Chapter Thirty Six

Bella

I kept remembering what Esme had said. Will you be inviting your mom to the wedding? I didn't feel that I ever wanted to speak to my mother again after the things she had said to me but time was getting short. If I didn't make peace with her now then I never could. I decided to talk to Charlotte about it. Jasper had left it up to me. I think he felt if he had offered any advice I could always use it against him in the future although I would never do so.

"Talk to Charlotte by all means, but can I ask why you didn't discuss it with Esme while she was here?"

I sighed, "I don't really know. I guess I wanted an unprejudiced hearing and after the way that Renee treated Esme when she came to the house…Besides, she thinks like a mom. I trust Charlotte to be objective."

"Fair enough. I'm glad you feel you can trust her. I'll go along with whatever you choose. Just remember that your decision to marry me and become a vampire means saying goodbye to your mom anyway."

"I know. I love you, Jasper."

He grinned, "I love you too, Bella. Only three more weeks and you're mine forever."

It was a wonderful feeling, only three more weeks and he would be mine for eternity. What more could I ask for?

Charlotte and I were sitting on the porch watching the guys fooling around while painting the barn when she turned to me, "You have something on your mind, Bella."

I nodded, "I hate to do this to you but I have no one else to talk to. It's about my mom."

She nodded but didn't speak so I went on. "Did Jasper tell you about what happened when she turned up at the house on Christmas morning?"

"He didn't go into many details, he just said she turned up and that the things she said to you were very unkind. I take it she took Patrick's side?"

I nodded, "She was furious when she discovered that I was involved with Jasper. She hated Edward for what he did to me and his family by association."

"Well, I can understand that. What mother wouldn't try to protect her child?"

"I agree, but her attitude was that I'd got a good catch in Patrick King and I shouldn't throw it away. That I was looking at things the wrong way."

"Not so good. I know that your parents were divorced and that you lived with your mother most of your life. What was she like? Did she make it easy for you to keep in contact with your father?"

I shook my head remembering the cruel jibes she'd made about Charlie at the Cullen house and before that.

"I don't think she liked my dad very much. I don't even know why she married him in the first place."

"But she loved you so maybe she's one of those strange people who can't share their love with more than one person. Perhaps she was jealous of the connection you had with your father."

"But why would she attack me for leaving Patrick?"

"You said she's remarried and you went to live with your dad at that point. She didn't want the responsibility of you any longer but after your father died she felt the responsibility had fallen back onto her. Patrick was going to take you on, which got her off the hook."

I shook my head. I agreed that Renee had little time for me after Phil came along, although he was a kind guy who tried to include me in everything, but there was more to the story than pushing me into Patrick's arms. I began to suspect that Bruce King, rather than his son, might have had something to do with her appearance in Phoenix at Christmas.

When I explained my thinking to Charlotte she looked sad and disappointed, "I hope you're wrong, Bella. I hate to think a mother would do something like that."

I made up my mind to speak to Renee and try to discover if I was right so later that day I called her cell phone.

Her voice was distinctly cool when she answered, "Bella. I didn't expect to hear from you again. Are you calling to apologize for the way I was treated on Christmas day?"

"I actually called to find out why you visited. You told me that Patrick called you, but he said he didn't. That you just turned up."

That was a lie but I wanted to hear the truth from her, just once.

"Did he? Well, it was his father who called on his behalf. He said Patrick was too distraught to speak to me himself."

So, I'd been right!

"Bruce called you? What did he expect you to do? Bang our heads together? I mean it wasn't as if Patrick and I were school kids who'd had a petty squabble in the playground."

She hesitated before answering, "He was very upset because Patrick had already arranged so much of his life around you. Let's be fair, you two were about to get engaged, you were making wedding plans."

"So he asked you to put pressure on me to go crawling back to Patrick?"

"No. He just asked if I could try to talk some sense into you. You and Patrick were the perfect couple. None of this would have happened if that cursed Cullen family hadn't pushed their noses into your life again."

"It wasn't like that. Patrick and I just weren't going to work. You do know that he wanted me to take the blame for the accident that sent me to the ER?"

