Chapter 27
Emmett and I arrive at the restaurant early and find Franck waiting at the hostess stand. He starts talking to me a mile a minute and I hear Emmett snickering under his breath at Franck's accent and mannerisms.
"Room all ready for you. I know you will love. Come see, come see!" Franck claps and starts walking.
I don't care about the guy's strange ways. He knows what he's doing and that's all that matters. Emmett and I follow him down the hall to the room where I will be getting married shortly.
When we step inside, I feel like we fall into a fairy tale. Since it's November, there is a fire that wasn't there last time crackling in the fireplace. Above the fireplace and hanging down the sides are beautiful white and purple flowers mixed with vibrant greenery, creating the feel of an altar instead of just a hearth.
The sconces on the walls are lit at a low level and a table set for six sits on the near side of the door. The same flowers that adorn the fireplace form a centerpiece on the table, with petals scattered throughout.
There are no chairs by the fireplace, which is exactly how we requested it to be. With only four guests and a short ceremony, we decided our guests could stand with us. This way, it will also be like they are standing for us since we don't have any bridesmaids or groomsmen.
"It's perfect, Franck. Thank you," I tell him sincerely. "Exactly what we wanted."
"I just knew you love," he responds, clearly happy that I'm happy. "I send in your server. You need drink!"
With that, he disappears.
"Wow, this place is great," Emmett tells me. "I don't know what I was expecting, but this wasn't it! You guys did a great job."
"It was all Franck," I inform him. "We just picked the room and told him what we were looking for."
A server steps into the room through a panel in the wall that you wouldn't know was there unless you were looking for it. It leads directly to the kitchen, and keeps the traffic flow as unobtrusive as possible.
"Good evening, Mr. Cullen," Sally greets. She was our server when we ate here last time. "Welcome back to the Olympic Ristorante. We have your selection of champagne for dinner chilling, but can I get you a drink to start with?"
I order a scotch on the rocks to help relax me a bit and Emmett does the same.
Benjamin arrives while we're waiting for our drinks, dressed in a suit, and greets me with a friendly hug.
"Thanks so much for doing this, Benjamin. We really appreciate it." No matter how many times I offer to pay him, he insists that it's not necessary and he's happy to do this for us.
"I'm glad I could be here, Edward." He orders a drink when the waitress returns with Emmett's and mine, and we make small talk while we wait for everyone else to arrive. "You've got the marriage license and the rings, right?" he asks.
"Absolutely," I tell him. I pat my pocket that holds the rings before showing him the marriage license that's sitting on the table.
"Well then, we just need a bride and we'll be ready to go."
I smile when I think of my bride arriving.
The time passes quickly while we chat, and before I know it, Franck is escorting my father and Esme into the room.
Dad greets me with an extra long hug. "I'm really happy for you, Edward," he says quietly. "Even if I haven't always shown it, I can see you and Bella are happy together and that's all I want for you."
"Thanks, Dad. We are happy, and I know that she's it for me." The perma-grin on my face is testament to that.
"Well," he says, announcing to the room. "I'm pretty sure I saw Rose pulling up when we were walking in, so I think it's time to get this show on the road."
The butterflies in my stomach take flight, knowing Bella is moments away from walking through the door. There are no nerves or cold feet to be found—just pure excitement. I can't wait to be married to her.
Rose joins us, greeting me with a hug and Emmett with a kiss. I hear him tell her how beautiful she looks, and once again, I'm struck by how much my best friend has changed.
We quickly take places in front of the fireplace and Franck comes in to cue up some music. The door is closed, but I stare at it, willing it to open so I can see my bride. My hands are clasped in front of me as I try to prevent myself from fidgeting, while my heart is beating so rapidly I can hear it in my head.
Finally, the door opens, and all the air escapes my lungs when I catch my first view of Bella. She steps into the room with a wide smile matching my own. I don't know what I expected, but as usual, her beauty surpasses everything I ever dreamed of.
She is a vision in a long, simple white dress that gathers under her bust and flows like a dream down to the floor. Her hair is swept up off of her face with curls flowing down her back, and her radiance shines from every inch of her. She carries a small bouquet of flowers in her hand that match the ones in the room.
I nearly have to hold myself back from running across the room to her. She approaches slowly, and finally, finally I am able to reach out and take her hand.
"You're perfect," I tell her quietly.
Her eyes on mine are already glassy when she mouths "I love you" to me and I return it in a whisper.
Benjamin starts the ceremony, though I don't hear much of what he says. It feels as if Bella and I are the only two in the room, and I can't take my eyes off of her.
I do hear him ask me to recite my vows. I have to clear my throat of the lump that has formed there before I can begin.
