Chapter 7:
I went to pick up my car, and then I headed home. By the time I was done getting ready, Joy had gotten to my house. At first she seemed tense when I answered the door, but when I asked her if she was okay she smiled and said "of course".
We went shopping and she picked out a dress for me to wear and she paid for it. Then we went to eat at a nice, quiet Italian restaurant. Joy talked about Quil and Claire and her worries for them. She is worried about the insensitivity people of the tribe will have towards them, she fears they will be ridiculed for their relationship. I tried comforting her, but it is hard, a mother often worries whether or not there is reason to worry or not. She talked about my mother, about funny things at work, about the pack, about her and Quil's father. I got the sense that she just needed to talk, so I let her, and I listened to her, and I realized she'd listened to my ramblings for years, and I'd hardly ever listened to her. So, I let her talk and once in a while I threw in my thoughts, but last night was really all about her.
I stare at the mirror and hardly recognize myself. Joy had requested that I curl my hair and that I wear makeup. She said it would mean a lot to her and she was sure it would mean a lot to Sue. I spin around in my mirror double checking what I am wearing. My curls spin as I spin and when I stop they bounce to a stop. My dress is a beautiful lilac that is halter strapped and bells out a little below my chest. It came down to about mid-thigh. Joy had said it accentuated all of my best assets. In other words, it showed off my chest and legs and hid some of my waist. I could still not believe it was me in the reflection. I slide on my mother's locket and I grab my bag as my dad calls for me.
I rush down the stairs, almost falling at the bottom. Quil chuckles at my clumsiness.
"Quil!" I exclaim and I rush to him and embrace him. "Joy didn't tell me you were coming here." I say as I look him over in his suit. He had a light blue tie with his gray suit. "You clean up nice Quil." I wink to him playfully.
He nudges me and smiles to me. He looks me up and down. "You don't look to bad either." He smiles to me.
"Are you two ready? We are going to be late?" Joy says as she nudges me out of the house. Quil entwines our elbows as we walk out.
"Mom said I should escort you into the wedding." He smiles to me as he walks me to the car.
"So I'm a pity date?" I kid to him.
He looks me up and down again. "You sure as hell don't look like a pity date." He smiles as he opens the door for me to his mother's car. I lean to get in. He grabs me and leans close. "You look beautiful Melaine," he whispers to me and kisses my cheek softly. I blush and enter the car.
My dad opens the passenger door for Joy and he and Quil get into the car. He cranks up the car. Just before we pull away something at the edge of the woods catches my eye. I stare it closer, and I recognize him immediately, it's the guy from the diner yesterday. I stare at him as we drive away until he is out of sight.
I shake it off; it is just a coincidence that he was by my house. He was probably hunting or something.
We arrive at the wedding a few minutes before the ceremony, Quil escorts me in and then he abandons me for Claire. The wedding is set up on the beach with beautiful tents for the reception and pre-wedding preparation. There are flowers everywhere, Sue loves flowers. My dad leads Joy to our seats and I follow. I remember trying to push Joy and Dad together at one point not so long ago. They work together, they have chemistry and they both understand the pain of losing a loved one. But they wouldn't go for it; instead they continue to just be cute together, share inside jokes and pretend like they don't have chemistry to die for. I watch as the rest of the guests arrive. I notice Alice and Edward entering, Edward by Bella's wish and Alice by Charlie's. The whole coven probably wouldn't have been allowed.
The wedding was short and simple but beautiful all together. Sue looked so happy and Leah and Seth looked happy for her. I constantly find myself looking over to Joy and Dad throughout the whole ceremony because that could be them.
Everyone went to the tents for the reception afterwards. I am sitting at a table when Dad walks over. He holds out his hand for me to take. I smile and take it. He leads me to the dance floor. He holds me the way he used to when we would dance around in our house before my mother died. He touches me like I'm fragile, like if with too much pressure, I could shatter and be gone forever.
He leans down and whispers to me, "I'm very proud of you. You've become a beautiful woman. Everything will be okay. I'm sorry for not being there as much as you needed. I'm trying to change."
I smile up to him and hug him. "I love you Daddy." I whisper to him.
"I love you too sweetheart." He whispers.
The music stops and we stop. He kisses me on my forehead and smiles then he walks over to Joy and drags her onto the dance floor. I look around and see Seth dancing with Alice (weird) and Edward watching as he allows Jake to dance with Bella. I decide to take some air. I step out of the tent and walk down to the surf's edge.
I walk a couple of feet away from the party down the beach. The music is softened and the waves crashing beats out the music from the party. I hear something behind me; I tense up and turn around. I'm prepared to jump or phase. I freeze when I see who it is, the guy from the diner again.