Babies, Babies, Babies
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-thanks for the kind reviews, Nikki.
Part Thirty One
Bella picked up Jet and smiled at her, they had just come back from the clinic after a check up on the little girl's fractured leg, and it was all healing nicely. She would be able to walk about unhindered soon, although that hadn't realty stopped Jet scooting around. She was a genius at getting from one place to another very fast despite her leg being strapped up. "You were a brave girl weren't you, sweetheart." Bella praised her.
Jet giggled at Bella's happy tone and bounced up and down in her arms. "Mom, goog gull."
"Very good girl." Bella agreed as she carried Jet out of the clinic and toward her truck. She didn't notice Elise and her friends hanging around nearby until she heard the familiar call of pale face. She gritted her teeth, not giving them the satisfaction that she was reacting to it. Bella strapped Jet in her child seat and went around to climb in the driver's side. As she slid into the cab and shut the heavy iron door, she heard a bang on the window. It startled her and made Jet cry. "What the hell?" She muttered as she glanced out of the window. Elise was standing by the truck with a smirk on her face. Nearby Bella could see Elise's friends huddling together as they looked in her direction. She wound her window down and glared at Elise. "Don't bang on the window like that again, you upset my…." She nearly said daughter and had to catch herself. "You upset Jet."
"Just what are you still doing here?" Elise put her hands on her slim hips as she glared at Bella.
"I know Jake rejected you. Instead of humiliating yourself by putting on this pathetic display why don't you try growing up you little witch." Bella wound up her window again and started the loud engine. It rumbled to life effectively drowning out Elise's insulting reply. "Sad cow." She smiled at Jet to reassure the little girl and was rewarded with a small smile.
"Gad gow." Jet echoed her as Bella pulled away, forcing Elise to take a step back.
"Gad gow. I couldn't agree more, Jet." Bella laughed loudly as she saw Elise in her wing mirror. She looked completely flummoxed. Hearing Bella laugh made Jet burst into giggles again and the two of them sang gad gow all the way back to the Black's house.
"And how's my little granddaughter?" Billy held out his arms and took Jet from Bella and placed her on his lap.
"Gad gow." Jet babbled as she began to tug on Billy's long hair. He had forgotten to tie it back. He laughed at her as he pulled his hair out of her tight fist.
"What does gad gow mean?" He ruffled Jet's hair affectionately before looking up at Bella. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, her leg's healing fine, not too long and she'll be running more rings around us then she does already." Bella leaned down and carefully disentangled Jet from her coat before going over to the hook to hang it up.
Billy was silent for a moment as he watched her. Jet had given up trying to grab his hair and was pulling on a stray thread hanging on her jumper. "Bella, I need to ask you something." Billy had been trying to pluck up the courage to ask Bella about the cheque Esme had given her. He knew she hadn't banked it yet and he was wondering what she had decided to do with it.
"Go ahead." Bella noticed Jet had hold of the thread and she swiftly took it away from her and passed the inquisitive little girl a book instead to keep her occupied.
"The money that um…the Cullen's gave you…." He hesitated for a moment, not sure how to carry on. He didn't want to sound as if he was pressuring her to make a decision, far from it. He was in fact uncomfortable having so much money in his house, even if it was only in cheque form.
Bella sighed and sat down opposite him. She too had been worrying about what to do with the cheque. Charlie still had no idea that Edward's family had given her such a huge sum of money. He had come over the night before, worn out from a long day at work. He had shared a few beers with Billy before heading off to spend the night at Sue's place. It was now getting very serious between her father and Sue Clearwater. He was rarely at home himself anymore and was half living on the reservation, just like Bella. "I'm going to bank it, just to be on the safe side. I don't like having it on me to tell you the truth. Having half a million stashed in my purse is beginning to freak me out."
