Chapter Nine: The Wedding
The days leading up to the wedding passed quickly, everyone was working their hardest to get everything prepared for the ceremony, and reception. Esme and Carlisle got one of the vampire friends to come a perform the ceremony, which was to be held on the front lawn of the Cullens' mansion, along with the reception.
We had to get the tables for the buffet that would be offerred afterward, though none of the Cullens'--including me--would be eating; after all, it could kill us. The cake, though, Carlisle had the bakery make it with a special ingredient, that wouldn't harm us. Instead of wine, Edward and I would be drinking blood, though no one would know it.
We even got a white arch with roses laced throught the wires for us to say our 'I do's' under, Chairs were lined up on either side of the aisle I was to walk down, and had streamers taped to the sides of the chairs that faced out towards the aisle and bundles of roses attached.
One of Carlisle's friends' daughters was going to be our flower girl, Alyssia. She had curly blond hair that reached down to her shoulders and bright blue eyes, which was unusual for a vampire; she had to be the cutest little girl I'd ever laid my eyes upon. Alyssia's twin, Ian, also had big blue eyes and platinum blonde hair as she did; he was going to be carrying a black velvet pillow with the rings on it.
Finally, the day of the wedding arrived; Alice made me stay in her room with her; she said it was bad luck to see Edward before the wedding. I rolled my eyes at her superstitious manner, but I did as she requested.
At eight a.m the next morning, Alice and Rosalie had me sitting in a chair in front of the mirror with nothing but a black silk robe on since I still had yet to get my dress on. They pulled my hair up into an elegant twist in the back and held it in place by a white rose clip.
"Edward is going to be so stunned, he won't be able to say his vows..." Rosalie murmured, smiling.
"Yeah..maybe I should get that on video." Alice chirped in and I laughed at them. "Aw, come on now, guys, this isn't 'Let's Embarrass Edward Day'." I said. "Cut him some slack. Last night when I said goodnight to him, he looked to be a nervous mess. That was the first time I'd ever seen him like that." I said.
"Well...when you guys first met, and you thought he hated you...that night, he would act all mad and frustrated because he couldn't hear your thoughts. He said you were the only one whom he actually wanted to hear the thoughts of." Alice said quietly, as if Edward we listening at the door.
"Really? He said that?" I asked. "He never told me that."
"He doesn't really like to express himself all that much." Rosalie said. "Keeps his emotions locked up. But of course, you've experienced that first hand, Bella."
I nodded. She had a point. They did my make up; a light brown eyeshadow on my eyelids and a coat of mascara, along with black eyeliner. They put pink blush on my cheeks and coated my lips in gloss, since they were already a rosey-pink color.
"Alright, before you look in the mirror, go put your dress on. And don't get any make up on it." Rosalie said, handing me my dress which was on a hanger and pushing me towards Alice's bathroom. I put on my dress, the beautiful silk dress that came down to the floor and trailed back a good six feet behind me. I pulled up on me after unzipping it, the gold rose stitching around the top, pronounced in the light. I came back out of the bathroom and turned around. "Can one of you zip it up, please?"
Alice hurried foreward and zipped it then clapped. "Bella...that is gorgeous. Here, we need to get your veil on. She grabbed the tiara with the satin viel attached. The tiara had diamonds embedded on it everywhere and glimmered in the light.
I put on the white-cream coloured heels that had a square toe and tied around my ankle, the straps wraping around my ankle several times.
"Look in the mirror." Rosalie said, smiling the biggest smile I'd ever seen as they led me to the mirror.
I looked into the glass and gasped. It was the strangest, yet greated I'd ever seen myself look; all thanks to Alice and Rosalie.
If I could have cried, my make up would have been ruined. I turned to look at Alice and Rosalie. "Thank you both...sooo much. I don't know how I could thank you enough for everything you've done for Edward and I."
"You're our sister! We'd do anything for you guys!" Alice said, hugging me tightly, as did Rosalie.
An hour later, Edward, Carlisle, and Esme went on outside to where the arch was set up and Carlisle and Esme took their seats in the front row. I didn't see them exit the house; Jasper came in and told us.
Both of them, Jasper and Emmett came in the room after Alice and Rosalie were done changing into their dresses and doing their make up and hair. "Ready girls?" Jasper asked.
Alice smiled. "I think we are." She said and walked foreward, linking her arm through his. I saw Jasper lean in and whisper something in Alice's ear, smiling. "Aw, thank you, dear." She said, smiling at him and kissed his cheek.
Rosalie joined Emmett and they led the way down the staircase. Alice and Jasper waited for me to followe Rosalie and Emmett then they brought up the rear.
Once the doors were to open, then we were supposed to walk out, and down the aisle.
Rosalie and Emmett got in line first, and then Alice and Jasper in front of me. "Where are Alyssia and Ian?" Alice asked.
"Alyssia! Ian! Come on!" Emmett called; both children just loved Emmett. He was the big, playfull brother niether had.
The children came running over to us, Alyssia's blonde curls bouncing with each step. "Are we about ready?" Ian asked; for a five year old, he have incredibly good pronunciation, as did Alyssia.
"Yeah, come on and get in front of us, you guys." Rosalie crouched down and took their hands, pulling them in front of her and Emmett, straightening their hair and Alyssia's dress and Ian's tie. She handed Alyssia her basket of rose petals from beside the door and Emmett handed Ian his pillow then placed the rings on it carefully from inside his jacket pocket.
The children turned around and faced the doors, their posture perfect, waiting. About five minutes later, the doors opened to reveal a cloudy sky; luckily, there would be no rain today, though.
Alyssia and Ian walked out together, down the aisle. I could hear the women chattering about how adorable the kids were.
Then, Rosalie and Emmett walked out, followed by Alice and Jasper and then...me.
