“And now I present to you … Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cullen!”

Emmett shoved us unceremoniously in the direction of our small group of witnesses.  My hand held onto Bella’s, and I silently vowed that nothing would make me let go of it ever again.  I kissed her – my wife – once more, this time on her cheek, and watched her shining face as she smiled at Charlie and Renée. 

Happiness.  This was what it was like, this moment, and all the other remnants of my strange existence into which Bella had had suddenly breathed life.  I was buffeted by the emotion like a tiny crab caught in an eddy, and it was a surreal and exhilarating feeling.  I gave myself over to the sensation, holding giddily onto the lace of my life preserver’s wedding gown.

In a daze, I orbited Bella as she hugged her parents and Phil, hovered while she chattered animatedly with her handful of friends from school. I have no idea what I said to anyone, but I’m certain I was grinning when I said it.

My family kept a respectful distance, waiting for me to approach them with my bride.  Across the lawn Carlisle met my eye, and his proud smile made a lump form in my throat.  I realized that Esme’s hand resting in the crook of Carlisle’s elbow was an exact mirror image of Bella’s in mine. 

I lowered my eyes and smiled.

Jasper had picked up his guitar again and played softly on the front steps as our guests milled around us.  A couple of Bella’s friends – Angela and Ben – wandered over to my – our – family.  They knew Alice by now, but they still felt rather shy around Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper, who had “graduated” the year before. Alice babbled on with them and managed to get them talking to Emmett.  Rosalie held onto Emmett’s arm and smiled coldly, put out that she wasn’t the center of attention in white today.  At least she was behaving, more or less; I knew I couldn’t expect miracles.

I turned my attention back to Charlie and Renée.  To their credit, they managed to look happy for Bella.  I tried not to concentrate on their doubtful and disparaging thoughts; they still didn’t – couldn’t – understand.  Charlie didn’t trust me. Renée didn’t trust Bella.