Chapter 24 : A Visit Cut Short
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight.
Most women complained that their husbands were jealous of the time the mothers spent with their babies. The same held true for Jacob but for a different reason. He whined that Bella was hogging their son. He wanted to hold, nuzzle and caress his baby twenty-four seven! Even while Embry had Liam cradled in his arms, Jacob felt like saying: Hey, give him back to me. That's my baby. Go get your own.
Maybe it was just his super-wolf hearing—or maybe not—but it seemed like Jacob was the first one to jump up at the slightest little sound the infant made, to make sure he was all right. Liam wasn't eight hours old yet, and the proud father was totally besotted. It was love at first sight.
Jeez, in a few more hours, he'd have to share his little treasure with Renee. He didn't mind so much that Charlie horned in on the act every now and then, but Charlie seemed to realize that the parents had the priority. He was more than a little anxious about having Renee around though.
It was one-thirty, and he was helping Bella bathe their newborn. Jacob's hands were so big, he basically held Liam in the palm of his hand while Bella lovingly washed him up. They put him in some fresh clothes, wrapped him snugly in a receiving blanket and he was ready to meet his grandma.
Charlie took the day off since he barely got any sleep the night before. He was still on call for emergencies, however. He waited around with Bella and Jacob, with his fingers crossed, hoping against hope that Renee would behave herself.
At three-ten, poor Charlie got the call that he was needed by the highway patrol.
"Sorry, kids, you're on your own. Tell Renee I'll be back as soon as I can—not that she's here to see me anyway …." He grabbed his jacket, holster and keys and was out the door.
Bella looked at Jacob and gulped. Their buffer was gone. Maybe it would be okay, since they had a cute little bundle to offer her. After all, this was Renee's first grandchild.
The time ticked by, and four o'clock was just a few minutes away. Bella jumped a mile when the ringer on the phone went off. It was Renee, no doubt.
Jacob bounded into the kitchen to pick up. "Hey, Charlie, what's up?"
Charlie's voice was subdued. "Thank god, it's you, Jacob. I don't want Bella getting upset. There's been an accident, and that's why they called me. It was Renee. She fell asleep at the wheel, and t-boned into a tree. She's in surgery as we speak. I don't have all the details yet. Break it to Bella gently, huh?"
Jacob pulled the phone cord as far away from the living room as he could, to keep his voice out of Bella's earshot. "Which hospital is she at?" Jacob whispered.
"They air evaced her to Banner Tacoma. I'm on my way there now."
"Okay, Charlie—we'll see you there soon."
Walking into the living room, Jacob reached his arms out to Bella and said, "I'll take Liam for awhile. You just stay seated, there." He hesitated, straining at the next words. "That was Charlie on the phone. Your mom's not gonna make it here today."
Bella sighed, disappointed. Everything was ready and now she'd have to go through this nerve wracking rigmarole all over again. "What happened, did her flight get delayed?"
"No, she's in the hospital, honey."
"In the hospital? You mean she never made it on the plane?"
He put Liam in his baby seat, and sitting down beside her, grabbed hold of Bella's hands. "She was in a car accident outside of Beaver. She's in surgery right now."
Standing up suddenly, Bella wailed, "Why are we sitting here? We have to go to her. Where is she?"
"She's in Tacoma. I told Charlie we'd meet him there. Tell me what we need to bring for the baby, and I'll get it all loaded in the car. You stay put; I don't want you overdoing it."
They made it to the hospital in record time, and spotted Charlie inside the surgery waiting area. Wearing a mask of sobriety, he walked toward them. After patting Jacob on the back and giving Bella a hug, he filled them in on what had transpired.
"The surgeon says she has massive internal injuries. They're doing all they can, but it doesn't look good."
Bella stood there, frozen. She stared blankly, nodding her head, trying to assimilate all the facts. Could things get any worse?
Jacob asked the inevitable: "Has anyone called Phil?"
"Yeah, that's the first thing I did. He's taking the next flight out," Charlie replied.
Liam slept in Jacob's arms while they waited. His right held the infant and with his left, enveloped Bella's shoulders to keep her from crumpling in a heap. Two of the longest hours in history dragged on by, and finally a surgeon came out to greet them.
He explained that she had lost a great deal of blood, and they had to remove part of her damaged liver and small intestine. Her body could still function with the remaining organs; his main concern was that they caught all the bleeding vessels. He confessed that he couldn't be sure, only time would tell. They might need to return her for another surgical intervention. The words, Critical, and be prepared for the worst, jumped out at them.
