The ceremony had passed in a blur of words and tears and now that I was in the second room of the community hall I relaxed and allowed myself to breath. I had been so sure that something was going to go wrong that when it had gone right I was astounded. Jacob stood next to me, still looking uncomfortable in his suit, his large hand cradling mine softly. We stood in the doorway, Faye and Mia on either side of us, waiting on the guests to start trickling in from the hallway. Abby was first in line and rather than shake our hands as she was supposed to, she launched herself at us, pulling us into a strangling hug.
"Congratulations." She smiled, her eyes shining slightly. "I can't believe you guys are finally married."
Paul chuckled at his wife and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, keeping hold of Maria with his other hand.
"She's a little emotional at the minute." He informed us. I nodded and chuckled, accepting the small kiss on the cheek he offered. "We're happy for you guys. Now, let's get down to the real reason I'm here… where's the food."
"Paul, you're such a pig." Abby shook her head with a grin and pushed her husband towards the table. They were followed by Kim and Jared and again I received a hug and a kiss and Jacob received a huge smack on the shoulder that made Kim and I wince but which made Jacob chuckled.
"You look amazing. Aren't you glad you picked this dress?" Kim smiled at me knowingly and I nodded in agreement. Lydia stood beside Mia, whispering something excitedly in her ear that caused Mia to giggle loudly and blush. I raised my eyebrow at Kim and she shrugged. They joined Abby and Paul at the table and I rubbed my arms a little to heat them up. Jacob noticed the small gesture and let go of my hand to wrap his arms my shoulder. The heat rushed through me immediately and I smiled up at him in gratitude. I couldn't believe he was my husband. He was so beautiful, standing facing me and promising me that he would love me forever and he was even more beautiful now, smiling down at me with all the love he had promised.
Two tall, Native American women wandered through the door then, just before Billy and Sue and I smiled at them. I recognised them after a few seconds from the photos Billy had shown me.
"Hey guys. Rachel, Rebecca, this is my wife Lily and this is Mia and Faye. Lily, these are my sisters, Rachel and Rebecca." He gestured to each one while he said their names and I smiled at them, shaking their hands as they passed.
"It's so nice to finally meet you, Lily." Rachel told me with a pleasant smile. "I hope we'll get to see you again before we leave."
"I hope so too." I assured them. "I'll make sure to call over to Billy's."
"You look beautiful, dear." Sue told me as Rachel and Rebecca walked on.
"Thanks, Sue." I smiled brightly at her, accepting the kiss on the cheek from her before she passed.
"Its about time." Billy told the two of us gruffly. Sue and I exchanged amused looks over his head and he snorted as Jacob leaned down to hug him.
"Welcome to the family, Lily. And you two beautiful girls as well." He smiled widely at Faye and Mia and they launched themselves at him, wrapping their arms around his neck. My throat was suddenly tight as I watched my now complete family celebrating. Jacob reached down to pry the two girls off my new father in law and I took their place, hugging him and inhaling that familiar, comforting smell of wood and the spices that Billy always seemed to be adding to things. He patted my back and smiled at me, seemingly understanding exactly what I was feeling. He was so like his son that way.
Sue and Billy left us after a few more minutes, once we realised that there was a line forming behind them. The next few people to enter were Jacob's friends from around town and I smiled and greeted them politely, smiling down at their children. One small boy, looking adorable with his longish, dark hair, smiled shyly at Mia before sticking his tongue out at her and pulling a grotesque face. Mia giggled girlishly and hid behind her face as me and the boys mom laughed.
"Young love, eh?" I whispered to Jacob. He frowned slightly down at the young boy as he followed his mom and dad towards a table, glancing back at Mia every so often.
"I'll break his legs." Jacob threatened.
"Jacob Black!" I hissed up at him. He chuckled and shrugged.
"I have to look after my girls." He told me. I shook my head with a laugh before turning back to the line. A lot of people had given up on being greeted and I could see the majority of the pack sitting around three tables, laughing and talking loudly.
"Lily Black you look stunning." I felt Jacob stiffen beside my as I turned to smile at Gregory Nicholls, one of the main graphic designers that worked in my firm.
"Greg! I can't believe you're here." Greg had been a good friend to me in LA. We rarely socialised outside of work and yet here he was at my wedding when my social friends were still in LA. I unwound myself from Jacob and reached up to hug him, kissing his cheek lightly.
"I can't believe you didn't tell any of us you were getting married." A female voice spoke from behind Gregory and I let out a shriek when I saw the familiar red head. Alice King was my other best friend and I hadn't seen in over three months before I left LA. She had gone to Mexico with her boyfriend and I hadn't expected her to return, especially not for my wedding. Her boyfriend was Gregory's brother and I was shocked that Gerry wasn't here.
"Oh my God, how did you two find out about this?" I asked. "Jesus, where are my manners? Jake, this is Greg, he works with me, and this is Alice, one of my old friends. Greg, Alice, this is my husband Jacob Black."
