Chapter 13
Is there a choice
I was walking around doing some last minute things before Jacob came to get Jr. I was leaving for Florida tomorrow and coming back in three weeks. I was not worried about my son at all. I knew between my father, Billy and Jacob he would be the most spoiled little boy on the earth when I returned. I made my reservations last night and called my mother and was going to use the time alone today to clean and do a little thinking. I wanted to be with Jacob. It wasn't that I didn't love Embry. My love for Jacob was just stronger. What I really needed to decide is how I wanted to handle this new baby situation. I had heard a car pull up and figured Jacob was here.
"Jr. your daddy is here!"
"Ok mommy. I will be right there"
When I answered the door I was surprised by the sight in front of me. Jacob was not at my front door. It was Nettie Call. Embry's mother. Shit this really wasn't what I needed right now.
"Jr. stay up there and play I will call you when daddy gets here."
"Who's down there mommy?"
"Uncle Embry's mom"
"Ok"
I walked into the kitchen and Nettie followed me. She didn't like me when we were kids and she certainly didn't look like she liked me now.
"So…." She started. "Is it true? Are you pregnant?"
"Did you think I would lie about something like that?"
"How the hell should I know, Isabella. You are the lying slut here not me."
"First of all Nettie, it is Bella and secondly I am not a lying, slut. Thirdly my son is upstairs and I don't want him to hear us fighting"
"Of course not. God forbid that child thinks this is a perfect world."
"Is there a reason you came here, Nettie? Cause Jake is going to be here in a bit to get Jr. and I have stuff to do."
"Yes. I do have a reason for being here. I came here to tell you that I think you should get an abortion. It is pretty obvious you don't want this baby and all you have ever done your whole life is string my son along like a lost puppy."
"Wow! Nettie I never said I didn't want this baby. Was it unexpected? Sure, but that doesn't mean I don't want it."
"So, what does that mean for Embry? Is he just going to be the guy you need on the weekends?"
"Nettie please. You are being ridiculous. Embry will be able to see this baby whenever he wants to. I wouldn't keep Embry away from his child."
"So you have already chosen Jacob"
"Not that it is any of your business, but I haven't chosen anyone yet."
"So you are going to string both of them along. You really are a bitch."
"Alright Nettie I have had enough. You need to leave"
" I am not done yet"
"Yes you are, and I am going to go upstairs to get my son. I suggest you be gone when I come back downstairs."
I went upstairs to get Jake Jr. and Nettie was following me upstairs. Did that woman not have a clue? This was not her business.
"Jr., honey go downstairs and get your toothbrush and stuff together ok baby?"
"Kay mommy"
He ran downstairs and I glared at Nettie.
"Maybe you didn't understand me the first time when I said get out. Please."
"Bella I am going to have my say"
I turned around to walk downstairs and she grabbed my shoulder. The next thing I knew I was falling down the stairs. Then it all went black.
When I came to I was laying on a bed in a room I didn't recognize. I shot up and was pushed back down by two hands that I would know anywhere.
"Jake?"
"Baby. Oh thank goodness you are ok."
"What happened?"
"I came to get Jake and he was screaming in the house for you. I ran in and I saw you lying on the floor in front of the stairs. You must have fallen on the way down."
I knew that wasn't what happened. I knew it was Nettie's fault that I fell down the stairs, but I wasn't in the mood to talk about it and I didn't want Embry to be mad at his mother.
"Yeah I guess that is what happened" I said, hoping Jake believed me.
"What is wrong with me?" I asked.
"Um. You broke your arm and have a concussion."
"And the baby?"
"I'm sorry Bells. The baby is gone."
I had silent tears fall down my face as I mourned my dead baby. I couldn't help but be a little relieved as horrible as that was to say. This was going to break Embry's heart.
"Does Embry know?"
"Yes. He was here when you were brought in. I called him"
"Is he still here?"
"Yeah, you want me to go get him?"
"Please?"
"Sure Bells."
Jake walked out and I sobbed. My baby was gone. None of what Nettie said was true. I did want this baby even if it was going to cause problems. I guess she got her wish now. I wonder if that bitch even knows it is her fault I lost her grandchild. I decided I wasn't going to tell Embry. I already caused him enough pain.
"Bella?" he asked as he poked his head in the door.
"Come in Em." He sat down next to me and took my hand and we cried together for our lost child.
"I'm so sorry Embry."
"Bella it is not your fault. Accidents happen." Gosh, I wanted to tell him what really happened, but I just couldn't. I would take the blame.
"I know, but"
"But nothing, honey. It just wasn't meant to be. Now you can be with Jake and not worry about what is going to happen."
"Embry!"
"What? I know this baby was the only thing holding you back from being with Jake." I hated that he was right, but he was.
"I am kinda relieved in a way, Bella."
"What?"
"Things were bad enough, Bella. If I am going to have a child I want that child to have a mom and dad in the same house. Not living in different houses."
How did this man not achieve sainthood? He was such a good guy and I broke him.
"I know what you're thinking, Bella, and I will be fine. I just need some time. I will always love you."
"Embry"
"I want you, Jake and Jr. to be happy. I won't interfere. I just hope someday we can all be friends again like we were when we were younger. Bye, Bella."
He walked out of the room and I sobbed till Jacob came back.
"Oh honey. I'm sorry you are hurting. I know this is hard for you."
"Thanks Jacob."
"So, do you want me to call the airline and cancel your ticket?"
"NO!"
"What do you mean no? I figured you wouldn't want to go."
"Jacob, I may not being going for the same reasons anymore, but I still need some time. I am just going to see my mother. I want you to be moved into the house with Jr. by the time I come back so we can start our life together again. Okay?"
"There is nothing I can say to change your mind?"
