For the Last Time
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-thank you all once again for your kind reviews and for continuing to follow the story.
Part Fifteen-A Foot in Each World
Bella was shocked when she learned about what Rennie had done. She didn't at first know what to think. Of course, she understood her daughter's reasoning, but a part of her was a little ambivalent about Rennie taking away Jo's own choices. It was something Edward would have done. She sat down with Jacob and had a frank discussion with him about how to deal with what Rennie had done. Jacob was quite tired from a long twelve-hour patrol shift and he was finding it hard to keep awake.
"I don't know what to say, honey. I suppose in the end all you can do is be honest with her. Tell her you get why she did it, but that she can't just assume what is best for other people." Jacob yawned as his eyes began to close against his will.
Bella sighed and touched his cheek for a moment as she watched him sink into a deep sleep. She had always envied his ability to crash. Even when there was a lot going on and he was worried, Jacob always found sleep easy, while Bella would just toss and turn, not finding rest at all. She left him alone to rest while she went to find her daughter. Rennie was sitting on the porch swing with Charlie, they were sharing a tub of rocky road. Charlie had suggested it. He said it was always good to indulge yourself when you were feeling sad. He looked up when Bella walked outside.
"Hey, want to join us, kiddo?" He asked.
Bella smiled at him weakly. "Thanks." She sat by Rennie as Charlie handed her a spoon. She scooped up some of the ice cream and scooped it into her mouth. Bella felt she would never get used to all the different tastes of the food she hadn't been able to consume in years. The ice cream tasted heavenly. She nudged Rennie's shoulder with hers to gain her daughter's attention. "How are you doing, sweetheart?"
"I miss Jo." Rennie confessed in a small voice.
"I know you do." Bella stroked Rennie's hair, detangling the silky strands with her fingers.
Rennie was very astute; she could sense what her mother was about to say. "You think I did the wrong thing."
Charlie watched the two girls carefully. Even though physically Bella and Rennie did not resemble each other much, in that moment they looked exactly alike. Bella put down her spoon and placed her hands on either side of Rennie's face. "I understand why you thought it was for the best that Jo didn't remember you. But you took his choices away, Rennie. That was not your call to make, and it wasn't fair of you either."
Rennie's lower lip trembled. "He got hurt because of me."
"No. It was an accident plain and simple." Bella stated firmly.
"But..."
"No buts, Rennie." Bella looked straight into her daughter's eyes. "You miss Jo?"
"Yes." Rennie whispered.
"Then go and undo what you started." Bella said simply.
Jacob slept solidly for six hours. His internal body clock made him wake up right on time to relieve Paul. He woke up and stretched his limbs one at a time. He looked up when he heard Bella enter the room. She had a plate of lasagne in her hand. The smell was inviting. He grinned at her as he took the plate and motioned for her to join him. Bella took the seat next to him on the sofa and watched as he eagerly ate the food. When he was finished, he turned to face her. He could sense she was tense and worried about something. She had fallen into her old habit of biting her lower lip when she was nervous.
"How did it go with Rennie?"
"Okay. I've persuaded her to go and see Jo and reverse what she's done."
"She can do that?"
"Hopefully." Bella fidgeted as she clasped her hands in her lap.
Jacob reached out and put his hand over hers. "What's on your mind?"
"Edward."
"Fuck." Jacob swore. His expression darkened. "You want to face him I suppose."
"Yes." Bella tensed again as she saw his anger begin to bubble up inside him.
"I just want to kill the bastard." Jacob seethed. He quickly got to his feet. He needed to walk off the anger.
"I know how much you hate him, but he is Rennie's father." Bella sighed. "And unfortunately, I am still officially married to him."
"Don't I know it." Jacob replied heatedly. "It's the reason you won't let me..."
"Jake." Bella stood up hurriedly and slipped her arms around him. He paused for a moment before wrapping her in his strong arms. She rested her head on his broad chest and closed her eyes. "I want to be free of him for good before we go any further. While I am still tied to him, I feel that he is hovering over my shoulder, always watching. Remember the tent?"
"God, do I?" Jacob said in frustration.
"Well think of how you felt then. That's how I feel now. Even though he isn't physically in the room with us I can feel his eyes on me. It makes my skin crawl thinking about him. I don't want to have to think about him ever again when we are fully together. Please understand?" She pleaded.
Jacob rested his head on top of hers. "As much as I hate waiting. Yes, I do understand. It's just so damn frustrating."
