Ode to my Family, Chapter 3

I had spent almost 2 weeks running from interview to interview, trying to find a job. It just wasn't working. The only jobs that had hours that were suitable for me seemed to get filled before I got to the interview, even the unsuitable ones didn't feel like I was the right person for the job.

However I was getting desperate. My rent was due next week, and I couldn't afford to pay all of it.

Maybe if I contacted Edward... I initially wondered.

No! I mentally slapped myself. I couldn't just run to him the moment my life got that tiny bit crappier. No. I would try my parents first, they might help. There was a small chance. I hoped.

I knew I shouldn't get my hopes too high.

***

I had decided to try my mother first. Not because she would be easier to ask, but because she was less likely to phone my dad immediately afterwards. Filling his head with bad thoughts towards me. No. Knowing my mother, by the time she remembered Charlie would want to know, I'd already have called him.

I approached the phone, taking a deep, shaky breath before grabbing it with trembling fingers. She's just your Mom Bella, no need to be frightened. I fumbled with the keys, punching the once familiar number in correctly on my 3rd attempt. You know what they say, 3rd time lucky.

I swallowed hard as the ringing began.

"Hello." A strange voice answered. My breath caught in my throat. Its probably one of Mom's friends I forced myself to think.

"Hey, it's Bella. Is Renee there?" I asked, trying to sound professional- or at least, composed.

"I'm sorry. You must have the wrong number, nobody called Renee lives here." The voice said, my throat became very dry.

"Oh, okay. Sorry to have interrupted you. Have a nice day." I said, a lump growing in my throat as the tears began to well.

The phone line went dead.

What the fuck!? My mom moved without telling me! When? Why? I know she thinks I messed up my choices in life. But seriously, what moves without telling their only child?

Charlie was now my only parental option, I had to persuade him to either lent me some money or, look after Antony until I could afford rent again. I didn't think a call would be enough. You can't just call someone and beg them for money. Well, not if that person is, was your loving father.

I would go back to Forks, and I would take Antony with me.

***

I still had my truck, by some strange miracle it hadn't died on me yet. In the city I didn't use it much, or at all really. The only places I had any desire to visit were all within walking distance from my apartment. As for everywhere else, there was always the bus, or the subway.

I would set off tomorrow, early in the morning. I could not go today, Antony was already at school, and I had one last interview. I wouldn't get the job, but it would not be polite of me to just not show up.

It was this thought that I had to remind myself as I left my apartment that morning.

My interview was at some huge marketing firm in one of Manhattans many high-rises. I felt like a tramp just standing outside. Everyone who passed me was wearing some kind of designer outfit, my clothes weren't exactly, expensive.

I took a very shaky breath before stepping into the lobby, it was white, modern, and the floor was unbelievably slippery. I fortunately managed to catch myself on a nearby pillar instead of landing flat on my ass. I made it to the front desk without any further stumbles.

"Hello, my name is Isabella Swan. I have an interview with a Mr. Lynnd from Human Resources." I clearly stated, I was becoming very used to telling receptionists my name and who I would be interviewed by.

She fumbled with a stack of papers on her desk. "Ah yes, Miss Swan, here you are. Your interview is on the 9th floor. If you would like to take a seat, I shall inform Mr Lynnd of your arrival."

As I turned to approach one of the chairs, I saw her pick up the phone. I looked away, sitting down before staring at the white ceiling, my fingers twiddling on my lap. I sat for almost 2 minuets before I heard a voice saying my name.

"Ms Swan?" She waved me over to the desk, I stood and slowly made my way back over to her.

"Mr Lynnd will she you now." She handed me a visitors badge. "If you'd like to head through to the elevator, somebody will meet you on the 9th floor, please deposit this badge at this desk when you leave." She turned her attention to her computer screen.

"Thank you." I said as I pinned the badge to my jacket.

As I waited for the elevator to arrive, I couldn't fail to notice the snide glances in my direction. I tried not to notice them, I needed my confidence levels to be high if I wanted this job, the pay was considerably higher than what I had been earning at Wal-Mart.

