All Grown Up: The Story of Jacob and Renesmee Part I

A Very Special Bonfire

Renesmee

I pushed the door of the Rabbit shut with my hip, attempting to balance the huge trays of food. I took it slow. To my father's great amusement, sometimes I displayed small amounts of the clumbsiness my mother had as a human. I followed behind Emily. When she got to the weather worn table near the fire she her load down, exhaling in a huff.

"Oh, man," Emily said, "It's a cross to bear keeping these boys fed isn't it?"

I laughed, "Sometimes, yeah."

"Before you were born, when I was the only imprint, all I did was cook!"

We went to work arranging and unwrapping all the food. Emily had made a few pies, I'd helped her make a few more, and we had pretty much anything you could cook over a fire. She kept one eye on her six year old daughter, Dove, who was attempting to make a sand castle.

"At least my family doesn't eat."

"True, they're the best kind of party guests." she said smiling.

They were all coming to the fire. Usually just my parents came, sometimes Grandpa Charlie. But it was Fourth of July, so we were doing the whole big thing. I tried to think of somebody I knew who wasn't coming tonight and I couldn't.

Alice insisted on dressing me. She'd bought me what kind of looked like a more casual version of what I'd worn on my first date with Jacob. A strapless white sundress that moved around me with the slightest breeze.

The other girls got there soon after Emily and I, with more food and more kids in tow, to help us finish setting up. Kim's five year old son Cole made a B-line for Dove, eager to help her with her castle. His almost four year old sister, Marla, followed behind him. Rachel waddled over with ten month old Caroline on her hip. She was now hugely pregnant with twins. A twin herself, she had said she was hoping it skipped a generation. Rebecca had three year old Forrest at her heels as she struggled carrying grocery bags and a diaper bag. Her and Solomon moved back to the rez after spending their first years of marriage in Hawaii. Rebecca really wanted to raise their son around family.

Kim and Rachel were talking about sonograms, morning sickness, cute Native American names they'd heard, and not so cute ones. I looked over at Dove who was now proudly showing the entire contents of her backpack to a fascinated Marla.

I was suddenly very, very best concentrating on cutting the brownies, but they were starting to blur with the tears that were stinging my eyes and threatening to still over. Jacob loved the corner pieces. Maybe I'd hide one in my pocket for later to make sure he got one. Emily lightly out a hand on my forearm and looked at me with concern. I wondered how long she had been watching me. She raised her eyebrows. I was afraid to say the words out loud, I'd never even said them to Jacob. I showed her the kids, Rachel's round belly, then I showed her my fears with my gift. Jacob and I living in a quiet house full of empty rooms. I didn't want that. I wanted sticky floors, joyful screaming, and birthday parties. I wanted a house overflowing with stuffed animals, little green army men, and love.

"Oh, sweetie. You think that... you can't? Is that it? Just remember you parents never even dreamed that you were possible."

"Most... in the animal kingdom... most half-breeds can't..." I said, my voice barely a whisper.

"Oh, Ness! Don't think like that!"

Dove's wailing interrupted us as she chased Marla, who was clinging to a doll with long dark hair that obviously wasn't hers, down the beach away from us.

"Oh, goodness." Emily squeezed my shoulder, "We'll talk later!" she called as she jogged after the girls.

I took a few deep breaths to collect myself. I could hear Jacob and his brothers getting closer and this calmed me quickly. I turned to watch the woods and soon enough they were coming out of the woods, some of them pulling their shirts on. The second I saw him it was like all was right in the world.