5. GIFT
After the ceremony, all of the guests were smoothly ushered into another part of the Cullens' palatial backyard where the reception was to take place, serving as just another reminder of Arch's insane talent for planning things. Edythe and I just stood there, exchanging cool-one-minute then warm-the-next embraces as both sides of our families alternated with each other in these thoughtful endeavors. Suddenly, I was wrapped in the burning-hot arms of Sarah Clearwater who braved this pack of bloodsuckers (as Jules so liked to call the vampires, which I couldn't help remembering at a time like this) to stand in for my absentee best friend.
"Congratulations, I'm so happy for you both!" she cried out, bouncing on her heels in excitement. At fifteen, she was the youngest (and smallest) shape-shifter to join Sam's pack earlier this year, and also one of the sweetest people I've ever met in my whole life. No matter my mood, it always, always made me feel happier to see her happy, she just had that effect on you.
"Thanks, kiddo." I gave her tiny frame a squeeze, bringing her head of dark, wild curls to my chest.
"You look so handsome Beau! I'm gonna tell Jules she really missed out tonight." she joked, giggling.
"You go do that." I said, trying to hide the fact that the very mention of her name made my chest tighten up a touch. Sarah went on to give Edythe a giant hug and she returned it with equal strength. Bonnie in her slender black wheelchair rolled towards me right afterwards.
"Congratulations, Beau." She squeezed my hand.
"Thanks, Bonnie." I leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Have you heard anything from Jules yet?"
"No, I haven't." She gave me an apologetic look. "Trust me though, that girl's got a mind of her own. She'll be fine." Bonnie assured me, touching the top of my wrist. "I hope you'll be happy, Beau." She turned her eyes on Edythe and the smile she'd worn had fallen away some. Edythe swallowed and then looked at her feet before meeting the now-cold and indifferent gaze which had overtaken Bonnie's features as she wheeled herself away, leaving us behind. I squeezed her hand.
"You okay?" I whispered, my eyes still staring straight out in front of me as I anticipated the next wave of guests who were ambling this way – It was Jeremy, Allen, Erica and McKayla. But my focus was entirely on Edythe.
"Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." She showed me a smile and we stole a kiss in the night.
…
Edythe and I sat at the center table on which a green velvet table runner ran across the thick white tablecloth embossed with cream florals. In the center of it stood a short glass vase filled with a bouquet of purple and white flowers. Earnest and Carine were to the right, nearest to Edythe, and Mom, Dad, and Phil were to my left. I held Edythe's hand in mine as we listened to the fanfare that were the toasts our guests were making to us – some funny, some sweet, and some that would make you laugh then cry then laugh again. Bittersweet. As everything was tonight. Edythe leaned her head on my shoulder and rested a hand on my chest, trying hard to feel my heart beat beneath her cool fingers. Her eyes were lowered, and she looked almost...sad. I don't think she ever wanted those heartbeats to end. I covered her hand with mine and we stayed that way for a while.
After the last toaster - Raymond, one of Charlie's friends from the station - sat down again, Edythe let out a tiny gasp and shook my arm.
"I think I'd like to say a few words. Let's do it together." She looked up at me with her big, beautiful doe eyes and we stood up hand-in-hand. "I'd like to propose a toast," she started, raising her glass of champagne so it made a clear golden chamber against the twilight sky. She took a breath like she really needed one and looked to me, her lips pulling up into a bright smile. "It's an extraordinary thing to meet someone who you can bare your soul to and accept you for who you are. I've been waiting, for what seems like a very long time, to get beyond what I am. With Beau I feel like I can finally begin. So, I'd like to propose a toast to my wonderful new husband. No measure of time with you will ever be long enough. But let's start with forever."
The tears came into my eyes again and I wiped them away. We clinked our glasses together and I took a sip of the champagne which bubbled in fizzy excitement over my lips and down my throat before we kissed once more. I pulled her in tighter to me by the back of her waist, closing my eyes in contentment.