"It is for me, too." Bella whispered. "I need to confront him. I need to make it clear that he has no place in my life anymore. It will be enough of a shock for him to see me so changed."
"That's an understatement." Jacob breathed in her human scent. He loved the feel of her warm skin under his fingers and the scent that was so uniquely Bella. He had missed it so much when she was a vampire.
"The main problem will be Rennie. She is his daughter and he will not back down easily." Bella frowned.
"He was never much of a father to her." Jacob growled deep in his chest. "He just used her to control you."
Bella sighed again as she snuggled closer to him. "Still he will not see it that way."
"Then Rennie needs to tell him that she no longer wants him in her life." Jacob stated bluntly.
"That's asking a lot." Bella said sadly.
"I know." Jacob became quiet as he contemplated what he was asking the young girl to do. Was it a selfish whim to want her to just see him as her father? In a way he was. He had been the one, who along with Bella, had raised Rennie. Edward seemed only to want to spend time with his gifted daughter when he was showing her off to others like a prized pet. The same went for Alice and Rosalie Cullen, they both used Rennie to make themselves better for differing reasons. And then there was Carlisle. He would poke and prod Rennie as he studied her. She was just another medical phenomenon he wanted to crack. "She is better off away from them."
"Yes." Bella agreed. "But still it is a hard thing to ask Rennie to do. The Cullens represent the other half of her."
"She has never really indulged in that side of her nature." Jacob pointed out. "She is more human than vampire."
"Oh, Jake. She can't deny who she is inside. And she has indulged. She used her vampire powers on Jo."
"You showed her the error of her ways." Jacob wouldn't be swayed.
"She is still a young, very confused girl with a foot in two very different worlds. We can't forget that." Bella reminded him. "She is and always will be my first priority. Whatever she decides I will have to live with it."
"I know." Jacob hugged her tighter. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Bella whispered as she nestled closer to his hot body, seeking comfort in his arms.
Bella took Rennie to the hospital to see Jo. Rachel and Paul came with them; one for protection and two because they weren't sure how Jo's mother would feel about them coming unannounced. She had been angry that the accident happened while Jo was under their supervision. As soon as Anna saw Bella and Rennie her lips pursed and she glared at them.
"I don't recall inviting you here." She snapped.
Rachel rolled her eyes as she took charge of the conversation. "Get a grip, Anna." She retorted. "Jo's a boy, they climb trees and get into all kinds of scrapes. It would have happened if he was with them or you."
"But..." Anna tried to protest.
"Great." Rachel beamed at her, railroading Anna completely. "Let's you and I go to the canteen and get a drink. Paul's paying."
"Hey." Paul protested as he winked at Rennie, who was trying not to laugh. He discreetly pushed her toward Jo's room. He followed after Rachel and Anna as his imprint forced the other woman away from the room.
Bella smiled to herself. She would never have thought that she would have ever seen the day when she could count on Lahote as a friend. She knelt down beside Rennie as her daughter hesitated in the doorway. "Go on, work your magic. I'll wait here."
"Mommy." Rennie said softly.
"Yes?"
"I love you." Rennie hugged Bella suddenly, gripping on tightly before releasing her just as quickly.
Tears sprang to Bella's eyes as she watched Rennie take in a deep breath and then enter the room.
Jo was sitting up in his bed. He had a hand held game in his free hand, but he was having trouble using it as his other arm was strapped across his chest. He threw it down in irritation. "Stupid thing." He muttered as he glared at the console.
"I hope you're not talking about me." Rennie said loudly, startling him.
Jo stared at her. His mouth dropped open as the pretty girl with the red hair skipped into his room and pulled up a chair. His cheeks coloured a little in embarrassment at being caught talking to himself in front of this girl. "I was talking about me." He mumbled.
"You're not stupid, Jo." Rennie said softly.
"I'm not?" Jo asked in confusion. "Sorry, do I know you?"
"You did." Rennie looked intently into his eyes.
"I did?" Jo's brow furrowed as he tried to place her. There was something vaguely familiar about her. Her green eyes widened and he felt like he was drowning in them. "You have pretty hair." He said, echoing the first sentence he had ever uttered to her.
Rennie smiled at the memory. Her mother had been right. She picked up the abandoned games console and held it out to him. "Let's play this together and perhaps you'll regain your memory."
"I hope so." Jo said as he grinned at her.
A/N-thanks for reading!