"Wow." Greg blatantly looked Jacob up and down and I watched as Jacob shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny and I chuckled. He could handle anything… except an appreciative look from a gay man.
"Back off bitch, he's taken." I jokingly warned Greg, hugging him again. "I'm so glad you guys are here."
I hugged Alice tightly and she smiled at me, tears shining in the corner of her eyes.
"I heard about…" She motioned to Mia and Faye. "You okay with it all?"
"I wasn't at first." I told her honestly. "But I am now, Jacob and I are have started adoption proceedings and we're going to live in La Push. I'm happy now."
"Good. I'm so glad. And you know if you ever need anything…"
"I know. Thanks Alice."
The two of them walked towards and empty table and I turned to the last people in the line, my parents and Amanda. Amanda had pulled a thick shrug over her grey dress and was glaring around the room, shivering dramatically every few minutes. I rolled my eyes at her and smiled at my mom and dad. They stood awkwardly before us, my dad rubbing the back of his neck the way he always did when he was nervous.
"It's nice to see you again, Mr and Mrs Hill." Jacob greeted them politely. They smiled at him, shaking his hand before giving me a hug each.
"You looked so beautiful up there, honey." My mom told me.
"Stunning." Dad agreed. I smiled at them happily.
"I'm glad you guys came." I told them. "I think Alice and Greg were keeping you a table over there; dinner will be served soon."
"I hope there's a vegetarian option." Amanda sneered. I chuckled and shook my head in mock sorrow.
"Afraid not." I told her. "Guess you'll just have to eat the vegetables."
She shot me an annoyed look before heading towards their table, my mom and dad following.
"Guess we can go and sit down now." I smiled at Jacob. Mia and Faye led the way towards our table, sitting down next to Haley and Jody. We had decided not to have a bridal party table, since there wasn't a big enough party to warrant one, so we had decided to share a table with the Uleys.
The dinner passed in a blur of good food, good conversation and loud laughter. No one stayed at their tables once the food was finished and as we waited on the DJ to set up, I stood with Abby and Kim, introducing them to Alice and Greg. Jacob and the boys had taken over two tables and they were sitting their, content to drink their beers and tell obnoxious jokes, as Abby told me with an eye roll.
"It's their wedding tradition." Kim agreed. "Until they have to get up and dance, they sit there and laugh." She did a bad impression of their laughter as I took a sip of champagne and I chuckled, accidentally snorting the fizzy liquid up my nose.
"Attractive." Alice commented through her laughter. I shrugged and chuckled.
"Seriously though, what do those boys drink?" Greg asked, sipping his champagne and staring openly at the pack. I raised an eyebrow at Abby and shrugged.
"I would kill for a stomach like that." He sighed. "And those arms! Honestly." He fanned himself and I laughed, wrapping an arm around his neck.
"Didn't I tell you to back off?" I chuckled. He shrugged.
"But honey, you can't try to keep that boy to yourself. It would be sinful."
I shook my head and uncurled my arm from his neck. I craned my neck to check on the kids and smiled as I watched Mia and the mystery boy from earlier chasing each other around the pack's table.
"Could I please have the bride and groom on the dance floor please?" I looked up at the DJ before turning to where Jacob was rising from his seat and making his way towards me. He took my hand and smiled softly, pulling me towards the floor. Once we were in the middle and silence had fallen I heard the opening of At Last.
At last my love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song
I wrapped my arms around Jacob's waist and sighed, settling my head against his chest and relaxing. I could feel all my troubles sliding off my shoulder as Jacob swayed me in time with the song, his hands warm and comforting where they sat; one against the small of my back and one on the skin of my bare shoulders.
Ohh yeah yeah
At last the skies above are blue
My heart as wrapped up in clover
The night I looked at you
"I don't think I've told you yet," Jacob's breath was warm against my ear as he whispered softly. "You look absolutely stunning today. I have never seen anything as beautiful as you."
I found a dream, that I could speak to
A dream that I can call my own
I found a thrill to rest my cheek to
A thrill that I have never known
I tightened my grip and smiled against his shirt.
"I'm so happy you're finally mine. Like, properly, indisputably mine." He continued as we swayed. "And everyone knows it."
I pulled back slightly to look him in the eye.
"And you're mine. We're a real family now. You, me, Mia and Faye. From today on, we can get on with life."
Ohh yeah yeah…
You smile, you smile
And then the spell was cast
And here we are in heaven
For you are mine at last
I felt Jacob lift me off my feel slightly to place a kiss on my cold lips and I smiled at the sudden heat. I wrapped my arms around his neck, forcing him to hold on to me tighter. I sang the rest of the words to him softly, in his ear.
"I love you, Jacob."
"I love you too, Lily."
This is not the end of the reception. There will be more in a few days. I'm not a 100 sure who the song belongs to originally, but this version is Etta James.