Chapter Twenty Nine

Bella

I was getting used to Jaspers quiet presence, during the day he came and went leaving me with Charlie and then Renee and Phil when they flew up to see me. The argument between her and Charlie got so heated that the nursing staff had to intervene and ask them to keep the noise down. Renee blamed Charlie for my accident, for letting me get involved with an undesirable family, and probably global warming too! He'd told her about the Cullens when explaining why he was sending me back to her, Poor Charlie tried his best to protect himself from her tongue lashing but he wasn't very good at it. In the end I intervened,

"Mum, it wasn't dads fault I fell down the stairs and he was trying to protect me after Harry Clearwater lied to him about Jasper and the Cullens"

She scowled at me, I think she was enjoying putting Charlie through the wringer but eventually ran out of steam for which the rest of us were thankful.

"So Bella. I've spoken to your doctor and he says you'll be well enough to travel in a few weeks so we'll get your room ready."

"Mum, I'm not going back with you"

"Of course you are, don't be silly Bella. It's quite apparent your father isn't fit to look after you"

"Mum please don't start again. I'm staying here with dad and Jasper."

Charlie

I'd forgotten how good Renee was at making my life a living hell, it had been a long time since I'd been on the receiving end of one of her rants and I looked sympathetically at Phil who stood quietly in the corner unwilling to become involved. I was thankful for Bella's intervention on my behalf and from her words I knew Bella wouldn't be going back to Jacksonville, whatever my ex wife said.

"Renee, Bella is staying here to finish school. When she leaves she can make up her own mind where she goes but she's very serious about Jasper. You can't expect her to just up and leave him."

"Oh? Why not? You did."

"That's when I thought he was trouble. He's shown me that isn't the case and my enquiries back up his words. Harry and Billy lied to me"

"Why?"

"What?"

"Why did they lie to you? They must have given you some explanation as to why they did it."

I had to be careful here or she'd be steaming off to the Res all guns blazing.

"I think they were upset Bella didn't want Jake."

"That's hardly a reason for ruining someone's reputation!"

"Yes, and I did point this out to them. They apologised and its over."

"I take it you won't be going on any more friendly little fishing trips with them then?"

Her sarcasm was wearing but I bit my tongue,

"No I won't. Not that it's any of your business."

"It is if they are interfering in my daughter's life"

"Our daughter, Renee."

She looked at me scornfully then turned back to Bella

"If you change your mind we're here for a few more days, I can always come back for you."

"I'm sure mum but thanks".

"Come on Phil I need to eat."

He followed her out like a puppy and I couldn't hold back the grin any longer. Bella saw it and laughed with me.

Bella

It had been better than any TV soap opera and I could see at least in part why my parents had split up. Charlie seemed to bring out the worst in her nature. His beeper went off and he checked it.

"I have to check in with the station. Will you be OK for a while?"

"Sure, Jasper will be back soon, Once he sees Renee leave."

Jasper had found my mother a little too much, she thought he was fascinating and insisted on talking about the former life she had seen in his aura! Apparently he'd been a warrior in Ancient Sparta. I couldn't help giggling and he had escaped as quickly as he could and avoided her ever since. It would be nice to have him back, I always felt it when he was away from me.

As Dad left the doctor caught him in the doorway,

"Bella's going down for her final scan in a while. Hopefully she'll be up and about soon. As long as the swelling has stayed down and the tissues are knitting."

"Tell Jazz will you Dad. He might as well leave visiting till later"

Charlie nodded as he left and I listened as the doctor explained that if the scan came back clear I could try getting to my feet. I was weak and my legs would need building up again but I had a good range of movement and feeling so everything was pointing towards a complete recovery.

I had my lunch and just after the orderly came to clear my tray away two porters arrived with a trolley.

"Miss Swan? Your chariot awaits."

He smiled as he and his companion lifted me gently on to the trolley for the ride to the scanner.

"Now George, we have a beautiful young lady here and it might be our only chance so I'm going for it. My friend and I thought you might prefer to go dancing this afternoon. What do you say?"

I pretended to think about it,

"I hate to disappoint you, two such dashing young men but I have a date with a scanner technician"

He pulled a really upset face,

"See, story of my life, I'm always just too late. If it's not a scanner technician its an X-ray one or a surgeon just waiting ready with his white coat and shiny stethoscope."

By the time we got to the scanning room I'd forgotten my nerves and they both winked as they handed me over.

"Well pick you up later Miss Swan, maybe you'd like to go dancing then"

"I'll think about it. Thank you"

The scan was gruelling because I was still stiff and sore from the effects of the fall and the technician wouldn't tell me anything. It looked like she'd had a row with her boyfriend or husband before leaving for work. Either that or she'd scraped her new car, she was in a really bad mood so I kept quiet and let her get on with it.

"I've sent a request to the porter's room so someone will be back for you shortly. I've got another patient so I'll have to leave you in the waiting area."

I was just glad to get away from her sour face even though the waiting area was deserted and cold. I wondered how long I'd have to lie here and if it would be the same porters taking me back to my room. The scan results sat tantalizingly on my trolley so checking I was alone I stretched out my hand and picked up the manilla envelope. It hadn't been stuck down so I tipped it up and the scan pictures fell out along with a printed result. The pictures meant nothing to me, I wouldn't even have said they were of a spine if I hadn't been there while it was being done. I was more interested in the printed report so I unfolded it and started to read. Heaving a sigh of relief I saw it gave me the all clear, I would be able to get up and walk around, hurrah!