Disclaimer: The world of Twilight and all its characters belongs to Stephanie Meyer.
Chapter 7
It's fall again. My birthday is just around the corner, both my first vampire and my twentieth human. Fortunately for me, Nessie is the center of attention. Everyone is eager for her first birthday.
Just as Carlisle predicted, Renesmee settled down into a predictable growth pattern. She seems to age about one month for every two that pass. I guess that is the side effect of having an unchanging immortal parent. But she is perfect in every way. Rolling over on her own is her latest skill. I'm still working on my control issues and hope to be able to hold her soon. Yesterday, I was able to stand in the kitchen while she was in the living room, playing with Rosalie and Emmett.
I've started interacting with humans again. Of course I can't go into Forks, but Edward and I just got back from another trip to Denali. We started out a few months ago by going for hikes along trails that humans had recently used. It was hard at first to not want to hunt the scents, but I eventually was able to subdue the urge. On the trip before last, we went into one of the little towns that support the tourist trade to the National Park. I went into a store and bought a book. I was even able to speak with the proprietor. On this trip we went even further. We walked the streets of Anchorage late one night. I almost lost it when we ran into guy wandering his way home from a local bar, but Edward got me through it. It will be a few months before I'm ready to face the world, but Edward is starting to talk about Dartmouth for the spring term.
It's time for the Cullen clan to move on from Forks. Esme is working on plans for the new house and Carlisle is lining up a new job. He says he wants to teach this time. The others are all excited about enrolling in college. We haven't decided what to do about my family yet. Currently, they think my treatment has been successful and that Edward and I are backpacking through the Alps before returning to the States.
On the morning of Renesmee's birthday, Edward asks me, "Have you looked in a mirror lately?"
"Of course," I replied, "Every morning when I get dressed."
"No, I mean, really looked."
At this point, I'm intrigued. We are in our cottage and it's still early. The sun has just risen. I walk into the bathroom and look in the mirror. I'm wearing the silk cami and matching shorts I had put on the evening before. I spin and stretch, checking out my reflection. "I'm not seeing anything different."
"Look at you face," Edward replies from behind me.
I take a closer look and then I see it. "Oh my…my eyes." The red was almost gone. He was right, I hadn't noticed. They were almost topaz now with only a hint of red. Not the deep chocolate brown they had been, but Renesmee was carrying that trait on.
"My love, I think you newborn status is about over."
"Do you think?…Am I ready?…" I stuttered, but Edward knew what I was talking about.
"I think you are."
I took a deep, if unnecessary, breath. "Let's do it." We quickly got dressed and went up to the house. It was still quiet. We didn't pass anyone on our way to the third floor. I hesitated outside the closed door. I drew a breath and smelled the air and made my final decision. "I'm ready."
We opened the door and stepped into the room. She was lying in her crib, surrounded by pink bedding and clutching a stuffed lion, still sound asleep. I stepped over to the crib and took a small breath. It was dizzying but manageable. Edward was behind me with his arms around my waist as we watched our daughter sleep. Then she squirmed and stretched a little and before I knew it, her eyes were open and she was looking at me. She got a huge smile on her face and reached for us. I leaned over her and touched her tiny hand. I turned to Edward, "She is so perfect. Is she really ours?"
"You seem to be forgetting that she has a temper when she doesn't get her way." He reached down and picked her up. "Sit in the rocker."
I sat and he put her in my arms for the first time. I smelled our meadow and her dirty diaper but it was all right and I could do this forever. She extended her arm and put her hand over my heart. I saw images of the peek-a-boo game we had played yesterday. I smiled at Edward who was kneeling in front of us with his hand on her head. "I love you," we said simultaneously.
Nessie picked that moment to let out a howl. With the moment broken, Edward said, "Time to teach Mommy all about diaper changing."
And so started the first day of my new life for the second time.
