87The time has come.
I'm sad. My story's done! I'll miss you guys so much! :(
But I know you want to read the last chapter. It's a fast-forward, and it's pretty amazing, if I do say so myself.
So go ahead, and I'll do an official thank-you at the end ;)
"Hey," Jacob said, catching me around the waist. "I'm home."
Grinning, I left the onions I was sauteing alone for a moment. I turned around to kiss him.
"Ew!"
We turned, Jacob laughing. A child with wide eyes, soft brown hair and mocha-colored skin had walked into the kitchen, and was wearing a disgusted expression.
"Mommy," The little boy addressed me. "Why do you and Daddy do that?"
I started to laugh as Jacob let me go and walked over to him, ruffling his hair. "Someday, Dakota, you'll understand."
"I don't want to!" Dakota insisted. I laughed.
"Don't worry," I told him. "It won't be for quite a while. Now go get your sister, I think she's on the porch with Lee. Tell her dinner's almost ready."
Dakota nodded and headed towards the front door, his skinny frame bouncing. I turned off the heat on the onions and pulled four plates out of the oak cupboard above the sink. I walked into the dining room, where Jacob was sitting.
"How was your day?" I asked him as I laid out the plates on the table.
Jake sighed and ran his hand through his close-cropped, dark hair. "It was a mess."
I made a sympathetic face. "Andrew?" I asked, referring to a coworker of his. He nodded, rolling his eyes.
I patted his shoulder as I passed by him to get napkins. "You've been through worse," I told him.
"Don't I know it," he replied. "So have you."
I smiled at him. "It was worth it."
His face finally brightened. "Definitely."
I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Then we heard children clamoring in, and I went to get the pasta.
We finally all sat down around the table.
"Mommy, I don't like onions!" Adelle said in a whiny voice.
"You liked them last week," I reminded her.
"No, I didn't!" She insisted. Six-year-olds got to claim selective memory. Sighing, I got up and took her plate to get her some pasta without onions.
I washed off the plate and looked up at a picture on the wall, one I saw often. It had been taken about a year after Jacob graduated. We were on the beach in La Push, holding hands. My hair was whipping around in the wind, and I was laughing at something. Jacob was looking at me, a serene expression on his face. My free hand was holding my stomach, which was round and large with what would eventually be Dakota. I remembered that my mom had been there for the baby shower, and she had taken the picture with her new, state-of-the-art camera. Photography, at the time, had been the phase she was in. It had been a great week, before Jake and I went down into Oregon to buy the house. It was a goodbye, a curtain call for my life in Forks.
But I had begun a new one. And I didn't regret a second of it.
Thank you so much, everyone who's reading this. I'm going to do some special thank yous, but even if I don't mention you, I'm super grateful!
lilybetrox-first review! Thanks :)
jacob black rulez, Hyvanna, nipponophile, AnimeiaAzraela, and twinkledee-You guys reviewed so much! I really appreciate that you kept up with the story and always gave me more advice and praise. You rock!
KittyHakubi-So many reviews! Thanks! And I really did want to have a shouting match between Bella and Edward, but it didn't fit into the story. :(
yesiluvthestage-You agreed that I deserved reviews. That made me so happy.
Sarah Brome-You contacted me, and you have awesome ideas. You'll write some great fanfics!
JacobBlackFanWereWolf-I'm sorry about your bad day, and I was so psyched that something I wrote could make you feel better.
aNa HeaRt'S vAmPIrEs 4EVER and AnimeiaAzraela-Percy Jackson is amazing! What'd you think of the movie? Oh, and super-thanks for reviewing!
lifesuxthnudie-You put my story on your profile! That's amazing. I'm so happy there are people who love my writing so much!
The Word Shaker-Ah, sheesh, do I have to say anything? You're my awesome buddy who'll kick my in the butt about writing when I need it. You'll also sing as we walk through the park so we don't sneak up on couples o_O You're awesome!
I can't say thank you enough! hopefully I'll start on a new story soon, and I hope I'll have awesome readers like you!
Lots and lots of love!
Jenna 3