AN: Soo the bitch is back. Thanks you to everyone who reviewed, I love reading you reactions and tips it was great! As usual, thank you to the most fantastic beta xxtwilightx your a doll! To the lovely Tessa, thank you for your input. So I will shut up now and let you read!
I composed myself turning to see a tired set of dull, tired green eyes boring onto mine.
Her sickness was evident to anyone who knew her. Her once full, golden hair was grey, short and thin. She had bags under her eyes and looked breakable.
I almost felt sorry for her…almost.
"What are you doing back in Forks? I thought I told you to stay away from Edward" She glared at me with beady eyes I glared back as she stepped close. Emmett walked towards me placing his hand on the small of my back while Jessica and half the store watched in amusement.
"Let's go" he whispered in my ear, I shrugged him off.
"I heard you were sick…plan on dying anytime soon, you heatless bitch"then we all live happily ever after! She died two minutes later. Well, that's what I was hoping for…really it went like this.
"He's in town? I had no idea. See, I am actually here to spend time with my family. I don't want to hear what you have to say right now Esme" I stepped closer seething in her ear "I'm not a little girl any more Esme. You don't get to tell me who I see and where I go. I'll see you round" I turned to meet Emmett and Kenzie.
"Now we can go" I took Kenzie from his arm and stalked out of the store without giving Esme, or any other shoppers another glance.
I waited in the car for Emmett to come back with the food. Mackenzie went back singing to Selena Gomez and playing with the doll she brought with her.
"Mommy, who was dat lady you were talked to?" Her head was tilted to the side in question flipping the dolls hair round.
"She, Kenzers, is an old friend of Granma and Grandpa Charlie"
"And Mommy and uncwe Emmy?" Mackenzie was at the "Why" age. There always had to be areason, or a follow up question.
"No"
"Oh. She wooked wike dat witch off of the T.V" she giggled.
"She's a witch alright" I mumbled under my breath. I had no idea how to explain the Cullen's to Mackenzie…or Charlie for that matter.
"Well. That was fun?" He chuckled sliding into his seat.
I sighed "Indeed"
"Well. Let's get this dinner over with shall we"
The streets were quite with the odd car cursing by. A silver Volvo was parked outside Mom's house, the porch and down stairs lights all on.
"He's here" Em announced breaking the silence. "That's his car. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Do I have a choice?" I leaned my head against the door listening to the rains soothing sound on the car roof.
"Everybody has a choice Bella"
"Let's go. Mom's going to think we were joy riding instead of shopping" I laughed.
A sweet aroma hit me like a wall as I walked into the house loaded with shopping bags, dropping them in the kitchen to mom and Rosie.
"Sorry were late Mom, Bella took the car for a joy ride! So blame her for any scratches on your baby!" Mom's jaw dropped as she ran outside to check on her baby, Emmett wrapped his arms around Rose, using her as a guard.
"Don't hide behind me" She chuckled, taking Kenzie into the living room, only to have her run back into my arms 2 seconds later.
"What's wrong baby?"
"Ders a man in der wif Chawie pwaying. Day are reawy loud and go boom!" She hide behind my hair.
I looked at Em who shrugged. I stood at the door way of the lounge watching Charlie and Edward play with Edwad's old slot car set. I remember the Christmas he got the set, inviting Emmett and I over to play.
Em was god smacked "Holy Shit! Dude! I remember this thing, spending hours on it, then hounding Dad for one" Edward looked at Em and smiled. Rosalie whacked him over the head for swearing.
"I remember whipping your ass every time!" Edward commented. Rosalie cleared her throat nodding to Kenz and Charlie."Oh sorry, I mean, I won like every time" he ducked his head, never once meeting my eyes.
"Don't worry mom swears all time. Anyway, either both of you suck at this game, or your letting me win, man I am whooping ass!" Charlie got excited as he lapped Edward again and I turned red.
"Language" I warned.
He looked sheepish "Sorry Mom"
A silence filled the room till all you could hear was the hum of the toy cars.
Rosalie couldn't bear it any longer and broke the silence "So Edward, what do you do?"
"Oh uh, I own my own building company, so I'm a builder and up until recently have been living in with my…ex-wife. We divorced last year" I stared at him, he looked up and our eyes meet. He held my gaze with a soft smile, till Charlie erupted with cheers.
"Bo ya! In your face! I so just betcha! Whoop whoop. Em, wanna play?" doing a little dance he plopped back onto the floor
"You are so loud Chawie" Kenz grumbled rolling her eye. Everyone laughed at their interaction.
