Chapter 7. Party.
As we walked into the back yard, the party vaguely reminded me of my wedding night. The flowers, people, and cake all resembled that of my party. A grin spread across my face when I realized that when I was not the center of attention, I rather liked parties; as long as Edward was by my side.
"Bella!" I heard from a group of people under the floral canopy that took Edward and I so long to put up. It was a human voice, I could tell. From out of the huddle came Renee, with Phil at her side. "Honey, this party is just gorgeous." She said, lightly squeezing my arm.
"I think Renesmee is really enjoying it." Phil added, sounding slightly confused and stiff but trying to cover it. Obviously he was still amazed that I had a young daughter when he had just seen me a year ago and I was not pregnant. He had tried not to show it though.
"I hope so!" I replied. I was thinking of the way I had spent my whole day, preparing for the party.
"Alice treated us like the presidential staff today." Edward explained.
"Oh, I can only imagine. It is magnificent. At least, all your hard work paid off." Renee murmured, gazing around at the marvelous scene before us. Renesmee had finished greeting everyone and was now playing what looked like a version of hide-and-go-seek with Jacob and Embry. Rosalie was hand in hand with Emmett next to a table with a large book on it. It appeared that it had many signatures on it, a signature book. With my improved vision I could see various names and special notes. There was also a few pictures of Renesmee at various stages of her accelerated life placed on the table with the book.
Renesmee looked up, saw me and Edward, and waved before Jacob began chasing her. They were both running at human pace.
"She is so adorable." Edward said, smiling warmly after Renesmee.
"Who?" Renee asked, whipping her head around.
"Renesmee." Edward and I both said at the same time.
"I think we are going to say hi to her and then find Alice." I told Renee and Phil, intertwining my arm in Edward's. They smiled as we walked towards Renesmee and Jacob.
"Hey, guys." Embry said, strolling over to meet us.
We greeted Embry and had a brief conversation with Jacob and Renesmee before Jacob began chasing her again.
"Bella, Edward!" Alice called. I could tell he was listening to her thoughts.
"Get Renesmee and bring her over when we dim the Christmas lights." He whispered in my ear. I looked up at him. "Don't worry, love." He said bending down to kiss me on the cheek. Apparently I looked worried. "I'll be right back."
I nodded and took back possession of my arm while he meandered back towards the house.
Around five minutes later the Christmas lights began to dim. "Renesmee." I called. She was hugging my knees in seconds.
"Yes, Mommy." She asked, resting her head upright on my thigh.
"Look." I said softly, referring to the house. She gasped and reached for my hand. She began tugging me and Jacob, in opposite hands, towards the house.
Edward came out and looked at Jacob's hand. Jacob offered Renesmee's hand to Edward and Edward took it automatically. We led Renesmee to the front of the crowd facing the porch.
A chant of "Happy Birthday" came out of the house and Renesmee's smile lit up the yard. Before long Emmett emerged from the house carrying the massive cake. Rosalie was on his right, being trailed by Alice, Jasper, Carlisle, and Esme. I felt a pang of guilt for Emmett. He must detest carrying that cake, which probably smelled like a pile of dirt to him. If he was bothered by it he didn't show it. The whole family was absolutely beaming. In fact, everybody here was beaming. I hadn't realized the table in front of us, but that was where Emmett placed the cake. Renesmee's face glowed in the light from the candles that lined every level of the cake. The flames flickered across her face.
We ended the chorus with a long trailing note. You could hear the varying musical talent at the party. It ranged from Alice's high soprano to many off pitch, low male human voices. Renesmee blew out the candles in one breath. Alice was quickly at the side of the cake with a plate and serving knife. Esme began delicately plucking the candles out of the frosting. She handed them to Renesmee, allowing her to lick the frosting off the bottom.
"I thought she didn't like human food." I muttered so low it would be unintelligible to the humans in the audience and difficult for the werewolf pack to understand.
"I guess she likes sugar." Edward said, laughing.
"Just like every kid." Rosalie added, smiling. I had barely seen her move her lips.
From what I was told by Renee, Charlie, Phil, Renesmee, and all of the people from the reservation the cake was fantastic. All of us daintily moved small pieces around our plates before throwing them out inconspicuously. Renesmee was sitting happily next to Jacob on the ground, who was enjoying his second piece. The party moved on easily from one activity to the next, no real schedule so to speak.
The sun had set hours before as the first left. Sam and Emily left first, bringing Quil with them. The rest of the pack soon followed after, leaving only Paul, Rachel, Seth, and Jacob behind. The remainder of people still were out in the backyard, under a awning of sparkling roses.
Seth came up next to Edward and I, who were sitting on a porch step. I lifted my head off Edward's shoulder at his approach.
"Hey guys. The party was amazing. Renesmee seems so happy. Let me know what she thinks of all the gifts." He smiled warmly. I had totally forgotten people had brought presents.
"Oh. That was so rude of us!"
"Um…what?" Seth asked.
"Not opening the presents in front of everyone," I explained, "That was so rude."
"Oh, no. Bella it's fine, really. No one minds at all. Everyone just enjoyed that cake. Man, that was fantastic." Seth was looking at Edward now, "My compliments to the baker."