Inside said elevator was no better. Peoples eyebrows raised as their eyes glanced over my face, some smirked, and as I pushed the button for the 9th floor, I heard a definite 'What is she wearing?' coming from two women who looked no older than I was. The moment the doors pinged for my floor, I sprang through them, noticing a woman with a clipboard leaning again the wall in front of me.

"Isabella Swan?" She asked me, no doubt taking in my appearance.

"Yes, that's me." I answered her.

"If you'd like to follow me please."

She lead me past desks and offices and people, none of them looked up as I passed, they were all too busy. We stopped in front of a frosty glass door, she motioned for me to go inside. I took one, long deep breath; before stepping inside to seal my fate.

Behind a dark, wooden desk a young, yet stern looking man arose from a black leather seat.

"Ms. Swan, so nice to meet you." His hand extended across the desk. I strode across to him, grasping his hand firmly as I shook it.

"And you." I replied with a small smile.

"Strong grasp you got there, you don't often see that in a woman."

I merely smiled in response, sitting down, and waiting for the interview to begin.

The interview seemed to last forever, every time I thought Mr. Lynnd (whose first name I had learned was Brandon) was done asking questions, he whipped out another round. Nevertheless, I answered them all, truthfully, even when they started to become quite personal, even then. Because I didn't just really want this job, I really needed it. I was a strange mix of startled and relieved when Brandon finally said, "Thank you for coming over here today Ms Swan, someone will call you this evening with the results of this interview."

We shook hands once more, and I left the room as fast as I could. I think that went well, I thought to myself.

That afternoon I was late collecting Antony from school, the bus I had been planning on taking back hadn't shown up, so id been force to wait for the next one. Fortunately, the weather was surprisingly warm today, so I at least had not been shivering.

Antony was sitting on the steps outside his school, completely alone, weren't teachers supposed to wait with kids whose parents were late.

"Hey Babe" I called out to him as I stepped onto the sidewalk , he stood right up and ran towards me, I pulled him into a hug. "Sorry I'm late sweetheart, the bus didn't show up. How long you been waiting?"

I set him down on the side walk, taking his hand in mine.

"Its okay mommy, not very long. I was counting the ants, there were 22 of them!" He replied as we began to walk back home.

"22, really?!" I said back to him, smiling.

"Yes, there were!" He nodded. "I named one of them Charlie after Grandpa Charlie."

My stomach suddenly felt strangely heavy, I didn't know how Antony could talk about, and even to some degree love that grandfather he'd never met, because he'd disowned him. Maybe it was the excitement of finally meeting him, yeah, that would be it.
All of my internal arguing had only taken a minute. "You, did. Wow. Are you excited about going to see him?" I asked. "Yes!" He squealed. "I've never been to his house before, have you mommy?"
"Yes I have sweetheart. I used to live there when I was at high school." I replied. That had been the worst mistake of my life, at first I had been quite popular, but that soon died down; I became just another brick in the wall, at least I had managed to keep one of my friends, Angela. We still spoke now, occasionally. "You used to live there mommy, what is it like?" Antony asked me, in total awe that I knew all this stuff about the mysterious grandpa Charlie. I guess I should have told him sooner.
"Well, your grandpa's house has 2 bedrooms, and a yard all round the house."
"A yard really?" He asked me, his eyes twinkling with excitement.
"Yeah." I said, fumbling through my bag, we had reach the outside of the apartment block now.
"Do you think if I asked really nicely, grandpa Charlie would let me play in his yard?"
I pulled my key out of my bag and shoved it into the keyhole. "I'm sure he will, if you ask really really nicely."

I followed after my son as he bounced animatedly up the 3 flights of rickety stairs that lead to our apartment, he was excited this evening, and I knew the reason why. Shrugging off my coat and shoes, I saw that I had a message on my answering machine, I pushed the button and prayed that, for once, I would have some luck.
"Hello. I'm calling from Vision Marketing in Manhattan, I'm pleased to inform you that your application for the position of PA to the executive director has been successful. Unfortunately your boss is on holiday for the next two weeks, so you will not be needed until October 12th, at 8am. Please call us back if you have any queries. Thank you."

I stared at the phone in shock, maybe my luck was finally turning around. Finally.