2 years after this...
Renee, Esme and Emma watched from comfortable lawn chairs as Carlisle and Daniel flipped burgers on the BBQ in the Masen's back yard.
"Oh Edward! Don't touch that!" called Esme frantically as she ran over to Edward and pulled him away from the prickly blackberry bush he had been reaching out to, and set him down by the small kiddie pool by Emmett and Jazzy. His little face turned down into a frown, and he whimpered as he plopped down on his bottom, his soft bronze baby hair blowing in the warm summer breeze.
Emmett and Jasper played shirtless in the tiny pool, their giggles echoing around the yard, and Charlie sat in a lawn chair close by, watching them. Emmett waved his arms, splashing Jasper with warm water, wetting his honey blond curls.
"Jazz wet!" screamed Emmett. Jasper splashed Emmett back,
"Emmy wet too!" he laughed, Edward took no notice of the pool, and always seemed to be getting in trouble. Too many times had he strayed too close to the hot BBQ, or almost fallen down the front steps. Always getting into mischief that one.
Two years had passed since that fateful day at the yoga studio, and the Masens, Hales, and Swans were all now very good friends. Emmett, Edward, and Jasper had spent all of their short little lives together, and were the best of friends. And now, an excited feeling hung in the air, for all three woman's bellies were once again large.
The first time around, all three babies had been boys, and now the women were expecting three little girls. Renee had decided that after Emmett, her little tyrant, she needed a calm, easy little darling, and had decided to call her Isabella, Bella for short. Esme had opted for her mother's name, Alice. And Emma, went elegant and had decided on Rosalie. The men were perfectly happy to let their wives choose the names, if it meant no arguing. The babies were all due this summer, Bella in June, Alice in late July, and Rosalie in early August.
2 years after this...
Edward, Emmett and Jasper ran ahead of their mothers, chuckling as they pushed each other aside to be in front. The four year olds raced along the shiny floors of the community mall, making as much noise as they could. But it didn't matter, for it was early Sunday morning, and the three small families were almost the only ones there.
"Jasper hun, be careful please!" called Emma as Jasper sprinted in front of Edward and Emmett, showing off his talent, he was very fast for a little boy of only four. Esme, Renee and Emma pushed stroller's along behind their sons, chatting sleepily. Father's day shopping was always done last minute, on the morning of.
Little Rosalie kicked and screamed in her seat, her shiny blond ringlets wet with angry tears. She was tired, and so very unhappy to be forced into the small stroller's confining seat, while she watched her older brother run and play.
Alice, however, munched happily on a cookie, her dark hair and eyes contrasting intensely with the lacy white dress she was wearing.
Little Bella just sat quietly, excellently behaved as always, with a smile on her face that reflected in her big brown eyes. Her short pigtails were messy and uneven on either side of her head, and her little green ensemble was already stained. Well, Renee had gotten the calm, extremely well behaved daughter she had wished for, but it had come with a very messy side. Bella just couldn't help getting messy. The three little families were as happy as ever, everything was just perfect. They all had fantastic, young children; clean, modest houses on the same street, and a healthy relationship with their spouses.
"Momma?" came Bella's tiny voice from the stroller.
"Yes dear?" answered Renee.
"What get Poppa?" she asked her mother.
Bella's speech was already very advanced for a two year old, but Alice had been making even more progress, forming full sentences, and she was quite the blabber mouth when she did get talking.
Odd friendships had sprung up everywhere, Edward was very fond of Bella, and declared her his 'favorite.' He had taken to carrying her everywhere, even though she fit awkwardly in his small arms, and played that she was his pet dog, because he said her eyes looked like a puppy's eyes. Bella enjoyed these little games, and acted along with the part, growling and barking while walking on her hands and knees. Emmett liked to play with Rosie's hair, but every time he did, she screamed loudly, and ran away from him, which left him quite discouraged. Alice followed Jasper everywhere, but he thought she was a little weird, and tended to avoid her. The families were almost always together, and even the husbands were all very good friends. Things were going wonderfully.
5 years after this...
It was a cloudy day in Forks. The early October wind howled and blew the colourful leaves around in circles. The Masens, Hales, and Swans had lived in peace together now for 9 years, ever since the aerobics class. But things were getting a little weird. Over the past 2 years, Renee had become reclusive, only straying outside to get groceries, or to refill the gas in the car. She barely ever saw Esme or Emma anymore, and they were getting worried. They would let themselves into the house, with home baked casseroles, and try and weedle secrets out of Renee. I'm very sorry to say that it wasn't working.
She never spent any time with her children any more, nine year old Emmett spent more time than ever over at Jasper's or Edward's, avoiding his home life, and seven year old Bella was quieter than usual, her silky brown hair was never up in its signature pig tails anymore. Everyone had to wonder what was wrong with Renee. They found out that cloudy morning.
Esme, Emma, Emmett, Bella and Charlie stared as she loaded suitcases into her car, tears streaming down her face. No one stopped her, no one asked her what she was doing. Bella didn't understand, and reached for her father. Her scooped her up and placed her on his hip like he used to do when she was younger. Emmett however, understood what his mother was doing, and stood stock still, fists clenched, holding back tears. Always the strong one.
Renee hopped into the car, and started the engine. Bella squirmed out from Charlie's arms, and ran to the car, as fast as her little legs could carry her. No one stopped her either.
"Momma!" she called desperately,
"Momma! Where are you going? Don't leave!" she pleaded, her big brown eyes shining with tears. Renee stopped, and rolled down the car window. She stroked Bella's cheek, wiping away her tears, and then pulled out of the driveway, and down the road, never to be seen again.
Bella ran after the car, calling out her mother's name, and tripping over her own feet. She collapsed in the middle of the road, and Emmett ran to her. He pulled her up gently and helped her back over to the yard, where everyone was waiting. Esme and Emma stood still, shocked looks on their faces. Their best friend had left. How could she do this? To her family? To her children? No one knew what to do. Emma spotted a piece of paper lying on the ground in the driveway. She knelt down and picked it up, and recognized Renee's untidy scrawl, so she started to read it out loud.
Dear Charlie, Bella, Emmett, Emma, and Esme,
I'm very sorry. I can't do this anymore. I wish there was something I could do, some way I could heal myself. But I've tried everything I can think of, and nothing is working. I feel like I'm in despair, stuck deep down in a dark hole, where no one can reach me. Please carry on without me, go along with your normal lives, live them to the fullest. Bella, you're a beautiful young lady, and can become anything you want to be, don't let anybody stand in your way. I love you. Emmett, keep climbing higher, keep trying, and striving to be the best you can be. I love you. Charlie, you are the best husband a woman could ask for. I'm sorry I couldn't hold up my side of the bargain. Find someone who loves you as much as I do, find someone who can be a mother to my babies. I love you. Esme and Emma, you two are the best friends I've ever had. You are blessed with lovely, intelligent, caring souls, please be there for my children when they need a mother, you always have been, don't stop now. I know Edward and Jasper will grow up to be strong, independent men, and Rose and Alice will become beautiful, smart ladies who can hold their own. I love you both. I love you all.
Forgive me,
-Renee
By the end of the letter, almost everyone was in tears, except for Bella, who only looked lost, and Emmett, who was afraid to cry. Even Charlie's cheeks were wet with tears. Somehow, after what felt like hours, Charlie brought Bella and Emmett inside, and Esme and Emma headed home to tell their families the bad news. They could make it, if they had each other, they could get through this obstacle together.