"Welcome, welcome." She said with a happy smile as we took our seats next to hers.
After a couple of minutes, the audience finally stopped clapping and cheering. "I'm trying to remember when I saw you last." Oprah asked Edward as we settled into our seats. "I think it was about a year ago, you'd just finished filming Time Stands Still."
Edward nodded. "Yes that sounds about right."
"So I hear that you arrived in Chicago last night?"
We nodded.
"After travelling from Seattle by train?" Oprah asked, clearly amused.
"Yes" Edward spoke up.
"And how was that?"
"It was different." He answered with a smile.
"I've heard from a few people who took that trip." She continued. "Some hated it; others would do it again without a second thought."
"Well, it wasn't as comfortable as flying first class, I'll admit" Edward replied. "But it wasn't bad. We got to see a lot of America which isn't possible from an airplane."
"Very true." Oprah nodded and smiled. "Were you bothered by screaming fans at all?"
"No, no, not really." Edward continued. "We posed for a few photos with some of the other passengers. Aside from the two photographers that boarded the train the day before we arrived here, there weren't any problems."
"Oh dear, so what did you do about them?"
I could see the smirk Edward was trying to hide. No doubt he was thinking about Emmett's solution. "They were removed from the train in St. Paul." He answered with a grin.
"Well, I hope your stay in Chicago proves uneventful. Someone told me that you lived here as a child?"
"Yes, although I was quite young when we moved to Washington. My Grandfather still lives here. He's here with us today, seated right over there as a matter of fact." Edward said as he gestured toward his grandfather sitting in the front row flanked by Alice, Rose, Jasper and Emmett.
Duke waved, and the audience applauded loudly, prompting him to stand and bow theatrically before blowing a kiss to Oprah.
She was beaming. "Oh my, I can see where you inherited your charm Edward."
Duke was smiling from ear to ear as he sat back down.
"And what is your name sir?" Oprah asked.
"Duke Masen." He said with a grin.
"Welcome Duke."
The audience applauded again.
"I had no idea that you had family here in Chicago." Oprah said, turning back to Edward. "Although I bet some of your die-hard fans here in the audience did."
Cheering and applause.
"Let's talk about the movie you just finished. When will it be released?"
"Not until December. You got a very early preview."
"I have my ways." Oprah grinned. "It's set during World War II?"
"My part of it is. There are also flashbacks to significant events during the 1930's."
"The Great Depression?"
"Yes."
"I can't wait to see it."
Edward smiled.
"So you're here visiting family, and the parents are back home in Washington?"
Edward nodded.
"See I'm learning a lot about you that I didn't know before." She turned to me then. "Isabella, may I call you Bella?"
"Yes, of course." I gave her a nervous smile.
"I hear that your father is a chief of police."
I nodded.
Oprah turned back to Edward. "Does that make you nervous at all? Knowing that her Dad carries a loaded weapon most days?"
Edward and the audience started to laugh as he leaned forward, his elbows on his knees while rubbing his hands together.
"No. Not at all." He said with mock sincerity, obviously fibbing.
More laughter.
"I want to hear about when you proposed. Did you get the father's permission?" Oprah was obviously enjoying this.
Honestly, I'd have to admit that I was enjoying it too, especially the fact that Edward couldn't stop grinning.
"Actually I did." He stated proudly.
"Aww." Oprah exclaimed as she pressed her hand over her heart and the audience awwed with her. "And of course he gave you his blessing?"
"Absolutely." cue cheeky grin.
She then turned to me. "Bella did you suspect that Edward was going to propose when he did?"
"We'd talked about it in a roundabout way, but when he actually did it, I was taken by surprise, yes." For some reason I was comfortable talking about this with her.
"This was in England?" Oprah asked.
"Yes" I answered, thinking back to that night. "And he bought me a house!" I blurted excitedly.
Edward and Oprah both chuckled. I could feel the blush rising in my cheeks.
"Don't be embarrassed Bella. It's not every day that a gorgeous man asks you to marry him and buys you a house."
