Chapter 32
The past 2 weeks have been filled with waterfalls, horse-back riding, romance and sex. Edward has always known how to get to me.
Now I walk down the aisle in front of Valerie and I remember looking at Edward and reciting our vows back in Disney. As I watch my best friend go through his wedding ceremony to the woman of his dreams, I sigh with relief as one of the major events I've been counting down to passes us by. He looks amazing in his tux and her white gown is lovely and elegant.
Alice chose the blue gown I have on. It hugs my curves and flows around my legs, ending just below my knees. Edward can't wait to dance with me at the reception and to be honest, I love dancing with his arms around me. I took Dr. Johnson's advice and decided to relax and stop stressing about having a baby. It'll happen if it's meant to.
We're in the car on the way to the beach for the reception with Seth in the back with his date, he'd imprinted last week. They're lost in a conversation.
Looking around at the scenery, I begin to think. Next week is Labor Day… Angela and Ben are having a get together and she said that Jessica and Mike will be there along with their significantly 'other' couple. I haven't seen them in a long time… The week after that Charlie wants to have a small party for my birthday…I'll be 28…
"What are you thinking about, Bella-love?" My husband asks.
"I'm just thinking…" I notice that we're parked at the beach where everyone is gathering for the party. "…about the next few weeks." I say.
He smiles. "Well, concentrate on the present, love. The reception is set to begin shortly. Join me, my love, and we can dance the night away."
I grin back at him and relax as he takes my hand in his. We walk down onto the beach and see a large bonfire. A DJ is setting up the dance-floor and a karaoke machine. Everyone is announced and the bride and groom dance with each other and then Valerie dances with her dad and Jake asks his sister, Rachel, because their mom has been gone for many years. The bridal party dances with each other. Jake's best man is Quil is with Rachel for this one and Embry is with me. Near the end of the song, he twirls me and I end up in Edward's arms. He whirls us around the floor for the next 2 songs.
Each person in the bridal party is supposed to give a toast and Val and Jake don't know that I'm going to sing for them instead of making a big speech. I arranged it with the DJ weeks ago, so I just have to wait for my turn… but everyone else goes first. I laugh with everyone as Quil reminds Jake that he'll need to talk to Valerie because she can't read his mind like some people can. Rachel and Embry share a few tales from their childhood…and now I stand up and accept the mike from the DJ.
Taking a deep breath I lead into the song with a few heartfelt words. "Valerie, I never thought the woman who stole my husband would become such a great friend to me…" Everyone smiles awkwardly as I continue. "Jacob, you've played so many different roles in my life over the years…You've been my protector, my supporter, and my critic…you've been my best friend and one of the loves of my life… You both mean so much to me that I've decided to sing a song instead of make a big awkward speech, so here goes… My Wish by Rascal Flatts…" The DJ plays the karaoke version for me but I don't need to look at the screen because I know the words by heart.
I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,
But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.
I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.
But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.
This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big
I hug Jake and Val at the end of the song and they both have tears in their eyes.
Embry catches the garter and his imprinted fiance catches the boquet. We all watch as the groom drives off with the bride.
I offer to help Billy get back home and he starts to decline so I just take control of his wheelchair.
"Now, Bella, I'm not your problem anymore. I'm not your father-in-law and I don't want you worrying about me." He says in protest.
"Billy Black, you listen up. This isn't about being related to you…I've known you and cared about you since I was born. The other people who know and care aren't here right now and I have the time and inclination so that's that. Got it?" I ask sternly.
He holds his hands up in surrender. "Ok, you've convinced me. I give up you can take me home."
"Good because we're here." I grin as I push his chair up the ramp to his door.
"Oh…before you go, Jake left a box for you. He said there's a letter inside for you to read later…" Billy points to a box beside the door.
After maneuvering his chair through the door, I go to the box and lift the lid. "Why Billy?"
"I'd imagine it's all in the letter, sweetheart." He says with a sad smile.
Before I know it, Edward has the box in our car. "Do you need anything before we leave, Mr. Black?"
Seth catches up with us. "If you guys are leaving for the day, I'll help Billy out and meet up with you at the treaty-line tomorrow. I know you wanted to go back to that waterfall and Jake said I could escort you if you want."
"That'd be fine, Seth, thanks. We'll see you around 11:30 tomorrow, then? I'll make a picnic lunch for me, you and Katie." I say with a smile.
"You're a great big sister, Bells! Thanks!" He says enthusiastically.
So I get into the car with Edward and we stop by the old house.
Charlie and Sue decided to live on the reservation, but they rented this house to a young couple who just moved to town. They'd cut down the tree outside my old window and planted flowers along the walk. They'd changed the siding and the house is a lovely sage color now. New roofing had been laid and the windows have been dressed in sheer curtains.
