Let’s Re-Read Breaking Dawn Together! Chapter 35

Welcome to the BreakingDawnMovie.org’s Community Re-read!

While we impatiently wait for Breaking Dawn part 2 to be released, we continue with our highly-popular Community Re-Read!

Every Tuesday & Friday, I’ll post a breakdown for each chapter in the book, counting down the days until the official release of the film on November 16th. Let’s get started, dig out your copy of Breaking Dawn, read the chapters together with us, and discuss anything you may find of interest that you might have missed the first or twentieth time around. Let’s continue our journey into FOREVER. 4 CHAPTERS TO GO! 

Chapter 35: Deadline

 “Edward and I had not had a last grand scene of farewell, nor did I plan one. To speak the word was to make it final. It would be the same as typing the words The End on the last page of a manuscript. So we did not say our goodbyes, and we stayed very close to each other, always touching. Whatever end found us, it would not find us separated.”

Another short chapter but full of information and preparation. Let’s get started!

Pg. 667-668 Bella arrives at the restaurant to meet up with J. Jenks to retrieve her illegal documents.  “I’m so sorry I’m late,”  J said as soon as we were alone. “No, you’re exactly on time.” “You look stunning, if I may be so bold, Mrs. Cullen.” “Thank you, J. Please call me Bella.” “I must say it’s a different experience working with you than it is with Mr. Jasper. Much less…unsettling.” “Really? I’ve always found Jasper to have a very soothing presence.” His eyebrows pulled together. “Is that so?”  How odd. What had Jasper done to this man? “Have you known Jasper long?” “I’ve been working with Mr. Jasper for more than twenty years, and my old partner knew him for fifteen years before that…He never changes.”  J cringed delicately. “Yea, Jasper’s kind of funny that way.” Sidebar- WHAT! Nice save, Bella…not! Let me tell you, I would’ve been sitting there super mute as if I didn’t hear that last part, lol.

Pg. 668-671  J hands Bella her documents, and she only glances them and this displeases J.   “I can assure you every piece is perfect. All will pass the most rigorous scrutiny by experts.” “I’m sure they are. I truly appreciate what you’ve done for me, J.” “It’s been my pleasure, Bella. In the future, feel free to come to me for anything the Cullen family needs.” “There was something you wanted to discuss?” “Er, yes. It’s a bit delicate. You are the sister of Mr. Jasper’s wife? Or married to his brother?” “Married to his brother.” “You would be Mr. Edward’s bride, then?” “Yes.” He smiled apologetically. “I’ve seen all the names many times, you see. My belated congratulations. It’s nice that Mr. Edward has found such a lovely partner after all this time.” “Thank you very much.” He paused, dabbing at the sweat. “Over the years, you might imagine that I’ve developed a very healthy level of respect for Mr. Jasper and the entire family.” “J, please say whatever you need to.” “If you could just assure me that you are not planning to kidnap the little girl from her father, I would sleep better tonight.” “Oh no. It’s nothing like that at all. I’m simply preparing a safe place for her in case something were to happen to my husband and me.”  He frowned. “May I wish you the best of luck, then. And please don’t be put out with me, my dear, but…if Mr. Jasper should come to me and ask what names I put on these documents…” “Of course you should tell him immediately. I’d like nothing better than to have Mr. Jasper fully aware of our entire transaction.”  “Then, again, my best wishes for you health and happiness. Anything at all the Cullen family needs, please don’t hesitate to call on me, Bella.” I left with my contraband, glancing back to see that J was staring after me, his expression a mixture of anxiety and regret.

Pg. 672-673 When Bella arrives back at the Cullen house she finds it pretty much empty and this gives her a little bit of time to go snooping in Alice and Jasper’s room. From the bedroom closet she retrieves a small leather backpack, and a large sum of money. Bella places the money along with her documents from J, inside the backpack for Jacob and Renesmee.   I sat on the edge of Alice and Jasper’s bed and looked at the pitifully insignificant package that was all I could give my daughter and my best friend to help save their lives. I slumped against the bedpost, feeling helpless. I sat there for several minutes with my head bowed before the inkling of a good idea came to me. If I was to assume that Jacob and Renesmee were going to escape, then that included the assumption that Demetri would be dead. That gave any survivors a little breathing room, Alice and Jasper included. So why couldn’t Alice and Jasper help Jacob and Renesmee? If they were reunited, Renesmee would have the best protection imaginable. Slowly, deliberately, I wrote the words RIO DE JANERO all in caps across the page. I bowed my head again against a sudden urge to sob, clenching my teeth together. It was better that Renesmee go on without me. But I already missed her so much I could barely stand it. I took a deep breath and put the note at the bottom of the duffel bag, where Jacob would find it soon enough.

