AN- I'm back of holiday and had a fabulous time. Hope you like the next chapter.
Chapter 20 warmth renesmee pov
I didn't understand why they were being so nice to me? I'd watched them from across the park they both looked so happy and care free that it was nice to get a glimpse of what that sort of life would be like. Not having to always look over my shoulder.
When they approached me I recognised them both immediately, though I'm not sure that was a good thing? What if they started asking questions and poking their noses into my business? I'm not sure I'd be able to take another move. This was the nicest place we had ever lived.
Mrs Cullen had a tight yet gentle grip on my hand I'd never felt so protected. They were leading me through the forest on some sort of trail. Now I know it's here I have somewhere else to go when needed. The bonus being that it's far enough away from anywhere that it would be unlikely that they would find me. Everywhere was beginning to get dark and whilst I generally wasn't scared of the dark I'm heading to a place where other strangers would be. I didn't like the unknown as I couldn't control it. I was more tired than I realised and my legs wouldn't move as fast as I would have liked and I began to fall slightly behind.
"You ok Renesmee?" Mrs Cullen asked, noticing my slower pace.
I began to nod my head before I remembered she preferred my verbal responses "Yes Mrs Cullen I'm fine"
"Well it's only another 10 minutes and we should be back, why don't I carry you the last stretch." Mr Cullen asked moving to stand in front of me. I shook my head furiously not wanting to be any closer to him.
"Sweetie its ok, you look so tired, let Edward carry you and I promise that I will hold your hand the whole way. You are safe and this way you can rest a little." Mrs Cullen told me.
We stood for a couple of minutes until I finally nodded my head. Gripping Mrs Cullen's hand as tight as I could, Mr Cullen came up and picked me up so I sat on his hip. He held on to me tightly yet I didn't feel the slightest bit scared. With me in his arms they picked up the pace. Mrs Cullen kept her hand in mine for which I was grateful. The trail ended at a small clearing in the centre was the biggest house I had ever seen. The lights were on all over the house it looked so big and inviting. I'd never seen anything more welcoming. We walked up to the front door and without even knocking they entered, which I thought was a little rude. As soon as we were inside with the door closed Mr Cullen put me down I stumbled my legs not really ready to support my body weight. Mrs Cullen put an arm around my shoulder to help steady me.
"Come on lets head in we can find you something of Jessica's for you to wear so you'll be warmer." Mrs Cullen responded pulling my gently into the kitchen where adults I didn't recognise were talking in hurried whispers. They were talking about me.
"Esme do you mind if we nip into Jessica's room and grab a thick sweater to warm Renesmee up?" Mrs Cullen asked smiling down at me.
"Of course, there's also fresh jeans and tops if you need them sweetheart" She responded talking to me instead of Mrs Cullen.
I gave her a small smile in response before Mrs Cullen led me through the house and up some stairs into the nicest room I had ever seen. There was a big bed and lots of toys. When she opened the closet door I gasped I had never seen so many clothes in my entire life. How could one person have so many clothes?
"Ok here's a sweater pop it on you will be warmer. Do you need any other clothes or are you ok?" She asked handing me a sweater.
"No thank you I'm fine" I replied take the sweater and pulling it on. I did feel a little warmer.
Once sorted I followed Mrs Cullen back downstairs and back into the kitchen, there was only the lady who spoke to me earlier still there.
"Are you feeling warmer?" she asked kindly.
"Yes thank you." I replied looking around the huge kitchen, it looked so warm and inviting and the smells coming from the cooker were just divine.
"Ok, young lady, how would you like a cup of hot chocolate, dinner will be ready soon and until then you can colour with Jessica if you like." She told me kindly.
Without me agreeing she handed me a cup with hot chocolate in and I took a small sip. I never had hot chocolate before but even I knew that this was delicious the best thing I had ever tasted. I hummed in appreciation and the adults smiled at me. I must have pleased them. We walked into the living room together where everyone else was there was so many people here that I couldn't help but feel a little intimidated. Mrs Cullen pointed to a young girl who sat in the middle of the floor colouring with another man. I didn't want to intrude so stayed where I was. The young girl Jessica looked up at us and smiled at me, I smiled back she was a little younger than me but seemed kind. The man lifted his head and gave me a small wave, I hid behind Mrs Cullen's legs, I'd never seen him before and he looked big and scary.
