Part XV

EPOV

As Bella's wedding approached me, I had yet to make my decision. I wanted to see, with my very eyes, that there was nothing left for me to do. I needed proof that Bella and I could not be and so ultimately I decided I would say my farewells and then flee to France.

The day before the wedding I went to Hayrick. I respected Emily enough to give her a proper goodbye. I stood outside her door and it opened before I could knock. She greeted me with a smile. "I heard your horse come up."

"May I come in?"

Her smile quickly faded. "You're leaving." She breathed.

"Don't cry, I beg you. I will miss you with all my heart but I can't stay in England anymore. If I had a choice, I would move out here with you. Genevieve and I are destined for failure. Bella is happily marrying Santillana."

She tried to hold it together but she was not successful. "You should go, don't make this longer than it should be." She brushed her lips against mine. "I will never forget you Edward Masen." She was very uneasy. "I…I…"

"Emily you knew it would happen."

"I…Edward you…it's late, you should go." She turned around and covered her face with her hands.

"Emily is something else wrong?"

"No, just go."

I did as she asked me but I suspected that there was something else that was wrong.

BPOV

"Where are we going?" I asked. Jacob had walked me through town because he said he had a surprise.

"Home."

I wasn't sure how to take the comment. Up until this day Jacob had been living with the Cullens and I in my home.

"Look up ahead." I looked over to where he gestured and I came across a large beautiful house. It was breathtaking. There was a large gate and through it I could see a beautiful garden and stable in the rear.

I followed him to the gate. He opened it and led me in. To my surprise there were people there. Most were women who cleaned. "I can't fathom why you would think I needed a place like this."

"This is our home, I don't want any objections. Please me by enjoying it. The house is in decent condition and it will be ready by tomorrow."

"It's entirely too large."

"Don't think about that. I asked Mr. Hale to bring his wife to accompany you, here they are now." Just on cue, a carriage pulled up and Alice stepped out.

She'd been away for a couple of weeks after her wedding. "Bella!"

"Alice you're back."

"I would never miss my friend's wedding." She looked around. "This is beautiful, Jacob has great taste, I must admit." She began her way inside. "You know you want to see it."

I followed her in and I felt more and more guilty. I didn't deserve this in the least. Alice and I toured the house and of course I liked it but I would never truly enjoy it.

The wedding day arrived all too quickly. The morning was busy and before I knew it I was on my way to the church. I wanted to burst into tears, I wanted to run away from it all but I didn't. I knew what I had to do.

I began to truly panic when the church doors opened and all the people turned to face me. The aisle seemed a thousand times longer than it really was.

Jacob took my hand when I reached him and I took the liberty to glance back at the crowd. My heart nearly dropped when I saw Edward in the back row next to Genevieve Delaflote. I could not concentrate on what was being said, all I could I do is dream of this ending.

"Do you Isabella Swan take Jacob Santillana as your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to honor and cherish for as long as you both shall live?"

I swallowed the knot in my throat. I knew what I wanted to say but I knew what I had to say. "I do." I said with as much certainty as I could.

"Do you Jacob Santillana take Isabella Swan as your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to honor and cherish for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do." He replied with not a hint of hesitation.

"If there are any objections speak now or forever hold your peace."