Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended.

Chapter Fifty-Four

"What do you mean 'insufficient funds'?" I snapped into the receiver. "We just-" I had to stop myself from going off on this innocent man. "Please. Just check again. We deposited a check for a large amount of money not too long ago. There has to be a mistake."

I waited.

But I knew in my heart there was no mistake.

The mistake was assuming Renee could be responsible.

The mistake was assuming her silence and recent absence was a good thing.

They were all my mistakes.

I should have known better.

I should have done something.

"There is no mistake, ma'am," the customer service rep said robotically. I listened to the light tapping of his keyboard as he asked, "Was the debit card lost or stolen?"

"Not that I know of."

"Well, is there anything else I can help you with?"

Pulling my knees into my chest, I let my head fall back against the wall. I stared at the front door and willed Renee to walk through.

"The charges," I suddenly said. "Can you at least tell me exactly what drained an account of almost twenty-five thousand dollars?"

More typing, typing, typing as everything around me started to go blurry.

"Let me see. One moment..." he trailed off.

My phone beeped to indicate I had an incoming call, so I pulled the phone away from my ear and saw Edward's name flashing on the screen.

I hit ignore and closed my eyes.

I brought the phone back to my ear as the customer service rep said, "Ma'am?"

"Yes. Yes, I'm here."

"I see there have been multiple personal checks made out for different amounts of money, as well as a few cashier's checks. If that helps you at all."

No.

It didn't.

"Was there a check that cleared um..." I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to remember the date. "...sometime last week? Monday, I believe."

"No, ma'am. The last check that cleared was on the twenty-ninth of August."

The rent check didn't clear.

Either Edward never attempted to deposit it, or it didn't clear and he didn't tell me.

But why would he keep that from me?

"That's all. Thanks for your help," I concluded and hung up before he could respond.

I quickly stood and dialed Edward's number.

"Hey," he answered on the first ring, sounding relieved. "You had me worried. Did y'all make it back okay?"

"Edward," my voice cracked.

"Shit. What's wrong? What happened?"

"You're so adamant about me being honest with you." I swallowed the lump in my throat and paced the entryway, practically tripping over one of the grocery bags.

"I know."

"Did you try to deposit the rent check I wrote you on Monday?"

The line was silent.

I had my answer.

"Bella. Listen to me."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was trying to figure this out, okay? I didn't want to upset you."

"Upset? I'm not upset; I'm humiliated!"

"Why? Bella, don't be humiliated. This isn't your fault. It's Renee's."

"The people at the store don't know that. I tried using the card to get groceries. I just-" I inhaled slowly, but a choking sob escaped. "Almost twenty-five thousand. Gone. And I fucking know who the checks were made out to, too. Phil. It has to be Phil."

"Christ," Edward groaned into the phone. "I should be there with you. I shouldn't have left."

"No. No." I covered my mouth.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I was holding off until...until-"

"Until what?"

"I didn't want to tell you this over the phone." Edward paused. "I visited your dad last week."

That stopped my crying.

"What? When?"

"The day I went to Port A," he explained and my tears started up again. "I didn't lie. I just said I had to do something important."

"How did you get his address?"

"Jasper found the address for me. I tried looking it up myself but it wasn't listed."

"How...what did you say to him?"

"I asked him to help with your mom, Bella. I don't want to do this over the phone. Please, just-" I heard shuffling. "I'm coming back. Screw this, I'm coming back."

"Don't be ridiculous," I hiccuped. "No."

"Is your mom home right now?"

"No. Of course not. She's out blowing thousands of dollars with, I'm assuming, Phil."

"Go to my place tonight, Bella. Please," he begged. "Please."

"I don't have the car. I just told you she's not home."

"Emmett will pick you up."

"No. Just...stop."

Edward sighed. "I'm not going to stop. I don't know what you expect but I'm not ever going to stop."

"I know," I cried. "I don't want you to. I just don't know what to do."

And then I heard the jangling of keys in the front door.

"She's home. I'll call you back."

"Don't confront her," Edward yelled into the phone. "Don't add fuel to the fire. Please wait until I get back."

I hung up the phone.

My hands weren't shaking this time.

A/N: Renee's still in the corner but now she's stepping out of the shadows. I'm creeping myself out. Thanks for reading.