"It's ok Renesmee that's Carlisle he's a doctor like Edward. He won't hurt you I promise." Mrs Cullen told me.
I nodded my head at her in response then slowly made my way towards where Jessica was. I sat next to Jessica and as far away from Carlisle as possible. She handed me a crayon and I began colouring the same picture that she had already started, yet keeping one eye on Carlisle just in case.
I felt extremely twitchy and tense. Whilst I was in this beautiful warm house, full of kind welcoming people I still couldn't help but think what would happen when I got home would she even notice that I was gone? Glancing back at Mrs Cullen I saw that she was talking in hushed whispers to Esme and Dr Cullen, Were they mad at me for being out alone when it was dark. I didn't want Mrs Cullen or any of her family to be mad at me. I think she actually likes me and I didn't want that to change at all. It was probably a good idea that I leave that way they could have a nice uncomplicated night.
Sighing I put the crayon down then slowly stood and tried to make my way quietly out the living room and towards the door where my shoes were and I could sneak out the way we came in. However sneaking around this house was a lot harder than I had expected.
"Renesmee where are you going?" Carlisle asked looking away from Jessica and toward me. I hadn't even made it half way across the room.
"Urm, I, I …" I didn't know what to do or say, I froze in place unsure of what was going to happen.
"It's ok sweetie, you're not in trouble, I was just checking where you were going. It's so I could make sure you are ok." Carlisle responded.
I stared at him in shock, why did he care where I was he didn't even know who I was. "It's ok Renesmee" Mrs Cullen said coming over to me resting her hand on her shoulder.
I turned to stare at her my eyes wide "Am I in trouble?" I whispered hoping that I wasn't.
"Oh no huni, you're not in trouble. Carlisle just asked because he cared, nothing else" She tried to explain to me but I just didn't understand.
Bella POV
Renesmee looked so lost and confused. It was as if she hadn't ever had someone care about her or ask where she was going. "Ok, well dinner is ready in a minute, why don't we head towards the dining room and get you settled?" I told her taking her hand and leading her towards the dining room. Carlisle, Jessica and Edward followed us a little behind. I didn't know what I was going to do with Renesmee.
Once I had her sat at the table next to Jessica I headed back towards the kitchen where Esme was on the phone.
"Ok yes thanks. Ok will do." She responded before hanging up and turning to me sighing giving me a small smile. "Ok, I've just spoken to Jessica's social worker, explaining what happened she's never heard of Renesmee but is looking into things for us. She did say that the best bet is to probably take her home though."
I knew she was right there was no way that I could let Renesmee stay here and she needed to go home. "Yeah I know, let's get dinner set up, we can feed everyone then I'll try and get a hold of Renesmee's number she should know it." I responded with a small smile.
Esme walked over to me and wrapped me in a tight hug, "I know this is hard sweetie but just be there for Renesmee let her know that if there's anything she needs she can come to you." She finished kissing my cheek before taking the meal into the dining room.
We all settled to a quiet meal I sat opposite Renesmee and next to Edward. I watched as she slowly ate a little of what was on her plate but it was clear that she was just pushing the rest around on her plate. Once the rest of us finished, Esme had, Jessica and Carlisle help to clear the table whilst Emmett and Rosalie took Henry home for a bath. That left me, Renesmee and Edward at the table. She was fiddling with the top of the table cloth her eyes darting to meet my own.
"Ok Renesmee do you know your phone number? I can give your Mum a ring to let her know where you are and that you are safe" I asked smiling at her reassuringly.
In almost a robotic fashion she reeled off her phone number still not meeting my eyes. I sighed I guess it was going to take time for her to really trust me and open up a little. Writing the number down I stood and walked around the table giving her shoulder a light squeeze before leaving the room and dialling the number that she gave me. I waited impatiently for someone to answer.
