The List

Chapter 21: The Wedding

BellaPOV

I could hear the violin quartet playing in the back yard as I stood in Edward's bathroom staring at myself in the floor-length mirror. I had a moment of solitude while Alice and Rosalie went in search of something. I hadn't been paying enough attention to know what it was. My mother was due any moment.

In a flurry, Renee swept into the room just then. "Oh, my sweet little girl," she exclaimed, her hand over her mouth as she looked at my reflection in the mirror over my shoulder. She squeezed my shoulders as she stood behind me, hugging me without crumpling my dress. "Oh my God, baby, you look so beautiful."

When my eyes met hers in the mirror I felt the tears threatening to fall. The amazing thing about my mother's words: I agreed. The gown had a halter neckline with a modesty panel (which Alice prided herself on especially after I got my tattoo) and an A-line shape with beaded embroidery at the empire waist. The skirt had beaded lace over a split front and a sweep train. The elbow-length veil was simple in style, just one tier of tulle with a beaded floral lace edging. It was attached to my hair by a beaded hairclip that held the sides of my hair back while allowing the length to spill down over my shoulders, the way Edward preferred.

"Renee, don't you get her crying! Her make-up is perfect!" Alice called from the hallway a moment before stepping back into the bathroom with Rosalie.

I blinked up at the ceiling to keep my tears at bay as we all broke into nervous chuckles. I looked at Alice. "Is he here yet?"

She looked at me, then nodded with a big smile. "He's at least as nervous as you are."

I rolled my eyes at her. The retort I wanted to say not appropriate in front of my mother for a variety of reasons. "I doubt that," I settled on instead.

"Bella, baby, I have something for you." Renee held out a crystal charm bracelet. The charms were bright silver and included a cross, a heart, a book, and a house. "It was Grandma Marie's. I had it cleaned for you. I thought it could be your something old."

I took it from her hand reverently. I always loved this bracelet as a child but had never seen it look so shiny and beautiful. "Thank you. I love it," I said as I tried to put it on. My hands were shaking too bad.

Alice took it from me gently, admiring it as she put it on. "It really is beautiful, Renee." After she secured it to my wrist, Alice continued, "And your dress is your something new, of course."

"Bella?"

I turned to look at Rosalie, who was now standing in the background even though she had been active all morning in helping with my hair.

"If you like it, I would like to offer the necklace Emmett gave me on our engagement as your something borrowed and your something blue. I thought it would look pretty with your gown." She held up the absolutely stunning sapphire and diamond pendant in a platinum setting on a chain featuring small but brilliant diamonds every inch or so.

"It's gorgeous, Rose. Are you sure?" I couldn't imagine how much something like that must have cost. Looking at it, I also imagined it could have been my something old. It had a vintage quality about it that was so appealing to me.

She smiled. "Of course. I hope it brings you all the happiness in your relationship with Edward that I have with Emmett," she said softly as she lifted it over my head and deftly secured it without messing up my hair. It looked stunning and perfectly completed me.

"Thank you, Rose. This means a lot."

I looked down at my hands and saw the dazzling eternity ring Edward had given me during our weekend trip on my right ring finger and my engagement ring on my left. I had never worn so much jewelry in my life but every piece was a meaning-filled treasure.