A/N: I don't own this, we all know who does. If I did, Rpattz would be cuddled up under a blanket with me on my couch, watching the clouds outside, the palm trees swaying in the wind, listening to the kids cry that it's so cold outside, they need jackets. (It's 70 degrees, which is 35 degrees cooler than it was the other day. :D ) He's a cuddler, that man. :D
This is unbeta'd, so any and all mistakes belong to me. I'm trying to get comfortable enough to proof read this one more time. My hip is still killing me and after standing all afternoon, it's angry... :(
This is for my wifey, Mrs. Robward. She fangirls over me, just to make me feel good. And I do. :) See how much she loves me? :)
Thanks to Luxure & EdwardsBloodType for prereading this. "All I can say is that my life is pretty plain, I like watching the puddles gather rain. And all I can do is just pour some tea for two, and speak my point of view, but it's not sane. It's not sane. I just want someone to say to me, I'll always be there when you wake. You know I'd like to keep my cheeks dry today, so stay with me and I'll have it made. And I don't understand why I sleep all day, and I start to complain that there's no rain. And all I can do is read a book to stay awake, and it rips my life away but it's a great escape...escape...escape...escape..." Holy crap, this song is SO my life, and not just the video, which features the original Bee Girl. :D I love it. Oh, and I played it at my wedding reception. :D Random fact for the win! :D
**disclaimer **
This story is a bit taboo. Little clarification, since not everyone seems to remember. :) Carlisle told EDWARD that he slept with Bella. He told ESME that the rumors were a lie, which they were. Esme knows NOTHING about Edward being with Bella. Carlisle never told her. The first she heard of it was last chapter. She is NOT as bad as the old bitties (yes, I know the spelling is not normal, it's on purpose, we discussed this previously) and she does know who Bella is. She knows what she heard, that Bella slept around and had a child with another man. She had NO idea who that man was. We all good now? Okay, Heeeeeeeeere's Alice! :D
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… Chapter Forty Nine - Invitation … Bella …
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The visit with Alice is good, fun. Just as we really start to get into town gossip, you call.
"Baby, my mom passed out. She overheard me and my dad talking and she knows about us, but she passed out. She hit her head, so we're taking her to the emergency room. I just didn't want you to worry."
Oh wonderful, am I going to get blamed for this, too? I'm sure in her mind, I'm the devil, and I can't say I would argue with her about that. I did corrupt and take advantage of her teenage son, though he as all too willing and aggressive at the time.
"Alright, call me when you're done?" I ask.
"I will. I love you, have fun with Alice."
We talk, make cookies, watch the kids play. Finally she pulls out an envelope.
"I'm supposed to send this to you, but I knew you were coming today, so I kept it. I don't know what it says, but I'm pretty sure what it's about."
I look at the large, creamy colored envelope, a design embossed into the stiff paper.
There is no name, no address. Nothing to hint who it's for.
But I know.
I open it, pulling out an invitation and a photograph. The picture is my Leah, and a very handsome man. She looks so beautiful, happy. My eyes start to water. I look at the paper.
Rev. and Mrs. Jacob and Emily Black are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter,
Leah Renee
to
Mr. Paul Wolverton
on Saturday, June 25th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
South Central Church of Mother Mary
Your presence is requested at a reception to be held in their honor at the
Blustery Pines Resort Ballroom that evening from 7:00-10:00 pm
My Leah is getting married, and I have no part in it.
The air in my lungs rushes out, and I can't move. Can't breath. The day I'd dreamed of for her was near, and I have nothing to do with it. Not even a mention on her announcement. She has a new mother now, one only a few years older than her.
My anger flares. How dare Jacob do this to me. I'm her mother, regardless of what has happened in the past. And out of a sense of duty to her and her siblings, I left them in the hands of a father who convinced them I didn't want them.
I knew there was never any way I could have fought for them, but I didn't even try. I just rolled over and gave Jacob what he wanted. Again. Just like I'd done my whole life, since the first day he smiled at me.
Looking at Alice, she can see the resolve in my face.
"Here are my car keys. I think Leah's home this weekend, I saw her yesterday, when she dropped this off. I'll keep Claire, you go see her."
Hugging Alice, I run out the door
I don't know what I'm going to say to her. You and I, we're planning to talk to her next week, but this is now, and she's here, and she needs to know my side of the story.
Whether she wants to or not.
Whether he wants her to or not.
The house looks different, but the same. It belongs to the church, so he can't change it too much, but still, the color is different. My flower gardens are gone, just dry patches of dirt now.
There are cars in the driveway, I don't know whose they are.
I don't care.
I want to see my family, and I'm not going to hold back anymore.
I walk to the door, determined, strong. Pounding on the wood, hearing it echo inside through the house.
It's so familiar, it takes me back to all the years I spent answering this door. All the pain, loneliness, anger that went with that.
A man answers, the man from the picture.
"Can I help you?" he asks, looking at me like he recognizes me, but can't tell from where.
"Is Leah here?"
"Yeah, can I tell her who's asking?"
He's nice. I don't want to be angry with him, but my feelings, emotions. I almost can't help the growl that comes from my throat.
"Her mother."
His eyes widen. He's frozen for a moment, then steps out onto the porch with me. The screen door closes.
"She's been hoping to speak to you. Thank you for coming. She's napping, let me wake her up, okay? Please don't leave, she really does want to see you."
He's so sincere, truthful. I almost believe him. But it's hard.
"Okay."
I sit on the swing, he goes back inside. I hear him treading up the stairs, toward the bedrooms.
I know this house. It was mine for so long.
The door opens sooner than I'm ready and before me stands a younger woman, heavily pregnant, in stained clothes and a tired face.
"Who are you?" she asks, rudeness in her tone.
"Bella. I'm here to see Leah."
"Bella?" Her eyes grow three sizes bigger. "What are you doing here? You can't be here, there's a court order. You need to leave."
I'm not an idiot. There's no court order, there was never a need for one. She just wants me gone.
"I'm not here to see you, though if your life is anything like mine was, I'm sure you could use someone coming to visit just you for a change. I'm here to see my daughter, and until I do, I'm not going anywhere."
I stay seated on the swing, my arms folded across my chest.
The woman, who I'm assuming is Emily, the new Mrs. Reverend Black, storms back into the house. I wonder about the pregnant part. Interesting, since my ex-husband had a vasectomy after our last child.
Just as I start to smile at myself, the screen door squeaks open again. My eyes glance up.
My Leah.
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A/N: Most of you thought it was Jacob, but there were some other really great ideas. Early on, several people thought the Reverend might be Carlisle. That was an amusing idea. I almost wanted to change my mind. :D The reason that his name has not been stated before it to show how little significance he had on Bella's life. He was her husband, but that was it. More about their relationship will come out as we go along, so you'll get a better idea of their relationship and what led Bella to commit adultery with Edward. I intentionally had Bella and Edward always think of Jacob as He, Him, or His to show that he really meant nothing to them. And for Edward, it was more about the fact that Edward hates him and thinks he's scum. He thinks so little of him that he doesn't even grant him the courtesy of acknowledging his name. :)
Reviews are better than seeing the girl your ex replaced you with, and realizing how much hotter and over all better you are than she is. That is a pretty great feeling... :D
Leave one.