Chapter Thirty Five: Saying Goodbye
When someone is
going through a storm,
your silent presence
is more powerful than a
million, empty words.
~Thema Davis
I was at the Black's helping Jacob and Billy while Sam had the rest of the pack over to discuss his plan for the agreement with the Cullens. He thought that if they agreed to leave before changing Bella and re-establishing the treaty after Bella's changed everything would settle for the best. We all knew that Jacob would still be heartbroken and want to go after the Cullens for changing Bella, but not being forced to kill her, we had hoped, would mellow him out some, but we never imagined that he would take it as bad as he did. When Sam told him what was happening he had been angry, but his injuries prevented him from phasing and only caused him more pain in the process.
What sent Jacob over the edge was receiving a wedding invitation in the mail from Edward and Bella after he has healed. He had gone ballistic and ran out in a blind rage. After being gone for a couple hours without coming back, Billy called Sam. From what Sam and the others could gathered from the pack link was that Jake's pain and anger were somewhat muted as a wolf and he was running away to help himself cope. He's been gone for a month now and everyone is worried about him. The guys couldn't get through to him anymore, he had completely blocked them out as best he could, thinking as little as possible and letting the wolf fully take over. We knew that he could hear us, but he refused to talk and come home, letting his wolf take over to deal with the reality that Bella had officially picked Edward over him.
The month passed somewhat fast, with worrying over Jake, finishing some of the wedding plans, helping Billy, and spending time with dad while Bella was away at the Cullens planning her wedding to Edward. I had been surprised when I had gotten the invitation for Sam and I to attend the wedding. I had thought she wouldn't bother inviting me, seeing as she had refused to talk to me since she had come back from Italy in March. Sam stood on the line about where he stood concerning the wedding. He wasn't enthused about going, but knew since it was my sister that I would have to go, if not for her then for my father. Eventually he came to the decision that he would come with me, he didn't trust the Cullens even with the treaty and wanted to make sure I was completely safe while I was there.
Today is the wedding and I promised dad that I would help him get into his 'monkey suit' as he liked to call it. Sam looked dashing in his suit as I stared at him from the doorway. He looked over and smirked when he saw my staring before he looked over my dress. I wasn't informed of a dress code so I wore a light yellow dress that flowed to my knees and had small straps holding the bodice up. There was a black, thin belt around my waist with a small, decorative buckle to add some glimmer to the outfit.
"Can you believe that in just over two months, this going to be us?" I asked as I walked to Sam. He wrapped his arms around me and lightly kissed my lips.
"I can more than believe it. I'm excited for it." He said and I smiled up at him.
"I am, too." I leaned up and kissed him one more time before looking at the clock.
"We better get going. Dad's going to need all the time he can get to be ready and presentable for Bella's wedding." I moved out of Sam's arms to put on my shoes, thin, black strapped heels with open toes to hopefully prevent the pain that usually accompanied wearing heels. When we got to the house we let ourselves in with the key. Dad wasn't down stairs and the bathroom door was open at the top of the stairs.
"Dad?" I called.
"Upstairs!" He called back. Sam started to move behind me, but I stopped him.
"If your needed I'll call for you. Go watch some TV or something." I said and Sam shrugged before walking toward the living room. Dad wouldn't appreciate an audience to his confusion and discomfort when it came to getting in and wearing a 'monkey suit'. I smiled to myself and walked up the stairs. I found dad standing at the end of his bed staring at the tux that was laid out on it. His expression was hard to decipher.
"Dad?" I asked as I took a step into the room.
"I'm losing her. After today she's going to leave with him and go off to college. At least with you I know he won't hurt you, that he'll treat you right and that you'll still be close. With your sister… she never liked it here and now she won't even have Edward to hold her here." Dad said and I wrapped my arms around him in a hug.
"It'll be okay, daddy. You'll still be able to call her. She's not going to be able to just forget about this place or about the man that loved her first." I assured him, but dad still looked heartbroken as he nodded his head.
"What would I do without you, baby girl?" He asked and I gave him a small smile.
"Let's never find out." I said and he nodded.
"Now go put the pants and shirt on." I said picking up the clothing and handed it to dad, pointing to the bathroom. Dad kissed my forehead and walked out of the room. I took my time and went back downstairs to wait for him. Sam had the news on where some 'experts' were speculating what had happen to cause the sudden stop of all the recent killings in Seattle. Sam snorted as one over weight, brunette woman suggested that the killer had just gotten tired of killing.
