Hi all, I know it takes me forever to get a new chapter to you, but every time I put a plot in place, Bella decides she wants to take another avenue. So yeah, you'll just have to be patient I'm afraid.
This chapter will seem very far fetched, and I appreciate that, but all will be revealed as the story goes on, so please try to keep disparaging remarks to a minimum, I promise you will not be disappointed.
As ever, love to my beta, Sue273, for waving her wand and making it awesome.
I make no money and write for my enjoyment. No copyright infringement is intended.
Enough is Enough
Chapter Five
I woke to find Edward's side of the bed empty, a note left on the dresser table saying that he had been called into the practice at the last minute; they'd had an influx of patients from an RTC.
I sighed softly and realised that his note was formal, lacking the intimacy that we had shared last night. Back was the man who I didn't love and feared every waking minute that he was home.
I hoisted myself out of bed, showered, dressed and went to tackle the jobs of the day that needed to be completed before he made it home. The last thing I wanted was a repeat of the past few days. Though I doubted that it would remain, I knew that upsetting him wasn't the way to go, but I would not back down from a fight when I knew that I had done nothing wrong.
I dealt with the pile of laundry first, knowing that I could get a few things done while it was on. I loaded the washer and set it on a longer wash, giving myself more time to complete the other jobs that needed to be handled. I dusted the living room, our bedroom, the spare room and his office. It wasn't somewhere that Edward liked me to be, but I knew that if I didn't at least maintain its upkeep, it would be one more thing for him to berate me for.
I looked out the window and saw it was dull and overcast. Once the washing was finished, I shoved it in the drier—no point in risking the weather turning at the last minute.
It was just as I'd finished with that task that the phone rang. Thinking it was Edward, I picked it up without checking the number.
"Can I speak to Mrs. Cullen, please?" asked a male voice.
"This is she. Who's calling?"
"This is Carlisle. I'm calling from Seattle General Hospital. I'm sorry to inform you, Mrs. Cullen, but I have your mother here. She's had a serious accident at work and is asking for you."
I felt my chest constrict as I realised the implications of his words. My mother and I hadn't spoken to one another since my marriage to Edward, and it must be bad for her to be asking for me.
"Right, well, I'll be over as soon as I can get a cab. Tell her I'm on my way. Doctor, is it bad?" I whispered.
"Yes, I'm afraid it is. Please hurry, Mrs. Cullen."
With that, he put the phone down and I dialled a local cab firm, saying that I needed a taxi ASAP to take me to Seattle General. I was told it would be a few minutes. Grabbing my purse, I left a quick note to Edward saying that I'd gone to the hospital, that my mother had been admitted.
Just as I locked the front door, a car horn beeped. I turned to see a cab waiting and rushed to it. Stating my destination, we set off. I dreaded to think what was waiting me, but I knew deep in my heart that this would be the last time that I would see my mom. Even though we hadn't spoken in so long, I still felt a sense of despair hit me. I loved my mom. I didn't want her to be totally gone from my life. I'd known that I need only pick up the phone and she would be there for me, despite our lack of contact.
Arriving at the hospital, I threw the money at the driver and muttered by apologies at my brashness. He seemed to understand, he said nothing and drove off. Running through the doors, I told the receptionist that my mother, Renee Swan, had been admitted, and I had been called by her doctor.
She looked at me sympathetically, telling me all that I needed to know.
"Just a moment, Mrs. Cullen, I'll page her doctor to come and collect you," she said softly.
I stood to one side of the desk and awaited the arrival of my mom's doctor. I ran the name Carlisle through my head, not making the connection until I saw him. Edward's father appeared before me, a tight smile on his lips.
"Mrs. Cullen, I'm sorry we are meeting once more under such awful circumstances," Carlisle muttered.
"Carlisle, I didn't recognise your name until now. How silly of me, I apologise."
"No matter, your mother is in ICU. She is lucid, but very critical. Follow me."
I followed him down a series of corridors where he lead me into a ward that was secure and stated 'Intensive Care Unit' on the doors. Heading toward the back of the ward, he let me to a private room. Opening the door, he ushered me inside.
"I need to see a couple of other patients. Speak with your mother and I will return as soon as I can," Carlisle spoke.
I nodded, waited as he left, closed the door and rushed to my mom's bedside. I pulled her hand into my own, whispering her name. She opened her eyes and slowly focused on me.
"Bella, my sweet baby girl. I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I should have never lost contact with you," Renee cried.
"Oh, Mom! Hush, it's stupid now, all that matters is I'm here. You called now and that's all I care about."
