Where the Streets Have No Name

by DreamOfTheEndless

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Edward is firmly trapped in the hell of his making. Redemption lying just beyond his reach. Would Bella be able to be his salvation? Would she sacrifice herself to save him?

55. Chapter 55

Where the Streets Have No Name

Chapter 55

Esme took a step away from Carmen, still holding her granddaughter tightly to her chest. What she saw in Carmen's eyes scared her enough to keep a firm grip on the baby.

"Carmen, sweetheart," Edward began in a soothing voice that he knew worked in the past. "What happened? Can you please tell me what's going on here?"

Elvira chose the moment to assert her presence. "Nothing's going on, Edward. My daughter here is just being a little theatrical. It's only a little misunderstanding-"

"No!" Carmen refuted her mother before she could defuse the situation. "There's no misunderstanding. She -" Carmen pointed at Esme "- insulted me! In my own home! She said I'm incapable of taking care of the house. She called me an unfit mother! How dare she!" Carmen poured out her anger and all the latent insecurities, incapable of reasoning that she was directing them at the wrong person.

"I never said that, Carmen," Esme defended herself, still in disbelief over how the situation was unfolding before her eyes.

"Yes, you did! I want you out of this house right now! You're not coming anywhere near Ella. Give her to me. Then get out! Get out!" Carmen screamed.

Esme looked pleadingly at Edward who had very little time to make a very tough decision: coming to Esme's aid, or side with Carmen and openly alienate his own mother.

He chose Carmen. Getting Ella out of the firing range came before all else, and in order to do that he had to disarm Carmen first. He hoped there would be time for explanations and apologies later, that his mother would forgive him once she knew his constraints.

"Mom, please put Ella down, then leave. Please," he said evenly. "Elvira, can you please stay with Ella for a while?"

"Edward?" Esme said, the pain of betrayal clear in her voice.

"Please, Mom. Just go. Please," Edward pleaded earnestly, hoping his mother would recognize the infliction in his voice and find a clue there.

Whether or not Esme understood his signal, she didn't argue. She carefully handed the crying baby to Elvira then quickly left the room, presumably to pack her bags.

Edward sadly watched his mother go, then turned his attention to Carmen.

Thank you Lulabelle98, HeidiJoVT, and Dinx.