EPOV

It's crazy, how fast time flies when you're having fun, or in our case, when you're deliriously happy.

It feels like it was just yesterday I was opening a letter that changed our lives forever, for the better, and the next—

"Oh, crap," Bella cries and starts digging through her duffle-sized bag until she finds a travel pack of tissues. She dabs her eyes and blows her nose. "I'm sorry. I just—"

Rose scoffs. "Please, we're all emotional."

Sure enough, Mom is a sniffling mess, leaning on my dad for support.

I wrap my arm around my weepy girlfriend and whisper in her ear. "Don't be embarrassed. This is a big milestone, cookie. I'm so glad you're here to experience it with us."

My words only make her cry harder. I'm rubbing her back in an effort to calm her down when Principal Greene taps the mic to get our attention. He announces that Marley's class is next, and we watch twenty-six tiny graduates enter the auditorium. They follow Miss Aimee to the stage, and I spot Marley, bouncing on her tiptoes, eyes surveying the room until they land on us. She smiles and waves excitedly until we all wave back. We're here, baby, and we love you so much.

Miss Aimee approaches the podium and clears her throat. She gives a heartfelt speech full of appreciation for her class. She talks about how amazing it's been to help shape and mold the young minds of our future generation. I don't think there's a dry eye in the room as she talks about how difficult it is to say goodbye to the children who made her first year of teaching both interesting and unforgettable. When she finishes, she reaches into a basket of mini-diplomas and starts calling mini-graduates onto the stage, and I find myself choking back tears.

Sue, just coming off an overnight shift, comes rushing in just in time to hear Leah's name called. "I thought I was going to miss it." She pants, sliding into the seat we saved for her.

Everyone is on their feet, hooting and hollering for Leah; Emmett, of course, is the loudest. The Clearwaters have been welcomed into our chaotic brood with open arms. Just last week, they joined us for family night at my parents' house.

"Marley Elizabeth Cullen."

Again, I'm on my feet, clapping and telling anyone who's listening that that's my baby girl. I can't help but think that in a few short years she'll be walking across a different stage. I'm not ready.

Trust Marley to trip coming down the stairs. Everyone gasps as she slides down the last couple steps, but she pops back up with an embarrassed wave. "I'm okay."

She joins her classmates, and they go through the motions. Moving tassels and tossing caps in the air when instructed. It's a swarm of bodies as children rush to find their families. Marley and Leah join us, and my girl wastes no time jumping in my arms.

"I did it, Daddy," she cheers.

"You sure did, Muffin," I croak and pepper her little face with kisses. "I'm so proud of you."

After passing her off to Bella, I kneel down and congratulate Leah, who stays hidden behind her mother's legs. She smiles, and Sue prompts her with a small squeeze. "Thank you, Mistah Edwood."

"We better get going." Sue sighs. "We have to get the boys from the sitter and run home so I can change out of these scrubs." She turns to Bella. "Are you sure I can't bring anything besides ice?"

Bella bounces Marley on her hip and shakes her head. "Nope. Between me, Rose, and Esme, I think we've got everything covered."

Sue tries to argue.

"I'll call you if I think of anything."

There won't be anything. Bella has been obsessively planning Marley's graduation party for weeks now, down to the minute detail. I stopped trying to rein her in when she booked a princess-themed bounce house for the kids.

I get that she's excited to celebrate her first big Marley milestone, and if throwing a lavish party is what she needs, then so be it. I see a lot of parties in our future.

We head back to the house to get things ready. The guys set up the bounce house, the blow-up pool, and the yard games while the ladies finish last-minute details like decorations and food. Bella extended an open invitation to Marley's entire class so we're expecting people to be coming and going.

"Edward, can you come help me with something upstairs?" Bella asks when Marley is good and distracted by Emmett and the bounce house.

I follow her upstairs and into our bathroom.

"I don't think we can keep her hidden for the entire party," she says, opening the crate. "I can hear her from the kitchen."

The small ball of boundless energy comes scrambling out of the crate and tries to climb up my legs. I lift it up, and she covers my face with slobbery, tuna-scented kisses. Puppy's breath is intoxicating.

"If we give her Perdita now, the party will be for nothing."

"I know. We should have asked them to keep her for an extra day."

We agree to keep the children out of the house as much as possible and let the adults know we're hiding a needy dalmatian puppy in the upstairs bathroom.

Marley has been talking obsessively about "getting" a baby since Rose and Emmett found out they're pregnant.

As much as Bella and I would like to expand our family, we both know that it's too soon. We're still figuring out how to raise our five-year-old together and working out the kinks in our new relationship. It would be crazy to add a baby to the mix right now.

We're giving her what we hope is the next best thing.

Vicky, our head server, has a friend of a friend who runs a dog rescue, and they recently acquired an "oops" litter of dalmatian puppies. Bella took one look at the photos and melted. We discussed bringing another living creature into our household and decided that we have both the time as well as the resources.

Perdita is up to date on her shots and was spayed as soon as she was old enough. She's nearly potty trained, and Bella has already signed her up for obedience school. She and Marley will attend the training sessions.

To think a few months ago, I couldn't fathom adding a dog to our life. All that changed with an unwanted letter.

~MM~

The back yard is a mess, and we've got a lot to clean up, but the party was a success. Bella is already planning a Fourth of July get-together with the other ladies.

It's just the three of us: Marley, Bella, and me sitting in the living room. Despite the fact that we were there for it all, Marley is giving us a complete rundown of her day, and Bella is chomping at the bit to give her her surprise.

"Jacob tried to pop a hole in the bounce house with his fork, but Rosie stopped him."

Oh, we know. I thought Rose was going to punch Rebecca Black straight in her botoxed nose when she just laughed off her son's bad behavior. No one knows what she said to the woman, but they left soon after without so much as a goodbye.

"Uncle Em said he's a bad seed. What does that mean?"

I'm explaining the term to her when Perdita makes her presence known. Seems as though we've got a Houdini on our hands.

The scratching on the bedroom door get's Marley's attention, and she all but scrambles into Bella's lap. "Is that a monster?"

Bella laughs and tells me to go get Marley's surprise.

The puppy is excited to see me, barking and nipping at my hands when I try to pick her up. I manage to get her to follow me down the stairs, and Bella lifts her hands from Marley's eyes.

"Surprise, precious."

The screams can probably be heard in the next county.