Moving On
(How Bella Got Her Groove)
Chapter 12
I now pronounce...
~o0o~
Previously:
Bella stood up and went to stand in front of Conner. He pulled her to him and put his arms around her waist and clung to her for the longest time, crying. He kept saying over and over, "Mama, I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
After what must have felt like an eternity to Conner, Bella finally said, "I forgive you, Sunshine."
~o0o~
Chapter 12
Six Months Later
"Are you sure you've got the ring?" Conner asked for what must have been the fortieth time in the last hour.
Lee, being the wiseass that he was, decided that now was good time to let his humor come out. With a look of pure concentration on his face, he patted his pockets down a couple of times before he looked up at Conner with horror on his face. "Oh, my God, Conner, it's not in my pocket!"
Conner felt himself blanch. A million things were going through his mind in the space of a few seconds, the top most being, I'm gonna kill that bastard if he lost Sofia's ring!
Before Conner could do him bodily harm, Lee laughed out loud so hard, they heard him in the chapel. "Honestly, Conner, here is it," he said, pulling the little blue box from his coat pocket. The look of relief that flooded his friend's face caused Lee to shake his head as he said, "Now shut the fuck up and sit down. Have another glass of champagne, go smoke something. I might have a joint..." Lee was not allowed to finish that sentence because Conner punched him in his arm-hard.
Conner then pulled his friend into a man hug and swore, "God damn it, Lee! If you ever do anything like that to me again, I swear to Christ I'll kill you!"
"I'm sorry, man, but y'all are being a real pain in the butt. Boy! Don't ever ask me to be your best man ever again. Please," Lee begged.
Conner looked a little stricken. "You can bank on it Lee. I'm only doing this one time. I've seen first hand what multiple marriages can do."He paused and smiled. "Besides that, I love Sofia. She is The One."
Just then, there was a sharp knock on the door. It opened and the minister stuck his head in. "Conner? You ready to get married?"
"Yes, sir! Let's do this," Conner replied.
The minister led Conner and Lee down the short hallway, through a narrow doorway and into the apse of the chapel. Conner would be told later that the Rice University chapel was beautiful, but that day, he only saw Sofia walking down the aisle looking more radiant than he'd ever seen her. She was beautiful with long, natural honey blonde hair flowing over her shoulders and down her back in a sparkling cascade of silk. Her eyes were shining brightly, and Conner knew she was on the verge of tears. He couldn't have told you what her dress looked like or how any of her attendants were dressed. He only had eyes for her. He would only ever have eyes for her.
Bella sat in the front pew with Edward next to her, and Rosalie and Emmett next to him. Edward was holding her hand as she squeezed it tightly. "Breathe, baby girl. It won't be long now. Just breathe," he whispered to her.
With her eyes filled with love and pride, as well as unshed tears, Bella smiled at the beautiful man sitting next to her and squeezed his hand again. "Ok," she muttered.
Soon, everyone was arranged on the steps of the Apse as the bride and her father completed their march and Sofia was handed off to Conner. Tears streamed from Conner's eyes. He couldn't help it. He was such a softy. He raised Sofia's hand to his lips, and he kissed her knuckles softly. Neither of them heard the collective "Awww" that escaped from those gathered to witness their marriage.
It was all a blur for Bella. Her baby, her Sunshine, now officially belonged to another woman.
How could she let him go? He'd always been her rock, her defender. Now he had transferred all that to Sofia as it should be. But, oh my Lordy, it hurt! Bella felt Edward put his arm around her shoulders and pull her to him before she realized she was crying. She felt Rosalie pushing a tissue toward her. Bella dabbed at her eyes, blew her nose softly, and straightened up. She looked up at Conner and saw him winking at her. That make her smile. She knew that he knew what she was thinking because they'd discussed this very thing night before last.
"Now, Mama, you know you'll always be my number one gal!" Conner was saying. Bella'd reached over and put a finger on his lips. "No, Conner! Sofia must always come first for you now. You're not the man in my life now."
Edward walked in carrying three bottles of Lone Star beer, setting one in front of each of them. He bent down and kissed Bella before he sat beside her. "And who is the man in your life now Bella?" Edward asked, smiling.
"You are, of course," Bella smiled.
Bella was pulled from her memory when she heard, "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Everyone stood cheering and applauding enthusiastically.
~o0o~
The reception was another blur for Conner.
Bella was thankful the photographer was taking lots of pictures. Bella danced with her sunshine one last time, and then spent the rest of the evening dancing with Edward. He pulled her into his arms where she felt safe and protected. He would never let her down. She knew this because he'd waited so long for her to come back to him. He was kind and sweet and loving. Maybe she'd finally gotten it right. Only time would tell.
~o0o~
Conner and Sofia ran through a hail of birdseed trying to get to the limo that would whisk them away to George Bush Intercontinental Airport and then Mexico City, where they would begin their lives together. As the limo pulled away, Bella let out one final sob and buried her head in Edward's chest. He patted her on the back, hugged her, and then just held her as the crowd began to disperse some going back into the restaurant and others to their cars and home, or a hotel.
"What would madam like to do?" asked Edward, making a sweeping bow to Bella.
Bella curtsied. "Madam would like to take her damned shoes off. My feet are killing me in these god-awful high heels the wedding planner insisted I just had to wear!
"Would madam like to have her feet rubbed?" Edward asked waggling his eyebrows at her.
"As a matter of fact madam would just love that a lot!" She waggled her eyebrows back at him.
They went back into the restaurant and said their farewells to Sofia's parents and her friends, as well as Rosalie and Emmett and left.
"Can I made a suggestion Bella?" Edward asked cautiously.
"Of course, you may, so long as it only a suggestion," Bella answered, smiling.
"When we get back to your house, and we change into our comfies, let's open that last bottle of pink champagne, sit on the couch, and I'll rub your feet for as long as you feel necessary. There's something I want to talk to you about anyway and tonight seems as good a time as ever," Edward finished.
~o0o~
When they got settled on the couch with Bella's feet in Edward's lap, and half of that last bottle of champagne drunk, Edward cleared his throat. Bella was so relaxed he figured now was the time to say what he wanted to say.
"Bella?"
"Hmmm?" Bella hummed, smiling.
"Will you marry me?"
~o0o~
