Eternally Ironic

I stare at the dashboard of the old truck as Bella drives. The silence is heavy, pressing down on me and urging me to say something. Out of the corner of my eye, I see that Bella's knuckles are white against the steering wheel and her lips are shut tight. Finally, I open my mouth.

"Are you sure you're ready for marriage, sweetie? You're so young– Why don't you go to college first?" I hear the pleading in my voice. I have asked her this a thousand times, and I know what the answer is going to be.

Bella sighs. "Mom, I don't want to go to college now. I can go later. Besides, I love Edward. I want to marry him."

She sounds very sure of herself, very determined. Like I did when I told my parents I wanted to marry Charlie. Except that marrying Charlie turned out to be a mistake, and I don't want Bella to have to go through what I did. To have to divorce and be a single mother. My daughter could have a very bright future, and here she is, throwing it away for Edward Cullen. Don't get me wrong; I like Edward. He seems to be a very committed, respectable boy, and he obviously loves Bella too. I just think they could wait a few years before marrying.

I say, "Are you sure you've thought this through? I mean, you're going to be vowing to love each other until you die. You're 18, Bella. You have a long life ahead of you. How do you know it's Edward you want to spend the rest of your life with?"

Bella's lips twitch. I stare. Here I am, pathetically begging my daughter to reconsider, and she's smiling? I don't get it.

A white mansion rises into view: the Cullen house. Bella brakes and puts the car in park.

"Believe me, Mom," she says while she unbuckles. "I know what I'm doing."

She gives me a cryptic smile and climbs out of the car. I follow her, heading up the path to front door, preparing myself to meet the rest of the Cullens, my future in-laws. I only hope Bella knows what she's getting herself into.