The day of Bella's wedding had come. Jacob was a ball of nerves as he stood on the bride's side right next to the aisle. He was wearing his nice suit and the hair-pipe necklace I had made him that matched mine. I took his hand in mine as I stood next to him. I was in a knee-length flowy lavender dress with an empire waist; I had my hair curled and it was pinned back out of my face.
The music began to play and we all turned to the back and saw Bella standing there. I had to admit she really did look beautiful. As she got closer to us I saw realization dawn on her face, and a little bit more happiness entered her eyes when she saw Jacob standing there. As we watched Edward and Bella say their vows Jacob and I stood next to each other, my arms wrapped around his waist and one of his arms wrapped around my shoulder, his other hand resting on my slowly growing belly.
During the reception we shared a table with Seth, Billy, and Sue. The food was really good; it looked like the Cullens had really pulled out all the stops. As I watched Bella and her dad dance I couldn't help but let a few tears fall. It had finally hit me that I wouldn't have my own father at my and Jacob's wedding; he wouldn't be there to walk me down the aisle or to share a father-daughter dance with me. Jacob grabbed my hand and squeezed it gently. I looked over at him and tried to smile as he handed me a napkin. I took it and dabbed it under my eyes, trying not to smear my makeup. "Are you okay?" Jacob asked.
"Yeah. Hormones," I lied. I knew if I told Jacob he would feel bad, and I didn't want him to. He leaned over and kissed my forehead. After the music stopped I looked over at him. "Go ask her to dance, Jacob."
"I don't think that's a good idea," he said.
"Go, Jacob. You two should talk. If you don't, I'll make you sleep on the couch tonight," I said sternly. That earned me a huff as he walked over to Bella and Edward, who were talking quietly at one side of the room. I saw Jacob say something and then Edward gave a nod, and Bella and Jacob headed out to the dance floor and Edward headed over to me. He held out his hand and bowed slightly with a kind smile on his face.
"Since my dance partner has been stolen, I was wondering if you would honor me with his dance," he said politely.
"You really are old, aren't you?" I said with a raise of my eyebrow at his formal wording. This earned me a slight chuckle from Edward.
"Older than you think," he replied.
I placed my hand in his and he led me out to the dance floor. He placed his hand on the small of my back as we began to dance. "How are you doing?" he asked, looking down at me while we danced.
"I'm doing fine. The baby is growing fast. Jacob and I just got a house, between his dad's and Sam's, so we're putting that together. He'll be starting online classes pretty soon to finish high school," I replied.
"That's good, although that's not what I meant. I meant, how are you doing emotionally? I don't mean to pry, but I couldn't help noticing you were just thinking about your father and you seemed upset."
"Oh, that. Yeah, with my engagement I hadn't even stopped to think about my father not being here to walk me down the aisle or dance with me, but it will be fine. I'll have Sam," I replied.
Edward nodded. "I also would like to thank you for coming."
"You're welcome. It took a little bit to convince Jacob to come, but I just told him he needed to be here for Bella to support her, even if he didn't agree with what she's doing," I said.
"Thank you for convincing him, then. I have to admit, though, I wouldn't think you'd say that, considering the past you and Bella share," Edward admitted.
"Like I've told Jacob several times, I don't hate her. I just didn't like how she treated him and acted like she knew everything about us. Plus she is his best friend, and I would never want him to stop being her best friend just because she and I didn't like each other."
Edward chuckled. "You're more gracious than I am, Natalie. If I knew Bella still had those kinds of feelings for Jacob and he wasn't with you, I think I would have done everything in my power to make sure she never saw him again."
I couldn't help but chuckle at this. I looked over at Jacob and Bella and smiled as I watched the two of them dancing and talking with smiles on their faces.
"He was right . . . ." Edward's soft words brought my attention back to him.
"Who was right about what?" I asked.
"Jacob, about your eyes, how they positively swim with how you're feeling—and how there are three different shades that blend together. They are truly your most striking physical feature, when you really look at them," Edward said, staring at me intently.
I couldn't help but laugh, and I smiled as I looked back at Jacob. "Yeah, he's always loved my eyes. He hates it when I wear my glasses."
"You wear glasses?" Edward asked.
"Yeah, but I wear my contacts most of the time," I replied.
It wasn't long before Bella and Jacob came over and interrupted the two of us. "May I cut in?" Jacob asked.
"Of course." Edward turned to me, took my hand, and brought it to his lips, kissing it gently as he bowed. "Thank you for the wonderful dance, Natalie."
"You're welcome, Edward," I said, before turning and nodded to Bella. "Congratulations on your marriage, Bella." Bella just nodded before Jacob led me away to dance.
We didn't stay to see Bella and Edward off on their honeymoon; Jacob said he couldn't do it, knowing what they would be doing. I didn't fight that one. He had gone to the wedding and was there for his friend like he should have been, and I wasn't going to push him any more than that.
Later that night I lay in our bed with Jacob as he slept. My head rested on his chest, my hand on his stomach, as I thought about Bella's wedding and seeing her with her dad. My heart still ached at knowing I wouldn't be sharing those happy moments with my own dad, and wouldn't have my mother with me when I picked out my wedding dress. I felt the tears coming again. Then I felt Jacob's hand on my back and his gruff, sleep-filled voice filled the room.
"What's wrong, my love?" he asked.
"Just thinking about my parents . . . at the wedding tonight I realized I won't be able to share those happy moments a girl shares with her parents when she gets married. I won't have my mom helping me pick out my dress; my dad won't be the one walking me down the aisle to give me away or dancing with me at the reception," I said softly.
I felt Jacob's fingers hook under my chin and move me to face him. "You're wrong, Natalie, they will be there. They'll be with you every step you take in this life and the life we share. They'll be there when we get married and when our baby is born. Just because they aren't here in body doesn't mean they aren't here at all."
I smiled tremulously. "I know, but still it hurts knowing they won't be here physically to share it with me. I mean, I love Sam and Emily, and I know they would gladly fill those spots, but it's not fair because my parents are supposed to be there. They weren't supposed to die yet!"
Jacob wrapped his arms around me and placed one of his hands on the back of my head, holding me close and tucking my head under his chin. "I know, and I wish I could make it so they could be here. You have no idea how much I wish I could."
Jacob just held me that night as I cried over the loss of my parents. I had been doing so well about not getting upset over it, and though I no longer blamed myself, they'd been gone for nearly a year now and it still hurt to know they were really gone and were never coming back.