Chapter Twenty Nine

Jasper

I was disappointed that Bella wasn't able to spend the whole day with me but I understood that if her mother wanted to see her then there was little she could do about it. I was just pleased that she was able to come over and stay the night. I had spoken to Esme and Carlisle and they agreed it was time to tell Bella the truth about the family. I knew how she felt about me and I knew even more how I felt about her, if we were to stay together I couldn't put the truth off any longer. I knew it would be a shock to her but I didn't think it would frighten her away, not now. She loved me and I loved her and I wanted her at my side for eternity but I could wait until she was ready for that. I wouldn't force anything on her until she was ready. So while she was with her parents I drove to Seattle, I had a few errands to run for Esme but I wanted to pick up the set of Thomas Hardy books I had ordered for Bella mainly. It was raining softly as I drove out of Forks swinging by Bella's house just to be close to her for a few seconds before leaving. She had sounded tense on the phone and now she had opened up to me I understood this wasn't going to be an easy day for her but a necessary one. I had offered to come over and be with her but I knew she felt embarrassed at the thought of me seeing the woman who had treated her so badly for so long.

Bella

I hardly slept all night and I resented my mother ruining my day with Jasper but my dad had promised that if I decided I didn't want to see her again he wouldn't pressure me.

"Just be polite to her Bella but firm and remember I'm here for you"

I skipped breakfast my stomach was rolling over and over and made do with coffee, sitting by the window and waiting for my first glimpse of my mother since she and Phil had waved to me and disappeared back into the wedding reception. It was eleven before a cab drew up and I saw the familiar figure appear from the back seat. The driver waited as she ran up to the front door rapping on it loudly. I heard my dad answer and a few exchanged words then he went down to the driver and I knew she had conned him into paying the cab fare. I sat at the kitchen table, I didn't want her making herself comfortable in Charlie's house and waited as she came through her heels tapping smartly on the wooden floor. She came in all smiles and seeing me rushed over to throw her arms around my neck and plant a false kiss on my cheek. Then she looked round and took her coat off waiting with it dangling from one hand until I got up and took it from her hanging it on the peg only a few feet to her left.

When I turned back she had picked up my mug of coffee and sauntered through to the sitting room looking around scornfully,

"Well this place hasn't changed much."

Dad followed me in and sat in his usual chair watching his ex wife as she picked up photographs of me and gazed at them before putting them down again and finally sitting on the edge of the couch beside me with a smile,

"Its good to see you Izzy, you too Charlie, and you will be relieved to hear that Phil and I are going to try again so I wont be here for long. You will have time to get a few things to take with you Izzy but we have to fly back in a couple of days."

"I'm not going back with you and its Bella not Izzy"

She turned to look at me eyes wide,

"Your manners haven't improved any I see. Of course you're coming with me. Its a great opportunity for a young woman, see the Orient and all that although I admit they are a little strange but there are plenty of eligible young men in the team and one or two have shown an interest in meeting you Izzy."

Dad leaned forward clearing his throat,

"Renee, Bella just told you she isn't going to Japan or anywhere else with you and she's too old for you to try making her. She's stating here with me for her final year at school and then she's going to college"

"Really? So you've turned my daughter against me have you Charlie Swan? I should have expected that when you demanded she come to live with you."

Dad and I stared at each other unable to believe Renee's twist on reality.

"I'm happy here with Dad, I like school, I have friends and a job."

She laughed,

"What a cosy little picture you paint Izzy. I suppose there's a boy hanging around too? One of the local yokels no doubt judging by that tacky bracelet. Mark my words, you get involved with a Forks boy its where you'll rot until you die, here in good old Forks."

I got up angry at the way she was talking about my dad mainly.

"My name is Bella not Izzy and I'm staying here. I'm not your servant any longer and I have no intention of going to Japan or anywhere else with you or Phil. I'm sorry you don't like that but its the truth."

"Sit down"

Renee glared at me and I felt a stab of fear but then I realised I didn't need to be afraid of her any more. I looked at my dad,

"Why don't you go make fresh coffee Bella, leave your mother and I to talk"

I disappeared out of the room quickly, fuming at my mothers attitude to both of us.

Charlie

I should have known it would come to this but it was for me to tell Renee where to get off not Bella.

"Renee, Bella wants to stay here and I'm happy for her to do so. She's almost eighteen so you can't force her to go with you and I'd have thought you'd know better than to ask her."

"What is that supposed to mean? I brought her up with very little help from you Charlie Swan."

"Really? Do you want to get into all the money you took for Bella and never spent on her?"

Renee started ranting on about how expensive it had been raising a kid on her own which was hilarious really as she'd always had some guy on hand to pick up the tab for her and I paid everything she ever asked for Bella only to find it diverted into her own pocket.

Bella came in with fresh coffee then and Renee subsided her lips tight and her eyes flashing angrily,

"Fresh coffee, how domesticated of you Izzy."

"I learned at a very early age"

I know I should have chided Bella for that but I just couldn't and Renee ignored the jibe and drank her coffee slowly,

"So you are abandoning me? I guess I should have seen it coming. Children are so ungrateful these days. Well don't expect anything from me and when you find yourself in a fix don't expect me to come running to your aid. I was hoping for a nice friendly visit but its apparent I am no longer welcome here."

"You never were Renee, not once you walked out."

She banged the mug down but luckily it was empty,

"Then I'll leave. If you could just ring me a cab."

I got up putting my own drink down quietly,

"No need for that I'll drop you in town at the bus terminal."

"I need a cab to Port Angeles so I can catch a bus back to Seattle."

"Sorry I don't have time to drive you all that way, I've got things to do."

She looked at Bella who just stared at her,

"What about cab fare then?"

"You caught me out coming, you wont catch me on the way back Renee but if you want a lift into town that's fine"

"Izzy, my coat"

Bella looked at her stonily but I nodded, the sooner we were shot of the woman the better, and Bella went to collect it while I grabbed my jacket and Bella's truck keys. If I took her in the cruiser I might just be tempted to throw her in jail for a few hours!