Chapter 21: Father of the Bride
All belongs to Stephenie Meyer. Events taken and quoted from Ch.3 of BD. Please don't sue me, we've waited a long time to see Edward and Bella get married, and we love them.
In case anybody's wondering, Bella says it was a mistake to have Alice as her only bridesmaid (BD, page 47). I have corrected that mistake. Why? Because I am arrogant:D
For the processional, my pick is "A River Runs Through It" by Yiruma. You can find it on YouTube.
With thanks to justmereading for suggesting that we hear from Charlie again.
Charlie's pov
At 7am, Alice arrived and whisked Bells out the door. I have no idea what time Bells got up this morning, because pancakes were waiting on the table for me when I got up at six. So, I had the chance to have a last breakfast date with my girl before she stopped living under my roof forever. I kept repeating to myself that I was gaining a son, not losing a daughter. And as son-in-laws went, if I had to have one, Edward was a pretty good catch.
I'd be glad when this whole wedding ordeal was over. Too many of the females around here were giving me grief. First, there was manic Alice, ordering me around and over-scheduling Bells and Edward to the point they were worn out and anxious. I was glad they'd spent Wednesday night with me. It felt surprisingly good, having the boy here. Too bad I hadn't figured that out a long time ago. I'd have had a lot more time with them both.
It seemed like since Renee got to town, I'd been fielding anxious questions from her. Not that I wasn't fond of her, but I was getting kind of tired of calming her down. I guess her night at the Cullens didn't turn out so well. The kids, bless them, had played practical jokes on her. I bet Edward was feeling a little smug about that, because he hadn't been happy about giving up his room.
First Renee wrecked his car, then she complained to me about his crazy family. Well, the Cullens were good people, and I never had a lick of trouble from those kids. Not like the other jokers in town. Anyway, the latest from Renee was a worry about whether she was going to get any grandchildren. I guess Edward had made some remark about most of the family being sterile, and Renee had freaked out.
Edward had told me pretty much the same thing. He wasn't expecting to have kids of his own, but I knew how important family was to him. After all, he wanted to settle down at 18 like me. Unlike me, he was marrying somebody dependable who wouldn't walk out on him. Anyway, I could see them adopting kids once all their schooling was done and they were older. Edward idolized his father and I could imagine him following in Carlisle's footsteps. That's what I told Renee, and she had been satisfied. Who'd have ever thought flower child Renee would be anxious to be a grandparent? God knows, she hadn't been the most responsible parent, not that I'd done much better I suppose. I dunno how Bells turned out so well.
Bells was awfully jittery this morning. I eyed her sternly over my pancakes and cereal. I needed a lot of energy to get through the day so I figured a big breakfast was a good idea. Bella fidgeted in her chair and bounced her knees up and down impatiently while I ate.
Bells reminded me to pick up Mr. Weber at 3pm. I really knew she was nervous then, because the wedding was set for 3pm and I was supposed to pick him up at 2:00. I didn't correct her though. I didn't want to make her mood any worse. She was looking really drawn and pale. I had observed her enough on Wednesday, though, to know she was excited to be marrying Edward. Bells glowed when they discussed it. So, it was obviously a case of nerves because she was going to be the centre of attention today. She'd fretted a couple of times that she would fall down their staircase. I'd suggested she buck tradition and wear flat shoes or sneakers, like other girls were doing. She reluctantly admitted that she wanted to look her best, even if she was being a danger magnet.
As I finished up my cereal I couldn't avoid looking at my fishing gear. A whole Friday off work and no way to fill half the time. Bells caught me looking.
"Dad, no fishing today."
"I've got nothing to do this morning, kid. How am I going to pass the time?"
"You have to make yourself presentable, Charlie. Alice and I will have your hide if you show up looking like you threw on your new suit at the last minute." I grimaced. I knew she was right. Maybe there'd be a game on TV that I could watch.
There was a brisk knock, and Alice appeared in the kitchen. I guess Bells had unlocked the door. Her hair looked pretty. It was all smooth and curled around her face like one of those 1920's movie stars. Trying without benefit of long hair to keep to the theme, I guess.
"Hey, Charlie!" she sang. "I hope you're fed and ready to go, Bella, because there's a lot of work to be done." Bella rolled her eyes.