They had to wait another two hours for Renee to graduate from recovery to her assigned room on the surgical floor. One of the nurses was kind enough to show them to the room, so Bella could nurse the baby in private, and Charlie and Jacob could get some food for their little party.
Two nurses wheeled Renee in on a bed. She looked so pale, and weak. There were tubes everywhere. Bella buried her face into Jacob's chest, obviously upset at the sight of her strong-willed mother reduced to a pathetic form lying there helpless.
Jacob moved Bella's chair close to the bed, so she could reach her mom's hand, and took Liam away from her, so her arms could be free.
It took a while, but Renee finally opened her eyes, and blurted, "What-the-hell-happened? And where, in god's name am I?"
She looked around at the concerned faces. "Why are you all staring at me like that?"
"Same ol' Renee," Charlie muttered.
Bella rehearsed everything that occurred that day. Renee seemed to understand.
All at once, she gasped, her eyes popping wider. "Wait a minute; where's my grandbaby?"
Jacob smiled and ambled to the foot of the bed, holding Liam up so Renee could see.
"Jacob Black," she chastised. "You bring that baby to me this very instant. I'm his grandmother. I have certain rights."
Charlie pushed a button to elevate the head of the bed and the proud father deposited Liam into Renee's waiting arms.
Renee's face was alight with joy, as she uncovered the little bundle, exploring his tiny fingers and toes. She gazed adoringly at his sweet face and nuzzled his button nose. "Oh Bella," she cooed, "he's just about the most beautiful baby I've ever seen." She looked over at Jacob then, and Commented, "All right, Mister. I admit I was ready to lynch you, but this more than makes up for it. Consider yourself lucky that you made this cute kid. So you're forgiven, for now, anyway …."
She handed Liam to Bella, and winced. "Where's the damn call button? I need some pain medicine. I'm starting to hurt all over."
Charlie picked up the call button and asked, "Can someone please bring Mrs. Dwyer something for pain?"
The unit secretary answered, "I'll tell the nurse. She'll be right in."
Later that evening, Phil showed up and rushed to her side. She was looking more ashen and frail. Her feistiness had all but vanished. The surgeon came into the room, looking grave and asked if Charlie, Jacob and Bella could leave her bedside for a few minutes. He needed to speak to Phil and Renee privately.
Her blood count had dropped dramatically. There was another vessel leaking blood somewhere inside of her and he wanted permission to take her back to surgery. Phil went with the surgeon to sign the papers as Bella and Jacob entered the room once more. Charlie had gone to the cafeteria to get some coffee.
As Bella sat by the bed, Renee murmured. "I'm not going to make it am I?"
"Don't talk like that, Mom," she answered, horror struck.
"I can feel it, sweetheart. My life is ebbing away. Let me see my grandbaby one more time, please. Jacob …."
This time, she clutched at Jacob's hand, as he delivered Liam into her outstretched arms. She leaned her head down and left a gentle kiss upon the baby's brow. With tears welling in her clear blue eyes, she apologized to her son-in-law. "Can you ever forgive me for all the mean things I said to you? I'm so sorry. You're a good boy and I know you really love my daughter. Promise me that you'll always be there for her and take care of her and this sweet baby."
Jacob flashed her his famous smile, and started to pull away. She refused to release his hand. "Promise me!"
"It's okay, Renee. I promise. I'd die for her you know."
Renee let go of his hand. "Let me talk to Bella now."
Bella moved closer as Jacob drew away from the bed. "I'm here, Mom."
With her voice barely a whisper, Renee said, "Sweetheart, I don't want to leave this world without you knowing how much I love you. I guess that my actions didn't convey that lately, but you've been the light in my life ever since the day you were born. I don't know what I would have done without you. I love both of you, and I hope you remember that. You'll tell your son about me, won't you?"
"You can tell him yourself. You're not going anywhere," Bella choked out.
The heart monitor began beeping faster and faster. "Take the baby, Bella. I don't feel right ... I feel so strange."
Her daughter dutifully picked up the baby, looking anxiously at her mother.
Suddenly, Renee went limp as the tracing flatlined.
Bella's hand flew to her mouth, as she gasped, "Mom, Noo!"
Alarms went off; the crash cart was pushed into the room and a social worker escorted the couple out into the hall. Phil and Charlie stood there in fright, wondering about what this meant. Was Renee already gone?