EPOV

"I don't know who's worf," Bella says around her toothbrush before taking it out of her mouth and adding. "Charlie at least raised and loved me."

I don't dare spare a glance at my laptop knowing that she needs my undivided attention.

I was trying to finish some work up before she texted me where she was going. I'm glad I made the decision to go to The Carlyle.

I know she's Bella's mother, but neither of us knows the woman. After I heard enough of their conversation, I knew it wasn't headed in a productive direction, so I knew I needed to step in.

Renee was quickly becoming frazzled and Bella's irritation was rising. It was clear that Renee didn't know how to stop and Bella couldn't tell her that she'd had enough.

I couldn't imagine ever putting Hadley through any of this. Rose had her demons and needed to face them head-on at the moment, but I don't think I could ever keep her away from her child indefinitely.

It wouldn't be right for Hadley or Rose.

Up until this point, I wouldn't have thought that Bella cared either way about her mother, but now that she has more to go off of, the toll of her parents' actions is clearly showing how much it affects her.

"It sounds like she's taking accountability for everything. It says a lot that she wasn't throwing your dad under the bus," I try to helpfully point out.

She starts brushing again while she shakes her head. I watch her head back into the bathroom to rinse.

She's back within a few minutes plopping down on top of the bed.

I close my laptop and place it on the nightstand knowing that I'm not going to get much more done.

She wiggles her way closer to me until she playfully nips into my bare side. I hold her chin between my thumb and pointer finger to tilt her head up.

Her eyes are welling with tears but I can see how much she's fighting not to let them flow. I scoot down the bed so we're laying face to face.

"Why would he just send her out here without talking to me?" she whispers.

I mull over her words.

Charlie Swan was a complicated man, but I could see so much of Bella in him. I think this had more to do with stubbornness and his pride. He was desperate to fix things with his daughter but those two traits stifled his ability to navigate this situation he and his ex-wife created.

"I think his intentions in this case were good," I tell her.

"You do?" she asks quietly.

"Bella, the man loves you, I don't think this was all about retaliation toward your mother. She had issues that he and your Gran both knew about. They did what they thought was right at the time. I don't agree with him on hiding the letters she wrote to you. That is something he should have been open with you about," I explain.

I don't think my situation with Rose parallels Bella's parents, but I see similarities. I also see where Charlie took his hurt out on Renee.

He was in love with her and she simply didn't love him back. He was a means to an end or a beginning in Renee's case.

His ego took a hit and he used Bella to drive the knife further into his ex-wife.

She snuggles further into me not saying a word.

I wish I could make this better for her because I know how much she was affected by this.

"It's too late to call my dad now but I think I need to talk with him tomorrow," she mumbles.

"I think that's a good place to start," I say encouragingly.

We're quiet for a moment while my hand rubs her back. I think she's asleep until she speaks. "What would you do?"

"If it were my parents, or if this were my situation with Rose?" I ask cautiously.

She shrugs.

I wonder if it's because I don't talk a lot about my parents.

"My dad was pretty mellow and he loved my mom's brand of free spirit," I explain trying to hold back a laugh, it almost felt like I was describing me and Bella's dynamic. "I don't think either one of them was capable of saying an unkind thing about the other—"

"Okay then, what if this was about you and Rose?" she asks switching gears.

"Honestly, even at her worst, I would never do anything to hurt Rose. I only want the best for her, also I couldn't put Hadley through that kind of stress. To have to get the court involved recently was to protect both Hadley and Rose. It was never meant to be a permanent situation, at least I hoped Rose would get her shit together again at some point," I tell her frankly.

She nods, looking a little disappointed. I wasn't sure if it was because she wished Charlie would have taken her thoughts and feelings into consideration.

"Edward?"

"Yeah, Bell?" I ask brushing her hair back.

"Remember when I thought you were an asshole?"

I laugh but nod.

"I was wrong. You're a fucking gentleman," she murmurs as she cups my face.

"I am?" I tease.

"Uh-huh," she says before she lays one on me.

I move the covers back so she can get under them and listen to her breathing even out minutes later.

I only hoped that Bella could get the answers she was looking for.

I wake to an empty bed.

I go to the bathroom to take a piss before I slip some sweats on.

