CHAPTER SEVENTY

(JPOV)

It had been nearly two weeks since Charlie had found out about Bella and he had refused to speak to any of us since, his reaction making me angry that he would shut Bella out that way when she needed him. I new his behavior was to be expected. After the way he had found us, I couldn't blame him, but I had hoped he would of come around by now. Bella was struggling to give him the space he asked for and I could see how hurt she was with his silent treatment.

Billy had tried himself to get Charlie to Calm down and see reason, but nothing got through to him. I had left for patrol with Sam before the dawn broke and wanted to be back before noon so I could be with Bella. Leaving her behind these days came much harder for me to do. The pack had been understanding but I knew the responsibility I had to them and La' Push and I was determined to find the right balancing act for both. We ran the border twice and was done two hours ahead of schedule and I made fast time to get back to the house.

The sun was just breaking through the clouds when I made it to the border of my back yard, the sound of an approaching vehicle causing me to pause before I phased back and pulled on my cut offs. The taxi stopped in the drive and a woman wearing a white sun hat quickly climbed out, her petite frame looking unfamiliar to me at first. She tossed her many suitcases out as the driver approached her for his fair. I walked towards them, seeing the mans eyes grow wide when he noticed me, his gaze assessing my size as he hurriedly climbed back in the awaiting cab.

I took a few more steps, seeing the womans face as she turned with her luggage and headed for the door.

"Renee?"

She stilled upon hearing this, whirling on her heel with a bright smile in place.

"Jacob! Oh my word! Look at you! I haven't seen you since you were little. Not in person anyway! Charlie sends me pictures but they don't do you justice! Such a handsome man you have become!"

She threw her arms around me then, a laugh leaving her as she hugged me tight.

I stammered for words, unsure of what to say and still stunned by her sudden appearance.

"I- I didn't know you were coming?"

"Well- after my last email from Bella a week ago, I booked a plane here. I just knew she needed her mama!"

Renee's eyes roamed over my shirtless frame, her head shaking in disbelief.

"Here- Let me help you with these." I offered, taking up her many suitcases and heading for the house with them.

"Oh- you don't have to do that! Those are packed full and heavy I'm sure!" She replied, trying to grab a few herself.

"It's alright, Renee. I got it. I'm sure Bella will be thrilled to see you."

Before we had even reached the steps, the front door swung open wide and Billy came out with a wide smile for our unexpected guest.

"Well look what we have here!" Billy teased, as Renee ran up to him, throwing her arms around him with happy tears in her gaze.

"Oh, Billy!"

I placed the suitcases by the door and saw Bella hurry outside, her confused gaze meeting mine as Renee went to her.

"Mom! What- What are you doing here?"

Renee didn't answer her as she took Bella's face in her hands, her words making Billy and I freeze where we stood.

"Where else would I be, sweetie. You're my baby girl and you're having a baby of your own! My place is here with you! I'm sorry I didn't call- but- well- you see... Phil and I... we're getting a divorce."

"What?" Bella breathed in return. "Why? When?"

"Oh, don't you worry yourself with my troubles. I came here for you- and your father. But when I stopped over at the house he wasn't home. Must be working at the station?"

"So- you're visiting?" Billy hedged, tossing a worried look my way.

"Not exactly." Renee admitted with a heavy sigh, placing a kiss on Bella's cheek. "I have to be honest with you baby girl- I haven't been happy for a long time- with Phil. He's a good man and that's why I just had to let him go. It wasn't fair or right of me to keep being married to him when my heart wants something else."

I cleared my throat, watching the paled expression on Bella's face as Renee continued.

"I've come back here to see if there's any room left in your father's heart for me."

Billy looked ashen as he wheeled forward, his hand reaching for hers. "Renee- Dear... You left a long time ago-"

"I know and that was a horrible mistake on my part, Billy. I was so young and indecisive all the time. But I know now what my heart's been missing all these years and - well- it's Charlie."

No one spoke then, and I moved myself closer to Bella, seeing her slightly sway on her feet as she tried to process what Renee was saying. She flinched in surprise when I wrapped my arms around her waist and drew her into me. The heaviness of the silence sinking in to all of us from Renee's words.

"All these suitcases are not for a vacation here then?" Billy soon asked, seeing the disbelieving look on Bella's face still.