I imagine that if we were human, Edward and I, it could be us living there. The woman comes out and walks to her car. She looks about 6 or 7 months pregnant.
"I wish I were human, Bella…so we could be that couple…" Edward whispers, holding my hand to his lips.
"I thought you couldn't read my mind…" I say. "Let's go home, Edward."
He just nods and drives off. As we pull up the driveway, the family all comes out.
"I hope you had a great time at the wedding, kids. We're going now…so, Edward, don't forget to hunt. Bella, if you need anything, you promised to call Seth or Leah. We will be back on the 12th so be good…" Esme says with a smile.
Alice and Jasper are going to Isle Esme to make sure that everything is ok there, as well as transporting a supply of animal blood so I can make my transtion there and they have promised to be back in time for my birthday. Their flight leaves a few hours before Rosalie and Emmett's who are going to Scottland to set up the estate house there and will also be back for my last human birthday.
Carlisle has friends in Ireland doing that for us, so he and Esme don't have to leave us, but they're going to visit the Denalis in Alaska and bring them back here for my birthday, giving me and my husband 2 weeks in this lovely house…all alone…I smile watching them get into their cars. "Did you want to get this week's hunting out of the way, while I go through the box Jake left me?"
"Ok, love, I'll see you in a few hours. Promise you won't leave the house? I'd worry…" Edward answers.
I smirk. "Yes, Edward, I promise."
"Good…" He says as he takes the box from the car and places it in the living-room. "There's food in the fridge and chips and stuff in the cabinets, if you get hungry. I love you, Bella."
I shake my head and laugh. "I love you, too, now go hunt, you silly vampire!"
He runs backwards into the forest til I can no longer see him. So here I am…home alone. I open the box and pull out Jake's and my wedding album. Lifting the front cover, I find the letter Billy had told me about.
Bella,
These are some of our cherished memories. I've kept one wedding portrait and Valerie agreed that it was right that I do so because you have been such a big part of my life. Giving you this collection of stuff from our relationship, is not meant to break us up further, but to help you keep your promise to me. Remember your human life. I was a big part of it and I'll remember you as long as I live. There are pictures in here of us and our families while we dated and were married and this is my birthday gift to you. We'll be back from Hawaii just after you turn 28 and I didn't want to miss it entirely. So Happy Birthday, Bells.
Love, Jake
I smile and look through the rest. Some of the pictures are from my senior prom, and my first year of college. I laugh seeing myself in a toga and remember that party my roomie talked me into going to. There's a picture of Jessica and Mike and their roomies so I set it aside to show Edward, later. There's pictures of my graduation from Forks high and UW, too. Charlie and Jacob and Billy are in them with me. I think Alice would've been proud of my fashion choice and my hair too.
Jacob's graduation pictures are there too…some of them, anyway.
My bachelorette party was nothing too crazy but I'd had fun. Me and some of the girls had shots and danced to old music. We'd watched old movies and spoke the line from them. We had also played some silly old board-games and 'Truth or Dare'. All I chose was truth and those girls didn't get one straight answer from me all night. I remember thinking that whole night that I wished Alice and Rosalie were there.
The wedding and honeymoon pictures are lovely…but I can see the smile on my face doesn't really reach my eyes.
The first day I taught at Forks Elementary school had to be documented for posterity and so Jake had followed me through the building snapping pictures like crazy. My second graders had gotten a kick out of it, giggling the whole time.
Now, I see it and I freeze. It's a picture of me while I was pregnant. Jake has his arms around my waist and his hands resting on my belly. There's one of me alone, my hands on my baby bump and my eyes closed sitting on the beach. I remember that day vividly.
I had wanted a little time to myself and so I took a walk along the beach and, for the first time ever, pretended to talk to Rosalie. "Oh, Rosalie, you always wanted a baby. I'm so sorry you never got to go through this. It's quite amazing to have a little life inside of you…someone who depends on you for their every need. I never though I'd want this…I never thought I'd feel this way. I wish you were here…I wish you could live this with me…You would be a wonderful aunt, I know it."
Then I'd lain down a blanket and just sat there for a while…
I'd thought I was alone… I guess I'd been followed. This is confirmed by the note on the back of the photo.
I couldn't leave you alone because I'd known that the redheaded vampire was around. It hurt me terribly to lie to you but it hurt even more to hear you speak to Edward's sister the way you did.
I felt a tear run down my face. He'd been there while I spoke to someone he'd hated…even if it was pretend, I'd hurt him! "I'm so sorry Jacob."
"What are you sorry for, Bella-love?" Edward asks startling me.
