Mommy Dearest *Completed but Not Edited*

Chapter 14

Jaida:  

"Aunty Clara!!!" Bella exclaims when we walk through the doors of the diner.  

"Isabella Marie! Look how big you've gotten," Clara stated as she tended to some customers.  

"Hey Clara," I said kissing her cheek and picking up Bella and placing her on a nearby stool.  

"Hi sweetie, how's the job hunting going?" she asked. Even though I worked at the diner I couldn't work here all my life so I started looking for a better paying job.  

"It's fine but if I don't get a job soon I may have to start doing more hours here."  

"No problem honey but I'm sure you'll find one soon. Now where's my grandson?" she asked with playfully narrowed eyes.  

"Hey grandma," Cameron walks out from the kitchen with pie in his mouth and piece on a plate and kissing her on the cheek, getting crumbs on her. I smiled at how childish he was around her, it was cute.  

Zoning out of Cam and Clara's conversation I took the plate from him and placed it in front of Bella whose currently kneeling on a stool colouring. I needed to get a job, a decent job, I couldn't raise a toddler without one and money's already getting tight on the diner's paycheck. Looks like I'm going to have to take Clara up on her offer for more hours and I may have to get another part time job. I sighed heavily, things were suppose to be getting easier.  

"Bella you want to go see Sammy today?" I asked softly as she dug into the pie.  

"Yes momma, can I pick the flowers for Sammy again?"  

I smiled softly, "Sure baby."  

It used to bother me that Bella doesn't call Sammy 'mommy' but in reality I'm the only mother she knows so I can't blame her for that.  

"We'll go as soon as Cam's finish." She nodded and went back to colouring.  

"Finished with what?" Cameron asks, walking around the counter to stand behind me.  

"Talking to Clara. I want to take Bella to see Samantha, you can come with if you want," I said knowing he would refuse, cemeteries freak him out.  

"Uh yea sure," he says, his face visibly paling, "Well I guess we can go now, I'll just wait for you at the entrance or something."  

I raised an eyebrow at him before shaking my head not bothering to say anything, "Bella come on let's go. Tell aunty bye bye. Clara we'll see you around."  

"Bye sweeties," she said after hugging and kissing Bella on the cheek, "Be safe, don't do anything I won't do," she chirped sweetly with a mischievous glint in her eyes.  

"Leaves us with pretty much everything huh. Bye gran," I flushed darkly at Clara and Cameron's words and hurried out the diner with their laughter behind me.

"Bella be careful where you're walking," I say to the little girl walking a few steps ahead of me.  

"Yes mommy," she says softly.  

I stop at a bench right in front Samantha's grave and nudge Bella forward a bit, "Alright go do your thing, I'm right here if you need me."  

When Bella was old enough to talk, I started letting her hold her own conversations with Samantha, she usually just told her about her day and if we had anything planned but I just wanted her to have that bond, I would usually come alone if I needed to say something. She's convinced she's a big girl and doesn't need me to sit with her that's why I usually sit on the bench.