Where the Streets Have No Name
Chapter 95
Renee was waiting for Bella at the airport when she strolled out of the arrival gate. She rushed toward her mother and threw herself into her waiting arms.
She truly missed being home.
Even though she was technically an adult now and had moved away from her parents, she still associated her mother's presence with "home".
"You didn't have to come. I could've taken the bus," Bella said as they made their way to the parked cars.
"Oh, pfft! You'd be changing buses all day and still not get there by nightfall. I wanted to come," Renee refuted.
"But what about your work? Who's looking after Ella? Are you sure they're okay with you taking time off?" Bella asked.
"Ella is visiting her mom today. Edward takes her to the hospital to see her every week," Renee explained, her expression clenching with sorrow. "The poor thing. It breaks my heart to see them like that. So tragic."
Bella had heard about her mother's work with the Cullens and knew the bare minimum about the family dynamic. The thought of a little girl visiting a sick parent was all too real to her and it drenched her heart with sympathy much like it did Renee's.
"Oh, poor thing. That's awful. What do the doctors say? Isn't there any chance of her getting better?" Bella asked as they got into the car and began their trek to the suburbs.
"Edward doesn't really like to talk about Carmen - that's his wife's name," Renee clarified. "But from what I've heard from Edward's parents, it's really uncertain. Oh you should see their pictures; she was such a beautiful young girl. A little older than you. Can't imagine what the poor guy is going through," Renee said with empathy.
Bella nodded her head in agreement. She truly couldn't even imagine what it would be like to have a loved one trapped in limbo, between life and death. Both she and her mother had suffered bereavement, but she couldn't fathom what they would have done if her father's condition left him in a state of suspended statis. Technically alive, but lost to the world of the living.
The weight of the thought hurt her head and they turned to lighter topics like Bella's school and her tutoring job to fill the commuting time.
As they neared their destination, Renee filled Bella in on the living arrangement she had set up for her short stay.
"You'll have the basement all to yourself. It's a huge house and the basement is big enough to be a separate apartment. I think you'll like it."
"No worries, Mom. It's only for a couple of days. I'll be fine with an air mattress."
"Edward's still not back," Renee remarked as she parked her car in the garage, pointing at the empty spot next to hers.
"He's a really sweet guy. You'll like him. But just a heads up, he tends to be a little out of sorts the days he takes Ella for the visits. So if he isn't being too chirpy today, don't think he's being rude," Renee said, briefing Bella what to expect from her employer.
"Don't worry, Mom. I'll stay out of his way. He won't even notice I'm there," Bella promised.
Thank you Lulabelle98, HeidiJoVT, and Dinx.