"Bella, it was an accident and I understand that he apologized. It was done in a stupid panic. You're turning your back on the kind of life I could only dream of. You could have anything you wanted. Money to spend, a big house, friends, influence."

"None of those things matter if there's no love there, mom."

"Oh grow up for heaven's sake, girl. You're talking like a child. Life isn't like the movies. It's hard and disappointing half the time."

"I don't believe that for one second and I'm sorry that you do."

"So, you haven't come to your senses then? I guess that was too much to expect. You're just like Charlie. He thought that life was full of romance too. I did hope that maybe you would think of others' feelings as well as yourself for a change but I guess that was too much to expect."

Even now she couldn't leave my dad out of it and I felt resentment building up inside me.

"What? Who should I be thinking of then? Patrick?"

"How about me? Your mother. The person who gave up everything to raise you."

"I don't understand. What did my future with Patrick have to do with you?"

"We would have been related to a wealthy family through you. Bruce and Magda were going to look after Phil and me. He even sent me the ticket to fly first class to Phoenix to talk some sense into you. He paid for my hotel room, none of your fleabag motels. Oh no, a five-star hotel no less. The Kings know how to look after people."

Well, I thought. Now I know how much I meant to my mother. When she looked at me and Patrick together she saw only dollar signs!

I couldn't help myself, I had to burst her bubble.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you but the King family is in serious financial trouble."

"What?" She sounded horrified and her mood didn't improve as I explained about the IRS investigation.

"Did you have anything to do with this, Bella?"

"No. How could I?" And why would I?"

"Who knows? You associate with such strange people, Bella. I never liked the Cullen family."

Now that was a lie. She'd been impressed when I told her that Carlisle was a doctor and even more so when she heard about the house and family. She'd been all over Edward at the hospital, impressed by his manners and demeanor.

"I'm sorry I've been such a disappointment to you, but you don't need to worry any more. I'm Jasper's problem now and I know he loves me and will look after me."

She snorted, "The only thing you can rely on in this life Bella, is money. People always let you down. I should know, it happened to me often enough. Besides, that family dumped you without a word once before. What makes you think they won't do the same again? And don't come crying to me when they do because I'll just tell you that you should have listened to me.

"I'm glad I don't think like you do, mom. You won't be hearing from me again so no need to concern yourself with my future."

"Oh, I know. After all, Charlie left you everything, didn't he? Not a cent for me, the mother of his child. I didn't matter."

I didn't know what to say to that. Was she jealous that Charlie had left me his pension and the house? She had walked out on him when I was a baby and still expected him to provide for her even now? I would have given it all to have him back again, didn't she understand that?

It made breaking the link with Renee easier but it was still heartbreaking.

"I'd be careful with the insurance on that gallery of yours. You might just find your precious Jasper Cullen is only interested in getting his hands on the money."

That was it. I'd had enough and this was the final straw.

"Goodbye, mom."

I cut the connection and dropped the phone onto the bed beside me. I felt numb for a moment and then the tears started. I truly was alone except for Jasper, Peter, Charlotte and the Cullens. I knew they would never treat me like that or abandon me, but even so.

I had suspected that Renee hadn't acted out of love for me by coming to Phoenix, but to have it proved in such a brutal way was still painful.

As the sobs continued to rack my body I felt strong arms around me and knew that Jasper had sensed my pain and came running. I felt instantly loved and knew I'd made the right choice. To hell with Renee and the Kings, I was finally home.

Patrick

When the mysterious woman Rose had left I poured myself another stiff drink then collapsed into my chair. She had said a lot of things, made serious allegations about my father. Did I believe her? I loved my father, but I wasn't blind to his shortcomings. Even so, a little fiddling of the accounts was a long way from arson. What did he hope to accomplish? Was it pure spite or had he really believed that by destroying everything Bella owned it would bring us together again?