"I'll get my purse. Don't be too rough on me this morning, sister. I didn't sleep all night with Edward gone," she grumbled. I eyed Bells anxiously. Sure enough, she had black circles under her eyes. Hopefully, Alice wouldn't wear her out this morning.
"Bye, Dad. See you at the Cullens'. Three pm. Don't forget."
"Sure thing, Bells. You have a relaxing morning now, hear me? Alice, you take care of my girl."
"Of course, Charlie. Bella's happiness is my top priority today."
"Good. See you later girls." Bella kissed me on top of my head and I harrumphed, blushing.
They left so fast you could feel the air rush through the room, and I was left sitting in the kitchen wondering what to do with myself. Dishes, for a start.
I had just put the pan and the breakfast dishes in hot water when there was a honk in the driveway. Who could it be? I peered out the kitchen window, then rushed to the door in delight. The Vanquish was sitting in the driveway and Edward's brother Emmett was standing at the door with his hands in his pockets.
"Well hello, Emmett. How are you on this fine day?" I shook hands with him. They were cold, like his brother's. No surprise there. They had the same condition. I ushered him into the living room.
"Morning, Charlie. I'm great. Everybody at our house is really excited, though. Especially Edward. I'm glad I got to step out." Emmett grinned at me and sat, looking too big to belong indoors. I was certainly glad he was a nice fellow, because I'd hate to have to deal with him if he were a delinquent.
"So Edward's feeling upbeat today, huh? Bells was pretty nervous and tired this morning. I don't think it's cold feet, she just doesn't like the attention."
"I'm so glad she's gonna be my little sister, Charlie. She's a gas. Life was dull before she came along."
"I can relate to that, Emmett."
"Edward is over the moon this morning. I don't think he slept all night, he was so hyper. He didn't think this day would ever come."
"So did ya get him to go to his bachelor party?"
"Oh, yeah, but it was pretty tame. Not like mine. Dad said he'd flay me alive if I did anything to embarrass the kid. We took him out to the hot springs for a relaxing evening."
That was a relief.
"Quiet kid, isn't he?" I mused.
Emmett grinned, "Yeah, the complete opposite of me. But he's also high strung."
"You don't say," I smirked.
"Yeah, we're hoping Bella will mellow him out a bit."
"I think that might actually work. Edward relies on her a lot, doesn't he?"
"Yup, but she relies a lot on him too. I think they'll be well-balanced once he gets used to the idea that she'll be around all the time."
There was another honk from the driveway. Emmett turned around and looked out the window. His monstrous jeep was out there.
"Oh, here's Rose. She's gonna drive me back home." These Cullens sure did appreciate their wives. It was reassuring to know there was a proper respect for women in that family. Edward seemed to worship Bella.
"Hello?" Rosalie called from the doorway.
"Come on in, young lady, and let's see you," I called. Emmett rose to his feet as his lovely wife entered the room, beaming. As always, I was struck with the movie star beauty of her. She was like a 1940's ingenue, with that curtain of blond hair. Emmett and Rosalie sat together on the loveseat.
"Hello, Charlie. I'm afraid we can only stay a couple of minutes. There are a lot of chores to do at home. Did you give Charlie his stuff, Em?"
"Oh! I almost forgot to give you the keys to the short, Charlie. Here ya go. Don't drive off and get lost today, though, okay? Bella would not be impressed. Carlisle got you this cell phone. It's easy to use. This is on, this is off, see? Don't hold the end button too long or the phone will shut right down. This is your phone number. You have to buy these little cards to get airtime. There's a $50 credit on it now. It's all set up for you. Here are the instructions and warranty."
"Gee, Emmett, that's really good of Carlisle. Now I feel bad. I don't have a gift for him or Esme."
"You're family, Charlie, so expect surprise presents once in awhile. And Carlisle's taste is really Spartan. He's also richer than the queen of England, and he likes to spoil people. If you thank him for the gift with a little enthusiasm, he'll appreciate that the most."
"Well, he doesn't need to spoil me, but I do appreciate this. Bells has been bugging me forever to get one of these, but shopping for one just seemed such a hassle." I pocketed the phone and put the booklet down on the coffee table.