I chuckled, still feeling the blush warming my cheeks.
Why am I so at ease speaking with this woman?
"I know I am not alone when I tell you that I'm happy for you both, and wish you all the best." Oprah said as she reached over and patted both our hands.
I realized at that moment that the secret to Oprah's success was her uncanny ability to put people at ease. We could just as easily have been having this conversation over tea at my kitchen table.
Her tone turned a little more serious. "Now, the last few months have been nothing short of crazy for the two of you. How have you been able handle that, especially you Bella, the media attention, the fans, a lot of people would have run screaming for the hills by now?"
I looked at Edward's beautiful smile and the words came easily. "I don't enjoy being the center of attention" I grimaced. "Obviously" My statement causing muffled laughter from the audience. I glanced at the smiling faces of our family in the front row. "Especially when people are less than kind." I added softly. "But I've come to realize that even a bad day spent with Edward is better than my best day spent alone."
Earning me another 'aw'.
"I'm pretty sure that he feels the same way." I smiled gently as I turned to look at him.
"Without a doubt." He whispered and gave me a swift kiss on the back of my hand.
"You guys are too sweet." Oprah announced. "Maybe things will calm down from here on out. The wedding is this summer correct?"
"Yes, but I'm sure you'll understand if we choose to keep the details private."
Edward and I both knew that reporters had been trying to sniff out information ever since they'd discovered our engagement.
"Completely understandable." She nodded before fixing her gaze on me. "Now Bella, if I could be serious for a moment, I wanted to explain my reasons for having you here today." She studied my reaction. "First of all I wanted to meet the amazing young woman who has been responsible for such a dramatic change in young Edward here." She grinned. "But also, I wanted to let you know how your recent ordeal has resonated with not just victims, but ordinary folks all over this country."
Edward reached for my hand, lacing our fingers together.
"When I announced that Edward was a guest, my office was literally swamped with phone calls from fans of this show begging to have you appear as well."
My mouth fell open in shock. "Um.." I stuttered.
Oprah noticed my expression. "Relax. We are all friends here today." She held me in her gaze.
I swear to God if Dr. Phil walks out on this stage, I am out that door like a shot.
"My intention is not to put you on the spot, but would you mind if I asked a couple of questions about that night?"
I glanced out at the faces in the audience smiling back at me hopefully. I remembered all the cards, letters, flowers, balloons and little gifts I'd received while in the hospital. It had touched my heart when I learned of the people who had waited outside the hospital for news.
Maybe this would be an opportunity to give something back
For the first time since my abduction, I actually felt myself wanting to talk about that night.
"I wouldn't mind." I answered softly.
Oprah gave me a small smile. "What made you decide to fight back Bella?"
I hunched forward slightly and wrapped my arms around my stomach. Edward let go of my hand and began to gently rub my back. I willed my mind to think back to when I woke up in the ranger's car.
"He thought I was still unconscious, so I didn't make a sound." I said in a voice barely above a whisper. "He was talking to himself about me, or rather ranting about me. I didn't have time to stop and try to understand why he hated me so much." I took a deep breath. "All I could think about was getting back to Edward and my family."
I thought about my mother visiting me in my dreams.
"My mother fought. She couldn't save both of us, but she saved me." My voice dropped to a whisper and my hands shook slightly as my thoughts returned to a Saturday evening seven years before.
"Bella, you don't have to.." Oprah started.
I cleared my throat. "It's okay." I turned to Edward; his face grave and sad as his hand continued to rub slow circles on my back.
"I had to make it back." I stated simply. "For Edward. I couldn't leave him."
Edward swallowed hard as Oprah leaned over and patted my hand again. "It's an incredible story Bella." She said with no small amount of emotion in her voice.
She continued. "Is there forgiveness for someone like the ranger?"
I rubbed my forehead with my fingers and gave a small laugh without humor. "It's funny, I haven't really thought about that lately." I frowned. "I suppose it's easier to forgive what he attempted to do because he wasn't successful. I'm having a harder time forgiving myself." I trailed off.
