Chapter 76 – By a Thread
Edward
We had been in this waiting room now for the better part of the evening and night, waiting to find out if Renee would pull through. She was in critical condition, but the fact that she had made it this long was a good sign, at least that was what I kept telling Bella. What I hadn't told her was what I had seen the second before Jane had pulled the trigger. Again, something or someone, had been standing in front of Bella, protecting her from Jane.
The police had been kind enough to follow us to the hospital to take our statements, so Bella could stay close and comfort her father. Emmett and Officer Quinn had been the ones to have to go and break the news to Father Lebuteur about his sister and what she had done to Bella and me. I felt sorry for his loss, but his sister deserved a flaming spot in hell.
"All Renee wanted was to get her purse. She'd left it on the bed. We were going home," Charlie kept saying over and over. Bella sat with her arms around him, while he rocked back and forth. She glanced up at me with her reddened eyes, and my heart ached. This was so unfair.
Father Lebuteur came into the waiting area and immediately hurried to me and embraced me. "I'm so sorry, Edward. I know she was my sister, but that doesn't excuse her actions towards Bella or her molesting you." I tried to express my regrets about Jane, but he shook his head. "She was a tormented soul, and Bella had no choice. God has mercy on the mentally unbalanced, as well as those who are forced to defend themselves. Be at peace with yourself and your wife. As things happened, there was no other outcome to be expected."
He turned to Bella. "Don't trouble yourself over this excessively, dear girl. I know the taking of a life leaves a heavy burden on the soul, but just think how much heavier your heart would be had she killed Edward. Take heart that God requires of us to defend ourselves and our loved ones. You did nothing wrong in His eyes. Your salvation is not jeopardized by this at all, Bella."
Father Lebuteur requested that Bella come to his office later after we had news on Renee. I agreed that she needed to talk about everything that had happened. I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was trying to hold it together for Charlie, but the threads holding her together were stretched to the breaking point.
After hours of surgery, the doctor finally emerged from the OR, looking tired and grim. "Mr. Swan?" Charlie barely looked up, but then he jumped when he realized it was Renee's doctor.
"Is she…?" Charlie asked, afraid to say the words.
"She's hanging on, but the next few hours will be critical. The bullet perforated her liver and intestines and lodged next to her spine. We removed it and repaired her internal organs, but it remains to be seen whether she'll be able to walk or have feeling below the waist. Only time will tell." Charlie went back with the doctor to see Renee, leaving me alone with Bella. For the first time since Renee had been shot, she broke down, collapsing into tears in my arms.
"Shhh, Bella, I'm here," I whispered softly into her hair, as she clung to me desperately, her racking sobs shaking her violently. Rose, Alice, and Jasper came in then and surrounded both of us with hugs and prayed with us. They couldn't stay long, but they promised to come back and bring food in a few hours. I really had no idea what we would do without our friends looking out for us.
After everyone left, I went back to Bella, who was sitting in a chair looking extremely uncomfortable. Her eyes were closed, her head leaned forward, as if the weight of the world had settled on her shoulders. I couldn't imagine what she was feeling, having killed someone. She looked so tired and broken, but I knew she wouldn't want to leave. However, I knew she wasn't going to last much longer, so I suggested the only thing I thought might help.
"Bella, do you want to go talk to Father Lebuteur? Maybe it'll do you good to get out of here for a bit. I know you want to stay close for your dad, but right now, you need to take care of you, sweetheart."
She nodded absently, and I called Father Lebuteur's office to make sure he was there.
"Of course, Edward. I've been awaiting your call in the hope that I could get Bella up here today."
"Do you think I should be there with her, Father? She seems so lost," I sighed.
"Edward, Bella might need to talk through how she feels about Jane molesting you, and I'm not entirely certain she'd speak completely freely with you in the room," he said quietly,
"Of course, I understand, Father," I agreed reluctantly. I didn't want to leave Bella, though, and I wouldn't if she wanted me there. I would have to ask her. Then, I thought of something else that had me concerned.
"Won't it be awkward for you to hear about everything your sister did, Father? Even a conflict of interest? I know the police gave you the basics, but the details aren't pretty," I warned.
"Jane was my sister, but I'm a priest first and foremost over anything else, Edward. I loved my role as a brother, but the church is my master, and to do God's work is my life," he sighed.
He suggested I spend some time in the Sanctuary at the piano to clear my mind and calm my nerves while he and Bella talked, and again, I reluctantly agreed. He had been such a good friend through all of this, and I was grateful for his willingness to help, despite his own personal loss. I wasn't sure what we would have done without him, and I prayed his calming influence would be enough to help ease Bella's mind and help her find peace, once and for all.
