marriage

 

 

Marriage By Tamika   
Chapter One: Preparation 
“Edward!” The call of my sister, Alice, jarred me out of my reverie. “Did you even hear what I asked you?” she admonished. “Oh, never mind.”  
I slowly sank back to reality, opened my eyes and did a double take. Alice had obviously been decorating for the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. All I saw was pink. It was everywhere—the decorations, the long tables, and even the floor were covered in pink rose petals. The only things that remained white were the walls and the ceiling. I was now afraid to look at the matching tuxedos that Alice had chosen for Carlisle, Emmett, Jasper and I to wear for the wedding reception.  “Alice!” I yelped, “Too much pink! My wedding rehearsal is not to be inside Cupid’s Garden. I’ll bet that even Bella will throw a fit. What was I thinking, giving you free rein?” 
Putting up her hand to stop my torrent of accusations, she replied calmly, “What pink? I’ve decorated everything in coral. Plus, it looks great with the silver plates.”  
“It’s still pink. I don’t care what shade it is!”   
“Edward, it is a well known fact that coral is a shade of orange—not pink, silly,” Alice taunted. “And besides, Bella will love it!” she chimed.  
At the mention of Bella, I looked out the window to see a faded, red Chevy truck sputter to a stop on the side of the road. Sighing with relief, I started towards the door, only to see Bella’s face light up at the sight of Alice’s decorating, while I stood there, shaking my head.
“Alice, I love it—especially the coral tablecloths with the silver plates! I’m so glad we let you do the decorating!” 
“Oh Bella, I’m so glad that you like it! Of course I knew you would, though,” she said, gently tapping her temple. When would I ever learn not to bet against Alice? “It is quite funny how your fiancée could beg to differ though. But that’s probably just because of his inability to compliment anyone but himself.” 
Knowing that she was trying to bait me, I ignored this comment, and greeted Bella with a kiss. “I’m glad someone appreciates me,” I said snidely in Alice’s direction, with the least bit of accusation. “Let’s go for a little walk, shall we, and leave Miss. Interior Design to her work.”  
“No, Edward. Wait! You haven’t seen the tuxedo I picked out for you yet,” Alice cried. Alice’s thoughts suddenly filled with the horrific reception suit with a coral tie that she had chosen. I hurriedly rushed Bella out the door. I was tempted to conveniently back up my Volvo into her Porsche when I got home. I had said that I wouldn’t take it back—so, I had come with a more enjoyable way to make her life miserable. “Edward! Don’t you touch my baby! I saw what you’re going to do!” 
*****
Once we were safely out of Alice’s earshot, I thought it was time to ask Bella a question that had been probing me. “Bella, when are you going to tell Renée about the wedding?” Bella had merely told her mother that she was flying to Forks for a short visit, not for her eighteen-year-old daughter’s wedding.  “Well,” she replied, “once she arrives, I guess I’ll just tell her the truth. That’ll be the easiest way. She might be a bit upset that I hadn’t told her earlier, but she should be okay with it. Why don’t we just ask Alice what Renée’s reaction will be?”  “To answer your question, I don’t want to annoy Alice in the middle of decorating, because she might use my vulnerability to use more pink.” 
“Coral.”  
“Whatever, and if I recall correctly, didn’t doesn’t your mother regard young marriage as the ‘kiss of death’? Don’t you think she might be a bit upset?”  
“I’ll figure something out,” Bella promised. Then, looking at her watch, she found that we only had ten minutes to get to the rehearsal, and so we grudgingly returned to Alice and her wrath. The rehearsal went quite well, with only a few minor mistakes, which according to Rosalie (who had had several weddings, and therefore much expertise), meant that everything would be perfect on the actual day. Alice conveniently confirmed this. Now, there was a new challenge for Bella and I to face.
***** 
 “Hi, mom,” Bella greeted her mother, trying not to portray the nervousness she had to be feeling. “I’m sure you remember Edward,” she exclaimed happily, as Renée nodded. Motioning for her to follow us, Bella and I led Renée into the living room and sat down. “Mom,” Bella began, “I know this may be a bit of a shock, but Edward is no longer my boyfriend.” 
“Oh, honey, that’s too bad. But I’m glad that you’ve managed to stay friends through all of this. There’s no need to make things awkward between you.”   
“Here’s the thing, we didn’t break up. The relationship went in the other direction. We’re engaged,” Bella said cautiously, and slowly held up her hand to show her mother the engagement ring on her finger.
Renée just sat there, eyes wide, and lips pursed for a moment, and then went into hysterics. “Bella, are you sure that this is the best decision? Have you really thought this through? I mean, at your very young age, marriage can be very hard. It can be very tough, and well, I’m not sure you’re ready.” 
I held up my hand to cut her off from her tantrums, “Renée, I am in love with your daughter, and there is nothing I care about more than her future. We’ve both thought this through, long and hard, and we’ve decided that it is the best decision for the both of us. We don’t ask for your permission—but your blessing.” 
“Well, of course I’d want you two to wait a few more years, but if it’s what you really want, then I suppose that I can’t stop you now.” 
“No, you can’t. But thank you for your blessing,” I said.  
“So, is the wedding really happening this soon, then?”   
“Yes,” Bella said, smiling at me. After all, I still had a promise to keep.