Oprah frowned. "For his death?"
I nodded.
She blinked several times as she processed that.
She then turned to Edward. "We've all seen the footage of you that night as you waited for news. I'll be honest Edward, it was difficult to watch. It was such a private moment. Your own personal dark night of the soul as it were."
Edward nodded and cleared his throat. "Word reached me that the authorities had found a wrecked car in the forest. There was a fatality. I couldn't get the police to say if the body was Bella or not. Most of the video footage of me was taken during the time that I had convinced myself that Bella had died." He said, whispering the last word and wringing his hands as he spoke.
I reached over and slipped my hand through his arm, giving his upper arm a slight squeeze. He patted my hand and looked at me.
"How about you Edward, is there forgiveness for something like this?"
Edward turned back to Oprah and his face hardened. "No." He shook his head. "I'm not that noble. If I had lost Bella, I'd have lost everything." He said in a desperate voice. "I can't even think of forgiveness at this point."
I glanced over at our family, their faces no longer smiling. Rose and Alice were dabbing their eyes with tissues.
Oprah nodded in understanding.
"Bella, I want to return to something you said a few moments ago. You admitted that you're having a difficult time forgiving yourself."
I nodded.
"I've spoken with a lot of victims over the years, and I have to admit that it's not uncommon for you to be haunted by those feelings. A lot of the time it would manifest as maybe blaming yourself for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Clearly that's not what happened here, this man stalked you, and planned what he would do."
"It's downright tragic that you would feel in any way responsible for his death."
I looked down at Edward's and my joined hands.
"I wish there was some way to convince you that the only person to blame here is the man who got out of bed that morning with the intention of harming you."
The audience applauded.
Oprah continued. "You've probably heard this many, many times from Edward and your family, but I am so gratified to have you here today safe, well and healing." She said sincerely.
I mouthed thank you before she continued.
"If it would be alright with you, a few members of the audience would like to say a few things."
I turned to look at the audience and noticed a solitary microphone stand positioned in the aisle next to the front row with a few people lined up behind it. The first woman in line began to speak. "Bella, hi. My name is Sarah."
Sarah then went on to tell her story. One morning, a few weeks before my abduction, a man had grabbed Sarah's teenage daughter as she waited for the bus, and attempted to force her into his vehicle. Thankfully, Sarah had gone to great lengths to teach her children how to fight off a would-be attacker. Sarah's daughter remembered to go for the eyes and the groin, and was able to escape.
The audience applauded loudly.
The next person up was named Maria. Maria was walking home when a man with a knife attempted to force her into a dark alley. Maria was convinced that if she complied, she would never leave that alley alive. She fought her attacker and was stabbed. As soon as the attacker saw the blood, he fled the scene.
"Maria" Oprah asked. "Do you regret putting up a fight? I mean if you hadn't you may not have gotten injured?"
"No. Never. I know in my heart that the only reason I am standing here today, alive, is because I fought back."
Oprah nodded. The audience applauded loudly.
I was aware of Edward's gaze on me during the entire exchange, no doubt gauging my reaction. More than once he whispered, asking if I was okay.
And so it continued until everyone in the line had taken their turn at the microphone. One was a teenage girl who claimed to have been inspired by my actions when she fought off a potential rapist in the parking lot of her after-school job two days after my ordeal.
As each person told their story, I could feel myself tensing and holding my breath as I waited for confirmation of each happy ending. Some of the perpetrators had been apprehended, some had not, and one had died.
Died at the hands of his potential victim.
It was the last story that sent a chill to my heart. Her name was Maya. About two years before, while home alone she had answered the door to one of her neighbors.
In retrospect she knew she shouldn't have opened that door, but at the time there was no reason to regard him as anything other than a friend. Upon learning that Maya was alone, he forced his way inside. Maya fled up the stairs. She didn't get far before he grabbed her, hitting her several times in order to force her surrender.