This was all my fault. I hadn't taken our breakup well. I'd been devastated because, despite the idiotic things I had done, like pressuring Bella into taking responsibility for the accident, I truly loved her. Grief at losing her had turned to anger and I'd vented in my father's hearing. I had our future life together all mapped out, another failing on my part. I railed about how I would look like a fool in front of all my friends. It wasn't Bella's fault that I had just assumed she would marry me and opened my big mouth to everyone before discussing it with her.

There was nothing I could do to win Bella back and if I was being completely honest with myself she deserved better. I could, however, retrieve the painting if indeed my father had possession of it. The painting, along with Hugo, would be my apology to Bella.

I knew my father would be at the office with our attorney and accountant today so I decided to drive over to the compound. With a little luck, Magda would be out and I would be free to liberate the painting without any fuss.

I grabbed my car keys before realizing that I was too drunk to drive myself over there. The bottle of scotch, the third since Bella had left me, was three-quarters empty.

Cursing, I called a car service and instructed the driver to take me to the family compound and wait for me.

I slid the privacy screen across, I didn't want to make idle conversation. I was still mulling over what I'd been told. The thing that concerned me most was not that my father had burned down the gallery and gutted Bella's apartment, but that he knew someone who would do so! I wouldn't know where to start. I mean, there wasn't exactly a website, 'Hire an arsonist'. Yet he had found someone and got the deed done so quickly. Did I know my father at all?

I was pretty sure he wasn't the same man I had known as a boy. He had changed since my mother died and he got married to Magda. At first, I had tried hard to like her but she wasn't really interested in me or my brother. Magda was only interested in the good life and drove my father constantly. He may have had the capacity for evil but she had brought it to the surface.

When we arrived I was dismayed to find that Magda was at home although for once she seemed relieved to see me.

"Patrick, thank heavens. I've been stuck here on my own ever since this nonsense with the IRS blew up. All I have are the servants to talk to, it's been a nightmare. What's going on? I can't go out without the press following me and shouting questions."

I frowned, I hadn't seen any press hanging around the compound, then realized she was exaggerating as she often did.

"What is going on? How long before your father sorts this out? I confronted him about that hooker Sophia, you know. She's behind all this. She's so money-grabbing, if he's done anything illegal it's because of her. To keep her happy, the bitch."

I'd seen Sophia once and she seemed a much nicer person than my stepmother. If anyone was responsible it was the harridan standing in front of me.

"Patrick, you've been drinking. Are you still pining for that little country girl, Betha?"

She couldn't even get Bella's name right!

Before I could formulate an answer she took my arm and dragged me into the lounge.

"I could do with a drink too and I hate to drink alone."

She called for Mary who came in and poured drinks for us although Magda could have done it in half the time. The bar was only ten feet from where we were sitting!

Once we were alone again Magda leaned closer and whispered, "Did you hear what I did to that whore's apartment? It was great. Really satisfying."

I hadn't but I could guess and I didn't want to hear a tirade of spite from her so I just nodded.

"This investigation is all a mistake. I mean, why would your father have a secret Swiss bank account? It's ridiculous."

I could think of a good reason, maybe it was his get out of jail fund. Save enough then ride off into the sunset with Sophia.

"Do you know where the file for the Master's account is?"

She stared at me confused, "Masters account? Are you still working? I thought the business was shut, everything frozen by the IRS."

"Not everything. This is one of my accounts. I think it's in dad's study"

She was on her second large drink which was probably the fourth or fifth of the day going by my warm reception and her sleepy eyes.

"Probably, but it's locked. You know he doesn't like anyone going in there when he's out."

"It's OK. He gave me a key."

Her eyes narrowed but then she waved a hand airily, "Oh, go on then. I suppose Bruce knows what he's doing."

I swiftly left the room and made my way to dad's study. I didn't have a key but it didn't matter now. Instead, I used the knife I'd brought along in my pocket to force the lock and sure enough, leaning against the far wall was the painting I had first seen hanging in Bella's bedroom. So, it was all true.

Picking up the painting I walked straight out of the house and directed the driver to take me home. I had a lot of thinking to do. All I knew for sure was that my relationship with my father was at an end. He had tried to ruin Bella's life and I would never forgive him for that.