Bella's Reactions To Charlie, Carlisle, and Edward's Letters On Her Wedding Day.
June 24th, 2005
Today is a day that Edward and I have been waiting for our whole lives. While we are young, I am eighteen and he is nineteen, it is right. We are scheduled to leave for Yale next week. While I am excited about this, the fact that we will be so far away from home and family makes me nervous. But I look forward to the changes that are coming. Mrs. Isabella Cullen. Mrs. Isabella Swan Cullen. That sounds good too. I will have to decide quickly since we still have to do all the name changes and what have you. I am not looking forward to that. One of the reasons that Edward and I decided that we wanted to be married before college was we wanted to live together, which we can only do when married. We also can live off-campus. I am grateful that we will be. I don't like the idea of sharing with someone I do not know. While I am sure we would be alright, I just feel better with you. Not that you would complain about being with me and our families on the other side of the country.
The sexual possibilities are endless. I am never going to get through the day if I keep thinking about all this. Esme comes into the room and hands me two gift bags. She said one was from Edward and the other from Charlie. This makes me smile.
The first one I opened was from Edward. There were two letters inside along with two small gifts, which I opened first. When I read the letter that Edward wrote this morning, it made me smile. He thinks that he is the lucky one? No. The lucky one is me.
"Can I please have a piece of paper Esme?" I ask her and she goes and gets me a couple nice pieces of paper and a pen with three envelopes. Odd. Unless she knows that Dad wrote me a letter too. Maybe Carlisle? That would make sense.
I started to write Edward a small letter hoping that it would be given to him before the wedding.
June 24th, 2005
My Dear Almost Husband Edward,
in a few hours, you and I will be forced to a ceremony to bind ourselves together, when we have always known that you and I were the real deal. Nothing and nobody was going to separate us from each other. You are my soulmate, my better half, and my protector.
I know that there may be times that you did not see yourself like that, but you always have. You have done everything that you could to make our lives good. The therapies you went through when they said you would not be able to walk, you ignored them and learned how to walk. You learned how to dress, talk, take care of yourself, and take care of me. I do not know what, but that was on your list of requirements for your physical therapist. Things like hand-holding while walking, brushing, braiding or putting my hair into a ponytail, and holding me standing up.
One of your physical therapists, a wonderful woman named Tanya, thought that it was the sweetest thing she ever saw and heard of. Especially since we were so young. I know that she was not supposed to add them to her list of things that she was supposed to teach you, but she did anyway. Thanks to her, you do my hair better than I do. I hate the reason behind it. But I love you for all the hard work it took for you to be the man you are here with me. I love you more than words can say, Edward.
I can't wait to start the rest of my life with you. I can't wait to go to law school while you study to be a doctor. It makes me feel special that I get to be the woman who walks by your side in this life. Nobody else. I will not share you with anyone else! Well, unless we have a daughter. Then I guess I will share your heart with another girl, but we have a few years before that happens.
Thank you, Edward, for your love and support in me. You mean the world to me. I can not wait to start our lives as Edward and Isabella Cullen. For you to be stuck with me forever! Oh, the fun we will have being stuck together, Mr. Cullen! *Evil Laughs*
In a few hours, we will be husband and wife. I can't wait to meet you at the altar. I am sure that it will be beautiful, even more so if you are standing under or in front of it. Please wait for me at the altar. I will be the one in white with a veil.
Love you always,
Bella (almost) Cullen
I open the first gift and see a beautiful locket that looks antique. It was shaped like a book with yellow gold and had blue on the binding of it. This is so beautiful!
The second one I was having a harder time with. It looked like a crest of some kind. It was on a thicker necklace and was well made. Darn tears filled my eyes.
A second note was found and I opened it. This note was from Carlisle.
Dear Bella,
Tomorrow is your wedding day and I am nothing but proud that you will be an official member of my family. I am very excited about that!
Watching you grow up into the woman that you are has been a blessing and a curse. There are so many things that you and Edward have seen and had to live through that NOBODY should have had to. The strength that you have had for Edward helped to make him the man he is now. You have always been his reason to want to do better. You have always been the grounding force or anchor for Edward, which is more than anyone could have asked for.