Emmett eyed his watch. "Well, Charlie, I suppose we had best get going. Have fun with the short. Edward hopes you'll enjoy it, but he says not to get caught speeding, Chief. Guess he doesn't want Mark to throw your ass in jail." I chuckled.
"That surely would be embarrassing. You give my love to Edward and Bella, and I'll see you just before 3 o'clock." I shook hands with the young people again.
"Bye, Charlie. It's going to be a wonderful day," Rose smiled.
"I'm sure it will. Alice will murder anyone who tries to spoil it," I joked.
Emmett and Rose took their leave. I turned and looked at the sink of dishes. They could wait, I decided. I took the keys and virtually ran to the Vanquish. This was going to be fun.
I popped the locks, which snicked back smoothly, and climbed into the sumptuous leather seat. I sat in it for a moment, rubbing my hands together in anticipation.
"The name is Swan, Charlie Swan," I said to myself, and turned over the engine. The baby purred like a kitten. Bond had Pussy Galore, so I could nickname the Vanquish 'Kitten' while I had it, right? I pulled out of the drive, waiving at neighbours walking their dogs, and headed for the road to La Push. I'd get Sue and Seth, I decided, and take them for a spin.
I pulled up in front of Sue's shortly after 9:30 am, and knocked on the door. Seth answered it, wearing nothing but cutoff shorts. He had major bed head.
"Hi Charlie," he smiled, perplexed, "What brings you here so early?"
"Edward loaned me the Vanquish. I wondered if you and your Mom wanted to go for a drive. Maybe we'll grab a quick lunch in Port Angeles if she likes."
"Sick! Mooooommm!" Seth bellowed, running for Sue.
Sue came out shaking her head ruefully at the young pup. "Hi, Charlie. You're out and about early. Thought you'd sleep in on your day off."
"Well, you know how it is. You get used to waking up at a certain time of day, and your body refuses to acknowledge weekends and holidays."
"Yeah. It's painful. So what's up?"
"Edward loaned me the Vanquish, and I wondered if maybe you and Seth wanted to go to Port Angeles for the morning. Have lunch, on me. Then I'll bring you back here so you can get ready for Sam to pick you up."
"That's a lot of running around, Charlie, considering you have to pick up the Webers and Sam has to pick up me, Seth and Billy. Why don't Seth and I bring our stuff to your place, and get dressed there? It will save a lot of running around, and Sam can pick us up there after he has Billy. We'd be able to take more time in Port Angeles."
"That's a great idea. Where's Leah? Would she like to come with us?"
"She's out with friends. I think she'd rather be on her own today, anyhow. She's not going to the wedding. Can we get a takeout, and eat outside at the port?"
"An even better idea. Go get your stuff," I ordered.
"Come on, Seth. And don't forget to brush your hair." Sue said as she retreated down the back hallway. Seth rolled his eyes, looked at me meaningfully as if to say 'women', and hurried to his room. I sat down and had a look through Sue's magazines. Eliminate clutter. Redecorate your bathroom. Nothing entertaining. I heard Sue call Sam to alter the driving plans.
Fifteen minutes later, Sue had her purse, make-up case and garment bag, and Seth had an armful of clothing. Sue chastised him and made him hang up his dress shirt and pants on a hanger, looped his tie around the neck of the hanger, and added it to her garment bag. Then, she dropped her dress shoes in the bottom of the bag. I took it from her and put it in The Kitten's trunk.
As I came back in, the phone rang. Sue picked it up.
"Hello? Billy, hi. What's up? ... You what? He what? Oh, Billy! Hey, Charlie! Jacob is coming home. He called Billy this morning." Sue's eyes were shining. I hadn't seen them sparkle since long before Harry passed away.
I whooped and ran over to Sue, and picked her up and gave her a quick kiss on the mouth. Then, I stole the phone right out of her hand. She stood under my arm, fingers on her lips, looking stunned. Seth said something like 'ew'. I barely registered it. I was busy firing off questions at Billy, who sounded as joyful as I felt.
Ends up, Jacob had been invited to the wedding by Edward, and even though he didn't think he could stand to go to the ceremony, Jake was considering dropping by during the reception. Billy said Jake had been wandering around somewhere in Saskatchewan, Canada. Jake was in transit and not expected to be home until close to suppertime.