Pg. 674-678 This chapter ends with the final 2 days leading up to the arrival of the entire Volturi guard!   For two days, Edward and Carlisle stayed in the clearing where Alice has seen the Volturi arrive. It was the same killing field where Victoria’s newborns had attacked last summer. I wondered if it felt repetitive to Carlisle, like déjà vu. For me, it would be all new. This time Edward and I would stand with our family. We set up a tent for Renesmee a few yards back into the protective forest, and then there was more déjà vu as we found ourselves camping in the cold again with Jacob. It started to snow again the night before New Year’s Eve. This time, the tiny flakes did not dissolve into the stone ground of the clearing. Through the early morning, the others gathered, their eyes bearing mute evidence of their preparations-some light gold, some rich crimson. Soon after we all were together, we could hear the wolves moving in the woods. Edward and Carlisle were arraying the others into a loose formation, our witnesses to the sides like galleries. I watched from a distance, waiting by the tent for Renesmee to wake. When she did, I helped her dress in the clothes I’d carefully picked out two days before. Over her jacket I put on the black leather backpack with the documents, the money, the clue, and my love notes for her and Jacob, Charlie, and Renee. Her eyes were huge as she read the agony on my face. “I love you,” I told her. “More than anything.” “I love you, too. Momma,” she answered. She touched the locket at her neck, which now held a tiny photo of her, Edward, and me. “We’ll always be together.” “In our hearts we’ll always be together,” I corrected in a whisper as quiet as a breath. “But when the time comes today, you have to leave me.” I fought to swallow; my throat felt swollen. “Will you do it for me? Please?” She pressed her fingers harder to my face. Why? “I can’t tell you. But you’ll understand soon. I promise.” While packing Renesmee’s things, an unexpected sparkle of color had caught my eye. A chance ray of sun though the skylight had hit the jewels on the ancient precious box stuffed high overhead on a shelf in an untouched corner. After putting together Alice’s clues, I couldn’t hope that the coming confrontation would be resolved peacefully. But why not try to start out as friendly as possible? What could it hurt? So I guess I must have had some hope after all-blind, senseless hope-because I’d scaled the shelved and retrieved Aro’s wedding present to me. *Sidebar-to me, that was a sensible move, with Aro being as vain as he is.   Now I fastened the thick gold rope around my neck and felt the weight of the enormous diamond nestle into the hollow of my throat. “Pretty,”  Renesmee whispered. Edward cocked one eyebrow as I approached, but otherwise did not remark on my accessory or Renesmee’s. He just put his arms tight around us both for one long moment and then, with a deep sigh, let us go. We took our place. I stood a few feet behind Carlisle, Edward, Emmett, Rosalie, Tanya, Kate, and Eleazar. Close behind me were Benjamin and Zafrina; it was my job to protect them as long as I was able. They were our best offensive weapons. The witnesses clustered to our left and right, some nearer than others-those who had declared themselves were the closest. In the woods behind us, the invisible wolves were still and ready. We only had minutes or seconds left now. All our family and allies braced themselves. Without risking a glance behind, Edward reached back to me. And then Edward stiffened and hissed low between his clenched teeth. His eyes focused on the forest due north of where we stood. We stared where he did, and waited as the last seconds passed.

*This has my stomach in knots!! I hate this soooo much. This Volturi drives me crazy, but they are so cool. But so horrible at the same time. I can only imagine what poor Edward must be thinking. Only had he left this girl alone none of this would be happening now. But the heart wants what the heart wants and here we are fighting for our lives. Next week…The Volturi arrive…

Tags: Breaking Dawn Pt. 2 Re-Read, Breaking Dawn Re-Read

Category: Breaking Dawn Book