As the newest member of my family, I wanted to give you something important to my family. There are two gifts included. The first is a locket, while it is old, my Great Grandfather, Carlisle Joshua Cullen made it for his wife, my Great Grandmother, Bonnie Mae. Yes, I was named after him. And, in a way, so was C.J. As you can see, it is a yellow gold book with blue spine work. It is a tradition in my family to give this to the wife of the firstborn son.
While Edward may be adopted, I have always considered him my son since the day that I met him. I wish that when he became my son it did not have as much heartache involved as it did. I wish that idiot had just left them and gave up his rights. I would have taken care of him. But, I am sure that was why he never did. That and appearances. Sorry, I need to move on.
The second gift is a replica of the Cullen family crest. You are a Cullen now. As such, this means that you have power and pride that other families do not have. While some think it might just be a mind thing, it does not matter. As a Cullen, we can do anything we put our minds to. We can push through hard times that would make most want to stop breathing.
On the other side of the crest, is the Swan family crest. If you were to decide to wear it to the wedding, you could start it on the Swan side and turn it to Cullen when you are married. This way, you have both your families with you at all times. While you are no longer a Swan by name, the pride of the Swan family is always going to be with you.
You were made for this family, my daughter. I am proud that you are finally a full member. Well, you will be in a few hours. Close enough daughter of mine.
Know that I will do anything that I can to make sure that you and Edward have everything that you two need. You know how I am. I would never spoil you two. But, I also know that you would never ask for something that you did not need. My door is always open for whatever you may need.
I love you, my oldest daughter.
Welcome to the Cullen family!
Love Always,
Dad # 2 Carlisle
If I was not crying before, I am a mess now. I am grateful that my makeup was not put on yet. Esme must have known that this would have happened to me. She is such a smart woman!
I dry the tears from my eyes and go to write a letter to Carlisle.
June 24th, 2005
Dear Dad #2,
Words cannot express what your letter and gifts mean to me. I am beyond proud to be a member of the Cullen family. You and Esme have always made me feel like I belong. To have you as my father-in-law, a dream come true. You and Esme have been like a second set of parents to me and I am grateful that we will officially be family. Legally and you can't do anything to change that!
I absolutely LOVE the locket you gave me! I am not deserving of a beautiful family heirloom such as this! The fact you think I am worthy means more than I can say. Thank you for my locket that I will cherish and hopefully give to my daughter someday. Or my son's wife. Depending on what God gives us.
The Cullen Crest is amazing! I find it amazing that I am marrying into such a wonderful and noble family that has one! I will be wearing both for the wedding. I am so grateful for them!
I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. Thank you for all your years of guidance and the love that you have given me. For what you will give me as we move forward as a family.
I will see you standing next to my almost-husband at the altar!
Love, your daughter,
Bella
The next thing I opened was from my Dad, Charlie. He is a man of few words so I doubt that there will be many words today.
But I was wrong.
I am happy to be wrong.
His letters start when I was two days old coming home from the hospital. The joy and pride he had for me was evident in every word he hand wrote. He told me about how he came into the world and about my Grandparents on his side. The fact that while they are alive I will be spoiled. I remember them spoiling me and the love that they had for me. Those are memories I will always cherish.
They wanted a beautiful little girl to spoil. That little girl was me.
He talked of the highs and lows of our lives. All except one thing.
Renee.
Renee was not a subject that was brought up much.
She left our family probably when I was three or four. She had fallen out of love with Dad and me and decided that she needed to leave to make herself happier. She was too young to be a mother and wife. She shouldn't have been punished because Charlie wanted to keep the child.
So, she gave Charlie some money from her new boyfriend and left for Phoenix, Arizona. Once the divorce was finalized Renee married a man named John. Maybe a week later. He did not know she was married and had a daughter when they met. When he found out about Charlie and me, he left her as well.
He would have accepted me as his step-daughter and the fact that Charlie was my father. But what the man could not accept a cheater and a liar. He was a wealthy man who left her with nothing and sent money to Charlie and me in a kind of apology. While Charlie did not want the money, he used it to pay off the mortgage so he could have more money to spend elsewhere. It was a huge blessing to us. We still talk to John to this day. He said he would be here for the wedding today. That means a lot to Charlie and me.