…
In addition to the toasts, all the other standard traditions were kept. I was blinded by flashbulbs as we held the knife over a spectacular cake with these giant buttercream rosettes wrapped around the triple layers like curling ribbon - too colossal, I thought, for our relatively intimate group of friends and family - and the cameras flashed as Edythe and I took turns shoving cake in each other's faces. Of course, it was a given that we were going to have to be the center of attention at our own wedding and I'd already resigned myself to the fact long ago. Sigh. At least it tasted super good. Once everybody else got some cake in them too, Eleanor whooped out, "Time for the bouquet toss!" and pumped her fists in the air. "All you ladies get in line!"
A gaggle of girls swarmed the giant rented wooden floor, laughing and clamoring about. Eleanor took Edythe's hand, moving her in front of them all and counted down in a booming voice, "Three, two, one!" Then Edythe turned her back on the group and with eyes closed, sent the bouquet flying masterfully through the air and straight into Becca Cheng's surprised hands as the venue erupted into cheers. All eyes were on her and Allen, who absolutely turned as red as a lobster when all the guys around him guffawed, ruffled his hair up and clapped his back, a good lot of them getting down on their knees proposal-style in front of Becca and encouraging him to do the same.
"You got this, Allen!" I called encouragingly, holding my champagne flute high in the air. Allen gave in at the last second and lowered himself down on one knee, taking Becca's hand in his and kissing her knuckles like the perfect gentleman while Becca all the while hid her blushing face behind the flowers. Edythe leaned into me, beaming at them – maybe she saw a little bit of us in both of them over there, too. She also just so happened to be the one who sort of got them the hookup in the first place – well, with Eleanor's help, of course. At least, so I've heard from the parties involved. Allen and Becca were great together. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if they really were next in line to tie the knot after us.
"We didn't forget about the rest of you boys, though!" Right when I thought we'd be let off the hook, El cleared the dancefloor and slammed a white-ribboned chair smack-dab in the middle of it. "Drumroll please… because it's time for the garter toss!" All the young guys at the reception made their way to the place the girls were last time and then it hit me right over the head what it was we were going to have to do. I eyed the shelter of the house from here and thought I could make a beeline for it; say I needed to use the bathroom and hide out in there until my in-laws gave up on the whole thing. Can't have the garter toss without the groom, right? But the instant the idea passed through my mind, a hand shot out and caught my shoulder.
"Oh, no you don't, Beau! Get your butt out there right this instant." Arch goaded and practically dragged me to the chair, Edythe protesting similarly - read, unsuccessfully - against Eleanor's own attempt at herding her out to center-stage. Winking at us, Eleanor pushed Edythe down hard in the chair.
"You know, I don't recall anyone telling me about this!" I protested to my in-laws in a vicious whisper.
"Come on, it's tradition, Beau!" Eleanor wailed, thrilling at the potential for mortification at my expense.
"Oh, and by the way – it's no hands, Beau." Arch winked, crossing his arms over his chest with a smug grin on his face.
I gave Edythe a bewildered look. She smiled back, embarrassed, and then Arch came up behind me, sliding my suit jacket off. At that, more hoots and cheers went up from all the guests surrounding us and the DJ started spinning out an electric beat.
"All eyes are on you now Beau, so let's give the people what they want! Ready, set, go!" Eleanor hollered with a laugh and I just gawked at her. Everyone was waiting. I took three humongous breaths and steeled myself up just enough to stride on over to Edythe. I'm so sorry. I mouthed to her on approach. She giggled at that. It made me a little braver, knowing that we were in this together. Besides, the sooner I got this ensuing display of pure mortification over and done with, the quicker I'll be home free.
I took a giant swig of champagne and, taking courage, got down on my knees in front of my wife. The cheering nearly drowned out the speakers. I looked to where Edythe's dress hem flared out and ducked under it, feeling the heat of my blush waging a turf war up and down my neck and face. Even a lobster would be less red than I was right now - Allen had done way better than me by a mile earlier with Becca and that bouquet toss. Throwing her skirts up over my head, I pushed the gauzy fabric over my shoulder to help me locate the garter under all those layers. They kept sliding down on me though, and I went back out again to figure something else out. Edythe was covering half her face with one hand, her shoulders shaking with her embarrassed laughter and I couldn't help but return it. Sensing my struggle, she hitched her skirt up a little to help me out and then I went in again.
