109

"You're not mad that we're just doing this the simple way?" Alice asks softly as I help her adjust the tiny veil on her head.

It took a few hours and a little help from Rosalie to get her over the shock of her hair cut nightmare yesterday. She ended up going shorter and loving the results of her pixie cut, telling us she'd just invest in wigs in the future. "I knew I was saving all the money I made from working at Cora's for a reason," she joked.

"Why would I be mad that my eighteen-year-old daughter was going to go behind my back and get married while I was putting her sister on a plane to leave me for the next couple years?" I tweak her nose. "I want the two of you to do whatever makes you happy, but I'm glad you changed your mind and let us be here for you today."

"Yeah?"

I nod. "I've raised you for eighteen years, Mary Alice. It's my duty to walk you down the aisle." I look at the door. "Or in this case, dingy hallway. I wouldn't want to miss this for the world."

Tears pool in her eyes, but I stop her. "Hey, now. If anyone is going to cry today, it's going to be me."

Alice wraps her arms around my neck. "Thank you."

The second they heard of Alice and Jasper's plans, Angela and Ben switched their flight for a later time. We all want to be here for her, and we already had everyone in town, so it seemed logical that we make it a family affair. Sure, the tiny room is a bit crowded, but it's what Alice wants, and I can give that to her.

"Are you ready?"

My youngest fluffs her white skirt and adjusts the belt of her dress. "Are you ready?"

Am I? If you told me two years ago that I'd be standing in a courthouse about to give my daughter away to a vampire, I would have locked her away in the attic until she turned forty. Not really, but I would have tried. I can see how happy Jasper makes Alice, and I know they're the endgame. Fighting this would just be putting off the inevitable.

"I'm ready."

Alice grins. "Me too."

Vows are exchanged, and my little girl isn't really my little girl anymore. I get choked up as Jasper whisks her away on a small honeymoon before they both have to be back for their testing.

Bella and I turn our attention to our other daughter.

"Y'all could have made it a double wedding, you know," Angela jokes at the terminal. "I mean, are you waiting until after you're turned to say I do, or are you going to make us come home for a giant ceremony?"

I kiss her cheek and hug her tight one more time. "We're going to wait until everyone is back here before we start planning anything."

I see out of the corner of my eye Bella hand Ben something, and I know what it is. A credit card for emergencies. Bella's version of emergency is buying whatever Angela even seems interested in and making sure they steer clear of hostels.

I threaten Ben that he better take care of my girl, and he promises to protect her with his life.

Bella holds onto me tightly as we watch the plane take off.

And then, it's just the two of us.