"Sweet girl, it does matter. I left you alone to deal with a man just like your father. I should have stood by you, helped you, and not left you. Please forgive me."
"Mommy, there's nothing to forgive. I understand, I watched you as I grew up with how Charlie was toward you. I hid away like a coward. I never once stood up to him for you, and I just let him beat you. If anyone should be forgiving today, it should be you forgiving me," I sobbed.
"Sweetie, you were just a child. I never begrudged you hiding, if anything, it is what I wanted. I didn't want him to turn his rages onto you. I suppose in the end, it's hardly surprising that you married a man like him." Renee sighed.
I shook my head at her words. Edward wasn't like him, he only lost his temper occasionally.
"Bella, don't shake your head. I can see the bruises on you now. You can't hide anything from a mother. I know it's been happening since the moment you were married. I know that our relationship was strained at the best of times, but you still called sometimes. As soon as you were married, it all stopped, and I know you, you would have never lost contact unless he made you."
I knew her words were the truth, probably why they hurt so much. She gasped for air. I knew she didn't have long left.
"My accident at work, you need to know something. I know you won't believe me, and I wouldn't blame, but you need to be careful, now more than ever. Edward came to visit me this morning, told me that he planned on taking you away from Seattle, to start a new practice somewhere else. I think he knows that you contacted Esme. He must have thought you'd also contacted me. Please, sweetheart, leave. As soon as you are done here, leave and never look back," she choked out.
"Mommy, please, hang on. Don't leave me!" I screamed.
"I'm sorry, my darling. You will find your answers in my results; they've done a blood test. I know they will find the poison in my system. I was on a table reaching something when I went dizzy, my vision black. I'd just finished the coffee that Edward had brought with him, before he told me he was leaving with you. Be safe, Bella. I will always love and watch over you. Forever," Renee gasped her last words out.
I watched in horror as her breathing became shallow, before coming to a stop altogether. I tried to call for a nurse but saw above her bed: DNR. I knew what it meant, it was a Do Not Resuscitate order.
My head swam with everything that she had told me. Could the man I married really poison my mom? I didn't want to believe it, but why would she lie? I knew she hated liars and wouldn't tell one to me. My worst fears were confirmed when Carlisle entered the room.
"Mrs. Cullen, I'm sorry I left you. I thought you would want to spend your mother's last moments alone with her. I am so sorry for your loss," Carlisle murmured.
"Please, it's Bella. Mrs. Cullen is your wife."
"Bella, then. I need to discuss something with you, regarding your mother's toxicology report. I ran a blood test. She wasn't lucid enough to tell me if she had taken anything to warrant her sudden reaction at work. I came across something very disturbing."
"What was the poison used?" I asked, my voice cold.
"Something called Tetrodotoxin…"
"The poison from a puffer fish!" I gasped.
"You know of it?"
"Yes, it was covered in my biology class when I was in school. We did nearly a whole semester on toxins and poisons."
"Do you have any idea how it could have gotten into her system?" Carlisle asked.
"I… Mom she said that she knew how, but it can't be true. It just can't!" I cried.
I could feel the tears pouring down my face. I knew my husband could be cold, but to do something so evil. I was scared beyond belief, if he could do that to someone I loved, then what could he do to me?
"Bella, just tell me. I won't judge," he said softly.
"She said that Edward went to see her this morning, he brought her coffee and said that he was taking me away from Seattle, to open a new practice somewhere else. She drank the coffee, he left and then she went all dizzy. She thought that he poisoned her."
"Oh, Bella. I can't say I'm surprised. I knew he could resort to awful methods, but to kill? He's gone too far this time. I'm taking you home, you're packing a bag and you're leaving. I can't in good conscience leave you there with him."
I nodded dumbly. I didn't know what to do or say. I was cold, empty, at a total loss. My mom had just died, killed by the man I was supposed to love and cherish. My thoughts raced a mile a minute. How long had it been since he had left me this morning?
"Hang on, he might already be home. Let me ring the practice," I whispered.
I dialled the number from my cell, hoping against hope that he had gone there after all.
"Hello? Cullen Practice, Lauren speaking," a voice came over the line.
"Hi, Lauren, it's Bella Cullen. Is Edward there?" I tried to keep my voice normal.
"Just a moment, I'll put you through."
I waited a few moments and heard Edward's voice come through the line.
"Bella? Everything okay?" he asked sweetly. I felt sick to my stomach.
"Yes, everything's fine. I just wanted to know if you would be home for tea. I found your note and it didn't say if you had anything in mind," I asked.
"I'm not sure, there's a lot to be done here. I guess I should be home around six or seven," he sighed.