Not many people understand who he is and why he is important to my family. The Cullen and Platt family have always understood that he was a silent member of our family. Sending birthday and Christmas gifts every year, when Renee forgets. I don't understand how she forgets, but she does. She gets angry when I don't call her for Christmas or her birthday and send her gifts. She is never in a place long enough for us to send her anything. Phoenix was her longest until she made it to Jacksonville, Florida and met a baseball player named Phil Dwyer or something. I don't know or care. They are not coming since they wanted the wedding in Jacksonville at the local country club. Because the people that were invited would be able to afford that kind of wedding venue or cost to get there. Oh. And the wedding would be in four years. That way Charlie can save for it. Since Charlie never paid her child support. For a child he always had. I had a little chat with her new husband and he might just be ex-husband number four. Or is it five? He was pissed when he found out that she lied to him. He was paying who he thought was a lawyer to get custody of me. Meanwhile, I am eighteen and a high school graduate. But. Who cares.
Enough about that bitch. She keeps getting what she deserves for abandoning us.
Anyways. The more I read from Charlie's letters, the more I see and feel the love he has for me. I especially loved that he tried to make me feel better after Edward's car accident and hospital stays. When Edward was back in the hospital after he killed that asshole. Kindergarten, high school, and my joint graduation party with Edward. My engagement and last night. Some of these letters are very wordy like he was trying to make up for something. He probably was. That Renee was not there with me.
I am bawling like a baby. I hear the door open and hear high heels. I know that they are Esme's. She comes and wraps her arms around me. I cry for the years that we lost as a family because of Renee's stupidity. Not wanting to have a relationship with her only child. Not wanting to give her anything other than pain.
The stupidity of that asshole Mr. Masen that tried to kill my husband not once but twice. How different my life might be right now had Edward died at any point in our walk together.
Would I have ended up as Jacob's girlfriend and maybe his wife? Or Mike Newton? That idiot doesn't like Edward and thinks that I can do better than Edward with him. He's like really going to go far. His family owns the sporting goods store in town so, we'd never have to go to college or worry about a job. Because that is what I want in life. If I were to date Mike, I still would go to college so that I can run the business side of things. Maybe still be a lawyer. Not that it matters. I am Isabella Cullen. Isabella Newton will never happen if Newton was the last man on earth.
I stop crying, sure that I look like shit.
"I need to write my Dad a letter. Can I have a few minutes please, Esme?" I asked her.
"Of course, my dear. I will give you a few minutes." Esme kisses my head and leaves the room. She comes back a few minutes later with a few more pieces of paper and an envelope.
I start to write his letter and tears can't be kept at bay, so tears fill the page.
June 24th, 2005
Dear Daddy,
Today I am getting married. I am a ball of emotions at the moment. I just finished reading the letters that you wrote to me. When I read them, it made me cry.
You have never been a man of many words. But, your love poured out on each page that you wrote. Even when writing the truth might break my heart.
Thank you for that. For your honesty even when things are bad. For being with me even when I was not the easiest person to get along with.
Everything to do with Edward and his original family is not easy. You could have hated him after he killed his asshole of a father. But you loved him and supported him through everything. You made him feel like he was part of the family. You have always made him welcome. I thank you for that.
Words are hard to come by right now. A trait that I get lovingly from you.
Thank you, Daddy.
Thank you for raising me mostly as a single Dad. For loving me when things were rough.
Thank you for raising me mostly as a single Dad. For loving me when things were rough.
Thank you for helping to make Edward into the man that I am marrying today. That means more to me than words can say.
Especially if I think of who my other options for men would be. Tyler Crowley and Mike Newton who are both already "Baby Daddies". Or Jacob Black. Don't get me wrong. Jake is a sweetheart. But he is no Edward.
Thank you, Daddy. I love you. I can't wait to see you when you walk me to the tree.
I love you.
Love Always,
Isabella (Swan) Cullen
I finished the letter by putting it in the envelope and wrote Charlie's name on it. I put it in the pile for the men in my life and waited a few minutes. Esme comes in and smiles.