Edward shook his head, "Not me, Seth. Esme gets full credit."
"I'll have to go thank her. It was great." We both nodded and smiled. "Anyway, I'm going to be leaving. I'll try to find everyone but if I don't, tell them I said thanks."
"No problem, Seth." Edward said.
"Thanks, man. Bye." Seth answered, reaching over to pat Edward on the arm.
"Bye, Seth." I called after him.
A small yawn stretched across Renesmee's face. Although she wouldn't admit it, she was tired. Paul and Rachel had left with the excuse of getting home to Billy. Charlie had just left. "You bring Renesmee down soon." He ordered while giving me an awkward hug. I promised we would.
"Should I take Renesmee home?" Edward asked, leaning over to whisper in my ear. His lips brushed my ear. I giggled and turned around, straightening out a fold on his sweater.
"Tell her a good story." I whispered back. I could hear Renee's footsteps leading towards us through the kitchen, but placed a light kiss on Edward's waiting lips. I pulled away, but Edward followed me. I knew he had to be aware of Renee approaching us. I giggled against his zealous lips and lightly pushed him away. He only responded by pulling me closer. I turned my head to the side, still giggling, only to have him place a kiss on my cheek.
"Hi, Mom." I greeted her giggling.
"Sorry to interrupt, sweetheart." She said. I rolled my eyes sarcastically, as if to say don't worry about it. "But I think me and Phil are going to leave."
I attempted another escape from Edward's arms and this time he allowed it.
I skipped over and wrapped my mom into a tight hug. "Promise you'll call soon." I said.
"Of course. I will call you when the plane lands tomorrow. It should be at around three. We have an early flight. But we do have a stop in Portland." She explained.
I pulled back from the hug. "Alright. Well if there are any problems, layovers, or anything, I'm sure somebody would be happy to come get you."
"Thanks, Bella. Goodbye, Edward." Renee said. At this time everyone began filtering into the room. Goodbye's were spread around.
"Okay, Renesmee. Did you say bye to everyone?" Edward asked, scooping her up. She nodded sleepily and rubbed her eye.
"Bye, sweetie." Renee cooed, stroking Renesmee's face. Renesmee waved bye weakly before curling into Edward's chest.
"I think I'm leaving too." Jacob said, clasping his hands together. "I'll be back tomorrow. Renee, Phil do you want me to drive you back to the hotel? Just to be sure you don't get lost?" He asked.
"That would be great. Thank you, Jacob." Phil said smiling. "Goodbye, everyone. It was great seeing you all again."
"Yes. Alice, thank you for yet another amazing party and Esme the cake was delicious.
Once the two car's taillights turned onto the highway everyone began to disperse. Esme went into the kitchen to finish straightening up with Carlisle trailing her. Alice was beaming in absolute joy.
"Alice, you don't have post party depression." Emmett pointed out.
"That's because we still have one more." She answered, raising her eyebrows. She then skipped upstairs, pulling Jasper with her.
Rosalie crossed her arms and pouted. "Maybe next party someone will thank me." She said quietly, slouching onto the couch. I couldn't help but laugh. I tried to stifle my laughter but only had slightly more success than Emmett. He roared with laughter. I could hear Alice's bell-like giggle from upstairs, along with Jasper's snickering. From the kitchen came Esme's and Carlisle's chuckles. Rosalie glared in all different directions, deciding on who to glower at. She finally settled on Emmett whose loud guffaws were rolling off his in waves.
"Rose." He said in between fits of laughter, "All you did was order us around." He finished once his laughter subsided. He placed a hand on her thigh. She stood up abruptly and spun around, swinging her golden waterfall of hair, before stalking up the stairs.
Emmett chuckled once more before taking off after her. "Aw, come on. You know it's true." I heard Rosalie's dramatic gasp from upstairs. "You were a fantastic dictator!" Emmett pointed out. That was when I heard the door slam. Edward was smilingly gleefully to himself.
"What?" I asked, smiling as well.
"We rarely get in fights." He pointed out, still holding a sleeping Renesmee.
I gave him a look of deep thought before nodding my head. "Yeah…" I agreed walking over to him smiling. I could bring up the time he left or our arguments over me visiting Jacob, but I didn't. Instead I walked over and kissed him on the cheek.
"To the cottage?" I asked. He nodded and Renesmee mumbled something in her sleep.
We said goodnight to Esme and Carlisle before exiting out the back door. While crossing the lawn we could still hear bickering voices from upstairs and the occasional muffled giggle.
"I meant dictator in the nicest way!" Emmett pleaded.
"Oh, a nice way. That fixes everything!" Rosalie said sarcastically. Alice giggled.
"There are some amazing dictators. I mean, think about Stalin. He defeated Hitler!" Emmett pointed out.
"He also killed around eight million people." Rosalie countered. I'm pretty sure the sound I heard after that was Emmett hitting himself in the head, or them falling onto the bed.
Edward chuckled and looked up at the night sky. The stars twinkled and sparkled like diamonds against a navy sheet.
"I am so lucky." He murmured, reaching for my hand.