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The Practice of Love	By : belladonnacullen Category: Twilight Series > AU/AR > Het > Het Views: 2642 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or make any money from this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
BPOV

I took a few deep breaths after I stepped off of the train, then I smoothed out my lightweight summer dress and pulled my iPhone out of my purse to check the directions to the Cullens’ house one more time. I was a little disoriented after the winding train ride that took me through the northern edge of the city, and then through Fairmount Park. The regional rail was primarily a commuter line, so there weren’t many people around the tiny station on a hot Sunday afternoon in August. Most people from this neck of the woods were most likely in their car, on their way home from the beach. Just like Dr. Cullen and his wife probably were. I’d have to get a move on if I didn’t want to ruin their surprise.

Luckily, there was just one road that cut through the station, so it didn’t take long to figure out where I should be headed. I hadn’t thought anything of hoofing it a few blocks when I’d looked up directions from the train station, but now I could see that this was the kind of neighborhood where people seldom walked anywhere. The winding, tree-lined street didn’t even have a sidewalk, and the enormous stone houses on either side of me seemed empty and imposing. This neighborhood was worlds apart from the section of the city that I lived in. It was hard to believe I was still in Philadelphia.

In fact, it was so quiet and deserted that my nerves started to get the best of me. My run-in with Victoria a couple days ago must have really rattled me, because instead of enjoying the birdcalls and sound of the wind blowing through the leaves, I was having visions of James jumping out from behind a tree and ambushing me. Get a grip, Swan, I commanded myself. James wasn’t even in Trenton yet, let alone hiding behind a bush in West Mt. Airy.

A woman jogged past with a toy poodle on a leash and I relaxed a little, glad for the fleeting company. I looked myself over again. White had probably been a bad idea; with my luck, I’d be covered in red wine and barbecue sauce by the end of the night. But it had been so hot this afternoon, I couldn’t imagine wearing anything else to an outdoor party. And it was a great dress: delicate, with a subtly clingy bodice and a billowy A-line skirt. I tugged at the thin shoulder straps a little, hoping it wasn’t too low cut for my boss’s anniversary barbecue. Well, Rosalie definitely couldn’t have worn this to a work function, but with my chest, I felt unfortunately confident that I could get away with it.

Even if I was a little uncertain about the neckline of the dress, all I had to do was look at me feet and I felt immediately better. My lemon yellow sandals were funky and comfortable. They had just enough of a heel to show off my toned calves, and I’d like to think they made me seem a little cooler than I was. A cool, twenty-seven year-old single mom, being stalked by her ex-husband. Right. The sandals had their work cut out for them.

Well, there wasn’t anything I could do about my neckline; so instead, I focused on the house numbers, searching out the Cullens’ residence. I was no architecture expert, I couldn’t say if these old mansions were colonial or Victorian, but I would have bet they were each a couple hundred years old. Most were made out of huge blue-gray or brown stones. Actually, those big stones seemed to make-up a good portion of the neighborhood: houses, walls, bridges, and even the curb by my feet.

I plunged my hand into my purse and pulled out the small purple stone I’d taken with me to the party. I’d picked it up the last time I was back at First Beach with Jake and Nessie. When we were kids, Jake and I used to run around that beach playing tag and catching little fish in the tide pools. When we were older there were bonfires and parties, and many failed surfing expeditions. Jake was always out to prove that Western Washington was just as good a place to surf as Southern California. It just wasn’t. But to this day he still wouldn’t admit it.

That last time at the beach, Nessie had been old enough for us to tell her stories about when Jake and I were kids. Ness kept interrupting, asking, “And where was I?” She couldn’t wrap her head around the idea that there was ever a time when she didn’t exist - like Jake, Nessie and I were eternal, or something.

She was actually the one to pick out this stone. She’d given me a mommy rock, a baby rock and a Jake rock. Then she’d given me one for good luck. I hadn’t wanted to break up the family, so I’d brought the one for good luck. But as I looked at all the big old gray stones in this part of town, and then down at the little purple thing in my palm, my rock and I looked so out of place that it was almost laughable.

