Chapter 3: The Last Night
"Tomorrow is the big day." Bella said, smiling. If it wasn't for that smile, and the fact that my stomach no longer held food, or bile for that matter, I may have vomited. I still felt emotionally nauseous. I am excited for my daughter, but I already miss her. I also am still fighting my old emotions and feelings about Jacob. They have faded some, but vampires rarely make such a dramatic change in such a short time. And 10 years was short for me.
"Edward, would you please pull it together. Em and I have plans for tonight after the rehearsal." Rosalie sniped. Amazingly, I did not hear her plans, only the rush in her voice of her wanting to the rehearsal to be over. She didn't really have to be there, but Nessie had insisted the family be there. She loved us all and wanted us to feel included. Plus we had one last hunting trip to make before tomorrow.
The wedding party consisted of Nessie and Jacob, of course. They had decided not to have groomsmen or bride's maids mainly because the wedding itself was going to be so small. Plus it seemed an almost trivial thing to them. I would give her away and Carlisle would officiate. Billy Black, Jacob's father, would be part of the ceremony to give a traditional Quileute blessing. After all, this was more of a ceremony, rather than a drastic life change, but rather just another step. Neither person would have to be talked out of their cold feet moments.
The rehearsal started. Billy escorted Bella down the isle to right-side front row, the traditional place for the mother-of-the bride. Carlisle and Jacob were already in place; Carlisle in the center and Jacob on the Right side, a few steps closer to me. Now, the music began to play, it was a song I had written for this occasion. It was a lovely piano and cello piece I had composed and recorded with Bella. It was one of our gifts to her. She adored the melody. We practiced our slow processional up the isle. It all went well.
"At this point, you'll give her away. I will give the usual welcome and introduce Billy to give the blessing. After the blessing I will proceed with the exchanging of vows and rings. This will be followed by the traditional kiss. Renesmee, I must warn you not to do what your mother did and make the kiss a bit too long. We don't want a preview of the honeymoon." Carlisle couldn't help but chuckle. The bride and bridegroom blushed.
"Hey! I couldn't help that I got caught up in the moment. The whole marriage thing didn't really hit me until just before the ceremony began!" Bella protested.
"They won't. They will be at least a little bit restrained in their feelings." Alice predicted. We all laughed and slowly parted ways as the rehearsal came to an end. I was glad the laughter was there to get my mind off the fact of this being the last night my daughter would have my last name. Tomorrow she would be a Black and one of the symbolic ties which attached her to me would be gone.