"Hello" I heard a quiet voice answer on the other end.
"Hello is this Miss Pearce?" I asked cheerfully.
"yes" came a hesitant reply.
"Good well this is Mrs Cullen from Forks Elementary. I have Renesmee with me at the minute. I found her by the park on her own." I told her Mum.
"Oh, urm I guess you can just send her home then." She replied to me before hanging up the phone.
I stood in shock staring at the phone, how can a Mum not care that her young daughter was found outside all by herself especially in the late evening. Anything could have happened to her. Tears of anger and frustration welled up in my eyes and I wiped at them furiously.
"Bella" I turned to find Carlisle stood behind me with a sympathetic smile on his lips. Without a word he took a step forward and wrapped his arms around me pulling me to him. I stiffened initially until accepting the comfort he was offering and rested my cheek against his chest. "Honey listen to me, you are doing everything to make sure that little Renesmee is safe. You're not ignoring what's happening to her, but things have to follow a protocol as difficult as that may be." He finished pulling me away from him and kissing my forehead.
"I know, doesn't make it any easier though." I grumbled my response not liking the fact that I have to take Renesmee back to a loveless home.
"No it doesn't." He agreed before turning and heading out the room.
I took a deep breath before heading back into the dining room to find it empty I then headed into the living room to find Renesmee curled up in a chair fast asleep. Edward sat in the chair opposite staring at her so intently I'm surprised he didn't wake her up.
"Hey" I whispered kneeling in front of him.
"Did you get in touch with her mum?" He asked as I leaned against his legs.
"Yeah, but she didn't seem to care one bit that she was gone, wandering around. I can't believe that Women how can she care so little about her daughter." I ranted a little too loudly.
"It's ok, she does love me but doesn't like to show it." Renesmee said.
We both spun round to stare at her, "sweetie I'm sorry you were never supposed to hear that." I told her standing and going over to her picking her up and sitting her on my knee.
"It's ok" She told me with a small smile.
"Can you tell me why you were out on your own? Especially in the dark" I asked looking down at her. I could feel her tense in my arms she was obviously uncomfortable with what I was asking.
"Ok huni you don't have to answer, just know that I will listen and be here for you ok." I told her trying to get her to trust me just a little. She nodded her head but didn't meet my eyes. I sighed wishing that she would trust me enough to open up to us. "Ok then why don't we get you home to your mum?" Edward told her standing from the chair.
I lifted Renesmee from my knee and we headed out. She was brilliant in being able to give us directions to her house and before long we sat outside her house.I heard Renesmee sigh almost in defeat. Me and Edward got out of the car and Renesmee followed suit we each took a hand in ours and lead her to the door. I raised my empty hand and knocked. We stood in the freezing temperatures for what felt like an age before her Mum answered the door.
"There you are get straight into bed it's late." Was her greeting, Renesmme quickly let go of our hands and without a backwards glance ran into the house.
"Miss …" I tried to speak but she just shut the door in my face.
"Come on let's go home it's been a long day." Edward said wrapping an arm around my shoulders. We headed back to the car and made our way home in silence.
I barely noticed as Edward stopped the car and come round to my door opening it and pulling me out and towards the house. Kicking off our shoes Edward dragged me into the living room where he pulled me into his arms on the sofa. I latched on to him and sobbed. I sobbed for Renesmee, for not being able to help her and knowing just how she must be feeling at this moment. Once all my emotions were out of my system I pulled away from Edwards arms.
"I'm sorry you really shouldn't have to deal with me. I'm an emotional wreck" I told him.
"No Bella do not ever say that. I love you so much and your compassion towards Renesmee makes me love you even more. I know it seems impossible but everything will work out it did between us didn't it?" He told me firmly pulling me to him and kissing me tenderly. "Come on let's go to bed I want to hold you in my arms."
I smiled up at him and we headed to bed. I know the love Edward and the others had for me would help me get through anything. Hopefully I'd be able to help Renesmee as well.
AN- I'll hopefully have another chapter for you next week I've already started writing it.