There it was on my left, a white ruffly thing with pale-blue ribbon elastic running around it. Great. I dove, and then her gorgeous thigh was right in my face as I very carefully grabbed the edge of the lace ruffle with my teeth as best as I could and clumsily pulled it down the rest of her leg. Even though her skin was ice-cold, my cheeks felt so hot right now I thought they'd burn off my face. And then I came out, triumphant, with the flimsy thing in my mouth.
Another round of cheers. Arch and Eleanor howled with laughter at the sight and, since it was finally over, I couldn't help but join in. With a quick wink at my wife, I slingshotted the garter straight into Jeremy's face, successfully fulfilling my end of the whole deal. Edythe threw her arms around me and we kissed right there in the middle of the floor to another round of thundering applause.
…
Now it was time for some dancing. When the music started, Edythe pulled me into her arms for the customary first dance. Despite my fear of and utter lack of dancing know-how, I went willingly with her to the center of the floor, just happy to have her beside me. She did all the work, and I twirled her round as best as I could under the glow of the canopy of lights overhead.
"Enjoying the party, Mrs. Swan?" I leaned down, whispering it in her ear.
"Greatly, Mr. Swan." She looked up and kissed me, still beaming bright when we pulled away. Just hearing our names together like that, out loud – it made my head spin in a very pleasant way and I felt a wave of excitement roll up and down my spine despite how foreign it all sounded to me. Edythe Swan, my lovely bride and beautiful wife. I thought for sure that the warm, glowing feeling right here in my chest; my heart, was what people mean when they say they're on Cloud Nine.
I twirled her round again, pulled her close, and followed her lead. Where she went… I went. While we danced, cameras continued to click feverishly and I finished us off with a little dip, just like I learned at that one private ballroom-dance lesson Arch and Jess had given Edythe and I last week in the biggest room on the third floor of the Cullen house.
The music changed then, and Renee came up smiling behind Edythe. "My turn?" she asked, crossing her arms behind her back like a schoolgirl.
"Of course, Renee." Edythe smiled. I was a little sad that she had to go, but also thrilled that I got a chance to spend some more time with Mom. How much I was going to miss her, and Dad. Renee gave Edythe a giant hug, and my wife soon offered me up to my mother.
"Thanks, honey. And you look beautiful, sweetheart." Renee squeezed Edythe's hand one last time then took mine in hers as Earnest came by, sweeping Edythe away for their own father-daughter dance. Mom, unlike me, was a wonderful dancer and, like Edythe, she once again did all the leading for me. The both of them made me look like a halfway decent dancer myself and it gave me some courage, so I tried out my own little moves, twirling Mom out and back in when the melody called for it. Of course, even with my (very minimal) choreography skills Edythe and Earnest effortlessly continued to glide around us like Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. Sigh.
"Congratulations, baby. I'm so happy for you, honey. So happy." Mom kissed my cheek twice.
"Thanks, Mom. For everything." I whispered, and I meant that completely. I hugged her close and realized both our eyes were wet now.
"Oh, don't cry sweetheart, or you're going to make me cry!" Mom laughed through her tears. I took the little handkerchief from my breast pocket and wiped them away. She did the same to me, but with her bare fingers.
"My baby boy, a married man. Oh, when did you grow up so fast? It feels like just yesterday you and I were playing with your toy trucks on the kitchen floor." She stroked my face and I covered her hand with mine, holding her there. "Promise you'll call when you can, baby. Me and your dad. He's going to be a little lonely now that you're gone."
"I promise." I said, not completely sure how long I would actually be able keep it. Mom. Dad. Could I really leave them both? Hurt them like that? Would I truly have to, sooner or later with this path I was on? I tried to shake those dark thoughts away and swallowed the choking lump in my throat, hugging Mom that much tighter in my arms.
…
As the night went on, it seemed like I danced with everyone. McKayla, my current partner, expressed to me three times how handsome she thought I looked in my suit. That was nice of her I guess, but it only made me feel a little self-conscious. "You and Jeremy back on?" I asked, eyeing him from here. I thought I'd seen them holding hands earlier.
"I don't know. Maybe." She shrugged. "You look super nice, Beau." There she goes again.