"You're on kiddo! You're going down"
"If you play anything like Edward over here, I seriously doubt it" Rose left to the kitchen to help Mom. Edward took the opportunity, taking Rosalie's seat and smiling at me.
"So I wanted to apologise bout this morning. I shouldn't have just let myself in and…say things. I was hoping that maybe we could talk about those things. Maybe over dinner?" He looked hopeful, keeping his eyes on Mackenzie while she stared back sucking her thumb. I pushed the hair out of her eyes finally looking at him.
"You have nothing to apologise for. But here really isn't the time to be talking about this Edward" I looked down at Charlie and Emmett playing on floor. I could tell all ears were on our conversation right now, Charlie had his tongue out in concentration, turning his body to turn the car.
"Right" he nodded.
"Lunch on Wednesday sound okay?" I played with Kenzie's hair watching her fight her eye lids to stay open.
"Sure. So who's this little one?" He asked playing with her feet, jolting her back awake.
"Oh well this is Mac-"
"Mommy, I'm free, I fink I can tell him who I am" She told me seriously.
"Take it away kiddo" I nodded.
"I'm Mackenzie Alice Newton, and I'm nearly dis many years old" She held up 4 fingers poking her tongue out in concentration, a habit both her and Charlie pick up from Mike.
"3 going on 18 clearly" Edward and I giggle.
The doorbell rang signalling someone was here.
"I got it!" I called, I tried to put Kenzie down but she kept her arms tightly around my neck so I took her with me.
I almost shut the door again as I saw who was at the door.
"Isabella? Oh my how you have grown up! Who is this cutie?" She reached out to touch Kenzie but I turned pulling her out of reach. Mom came to the door.
"Esme! You're here, oh come in, come in" I stood shocked as mom left to the kitchen. Esme cocked her head to the side smiling at me.
"What's wrong dear? You look like you've seen a ghost" she laughed I gaped at her as she walked off to the kitchen.
I put Kenzie down crouched down to her level "Baby, can you please go tell uncle Emmy Mommy's in the bathroom and he needs him to come quickly" I kissed her cheek.
She nodded "Why is the witch lady here?"
"Just go tell uncle Emmy" She skipped off and I ran to the bathroom, sliding down the wall.
A few moments later there was a knock at the door "Bells, it Em. Can come in?" I swung to door open and jumped into his arms, locking my arms and legs around him. Surprised, he walked back into the bathroom shutting the door.
"Why is she here?"
"She and mom are best of friends apparently" he spat. I looked up.
"You saw her?" He nodded.
"I just….I don't understand! She made my life hell after the shooting. Pushed me away from Edward, yet her and mom are best of friends? What the fuck!" I yelled incredulously lightly punching the wall.
"Quiet down Bella! She'll hear you"
I chuckled dryly "I really don't care" I sat down next to Em, he put his arms around me and I rested my head on his shoulder. The sound of light footsteps coming up the stairs eased my anger a little. I was angry at my Mom. Most of all I was so confused! Hundreds of questions came into my head. Not one I feared would answered.
Kenzie's giggles filled the halls as the bathroom door swung open.
"Mom? Emmett? What are you guys doing in here?"
Kenzie squealed and jumped on Emmett's lap knocking her head against his chest "Mommy, the witch is down stairs wif Nana. Day making some food!" Her eyes wide as she told us what was happening.
"It's for your dinner baby, why are you guys up here anyway?" Charlie dried his hands jumping off the make shift stool mom put in so the kids could reach the sink.
"Dinners ready" He shrugged "So Nana told us to wash our hands and to find you too. Nana made Mac and cheese!" He dashed off down the hall making car noises.
Kenzie yawned "You tired Mini?" Em nudged her, she nodded blinking dramatically.
"Wash your hands and we will head down for dinner" I stoop up holding my hand out for her.
"Will da witch lady have dinner wif us?" She washed her hand slowly splashing water everywhere. She look so tired, she hadn't had a nap so I don't think she was going to make it to desert.
"Yeah. She will." I sighed.
A frown replaced her toothy smile, she looked up cocking her head to the side looking up at Emmett and I "She won't put a spell on me right?" God I love my daughter!
"So how have you been feeling lately Esme. I feel like I haven't seen you in forever!" She shovelled some more salad in her mouth over dramatizing things as usual. We had heard about Esme and everything she had been up to nonstop for the last 45 minutes.
Kenzie's head started to slowly drop, I watched her along with the rest of the table when he head finally hit the table Esme was still drowning on about how horrible she felt.
Emmett pushed his chair back loudly "I'm going to put Kenzie to bed" He smirked at me. I stood to.
