“What’s
taking so long?” Alice asked, rubbing her belly. “I want my hamburger. And
macaroni salad, potato salad, fruit salad … ”
“You
are obsessed, Alice,” Lauren chided, with a wry snicker. She cast a judgmental
look to Alice, who was all belly. Some of it was due to the baby. The
rest of it was due to Alice just enjoying too much food and being on bed rest
since she was so tiny in comparison to her daughter growing in her belly. “Why
don’t you have a piece of celery?”
“Are
you calling me fat?” Alice growled, glowering at Lauren. Emmett walked over to
Lauren and guided her down the dock overlooking the lake.
“Both
of you, behave,” I snapped. “They’ll get here when they get here.” I handed
Alice a glass of lemonade before I walked to the chaise where Esme was sitting
with Charlie, Uncle Jimmy and Sue.
Carlisle
was manning the grill, cooking brats, hamburgers and hot dogs. He was sipping a
beer while he flipped the meats on the grill. Leah and Claire were on the dock,
talking with Lauren and Emmett, dipping their toes in the water.
I
smiled, happy that my family enjoying a quiet holiday. It had been years since
I’d last remembered a moment like this. I think the last time I’d enjoyed a
barbecue was when my father was alive. My cell phone rang from my back pocket
of my cutoff jeans. I rolled my eyes, walking back into the house and picked up
my phone, not looking at the caller ID. “You better be on your way home, Capo.”
“Not
Edward,” Jacob said, his voice low and trembling. “Bella … I …”
“What
happened?” I asked. “Is everything okay? Talk to me.”
“The
meet went sideways. Both Jasper and Edward were hit, Bella,” Jacob growled. “We’re
on the way to Moretti’s office in the Consortium headquarters. Felix and Liam
are on their way to pick you and Alice up. Liam will stay with the family,
because we need Carlisle and Emmett.”
“Is
it bad?” I sniffled, wiping my cheeks.
“I’m
not going to lie, Bells. It’s bad,” Jacob said softly. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m
on my way,” I said, walking shakily to the garage. I swiped the keys to
Edward’s Volvo.
“Bells,
you can’t …” Jacob said. “Maas, your mom, they’re still factors and you can’t
be on your own.”
“Don’t
tell me what the fuck to do,” I snapped back. “I’m coming and that’s final.” I
opened the garage door, sliding into the driver’s seat of the car. I was
backing out of the garage when Carlisle came running around to the front. His
eyes were swirling with concern. I rolled down the window. “Want a ride?”
Cullen's Volvo
Carlisle
Bella