"That's fine, how does steak sound?"
"Perfect. I'll see you tonight."
With that he hung up, no 'I love you', or 'how are you'. I shouldn't have been surprised, after all, he hadn't said anything like that over the phone for years.
"He should be at work until six tonight, and its noon now, so we should have plenty of time," I said.
Carlisle nodded, asked me to meet him in reception and went off to wherever. I retraced my steps back to reception and waited for Carlisle to reappear. I saw him moments later, back in civilian clothes. I smiled softly, glad that I had at least one person on my side.
"I'm assuming you took a cab as you said on the phone." I nodded. "We'll take my car, then get you back to the house and plan from there."
We climbed into his black Land Rover, and he drove with speed to the house I'd shared with Edward for years. Opening the front door, I called out I was home, just in case he had decided to come back. I was answered with silence. I heaved a sigh of relief as I tore through the house, throwing anything and everything I needed into the biggest suitcase I could get my hands on.
I got clothes from the dryer, the wardrobe, essential toiletries, and some pictures of my mom I kept hidden. I left all my cosmetics, our marriage photos, and any clothes I didn't deem needed. The last thing I packed was my laptop. It had a lot of photos of me and mom, and other pieces that I couldn't part with.
"Done," I called out.
I met Carlisle back in the hallway where I had left him standing. He motioned to my suitcase, asking if that was all. I nodded, saying it was everything that I would need and we left the house. I locked up and climbed back into the car as he threw my suitcase in the boot.
We drove in silence up to the house he shared with Esme and their adopted daughter, Alice. I felt apprehensive, wondered how they would react to me turning up out of the blue, being told that their son, and brother, was a murderer. It hit me then, my husband, the man I had sworn to always love, had murdered my mom in cold blood.
I dropped my head into my hands and sobbed. All the pent up fear and heartache came tumbling out as my tears raced down my face. I felt something brush my leg, and saw a handkerchief in my lap. I gave Carlisle a watery smile, dried my eyes and blew my nose. Muttering my thanks and an apology over the snot. He smiled and chuckled softly, saying it was of no consequence, he had hundreds of them.
We arrived soon after at the beautiful house where my wedding reception had been held. It was just the same now as it had been then. Leaving the car, Carlisle took my suitcase out of the boot and led me inside, calling out he was home.
Esme and Alice came rushing out to greet him, but stopped short when they caught sight of me. No one spoke for some time, neither knowing what to say.
"Bella? What's happened?" Esme spoke first.
There was nothing I could say as my tears came back full force. I saw in my peripheral vision Carlisle shake his head, indicating to leave it alone. Both she and Alice ran forward and dragged me into their embrace. It felt so right, like I belonged there. It was the first time I had felt contentment in such a long time.
Taking my hand, Alice pulled me into the living room and Esme pushed a glass of dark amber liquid into my hands with an order to drink it.
I threw my head back and drank the contents, coughing slightly at the slow burn it made down my throat. Sniffing the glass, I detected brandy, no doubt for my nerves. Calmness quickly ensued my crying.
"Bella, I need to talk to Esme about today. She told me about your call yesterday, but she needs to know the rest before we can decide what to do next," Carlisle said.
I nodded and felt Alice curl up next to me. She tugged my head into her lap and stroked my hair, the action making me feel sleepy. I refused to fall into it though, knowing that my dreams would be haunted with the vision of mom before she succumbed to death.
Esme and Carlisle returned to the living room. Esme knelt in front of me and placed a soft kiss on my forehead.
"I'm so sorry about your mom, sweetheart. It doesn't shock me that he's done this. It's been suspected before. I'll explain another time, but right now, you need to sleep. Shush, don't interrupt. I had some Valium, take it. You can take the guest room, it's all made up for you."
"No! Please, I don't want to be alone. Can't I stay with Alice?" I sobbed like a child.
"Of course you can. You know I wouldn't leave you," Alice whispered.
I nodded and gave my heartfelt thanks to them all. She led me up to her room, tucked me in beside her. It was the middle of the day, but I was suddenly exhausted. Alice got a book off her dresser, allowing me to curl up on her stomach, her hand carding through my hair occasionally. Feeling safe, I drifted into a dreamless sleep, the feel of Alice with me soothing me. I would deal with the consequences of today tomorrow.
I can't promise to have a chapter soon, but know that I do work on it regularly, it's just difficult now I'm in a new job. I have NaNoWriMo next month, a one shot for a friend and two other fics on the go. Plus I have been planning for the release of my first novella, which can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords and Createspace. Just search for N L Leeks and you'll find me ;)