"Thanks." I muttered, my face turning red. I pivoted then, both literally and metaphorically. "You and Jer are really good together." I waved to him. He waved back. Erica was beside him dancing with Mitzi, a teacup poodle in a white tutu she sometimes dog-sat for Mrs. Danvers down the street from Charlie's place. I laughed watching the little twirls she did with her. Tyrell Knox, who I know for a fact has been crushing on Erica since the beginning of this year, cut in momentarily and they started slow-dancing together with Mitzi between them both now – I guess weddings made everyone a little more romantic these days, and it made me smile.
I sighed. It was good to see all my friends - though there was one in particular sorely missing from the party, of course - but I really just wanted to be with Edythe more than anything else now. I was happy when she finally cut in, just half a minute after a new dance started.
"Still not too fond of that McKayla, huh?" I commented as Edythe whirled me away from her.
"Not when I have to listen to her thoughts. She's very lucky I didn't kick her out." Edythe growled, pouting.
"Apparently, I look really nice in my suit." I pursed my lips remembering her words. I'm sure I didn't look any better or worse than any other guy in a tux, though.
"Well, McKayla is grossly mistaken there." Edythe dimpled up before I could think to be even marginally offended. "You look magnificent in one."
"Um, thanks." I mumbled, turning away when I felt the red creeping up my neck again.
Edythe turned my face back towards hers, her hand then moving down to touch at the space inside the lapel of my suit jacket. I felt her cool fingers through the starched white shirt; saw her white-diamond wedding ring glinting in the light and matched it to my own silver band, physical tokens, reminders, of the promises we'd made to each other today. "I mean it. Have you had a chance to look at yourself in the mirror today, Beau?"
I think I did once or twice and relying solely on memory, I'm pretty sure I was passable-looking at best. "Um. No, not really. Not closely, anyways. Why?"
"Then I suppose you don't realize how utterly, devastatingly-handsome you look tonight. I'm not surprised McKayla's having difficulty with improper thoughts about a married man." Her voice dropped low to a whisper and her lips grazed my throat; gently, possessively, and it made me shiver in a strange, pleasant way. I wrapped my arm around her waist with that very same intensity and took her chin in my hand; stroked it. Even if I didn't believe the words an ounce, she sure did sound pretty convincing there.
"Only you. But you're in luck, because I'm all yours."
"Oh, indeed." Edythe purred, and then her lips brushed against mine in a kiss.
...
Stars appeared bright and dazzling over our heads, the full, silvery moon manifesting in the night sky above. I've danced way more than I ever had before in all my life and we were still moving. Carine and Earnest glided effortlessly across the floor, moving as one and Arch and Jess were dazzling with their own off-the-wall dance moves, of course. And then there was me with my two left feet dancing with Edythe, who somehow managed to make me look like an almost decent dancer myself for an extended period of time - which, let's be honest, is a miracle in and of itself - with how flawlessly she led me, us laughing in between every clumsy little misstep of mine; Edythe correcting me and fixing my posture whenever she could. She didn't even mind that I stepped on her toes twice. And then Edythe and I stopped spinning and a smile spread easily across her face just as another song finished up – she was definitely sensing something. She chuckled quietly and with her arms still slung over my neck and back, she looked me in my eyes and her face came right up to mine so I thought we were going to kiss again. Only, she started to whisper something in my ear instead, her cool, pleasant breath shivering my earlobe.
"I think another wedding present just arrived." She sounded pretty excited, which made me wonder even more fiercely what that was all about. Taking me by the hand, she led me away from all the starry lights and loud music, swapping that all out for the peace and quiet of forest whisperings in the cooling night air.
"Hmm, wonder what it's doing all the way out here?" I shrugged. We were still holding each other's hands and they swung softly back and forth between us in the breeze as I waited for my eyes to adjust in the dark, our wedding rings glinting silver in the moonlight.
"Hey." A tall, slender figure stepped out from the shadows. My eyes flew open and I put a fist to my lips in surprise.
"Oh my gosh, Jules!" I cried out with a big smile and, letting go of Edythe's hand, ran straight over to my best friend and picked her up in a giant hug, spinning her round. I put her back down and held her by the shoulders, unable to believe she was truly here in the flesh, and I didn't want her to ever disappear again.