By that time I’d spotted the Cullens’ house, and um, wow. It was three stories tall, with a rounded tower-like thingy in one corner, and a porch that wrapped around the entire house. Even though it was made of stone, it seemed light and open and inviting. There was a big, detached garage, and it looked like there might have been an apartment above. Their yard was neat and carefully landscaped and was probably bigger than my entire block.

It looked just as deserted as every other house on the block. Of course, this was a surprise party, so I guessed that was to be expected. As I walked hesitantly up the long flagstone path towards the front door, I saw two dark eyes and a head of spiky black hair peaking out from one of the windows. The front door was quickly thrown open.

“Dr. Swan?” a little woman asked. She didn’t wait for an answer. “I’m Alice Cullen.”

Alice bounded gracefully down the path and took me completely off guard by throwing her arms around me in a hug so huge, that I was nearly knocked off my feet. For a little woman, Alice was surprisingly strong. And she may have been hosting an afternoon barbecue, but Alice was dressed for a high-end cocktail party on the Seine. Her black and gray raw silk baby doll dress was cut asymmetrically, and red flowers were splattered like blood across the edge of the skirt. Black leggings, a large ruby pendant and a wide red band in her hair completed the look. Even my little yellow shoes were no match for Alice’s red and black flowered platform sandals. I felt completely underdressed.

Alice took a step backwards and looked me over. “Don’t you look pretty, Dr. Swan!” she cheered, sounding completely sincere.

“Bella. Please, just call me Bella.”

“Okay, Bella! It’s so good to have you here!” She grabbed my hand and pulled me up the steps. “There was a storm off the coast, and my parents left the beach house earlier then I thought they would. So, we’ve got to get you inside quick.”

After we were across the threshold, Alice slammed the door and paused to catch her breath. I glanced around and took in the dark, formal furniture, the crystal chandelier, and the expensive-looking area rug. “Where’s everyone else?”

Alice laughed a little. “Well, after they pull into the garage, mom’s going to unpack and she’ll come in through the front door. And dad will bring the beach stuff out back. We’d never be able to surprise them both at once.”

I decided that the Cullens must be extremely predictable.

“So, I have everyone waiting in the garage. Come on!”

Alice grabbed my hand again and led me quickly through a dining room with a table that looked large enough to seat twenty and an ancient tapestry hanging on the wall, then through a light and airy gourmet kitchen with herbs hanging to dry by the back window, then out through French doors into the backyard. Out back, there were little paper lanterns strung across the patio, lights twinkled in the tree limbs, and bows were wound around the trunks. At least ten tables were set out, all shaded by large umbrellas, and there was an elaborate bar, and a built in stone hearth. The patio was surrounded by extensive, flowery gardens that faded into a wild, woodsy area. At the very back, I could just make out a crumbling stone wall.

“Over here, Bella.” Alice directed, as she led me across the patio and pulled opened the side door to the garage. After being out in the sunshine, I had a hard time seeing anything in the dark garage. I could just barely discern that there were wall-to-wall people packed into the space.

“Can you guys make a little room?” Alice called into the darkness. “There’s one more coming through.”

Groans went up from inside.

“How much longer, Alice?” someone with a thick Eastern European accent asked impatiently.

“Just a couple more minutes, Sasha. They’re going to be here any second.”

“But how do you --?” I started to ask. I didn’t have the chance to finish my question. I was interrupted by the loud revving of an engine as a car pulled quickly up the drive and screeched to a halt. A hush fell over all the people in the garage. Well, everyone except for Alice.

“Of all the thoughtless, stupid --” she began, but then glanced at me and caught herself. “Excuse me, Bella. Leave it to the boys to try to park in the driveway,” she said with a roll of her eyes, before sprinting out the side door, leaving me awkwardly smiling at strangers in the semi-darkness.

Alice’s little footsteps could be heard running around to the front of the building. “This is supposed to be a surprise party, Emmett Cullen! I told you to park at the Volturi’s!”

“But, Alice, I was running late and --”

Alice didn’t give Emmett time to respond. “And running late is supposed to make it better? Get this out of the driveway, now!” Two car doors slammed, two feet stomped on the ground. “And you, we need to talk.” Alice’s voice was suddenly sweet and forgiving. “Any other day and I’d give you a hard time for that outfit, you know. But, I guess you didn’t have much--”

The rest of the conversation was cut off by the car’s engine revving back to life. People began talking again after that, and I shifted on my feet in the little space I’d carved out for myself next to the door. Someone bumped into me from behind.

