Chapter Fourteen

Bella

The rest of that night I lay awake, the vision of Jasper laying there in torment for my sake haunting me. That he and Emmett had come here racing against time to save me from Victoria was touching, it more than made up for the way they had left. They hadn't been in time to save Charlies human life but they did offer him another and I really hoped he accepted it when he woke up. He had two of the best people to help him when he did and I knew they wouldn't just leave him to fend for him self.

By the time Mary came in with coffee for me at eight in the morning I was shattered. I think the shock of it all had finally sunk in and I felt sick and shaky. She reminded me that Renee was arriving today so I sat down to write a list of things that needed doing. Renee was fine if she had a list to follow and Mary helped me using the knowledge she had from the year before and Franks death.

"It's good Renee is coming. You're far too young to be doing all this. I can see how much its affected you. Why don't you just take it easy? Relax, have a soak in the tub, and we'll go for a walk then get some food in for your mother."

"Is Phil coming too?"

"No, he's going to be arriving for the funeral when you get the date but I think he has other commitments and after all its a little awkward, folks in Forks are a little conservative and your mother didn't win any popularity contest when she ran away taking you with her. Bringing her new and I believe younger husband with her probably wont go down too well."

I nodded, I knew from things Harry and Billy had said that Renee wasn't popular and I saw Mary's point. I just wanted it all over so I could see my dad awake to his new life, what happened after that eluded me, one step at a time I guess.

Shopping didn't take long and I tried to relax the rest of the day but the phone never stopped ringing, friends from my school days in Forks who had heard of dads death, Mr and Mrs Newton, Angela's parents, and a few people I didn't know but had liked my dad and wanted to give their sympathy. By the time the cruiser pulled up with Renee in it I was exhausted again but when I heard Mary's exclamation I jumped up,

"Oh! Bella how old is your mother's husband?"

I looked out the window and groaned, Renee had Tim in tow carrying the cases, just what I needed right now! Mary opened the door while I put the coffee on and waited tensely in the kitchen.

Renee's voice penetrated my brain like a white-hot wire and my headache that had slowly built over the day cranked up another notch. It wasn't helped when Tim came in looking suitably solemn and took me in his arms.

"Darling I'm so sorry. I never knew your dad but I do know you two were close. It must have been a terrible shock finding him like that."

I pulled free of him as the kettle boiled,

"You didn't have to come Tim."

"Of course I did darling. I wouldn't let you go through this alone. Mum and dad send their regards. They are flying up for the funeral."

"Oh that's good of them."

"You look terrible Bella but you can relax now, I'm here to look after you and Renee. She's been really strong about it all."

"Well they weren't married for very long Tim and it was years ago."

"I don't think that stops her having feelings about his death Bella. You seem a little hard and distant. Never mind, I'm renting a car, it should be delivered in the morning and we can get out of Forks, away from all the terrible memories for a while."

"I have to make the arrangements with Renee."

"We'll both help her with that, after all I'm more or less family."

I was about to answer that when Renee came in, a tissue to her eyes and threw herself at me,

"Oh Bella, its such a terrible shock. Poor Charlie. I always said that job would kill him in the end. I'm grateful you weren't there when he was attacked. I could have lost both of you. I can hardly believe he's gone."

She started crying again and all I could do was put my arms around her while Tim tried his best to console both of us.

Mary who had left us alone to talk came in hearing all the noise and took Renee from me,

"Come and sit down Renee, Bella are you OK to make the coffee?"

"I'll look after Bella don't worry."

Mary nodded smiling a little uncertainly and guided Renee in to the sitting room while Tim busied him self with a tray and cups while sitting me down at the kitchen table like a child.

"You sit there Bella. I'll take the tray through for those two them we can talk in here."

I had no idea what we would be talking about but I was too weary to argue. Instead I got a couple of pain killers for my splitting headache and sat back down holding my mug between shaking hands.

When he came back he sat down unwrapping my hands to hold them in his and I thought how hot they felt. The last hand that had held mine had been much colder and considerably bigger.

"Now Bella. I understand how upset with me you were and speaking to my dad and then your mother I think I understand where I went wrong. I didn't know your history. Renee explained how your first boyfriend Edward Cullen treated you and I promise I wont make the same mistake again. My dad came out with a few home truths which were hard to listen to but I took them on board. I saw a lot of very unhappy people on Christmas Day and failed relationships were to blame for a lot of the sad stories but I wont let you down Bella and I will do my best not to dictate to you. OK?"

My head was thumping and I was furious with my mother for discussing the Cullens with Tim. It was none of his god-dam business! I was too tired to argue with him tonight so I just nodded and closed my eyes but I could feel his smile and his hands clutched mine even tighter. We stayed like this for a while and then my mother swept in, feeling much better now she'd been treated as the grieving widow even though she wasn't and as I opened my eyes I saw the look she gave Tim.

"Oh good. I knew you two would work things out. Once I explained the trouble you had with that Cullen boy Tim understood."

That Cullen boy! He was her all time favourite the last time we spoke about it.