"Worry not, this is why we did not do your hair or makeup yet. Why don't you take a shower and we can do your hair and makeup when you are ready. Sounds like a plan?" Esme says with a smile. "I can't wait for you to see the backyards! It really looks beautiful! We lucked out that there is barely a cloud in the sky! Everything is going to be perfect! I am so excited to add you as my daughter! Now go! Shower! We need to get our favorite bride ready!" Esme shooed me into the bathroom and I got ready to take a shower.
The hot water relaxes me as I thought about how my life was about to change for the better and that I was not scared. Edward is my best friend. My lover. My family. My world.
And the best part, he feels the same things about me. He has always taken such great care of me that any other man would fail in comparison. Charlie and Carlisle did an amazing job in training him to be my husband. I should have mentioned that in Carlisle's letter. Oh well.
It's my wedding day, I am allowed to be scatterbrained. Especially after those letters. I finished my shower, towel drying my hair. Esme was waiting for me when I got done with her hairstylist, Kim Johnson. She is a few years older than I am but her Mom, Beth was Esme's stylist until she needed to stay home from work to look after her mother-in-law after she was hurt in a car accident. Kim had already done Esme's hair before, so it was an easy transition. I was grateful that Kim was doing my hair and not the idiot that was going to do it. She did such a bad job that they almost had to cut my hair to get the pins out of the hair! Trust me it was stressful!
Kim quickly puts my hair into two braids and makes the braids into a bun. Simple, yet pretty. She places my veil in my hair and pins it by putting in Grammy Swan's wedding comb, some hairspray and she is off to do my makeup. Which was very plain since I really have never worn it to begin with. She puts on foundation, a light lipstick, mascara, and light brown eyeshadow to highlight my eyes. She gives me a once over and shows me how I look and I love what I see. I just hope Edward loves it as I do!
"Your turn Esme! Or should I say...Mom!" She giggles and sits in the chair I left. I go find Granny Evie's dress that is hanging on the closet door. I can't believe that I am wearing such a beautiful dress! And by some miracle, we were the same size!
Her dress was a beautiful tea-length dress that was off white and had lace all over it. It was beautiful and practical for my outdoor wedding. My veil is simple and just enough to make me look like a bride! My shoes are simple ballet flats in blue since I want to not trip on the grass.
When we went to a floral shop and discussed what my vision was, the florist was more than willing to work with us even with the short notice. She came by the house and loved the ideas that we had. She agreed that with the beauty surrounding us with the gardens and woods behind us, a single flower would be perfect for the bouquets. She asked if I was open to more and I said I was but I didn't want them overly huge. No white flowers as the main focal point. We lucked out since a wedding that was supposed to happen got canceled at the last minute and she couldn't unorder the flowers. Sunflowers, irises, and roses were what was ordered for this particular wedding.
Poor Leah Clearwater. The wedding being in a week she finds her fiance Sam Uley buried deep in her cousin, Emily Young. Yeah. Sam wanted to go through with the wedding but have the wedding with Emily, but the Clearwater's refused to pay for it. Neither would Emily's family. Luckily for the Clearwaters, most of the vendors gave them most of their money back and now, our wedding is getting amazing last-minute deals.
Since they had all this food, cake, flowers. Might as well let someone use it. Our twenty dollar a person dinner was ten. Our flowers that would have been eight hundred were two hundred. It also helped that I did not want all of them. The cake, they redesigned a cake for Edward and I that was smaller and prettier since we were having about one-third of the people that the Clearwater and Uley were going to have. And about half the cost. Score!
I know that the cost was not really an object, but I wanted to have the wedding be less than one thousand dollars if that was possible. Dad was not complaining. While he had a wedding fund set up for me, I know that he did not want to have a hundred thousand dollar wedding. Not that I did either.
There were thirty people invited to the wedding.
Carlisle, Esme, Cameron, and Eden.
Charlie
Renee and Phil
Billy Black
Jacob Black and Vanessa Older
Angela, Pastor and Mrs. Weber
Ben Cheney
John and Stacy Luke
Jessica Stanley and Mike Newton
Carmen and Eleazar Denali
Alice Brandon
Mac and Ashley Young
Kim, Kevin and Beth Johnson
Garrett and Kate Houston, old friends of Edward's from Seattle.