“Oh, excuse me,” I said, turning around to see a little girl with blonde ponytails. It was hard to tell in the dark, but it almost looked like she was scowling at me. Then the door behind me clicked open, and everyone inside was bathed in bright light. The little girl was scowling, all right. Geez, what had I done to her?

“Quick, get in,” I heard Alice say. “I’ve got to go after Emmett, just in case he was sidetracked by, I don’t know, Mrs. Anderson jogging by the house, or something.”

I turned around to see yellow light streaming around the silhouettes of Alice and a large man as they stood in the doorway. The man didn’t move like Alice asked, though. He looked frozen, like he was surprised, or afraid. Maybe he was claustrophobic. I know I was feeling a little tense in the close quarters. I watched as Alice gave him a firm push through the doorway. I knew first hand how strong Alice could be, and the man, although he was over a foot taller than she was, stumbled into the garage.

After that, everything seemed to happen in slow motion.

I tried to move out of the way, but there was nowhere to go, and the man was coming right at me. I put my hands up to, I don’t know, break his fall, or to keep him from falling right into me. His chest collided with my palms. And that’s when I knew. The hair, the eyes, the chest, but most of all the feeling I got from touching him: Electricity. Lightening. Invisible sparks.

It was my fantasy come to life. It was Edward Masen.

Edward grabbed onto my hips to hold himself up. He gasped, and just that little sound, coupled with his touch, turned on the electric current under my skin. He flipped the switch every time. My heart started thumping wildly in my chest.

I closed my eyes and tried to catch my breath while I tingled all over. Edward’s hands clutched my hips a little tighter, and it felt like the heat from his palms must be searing through my dress. And his smell… even with all of those other people around, my mouth watered at his salt and sunshine scent.

I tucked my chin to my chest and took a deep, steadying breath before opening my eyes. He was wearing flip-flops. God, he had gorgeous feet. I wasn’t into feet, really. That kind of thing was just weird. But his feet, that was a different story.

“Dr. Swan?”

And his voice: like velvet, or honey, or basking in the sun.

I raised my eyes slowly, taking in the faded jeans that hung low on his hips, the threadbare cotton T-shirt that stretched across his chest; the same chest my hands were still pressed against. Oh my! I quickly dropped my hands to my sides, and they brushed over the tops of his hands where they held my hips.

“Dr. Swan?”

You can do it, Swan. Look at the man!

I slowly arched my neck to look at Edward. He was almost smiling as he bit his bottom lip, and his jaw was scruffy, like he hadn’t shaved in a couple days. And his eyes… when my eyes locked with his, I was caught. Caught in my lie. He was no fantasy. But even though this treacherous knowledge coursed through me like a guilty revelation, I felt myself edging closer to his body. Because the closer I moved, the more I burned. In a good way, of course.

“Mr., uh, Ed --, I mean… sorry. You don’t have to call me doctor… here.” Wow. I was almost completely incoherent.

“Isabella, then?” He said my name and I shivered, even though it was probably ninety-five degrees in that damned garage. I resisted the urge to ask him to say it again.

“Just Bella--, wait… How do you know my name?”

Edward took a step backwards and leaned casually against the door, putting space between us, and he finally dropped his hands from my hips. But it was like we were opposite poles of a magnet, and it took considerable effort to keep myself from moving towards the door too, and from pressing myself against him.

“The prescription pad,” he finally said.

“Oh, right. Of course.” It was like my mind had been trying to preserve my dignity by blocking out the fact that I’d handed him that prescription. I felt my face going red.

“Mr. Ed?” he chuckled, and there was that smile: that sideways, halfway, lopsided smile. When he laughed, his eyes glittered, and those little golden flecks came to life, making it look like they were lit from behind.

“What?”

“You called me Mr. Ed.”

I felt my face going redder; it felt hot enough to burst into flames. “I was just… surprised to see you. Again,” I explained lamely. “Sorry. I meant to say Edward.”

“Don’t apologize, Bella.”

Oh, he said it again, and I tingled again.

“Well, now we’ve got our names right, at least,” I giggled. Of course I giggled. He always made me giggle.

“I was surprised too. I didn’t expect to find you in Carlisle’s garage, of all places.”