Still holding Bella's hand, I give it a small squeeze and take a deep breath. "Bella, having known you for the last seven years has been a privilege that I will never take for granted. When you walked back into my life eleven months ago, I thought the fates were conspiring against me, taunting me with something I could never have.
"As it turns out, fate did play a role in bringing you back into my life, but as a blessing, not a curse. We were destined to be together, in this time, in this place. We were exactly what one another needed, at exactly the time we needed someone.
"Your smile lights up my life, just as your intellect lights up my mind. Every day, I promise to love you more than the last. I will cherish you each day for eternity. I promise to be with you through joy and sorrow, and to share my life with you as my best friend, my partner and my lover."
A tear escapes Bella's eye as she listens to my words, but she doesn't bother to wipe it away.
Benjamin turns to her, asking for her vows.
She smiles at me before beginning. "Edward, you have been a steadfast and true friend through good times and bad, always knowing how to support me when I didn't even know what I needed. As our friendship blossomed into something more, you changed my life for the better, bringing me joy and laughter. Every day with you is better than the last, and I look forward to the years ahead of us.
"I promise to be by your side through good times and bad, to love you and to be your partner and lover for all the days of my life. I am yours, in body, mind and soul."
My joy at her words is so intense, I feel like it is rolling off my body in waves.
Benjamin asks me for the rings, and I reach into my pocket and hand them to him, listening carefully to his next words. "Wedding rings are an outward and visible symbol of an inward bond that unites two loyal hearts in endless love, sealing the vows that Edward and Isabella have made to each other. Their unbroken circle symbolizes never ending love when it is freely given. May these rings always remind you of the vows you have given to each other.
"Edward, place the ring on Isabella's finger and repeat after me."
With a shaky hand, I place the ring on Bella's finger and recite the words Benjamin has spoken. "I, Edward, give you, Isabella, this ring as a sign of my love and devotion for as long as we both shall live. I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine."
Benjamin turns to Bella and recites the same words.
Her tears are flowing freely as she places the ring on my finger. "I, Isabella, give you, Edward, this ring as a sign of my love and devotion for as long as we both shall live. I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine."
I squeeze her hand once more as I feel my own tears threatening to overflow.
Benjamin continues, "By the power vested in me by the State of Washington, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Edward, you may kiss your bride."
Relief washes over me as I realize that we are now officially united. I pull her close and dip down to kiss her deeply. She returns my kiss tenfold as our friends and family cheer for us. Both of us are smiling as I pull back to look at her.
"I love you, Mrs. Cullen."
Her smile is blinding as she returns my words. "I love you, Mr. Cullen."
We turn and accept congratulations from our guests with hugs and kisses all around. When I reach Esme, I see tears in her eyes. "You take care of her," she tells me quietly as she hugs me tightly.
"I promise, Esme. And thank you for supporting us."
"I love you, Edward. Just as much as I love her."
"I love you, too." I'm not sure my stepmother and I have ever exchanged those words before, but I mean them with all my heart.
We eventually sit down at the table once Benjamin quietly takes his leave. The champagne glasses have been filled, and Emmett lifts his in toast.
"Edward, Bella, your love for each other sets an example for the rest of us to follow. I wish you all the happiness in the world as you embark on this next journey together. To the happy couple!"
We all raise our glasses—Bella's filled with sparkling cider—and tap them together before taking a sip.
I turn to Bella and kiss her again. "Now?" I ask quietly. She nods and smiles, so I stand up with my glass raised again, taking Bella's hand as she sits next to me.
"First of all, I want to thank everyone for being here and supporting us. Your love means the world to us, and we're stronger for having you in our lives." I look at the smiling faces around the table. "Emmett's words have more meaning than he realizes, as our next journey will include more than just our union as husband and wife. It seems that we have been blessed with not only finding love and happiness in each other, but we are also blessed to be expecting our first child."
I see eyes go wide but smiles abound as everyone once again offers their congratulations. I look to Esme and find a watery smile as she gets up and makes her way around the table to hug Bella. By the time she reaches me, her tears are overflowing.
I'm nervous for her reaction, but she surprises me with another intense hug. "I'm so happy for you both. I will love this child with everything that I have."
"Thank you, Esme. That means the world to both of us."
A/N: I wish we could have gotten to the honeymoon, but I had to cut things somewhere! I hope you enjoyed their wedding just as much as I enjoyed writing it. A picture of Bella's dress can be found on my Facebook profile, 'cause, you know, Edward's a guy and can't explain dresses for crap.
Just so you know, we're nearing the end of this journey. There are three more chapters plus an epilogue, and then this story will be complete.