"No, Em it's okay, I'll do" I reached out for her.
"Oh Bella honey, let Emmett take her. I want to hear all about your life" She smiled sweetly as me. I wanted to slap her. Kick her head and shove it into…something gross!
Emmett patted my back handing me Kenzie. "Emmett, you take Mackenzie" He looked at me warily
"Sit down Bella" Esme smiled. Edward watched me curiously while Charlie hoed into his apple pie and ice cream.
"So, Bella. How have you been?"
"Good" I answered curtly.
"And what are you doing job wise at the moment?"
"I'm a teacher"
"And how is that going for you?" This women will not give up!
"Good"
"Oh. And how about you Charlie? How are you doing? I mean when your dad murdered it must have been hard on you" Charlie stopped eating but kept his eyes on his food. I felt like I was being interrogated. This morning meant nothing to her. She had an audience and she was loving every moment of it.
"Okay I guess" he answered quietly shrugging. I wanted to leave, just wrap Charlie up in a ball, hold him tight and run away, away from this cow who had ruined my life, yet by doing this to me, had allowed me the most amazing life in the world with mike" But I could put money on my mother yelling at me like I was 5 again She was already shooting us disapproving looks at our one word answers.
Rosalie sat quietly watching as well, shooting daggers at Esme, bout ready to rip her head off
"Oh it's okay sweet heart. Did you know Edward's father was shot?" She touched his shoulder and he smile timidly at her. "He died to. So sad" She sighed shaking her head shooting me a deadly look. Rose and I both raised and eye brow at her.
"I'm going to get another drink. Anyone else want one?" Mom announced, quiet 'No thank you's' filled the room.
"Well, your father was a good man Charlie, great at everything he did" She touched his hand, he flinched away "Proud of everything he did. Not so much in the relationship area"She shot me a look, I shrunk into my chair and held Charlie's hand. She talked about Mike as if she knew him…even though she didn't. I know she didn't.
"How do you know Mike?" I didn't think, I just spat it out. My Mom walked in at that exact moment.
Esme looked shocked, clearly not expecting my question. Everyone watched her expectantly, waiting for her to answer. Mom, completely oblivious to the show down, sat down loudly slurping her drink.
"Oh. Well, I've seen him around" She started coughing and didn't stop for a good 5 minutes. Edward and Mom fused over her, when the coughing died down she sighed. Her acting was bullshit, it was pretty clear she went Hollywood.
"That happen a lot?" Rose played with her glass smirking.
"Yes" she sighed "This sickness is retched. But I'm glad I have my Edward here to help me. If he was still with Tayna I may even have had a grandbaby or two" He rolled his eyes, while she wiped some sauce off his cheek she smiled at his. I quite frankly was repulsed. She sighed loudly her eyes falling back to mine "Bella your kids are so precious! It would be awful if anything were to happen to them, I know I would feel the same about my Edward. So do you have any men in your life?" The warning was clear in her voice. Rose looked shocked. I wiped my mouth throwing my napkin on my plate standing up.
"You know what, Charlie and I need to go to bed. Good to see you again Edward. Esme" I stood Charlie following pursuit, kissing Mom and Rose goodnight.
I took his hand and headed for the stairs. I heard someone following me, so I slowed down. Edward grabbed my arm, pulling me round to meet regretful emerald eyes.
I looked down at Charlie "Go ahead, I'll be upstairs in a sec baby" He ran up the stairs. As soon as he was out of ear shoot Edward pulled me into the lounge.
"She was the reason you left" It wasn't a question, but I nodded, know what he was talking about. He paced the lounge a few times; I stood awkwardly in the doorway, hiding when I saw Emmett emerge from the laundry.
"How'd you guess?" He stopped pacing and pulled me into his arms. I froze, having no idea what to do.
"Bella you were my best friend for 15 years. I may not have seen you in 10 years, but I still know the signs" He whispered into my hair releasing me. "You were scared, I saw it. The…the crash, afterwards? You were next to me in the ambulance, then you weren't. Mom said…you had left. Some crap about being the last time you would let me put you in danger?" He recalled things well…minus the reason of why left.
"I…I don't want to talk about this" I punctuating each word "Not now" I frowned, he sat on couch sighing loudly
"Wednesday? You'll be there right?" I nodded headed for the door.
"Goodnight Bella" looking back I saw him with his head in his hands. What on earth will Wednesday bring.
AN: Questions, querys, complaints? Review cause you love me! I hope. The more reviews I get the faster I update! Whoop Whoop! I'm on Twitter! Links on my profile ;) Updates and teasers will be posted on there.
xAmieex