“Alice says they always invite the people from the office to these things.”

“They do…” I couldn’t tell if Edward was asking a question or confirming what Alice had told me about the guest list. And he had a look on his face like he was half trying to figure something out, but he already knew the answer.

“Do they always invite their patients too?” I asked.

“Only the ones that --”

“Edward?” a woman called, interrupting him. I immediately recognized the Eastern European accent.

Apparently, so did Edward. He glanced over my shoulder and his half-smile disappeared. His expression became very hard and very determined, all at once.

“Sasha.” Edward muttered, shaking his head a little. Looking back down at me, Edward touched my elbow with his fingertips. I was sure that one of these days I’d just combust. “Dr., I mean, Bella. Excuse me.” Edward’s chest brushed against my bare arm as he maneuvered past me through the small space. I turned to watch him go, (really, I was helpless not to), and I noticed that he seemed to know just about everyone stuffed into the dark room. He greeted them with handshakes and claps on the back. Well, all except for Sasha, the owner of the voice. Edward stopped short in front of her and she glowered back at him.

Once again, the side door swooshed open, and for a split second we were drowned in light again. I didn’t even think to turn around to see who it was. I was trying to figure out what was going on between Edward and the foreign woman.

“Quick Emmett, they’re almost here!” I heard Alice hiss.

All of the sudden I felt like I’d been hit by a granite wall, and this time there was no helping it; I was going down. The wind was knocked out of me, and my feet were flung sideways. My head was on a collision course with the concrete floor. But then two strong arms wrapped themselves around my waist, catching me just in time.

“Gotcha!” a boyish voice chuckled from behind.

Emmett pulled me to my feet, and kept pulling, until my back was flush with his hard, wide chest. “Sorry about that,” he said, his mouth close to my ear. “My sister can be pushy. Literally pushy. I didn’t even see you.”

Emmett loosened his grip, but didn’t actually let me go. He kind of rotated me, until I was staring at his humongous chest.

“I don’t think we’ve met,” he continued, like holding someone this close was the most natural way in the world to make an introduction. I wiggled a little to let him know that I wasn’t okay with any of it, well, except the part where he caught me before I cracked my skull open. Emmett got the message and dropped his hands, but it seemed like they brushed along my sides kind of needlessly. “Sorry, again. I’m Emmett Cullen.”

“Hi, Emmett,” I said, stepping backwards so that I could take all of him in, and to put a little more space between us. He may have been the largest man I’d ever seen, and in the forty-five seconds we’d known each other, he’d been all hands. “I’m Isabella Swan. I just started working with, uh, your father, I think.”

“You think you just started working with dad?” he laughed. I noticed he had cute, boyish dimples, and big brown eyes. “You’re not sure?”

From behind me I could hear Edward’s insistent voice. “… just between T and I… insensitive… very sorry... no, I’d just…”

I tried my best to stay focused on my conversation with Emmett, you know, the seven-foot tall giant that had been manhandling me. “No, I mean that I think he’s your father.”

Emmett laughed again, louder this time, sadly drowning out Edward’s voice. “Mom thinks he is too.”

“I was not trying to send a message to the entire family, Sasha. Damn it!”

“Don’t you take that tone with me, young man. My daughter might tolerate that kind of language…”

I noticed that Emmett wasn’t laughing anymore. He was still smiling, but he seemed mildly pissed off too.

“What? Oh, um…” I tried to reply. But I couldn’t even remember what we’d been talking about. It seemed more than a few people had lost their train of thought as well, and they were also listening in on Edward’s conversation.

“So you’re the doctor that wants my cousin to get laid,” Emmett said in a booming voice that echoed through the small space. People immediately shifted their attention from Edward and Sasha to stare at the two of us.

“What?” I had no idea what he meant, and I didn’t appreciate being forced into the spotlight. Emmett winked at me and subtly nodded in Edward’s direction.

“They’re here!” Alice cried, stepping between Edward and Sasha. “Everybody, quiet down!”

I quickly decided Alice was either bluffing, or she must have planted a tracking device on her parent’s car, because I couldn’t hear a thing. But, sure enough, five seconds later, a car could be heard coming down the street and turning up the drive. I can’t say people actually tensed in anticipation, well, except for Alice who seemed to vibrate, but they started shifting where they stood, excited at the prospect of being released from their confinement.

