CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

(BPOV)

I awoke to the soft caress of Jacobs warm hand gliding up the bare skin of my back, his touch enough to keep my eyes open while my heavy lidded gaze steadied in on his handsome face.

"What time is it?" I sleepily asked him, stretching and feeling the slight soreness in my muscles as I moved.

"A little before six." He replied, as he moved his hand up to my shoulders and started in with a massage that made my eyes threaten to close again.

"Not fair-... -Not even in the least bit-" I half groaned to him in return. "You kept me up till three. There's no way I'm moving from here till at least eight."

Jacob laughed at this, the sound causing a grin to touch my face as he leaned in and placed a kiss to my cheek.

"As I do recall- and if my memory serves me right, which it usually does, you were the one who was ready for more-... and more...- and then some more." He hinted with a suggestive wink my way.

I rolled my eyes at him and forced myself upright, as I studied the giddiness in his bright and alert expression.

"Why do you look so excited this early? Am I still missing something here?"

"Well, last night was pretty amazing."

"It was." I agreed, kissing him long enough to make him reach for me again.

"But to be truthful, I may be excited this early for an entirely different reason altogether" He soon admitted, with a slight blush settling into his russet cheeks.

"I've had the ever growing suspicion that you've been up to something. Besides all this, with the food and the wine and the cider. All of which were lovely."

"Sorry you couldn't enjoy your usual favorite last night. I know you've missed that some nights after dinner." He softly added.

"It's okay, it was the thought that counted and I do love sparkling cider. I have to say, I think it may even be a close second to the wine."

"Good." Jacob sighed.

"So, do tell, what's really going on with you lately?"

He smiled and gestured toward the tent door then.

"Rather then tell you, how about I show you instead? I think it would have a much better affect in the end."

"Okay, now you really have me curious."

I moved away from him with a slight giggle and threw open the flimsy tent door.

My breath hitched at the view before my disbelieving eyes.

Just ahead further down the beach, and barely lit by the morning sun, was several rows of chairs and an archway filled with flowers. White silk linens in the shape of a large bow wrapped the backs of every chair. I tried to find the words but couldn't speak when Jacob slid his arms around my waist and whispered his heartfelt request in my ear.

"Marry me, Bells. Marry me today? Before the sun sets?"

"Jacob...-"

"I wanna spend forever with you and not an hour less, and I want the whole world to know you have my heart. It's always been yours. I don't want another single day to pass without being completely yours. So, please... please...- say you will?"

I slowly turned in his arms and saw the earnest pleading there in his deep gaze, and it was my undoing because I already knew that with just one look, I could deny him nothing.

In my heart of hearts, I'd always pictured a wedding just like this one, with my very best friend waiting for me at our favorite beach. Simple and just us with those we loved and cared for most watching on.

"Today? You mean- like in a few hours?" I hurriedly stammered in a quavering breath then, as his arms tightened around me and he pressed another kiss to my cheek, his lips now lingering there on my skin with his sincere answer.

"Yes, sweetheart, today. I wanna give you my last name today."

I swallowed thickly at this.

"...b-...but there's still so much to do and-"

"I've taken care of it. All of it."

"Charlie?"

"Yeah."

"-...and Billy?"

"They both know." Jacob warmly confirmed. "They have for a few days now."

"How did you do all this?" I disbelievingly questioned.

"The pack and Sue. They set this up before dawn today for us so I could surprise you with it. Keeping everything a secret wasn't easy, but we managed."

"What about my mom? Will she-..."

"She and Phil are on a plane here as we speak. Last I checked, they're arriving before noon today. It wasn't easy to convince them to come together and be cordial, but for you, they seemed to be willing." He sighed.

I could only stare up at him in true wander at all he'd done in such a short span of time.

"Is that why Shawn and Martha are here?"

"Yes."

"...and Emily? Does she know, too?" I countered.

"She has your dresses."

"Dresses? As in more than one?"

Jacob bashfully nodded and kissed me tenderly with his reply.

"I would never take that choice away from you, Bells. Some things are simply too sacred to keep secret. Every bride deserves the memory of choosing their wedding dress. Don't worry, Emily was sure that I didn't sneak a peak at any of them. They're rentals, but they're yours for the choosing. She has them at her house waiting for you this morning. That is, if you'll make me the happiest man alive and give me the honor of being your husband from now until I take my last breath?"

I always believed that everyone only truly ever fell in love once. One time, with their one true love, their one true other half that completed them, but standing here with Jacob had proven me wrong, because it was in this very moment with him that I was falling in love with my best friend all over again.

I drew in a nervous breath and my answer to him was simple.

"Jacob Ephraim, I'll marry you today...- tomorrow-... in the next life if there is one, and I'll marry you again in twenty-five years, when we're both aged and grey. There's nothing I'd ever want more."

He beamed with his sunny smile lighting up his face and pulled me against him with a deep kiss that sent a rush of heat all the way down to my toes. Breathless and a mess of tangled limbs, he soon covered my body with his where we stayed lost in only each other until the sun rose fully and the waves crashed into the oceans shore.

A/N: Hey my readers. I know it's been a few weeks since my last update and I do apologize for that. In all honestly life has been hard lately. My gram passed last week and I miss her terribly. We were always very close. So, I took a few days to focus on some other things, but I am back at writing. I hope you all enjoyed this short update. We are only a chapter away from closing out this story. Look for that tonight. Take care and please review.