Chapter 41 – Bella
A/N: Hey guys. So I was re-reading this story so that I could figure out my next move and something occurred to me. I'm not gonna spoil it for you but I managed to figure out how to work it in this far into the story. I hope you like this chapter, there's a few funny parts in this one. Do you guys want more smut scenes? If so, Jared/Bella or another couple. LMK!
The next morning when I got up Jared was already gone, probably on patrol. I quickly took a shower before I headed downstairs to make myself a cup of coffee. I had just sat down with my coffee when I heard a knock at the front door. I stood up from my spot at the kitchen table and made my way to the door. When I opened the door I was surprised to see my mother standing on my front porch. "Mom! What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Well, imagine my surprise when I called Charlie's because I haven't heard from you in a while and he tells me that you don't live there anymore." Mom said.
I mentally slapped my head at the fact that I'd forgotten to call her. "I'm sorry Mom. Do you want to come in? I just made some coffee." I told her.
Mom crossed her arms and nodded. I opened the door to let her in. She followed me to the kitchen. "This is a nice house. Who's is it?" She asked.
I poured her a cup of coffee and sat it on the table before going back to my seat. She sat down across from me where I'd sat her coffee cup. "It belongs to my boyfriend Jared." I told her.
She nodded taking a drink of her coffee. "And how long have the two of you been together?" She asked me. I thought about how best to answer her question. "Because the last time I checked you were still dating Edward." Mom said.
"Well…yes, Edward and I were dating. But I've known Jared for a while, he's friends with Jacob Black. You remember him, right? Billy Black's son?" I said and she nodded. "Well, Edward and I had split up for a bit and I'd started hanging out with Jacob and some of his friends. Well, he'd introduced me to Jared. Well, Jared and I spent time getting to know each other and well…I liked him and he liked me but we'd both been too chicken to tell the other. So when Edward asked me to take him back, I stupidly agreed." I said and she nodded, telling me to continue my story. I was just hoping that she'd believe it. "Well, there was something off about the relationship this time around. It wasn't the same. He started trying to control me. Who I hung out with, what I wore, what I ate…you get the picture." She nodded again. "Anyway…Jacob found out about it and he tried to talk sense into me. Telling me that it wasn't normal. Mom, it was crazy. It was like something inside me woke up. It was like I suddenly realize just how toxic the relationship actually was."
"So you broke up with Edward?" She asked me and I nodded. "Okay. So how did you go from that…to this?" She asked.
"So the day after I broke up with Edward, I came down to talk to Billy and Uncle Quil. I told them that I wanted to find a summer job down here." I said.
"Why here and not in Forks?" She asked.
I sighed. "Because I knew that Edward was most likely going to try and convince me to come back to him. But I knew that I couldn't…It wouldn't be healthy." I told her and she nodded. "That and there's the fact that Edward's family isn't welcome here. Bad blood and what not."
I could tell that Mom was trying to process everything that I'd told her so far but it was only the beginning. "Okay. So basically you wanted a job down here for safety reasons?" She asked and I nodded. "Bella, you do realize that your father's a cop, right?" She said and I rolled my eyes. "You could have just asked your father to get a restraining order."
"Mom, it's not that simple. Edward is…persistent. Not to mention that Carlisle, his father is a doctor at Forks General, lives are literally in his hands and he feels that certain rules don't apply to him or his family." I told her, thinking about all the times that Carlisle had taken blood bags from the hospital to keep on hand at the Cullen's house in case I ever needed a transfusion. The thought sent a chill down my spine.
"That's a little creepy, Bella." She said and I nodded. "So, you got away from an abusive relationship. Found a job down here. Then what?" She asked.
"Well, Jared and I started hanging out again. After a while, he asked me out. Things were good. I introduced him to Charlie and Charlie loves him. Well, Jared and I realized one night that we were ready to move forward with things. He talked to Charlie about me moving down here." I said and Mom gave me a skeptical look. "Not like that. It's not the same. Jared doesn't make decisions for me. He helps encourage me. He loves me mom and I love him. He helps to pull me out of my comfort zone and try new things. Things that I never would have considered doing on my own." I tried to explain to her.
She nodded. "I can understand that. Phil's done the same with me at times." She said. I smiled at her. "So, when do I get to meet the mystery boyfriend?" She asked.