"You look awesome." I said, taking in the glamorous plum dress she wore. It had lace sleeves which reached a little above her copper wrists and the skirt was shorter – fingertip length - than the lace on top of it which went a little below her knees and clung to her frame. She even had on heels. I laughed despite myself – seeing Jules in a dress was as rare as me, the half-albino, getting a tan in the wintertime – that is, it never happens. Like, ever.
And yet, here she was. And she looked beautiful.
"I shouldn't keep Archie waiting. He'd be furious if I skipped out on our dance together." Edythe began, pointing with her thumb back to the venue. She gave us a quick smile and hurried away, her shadow a blur as it zoomed through the darkness and back to where all the lights shone. I don't think she saw me waving.
"Thanks." Jules looked down, a surefire sign she was blushing furiously even out here in the dark.
"I mean it." I said, taking her hand.
"To be honest, I wasn't going to come, you know. I mean, why bother?" She shrugged, not meeting my eyes. "But it felt – I don't know, wrong, somehow. Besides – I knew you'd miss me." She gave me a bashful yet confident smile and chuckled a little, teasing me in her own Jules way. "So, here I am. Congratulations."
"Thanks, Jules." I pulled her into another big hug.
"You're gonna have to stop doing that. I don't think I can take it." she whispered, but still didn't push me away.
"I'm just… really happy. That's all. Thanks for being here for me, Jules. It means a lot." And then we were quiet again. We couldn't hear the music from here, but we started waltzing around together anyways, swaying gently with the breeze. It felt like we were dancing to the very same tune, drifting into and out of the little circles our feet made on the damp, mossy ground. She leaned into me; her ear pressed up against my chest in silence. It seemed as if she were counting every heartbeat of mine and committing it all to memory, just as Edythe had done earlier – to them, they were numbered, and they were precious. I swallowed a lump in my throat.
"I'm going to remember you this way," she started real quiet, "Your crooked smile, the blushing red of your cheeks when you're nervous or shy or when someone says something weird to you – though it only seems that way to you in your head because you're such an overthinker – How you're a total klutz. Your compassion, your warmth. Little things like that. My favorite things." she sighed out. Lifting her up off the ground, I spun her around. "I'll still be me." I assured her. Or was I just trying to assure myself? I mean, would I really be so different when I became like Edythe? Would Jules hate me forever, then? If that were the case, I didn't think I'd be able to stand it, and I held onto her just a little tighter now as if it really were the last time I was going to see her. But of course, in all my total amazingness I stepped right on the fronts of her open-toed shoes one after the other. I tried to apologize, but she stopped me.
"Your two left feet." She laughed into my shoulder and I felt it vibrate right through me. "Definitely going to miss that most." She shook her head, let out a sigh. "Your last night as human. The last night you can be someone I love."
"It isn't though." I started, but clamped my mouth shut wishing I didn't say anything at all. She pulled away. We stopped dancing.
"I thought – after the wedding." She furrowed a brow, confused. Then her eyes widened. "Have you changed your mind?"
"No – not quite, at least. Guess I just didn't want to spend my honeymoon writhing in pain." I quickly started to backtrack, hoping it would end there. It didn't.
"Pfft." She snorted. "Actually, it sounds like the perfect time to me. I mean, it's not like you're going to exert all your energy sightseeing, playing chess and reading books. It's not like you're going to have a real honeymoon anyways, right?"
I didn't answer her.
"Right?" she repeated, her tone growing frantic.
I bit my lip and looked up at the sky for some inspiration to hit but I took too long to respond.
"Wait… no, you can't be serious." She started backing away from me.
"Let's just say it's going to be as real as anyone else's." I said carefully and looked away.
"Are you-?" Her eyes blinked incredulously at me and her mouth fell agape. She couldn't finish her sentence. "That is one sick joke, Beau. What, you think you're some big strong macho man?" Jules scoffed, blowing a puff of air from her lips so it troubled her bangs, giving me a look from under them that saw her strong eyes narrow and shine.
"Um... yes?" I answered, just as unsure of myself as I sounded. That set her off.
"I could break you in half if I wanted to, Beau! Edythe can break you in half; into pieces, into dust. She can crush your skull in." She grabbed my arm. Her slender hand was a vise around it. "You can't be this stupid, Beau! She could literally kill you; don't you understand?"