I show him all the pictures and tell him the stories that go with them. "I didn't mean for him to hear me…"
"That's what you're getting out of this? This note is tantamout to an admission that he put you in danger! You're upset that you hurt him, but if he'd told you that Victoria was hanging around Forks again, you may never have been kidnapped and harmed by her at all. He could've warned you and given you some kind of guard or something!" He growls. "I think I'll be speaking to him about that when he returns."
"Wow…I didn't think of it like that…" I frown and think for a moment. "I'd like to know what he was thinking too…and this photo was taken only days before I got attacked…"
"You look beautiful, Bella, the very picture of motherhood. I hope to see you like that again…soon." Edward says placing his arms around me.
"For now, let's just spend a bit of time…" I kiss him. "…up in our room… and think about this later."
"Alright, love…" He says picking me up and laying me on our bed. He carefully takes my dress off and hangs it up.
I look at him curiously. "You usually rip my clothes to shreds…"
"What…? I like this one." He says with his dazzling crooked grin.
I giggle and shake my head as he stalks toward me. I feel like his prey as he looks me up and down before pouncing.
His lips go to one breast and his hand begins to knead the other.
I run my hands through his hair and moan my pleasure.
He knows just what to do to make me crazy, although we can never forget that I'm still human. His mouth comes down on my nipple as his hands roam my body.
I'm lost in his passionate embrace. Edward still has clothes on so I remind him of that by tugging at his shirt. He rips it off and pulls me close to him. I feel the flutter in my heart as my husband makes sweet love with me and sleep in his arms after it's over…
The next week is kind of a blur…my step-brother and his girlfriend picnic with us beside a waterfall the next day, where we swim and find secluded areas to be alone and play.
The next thing I know it's Labor Day weekend and I'm at Angela's alone til dusk. Edward joins me and gets to see Jessica, Mike's and their partner couple, Stephanie and George.
"You're totally right about George's tan, Love…but did you notice that Stephanie has your coloring…except for the eyes." Edward whispers to me with a chuckle.
"Oh, my gosh, Edward, I didn't notice that!" I whisper back. "You're right!"
Thank goodness we're sitting across the deck from them and they would only be able to hear us if they had super-human hearing.
Angels and Ben sit with us and they bring their twin boys, Brad and Drew. "Did I tell you that Lauren and Julie are supposed to be here too, Bella?"
"No, Ang, you neglected to mention that! I haven't seen Lauren for ages! How has Julie been?" I ask.
"Pregnant! Can you believe it?" She replies giggling.
Thank goodness I'm holding Brad when he needs a diaper change, because I need to get out of that conversation…pronto. "Pregnant, really…Wow! Listen this little guy needs a change, so why don't you let me take care of it and I'll be back soon."
"Oh, ok…I showed you the nursery didn't I?" She asks.
"Yeah, I'll be back." I sigh as I pick the toddler up and take him to his room. The diaper change goes ok if you count almost being peed on as ok. I sit with him on the rocker in the corner and tell him of my wish to be a mom. "Think you can help me, Brad?" I chuckle to myself.
"I don't think he can, Sweetie." Edward comes close and holds me and the baby boy. "I know it seems like everyone but us is getting pregnant, but if we just have faith…it will happen."
We go back out to the party and everyone seems to look at us strangely.
"The baby monitor was on…they know what went on up there." Edward whispers.
I blush at seeing the stares directed at us.
"Bella, I.." Angela says softly.
"Ang, it's ok…it's not your fault. You didn't know. Listen, it's late and we've gotta go. Tell Lauren and Julie we'll see them some other time." I hug her and let Edward take me home.
Over the next week after Labor Day, Edward takes me on some rather normal dates. We go to the movies; he cooks me dinner and he even plays mini-golf with me. He's so funny and cute.
Next week is my last human birthday. I will also have to deal with the anniversary of the day Edward left…but at least I can be comforted with his constant presence by my side. He reminds me every day that he is mine and he loves me. Soon enough I will join him in his immortal life. There are only a few more items on my list to take care of. Speaking of that, I take out my list and check off number 5.
Bella's Bucket List
1) There are lots of different foods I want to try
2) Get belly-button pierced
3) Visit Mom and Phil
a) Go to Disney
b) Go to Universal
c) Go to Sea World
4) Give blood
5) Go to LaPush to be in Jake and Val's wedding. Ride a horse and sight see around the rez with Charlie and Jake and Seth and the girls
6) Swim with dolphins or Scuba dive
7) Get married to the man/ Vampire that I love more than anything in the world
8) Finish the semester of teaching and then resign with honor
9) Have a baby??
10) Spend some time with Charlie and Sue