The house is too quiet when I emerge from my room.

I peek into Hadley's room to see she's still asleep.

I'm a little worried that Bella might have left, but once I'm in the hall, I still see her shoes next to mine by the door.

It's when I'm heading toward the kitchen I hear the whispers.

Bella is clinging to my sister on the couch. I watch as Esme soothes her when I catch her attention. She gives me a sad smile.

"How long have you two been up?" I ask.

"Not long," Es answers. "I came out to start the coffee—"

"I heard her and didn't want to wake you," Bella finishes with a sniffle.

I make my way to them and take a seat on the arm of the couch. Bella pulls out of her hug with Esme to lean back into me. Her arm rests on my leg and I cup the back of her head.

"I'm trying to find the balls to call Charlie," she tells me with a sigh.

"What were your thoughts on Renee?" Esme asks me and I assume she just got Bella's two cents.

"She took some accountability for what happened on her end. Charlie's reasons for keeping her away at the time seem to make sense—"

"She's a disaster, Edward. Just speak the truth," Bella cuts in giving me a frown.

I sigh.

"She is a Real Housewife of Jacksonville," I admit to them both.

Bella's face lights up at that and I want to roll my eyes at myself. The laugh peeling out of both of them only proves they have pulled me to the dark side of their world of pop culture.

Bella nods furiously.

"He's absolutely right," she exclaims as she props further up against me. "From head to toe, she is a Housewife. Get a camera and she's ready to shine."

"You want to take it that far?" I ask her doubtfully.

My sister reaches forward smacking my knee. "Don't discount her on this, Edward. You were the one who made the observation so there has to be at least some truth to it," she scolds.

Now I do roll my eyes.

"I need coffee," I say as I stand.

Both crazies follow me into the kitchen spouting off new theories as to what kind of person Renee really is.

I make the coffee, but they beat me to it and pour theirs first.

"I think someone is grumpy," Es says before she ruffles my hair.

"I'm still tired and would like to wake up with my favorite Starbucks blend," I argue while I try to dodge her hands.

"Wouldn't be so grumpy if you got some," Bella says knowingly.

I gaff since she's saying this in front of my sister.

"You might be right," Es says backing her up.

"Christ, you two," I say, downing my full mug of black coffee.

"Grouchy, grouch," Bella mocks as she pulls me down to her to give me a kiss. "I love you."

I glance over at Esme, who is riveted by us.

"Love you, too," I tell her once my gaze lands back on her.

Esme quietly squeals.

"You two are the sweetest," she comments.

"I'm going to start breakfast before Had wakes up," I tell them as I move to the fridge to grab eggs.

"I'm going to go shower," Bella says, biting her lip.

It was clear she was trying to buy time before she needed to call Charlie. I would call her out on her stall tactics but her mood seemed to be brightening since we came in here twenty minutes ago.

I give a kiss to her head.

Once she's out of earshot, Esme swoops in.

"Tell me the truth," she demands.

"What did Bella tell you?"

"That the woman was hair-brained and selfish," she says bluntly.

I raise an eyebrow.

"I'm paraphrasing, but come on. The woman used her marriage to get more beneficial loan options for financial aid. I understand feeling trapped and wanting more, but she should have never married—"

"If she would have never married him, then there would be no Bella," I cut her off with a glare.

She nods slowly.

"You're right, but Renee hurt both of them. Who's to say that she wouldn't have used Bella if she had split custody with her father? I get why Charlie did what he did," Esme says coming in real hot.

I admire how fiercely she loves Bella.

Esme fights for those she loves, I should know because she did it for me.

She was selfless and that's why she can't fathom what Renee did to her child and her ex-husband.

I only hope when Bella gets around to calling her dad that he can put his pride aside to open up completely to his daughter.

She deserves to know her childhood wasn't a lie, hopefully Charlie isn't that spiteful of a man and he did what he did for her.

A/N: Concert update: I didn't get tickets but we could see the whole concert outside the stadium. The last hour was a snooze fest. I was surprised how hyped up TSwift's concert was by her fans and the media. I see Beyonce soon and she never disappoints.

This chapter was originally BPOV but I scrapped the whole thing to write this one instead. Got to thank CoppertopJ for her edits. Any mistakes are my own.