"Jules. Hey. You're hurting me- " I started in a calm yet quivering voice, trying to shake free from her grasp. Her grip only tightened, and the pain gradually spread up and down my arm like a slow burn.
"Seriously, stop it, Jules! That really hurts!" I tried prying her fingers off me, but she was far too strong.
"Let him go, Julie." Edythe threw Jules' hand off me with ease and wrapped her arms around my torso, her now-hostile eyes narrowing as they met my best friend's. I didn't even see her coming. Jules lunged forward and made to seize Edythe's shoulder but she jumped away quickly with me.
"I will kill you. I will kill you myself right this minute, do you hear me? I will tear you to shreds!" Jules roared. Just then, the black wolf, Sam, popped out from the forest behind us and, coming in front of Jules, pushed her away by the chest. Sarah and Lee each took one of her arms, holding her back.
"Hey, hey, hey. Come on, Jules. Don't do this." Sarah pleaded on our behalf.
"You'll kill him! Don't you understand? You'll kill him!" Tears streamed down my best friend's cheeks as she was being dragged away by her friends, flailing her arms and legs out wildly, struggling to get free and I went after her, seeing how desperately she needed to be held together. Edythe, visibly shaken, pulled me back to her side.
"Just give her a minute to calm down." Edythe shook her head. She was biting her lip - a nervous habit of both hers and mine - and her cheeks looked even paler now in the light of the moon. "Are you alright?" she whispered, swallowing hard. I wasn't, but I nodded anyways. She touched my arm, massaging it with her cool fingers. "Let's hurry back, or they'll be missing us." Then she continued straight on in front of her in a walk like death, seeing everything and nothing all at once, as she dragged me along behind her. Jules' words most definitely have not left her yet. My head began to throb. And then I was angry at Jules for doing that to Edythe on her wedding day; for shaking her up so badly with those cruel words. But then I remembered Jules' tears - the tears she had shed for me - and that anger, that blame, immediately shifted to myself for not knowing when to keep my mouth shut; for hurting both Edythe and Jules on a day like this, difficult for them both in different ways. Maybe Jules wasn't ever coming back – but then again, neither was I. Yet, something inside me felt – I don't know, broken. It wasn't supposed to be this way and the thought troubled me for the rest of the night.
…
I couldn't think about Jules anymore. I won't. We'll fix this up. One day. Some other day.
Our plane was going to depart at 12:17 AM sharp. So, we had to wrap things up at our reception. Edythe and I ran to her house to change out of my tux and her wedding dress, not wanting to get them dirty. Dry-cleaning can only do so much, Arch reminded me once or twice - okay, more like twenty times – but he knew what he was talking about. Apparently, he put Edythe's new dress and my own change of clothes in the same exact room together like some kind of perverted little matchmaker – hey, at least we were married – which, by the way, is totally crazy. I fidgeted with the tie Dad gave me and struggled to undo the knot, afraid I'd pull out a thread or something and ruin it but Edythe helped me with her fast, gentle fingers and undid it with ease, making sure to fold it up and put it away nicely in the rectangular golden box it came in. I shrugged off my suit jacket and hung it back up in the closet, reaching for my belt buckle next.
And then I felt the red flooding back to my cheeks.
"Mind if you turn around for a sec?" I asked Edythe, raising my brows apologetically.
"But we're husband and wife, remember?" she pointed out with a chuckle.
I shrugged. "I know, I know. But I'm not ready… yet."
"Okay, okay." She sighed and turned the other way, leaning back a little on the mattress with her eyes trained on the curtained windows. When I was sure she couldn't see me anymore, I kicked off my suit pants and changed into the nice button-up shirt and khakis I was provided – I'm assuming that meant Edythe was taking me someplace warm for our honeymoon. It's a surprise though, so definitely a guess at best. I didn't care though. Long as I was with her. I almost forgot about Jules. Almost.
"You can turn around now." I said, and she did. "What do you think?"
"How very handsome you look, Beau." Edythe gushed, slipping into her vintage way of speaking again – something I loved about her. Besides everything else, of course.
"Would you mind helping me with these buttons?" she asked, pulling the new dress to her chest and motioning towards the back of her wedding gown.