The car’s engine died down and the garage door began to slowly lift from the ground. I had to laugh at Alice’s idea. It was a very slow reveal, and by the time the door was completely opened, the cheers of ‘surprise’ and ‘happy anniversary’ were a little after the fact.

I figured that this was my cue to fade into the background, but Emmett wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me with him towards the driveway. Alice instantaneously appeared on my other side and squeezed my hand. “I’m so glad you came, Bella.”

Even as I was being navigated towards my boss and his wife, my ears were still effortlessly attuned to Edward’s voice. “No, today’s about Carlisle and Esme…” I guessed that after Alice moved on, the argument had started up again.

“Happy anniversary, mom!” Alice sung loud enough to drown out Edward and Sasha’s voices. She dropped my hand and practically skipping towards her mother.

“Alice, what on earth? Why are all of our friends in the garage?” Esme asked. Alice’s mother was petite too, but she had honey-colored shoulder length hair and light brown eyes. Even so, the resemblance was striking.

“Thirtieth anniversaries only happen once, mom.”

“Yes, but it’s not cause to engender heat stroke in those nearest and dearest.”

Alice looked crestfallen, almost pouty, (Nessie often gave me the same look), and Esme smiled forgivingly and pulled her daughter into a generous hug. “Thank you, Alice. I’m extremely surprised.”

“And you,” Esme said, reaching up on tiptoe to give her son a peck on the cheek. I tried to wriggle away again, but Emmett only held me tighter. “With Alice at the helm, I’m sure your only duty was to show up on time. But thank you too.”

“Not true, mom. I had to get Edward here too.”

“Edward?” Esme asked, scanning the gathering. I looked around too, but didn’t see him. When I turned back around, Esme’s eyes had fallen on me. “Who’s your date, dear?”

“Oh, uh… I,” I stammered.

“We just met, mom. This is --”

“This is Dr. Isabella Swan,” Dr. Cullen cut in, wrapping his arm around his wife’s shoulders. Dr. Cullen was nearly as tall as his son, with a head of platinum blonde hair. “It was so kind of you to make it up here on a Sunday afternoon, Dr. Swan. I hope my daughter didn’t twist your arm too much to get you here. She can be very… persuasive.”

“Oh, not at all. I’m glad I could make it. And, uh, call me Bella, please.”

Dr. Cullen smiled, in a way that let me know that he understood perfectly well how much Alice must have begged. Then he raised his eyebrows at his son and Emmett immediately loosened his hold on me. “And I see you’ve met my son, Emmett.”

I guess he knew both of his children well.

“Oh! So, this is the doctor I’ve heard so much about,” Esme broke in. “You don’t know how grateful I am that you stepped in on such short notice, Bella. Up until now, I haven’t been able to get Carlisle out of the city for any length of time.”

“I was glad to do it, Mrs. Cullen.”

“Esme, please, dear. And let’s make sure we chat later, after I’ve greeted the rest of the small village Alice assembled in our honor.”

Esme squeezed my hand and Carlisle patted me on the back before they moved on to the rest of their guests. I noticed with some disappointment that Edward was nowhere in sight.

“You’re a hell of a lot prettier than Alistair,” Emmett said, shifting purposefully into my line of vision.

“Uh, thanks, I guess.” From the picture I’d seen on the practice’s website, that wasn’t much in the way of a compliment.

“So, uh, what did you do to my cousin?” he asked, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

“Your cousin?” I wondered if he meant that little blonde girl. I had no idea what I’d done to make her look at me like that.

“One visit with you and he’s dragging me out to eat a cheese steak. You might not understand how crazy that is, but --”

“You mean Edward? Your cousin, Edward?”

“Back in the day he would have tried to kick my ass for even mentioning a cheese steak. There was this time when I met him at Food Not Bombs and his little gang of dirty punks nearly jumped me when I started talking about burgers. They wouldn’t have done much damage, of course. I was the only one of them that had a decent meal in over a month --”

“Wait, Edward ate a cheese steak?”

“I know, right? I forgot to get a picture. But, dude, do you usually tell your patients to eat like that, cause I’m pretty sure that dad’s not down with that kind of a diet.”