"No, babe. I need this."
"Okay, we will move back in while you're gone."
"Thank you."
"Of course. I love you."
"I love you, too"
JPOV
This is gonna suck. I thought as I turned on to the street of the house Bella and I bought together. How did things get so complicated?
I pulled in the driveway and noticed the door was cracked a little. Maybe Bella heard my car? As I walked closer I could hear Jake screaming for his mommy.I opened the door and was horrified at what I saw. Bella was laying on the ground unconscious and Jake was laying here trying to wake her up. I called 911 and told them what happened, and then I called Embry.
"Jake! Don't touch mommy. She could be hurt!" I ran up to them. "Do you know what happened, buddy?"
"No, daddy" he sobbed. "Mommy told me to go downstairs to get my stuff and then I heard her fall."
There was something he wasn't telling me. "Anything else, bud?"
"No, daddy"
We got to the hospital and they took her in right away. Charlie was there already and looked like he saw a ghost. The doctor came out and we practically ran to see him.
"Dr. Cullen?" I asked.
"Well….she has a concussion and a broken arm."
"What about the baby?" Embry asked.
"I'm sorry, son. She lost the baby."
Embry collapsed on the chair and cried. I felt for him. I was still too mad to comfort him.
"Can I see her, Doc?"
"She is still unconscious, Jacob. But you can sit in there with her."
"Thanks."
I went in her room and sat there for what seemed like hours. She had to wake up. We would make this right. I just got her back. She started stirring a few minutes later. She jolted up not knowing where she was and I gently pushed her back on the bed.
"Jake?"
"Baby? Oh, thank goodness you're ok."
"What happened?"
"I came to get Jake and he was screaming in the house for you. I ran in and I saw you lying on the floor in front of the stairs. You must have fallen on the way down."
"Yeah I guess that is what happened" She looked confused.
What is wrong with me?" She asked.
"Um. You broke your arm and have a concussion."
"And the baby?"
"I'm sorry Bells. The baby is gone."
She cried silently. I knew it was selfish to feel relieved that the baby was gone, but now there was no reason for her to leave for Florida.
"Does Embry know?"
Yes. He was here when you were brought in. I called him"
"Is he still here?"
"Yeah, you want me to go get him?"
"Please?"
"Sure, Bells."
I went out and told Embry Bella wanted him and called my Dad to see if Jake could go there. I am sure Charlie would have taken him, but if we got home late I didn't want to wake him to leave to go to my Dad's.
Embry came out looking horrible a few minutes later. I did feel bad. This man was my best friend growing up. Maybe we could get our friendship back one day.
"Hey, Embry?"
"Yeah, Jake?"
"Can you take Jake to my dad's and drop him off?"
"Sure."
"Thanks, man."
I told Jake his mommy was okay and that she needed her rest and he could see her tomorrow. He left with Embry, and I went back in to see Bella.
She was crying when I walked in.
"Oh, honey. I'm sorry you're hurting. I know this is hard for you."
"Thanks, Jacob."
"So, do you want me to call the airline and cancel your ticket?"
"NO!" What the fuck did she mean no?
"What do you mean no? I figured you wouldn't want to go."
.
"Jacob, I may not be going for the same reasons anymore, but I still need some time. I am just going to see my mother. I want you to be moved in to the house with Jr. by the time I come back so we can start our life together again. Okay?"
"There is nothing I can say to change your mind?"
"No, babe. I need this."
"Okay, we will move back in while you're gone."
"Thank you"
"Of course. I love you."
"I love you, too"
I crawled into the bed next to her and held her while she slept. It was perfect.
EPOV
Jr. was really quiet as we were driving to Billy's. He was never this quiet. Something was bothering that boy.
"Uncle Embry?"
"Yeah, squirt?"
"Why didn't your mom say goodbye to me?"
"What? What do you mean?"
"Today when she came to the house. She didn't say goodbye when she left."
"She was at your house?"
"Yeah when mommy fell down the stairs. She didn't say goodbye. She did say "Oh shit." when she walked out though."
"Jr., we don't say those words. You know that. What do you mean she was there when mommy fell?"
"I heard them fighting when I was getting my toothbrush and then mommy fell and she left."
"Why didn't you say anything earlier, Jr.?"
"I was scared."
"You didn't have to be scared, buddy."
"I'm sorry."
I was fuming. What the hell was my mother doing at Bella's? Did she have something to do with her falling? I dropped Jr. off, kissed him goodbye and drove to my Mother's.
I slammed the door shut when I walked in.
"What the hell is your problem, Embry?"
"I don't know mother. Why don't you tell me?"
"Embry, I am tired. I don't feel like playing games."
"What the fuck were you doing there?"
"Do not curse at me boy. Where is there?"
"Bella's?" She froze and just looked at me.
"How did you know I was there?"
"Does that really matter? Why were you there?"
"I went to talk to her. What is it to you?"
"YOU KILLED MY CHILD! THAT IS WHAT IT IS TO ME!"
"Stop overreacting."
"IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK? YOU PUSHED HER DOWN THE STAIRS!"
"I DID NOT PUSH HER YOU UNGRATEFUL ASSHOLE!" Was she really telling me I was ungrateful? "She fell. I was trying to talk to her upstairs and I grabbed her and she fell. She lost the baby?"
"Yes she lost the baby, which I am sure you are happy about!"
"Why would you think that, son?"
"I know you never liked Bella and you were mad last night about the baby."
"Yes you're damn right I was. I told her I thought she should get an abortion."
"YOU DID WHAT? WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?"
I didn't let her answer. I ran up to my room, grabbed a bag and ran out the door. I got in my car and just drove. I didn't know where I was going. I just knew I had to get away for a while.
A/N We will see Embry later. I promise