Chapter 12: The Ultimate Day
Stephenie's. Not mine. Sigh.
Edward's pov
I smiled as Ben and I stood in the back room of the church, helping him to straighten his tie and pass his last few minutes as a single man. I smiled, but inside I was going to pieces, because the moment of separation would come all too soon. It had been a long time since we'd moved, and many years more since we'd left anybody special behind. You never got used to it.
Soon, Ben, myself, Mike and Austin were standing before the altar, in our black tuxes and sky blue cummerbunds and bow ties, and then Nessie was leading the girls' procession down the aisle, spilling flower petals daintily out of her basket. Bella, Jess, and two of Angela's cousins were lovely in their coordinated sky blue cocktail dresses. Nessie looked pretty sweet in a more age-appropriate dress. Then came the little angel, breathtaking in her ivory silk and sans eyeglasses. My little birdie was flying the coop, albeit with my blessing, and I was delighted but also sad. I hoped God would forgive me for feeling a little smug, too, because without my intervention they might never have gotten together.
The church was redolent with the scent of hundreds of white blooms. Orchids, roses, freesia, baby's breath, and lily of the valley. The Aunties and Cousins were highly appreciative of Alice's work. They chattered about all the arrangements like a bunch of broody hens.
The eternal words were spoken, and the newlyweds kissed, and back down the aisle we all went to the sound of the organ. I crooked my arm for Bella, and we smiled as we marched out, sharing a memory of our own special day.
There were people to be greeted and pictures to be taken. Thank God, it was raining as Alice had predicted. The pictures had to be taken inside the church.
The humans all raved about the food. They loved Esme's prime rib and oven-roasted potatoes, with mixed baby vegetables and Yorkshire pudding. They loved the variety of breads and the excellent coffee with fresh cream. And they loved the chocolate wedding cake.
The Cullens and Hales attempted to show the appropriate degree of enthusiasm for said food, using various tricks to make it disappear off over-filled plates. At least Nessie, in her seat next to Bella, was able to enjoy some of it without faking. Her cake disappeared particularly quickly. I was glad that we never had to worry about her diet. She'd be immortal before she could age enough to really worry about her health.
After the dinner, we migrated to the tent next door at the manse where the Webers lived. It was a little rainy, so we ushers held umbrellas for the guests. It was fun. It hearkened back to an earlier age, when manners were important. Naturally, I teased Ben. Rain at your wedding meant fertility, I said. He rolled his eyes and said not everyone wanted to be a dad at 22. I could do it for him. However many times I wanted. Hah! If he only knew the truth.
The dance was great, and Angela and Ben seemed to really be having a ball. A couple of the old Aunties commandeered the Cullen men, myself included, for some old fashioned Swing dancing. Alice wandered around watching everyone, with a smug look on her face. If we weren't careful, she was going to become a well-known wedding planner and we'd be trying to avoid getting her picture in the paper.
The hour grew late, and young Mr and Mrs Ben Cheney would soon have to depart. Angela went up with Bella to her room to change into a pale blue linen summer dress. Then, she summoned the Cullens for a private goodbye before coming down to say goodbye to the guests.
Angela thanked each member of the family personally, and said what she loved most about them. She thanked Bella for being her sister and she thanked me for being her big brother and protector. She thanked us for including her in our lives and our secrets, and she said she was going to miss us all so badly. Had we been human, there would not have been a dry eye in the house. As it was, most of us were sobbing by the time she was through, and Alice had to fix Angela's face since she had cried off all of her makeup.
Everyone got a kiss and a hug, and Angela saved me for last. I let my little angel go, as I produced a little bunch of forget-me-nots and pinned them in her hair. I could only nod as Angela promised she would not forget us, and my family promised not to forget her. Then we filed sadly downstairs to await the return of the bride and see the departure of the happy couple. I only had enough time to say a proper goodbye to Ben before Angela came down on her father's arm, and the couple was pelted with confetti as they ran to the Neon and drove away.
The Cullens and Hales stayed late, in order to help the Webers clean up after the party. Nessie fell asleep and Jake took her home in the Rabbit. Bella and I took Ang and Ben's wedding gifts to our cottage. All our special possessions and mementos were pretty much packed and ready for our departure. We would store everything but necessities until we found a new place to settle.
Most of the furniture was to be left behind at the house and the cottage for the next inhabitants' use. The exceptions were Esme's dining room table, my mother Elizabeth's dresser, my piano, Carlisle's antique desk, Nessie's bedroom furniture, Rosalie's hope chest, Bella's rocking chair, and our favourite pieces of art, which would be stored for use at the next house.
Alice had enlisted Jasper and Rose's help to redecorate Renesmee's room. Alice said Angela was going to have two sons, someday. We left behind a crib and a toddler bed, with appropriate baby necessities. Ben and Ang would probably think it was a big joke. We also stocked the kitchen with food, and put a brand new computer with a webcam in a corner of the sitting room.
The next morning, the movers brought a big storage bin, and all our stuff was carried away. The eight of us stood in the living room, wondering at the blandness of the rooms. Carlisle said a prayer as we stood with linked hands. It was the first time that Rose, Jazz and Emmett joined in the farewell ritual.
Carlisle thanked God for the bountiful life we had been accorded in Forks for the past eight years. He asked for blessings as we looked for a new home. He asked for protection for us, and for the people we were leaving behind. We let our hands fall, and had a last look around.
By the time we stepped outside, Charlie, Sue, Seth, Leah, Billy, Embry, Quill and Jared were there. Jacob put his gear into the back of the Volvo, which he would be driving. His pack would probably be joining us once we were settled somewhere safe and they'd bring the Rabbit and the motorcycles with them. Sam and his pack showed up in time to shake hands and say goodbye.
By the time we had all hugged and kissed Charlie, we were sobbing again. It was worse because Charlie was crying. Finally, there was no more excuse to delay. Carlisle and Esme got in the Merc. Rose got in the MG. Emmett got in the jeep. Alice got in the porche, and Jazz got on his motorcycle. Bella and Nessie got in the Ferrari, accompanied by the pet goldfish, and I got in the Vanquish. The engines revved, and then we set off north, into the unknown.