I turned and looked at the clock that hung near the back door. Jared had about a half hour left in his patrol. "He should be home in about a half hour. Why don't I call his boss and see if he can leave a little early?" I asked her and she smiled.
I grabbed my cell and walked out to the back porch, making sure the door was securely shut. I dialed Paul's number knowing that he was next for patrol. Emily had made Sam start giving all the Imprint's a copy of the patrol schedule so that we'd know who was on patrol, when and where. "B?" Paul said when he answered the phone.
"Hey Paul. Look I know that you're not due to be on patrol for another half hour…but I've got a situation." I said glancing back to the kitchen.
"What's going on?" He asked worried.
"My mother showed up and I hadn't told her about me and Jared. I've explained the best that I could, but she's insisting that she meet Jared. Paul, I'm begging you…please go relieve him from patrol and send him home." I pleaded with Paul.
"Will you make me those cookies that I like so much, if I do?" He asked me.
"Yes. I will make you 3 dozen if you go relieve Jared right this second and send him home." I said, slightly irritated that Paul was stalling.
"Got it." Paul said and hung up.
I took a deep breath before I made my way back into the kitchen. I plastered a fake smile on my face, "Okay so Jared will be home soon." I told my mom.
She smiled at me. "Great. I can't wait to meet him." She said.
It was about another fifteen minutes before I heard the front door again. Thankfully, I'd thought to put Jared a shirt and a pair of shorts on the front porch, knowing that since I'd moved in, he hadn't been carrying shorts with him much. "Babe?" I heard Jared call from the front door. I left Mom in the kitchen while I went to greet him. "What's going on?" He whispered when I got to him.
"My mother showed up. After I moved in, I forgot to call her and tell her about us." I whispered back. "Now, come on. I've tried explaining the best I could but she's dying to meet you." Jared quickly nodded as he grabbed my hand and we headed to the kitchen. "Mom, this is Jared Cameron. Jare, this is my Mom, Renee Dwyer." I said introducing them.
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Dwyer." Jare said.
Mom looked at Jared for a minute. I knew that she was most likely checking him out. "Please, call me Renee." She said and I let out the breath that I'd been holding.
"Jare?" I said, getting Jared's attention. "You want a sandwich?" I asked. He happily nodded.
"Seriously Bella? It's not even nine in the morning. Make this man some breakfast." Mom chastised.
I rolled my eyes, knowing that Jared had already had breakfast early this morning before his patrol with Sam. I knew that Emily had fed him. She and I had worked out a schedule alternating who fed the wolves that had the early patrol. "It's alright Renee. I get up really early for work, so I've already had breakfast this morning. Bella's used to my crazy work schedule." Jared said, defending me. Renee looked at us shocked as I made Jared some sandwiches. After I sat the plate of sandwiches in front of Jared, I grabbed his favorite bag of chips and a bottle of water for him. "Thanks." Jared said and I smiled at him. "So, Renee, what brings you to our neck of the woods?" He asked her.
"Concerned mother. Hadn't heard from my daughter so I decided to come see what was going on." Mom explained. I wasn't entirely sure that was the complete reason.
"And what do you think?" Jared asked her.
"It's a very nice house you have here. Is it just the two of you that live here?" She asked.
Jared nodded. "Yes. My parents bought the house when they first got married and they done some updating to the house over the years but then they got offered a really good deal on housing through their careers so they decided to move to Seattle and they gave me the house when they moved." Jared told her.
She nodded. "What do they do?" She asked.
"Their professors at the University of Washington." Jared told her.
She nodded. "And you? What do you do?" She asked.
I knew that the pack had a standard answer but I also knew that this would be the first time that I'd be hearing that answer to an outsider. "I work with several others that provide protection for the reservation. Almost like a tribal police of sorts. And then I work part time with my friend Sam, he has his own construction company." Jared told him.
"That sounds nice." Mom said.
"It is." Jared said. After Jared finished his sandwiches he looked over at me and smiled. "I'm gonna go take a shower and let you ladies visit. Don't forget we have plans tonight." Jared said, reminding me of the bonfire that we were having to celebrate the newly imprinted couples.
"Of course babe." I said. I waited till I heard Jared shut the bedroom door before I turned to Mom. "How long are you here for?" I asked her.
"I head back tonight. I just wanted to come make sure that you're okay." She said.
I nodded. "I promise you that I am. I've never been better." I said, smiling. And it was the truth.