y
eyes until my feet were safely on the flat ground； though I could hear the murmurs and rustling of the
audience as I came into view。 Blood flooded my cheeks at the sound； of course I could be counted on to
be the blushing bride。
As soon as my feet were past the treacherous stairs； I was looking for him。 For a brief second； I was
distracted by the profusion of white blossoms that hung in garlands from everything in the room that
wasn't alive； dripping with long lines of white gossamer ribbons。 But I tore my eyes from the bowery
canopy and searched across the rows of satindraped chairs—blushing more deeply as I took in the
crowd of faces all focused on me—until I found him at last； standing before an arch overflowing with
more flowers； more gossamer。
I was barely conscious that Carlisle stood by his side； and Angela's father behind them both。 I didn't see
my mother where she must have been sitting in the front row； or my new family； or any of the guests
—they would have to wait till later。
All I really saw was Edward's face； it filled my vision and overwhelmed my mind。 His eyes were a
buttery； burning gold； his perfect face was almost severe with the depth of his emotion。 And then； as he
met my awed gaze； he broke into a breathtaking smile of exultation。
Suddenly； it was only the pressure of Charlie's hand on mine that kept me from sprinting headlong down
the aisle。
The march was too slow as I struggled to pace my steps to its rhythm。 Mercifully； the aisle was very
short。 And then； at last； at last； I was there。 Edward held out his hand。 Charlie took my hand and； in a
symbol as old as the world； placed it in Edward's。 I touched the cool miracle of his skin； and I was home。
Our vows were the simple； traditional words that had been spoken a million times； though never by a
couple quite like us。 We'd asked Mr。 Weber to make only one small change。 He obligingly traded the
line 〃till death do us
part〃 for the more appropriate 〃as long as we both shall live。〃
In that moment； as the minister said his part； my world； which had been upside down for so long now；
seemed to settle into its proper position。 I saw just how silly I'd been for fearing this—as if it were an
unwanted birthday gift or an embarrassing exhibition； like the prom。 I looked into Edward's shining；
triumphant eyes and knew that I was winning； too。 Because nothing else mattered but that I could stay
withhim。
I didn't realize I was crying until it was time to say the binding words。
〃I do；〃 I managed to choke out in a nearly unintelligible whisper； blinking my eyes clear so I could see his
face。
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When it was his turn to speak； the words rang clear and victorious。
〃I do；〃 he vowed。
Mr。 Weber declared us husband and wife； and then Edward's hands reached up to cradle my face；
carefully； as if it were as delicate as the white petals swaying above our heads。 I tried to prehend；
through the film of tears blinding me； the surreal fact that this amazing person was mine。 His golden eyes
looked as if they would have tears； too； if such a thing were not impossible。 He bent his head toward
mine； and I stretched up on the tips of my toes； throwing my arms—bouquet and all—around his neck。
He kissed me tenderly； adoringly； I forgot the crowd； the place； the time； the reason。。。 only remembering
that he loved me； that he wanted me； that I was his。
He began the kiss； and he had to end it； I clung to him； ignoring the titters and the throatclearing in the
audience。 Finally； his hands restrained my face and he pulled back—too soon—to look at me。 On the
surface his sudden smile was amused； almost a smirk。 But underneath his momentary entertainment at my
public exhibition was a deep joy that echoed my own。
The crowd erupted into applause； and he turned our bodies to face our friends and family。 I couldn't
look away from his face to see them。
My mother's arms were the first to find me； her tearstreaked face the first thing I saw when I finally tore
my eyes unwillingly from Edward。 And then I was handed through the crowd； passed from embrace to
embrace； only vaguely aware of who held me； my attention centered on Edward's hand clutched tightly in
my own。 I did recognize the difference between the soft； warm hugs of my human friends and the gentle；
cool embraces of my new family。
One scorching hug stood out from all the others—Seth Clearwater had braved the throng of vampires to
stand in for my lost werewolf friend。
4。 GESTURE
The wedding flowed into the reception party smoothly—proof of Alice's flawless planning。 It was just
twilight over the river； the ceremony had lasted exactly the right amount of time； allowing the sun to set
behind the trees。 The lights in the trees glimmered as Edward led me through the glass back doors；
making the white flowers glow。 There were another ten thousand flowers out here； serving as a fragrant；
airy tent over the dance floor set up on the grass under two of the ancient cedars。
Things slowed down； relaxed as the mellow August evening surrounded us。 The little crowd spread out
under the soft shine of the twinkle lights； and we were greeted again by the friends we'd just embraced。
There was time to talk now； to laugh。
〃Congrats； guys；〃 Seth Clearwater told us； ducking his head under the edge of a flower garland。 His
mother； Sue； was tight by his side； eyeing the guests with wary intensity。 Her face was thin and fierce； an
expression that was accented by her short； severe hairstyle； it was as short as her daughter Leah's—I
wondered if she'd cut it the same way in a show of solidarity。 Billy Black； on Seth's other side； was not
as tense as Sue。
When I looked at Jacob's father； I always felt like I was seeing two people rather than just one。 There
was the old man in the wheelchair with the lined face and the white smile that everyone else saw。 And
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then there was the direct descendant of a long line of powerful； magical chieftains； cloaked in the
authority he'd been born with。 Though the magic had—in the absence of a catalyst—skipped his
generation； Billy was still a part of the power and the legend。 It flowed straight through him。 It flowed to
his son； the heir to the magic； who had turned his back on it。 That left Sam Uley to act as the chief of
legends and magic now___
Billy seemed oddly at ease considering the pany and the event—his black eyes sparkled like he'd
just gotten some good news。 I was impressed by his posure。 This wedding must have seemed a very
bad thing； the worst thing that could happen to his best friend's daughter； in Billy's eyes。
I knew it wasn't easy for him to restrain his feelings； considering the challenge this event foreshadowed to
the ancient treaty between the Cullens and the Quileutes—the treaty that prohibited the Cullens from ever
creating another vampire。 The wolves knew a breach was ing； but the Cullens had no idea how they
w