Benjamin and Tia South, friends of mine.
Everyone but Renee and Phil came. It was a great day!
After putting on my dress and shoes, it was time to go.
I am beyond honored that Granny trusts me enough to wear the dress that she married Papaw Elijah in! Not that I would have known what I was doing had I not had this dress.
Wearing Renee's is not an option. I should probably throw that out. Maybe there is someone who would want the fabric? I should ask the ladies at the church crafting group. I heard there are people who turn wedding dresses into Angel Dresses, dresses for babies who have passed away so they have something nice to be buried in regardless of having the ability to pay. Mental note to do after the wedding.
The wedding went without any issues and was more beautiful than words can say. The chairs were simple. white with a navy blue ribbon. Honestly, I did not think about chairs or ribbons! Other than for the food. I figured we would have the guests sit at the tables they were going to sit at and watch, but I guess I was overruled. But once I got to the aisle, I understood why.
Under the old oak tree, there was a beautiful simple arch that had Pastor Weber and Carlisle under it. I found it odd that I could not see Edward. When Charlie and I got near the start of the actual aisle, I was startled when I saw Edward standing waiting for me. I was almost in tears as I saw him standing there with his hands behind him looking emotional. He had the biggest smile on his face, slight tears in his eyes. He held out his arm to me and I took it, Charlie still walking towards the front of the aisle. We got about halfway and Charlie stopped. He took his hand away from my arm and moved the veil from my face. Pastor Weber came to us and behind him, Esme and Carlisle.
"You may be wondering why Edward did not wait to meet Bella at the altar like it normally is done. Normally, Bella and Charlie would be walking down the aisle and he would give her away at the front. But that did not seem to fit in this case.
"You see, this is not your ordinary couple. They have been in each other's lives for years. I remember one time that they were in the hospital or rehab together just hanging out. It was maybe when she was six and he was seven. They had been in their own little world which is typical of them. He was working hard so he could go visit Esme and Carlisle after scaring us half to death with that accident. I think we can all say that Edward has been in that hospital long enough, right folks?" A collective chuckle from our guests and us.
"Other than when you are working, future Doctor Edward Cullen. That's the extent of lots of hospital stays for you!" More laughter, poor Edward is blushing.
"I debated telling this story, but I feel that it is the easiest way to explain the love these two have for each other. Edward was having a very bad day. He kept thinking that he was a failure. He had physical therapy and he did not do well that day. One thing that you have to understand about Edward. When he was in therapy, he was not just learning the basics. He was trying to learn how to take better care of Bella. Brushing and braiding her hair. Holding her hand and hugging her without leaning on her. Dancing with her. Being able to carry her in case she fell and needed to be carried. He needed to be able to protect her. To open the doors for her and pull out her chair. He had been in therapy for maybe a week and was feeling down because he felt like he was letting her down being there. This after the kid was in a coma and was told he may never walk. She was visiting and when he complained about his failure as the man in their relationship, of not being able to take care of her, she was upset. This was at seven."
"'Edward, when we are together, then there will be times that you are the strong one. There are times that I will have to be. We will get through this. Whether or not you can walk, or whatever else is on that list of yours that is beyond what should be there, I am here. Someday, we will look back on this and see how far we have come. We will tell our children and grandchildren about it. You can't have these unrealistic expectations or it will burn you alive with doubt and worry. You have to just take things one day at a time. When that is hard, one minute or hour. Sometimes, one breath then the next.' Bella reached to him and reminded him that as a partnership, they should walk together as much as they can. Whether it was in the chair or on his legs. 'We will get through this. Soon this will be a bad dream and you will see that you were not alone. We were together and we have God guiding us. Even if it does not seem like it. We will make it through this and we will be stronger. You are someone who shouldn't feel sorry for yourself. You should be grateful that we will work this out together. And after six years, it is my turn to take care of you. Deal with it!'"
I looked around and noticed many people crying. It was hard to forget that day. Not many days were as hard as that. Not for the reasons you would think.