Maya fought, but she was losing. With the last of her courage, she kicked out blindly against her attacker causing him to lose his balance and tumble down the stairs, smashing his head against the bottom tread before crumbling in a heap on the floor.
He lingered in the hospital for about a day before his family decided to remove him from life support. She gave me a knowing look. "I wished at the time that I could have stopped him without it resulting in his death, and I still wish that, but when I think of what could have happened to me and what that would have done to my family…" Maya furrowed her brow. "It took over a year, but I finally reconciled myself to the events of that day, and I'm more than okay that I was the one who made it out alive." She smiled brightly.
The applause was deafening.
The morning had been surprising in so many ways, but I couldn't say that it was unwelcome. I'd finally been forced to face the feelings I'd intended to suppress until my next visit with Dr. Miller.
When the cameras stopped rolling, Oprah turned to Edward and me. "I am so sorry. Halfway through the show, I realized that you didn't know what had been planned. Kay assured me that she left a phone message with all the details yesterday morning."
"The phone service while we were on the train was a little iffy." I explained.
"I apologize if any of that today made either of you feel uncomfortable." She began. "It was never my intention to do that.."
"No, please don't apologize." I interrupted. "I mean, it was helpful to hear from other people who have lived through similar circumstances. This was a good thing, I think." Although I sounded a bit like I was trying to convince myself.
I knew I would be pondering the things I'd heard for days to come.
Oprah insisted that we all stay for lunch; this included our family members seated in the audience. We were ushered into a large room consisting of groups of comfortable seating and a large luncheon spread catered by Table Fifty-Two, one of Oprah's favorite restaurants.
The restaurant specialized in southern cuisine, and before I knew it, Oprah and Rosalie had bonded; firstly over southern cooking, and secondly over their chosen professions.
"I'm glad you told me you were pregnant Rosalie, I was beginning to worry that you may have an eating disorder." Oprah announced with a chuckle.
"Believe me" Rose said around a mouthful of cornbread, "even if I wasn't pregnant, I'd be stuffing my face. "I haven't had food like this since the last time I visited my Mother's family in Georgia."
Rose wasn't the only one to hit it off with Oprah. At one point Duke was deep in discussions about veteran's issues, while Alice wanted to talk fashion. Oprah asked Alice to appear on her show, along with Christopher, as soon as things weren't so hectic.
At one point I saw Oprah practically doubled over in laughter at something my brother was sharing with her.
I cringed at the thought.
Edward was unusually quiet as we ate and chatted with Oprah and her staff. I could tell something was bothering him.
I waited until everyone was involved in their own conversations, noting that Jasper and Oprah were practically in a huddle on the opposite side of the room, before I led Edward to a quiet corner. "Edward, is something wrong?" I whispered.
"Bella, are you really okay with what happened on the show?" He asked as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
"Edward, I'm fine."
He frowned. "See that's just it Bella, you're fine, until you're not."
I could tell that he was on the verge of freaking out again. "Is this about my nightmare? Are you afraid that today will trigger another bad dream?"
He nodded. "That's part of it." He looked away, I could see his jaw flex in frustration. "The other thing is that Jasper and I have been unsuccessful in our attempts to torpedo Victor James's new show."
I kept my face blank in order to mask my disappointment.
"I'm sorry Bella, but it seems that the show's producer hates my guts."
"Why?" I asked softly.
He smirked. "Oh you know, the usual, we worked together on a movie, and I refused to date her."
I rolled my eyes. "You really need to tone down your sex appeal."
"You really think so?" He asked.
I smirked. "No, not really. I kind of like the fact that other women want you and I'm the one that gets you." I said with a playful wink.
He relaxed then and smiled. "Now you understand a little of what I feel when men drool over you." His voice dropped to a very quiet whisper "Which reminds me; please tell me that the photographer for the calendar was either a woman or gay."
I giggled. "Why Edward, are you afraid I may have shown the goods to another man?"