Billy felt relief wash through him. Having the money safely tucked away in an account somewhere seemed the safest option. It would give them all time to get used to the idea of having such a large fund to dip into. He was slowly coming around to the idea of using some of it. The house was too small for such a large number of people living in it. Now Jet and Marlon were staying permanently they needed rooms of their own, and the house itself needed refurbishing badly. Billy did feel uneasy about using the Cullen's money, but Bella had convinced him that Esme had passed it to them for the children's sake. He had approached Old Quil privately and told him about the gift from the Cullen's. The elder had been shocked to say the least but hadn't been as ambivalent as Billy had expected about using some of the money to do some good on the res. He told Billy he would speak to the council and get back to him. "Well make sure you take Jake with you when you do bank it, I worry about you doing it by yourself."
"I will." Bella assured him. "He's working all day today then has a pack meeting with Sam and the others. So I won't be able to do it until tomorrow."
"Okay." Jet suddenly started to cry as the book she was looking at fell out of her hands and crashed to the floor. Billy and Bella exchanged an amused look as she quickly ducked down and passed it back to Jet. Neither of them saw Rachel who had been hovering in the hallway listening in to their conversation. She slipped away unnoticed during the commotion and headed outside.
"Damn it Becca, why are you not answering your phone." Rachel muttered as she got straight through to voice mail on her sister's cell. "Listen when you finally decide to check your messages I have something to tell you. I know you left because you couldn't afford to care for your kids and it all got too much, but something has come up that will solve your money problems and mine too. Call me back…and don't tell that waste of space husband of yours about it."
Rachel ended the call and glanced over her shoulder at the house. If she wanted her plan to work then she was going to have to swallow her pride and befriend little Miss Perfect. She needed Bella to relax her guard around her so that when it came to the crunch Rachel could bring Rebecca back to La Push and then take the money that was owed to the kids, after all that was why the damn vamps had given it to Bella in the first place, for Jet and Marlon's future. It would ensure that her twin could have her kids back and hopefully ditch that asshole husband of hers. Then Rachel would have her twin back in her life and get to pursue her own dreams. She was certain that Rebecca would give her a share.
With this thought in mind Rachel plastered a fake smile on her face and sauntered back into the house.
"I owe you all an apology." Rachel announced at dinner, taking everyone by surprise. "Especially you Bella, and of course Paul." She hung her head in shame as she avoided all their eyes. "I know I have been difficult since I came back, everything has been such a shock you know, and I didn't handle it well. So I am very sorry." The words nearly got stuck in her throat but she managed to choke them out.
Billy had no idea of what was going through his daughter's mind but the fact that she had finally apologised and in such a public way too eased his weary heart. It had hurt him seeing his daughter so alienated from her family, now perhaps they could all begin to rebuild their relationship. He glanced at his son; Jacob appeared thoughtful and slightly disbelieving as did Paul Lahote. Billy frowned at Jacob and gestured for him to say something.
Jacob felt tired, it had been a long day for him and he didn't feel like dealing with his sister's tricky ways, but he could see his dad was happy that Rachel had made an effort and Bella seemed glad too, so he shrugged and forged ahead with what the others wanted. "Thanks for apologising, but actions speak louder than words, sis." He muttered.
Rachel had to stop herself snapping at her brother. Actions speak louder than words, how dare he lecture her. But she forced herself to smile sweetly at him before sitting down next to Paul. She was startled to see that he wasn't looking too convinced. She frowned; perhaps he wasn't as clueless as she thought. She touched his hand gently. "I really am sorry." She whispered.
"We'll see." Paul began to eat and said no more.
Rachel felt like punching him, she glanced at Bella, at least she looked happy, she was smiling like an idiot. Rachel decided to work on her more; after all it was Bella she needed to get onside. "Um…could I help bathe Jet later and perhaps read her and Marlon a story?" She suggested.
Bella and Billy smiled at her. "Of course, that would be great." Bella enthused.
"Jet will love some attention from her auntie." Billy patted his daughter's hand and then resumed eating.
Rachel returned his smile as the first smidgeon of guilt made itself known in her heart. She didn't really like deceiving her father, but she had to do this, not only for her future but Rebecca's and the kids as well. So she deftly shoved any feelings of shame deep down inside and continued to act as if she was dying to return to the bosom of her family.
A/N-thanks for reading!