Oh my god! I’d given that prescription to my boss’s nephew. The cheese steak was the least of it.

Procreation (or the practice thereof), always using proper precautions.

“So, uh, Bella, I was thinking, there’s this great pub over by Carlisle’s office. Maybe sometime after work I could --”

“Bella? Bella! Emmett!” Alice Cullen ran into the garage. I noticed that Emmett and I were the only people left there. Everyone else had made their way to the backyard. “Hey, Emmett, stop monopolizing Bella’s time. You’re on grill duty. And Bella, there are some people I’d like you to meet.”

“Yeah, sure, sis’,” Emmett acquiesced. “But, I’ll see you later, Bella. Maybe monopolize a little more of your time when Alice isn’t looking,” he said before flashing a toothy smile and joining the rest of the guests in the backyard.

“Don’t mind my brother, Bella. He’s a little over-the-top, but he’s harmless.” I looked at Alice doubtfully. “Really, I wouldn’t lie,” she assured me, throwing her arm over my shoulders.

“That all just reminded me of the time I went to the Junior Prom with the captain of the --”

“Don’t say it,” Alice winced. “The football team?”

“Yeah,” I agreed. That night I’d actually used some of the moves my police chief dad had taught me.

“Emmett didn’t set out to become a cliché, it just came natural,” Alice shrugged. “But he’ll leave you alone if you ask him to. Really, he’s like a big teddy bear.”

I wasn’t sure I was buying what Alice was selling. Maybe Emmett was like a teddy bear. If teddy bears were rock solid and seven feet tall.

“And besides, Alice, I have a --”

“Boyfriend?” Alice cut in again. She had an uncanny knack for finishing my sentences.

“Yeah, a boyfriend. How did you know?”

“The smart and pretty ones are always taken. It goes for boys and girls, as far as I can tell.”

“Are you taken too, then?”

“Not yet. Soon, I hope,” Alice replied with a quick, dreamy look in her eyes. It was gone almost as soon as it had appeared, though. “Now, come on, let me introduce you around.”

After that, Alice took it upon herself to personally introduce me to everyone: the neighbors, the Volturis, their friend Irina her fiancé Laurent, the infamous Alistair whom I replaced, distant relatives Siobhan, Liam, and their daughter Maggie, and the list went on, and on. Esme gave me a tour of their home, and Carlisle sat me down to ask about the goings on at office. I was just trying to tactfully turn down an invitation from Emmett to play volleyball, when Alice pulled me into the kitchen to help with the food.

“Are you having a good time, Bella?”

“You’re family’s been really sweet, Alice. But, these kind of things have a way of getting a little overwhelming,” I said as I helped Alice arrange chilled salads on a large buffet table.

“I thought you might have needed time to regroup. And, well, when Emmett and Maggie go head to head in volleyball, no one escapes unscathed. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you, or those sandals.”

“These?” I asked, wiggling a foot around.

“They’re adorable. They’re sold out, you know.”

“Really?”

“Yep, not available anywhere. I tried to get some for my shop, but couldn’t.”

“I didn’t know. I do love them, though. It makes me happy just to look at them.”

“Well, me too,” Alice giggled. “Too bad we’re not the same size.”

I’d just met the woman, and she wanted to borrow my shoes? Not to mention… “How do you know we’re different sizes?” I asked. Alice seemed to know so much. What was she, a private eye?

“I work in fashion,” she said, shrugging. “I have an eye for that kind of thing. You’re what, a six in shoes?”

“Oh, uh, yeah. Six.”

“See, I’m a five. It would never work.”

Okay, she had a simple explanation. And after that question, I was encouraged to try another. “So, um, I was wondering where the rest of the people from the office were.”

“Oh, that.” Alice looked suddenly embarrassed and ducked her head into the stainless steel, sub-zero refrigerator. “Well, I couldn’t invite Angela, so I really couldn’t ask the other nurses either. And then I couldn’t ask the intern, if I didn’t invite the nurses. And since Angela’s dating Ben --”

“They are?”

“You didn’t know?” she asked, pulling out condiments.

“No idea.”

“Shelly Cope should be here, though.”

“I haven’t seen her, or, um, Edward either.” I blushed as soon as I said Edward’s name, but now that I was asking questions freely, I couldn’t seem to help myself.