He groaned and rolled his eyes.
I continued to smile. "Rest assured that although the photographer was male, and not gay, although I never thought to ask him that" I laughed softly. "He didn't see any more of my body than is visible in the photos. Alice and I were very careful."
He widened his eyes before flashing the panty dropper just to torture me. "Very good to know Miss Swan." He said before dipping his head and giving me a sweet kiss on the lips.
Our kiss was interrupted by a throat clearing close by. Upon turning toward the sound, we found a beaming Oprah, along with her assistant Kay, standing beside us. "Sorry to interrupt, but I needed to have a quick word with you both."
"Of course." Edward answered with a smile.
Oprah gestured toward Jasper. "Mr. Whitlock informs me that you're having some difficulty shutting down production of the pilot for a proposed television show."
"Yes, we're going the legal route now, hoping that if we can't stop the show from airing at least we can control what they say about Bella." Edward answered.
Oprah nodded her head sagely before speaking. "My dear Edward" She said as she looped her arm through one of his. "You should have said something. I realize you have a lot of clout in the movie industry, but that's not the same as television. That's my medium honey, and I have more clout than I know what to do with most days." She said with a chuckle. "Nothing would please me more than to help you out."
I smiled excitedly while Edward looked relieved. "Are you sure?" I asked, hoping she'd say yes.
Oprah let go of Edward and grabbed my hand. "Consider it done. Besides, I'm hoping that this will make up for earlier. I apologize again for that." She said sincerely.
"Please don't. It forced me to stop avoiding the subject. When you began asking me about the ranger" I drew a breath "I struggled, I'll admit. But once I'd answered the questions, I felt better."
"That's more than I could have hoped for Bella." She said with a kind smile.
-V&V—
"After our weddings, you are enrolling in yoga class with me Bella." I loved how Rose never asked, she informed.
"Oh am I really?" I asked with a hint of sarcasm in my voice.
Alice giggled.
"Yes, you are." Rose quirked an eyebrow.
We were back at Duke's house, and all the men had gone for their workout, including Duke. Having no desire to sweat in public, Alice, Rose and I had opted to stay at the house.
"It's a yoga class for pregnant women. I don't want to go alone, so you're attending with me." She stared me down, daring me to challenge her.
"Alright Pregzilla. You know, you are even bossier than you were before, if that's possible." I said with a laugh. "But if all the tabloids come out with a story about me being pregnant, you're fixing that shit." I said with a glare.
Rose sighed. "Bitch." She muttered.
"Ho." I muttered back, before we looked at each other and burst into laughter. Alice shook her head and laughed with us.
"Who am I meeting tonight again?" I asked Alice. Duke had informed us that his other children and grandchildren were coming for dinner. He'd been able to keep them away the night of our arrival, knowing we were exhausted, but tonight the entire Chicago branch of the Masen family would descend upon us.
"I think my Mom's brother and all her sisters are supposed to be showing up. They're all very nice Bella, well with maybe the exception of my Aunt Evelyn and her daughter Claire." Alice rolled her eyes. "They're kind of bitchy, but Aunt Evelyn's husband, Uncle Walter, is a lot of fun." She beamed. "He'll try to get Aunt Evelyn tipsy; it always makes her lose the bitch façade." Alice giggled.
I could feel myself becoming a little nervous. All in all, I would be meeting approximately six Aunt and Uncles, along with eight cousins, one of which would be bringing along their fiancé. Claire, the bitchy cousin, and eldest of Duke's grandchildren, was getting married in the fall.
By the time Edward and the men arrived, I was dressed in a sundress, courtesy of Alice, and sitting in my room writing on my laptop. He entered freshly showered and looking like sex on legs in his jeans and green button down shirt, precisely the shade of his eyes. I closed the laptop and set it aside as he approached.
"You look gorgeous." He said as he wrapped his arms around me.
"I decided to dress up a little since I'd be meeting your relatives." I smiled nervously.