"No, Billy. I packed all that I had-"

"You're more than welcome to stay here with us, dear. I'm sure Charlie will be calling sometime soon and when he does I'll inform him of your arrival."

Renee smiled wide and kissed my father on the cheek as she gathered all she could in her arms and headed inside with the two of us right behind her. I took in the rest of her things as she and Billy laughed about old memories from years ago and joked about how they both felt too young to be grandparents.

"Thank you for bringing my stuff in, Jacob. You're real sweet."

"It's no problem, Renee." I assured her, seeing that Bella had disappeared. I excused myself from them and headed for my room, knowing she would be there. This was all proving to be too much for her at once.

I paused by the open door, looking in to see her curled up on the edge of my bed, her head in her hands as she cried.

"Honey-"

She glanced up at the sound of my voice, her eyes red rimmed and puffy.

"What is she thinking?" Bella sighed. "Charlie is already upset and this- this will surely send him over the edge, Jacob. Is she crazy!"

"I don't know, Bells." I replied, taking her in my arms. "Please don't cry."

She drew in a steady breath and wiped her tears as she tried to collect her thoughts.

"I know she means well, Jacob. But this is- insane! Did you hear her? She wants to be with Charlie now and she's left Phil?"

Bella released me and began to pace the floor, her huffing of frustration loud as she threw her hands up in the air.

"... and who just decides after being divorced all this time that they suddenly still have feelings for their ex-husband?"

"Honey, I-"

"That's just the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard tell of! Don't you think?"

"Well-"

"... and her just coming here. All of a sudden like this and without asking! Where is she supposed to sleep? Your poor dad probably feels like he's losing his house! First, I come here for weeks at a time and that's enough of an inconvenience and now she just shows up-"

I silenced her words with a kiss, wanting to take some of the worry from her.

"You're never a burden or an inconvenience, honey."

The sound of Charlie's voice carrying in through the house, forced us apart as we hurried to see him greeted by an eager Renee. She jumped into his arms and he caught her with surprise clear on his face. Bella looked at me and her face paled further as she waited for Charlie's response.

"Renee- what are you-"

"I left Phil." She blurted out, stunning him into a silence.

Charlie glanced our way, looking at Billy when he nodded his head in confirmation to him.

"Wh-... what? Why would you?"

"I came back here because... well... after I talked to Bella in that email and with everything happening with her-"

"You flew back here?"

"Yes- for her- and for you, Charlie."

I tugged gently on Bella's arm, pulling her into the kitchen with me as Billy wheeled himself our way in an attempt to give Renee and Charlie the privacy they needed.

"I can't believe this-" Bella huffed. "This is just another attempt to go on one of her many misguided adventures. She does everything on a whim. You know it's true, Billy."

"Maybe give your mother a bit of a break, kiddo." Billy replied. "There was a time when she really did love your father."

"Yeah- but then she left him and never looked back and took me with her! Who decides to change that after all these years? I mean- the constant back and forth in the summers when I was younger- she was the reason I had to do that. Then she found Phil and moved away with him for his career- now she's back here. This doesn't at all sound flighty to you?"

"That was a long time ago, dear. Your mother could have very well changed. Renee has her moments, but her love is genuine. You know she loves you and you might not see it now, but you're gonna need her close by."

Bella went silent at this, turning away from him and heading out into the living room where Charlie and Renee were. I went after her, stopping when she interrupted their conversation.

"Mom... do you know how ridiculous this all sounds? Does Phil know why you came back here- Really? Or does he think you're just off finding yourself again? Like you've done a million times? You came back here on a whim! Why do you do things like this? Take off and run without any thought behind it. You know, your actions affect more than just you!"

"Bells..." I cautioned, reaching out for her arm and stilling when she flinched away from me.

"No- Stop trying to make excuses for her behavior."

Charlie looked as if someone had dropped him in the middle of a bad soap opera episode, his eyes wide and confused as Renee tried to speak to Bella.

"Sweetheart, I know you're... more emotional these days but-"

"This isn't about me being more emotional. This is about you flying all the way out here to try and rekindle something with dad that you abandoned years ago in the first place."

The silence was unnerving as Charlie took a step back from Renee and shook his head, looking lost in all this. Bella quickly grabbed her coat and pushed herself away from me before running outside. I met Renee's saddened gaze before she went after her daughter.