"Y-yeah, sure. Of course." With slow, shaking fingers, I undid the silk-covered buttons one-by-one from the elastic loops which ran down the back of her gown and swallowed hard when her delicate shoulders and contoured back were bared to me.
"Thank you. It's your turn to look away now – and no peeking." she added with a giggle.
"You got it." I answered, turning towards the white curtains pulled over the window of the small room and trying not to think about how hot my cheeks felt right about now.
I heard the sound of a zipper being pulled up. Safe.
"You can look again." And so I did. "It's vintage - to you, at least. It's one of my favorites." she added, catching my smile. It was another tiered dress – white still, but shorter than the wedding gown – with pretty lace bell sleeves, something I imagine Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac would have worn in her heyday. It looked beautiful on her. I told her so and we were about to kiss again.
"Don't throw off my game, you lovebirds!" Arch suddenly knocked very loudly on the door. "Hurry it up in there, the cab's leaving soon."
"It's almost time." Edythe began excitedly and I pulled her soft hand through my arm.
"I can't wait." I beamed at my wife.
…
The guests were all waiting outside, but Edythe's cousins from the Denali clan came up to us first.
The first man that stepped forward, Kirill, was a little shorter than me. He gave us a warm smile, looking from me to Edythe and back again. "It's been far too long, Edythe." He kissed her hand and then his eyes were back on mine. "And I'm so very pleased to finally meet you, Beau. We've heard so much about you."
He introduced us to the taller one next, his brother Dimitri who bowed his head and took Edythe's hand in his. "You look as radiant as the day, Edythe." he said, swooping down and kissing her hand for just a smidge longer than I thought was necessary. "A pleasure it is to meet you, Beau." he said right after, turning to look at me for what seemed like the first time ever. He showed me a cordial smile, and I tried my best to return it. Then Kirill continued down the line to his adopted brother Carlos and his wife Elena, introducing us to each other as well. We shook hands, hugged, and kissed cheeks which was customary I think from where they were from.
"Congratulations." Kirill continued. His piercing golden eyes were large and kind, and he had the airs of a noble Slavic prince with the way he carried himself; highly but not arrogantly, and he nodded at me. "May you spend many happy years together." He shook my hand. His grip was super strong.
"Thank you." I managed to wheeze out. Not only did he look like a royal; he was as intimidating as one, too. There was only one other brother who stuck closely to the shadows behind them, though – Ivan. Kirill, I guess noticing that, motioned for him to step forward. Ivan's hostile expression grew more severe, it looked like he was seething through his teeth with the way his sharp eyes bore into mine and then Edythe's before flicking very briefly to where Bonnie's family was and he flinched when he caught the chieftain's eyes looking at him.
He still didn't say a word.
"You must forgive my brother's poor manners. Please understand, he loved Lauren very much and is still in mourning." Kirill apologized.
Edythe touched the top of his wrist. "We do understand. And we are deeply sorry for your loss." She looked to Ivan then. "But Lauren tried to kill Beau. We would not have attacked her if she had stood down. We never intended to cause you and your family any suffering." Edythe tried in a soft, supplicating tone. Kirill understood completely and it showed in his solitary expression with his downcast eyes, which said something like "It couldn't be helped" without even uttering a word. Then he looked to Ivan again and said something to him in a foreign language – Russian, I'm guessing – but Ivan quickly shook his head.
"I know she would have done no such thing. She wanted to be like us; she wanted to be with me." he finished in a quivering voice. I looked to Edythe who'd gotten very quiet and pulled her to my chest.
"We wish you every happiness in the world, Edythe; Beau. Forgive us." Kirill finished with a heavy sigh and went away, motioning for his coven mates to follow after him.
"Are you alright?" I whispered into Edythe's sweet-smelling hair.
"Yes, I'm fine." She sighed, squeezing my hand. "Besides, what's a wedding without a little family drama, hm?" She leaned her head on my arm, weaving her fingers through mine. We walked on a little more, then Edythe's parents pulled her aside just as Mom came up to me.
"Congratulations, honey." She was near tears again as she brought me tight to her chest.
I wrapped my arms around her, never wanting to let go. "Take care of yourself. I'll miss you, Mom." My voice grew thick. "I love you."
"I love you most." She kissed my forehead and held me there so she could look at me better. One last time. Her mascara was running down her face, making little orbs of black and I wiped them away, kissing her cheek.