"Charlie okay up there?" Sam asked as he turned his head to look at me as I took a seat on the arm of the couch.
"He knows he's losing Bella." I said softly and he nodded.
"He'll be alright. He's still got you." Sam said and I moved down to be closer to him. Sam wrapped his arm around me and I laid my head on his shoulder. I looked up as I heard dad's heavy foot steps coming down the stairs. Sam gave a whistle and I giggled as a blush came to dad's cheek.
"Maybe I should rethink letting you only wear a suit for the wedding, you look good in a tux." I said and got up to make his bow tie.
"Oh no, no, no. You promised I wouldn't have to wear a monkey suit for your wedding and I'm going to hold you to that come hell or high water." Dad said and pointed at me sternly. I smiled and nodded my head a little as I focused on making the bow loose enough not to choke dad, but tight enough that it didn't come undone. The doorbell rang as I finished and I raised an eyebrow at dad. He avoided my eyes as he walked to the door putting his jacket on as he went. He opened the door and I was surprised to see Sue and Seth standing on the other side. I gave a wave and stepped back into the living room, muffling my giddy giggle with my hand. Sam looked up at me curiously, I jerked my thumb to the door and Sam got up to peek around the corner. He snorted and smirked as he looked back at me.
"Go Charlie." Sam said with a smirk and grabbed a hold of my hand.
"See he'll be fine." Sam assured and I nodded with smile. We walked back around the corner as dad turned with his mouth open to call for us.
"We better get going. Alice will kill us if we're late." Dad muffled and stepped out the door. Sue and Sam looked a little unsettled with the wording while Seth chuckled at the unknown irony and walked along behind dad. Sam pulled out the keys as I locked the front door behind us. I waved at Billy when I saw him waiting in the front seat of Sue's car. Dad joined Sue and Seth in their car while Sam and I hopped in the truck.
"I see a building flame." I said in a sing-song tone as we pulled out onto the street. Sam chuckled and shook his head in dismay. We spent some of the ride in silence till a thought struck me.
"Didn't you say that Jake's been making his way back toward home the last couple days?" I asked as we turned on to the highway. Sam looked at me curiously before nodding.
"Yeah, he's been out in the forests around Oregon somewhere, but the other day he was somewhere around Eatonville." Sam said and I nodded.
"Do you think he'll be come to the wedding?" I asked and Sam thought about it for a second.
"Maybe. I just hope if he does that he doesn't start anything." Sam said and I grasped his hand with mine.
"What would a wedding be without a little drama?" I asked and Sam chuckled.
"We followed dad as we drove down the winding road that led to the Cullens. Instead of lights, this time there were light purple ribbons tied to the trees as we curved up the driveway to the clearing with the massive white mansion. It looked bigger in the daylight than it had when I had been here with dad to drop Bella off for the graduation party. As dad got Billy out of the car the pixie Cullen, Alice came bouncing out of the house and down the steps. Sue seemed a little startled by her and stuck close to Seth as she got closer.
"Bella's upstairs, Charlie. Rose and Esme are just getting her into her dress." Alice chirped as she smiled at my father. He gave her a smile back and followed her inside. As we walked toward the house I saw Sam fight from cringing or wrinkling his nose from the smell that was sure to be burning his nose. Even Seth, who was putting up a good show, couldn't hide that the scent was uncomfortable. Sue and Billy also looked like the smelled something bad, but were covering it up easier than the guys.
Inside was covered in white garnishings and tons of flowers that left the room smelling sweet. The flowers seemed to mask the smell a little for the others as they didn't seem as tense. A white silk cloth was laid on the floor as the aisle, bordered on both sides by rows of white chairs that had large, light purple ribbons tied at the back. The alter had a white arch that was decorated in more purple silk and flowers. I had to admit that everything was gorgeous. Alice had done a good job planning and decorating. It made me think more about when Sam and I would in the same positions as Bella and Edward, but with us on the cliffs. Even with the differences I knew that our wedding would just as beautiful.
We all settled into our seats to wait. I cringed when I saw the blonde Cullen boy walk through the door with Renee. She was already getting herself worked up as she gushed over everything. Thankfully she was quickly guided up the stairs to see Bella before the rest of the guests around and the wedding would begin. Phil came back down the stairs soon after he went up and took his seat a few down from Sam and I. He smiled at me and gave a nod that I returned before extending his hand to Sam.
"I'm Phil Dwyer, Bella's step father." He said introducing himself. Sam leaned over and shook his hand.
