CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE

(BPOV)

I had seen the many bad and eratic choices my mother had made as a child and all through my teen years. But this one had to be the worst. Whatever would posses her to think she could just rush back to Forks, on a whim to try and get my father back after all this time, was beyond me. I was so angry with her for coming back here without thinking of how her actions would impact others. She expected Billy to welcome her in his small abode with open arms. Not even pausing once to see her impromptu arrival for what it was - an inconvenience.

It wasn't that I didn't love Renee, she was my mother and of course, I did love her but I also knew how her brain worked. Since I was a mere teen, she would always place her whimsical needs and far fetched ambitions above others, leaving them to clean up her mess in the aftermath. Charlie was not a stranger to her ways. He knew how very naïve she could be sometimes and how half of her hair brained ideas only got her into trouble a lot of the time. This latest stunt of hers now proving to be no exception.

I ran out of the house, not stopping at the sound of her voice calling out after me. I was tired of her behaving this way and I wanted no part of her plan to somehow win back my father. The concept alone so absurd that it made my very blood boil.

"Sweetheart- Bella... what's wrong with you? Why are you so upset?"

Her words sent my anger rising to a new level, as I turned on my heel and spun around to face her.

"What's wrong with me?" I asked, sarcasm dripping from my tongue to her. "You come here without warning and leave your current husband to chase after your ex husband, acting like nothings ever changed, and you wanna know what's wrong with me?! What's wrong with you? Have you even thought about what you're doing here?"

She stepped back upon hearing my harsh tone with her, her eyes wide and filling with tears now. "Isabella Marie! You have never spoken to me this way! What on earth has gotten into you? I just wanted to be here with you and for you and this is the thanks I get-"

"Mom- don't make it sound as if you came here for me. You made your intentions really clear when you told us all how you left Phil. You didn't hop a plane back here so you could care for me. You're here for Charlie. Good luck with that! He's finally in a good place and here you are- ready to ruin whatever he's built here. You and I both know what will happen. Just like it does every time. You'll stay here for a while and then you'll take off again, leaving us all behind. You told him that you didn't want to be stuck in Forks for the rest of your life and he has never forgotten it. You went off with your head full of dreams and never looked back for him. Do you know how ridiculous this whole thing is?" I yelled, my gaze catching sight of Jacob and Charlie who stood with a perplexed looking Billy on the porch. Jacobs face truly somber as he met my gaze.

"You're not wrong, Bella. I know what I did hurt your father and yes- I did leave him for a different life. A life I thought I wanted. When I was young and full of childish ambitions. When reality seemed to be a boring idea to me. It was selfish... and I am sorry. It's been a decision I've regretted for years, but never had the courage to make right- until now."

"Why now? What good could possibly come from this? Cause I don't see any."

"I want to be the kind of mother that I should have always been to you. I want to be there for you and help you. Like mothers should, Bella. You're not a child anymore. I see that. You're going to be a mom and I want to be here with you. I remember being so scared when I first found out your father and I were expecting- scared of the unknown like any first time mom is- and I don't want to be in another state when you feel that way and need someone to talk to."

I turned away from her then and kept walking toward Jacob's garage, hoping to find some semblance of sanctuary there.

She was quick to follow behind me until I heard Jacob speak to her in the distance.

"Renee, she needs some time. Let her cool off a bit."

I didn't bother to look back at their conversation as I closed the rickety door to his garage, my skin feeling fevered from the rushing anger still pulsing through me.

The nerve of her...

It wasn't long before the door creaked open and my father walked in, the confusion in his expression plain to see when he pulled over an old work stool and hunkered down on it.

"Well, today has not gone at all like I expected it to." He huffed, glancing around the garage. "Here I was just heading over here to talk to you... don't like it when we don't speak, Bella. I'm sorry, kiddo. I- I'd like to tell you I had some revelation over the past few weeks but the truth is- I was just being an ass. Can you forgive me?"

I glanced up from the floor, seeing his sincere brown gaze meet mine with his plea.

"I'll always forgive you." I replied, scooting my seat closer to his with a sigh.

Charlie was quick to wrap an arm around my shoulders as he drew me closer under his arm.