“Yeah, he’s not in much of a party mood. And with Sasha and Irina here, not to mention…” Alice glanced over at me and her voice trailed off, as if she’d decided against whatever she was going to say. “It was just nice of him come,” she said, piling a bunch of linens in a large basket to take out to the patio.

“You made sure it was in my Blackberry, pixie. And I think Emmett was under orders to throw me over his shoulder if I refused.”

I glanced over my shoulder to see Edward leaning against the doorjamb between the kitchen and dining room. My heart skipped a beat.

“Oh, Edward! Bella was just asking about you.”

“Alice,” I hissed under my breath.

“Yeah?” he asked, smiling a little.

I felt completely exposed, and glanced around the kitchen looking for something else to focus on, besides those beautiful green eyes. The only other thing to bring out to the patio was a large salad bowl. I reached for it, but Alice swatted my hands away.

“You’ve done enough, Bella. I’ll get this.” She picked up the basket and the bowl and balancing them effortlessly, pranced out of the room.

I turned back around to face Edward. He was still looking at me, but I couldn’t read the look on his face. He wasn’t smiling anymore. I wanted him to smile.

“So, it sounds to me like those shoes bring you joy,” he said, looking at my feet.

“I guess. Wait, you heard that?”

He shrugged. “I’ve been hiding from the mob out back. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I figured I’d show myself when I heard…” His voice trailed off just as his smile came back in full force. “Anyway…”

“Anyway, what?”

“I suppose it was necessary for our ancestors to have comfortable and durable protection for their feet while they were hunting and gathering. Those with the best footwear could walk the farthest without injury,” he said, smirking. He was making fun of me. “So, good footwear would naturally bring a person joy. It makes all the sense in the world.”

“Very funny,” I said, gritting my teeth. He must have thought it was all a big joke.

“And it’s very possibly true, and it’s just as likely that I’m full of shit,” he said, laughing a little.

“Is that how you feel about our list, then?”

“Our list?” he asked. Oh my god, I’d accidentally called it ‘our list.’

“Your prescription,” I said, correcting myself. “You ate a cheese steak?” It couldn’t have all been a joke to him if he’d actually tried a cheese steak. Could it?

“Does it show?” he asked, mockingly looking himself over critically. God, if everyone who ate a cheese steak looked like that, Philadelphia would be a much more attractive city. Beverly Hills would have nothing on us.

“How was it?”

“Like eating one of the seven circles of hell.”

“Excuse me?”

He laughed a little, but it was a bitter laugh that didn’t meet his eyes. “I hated it, doctor. And my stomach didn’t feel right for the rest of the night. But, in all fairness, I think there were other factors at play, that evening.”

“You know, it’s not only the fat, and the salt and the calories… it’s also about the choice. I don’t know if eating a hoagie and a cheese steak really prove my point. You’ve got to try something that appeals to you. Maybe Maine lobster bisque, or a braised lamb shank, or, I don’t know, maybe my mom’s lasagna.” Edward had taken a step into the room, like my little tour of the fatty food pantheon was pulling him in. I couldn’t stop babbling. “Or maybe you’d like something sweet. You should try a desert: chocolate mousse, cheesecake, something with a buttery crust.”

Edward stopped about a foot from me, and I stopped speaking. I had to. I could hardly breathe. I had the ridiculous impulse to reach out and touch his chest again. But then I remembered how it felt to have his hands on my hips, and I desperately wished he’d reach for me. We should touch each other, just to see how it felt, I thought. Just to bring one another to life again.

Jake, you idiot. Think of Jake!

Edward bit his lip, and I gazed into his eyes, lost. I gripped the back of a chair to steady myself. “I could do something sweet. I think,” he nearly whispered. And there was that wry smile again. Holy shit, he was flirting.

I heard the patter of footsteps coming quickly towards us from outside. Edward glanced up and smiled. “Pixie?”

“Hey guys! Sorry to interrupt, but they’re adding the stones. You both have your stones, right?”

“Fuck, Alice, I forgot,” Edward muttered.

“You’re forgiven this time, Edward. But, you brought one, right, Bella?”

“Yeah, I guess. It’s kind of little.”

