A Toast
Edward arrives just as we're sitting down to eat, his hands full of presents.
Yes!
"Is that him?" my mother whispers from her seat at the table behind me.
I nod my head as I wave him over.
"Well isn't he just delicious . . ."
I scrunch my nose and give her a dirty look. "Really, Mom? Can you not?"
Lauren snorts, "Believe me, Momma Swan; he's not as great as he looks."
Emmett and Jasper trail in behind him, and I hear two simultaneous gasps.
Well . . . good for them, I guess.
Edward takes his seat next to me while most everyone else is caught up in the excitement of Alice and Rosalie meeting their mates.
Once everyone is calmed down, my father rises, tapping on his wine glass of sparkling water with a butter knife.
Dad's speeches are always epic.
"We are gathered here today," he starts.
What? Am I getting married or something?
" - to celebrate my Isabella's transition into being a woman. As well as Alice's and Rosalie's, of course," he says with a wink in their direction.
Maybe he's talking about me getting my period, instead.
You're a couple years late.
"Bella has always had a mind of her own. In kindergarten," he says with a knowing smile.
Oh I hate this fucking story.
"While all of the other children were throwing snails at each other, Bella was the one who was going around with an egg carton, trying to save them. And even though she got expelled, she held her ground."
"That's my girl!" Lauren chimes in with a smirk, "Detention buddies for life!"
Some laugh while others shake their heads disapprovingly.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is," he starts getting choked up, "I am so proud of you Bella; you've always done what you felt is right, and have always stuck by your decisions. While some might call that stubbornness, I recognize it as determination, and determination is not something that can be learnt or taught. It's something that you're born with."
Awe, Dad.
"To Bella!" he says, raising his glass.
"To Bella!" the room responds.
"And Alice and Rosalie!" he continues, realizing his mistake.
Everyone laughs. "And Alice and Rosalie!"
A/N: Only six more chapters and then a three part epilogue . . .
Leave your thoughts!
;)
~ Madison ~