Ch. 3 Confessions
"So what you're saying is…you had to change so you could get better?" Mom was still hyperventilating on the couch, while Charlie patted her hand comfortingly. "It's all right Renee. Bella's still the same person she was before all this." Charlie soothed. We had been trying to calm her down for a half-hour, with little success.
Renee had completely freaked out, so we had brought her inside. Edward and I had explained the situation as best we could without telling her things that could endanger her safety.
"And this mysterious illness is what made you completely avoid me for over two years?" She was obviously angry and hurt. I felt bad about that. "Mom, I'm really sorry… It's just that…I had to keep you safe." I new I was probably just making everything worse, but I had to try something. "That's why we can't tell you the truth."
"It's for your own good, Renee." Edward explained. "If it makes you feel any better, Charlie knows just as little as you do." Renee looked at him oddly, with a certain shrewdness, almost as if she blamed him for my pale skin and golden eyes.
Renesmee had been hiding behind my leg since we had brought Renee into the house. I glanced at her and she looked up at me, with uncertainty in her eyes. Renee looked back at me, then at the child behind me, and sighed. "So I guess I'm a grandma now, huh?" She looked exhausted from her bout of hysteria. Nessie looked at her without saying a word; that would only upset Renee even more. "Yeah, mom. You are." I smiled slightly at her, desperately trying to lift her from her mood. I stepped to the side so she could see Renesmee more clearly. "This is Renesmee." Renee looked surprised, as she got up to talk to her. "Hello, Renesmee." Renee smiled a tired smile, and knelt down beside me. "She's named after you, sort of," I explained. "I combined your name and Esme's…" Renee's looked at me, her eyes wide. "You did?" Edward chuckled behind me. "Yes. I thought you deserved that, at least." I looked at Nessie as I spoke. "Well…thank you, honey…" She said the last word with a bit of uncertainty.
"Mom, did you just come down here for me? What about Phil?" I changed the subject quickly. Renee stood back up and turned towards me. "Bella, I've been worried sick about you. I had no idea what had happened. No one called me—" She glared at Charlie and at me. "I didn't know what to think I didn't know if you died…" She broke off there, sadness crossing her face. I didn't know what to say. I had feared she had thought the worst, but I had never thought about her coming down to see if I was okay. "Mom, I'm fine. Well, better that fine actually. I'm sorry it's been so long, but it was for your own good." Renee gave me a petulant look. "And you think hiding from me, helped?" I looked down at the floor. "No. It didn't. I'm sorry." Renee sighed deeply and shrugged. "Well, at least I know you're okay." She stepped forward to hug me. As she did I felt her shudder from my cold skin. She didn't ask. She let go of me and knelt down in front of Nessie. "You be good, all right?" Renesmee nodded. "Are you leaving Renee?" Charlie asked. "What else is there to do? I came here to make sure Bella was okay, and she is." She stood up and turned towards him. "I'm going home."
"You can stay here for the night. It's already getting dark. You can leave in the morning." Charlie looked sad that she wanted to leave. "All right, Charlie. Just so you won't worry. But I'm leaving early tomorrow morning." Renee assured him. "All right then." Charlie agreed. "Well I guess we'll go…" I turned towards the door when I felt Renee's hand on my shoulder. I turned back towards her and she said. "Bella…I forgive you. I just needed to know that you were safe and happy." She glanced at Edward then back at me. "Mom, I promise I'll call you. And tell Phil I love him, ok?" I smiled. "I will, honey." She hugged me again, without shuddering, then knelt down and hugged Renesmee. I grinned. It looked like things were going much better than I had hoped.
