EPOV
"It's amazing."
"You know, Edward, Alice does more than just shop and flit around annoyingly. She does actually pay attention. I think that's why she wanted to do this for you. Because she knew she could get it right."
I was touched, but still couldn't help teasing, "Wow, Emmett. That was deep. Been working on that for a while have you?"
Emmett growled good naturedly at me. Jackass.
I laughed and we went back to unpacking the rest of Alice's gifts.
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APOV
"Since it's early afternoon there will be plenty of time for you and Phil to get settled before I pick you up," I smiled at Renee in the rearview mirror.
She smiled back and gave Bella a quick squeeze on the shoulder. Renee had been so apprehensive of the wedding until I had convinced Bella to let me speak to her. I was able to set her mind at ease by telling her I would need her help with all the details. Renee had been ecstatic.
Both Renee and Charlie's biggest concern, after Bella's age, was the money. They had wanted to help with the wedding and would have been able to had it been done in a manner Bella wanted: small and boring.
Carlisle and Esme had to talk to both of them regarding the financial situation. They talked fast about being a non-traditional family and how they were happy to give Edward and me – as an "aspiring events planner"- as well as Renee and Charlie, a gift of the wedding. They talked about how Bella would never presume and, in fact, had fought about the wedding details and they were in no way put out by taking on the entire wedding expense.
Then we offered our "compromise" which was really just a way to make Bella's parents feel useful. Renee would get to help me with the "what to do with Bella the week before the wedding" plan and Charlie would have the wedding party over to his house for a BBQ as a pseudo-rehearsal dinner.
We soon pulled into the small Forks' motel parking lot and Bella got out with her parents, "I'm going to help Renee unpack. And Edward and I were going to watch movies at your house tonight while you and mom are doing… whatever dastardly deeds you two will be doing."
Bella crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue and I couldn't help but giggle, "Okay Bella, I guess I can trust Edward to be enough of a distraction so you don't hear any of the evil plans."
We waved goodbye and I was glad to drive a normal speed back the house. As I pulled down the driveway I saw Edward standing on the front porch grinning at me.
I excitedly parked the car in front of the garage and hopped out to give him a hug, "So you approve do you?"
He gave me a hard squeeze back, "Yes, of what I've seen."
"What have you seen exactly?" My eyes narrowed slightly because I knew what he should have seen had they followed my instructions.
"The gifts," he beamed at me again, "The engraved crystal flutes – impressive by the way – and the engraved name plates. But I'm not quite sure I understand why those look the way they do."
I clapped my hands together, "They are part of my ingenious decorating."
I grabbed Edward's hand and ran with him to the back of the house where we were storing the decorations, "See they work like this."
I picked up one of the name plates. It was silver with the guest's name engraved on the front and then a half inch slit and then the back. It looked a lot like a very fancy business card holder. I set it on a box and then picked up the moon/sun gift and set it in the slit.
"These will be set at each person's place so they know where they are supposed to be and then it becomes functional and decorative and a gift."
I couldn't help the slightly smug look on my face as Edward gave his approval, "Very lovely, Alice. But what do you mean so they know where they are supposed to be?"
"Oh, I'm putting together a seating chart."
Edward frowned, "For four hundred people?"
I smiled and nodded, "Yes, it's not that difficult. I just want to make sure the right people sit together. You know like I want to make sure Lauren is set with someone who she'll despise, like.." I pretended to ponder the seating arrangements but Edward could already see it in my mind.
".. with the Denali Clan!" He ran his hand through his hair. "You are pure evil."
I smiled, "No, but I am a pixie right...and didn't someone once say pixies are only big enough to hold one emotion at a time? So I'm either all good or all bad?" I giggled.
Edward laughed with me, "That was J.M. Barrie and it was fairies, as you well know."
I shrugged before hugging him again, "Anyway, you only have a couple of hours, so think of something good to make for Renee and Bella for dinner and pick out some movies to keep Bella occupied."