He gave me a puzzled look. "Bella" He said in a surprised tone. "You seem more nervous about this dinner than you were about Oprah."
I gave him a pained smile. "I guess I am" I shrugged. "I don't want to embarrass you."
He chuckled. "How in the world could you embarrass me?" He asked. "Besides, Duke's the only one whose opinion matters. The rest I couldn't care less about." He smiled. "You are smart, witty, and beautiful. My male cousins will envy me, and my female cousins will wish they were more like you." He punctuated his last few words with sweet kisses to my cheeks, nose and forehead.
"Flattery will get you everywhere Mr. Movie Star." I smiled.
"Oh yeah?" He asked as he wiggled his eyebrows.
"Definitely, but you'll have to wait fifty-one days to collect." I giggled.
Edward groaned before pulling me into a passionate kiss.
-V&V—
"I blame myself for the way she turned out." Duke lamented over breakfast the next morning. He was speaking of his eldest daughter Evelyn. "She and Anthony are the oldest, and they seemed to gravitate towards me when their mother was busy with the two little ones. I know I spoiled Evelyn more than I should have, feeling a little guilty that Elizabeth couldn't spend as much time with her once Esme and Annette arrived." He sighed.
"Duke, stop blaming yourself because she chooses to be a bitch." Alice piped in. "I'm thankful Mom wasn't here, I have no desire to see her and Aunt Evelyn going at it again." Alice shuddered.
Even if Alice hadn't warned me about their Aunt Evelyn, I would have known immediately that she wasn't someone whose company I craved. She asked probing questions which, at the same time were condescending. First, it was about mine and Emmett's education, and then about our careers. She was quick to point out that both she and her daughter attended Ivy League schools.
She also seemed to sneer at Charlie's profession. I thought Rose was going to come out of her chair and pummel her for that one. Once Evelyn's husband was able to ply her with alcohol, she was nicer, but still nowhere near as wonderful as Esme's other sister Annette. She was sweet and kind, very much like Esme herself.
Duke's son Anthony looked and acted like him, although he was a bit more reserved. The cousins were very personable, with the exception being Evelyn's daughter and only child, Claire. She barely spoke, and kept a bored facial expression for the duration of the dinner. Her fiancé Brian was just as lacking in personality.
By the end of the evening, I had to admit that the one Masen cousin who stole the show, and everyone's heart, was Annette's youngest child Fiona. She was ten years old, and already strikingly beautiful. She had the same color hair as Edward, and Annette and Esme for that matter, along with the same beautiful green eyes.
Everyone doted on her, but if she was spoiled, I couldn't see it. She more than made up for her Aunt's rude behavior.
After our breakfast with Duke, it was time to say goodbye, Route 66 was calling.
As much as we were anxious to start the road trip, all four of us were loathe to leave him. As soon as he took in our long expressions he spoke. "I'll see you all again soon. Esme has convinced me to come out to Seattle just before your wedding Rose and Emmett, and stay through Edward and Bella's."
I smiled happily at this news, before hugging him goodbye. "It was a joy and a pleasure to meet you my dear." He said before kissing my cheek.
"I'll see you in July" He said as he shook Emmett's hand and hugged Rose goodbye.
I hugged Alice and Jasper. "I wish you could come with us." I whispered.
"Look, you people thought I was a Nazi in Disneyland" Alice remarked with both hands on her hips. "Can you imagine how you'd feel cooped up with both Emmett and me for days?" She finished with a giggle.
"If you decide to do this trip again, nothing will stop us from being there." Jasper added.
As soon as we were in the vehicle, Emmett handed us each a detailed itinerary.
I pulled out the Route 66 guide that I'd purchased weeks ago. "John Steinbeck called it "The Mother Road, the road of flight." By the time The Grapes of Wrath was published in 1939, the road had indeed been a road of flight for 250,000 refugees escaping their barren lands wrought by drought in the mid-1930s in Oklahoma. It was Steinbeck who framed the road's capacity for pathos and redemption." I read aloud. "Although Jack Kerouac only mentions 66 briefly in his book On the Road, it acquired something of the aura of Beatnik cross-country driving." I continued.