“Well, then you two can share,” she said, looking between the two of us and grinning. “I’ve got to find the other stragglers, but you know what to do, Edward,” Alice said, before dashing off out the front door.

“What’s with the stones?”

“Something of a Cullen ritual, I guess. That back wall’s been fuck-, I mean, falling down forever. So, every time they have people over, they ask them to bring stones to help prop it up, because family and friends are what hold us up, or some shit like that. Carlisle used to make a speech, but these days people just know to go back and find a place where their rock fits.”

“I don’t think my stone’s holding anything up.”

“No?”

I pulled the little purple thing out of my pocket and held it out in my palm. “It’s from Washington.”

“Like you?” he asked, brushing the stone with his fingertip. I shivered, almost like he’d touched me.

“Yeah, like me.”

“Well, let’s go find a place for it in Pennsylvania,” he said, looking me straight in the eye again. It almost looked like Edward held out his hand, but then he stuffed it in his pocket instead. It made the hem of his jeans strain against his hip. God, I wished I were straining against his hip. Holy crap, Swan, what did that thought even mean?

“So, do you think you should add another bullet point to the prescription, Dr. Swan? Maybe a quality pair of shoes would change my whole world.”

“You don’t have a good pair of shoes?”

“I’m afraid I don’t. Not after my fucked up Friday night. Which makes this portion of the prescription all the more dire,” Edward laughed as we walked through the garden, towards the woodsier portion of the yard. “You should add it for the sake of being thorough.” Edward reached around to his back pocket and pulled out a little piece of paper.

“What?”

He held the paper out to me, and I suddenly understood. He’d been carrying my prescription around with him.

“You might think I’m fucking nuts, but I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that I always take my doctor’s advice to heart. Part of the illness.”

“Wow,” I said, picking the folded prescription out of his palm. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t intentionally brush my fingertips against his palm. Just to see what happened. You guessed it: sparks.

“But, I have to admit, I haven’t been the most compliant patient,” he continued, pulling his hand quickly away from mine. Quick enough that it hurt my feelings a little.

“No?”

“I’ve been avoiding the uh… practice of procreation.” I tripped a little over a root that was sticking up out of the ground, probably because I’d just heard Edward say ‘procreation.’ He grabbed my elbow, to help keep me from falling, and we both stopped walking for a second, while I found my footing.

“Why?” The question just popped out of my mouth. But, if this man was my fantasy, well, then, the fantasy answer was that he’d been dreaming of me. Anything else would just ruin it.

“Kind of like the cheese steak was probably the wrong choice,” he answered, looking at the ground. “I think you need to find the right person to feel real joy, in that particular situation. I wouldn’t want to make the same mistake… with a person. Again.”

“Oh.” It was all I could think to say. My fantasy remained intact. He actually came up with a better answer than my imagination could of. Damn. We walked the rest of the way in silence, and when we got to the back wall, guests were picking their way along the uneven ground, searching for a space where their particular stone would fit. I glanced down at my rock again.

“This seems kind of silly. My rock’s going to get lost in all of this.”

“No, no… check this out. Right here.” Edward knelt down in the grass, and pointed to a shallow little hollow in the wall. “Come here, Bella.” As if I had any choice when he used my name.

I got down on my knees too, and he smiled at me, taking my breath away again. I stumbled closer to him. He’s just a fantasy, Swan, I tried reminding myself.

“Here, put it right here,” he said under his breath.

I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying, ‘That’s what she said.’ But I giggled a little despite myself. I tended towards a seventh-grade sense of humor.

Edward didn’t seem to notice anything unusual. I didn’t know why he would, really. I was constantly giggling around the man. I lined my rock up with the tiny crevice, and sure enough, it looked like it might just fit. Edward pressed my hand against the wall, pushing the rock into the small space. It ground against the other stones a little, creating a little friction between my skin and Edward’s. I think he might have gasped again, but I couldn’t be sure because all I could really hear was the blood pounding in my ears.

“Fucking perfect, Bella,” he rasped. He was practically holding my hand.

At that moment, my phone buzzed to life in my pocket. I’d pre-programmed the ring. This was a call I had to take. I scrambled to my feet.

“Excuse me,” I said, quickly turning away, leaving Edward kneeling on the ground.

“Hello?”
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The Practice of Love