Chapter Two: Show Time!                                             “Edward, are sure you’re okay?” Esme asked. “You look even paler than usual. Do you want to sit down?”  
“I’m fine,” I reassured her. What I really wanted to do right now was see Bella, but keeping to the custom (or, more correctly, Alice’s policies), I wasn’t allowed to see her until the wedding. Bella was now at the mercy of Alice’s beautifying experimentation, and probably hated every minute of it. I realized that there was only so much time left until I was to become a married man—a loose interpretation of the word “man,” but the intention is clear. Pulling out my cellular phone, I texted Alice to remind Bella to try not to trip on her dress while walking down the aisle. I received a rather scathing reply. Then, Charlie walked into the room with sweaty palms, clearing his throat. I internally groaned as I saw him preparing a speech in his mind. I braced myself for “the talk,” when Carlisle followed in after him. “Excuse me, Charlie. But I think that Bella would like to have a word with you, if you don’t mind,” Carlisle told him.  
“Oh, right,” he mumbled, shuffling out of the room, internally cursing.
“Thanks,” I said to Carlisle after Charlie had left.  
“You’re welcome. I thought that Bella could take relief in a few minutes away from Alice’s clutches,” he said.  
“Agreed.” 
 *****  
 As Carlisle left, I felt serious jitters creep into my stomach. Ignoring the fact that I hadn’t eaten for over a century, I began to feel nauseous. Where was Jasper when you needed him? Checking the clock, I noticed that it was time for me to make my way to the altar, but I was literally frozen in my place.
I couldn’t find a way to make my feet move. I was stuck there until Emmett and Jasper stormed in, and forcibly pushed me out of the room, and shoved me to start walking down the aisle.
I forced myself not to look at the individual faces in the pews, although their thoughts were hard to ignore. I waited quietly, starring down the aisle, waiting for Bella to arrive. I could see that Alice was flashing to camera at nearly a picture per second, determined to capture every moment of this wedding. Suddenly, the organ began to belt out the notes of the Wedding March, and the congregation rose as a whole. Bella appeared opposite from me, beginning to walk down the aisle. Everyone gasped with shock—Bella was so beautiful. She seemed to give off a luminescent glow as she slowly walked with Charlie on her arm. As she smiled at me, her cheeks flushed subtly, and her hair shone in the light. She was wearing the stunning, white vintage wedding gown that Alice had managed to get her hands on, and a pair of heeled shoes that she should have tripped on by then.
I watched, entranced, until she reached the altar. I barely listened to what the minister was saying, but I repeated after him at the correct times—I was so mesmerized by Bella, and in the perfect moment. I waited patiently until the minister said, “You may now kiss the bride.” I remember kissing Bella so passionately that I almost began to laugh at some of the people’s mental reactions. 
***** 
There were speeches made by Charlie, Renée, Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper, and of course, Alice. I zoned out for most of them, but smiled and nodded when it was appropriate. Alice’s speech was cut short because of the announcement, saying that the food was ready. Although I would have to choke it up later, I managed to shovel down the rarest steak I could find and some red wine to avoid questions. 
Alice spent the whole time bouncing around like only she can, getting progressively more hyper each time someone complimented her on the décor. Eventually, she got so excited that Jasper had to take her outside to calm her down, which, fortunately for the rest of us, he’s very good at. 
 Finally, it was over. Bella and I were married. Somehow, Bella had managed to make it through the wedding and the reception without gaining an injury, and she was unusually happy, considering her usual lack of enthusiasm whenever a fuss is made over her.  
I waited until all of the guests had left the wedding before leading Bella out to my silver Volvo, and turning to her to say, “I believe that I have a promise to keep.”