Bella's house was nice. It was exactly the type of house I had always pictured we'd buy, the house we'd start a family in.

"Are you going to knock or do you plan on beginning a career as a garden gnome?"

"Haha, smart-pants," I said sarcastically. Upon my daughter urgency, I knocked lightly on Bella's door.

"Wait!" Annie said suddenly. With that, she snatched my keys from my hand and ran down the path to my car…Just as Bella was pulling the door open. The look on her face as she saw Annie running away, it was heartbreaking.

"I think she left something in the car," I said. Bella look unconvinced.

"Maybe I should—" she began, before I cut her off.

"No, let's just go inside. She'll come when she's ready."

Bella nodded, tears welled up in her eyes. I looked back at my car and saw Annie in the back seat. I couldn't tell what she doing, but I knew that if I went and pushed her when she wasn't ready, she'd panic and want to leave.

Once inside, Bella directed me to the living room, which was located just off the small foyer area. I breathed in as I entered. Bella's house smelt of cookies.

"You don't have to be so anxious, she'll come around," I said as I sat down on Bella's lounge.

"I'm not anxious," Bella retorted.

"You've been baking," I said with a light chuckle. "You only bake when you're anxious."

"You don't know me," Bella spat.

I nodded sadly. She was right, I didn't know who she was anymore. And I hate no right to…

"I'm sorry."

My head sprang up so fast I thought I was going to give myself whiplash. "Why on earth are you sorry? I should be grovelling at your feet begging you for forgiveness, not the other way around."

"I should let go of the past and move on. I have moved on," Bella said, although something about how she said didn't have me convinced. It was like she was trying to convince herself. "We should be civil with each other, for Annie's sake."

I nodded in agreement. "While we have this second, can I just say—"

"Sorry, I let myself in," came a quiet voice from the foyer. Bella and I both looked up to see a timid Annie, looking down at what looked like a photo album in her hands.