"I'm Sam Uley, Sunny's fiance." Sam said and Phil raised an eyebrow as I smiled up at Sam.
"Congratulations." Phil said to both of us and he leaned back into his seat.
"Thank you." I said and tried not to cringe as his eyes widened when he saw the right side of my face. Sam wrapped his arm around me and I settled into my seat as Phil turned to introduce himself to Billy, Sue and Seth. It wasn't long before the rest of the guests arrived and Renee came down to her seat. The blonde Cullen woman came down behind Renee and took her seat at the piano. Everyone turned to watch the stair case as she began to play the wedding march. Edward and Dr. Cullen stood at the alter with Rev. Webber as Alice all but skipped her way down the stairs and aisle. As she reached the end the song changed into the bridal march and we all stood to watch dad come down the stairs with Bella on his arm.
Bella looked like herself as she came down the aisle. Her makeup was light, but she looked porcelain pale and more like the Cullens than her human self. A braid came from her bangs to the back of her head where it joined a messy, but stylish bun where a comb held her veil in place. Her dress was skin tight, ivory colored silk that left very little to the imagination, but showed very little real skin. The back was cut out and replaced with a thin mesh that allowed you to see her back through the material. Her train flowed a couple feet out behind her as she walked, she look gorgeous. Edward stood smiling next to Rev. Webber as she made her way down the aisle. Dad's arm seemed to be the only thing keeping her from trying to sprint down the aisle to him.
When she and dad finally made it to the end dad took her hand and kissed it before placing it in Edward's. He gave Edward a stern look and probably mumbled something from the way Sam was lightly shaking with concealed laughter beside me and Edward nodded. Dad took his seat at the end of the aisle as Bella handed off her flower's to Alice to hold. The ceremony was quick, both Edward and Bella seemed to be in a daze as they spoke. When they were declared husband and wife, Bella enthusiastically threw herself into Edward, locking lips with him. The crowd chuckled at her actions. They didn't stop until Mr. Webber lightly cleared his throat. Bella pulled away with a blush spreading through her cheeks making her look more human.
After some pictures everyone moved out to the backyard where the reception was set up. There were little flowers hanging everywhere to block out the sun to keep the vampires from being exposed. Dad went to sit at the table that we were assigned as the rest of us got in the line to congratulate the newlyweds. I hadn't realized inside, just how many people were here, I had never taken my sister for one of those people that would want the huge wedding. The line was moving quickly as the guests gave their congratulations and moved on, but more and more people seemed to be getting in line.
"Congrats." I said as we came to the front of the line, standing in front of Bella and Edward.
"Thank you." They both said and I moved to hug my sister while Edward and Sam seemed to have some quiet conversation that I couldn't hear, ending in the two shaking hands.
"Even though your last name is Cullen now, you'll always be my sister, don't forget that." I whispered in her ear and she nodded with a small smile as I pulled away and took a hold of Sam's hand. Sam gave a nod to Bella and I to Edward before we stepped away back to the table as Seth and Sue stepped up with Billy to congratulate the couple.
Unfortunately Renee was also sitting at the table when Sam and I caught sight of the group. She was dabbing at her smudged mascara as she gushed at Alice who stood next to her smiling and nodding. Phil sat silently at her side, nodding when she addressed him. Dad was seated as far away as the table would allow from Renee and was already nursing a beer as he stared down at the table. I took the seat next to him and he relaxed a little as he glanced toward Sam and I.
"Oh, it was just so beautiful! I wish I'd had someone like you and Esme to plan my weddings!" Renee complemented. I turned and covered my mouth. Sam looked at me curiously as I tried to hide my laugh. I leaned up to whisper in his ear.
"She couldn't have a wedding like this with dad, because she didn't have the two months before she would showing." Sam shook his head as he sat up in his seat.
"I'm glad your going to make the best of tonight." Sam mumbled to me as we watched the others leave the line and start toward the table.
"Guess I'm like dad, that way." I said and nudged him. Dad looked at me curiously.
"Not the best around emotional women." I said and dad chuckled as he took another swig of his beer.
"Well I'm glad you got something, because you didn't get your looks or talent from me." Dad said. Sam shook his head at the two of us with a smile.
"What am I going to be marrying into?" He asked as he looked over to Billy and Sue. They smiled and shook their heads.
"It was your decision, though you still have two months to back out." Billy joked and Sam shook his head again.