Billy was still planning on going to the wedding. He said he wasn't going to sit around waiting for Jacob. Since I had to pick up four of the Webers and drive them to the wedding, Billy had arranged for Sam to pick up Sue and Seth and drive all three of them to the wedding. I'd drive them home after the reception.
Angela had the family car for the day, since she had to be there early and it didn't make sense for the rest of her family to be there hours ahead of time. And Ben would drive himself so he could take Angela home late, after her family left in their own car.
I said goodbye to Billy and told him how happy we were for him. Then, I hung up Sue's phone and swung her around in a circle. She hugged me, and then stepped back shyly. Gee, it was good to see the sparkle back in her eyes.
Sue grabbed some cans of pop from the fridge and bunged them into a cooler bag. We chattered about Jacob as I added the bag to the stuff in the trunk. Seth approached me with a slightly anxious look.
"Um, Charlie? If I bring my ball, would you mind throwing it around with me?" Gosh, he looked like he was scared I was gonna reject him.
"Sure, Seth, go get it. There's nothing I'd like better. There's nobody to toss one around with at home."
Seth grinned delightedly and ran to fetch his ball. Soon, we were ready to go. Seth squeezed into The Kitten's minuscule back seat, and Sue joined me in the front, and we were off.
It really was pleasant spending time with them. Sue fed me so often, with Bella out so much, that I took the chance to treat her back whenever possible. Sue was pretty easy company. She was quiet, but she knew some funny stories. And she wasn't hard on the eyes, either. Today, she had on a right pretty white t-shirt and jeans, and her shining hair was pulled back smoothly in a clip.
I held the door as Sue got in the car. "Thank you, Mr. Bond," she said. Fancy her knowing what the Aston Martin meant. The drive was great. I took a sneaky look around when we got to the straight stretch of road coming into the town, and floored the accelerator. Sue and Seth grabbed onto the handles, shrieking with laughter. I joined in, and after a mile I glided smoothly back down to the speed limit.
We pulled into Port Angeles around 10:30, and I found a place to park. We spent a little time window shopping, with Seth running ahead of us like a frisky puppy. At 11:30, we went into the Italian restaurant and ordered a lunch to go. Sue and I got broiled chicken sandwiches on crusty panini buns, with salad for her and calamari for me, and Seth ordered a cheeseburger and fries.
We took our food down to the Port, and pulled up at a picnic bench to eat it. The sun was out for once, and we made the best of it. Sue relished her sandwich. The pop from the cooler was ice cold.
"You know, Charlie? I could get used to this."
I looked at her, considering my reply more carefully than seemed necessary. "Me, too, Sue. It's been a terrific morning. We should do this every weekend. Sundays, maybe."
"It's a date, Chief. I'll hold you to it."
"You won't have to coax me, ma'am. It's an honour to escort you places."
The sun retreated behind the clouds, and it got a little misty. We cleaned up our containers and walked them to the trash cans, and Seth took a few fries to feed to the gulls. Then, I threw the football around with him for awhile. Kid had a powerful throw. He was really enjoying himself. So was I. Good entertainment for Sue, who sat clapping and whooping at Seth and teasing me when I missed the ball.
"Holy cow, Charlie! Look at the time. It's almost one o'clock!" Sue suddenly exclaimed.
"Holy smokes! Good thing we brought a sports car. We'd better get a move on." I scooped up the cooler and grabbed Sue's hand. Seth caught up and hurried along beside me.
We sped back to Forks as fast as I dared, and then I unloaded their stuff into the house. I hopped into the shower while Sue got changed in Bella's room. Then, I took special care shaving and styling my hair. I even used the stupid hair mousse that Alice left for me. At least it wasn't gloppy or crunchy like the crap we used in the 80's. I hurried into my room to get dressed. There was a tentative knock at my door.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Charlie, can Seth have a quick shower? He's a little sweaty from playing ball."
"Sure, but tell him to rush. We have to be out of here in 15 minutes. Sam will be here and Reverend Weber will be waiting for me."
"Thanks."
By the time I was dressed, Sue was waiting in the living room by the fireplace. She was looking at the pictures of Bella and me. She turned, quietly, to look at me.