"Five minutes." Arch said, touching Mom's shoulder.
"I better let you go for now then, honey." She laughed through her tears and went to Phil, who put his arm around her and when I met his eyes, he gave me a proud, beamish smile of well wishes and waved at me. Seeing them together, I was happy to know Mom was going to be in good hands - I knew Phil would take good care of her for me and I nodded once in their direction, giving them my own sort of blessing.
"Guess it's my turn now." A gruff voice from behind startled me. It was Dad.
"Dad!" My face broke into a wide grin and I threw my arms around him.
"Congratulations, kid. I really am happy for you both."
"Thanks, Dad." I laughed as we pulled away.
"You remember what I told you, right?" he asked, voice soft. It took me a second to figure out what he was getting at, but then I remembered it.
The things he wished he did for Mom. Right.
"Don't worry, Dad. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself, though." I said, showing him a smile.
"Yeah, well." he sighed, not finishing his sentence. "It's going to be strange not having you living under my roof anymore, Beau."
"Oh, Dad. I feel just horrible, leaving you to cook for yourself - it's practically criminal negligence. You could arrest me right now." I spoke through a tight throat, trying to make a joke of it.
Dad grinned. "I suppose I'll survive the food. But you just be sure to call me whenever you can, Beau."
"I promise." I managed, just as unsure about how long I could keep it for when Mom mentioned the very same thing to me earlier. It hurt me double-time now, and I pulled Dad to me in a giant hug.
"Good." he chuckled, holding me close. When we pulled away, he snapped his fingers. "Hey. One more thing - but first you've gotta promise me you'll take it seriously."
Uh-oh. I didn't like the sound of that. Where were we headed now?
"Um, sure. Yeah. I promise, Dad."
"Alrighty, then." His eyes flitted around the surrounding forest trees. Then his voice got super low, "So. Precautions."
I choked on air. "Wait, what?"
"You know. Precautions." Dad grimaced, his voice more whisper now. "I just want you and Edythe to take certain precautions. At least until you're both ready for kids. Of course, that's just an old man's two cents, not a hard-and-fast rule-"
It was my turn to grimace now.
"Okay, wrong choice of words." he admitted with a laugh but then was serious again. "I'm just saying that it might be difficult, you know. Your mom and I, we were practically kids ourselves when we had you, it was hard on us too and even then we were a little older than the two of you are now." Slowly, I got it. Dad must've been thinking about earlier and the first conclusion he jumped to surrounding our wedding announcement.
"Oh my gosh, Dad. Are we really having this talk again right now?" I chuckled, wincing in embarrassment as I touched the back of my neck which had since begun to heat up. I could feel those unattractive red splotches creeping up on me now, it was only a matter of time. "You seriously don't have to worry about that, Dad. Trust me." I looked over to where Edythe was.
He put his hands in the air. "Hey, I'm just saying. You never know."
"Okay, okay. Duly noted, thanks." I laughed, shaking my head in bemusement at Dad's frankness. I have to admit - I was going to miss that a lot. Charlie, a parent till the end. The best of the best.
"Alright. Don't want you kids being late for your flight." he said after a moment. "Have fun, stay safe, be careful. You know the drill."
"Thanks, Dad." And I meant it completely. My arms were around him again.
"I'll miss you." I closed my eyes. "And I love you."
"Love you too, son." he answered just as quietly and we stayed that way for a while.
The cab honked loudly.
"You better hurry now Beau, or they're going to leave you behind." Dad laughed, pointing at the car. Edythe was already standing there, waiting for me. Dad and I walked over and he hugged her, kissing her cheek before helping her into the backseat. I clambered in after her and Dad closed the door, showing me a smile through the car window. He patted the metal roof of the vehicle twice in blessing and slowly, the car began to pull away, the rubber tires squealing softly against the rocks and pebbles on the damp road. Turning around in my seat, I could see Mom and Dad and everyone else getting smaller and smaller in the distance behind me until finally fading away, a veil of night suddenly and forever situating itself between us as Edythe and I sped off into our future together, looking ahead and never looking back.
As we rounded the curved, bending road, I heard the pitiful, plangent wail of Jules howling to the pale-yellow light of the moon.