Chapter Four
Fifty years later…
Looking at the large crowd around me, I am beyond words.
Life has been good for us Masens'. All seven children grew up and followed their dreams. Three are doctors, two are lawyers, one a teacher, a dentist, and one the Chief of the Quileute Tribe. The Chief is also a lawyer. Made sense for Liam to follow my path to help the Tribe.
I am proud of all of my kids and their partners. I have more grandchildren than I can count. A few great-grandchildren as well.
Today, Bella and I are celebrating sixty years of marriage. Amazingly, we made it this far.
Many of my family have passed on. Renee, Charlie, and Bella's stepfather—Phil—were first. Carlisle was the first from my family, followed by Jasper, then Esme, and Rosalie. Alice and Emmett are still alive, waiting for their turns to be with their loves.
Not that I blame them. If my Bella were to pass before me, I know I would not last long. I would want to be with her when she entered heaven.
Looking at my beautiful bride, I am amazed at her beauty even after all these years. She is not as thin as she was, but I wouldn't trade her curves for anything in the world. Her hair is now gray like mine, but she is not bald. While I still have a decent amount of hair, it definitely is not as full as it was when I was seventeen.
I am not as lean as I used to be. Which is fine; I compliment my Bella well.
Seeing pictures of us from different parts of our lives, I can't imagine anything I would change.
Because as bad as leaving my Love was, it brought Jacob to her and our two oldest children.
And had she not been in the hospital dying, she may never have gotten blood in Carlisle's eyes and made him human.
Which made the rest of us human.
Knowing that my time here on Earth was limited, I tried to take everything in. Every hug and kiss. Every single conversation.
Every chance to make love to my wife.
Before Jasper died, Alice told me when we were all going to die. She was not happy with the years she would have without her Jasper, but understood that it was not her time. I couldn't imagine how she must feel. It's been three years, but she only has a few months left. She has been getting ready in the only way she knows how. Making sure her family is taken care of.
I never told Bella that our time was ending after the party. We will make it home, make love, and fall asleep in each other's arms. Passing into the next world together.
I just need to remember to put our clothes back on. For Esmerie's sake. She will check on us in the morning like she does every day.
It breaks my heart that she will find us that way, but I am glad it won't long before we are found.
I almost want to tell her but know if I did we would be in the hospital apart and I don't want that.
Alice saw that if we told any of the kids we were dying tonight, we would still die, but apart from each other. I want nothing to do with that.
Call me selfish if you want to.
I tried to maintain physical contact with my Love throughout the party. While I enjoyed having everyone around us, I wanted as much time together alone, on our last day, as possible. I was glad when that time came.
I kiss my Love's forehead like I have done a million times and pull her closer to me. She looks at me and smiles. She must have picked up on my actions today.
"It's close, isn't it?" She asks.
I nod, and she smiles. "Well, we might as well make the most of our last night here together. I love you, Edward Masen."
"I love you more, Isabella Black-Masen."
Our party ends, and we head back home.
We still live on the property, but built a smaller house for us. Esmerie lives with her husband and imprint—Colton—their daughter, her daughter's husband, and grandchildren. It's weird, but it works for them.
We say many 'I love you's,' and 'see you later's.' Never goodbye.
This is not goodbye. This is just 'see you later.'
When Bella and I get home, we make love one last time. When we are done, we get dressed, leaving out the outfits we want to wear. This time for our funeral.
We climb back into bed and I pull my wife into my arms.
"I love you, Isabella. Thank you for giving me everything I did not know I needed." I kiss her head. My breathing changing.
"As I love you, Edward. Thank you for all you have done for me and our family. See you soon." She kisses my cheek.
We both fall into a peaceful sleep.