"Wow, Charlie. You look amazing," she stated.
"You took the words right out of my mouth," I replied. Her dress was a soft yellow brushed silk, with a little matching jacket, and her hair was loose around her shoulders. She never wore it down ordinarily. Wow.
I stood quite close to her, admiringly.
"Charlie, can you do me a favour today?"
"Sure."
"Don't tell Bella or the Cullens that Jacob might be coming."
"Why not? Bells will be glad."
"Charlie, Jacob is impulsive, and he's very likely to change his mind about going. You don't want Bella looking for him all day, and then being disappointed. Bella has assumed Jacob is gone for good. She let him go. Let her concentrate on Edward today."
"Jacob's been suffering."
"Jacob was immature. Bella has been very direct with him for ages. She told him flat out that she only wanted to be friends, that she loved Edward Cullen, and that Jake's attentions were not welcome. He refused to accept it. It was extremely disrespectful."
I grimaced. "Well, that's sort of my fault. I encouraged Jacob because he's Billy's boy, and I didn't accept Edward. Edward has magnanimously forgiven me. He's a good young man." Sue looked at me a little warily. They still didn't trust the Cullens at La Push.
Sue regarded me seriously. "It was not your fault. It was Jacob's, and only Jacob's. Bella didn't know how to discourage him, and she was too soft-hearted for her message to penetrate that stubborn skull."
I nodded, accepting the logic. "Okay, Sue. It's Bella and Edward's day. I'll keep it secret. We'd best warn Seth not to say anything either."
Seth came storming down the stairs in his white shirt and dark pants, tie in hand. He had white sneakers on. "I can't do this up!" he yelled in a panic.
"Come to Mother." Sue smoothly tied the tie. I wished I had not done up my tie already.
I clued Seth into the plan to keep Jake's return hush-hushed for the day. "Edward will probably secretly be glad if Jake doesn't show up, anyhow."
"That's not true, Charlie," Seth piped up. "Edward says he has no hard feelings about Jake. He feels sorry for him. Edward would be glad if Jake showed up. It would please Bella."
"Edward is a saint," I decided. A car honked outside. "Alright, you two. Sam's here. Ready to go?"
"Sure, Charlie." I escorted my guests out to Sam's truck and greeted him and Billy. Billy's eyes were bright and he had a hopeful smile plastered on his face. I wished him a happy day. Sam got out so Sue and Seth could climb carefully into the back seat of the cab.
"Thanks for spending the morning with me, I enjoyed it," I said, leaning into the cab so Seth could see I meant it.
"The pleasure was ours, Charlie. Thank you for taking us," Sue said.
"See you shortly at the Cullens." I turned to go, then turned back. "Sue? Save me the first dance?"
Sue blushed. Holy cow. The colour on her skin was beautiful. She nodded shyly at me.
Let's get going before Alice freaks out." I waved and raced over to The Kitten. I gunned the motor and whipped onto the street.
Before long, I pulled up in front of the manse. Mrs Weber, Reverend Weber, and their twin boys hurried down the walk to the car. The wife and kids crawled into the back seat and squished up, and Mr. Weber got into the front.
"Thanks for picking us up, Chief Swan. It made Angela's day much easier."
"Call me Charlie," I ordered.
"Only if you'll call me Aaron. This is my wife, Beth, and my sons Isaac and Joshua."
"Hi Beth, Isaac, Josh."
"So Charlie, it's the Big Day. Are you ready for it?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," I muttered.
"Edward is a remarkable young man. And your daughter? Very wise for her years. It's been a treat doing their premarital counselling."
I eyed Aaron with surprise. "They did counselling with you?"
"Six sessions with me are mandatory before I'll do a wedding. We don't want unprepared people jumping into marriage, do we?"
"No, we don't. Bells never mentioned this to me." I felt a little hurt.
"Probably embarrassed. A lot of my couples don't tell anyone. They consider the subject private."
"Oh."
"Anyway, I don't think I've ever met a couple that is more compatible or more dedicated to making a healthy marriage."
"Well, that's encouraging, Aaron," I admitted.
"Yes. I've never had a couple hand in weekly essays before. Very studious, aren't they?"
