Disclaimer:All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Song inspiration for this chapter is Goodbye, words and music by Gordon Jenkins, 1935. Once again, my favorite cover is by Linda Ronstadt and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra from the 1983 album What's New.

GIFTS

Chapter 27: Girl Talk

"Mom, I don't know how long I can keep on doing this" Edward said to Esme. "I miss her. I want to see her again, but she probably hates my guts. Will you come there with me? We have a break coming up in two weeks, and I'm going to go to Georgia, mom. Say you'll come with me".

The car wheels crunched on the gravel parking lot. She had timed this perfectly. No cars to be seen, no sounds of life coming from within, neon sign still said OPEN. So the little lady is a creature of habit thought Esme. I like that. Shows she has a good head on her shoulders. My boy needs a sensible woman after the fluff heads he's dated.

She gingerly walked across the parking lot to the building, taking care not to fall. The last thing she needed was to re-injure her hip. She entered and walked to the center of the sawdust dance floor and waited. Anytime now she expected to hear this girl of Edward's singing from the back room. He said she sang like an angel. Just then, Esme heard low whistling and humming and the words to an old favorite begin:

I'll never forget you
I'll never forget you
I'll never forget how we promised one day
To love one another forever that way
We said we'd never say goodbye.

But that was long ago
Now you've forgotten I know
No use to wonder why
Let's say farewell with a sigh
Let love die.

But we'll go on living
Our own way of living
So you take the high road
And I'll take the low
It's time that we parted
It's much better so
Just kiss me as you go
Goodbye...goodbye...goodbye.

Sissy walked into the bar area and was startled to see a woman with a cane standing there. When did she come in?

"Mam, may I help you? I was just closing up".

"Hello young lady. You sang that beautifully. I used to sing that song back in my singing days. Do you mind if I sit down? Bad hip you know".

"Oh, please do! Are you okay? Did your car break down? Do you need me to call you a cab"?

"No, dear. I'm here to see you. My name is Esme Cullen and I'm Edward's mother," she said as she extended her hand.

The blood drained from Sissy's face. "Mrs. Cullen? Edward, is he all right? Is something wrong with Edward"? She asked as she shook Esme's hand weakly.

"Edward's fine dear. Shall I call you Sissy"?

"Mrs. Cullen, I'm so sorry. I've forgotten my manners...My name is Bella, Bella Swan. How do you do? I guess you just took me by surprise. Why are you here to see me"?

Esme spent the next hour or so talking with Bella about her son. She told Bella about his hundreds of phone calls home to his mother in the past few months agonizing about the girl in Georgia. "He told me everything, Bella".

She watched Bella's face turn beet red.

"Hah! Well, maybe not everything. After all, a son does have to keep some things private from his mother. What I meant was, he told me about meeting you and hearing you sing, he told me about you and he recording a song together and his excitement over how well you two sounded as a duet, he shared your story of your father. He also told me he was less than honest with you about his identity and the terrible way you found out the truth. I also know that my son confessed that he was falling in love with you on the night he met you. It must have been quite a night, my dear. I know that he hurt you terribly, and that he tried very hard to apologize, and that it is killing him that you won't forgive him".

Bella listened to Edward's mother and silently wept, using napkins from her table to wipe her eyes.

"My son is a good man, Bella. But he's just a man. He made a doozy of a mistake, and he's paying dearly for it. I'm not sure exactly what your feelings are for him, but I have an idea. Can you find it in your heart to forgive him? You are all he talks about when he calls home. You are all he thinks about. His life changed when he met you. He calls you his angel, and says that God sent him a special gift when you came into his life".

"Mrs. Cullen"?

"Call me Esme, dear. Mrs. Cullen sounds old and I've still got a lot of living to do".

"Alright. Esme, Did Edward ask you to come and talk with me"?

"He has no idea that I'm here, Bella. I did this on my own. There are quite a few things I do that my boys don't know about if you catch my drift". She and Bella laughed together.

"I knew my son was in pain and consumed with guilt. I also couldn't stand the thought of someone thinking he was raised to use people and disregard their feelings. Now, I can't have that because that reflects poorly on me. And I have to confess I was mighty curious about you, Bella. He has never gone on about any woman like this before".

"Esme, thank you for coming to see me. I know Edward didn't hurt me intentionally. I guess my pride was wounded, and I'm stubborn sometimes. I think about him all the time. I miss him so much. Maybe someday I'll see him again and we can fix this".

Esme stood up to leave. "Dear, thank you for not tossing me out of here. I'm going back to my hotel now. I have an early flight back home. Who knows, maybe we'll see other again soon"?

Authors Note: Sometimes mama just need to step in and hurry things along...