Chapter Thirty Six

Bella

The last couple of months leading up to the exams were a heady mix of revision and nights with Jasper although of course Charlie didn't know about the latter. Jasper would come over after school, well he picked me up even though my hand was finally out of plaster and I could drive, and Charlie didn't say anything because he would sit with me as I crammed for my exams. At weekends we went out on a Saturday, usually somewhere quiet where we could just be together and make plans and Sundays it became a regular thing for us and Charlie, when he wasn't at work, to visit Rose and Emmett. I was surprised to find that Rose was an excellent cook just like Esme and Charlie always had the left overs to take home with him. I was amazed at how comfortable he seemed with Rose and Emmett knowing what they were. When I asked him about it he smiled,

"Bella if you are going to become a part of their family I have to find a way to coexist or I'll lose you altogether and I won't do that. Besides I work on the theory if they wanted me for lunch I'd be dead before now."

He never ceased to amaze me. Then Carlisle and Esme visited which was slightly awkward, the last time I'd seen them I was with Edward.

Esme

When Bella and Rose got me alone and asked if I would help organise the wedding I was overcome but agreed readily. She wanted something quiet and understated and we decided between us that a Christmas wedding would be nice. Bella would invite Renee and Phil but she had no other family and on our side there were just Rose and Em, Carlisle and myself. I agreed to ask Alice if she would come but leave it a little while until the arrangements were all made which was a good idea in theory but of course Alice outsmarted us by turning up a couple of days later with a new friend Blake who seemed to adore her, and a vast array of samples for everything from the table cloths to the best man's suit! Who Jasper would ask to be his best man we had no idea, he was very quiet about it but after a lot of bullying we got Alice to cut out the idea of bridesmaids and a lavish reception and as Bella insisted on no crystal plates or glasses Alice was forced to scale everything else down too. I wondered how Renee was going to take the news, they were going down this weekend to tell her in person.

Bella

I enjoyed the flight down to Jacksonville sitting with Jasper but the thought of breaking the news to Renee was daunting, she wasn't an advocate of early marriage, she'd told me often enough.

"Have you decided on a best man?"

He sighed heavily,

"My best man has washed his hands of me I'm afraid, but I wouldn't feel right with anyone else at my side. I sent them an invitation but I haven't heard anything back"

"You mean Peter? The guy who saved me from the snake?"

"Yes, he's always been my right hand man but I blew it big time or at least I allowed Alice to ruin it with him."

"Yet he came when you had trouble, he saved me"

"True but he left me in no doubt how he felt. I guess I just have to accept I hurt him deeply. He acts very blasé, everything is a joke but he feels things, he just hides it. Anyway with a small service we don't need all the trappings. As long as you are there that's all I need. When we land I think we should shop for a ring, before we meet your mum."

"I told her we weren't flying in until late so we don't have to visit until morning."

He looked deeply into my eyes,

"Really? So should I book a room for tonight?"

"Unless you want to spend the night in an alley it might be a good idea"

Jasper

I wasn't sure I'd picked up the signals right but spending the night with Bella would be a dream come true. I thought she would want to wait until we were married but even if I got no more than a kiss and her sleeping body in my arms I wouldn't be complaining. I rented a car when we landed and drove to one of the smaller hotels booking a room for,

"Two nights please"

I looked at Bella and she smiled, a wicked light in her eyes.

"As the lady says, two nights"

We put our bags upstairs then went out to find a jewellers. It was getting late but there were still plenty of shoppers around and we soon found a big jewellers and stood along with another couple looking in at the engagement rings. I was happy to leave this to Bella, she had to have a ring she was happy with and I knew it wouldn't be big or flashy but I was surprised when she chose a double heart ring. My mother had worn one very similar but this had the two hearts in different colours, one platinum and the other rose gold.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded, her eyes bright with excitement and we were lucky, it didn't need sizing so we brought it away with us in my pocket. I would propose properly later. In the meantime we had dinner, or she did while I watched her, just happy to be in her company then walked back hand in hand to the hotel. While she freshened up I ordered a bottle of champagne and two glasses and a single red rose to be delivered to our room in half an hour.

Bella

I heard Jasper on the phone although I couldn't hear the words he was saying. I was so happy it was bursting out of me setting me alight. I had thought long and hard about tonight, I couldn't wait any longer for Jasper and now I would become his completely. When I came out of the bathroom he took me by the hand and led me to the centre of the room and went down on one knee, I blushed but he ignored that and took the box out of his pocket opening it to expose the ring, then he spoke,

"Isabella Swan I would make you mine for eternity if you let me. Will you marry me?"

My voice was choked with emotion as I answered him and he slipped the ring on my finger and kissed it. As he did so there was a tap on the door and he got up to answer it,

"Stay there Bella"

I waited and he took a tray from the waiter coming back in with it, a bottle of champagne with two tall elegant flutes and a single red rose in a cut glass container. He popped the champagne cork which flew up to hit the ceiling then poured two glasses and handed me one.

"To my future wife, the most beautiful woman in the world who has just made me the happiest man."

I took a sip after clinking glasses and was amused to see him do the same.

"Did you think I would let you drink to that toast alone?"

I shook my head and tears of joy ran down my face as he took me in his arms.