"You've got that right. They're heading to Dartmouth in the fall."
"Ivey League. I wasn't surprised when they told me. But all the way to New Hampshire? You'll miss them."
"Aw, they'll be back at the end of the school year. They're going to live with Edward's brother and sister-in-law, and come home on the holidays.
"A close knit family, the Cullens."
"Yeah, well they moved a lot before they came here. They depended on each other for company, and they still do. Great man, Dr. Cullen." I stated.
"Indeed. Very philanthropic. He's paid for a lot of needs in this town. The kids give a lot to the community as well, both in donations and in service. But don't tell anyone I said so. The Cullens don't want any attention for it."
"What did you think of the Roast? Some rehearsal, wasn't it?" I smirked.
"It was a little raunchy, but hilarious nonetheless. I've had other rehearsals where they wore costumes and played sexy games and teased the couples, but the Cullens have style. I wouldn't have figured Edward and Bella would be so gracious about it, but they surprised me. It's good, because if they have a fault, it's a tendency to take life too seriously and flagellate themselves when things aren't perfect. I was encouraged when they let go of their inhibitions and had some fun."
"That was fun, for sure." I turned The Kitten into the Cullen's drive. Once again, there were zillions of strings of white twinkle lights wrapped around the trees. I wondered how they got electricity all the way out here, with all the huge tree roots and rocks around. Well, money might not be able to buy happiness, but it got you twinkle lights in the middle of the woods.
As I slowed down in front of the house, Jasper directed me to park in the garage. Holy smokes, they had a lot of fancy cars.
Jasper looked better than I'd ever seen him. Sometimes, he dressed goth, and at others he wore Western shirts and cowboy boots. But today, he looked sharp in his tuxedo. He shook hands with me for the first time. Cold, like the others. Big surprise.
"Hello and welcome, Charlie, Mr and Mrs Weber, boys," he drawled. "Everyone is out back except Alice, Bella and Esme. People are starting to arrive. Come and greet the family."
"Lead on, Jasper. How are the preparations coming?"
"There isn't much left to do but enjoy ourselves. All the hard work has paid off. It's going to be a corker of a wedding."
"Alice."
"Absolutely."
We rounded the corner of the house and I saw a fairly substantial number of people, standing around under a tent, shooting the breeze and enjoying beverages. Suddenly, I was nervous. I had to walk Bella down a flight of steep stairs in front of everyone. And Bella would be so worried about falling.
Edward saw me and drew me over to the group of people with whom he was speaking. Joy shone out of Edward like light out of a bulb. If he couldn't have kids it would be a real shame, because he and Bells would produce the most stunning offspring on the planet. I greeted Renee and Phil. Sue, Billy and Seth joined me, and after Seth had his picture taken with Edward he ran off to play with the Weber boys.
Carlisle walked over and shook my hand, and then deposited an opened beer bottle in it. It was thoughtful. I thanked him for the beer, and for the cell phone. With enthusiasm. Carlisle was pleased. After a few minutes of small talk, he wandered off to talk to some co-workers. Then, I told Edward about my morning with the Clearwaters. He was pleased that I'd already gotten some enjoyment out of the Vanquish.
Ten minutes before three, Rosalie appeared and ordered her brothers to start seating the guests. Renee dashed off, wanting to see Bella. Rosalie ordered me to go up, too. She followed me into the house and stopped at the piano to warm up her hands. Then, she started playing for the guests. Since I'd heard Bella's CD of Edward playing, I knew she wasn't quite of his calibre, but she was still very good.
The living room had been transformed into a church and it smelled wonderful with the fancy white flowers everywhere. Esme came out of the kitchen, dressed in a stunning period gown, and asked me to please get Renee to come and take her seat. She pinned a boutonniere to my jacket, and went to chat with the guests. She took her place beside Carlisle. I breathed a deep breath and climbed the stairs to Alice's room. Renee was there, bubbling over about this and that. Then, I looked at my baby girl.
Bella was stunning. I was completely blown away. Was this the same kid who went fishing with me such a short time ago? She couldn't be all grown up. But she was, I realized, with soft dewy eyes and a flawless complexion and a nice figure. She had grown up. I felt a lump in my throat. I cleared it, loudly, to announce my presence in the doorway.
