Chapter 81 - Blessed Events & One Little Year

"Bells, it's time to say goodbye," my father's voice sounded strained, as if he was trying very hard to hold back whatever emotion he was feeling.

I looked at him dressed in his dark suit, and thought back to the last time I'd seen him dressed so formally.

My wedding day…


Charlie's hand touched my elbow, gently nudging me to stand and go with him.

I followed along the path, my arm wrapped around my Dad's. The day was beautiful; sunny and warm, so unusual for Forks… I stopped walking and closed my eyes as I took in a deep breath.

"It smells like springtime," I whispered.

Chapter 80 - Time Warps & Slow Motion

I managed to push Edward back far enough so that I was able to stand. He stood up with me before sighing loudly. I felt his warm breath wash over my face and noticed the distinct smell of liquor.
"You've been drinking?" I asked.

"A bit, during the ride home," he shrugged and pointed to my wine glass. "Seems I'm not the only one."

True enough.

Chapter 79 - Demon Spawn & Movie Marathons

Previously-

He pulled me down to sit on the picnic blanket which was spread in front of the fire once again, the containers filled with our dinner resting in the center.


"I still feel exceptionally guilty for last night," he began, causing me to roll my eyes. He chuckled and shook his head. "You'd gone to so much trouble sweetheart, that I didn't want your plans to go to waste."

I wrapped my arms around him and smiled. "Thank you Edward," I breathed. "Sometimes you are too good to be true."

Edward laughed lightly. "You're silly," he said before pressing his lips to mine. "Bella, as I've told you before, you are the most important thing in my world and, even though I know I'm not perfect, when I screw up I will always try my best to make amends."

Chapter 78 - Good Friends & Fireside Picnics

"Rose" I whispered as I followed her into the kitchen with a stack of dirty dishes. "What is up with your Mom? I feel the distinct absence of the Dragon Lady."

Rose grimaced before shaking her head with a sigh. "The simple answer is that she's in therapy. She started while Em and I were on our honeymoon."

Wow

"She informed me of it about two weeks ago. She said she needed to sort through her shit because she didn't want to lose her kids." Rose grinned. "Needless to say, she didn't use the word shit."

I giggled while Rose smirked.

Chapter 77 - Fairtytale Cottages & Happy Tears

After Mass on Sunday, Lou drove us to Wolvercote Cemetery. Our visit to Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey a couple of days before had made me wonder where Professor Tolkien's grave was located. After about five minutes research on the internet, we had our answer.

Edward was quiet as we paid our respects and I placed the flowers I'd chosen on the grave of Tolkien and his wife. "He didn't last long after her death did he?" he asked in a somber tone.

I shook my head. "Less than two years. From what I've read, he was lost without her." I sighed heavily. "They loved each other very much, and were married for over fifty years."

Chapter 76 - Workouts & Sex Drinks

"Hello Alice," I said as I lay back in my beach chair, watching my husband swim in the ocean. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine. Why wouldn't it be?"

"Your message sounded kind of urgent. Are you sure you're not hiding something?"

I was interrupted by my sister-in-law's giggles. "No, just wanted to make sure you'd call," she paused. "So, um, how'd that windsurfing lesson go?" I heard Rosalie's unmistakable laughter in the background.

Chapter 75 - Tropical Sands & Blue Lagoons

I was beginning to think that I should have gone to Mass alone.

Who am I kidding? There was no way I was going to be parted from Edward

It was the day after our wedding, and we were seated in St. James Cathedral listening to the Archbishop's homily. Actually I was pretending to listen. More often than not, I was shooting glances from the corner of my eye at my gorgeous husband; the same husband who kept sliding the hand that rested between us closer to me until his fingertips were brushing against the side of my leg.

I didn't stop him. I probably should have, but I just didn't.

Chapter 74 - Vcards & Vows

Every young girl dreams of her wedding. If someone of the feminine persuasion tries to tell you otherwise, you can be sure that they are lying.

I had dreamt of soft music, and a handsome man waiting to take me away to a brand new life. For years, I'd convinced myself that the old dream of my childhood was unattainable.

It turned out that the reality was so much better than the dream.

I leaned on my father more than I actually needed to as we exited the small waiting room and stood in the vestibule. Edward's mother had already been seated; we had only to wait for the music to change; that would be our queue to begin the procession down the short aisle to the altar.

Chapter 73 - Dinner Cruises & Love Letters

Edward and I shared identical alarmed looks as we bolted back into my building. We both fished our cell phones out at the same time. "Damn it." Edward muttered. "It's dead."

I looked at my screen. "Seven missed calls." I'd silenced the ringer while we were at Mass that morning, and forgotten to turn it back on. "Two from Rose, two from Alice, one from Charlie, one from Emmett, one from Esme." I sighed.

Once upstairs, we went straight to Emmett and Rose's apartment.

Chapter 72 - Wedding Dances & Viral Video

From where we waited in the hall, I could hear soft music and the voice of the deejay as he spoke to the wedding guests.

'Ladies and Gentlemen, at this time, would everyone please stand to welcome the members of the wedding party.'

Harriet, God bless her, had taken it upon herself to swap places with me, so that I could enter the ballroom arm in arm with my fiancé. She'd even sent word to the deejay so that he would announce our names correctly.

I hesitated, not wanting to hurt Charlie's feelings, to which my father merely laughed and told me to walk with Edward.

Once inside, we were greeted by a sea of friendly faces. I smiled back, even though I didn't know half of the people in attendance. Edward flashed his Hollywood smile, and I swear I saw a couple of women swoon.

I giggled at their reaction. He did the same thing to me, although I liked to think I'd become good at hiding it in public.

Yeah right.