Chapter 7

With shaky hands, I swallowed back the lump in my throat and dialed the phone. It rang three times before she answered, "Hello?"

"Mom?"

"Bella! Oh baby, it's been a long time since we last talked. How is everything? Did you get my last email?"

I paused unable to answer her questions right away. This was going to be so hard. To give me privacy, Charlie had gone outside with Billy to speak with Jacob. Poor Jacob, though I think he had a better chance of surviving his conversation than I did.

"Mom, we need to talk," I finally managed to speak. My mom had been there for me through the darkest time of my life. My only hope was that she would remain so understanding and open to this new chapter in my life.

"What is it Bella?"

"Mom… um, oh my god, I don't know how to tell you this." I choked up.

"Bella, honey please tell me what's wrong. Did something happen to your father?" She was getting worried, I could tell.

"No mom, Char… I mean dad is fine."

"Then what is it? What's the matter?" She asked frantically.

There was a long silence, and then I just spat it out in a hurried tone. "I'M PREGNANT!"

"What. Did. You. Just. Say?"

"Mom, I'm pregnant. I'm so sorry, please don't be disappointed. I know it's the last thing you wanted for your eighteen year old daughter…"

She cut me off mid sentence. "Well Bella, it sure does come as a shock, in fact it was the last thing in the world I expected you to say to me… Wait,um… who is the father? Please don't tell me it's that Cullen boy's!"

"MOM! Edward…" I clutched at the hole in my chest as the pain that had long since been dulled by time had renewed itself. "Edward and I never… the father is Jacob, Jacob Black!" I shouted.

"Billy Black's son? When did you two become… never mind that, Bella what are you going to do?"

"What do you mean, 'what am I gonna do?' We are keeping the baby!" I was appalled at the inconsideration of my Mother's words.

"That is a lot to handle baby, you sure?" She asked in a concerned tone of voice.

"OF COURSE I AM SURE!" I shouted.

"Okay, ba…by," her voice broke at the end. Oh god was she was crying? Now I felt really bad for yelling at her.

"Mom, I'm sorry okay. I didn't mean to yell," I apologized. "Look I know it's a lot to process. Holy crow, I mean I am barely holding it together myself. I just thought you would be more supportive than dad."

"Bella, I am just worried for you that's all. It's a lot of responsibility raising a child… and you're so young. You have your whole life ahead of you," Renee explained. "But, I will stand by you, honey no matter what you decide."

"Thank you for understand mom. I have to go now, I left Charlie alone with Jacob and that can't be a good thing, not for Jacob at least. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure baby, talk to you later."

After I hung up with Renee, I went outside to find my dad yelling at Jacob and Billy shaking his head.

"Guys stop!" As I was walking over to Jacob I tripped. Jacob caught me by the elbow, steadied me and gave me a hug.

"Get your hands off her!" Charlie yelled.

"Dad, will you stop!" Jeesh, this was going to be a long nine months!

"Bella, you should marry Jacob," Charlie started again. "It's the only logical solution."

After the long argument that ensued, after he mentioned it before you think he would give it up already.

"Dad, please…let me and Jacob handle this. I don't think either of us can take that much change so soon. I mean we just found out today…give it sometime to sink in." I argued.

"It's the right thing to do Bella and you know it," he persisted.

"I'm not saying it isn't…we just don't want to rush into things," I pleaded.

"Yeah, well you should have thought about that before he got you knocked up!" he started yelling again.

He was making me so mad, why was being he so stubborn? Without thinking, I blurted out… "Why, so we can end up like you and mom?" I regretted it the moment it came out. The look on his face… I'll never forget it. He silently walked away from me and out the front steps. A few seconds later I heard the cruiser start up and he pulled out of the driveway. That was a low blow, he'll never forgive me for that. I started to cry…I buried my head in Jacob's shoulder and then rested my hands on my still flat belly. "Sorry baby", I sobbed. I don't know what I'm going to do now. I might have just lost Charlie forever.

Sometime had passed since Charlie left Billy, Jacob and myself standing on the porch, Billy and Jacob had long since gone back to La Push. There was still no sign of Charlie, I began to worry. Suddenly, I felt the overwhelming need to speak to Jacob.

I rose from the couch and made my way to the kitchen. I dialed Jacob's phone number… it rang several times, but no answer. Hmmm, that's weird I though. They should definitely have made it home by now. Maybe they stopped somewhere first. Just then I remembered how hot Jacob felt when he hugged me before he left…hotter than usual. Maybe he wasn't feeling well, or maybe Charlie's marriage rant upset him more than he led her to believe. I hope that's wasn't it, I didn't want Jacob to feel obligated to marry me just because I was carrying his child. If we decide to get married, I wanted it to be for love.

I was starting to get hungry while I patiently waited a few extra minutes before trying my call a second time. I went to the fridge to see what I could make. I saw some leftover meatloaf from the other night…yeah that should hit the spot. I took it out of the aluminum foil and placed it onto a plate and started to microwave it. Once that was done, I sat down and started to eat. I was instantly repulsed by the food in my mouth and ran to the sink to spit it out. "Yuck", I complained. If I didn't know any better, I'd say I was coming down with something too…but I love meatloaf, I thought. Guess the baby doesn't enjoy meatloaf as much as I do, I smirked.

No longer having an appetite, I walked back to the phone and redialed Jacob's number…success, Billy answered after two rings.

"Hey Billy, may I speak to Jake?" I asked politely.

"I'm afraid not Bella, er…um Jacob's not feeling like himself, he'll have to call you later." he hesitated.

"Is he not well?" I persisted. "He felt like he may have had a fever."

"No, he's not well." Billy said dryly. "Goodbye now, Bella."

He hung up. Hmmm, that was strange, I thought. I decided to wait by the phone to see if Jacob would call back. It was after midnight, when I was awaken by the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. I checked the answering machine to see if Jacob tried to call after I dosed off… nothing. Just then I heard the front door open, It was Charlie. I walked slow to the hallway, I needed to apologize.

"Dad, I'm sorry for what I said earlier…I didn't mean it," I said.

"I know, I'm sorry too…for being a jerk and trying to force you into things," he replied.

"You were just trying to do right by me…I know…that's why I love you Dad," I said as I walked over to give him a hug.

"Thanks…you should get to bed, you look tired…I know I'm beat," he smiled.

"Yeah, what a stressful and emotional day you've had," I joked. We both laughed as we made our way upstairs.