Emmett drove us first to Jackson Boulevard at Michigan Avenue, which was the official starting point of old Route 66. After a brief photo op marking the beginning of our road trip, we piled back in the car. Emmett pulled up the Route 66 playlist on his Ipod which he and Edward had spent weeks compiling, and hit play. Edward and I grinned at each other as Chuck Berry sang us out of Chicago.
Well if you ever planned to motor west
Jack, take my way, it's the highway, that's the best
Get your kicks on Route 66
Well it winds from Chicago to L.A.
More than 2000 miles all the way
Get your kicks on Route 66
Emmett had mapped out our days so that we would drive until it was time to eat dinner, obviously stopping along the way for photo ops, lunch and bathroom breaks. Each night we would stay in one of the classic Route 66 motels along the way. During the first day our goal was to reach Meramac Caverns in Stanton Missouri in order to tour it before closing time.
"Damn it Rosalie, your bladder is cutting into my driving time." He complained as we stopped for yet another bathroom break. "Couldn't you have held it for another thirty minutes? We're almost there."
"There is no holding it Emmett. You stop when I say so or you can continue this trip minus your balls." She barked.
I buried my face in Edward's chest to muffle my laughter.
"You don't understand" Emmett whined. "These caverns are Jesse James's hideout, and we need to get there before closing time."
"Is that so?" She snarked as he pulled into a parking space. "Let's put it this way Emmett, you're going to need a hideout of your own if you keep pissing me off."
-V&V—
"Not only did the sound of dripping water make me need to pee again, but now I'm craving ice cream after seeing that formation that looked like an ice cream cone." Rose announced as we headed for the car.
Emmett chuckled. "Okay, let's get you fed and then we'll check in to our motel."
"I think you've been recognized" Emmett announced during dinner.
We glanced to the side and, sure enough a couple of fans were approaching our table. Edward looked at me imploringly. "Go ahead; better to get it over with before we eat." I encouraged with a smile.
-V&V—
The Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba Missouri had been around since the 1930s. I was pleasantly surprised when the owner told us that the entire place had been fully renovated the year before.
Emmett had reserved two suites for us. "Sorry y'all, Emmett and I are taking this one." Rose remarked as she grabbed one of the room keys. "I have to try the bed with the 'magic fingers'." She announced with a laugh before turning toward the door, Emmett following in her wake.
The owner had just explained that one of the suites had a bed equipped with the coin-operated 'magic fingers' massage from the 1960s.
"I guess that leaves us with the Jacuzzi suite." I said with a smile as I grabbed the other key.
After Edward got his shower, I decided to take a nice hot bubble bath. It felt wonderful to lie back in the tub with my eyes closed and allow my entire body to relax after a long day of travel.
I was roused from my state of semi-consciousness by the sound of voices on the other side of the door. It didn't sound like the television, and after a moment I realized that Edward was having a hushed conversation with my brother.
I hurried with my bath in order to join them, worried that something was wrong.
By the time I got dressed and entered the bedroom however, Emmett was gone. I looked at Edward, ignoring how his eyes roamed over my body. "Was that Emmett I heard?"
Edward nodded. "Yeah. He didn't say why, but evidently he needed to vacate their suite for a little while."
Weird
I shook my head, knowing I'd never completely understand my brother.
Edward turned down the bed before pulling me to him. "Let's go to bed."
His words sent a thrill through me, and I thought about how I couldn't wait to hear him utter them in another fifty days. When that night arrived however, I didn't plan on getting a lot of sleep.
-V&V—
Early the next morning, we sent Emmett and Rose a text saying we'd meet them in the coffee shop next to the motel for our caffeine fix before hitting the road once again.
Edward was sipping his coffee while I enjoyed my tea in companionable silence when Emmett came barreling over to our booth, dropping into the seat across from us. I looked around, not seeing Rose anywhere.