"I'm not angry with Jacob- I mean- I was at first- real damn angry- clean my gun collection angry-... but after the last week I realized I was being a bit pigheaded with the whole thing. After all, your mother and I were only a few short years older than the two of you when you were born. People told us we were crazy- that we'd never make it- you know, the works. I remember how angry that made me, hearing the family doubt us like that cause we were young, but guess, in my case, they weren't so far off."

I placed my head on his shoulder, content to be next to him in the quieted garage.

"What happened with you two wasn't your fault dad. She left you."

"I wasn't always the best person to be around, kiddo. Your mother put up with a lot from me back in the day. I used to drink a lot more in my younger years and she was always picking up my messes afterwards. I was far from perfect-"

"Doesn't excuse what she did, dad. You were her husband. When you're married to someone like that you don't just abandon that commitment because it's hard or you hit some kind of rough patch. I mean- no wonder I don't put a whole heck of a lot into marriage these days. I certainly won't be walking down the aisle anytime soon."

"You don't mean that, Bella."

"Yes I do-"

"You may say that now but you're young with a lot of life left to live still. Besides you and Jake-"

"Dad, don't even go there. I can't even think that far in the future. Just because we're having a baby doesn't mean we need to rush down the aisle anytime soon. Jacob isn't even eighteen yet."

"Age is just a number." He replied, meeting my gaze as a memory from a time not so long ago when Jacobs hair was longer and his smile even brighter came back to me. His words being almost the same to me then.

"It's not just a number, dad. There are things I still want to do before Jacob and I even think about marriage. I know it'll be a little more difficult now that I'm... pregnant."

"Having a kid is an adventure all in itself, Bella. You just wait. When you first see them- nothing is ever the same. I can remember the first time I laid eyes on you in the hospital. It was like- everything in my life had a different meaning. Everything else failed miserably in comparison to you."

His words silenced me as he tightened his arm around my shoulders. The sincerity in them showing me a rare side to him. Charlie was never one for showing his emotions openly or for public displays of affection, so to hear this from him made me relish the moment all the more.

"We've really changed, haven't we?" I asked, glancing up at him with an expectant gaze.

"Yeah, we sure have, Bella. We sure have."

"Things were so different for us a few years ago."

"I don't ever want it to go back to that. I love you."

"I love you, too dad."

"I know your mom dropping in town like this is hard for you, but she has a lot of love for you, even if she is a bit misguided at times. Her heart always has the best intentions for you. Remember that, okay?"

I nodded to him, hearing the door creak open once more when Jacob peeked in to check on us. His eyes showing his concern when they met mine.

"I'll leave you two alone for a bit-" Charlie sighed, placing a kiss on my cheek before heading outside.

"Thanks, dad."

"No problem, kiddo. Anytime."

Jacob sat down in Charlie's now vacant stool, his hands reaching for me as I moved over to him, placing myself in his lap.

"Are you okay?" He soon asked, his lips brushing mine and sending shivers down my spine from the feel of them.

"I don't know-" I truthfully replied, basking in his embrace.

"What do you need from me, honey?"

"I need your understanding with this, Jacob. I know it seems like she's back here for me, but she came to reconcile with Charlie- on a whim- like she does with everything."

"I do understand, honey, but she is your mom and-"

"That doesn't mean she's doing the right thing. Her showing up like this is selfish of her and she's always been that way. Acting first and thinking later. I'm tired of it, Jacob- you can't know how hard it was for me to need her to be a mother and not be-" I paused, the words dying out on my tongue as a wave of regret hit me. My unspoken words making me ill as my gaze locked with his. "Oh- Jacob- I-..."

"Shh... it's okay, Bells. I know what you meant." He assured me, placing a soft kiss to my lips.

"I shouldn't have said that. I'm so sorry."

"Don't apologize for how you feel, honey. I know Renee wasn't always there for you the way you wanted her to be, but at least she was able to be there when you really needed her, Bells. I would give anything to be able to pick up the phone and call my mom. So, don't let things go like this between the two of you. Tomorrow isn't promised. I learned that the hard way as a kid and I would never want you to feel that kind of pain."

"I know. You're right."

"Give this all some thought and talk things over with her when you're not so angry, honey. She will hear you out when you're ready. I worry for you being stressed. It's not good for you right now."