"Wouldn't give her up for the world." He said wrapping his arm around and kissing my forehead. I smiled as Sue awed and Seth fake gagged. There was a small dinner before Alice stood up to do a toast. From there on dad, Renee, Emmett, Esme, Edward and a couple of Bella's high school friends gave toasts. Some inappropriate, some mushy and some filled with tears.
"You should give a toast." Renee said as she sat down, dabbing her eyes. I was shocked that she would suggest it, but I didn't think it was a good idea.
"I think that anything I could possibly say had already been covered. Your toast was very touching, Renee." I said, knowing flattery would be the only way to make her drop the idea of me making a toast. She smiled and thanked me before turning around to pay attention to Jessica Stanley as she was awkwardly trying to make a toast to Edward and Bella. Sam leaned down and I felt his breath on my ear.
"Didn't know you were so deceptive." Sam whispered. I smiled and turned toward him slightly.
"Seems you still have a lot to learn still, don't you?" I said and Sam chuckled as he leaned back. Thankfully the painful toasts ended and we moved on to dancing. Edward and Bella's dance was beautiful and moved into dad and Bella's father/daughter dance. They swayed to the music lightly as they both tried to avoid stepping on the other's feet while Edward and Esme danced gracefully around the floor like it was effortless. When the guests we're allowed to join in I pulled a reluctant Sam onto the floor.
"Sunny, you know I can't dance." Sam said and I swear I heard a little fear in his voice as he spoke. I smiled up at Sam and moved his hands to the right positions.
"If dad and Bella can dance, so can we." I argued lightly as I laid my hands on his shoulders. We started lightly swaying to the music and Sam relaxed a little when he realized that their wasn't much to this..
"Alright now you step forward with your right foot." I said and started instructing Sam how to move, before long he caught on and we were moving along with the other around the floor. I smiled up at him smugly.
"I told you, you could do it." I said and Sam rolled his eyes before leaning down and kissing me lightly.
"Yes, how dare I doubt you." Sam said sarcastically. We continued to move till dad tapped Sam on the shoulder.
"May I cut in?" Dad asked. Sam nodded and moved for dad to take his place before he moved off to the side to watch.
"Never would have guessed that boy could dance." Dad said as Sam walked away. I laughed.
"He couldn't till I told him what to do." I said and dad laughed with me.
"Well this is definitely a record. I got to dance with both my girls in one night. What where the chance of that?" Dad asked and I shrugged.
"The chances were pretty good tonight. Remember the last time we danced together?" I asked and a light blush came to dad's cheeks.
"Yeah, let's not talk about that." Dad said and I laughed. We hadn't danced since the father/daughter dance during my freshmen year. As dad had tried to pay attention to the other dancers and learn the steps as he went, but ended up tripping over the cuff of his pants and fell into the table that held the drinks. As dad and I swayed I could see Sam every so often till the second song came to an end and he was no where to be found and suddenly none of the Cullens were either. As I glanced around I couldn't find Seth or my sister.
The guests thinned out on the floor and we moved back to the table. Dad and Billy got another beer and took a couple swigs. Sue kept glancing toward the trees at the far end of the dance floor and I glance over to only see darkness past the trees. It was a little while later that the Cullens showed back up and a frazzled looking Bella. I kept glancing around at the crowd and still couldn't find Sam or Seth. Dad and Billy kept throwing back Vitamin R like it was going out of style. Alice had swept Bella away to change into an outfit to travel in before Seth came back to the table.
"Where'd you guys go?" I whispered as Seth slipped into Sam's vacant seat.
"Jake showed up." Seth explained and I sighed.
"Sam told me to give you these." Seth said and handed me a bag with Sam's suit in it and the keys to the truck.
"Thanks." I sighed. The night had taken a delightful turn only to be dashed by the reality of the supernatural world we lived in yet again.
"Bella and Edward are about to leave. We're throwing rice out front." The tall buff Cullen, Emmett, said as he approached the table.
"We'll be right there." I said and gave him a small smile that he returned with a nod before leaving to tell other guests. I walked out and placed Sam's clothes in the truck before taking a bag of rice and joining the crowd. As the newlyweds came out the door, Bella cut left, toward where dad was standing away from everyone. It was only a couple minutes before Bella rejoined Edward and they made their way to car. Edward's brothers pegged him a little harder than humanly possible with their hand fulls of rice, but most of the guests were too caught up in cheering and throwing their own rice or too drunk to notice. We all waved and cheered as they left. I placed my empty rice bag in a trash can and walked to the truck. A painful howled could be heard in the night and the magic of the night was ruined.