the lake over at Polk Park. It was about 10 PM, I’d actually been out on a date with David Crowley.” I choked. Tyler’s dad? Jessica was no longer just shaking with laughter, she was crying. “We were at the park but he was too much of a wuss to get in the water with me, so he watched while I swam. But when Charlie came up he took off and left me there!” After all this time she still sounded angry about it.
“Anyway, I see the police car and I see Charlie striding towards the water. He shined his flashlight right at me and I really had no choice but to acknowledge him. David had left me high and not so dry, after all.” She laughed at her cleverness. “So I said, hello officer. He asked what I was doing and I told him I’d gone for a swim and asked if he’d like to join me. He got all flustered and even though it was dark you could almost see him blushing. Bella gets that from him.” She broke off to smile at me. She really was oblivious to my discomfort.
“He stammered a little and said no, then informed me that swimming at night was against the law. I apologized and told him I’d had no idea and asked if he could look the other way, just this once. He was so cute, Bella, he took that to mean that I was getting out the water and wanted him to look away so he wouldn’t see me emerge. He actually turned around and looked the other way. I got out of the water and walked over to where my clothes were but I decided I wanted to have some fun with the sweet officer instead.” I groaned.
“I walked up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and his jaw dropped when he saw I wasn’t wearing anything yet. I smiled up at him and asked him if he had a blanket in his car because I was all wet. Once I was close to him I saw how cute he was, with those curls and that sexy little moustache. Initially I was just going to tease him but his reaction drew me in. I saw the desire in his eyes mixed in with his embarrassment. He stammered some more and said he would get me a blanket. He practically ran to his car and I just stood there waiting for him. He came back with some ratty police blanket and threw it at me, trying to look away but failing miserably.” She smiled as she reminisced.
“Instead of wrapping myself up in it, which I’m sure he expected me to do, I just used it like a towel, running it over every inch of my body. He couldn’t take his eyes off me. I smiled at him and said thanks officer, waiting for him to tell me his name. He told me his name was Charlie Swan. I stuck out my hand and told him it was nice to meet him, I was Renee. He took my hand in his and our gazes locked and that was it! Before either one of us really thought about it I was in his arms and we were kissing. I had his clothes off in less than a minute and we were rolling around on that grass right after. Don’t tell Phil this but I think that was the best sex I ever had in my life. Just raw and wild and free.” Finished telling her tale, she leaned back and smiled at us all.
“Wow, Renee that is really something. It is always the quiet ones!” Alice laughed knowingly. Oh man, Jasper was quiet. I didn’t need to be thinking about these things!
Rose was laughing at shaking her head. “I’ve never been with one of those silent types, Renee, but you’re sure making me wish I had!”
Jessica pointed at me and giggled. “You and Tyler could have been siblings! His crush on you holds all sorts of new meaning now! You’re sure nothing like your mom, are you Bella?”
I just shook my head. I couldn’t even talk in that moment. I pushed myself up muttering something about the bathroom and dashed upstairs. I grabbed the phone and called Edward’s cell. “Bella, hi, how’s the party going?”
“It’s terrible, come save me!”
“Terrible how?” He knew I wasn’t being tortured at my own party.
“Terrible in that my mother just told a sex story about her and my father.” He laughed, that traitor. “Edward!”
“I’m sorry, love, it just sounds like you’re getting a little bit of what I’ve gotten from my brothers over the years. I feel for you, I really do!” Ha, I might believe that if he didn’t sound so amused.
“Where are you guys, anyway?”
“Would you believe at a strip club?” What? I heard the music in the background, Warrant’s Cherry Pie. He was at a strip club.
“Alice arranged for you to go to a strip club? Why?”
“I guess she thought it would prepare me for tomorrow. That and she assumed your father and Phil would find it fun.”
Uh huh. “And is it?”
“Not for me. Emmett’s enjoying himself and Phil and your father seem to be quite content. Jasper’s having a hard time dealing with the lust in the air.”
“Why aren’t you having fun? Looking at naked girls is supposed to be a turn on for all guys.” I was jealous, I couldn’t help it.
“I don’t have any interest in anyone but you, Bella,” he said gently. I knew it was true, but it was nice to hear. “Throw in the fact that I can actually hear their thoughts and not only am I not interested, I’m turned off.”
This intrigued me. “How so?”
“Well the girl dancing right now is thinking about her deadbeat ex-husband and how she needs to earn $300 at least tonight to pay the rent.” He sounded sad for her. “It’s not exactly enticing, you know what I mean?” I did, and I just bet he was going to make sure to tip her the money she needed.
“You’ll take care of that, won’t you?”
“Well, I don’t want anybody to lose their home…”
“You’re a wonderful man, Edward Cullen. I can’t wait to be your wife.”
I could hear the smile enter his voice. “I can’t wait either. I love you and I’ll see you very soon. Go back to your party; it won’t be much longer until I’m with you.” I hung up and prepared myself to see what the rest of the night had in store.
Fun, fun, fun! That was great. I loved getting some Renee/Charlie background! That was hysterical. I can’t wait for the wedding 🙂
Hee, there’s more fun to be had. The bachelorette party continues in the next chapter and then we have pre-wedding and wedding and then…yes, I’ve written it, the sex!!! hehe I got behind this weekend but I’ll be writing honeymoon soon! Glad you liked it, I thought Renee and Charlie’s first time was rather fun myself…those strong, silent types!
I forgot to say in my last response that I hope your mom feels better soon!!
Aww thank you. She’s home now, which is the important thing. It’ll take awhile to get over the pneumonia but at least she’s doing somewhat better!