Chapter 57 – Those Darned Allergies Again

Bella

After a restless night, I awoke late to the sounds of laughter coming from the kitchen downstairs. I threw on some clothes and went down to find mom and Esme filling and covering trays with food, while Alice and Rose set out serving pieces for the reception. Stacey had Joy Noelle strapped to her chest in a carrier, and Madelyn was busy adding the final flowers to the cake, which had been moved to a draped table.

Abigail and Marisol had been given the task of keeping Oliver and Felicity entertained with toys to keep them away from everything. Felicity had shown an enthusiastic love of buttercream icing the night before, much to Madelyn's dismay, hence the extra flowers down the nibbled side after a quick repair to the icing. She suggested that piece be for her big brother, Emmett. He would eat anything.

I heard dad calling my name from the apartment, and I went through the closet doors to find him lying in bed, resting up for the big job ahead of giving me away to Edward.

"Hey, Bells. Come here a minute." Dad patted the bed next to him, and I cuddled up to him, laying my head on his shoulder. He kissed the top of my head and sighed deeply. "You know, the pollen count today is going to be really high," he declared, as he played with a strand of my hair. "I just know I'm going to need at least two handkerchiefs today to get through the watery eyes and runny nose. You know how much pollen makes my eyes water, right?"

"Sure, Dad. Do you want some antihistamines? They could help with those allergy symptoms," I teased. "In fact, if I wasn't sure I'd fall down the stairs, I'd consider taking some myself."

"Nah. On days like today, nothing helps. I guess I'll just have to get through it, and everyone will just have to put up with me sniffling and mopping my eyes like I was crying or something. In fact, besides the day you were born, this will probably be the worst allergy attack I'll ever have. I can already feel it coming on." I looked up into his eyes, and sure enough, they were red and watery. He smiled at me and kissed my cheek that was also wet.

"You know you'll always be my first love, right, Daddy? Remember when I was little and declared to mom that I was going to marry you, too? Funny what a new puppy will make a girl want to do." I laughed at the memory of mom trying to explain to me that dad was already taken, so I would just have to find myself another man. Mission accomplished.

"He's a good man, Bells. I have no doubts about how much he loves you, and me and your mom, for that matter. I'm proud to call him my son." Mom came in at that point to help dad start getting ready. He was recovering nicely from the heart attack and surgery, but he was still a little sore, so he was moving slowly. I hugged him and kissed the tip of his nose, before heading back to the kitchen to help with last-minute preparations.

By three o'clock, we were rotating through showers and began the process of beautification. Rose worked on my hair, piling it high on my head, then curling the ends and tendrils that fell around my face. Mom had come upstairs with one of the older photo albums. She opened it to a page in the front and turned it to show me a picture. It was of Grammy wearing the same gown I was now wearing, her hair exactly like mine. We could have been twin sisters.

Alice clasped the pearl necklace Grammy had gotten me around my neck, and Esme put the matching earrings on me. Rose placed the pearl and blue crystal hair combs into my hair that had been in the trunk with the dress, and mom clasped her pearl bracelet around my wrist she was loaning me for the wedding. Rose slipped my new shoes onto my feet, and then she turned me to look in the mirror. I blinked, and for a very fleeting moment, I could have sworn I saw Grammy and Poppa standing beside me in the reflection, smiling widely at me and holding hands. I could smell the strong scent of roses, which was what Grammy's perfume had always smelled like to me. She had always worn it because Poppa had loved it. He used to say it reminded him of springtime. There was a gentle knock at the door, and dad poked his head in. He looked at me and pulled out his handkerchief.

"I warned you, didn't I?" he muttered, as he mopped his face. "The pollen is even worse than I thought it'd be." He took my hands and stood there looking at me, fighting back the tears that won and rolled down his cheeks. "Just look at my baby girl, all grown up. Bells, you're a vision to behold."

"Thanks, Daddy. But you're going to have Alice furious at you when she has to redo my makeup," I teased him, as my own tears threatened to spill over. Thank heavens she had used the waterproof mascara.

"Thank you, Bella, for not giving me too many gray hairs, not costing me a fortune in bail money," he laughed, "and for not making me question whether I did a good job as a father. I couldn't have asked for a better daughter. I'm so proud of you, honey, and I'm proud of the quality of woman you've turned out to be. I like to think I had a little something to do with it, but I had so much to work with. I hope Edward realizes the treasure he's getting, truly a treasure worth more than rubies."

He kissed my cheek, before gently lowering my veil and leading me towards the stairs. It was time to go claim my forever.