"Well- she stresses me out."

"Don't let her do that to you. Whatever happens between Renee and Charlie is there business, honey. It's not ours. Charlie is more than capable of taking care of himself and knowing his limits with your mother. If she's here to cause him more problems, I'm sure he'll set her straight if need be. None of this is worth your worry. Maybe Renee really wants to make a mends with your dad. Love is a funny thing like that. Maybe she wants to finally right her wrong. Would that really be so bad?"

"You don't know her like I do, Jacob. I wish she could be that way-"

"Then give her the chance to be and let the rest of it worry about itself, honey."

"What if I can't?"

"Then that's what you have me for." He replied, wrapping his arms around me, my head coming to rest just beneath his chin.

"Okay... I'll try... that's the best I can offer up right now."

"I'll take it, sweetheart."

"Where is she supposed to stay?"

"She can stay with us for now, Dad really doesn't mind. In fact, she's already in the kitchen making all of us a big meal for dinner. I think Charlie might stay just for that. The mariners game is on in an hour and dad wants to watch it with him. Everything's pretty normal around here."

"Until she brings in the storm that inevitably comes with her-"

"Honey..."

"Alright... I'm sorry. I'll do my best." I replied, letting him pull me up from the stool and lead the way out of the garage.

Billy's house was full of chatter and the aroma of lasagna cooking in the oven. I couldn't believe my eyes when I caught sight of Charlie dicing up vegetables for a salad Renee was quickly throwing together, her hands busy with the many fixings for her elaborate meal.

Charlie never worked in the kitchen. He warded It off any chance he got when at home.

Jacob leaned down from behind me, placing a kiss on my neck with his soft whisper surrounding me.

"Try honey... for me... please."

I slowly nodded and took my place with him at the dinner table, his fingers lacing with mine as he handed me a plate and waited for everyone else to join us.

Billy and Charlie were fast to follow suit, their words of praise making me look away from them as Renee placed the rolls and salad before us.

"Wow- Renee this all looks so great! I forget how good of a cook you are!" Charlie chimed in from beside me, his elbow lightly nudging into mine.

"Thank you, Charlie. The lasagna should be done in about fifteen minutes. I made it with extra cheese. Just the way Bella used to like it when she lived back home with me in Florida." Renee replied, her grin so wide that she was damn near beaming at him.

The meal had been a real hit for everyone all around. Billy ranted and raved about how great it was and Jacob and Charlie had third helpings of everything. I looked on in shock, seeing my father soon pat his round stomach in satisfaction. He was never one to eat more than two helpings of anything I made him at the house. Renee had been catering to my father like he were royalty of some kind. Waiting on him hand and foot and getting him a fresh beer long before he had even finished the last one. She made ice cream sundae's for dessert and served Charlie's to him before the rest of us. I couldn't help but notice the astonished look on my fathers face from Renee's actions throughout the evening. She was really putting out the extra effort.

When the Mariners game had come to an end, I helped clear the dishes and loaded them into the overfilled sink as Billy and Jacob got busy with making up the sofa for Renee.

"Thank you both so much for letting me stay here with you. You really didn't have to do that." Renee expressed to them in gratitude.

"Think nothing of it, Ren. Really... we are all happy to have you." Billy replied with a genuine smile to her.

"You know-..." My father piped up. "There's really no need for you to stay here on their couch, Renee. Bella's room is free while she's here with Jacob and if you'd like... you could come back to stay there in Forks? Might be a little more comfortable for you."

I swallowed hard at his words, forcing back the biting reply that threatened to come from my mouth. The sudden feel of Jacobs hand on my lower back made me still and take in a deep breath.

"That would be great, Charlie. If you think it wouldn't be too much of an imposition for you with me there?"

"No- it's alright. I have to work so I won't be there too often for the next few days. Feel free to make yourself at home."

I watched in silence when they packed her many suitcases into the back of Charlie's cruiser, her wide smile still in place as she hugged me and everyone else goodbye, before getting in. Charlie offered us a final wave as he pulled out of the driveway, his expression looking a bit unsure as he went.

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please feel free to review! Would love to hear what you think about Renee and her impromptu visit? Thank you all so much. Until next time...