I walked down the aisle after Alice and Jasper had reached the end and everyone stood up. I started down and I could see Edward's face light up, smiling my favourite crooked smile. He was wearing a black tuxedo and tie. My eyes scanned the crowd of about fifty or sixty people for Charlie. I spotted him in the front by Carlisle, and my heart leaped...if it could. My heart wasn't even beating anymore. Edward knew what I was thinking, apparently, because he gave me a small, encouraging nod, still smiling. Finally, I reached him and he took my hand in his. We faced Carlisle's friend who was performing the ceremoney and after everyone was seated, he began. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join together in holy matrimony, Edward Anthony Mason Cullen and Isabella Marie Swan. If there is anyone who thinks these two should not be together, speak now or forever hold your peace.
Everyone was silent and I prayed to God Charlie would no speak up. Thankfully, all was quiet until the vampire began again. "Now, Edward. Do you take, Isabella Swan to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, from this day foreward for all of eternity?"
Edward smiled at me, looking straight into my eyes. "I do." Edward reached down and picked up my ring off the pillow Ian was holding and slid it onto my finger as he spoke.
"Do you, Isabella take Edward Cullen to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish from this day foreward for all of eternity?"
I looked straight back at Edward. "I do." I said, my voice soft as I, too, picked up his ring and slid it onto his left hand.
"By the power invested in me, under the eyes of God, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." He added to Edward, smiling.
Edward, who hadn't quit smiling the entire time, wrapped an arm around my waist pulling me to him. He locked eyes with me for a moment, then pressed his lips to mine in a passionate kiss.
Everyone stood and applauded, including Charlie.
Edward and I finally broke apart and I could see Alice was just about ready to start jumping up and down, it seemed.
We turned and walked back down the aisle, headed towards where the reception would be held, followed by Alice and Jasper, and then Rosalie and Emmett.
After everyone had finished eating, Alice and Jasper were messing around with the large music stereo that had been brought outside. Alice was gabbering animatedly to him as she inserted a CD. The song Edward and I had picked to be our first dance song; my lullaby.
Edward stood up from where we sat at our table with Rosealie and Emmett. Charlie hadn't gotten to come over to me yet, being congratulated on his only daughter's wedding day.
"Isabella, may I have this dance?" Edward said, bending foreward to take my hand as the song began. I smiled. "Of course." I said and took his hand. He led me out to where a special place was cleared with a hardwood floor that Carlisle had delivered and Edward took me in his arms and I put my arms around his neck as we glided gracefully around the floor. "You look..so incredibly beautiful.." Edward said, leaning his forehead against mine to look directly into my eyes. "I am the luckiest person..to have you as a wife." He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine again in a sweet kiss. When we parted, I whispered back, "You have no idea how lucky I feel as well, Edward. I've never been as happy as I am today." He smiled broadly and planted a quick, light kiss on my full red lips once again.
Soon after that, Jasper and Alice joined us on the floor, as did Rosealie and Emmett and Esme and Carlisle. Pretty soon, most of the adults were on the floor, dancing along with their husbands or wives or boyfriends or girlfriends. Even Alyssia and Ian started dancing together, not wanting to be left out. Luckily, Alice managed to get that on video.
Charlie came over to where Edward and I were dancing after a while and said, "Edward may..erm...may I cut in please?"
Edward nodded and kissed my cheek. "Of course, Cheif Swan." He said and Alice grabbed his shoulder since Jasper was taking a break and forced him, more or less, to dance with her.
"Bella.." Charlie began. "I just wanted to say that I am very sorry for the way I acted last week. I overreacted and...and I know that Edward is going to treat you right. I realize by the way he looks at you, that he isn't going to leave you again. Please forgive me, Bells."
"Dad..of course I forgive you. You have no idea how happy I am that you came today. I should have told you that I was going to Edward's instead of with Jessica, anyway." Well...no I shouldn't have, but he didn't need to hear that.
"Thank you Bella." He said and kissed my forehead. "My baby girl is grown up and is married. Soon you'll probably be having little ones of your own and then you'll be watching them grow up." Charlie said, a hint of sadness on his voice. "I just wish I had been there for more of your childhood. I really regret it now, seeing how beautiful and grown up you are now."
Wow. Now that shocked me; something that deep coming from Charlie? "Dad...you've done a lot for me over the past year and a half, letting me move in with you. Thank you for everything you have done for me. I love you, Daddy." I said and kissed his cheek, hugging him tightly. I realized that this was the last time I was ever going to get to see my father again. "I won't be able to call mom anytime soon, so if you talk to her today, can you tell her I love her?"
"Of course, Bella. I will." He said. His cell phone rang and we paused our dancing so he could answer it. "What?...No!...Where?...Okay...I'm coming...thanks Bill...bye." Charlie snapped his phone shut and looked at me apologetically. "Bella..I'm really sorry but there's been a murder over in La Push. Very gruesome. Decapitated and claw marks. They suspect a bear. I really have to go and help investigate and clean up."
"It's okay, go. You have to." I said and my stomach burned like acid; Jacob was behind that murder. I was sure of it.
"Have a great honeymoon, Bella. You and Edward have my best wishes. Be careful. I love you, Bells." he dropped a kiss on my head.
"Bye Dad, I love you too. You be careful as well." I said, my voice shaking in worry. If Jacob did anything to Charlie, I would make sure to kill him myself.
Charlie hurried off to his car and was soon speeding out of the driveway in his police cruiser.
Edward was back at my side. "Did I just hear right?"
I nodded grimmly.
"Right...well we have to get on that plane to Paris as quick as we can tonight." He said, holding me close to him, as if afraid that Jacob would come and try to take me away from him. That would never happen; I wouldn't let it.