There are few jobs that Edward held more dear to him than the job he had of being my protector. The gentleman who took care of me to a fault. He hated if I got sick, hurt, or my period. He wanted to put me in bubble wrap sometimes and while it was annoying, it was because he loved me. Pastor Weber continued.
"I stood there in aww. Bella was six. She knew that Edward was her future. They made sure that they worked their way to today. Working hard to be the best man he could be for her. She worked on being the best woman that she could be for him. Which is why so many of us are excited about this quick wedding. Because in all honesty, this wedding has been in the works for the last eighteen years. Edward had always been different with her than other babies. Being only a year older than Bella, he did not like them much. With her he was different. Even my Angela, he was not a fan of." He smiled and everyone laughed.
"That long-winded speech was to say that Charlie has helped Bella walk the first part of her journey. But Edward has walked alongside him to help guide her and they grew. But at the same time, Charlie is a huge part of why Edward is the way he is. Charlie, Esme, and Carlisle have been instrumental in making sure that Edward is the man he is today. They saw the way that Edward was with Bella and made sure that Edward always was the gentleman that he is today and that Bella would expect nothing less than a gentleman. I wanted the family to walk the rest of the aisle. This is not Charlie abandoning Bella. This is Bella gaining Carlisle and Esme as her mother and father-in-law, but really, as another set of parents that will guide both of them in this life. This is just Charlie admitting that while Edward and Bella were peers, they shaped each other as much if not more than their parents. And today, each step that they step brings them closer to their new lives. As husband and wife. As lovers and protectors. As best friends and support. Not something that can be taken lightly. Are you ready?" Pastor Weber asks.
"I am," Edward said as he looked at me in love.
"I am as well," I said looking into Edward's eyes smiling. I looked over to Charlie and he looked like he was trying to not cry. That almost broke my heart.
"As ready as I'll ever be. But I know that Edward and Bella will take care of each other." Charlie said, looking at me and kissing my cheek. I kissed his back.
"I am ready to add a second daughter," Esme said with a soft smile.
"Bella has been my daughter in my heart for years," Carlisle said, trying to hold back tears.
Esme and Carlisle walked down towards the oak tree and us. I looked around and it was almost too much. Sunflowers and irises lined the way on the chairs in mason jars. I wondered if that made Edward upset. He did not seem to be. It really was beautiful and different than what I thought that I wanted. But it made sense. Mrs. Harper was most likely trying to get rid of some of the extra flowers she had.
I realized that I never paid attention to my own flowers and I had a bouquet of irises and sunflowers. Happy and cheerful. I had to admit that I even wanted to have a single stem to help save money, but the cost was actually not much more for a real bouquet because the florist already had the stuff and was grateful to be able to use it.
We got to the altar and it was beautiful. Sunflowers and tulle were wrapped around the altar and made it look beautiful. Single roses were scattered around the tree hanging down. It looked like a meadow. I was beyond words!
When we got to the altar and Charlie gave me fully to Edward, everyone was seated. I looked at Edward and he was nearly in tears. Not that I was far behind.
We listened to Pastor Weber talk about love, faith, commitment, and purpose. Edward's purpose was to love me like Christ loved the Church. Pastor Weber said that he already exhibits this in his love for me. My purpose was to honor and respect Edward, which I do. I know when to challenge Edward, when to support him, and when to get help. Married life is not an easy life, but with the right attitude, we can make it beautiful.
We said our vows and then the moment we all waited for happened. We were pronounced as husband and wife.
"Son, kiss your bride!" Pastor Weber said with a laugh and Edward gently grabbed my face and we shared a sweet kiss.
"It is my privilege to announce Forks' newest family! Mr. and Mrs. Edward and Isabella Cullen!" Pastor Weber said with joy and Edward picked me up bridal style and carried me down the aisle kissing me. I loved it! It was one of the best moments of my life at that point.
At that moment, I knew that though our love would face many trials, we would make it through. We would be together in this. Every step of the way. Because that is what you do when you are in love. You give and take. You grow individually and together. Edward and I are our own family and you have to fight for your family. If you don't fight for your family, who else would?