He looked a little frantic.
"Emmett where's Rose?" I asked.
He shrugged. "She's still getting ready." He answered with a scowl.
"Are you two fighting again, because I have no desire to put up with that for another two thousand miles?"
"Nah." He answered, not losing the frown.
I frowned back, not liking his demeanor one bit. "Emmett what's wrong?" I asked with real concern.
At that moment the waitress arrived to take his order. "Black coffee please." He said in answer.
After she left, I asked again. "You're not acting like yourself."
"Well, maybe the fact that I'm sporting the worst case of blue balls in my life, has put a damper on my good mood."
Why oh why did I ask?
I will never fucking learn.
I heard Edward snort out a laugh beside me.
"You know what Emmett, never mind. Sorry I asked." I muttered, turning back to my tea.
Emmett continued, disregarding the fact that I had spoken. "You two are lucky. You don't know what you're missing." His voice, mercifully, had dropped to a whisper.
"Yeah, Emmett, we are so not having this conversation." I said, trying to shut him down.
"Rose just had to try out that stupid bed with the damned 'magic fingers'." He complained. "The problem is that she started moaning. Just like last night, I had to escape that room. My dick was trying to hijack my brain." He actually shuddered.
I snorted.
His brain was hijacked years ago.
Edward had one hand covering his face as he shook with silent laughter.
"I have no doubt my dick hates me for leaving when I did, but I couldn't take any more." He muttered in disgust. "The moaning was bad enough, but when she starting rolling around on the bed…" He sighed. "I think she's trying to kill me, or destroy my manhood, maybe both."
The waitress eyed him suspiciously as she set his coffee on the table, having heard his last remark.
"Emmett, please stop talking." I directed.
We sat there in silence for a moment before Rose arrived. "Good morning" She chirped happily, sounding more like Alice than Rose.
She leaned down and kissed Emmett. "Monkey man, why the sad face?"
Emmett glared at her. "You know."
Rose smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, but those massaging fingers felt so good. I was so stiff from sitting in the car all day yesterday. I didn't intend to get you worked up." She said in a whisper.
I looked around the coffee shop, trying to plan Edward's and my escape.
"Yeah, okay." Emmett tried to smile.
Rose leaned in and pecked his lips.
Emmett sighed heavily before turning back to us. "How long until your wedding again?"
"It's seven weeks from today." Edward answered before I had time to think.
Emmett nodded. He seemed to be mulling something over before finally making a decision and reaching into the front pocket of his jeans.
"Bella, this is for you." He said as he set a shiny new nickel on the table in front of me.
"Thanks?" I responded to his gesture in confusion.
He smirked then. "Like I said, you two are lucky that you haven't had sex, because you don't know yet what you're missing. It makes it a lot harder to abstain if you know."
I could argue that it's pretty damn hard no matter what…
"Oookay." I answered, still confused.
He continued to smirk. "Do yourself a favor and hold that nickel between your knees until your wedding day. I promise you won't regret it." He boomed before laughing loudly.
Every pair of eyes in the coffee shop turned to look in my direction at his declaration.
Oh my God.
I was certain that every inch of visible skin turned scarlet as soon as I grasped the meaning of his words.
Soon Rose and Edward, the traitor, were laughing along with him.
*****A/N******
A/N Sorry this took so long guys. It's been a crazy couple of weeks. Instead of posting LRM next, I've decided to do another chapter of V&V. The next LRM will probably be a combo of 2 chapters.
I was thrilled to learn that V&V has made it to Round 2 of the Avant Garde Awards in a bunch of categories. Thanks so much to everyone who voted in round 1.
Voting for Round 2 runs from 12 June to 26June, so if you love the story, please vote. Winners will be announced 1st July.
Photos of the trip posted on Facebook. (Hubs and I have driven Route 66…the actual highway doesn't exist anymore in some places…but there are other roads that run fairly parallel to its path. It's great fun, and a wonderful way to see the mid to south west.)
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