"Hi Dad," Bella smiled radiantly.
"Hey, Bells. You look ... beautiful. Renee? Esme said it's time you got settled down there."
"Well, Charlie, don't you look ... dashing!" Renee didn't have to sound so shocked about it. Sue hadn't sounded shocked, just pleased. I couldn't help but respond a bit testily.
"Alice got to me."
Angela was standing behind Bella, admiring her. Angela looked very attractive, too, in her silver blue dress. When did all these girls grow up?
"Is it really time already?" Renee said nervously. "This has all gone so fast. I feel dizzy."
So did I. But I wasn't going to let on. Bella looked nervous enough. Her hands were shaking.
"Give me a hug before I go down," Renee demanded. "Careful, now. Don't tear anything." Renee released Bella and rushed to the door, then turned around and came back.
"Oh, goodness, I almost forgot! Charlie, where's the box?"
I stuck my hand in a pocket and came up empty. Oh, no. It had to be somewhere. Oh, other pocket. That's right. I heaved a sigh of relief and handed the box to Renee. She opened it and showed the contents to Bella.
"Something blue."
"Something old, too," I added. "They were your Grandma Swan's. We had a jeweller replace the paste stones with sapphires."
Bella's eyes teared up and she answered us thickly. "Mom, Dad ... you shouldn't have." She put a hand up near her mouth, looking like she would cry.
"Alice wouldn't let us do anything else," Renee complained. "Every time we tried, she all but ripped our throats out."
Bella giggled a little hysterically and Alice took the combs from their box and put them in Bella's hair.
"That's something old and something blue, and your dress is new. So here, that's mine and I want it back." Alice whipped a white garter at Bella. She blushed. So did I.
"There. A little colour. That's all you needed. You are officially perfect," Alice cooed smugly. Then, she rounded on Renee.
"Renee, you need to get downstairs."
"Yes ma'am." Renee blew Bella a kiss and disappeared. Alice sent me to grab the flowers. They were sitting in a box on Emmett and Rosalie's bed. Wow, nice room. They had a lot of old-fashioned, heavily-carved furniture that looked hand-made. I fetched the box back to Alice's room, setting it on the floor in the hall, and took the two smaller bouquets to Angela and Alice. Then, I retrieved the larger one for Bella and moved the box out of the traffic area.
Rosalie started playing the Pachelbel and Bella started to panic. "Easy, Bells." I turned to Alice. "She looks a little sick," I whispered. "Do you think she's going to make it?" Now, I was really worried about those stairs. Especially since Bella was wearing vintage-looking granny boots that looked like a cross between a pump and a boot, with three pearl- buttoned straps over the top of the foot and a two and a half inch heel. At least they weren't spike heels, I mused, or she'd topple over for sure. Bella turned whiter than death.
"She'd better make it," growled Alice. She eyed Bella beadily and grasped her by the arms, giving her a little shake. "Focus, Bella! Edward is waiting for you down there."
Angela moved to stand in the doorway, ready to line up. Rosalie started playing the next song, the one Edward wrote. Angela's cue was coming.
"Bells? We're up to bat," I said. Bella hesitated.
"Bella?!" Alice asked.
"Yes. Edward. Okay," my daughter squeaked. Bella stood up, and Alice straightened the train of the dress and fluffed up the veil and smoothed it out, lifting part of it to cover her face. Then Alice retrieved her bouquet. This was it. I took Bella's arm and tucked it under mine, and then I supported her as she lined up, trembling, on the landing behind Alice. There was the cue. Angela proceeded down the stairs after giving Bella an encouraging smile. I counted to five.
"It's my turn," whispered Alice. "Count to five and follow me." Alice took her cue and I counted to five. I smiled at Bella, who smiled tentatively back, and escorted her to the top of the stairs.
It was time to give my girl away. I gripped her firmly and we stepped down onto the top stair, listening to the rich music that my almost-son wrote for his bride.
A/N: Just to torture you, I am doing an extra chapter from Bella's pov before we go to Edward. Ahn't I mean? Review and tell me how mean I am. But don't break my heart because I'm still getting over the H1N1 and I have bronchitis and I still wrote you this chappie. Do you have a cookie for me?