Solar Eclipse - Book 5

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My mother took me inside and helped me clean up. As I sat on the shower stool I closed my eyes, enjoying this moment. Having my mother help bathe me brought back the simple times of life when I had no worries. 

Once my body was rinsed my mother began massaging shampoo into my hair. I kept my eyes closed and let myself breath in the scent of strawberries. Then she rinsed my hair. Getting out of the shower I dried off while my mother went and picked out an outfit from my closet.

I had just slipped on my undergarments when she returned. For a second she hesitated in her steps, quickly redeeming herself and gave me a smile.

"I'm sorry, it's just different seeing you all grown up." my mother said as she handed me my skinnies that I stepped into and pulled up over my thighs.

"I would be lying if I told you I loved being an adult mom." I said as I slipped my arms into my silk button down shirt before snapping the buttons together.

"It is a big change but you are handling it so well and I am so proud of you." My mother said to me as she brought me into her arms.

Looking on my vanity I grabbed my hair brush and handed it to her. "Brush my hair for me mom? Please." I asked.

Taking the brush my mother walked into the bedroom. I followed and took a seat on the floor between her legs as she sat down on my bed. After sectioning my hair into four parts she began brushing.

"Your hair color is so stunning."

"Nic tells me that a lot." I grinned.

"Nic..." There was a few moments of silence. "How are you and Nic doing?" she asked.

I tilted my head town slightly so my mother could brush the hair at my nape.

"We are doing good." I paused, biting my slightly in a perfect imitation of my mother.

"What is it Renesmee?" my mother asked me as she noticed this.

I blushed a deep shade of crimson. "He asked me to marry him... twice."

My mother reached down and grabbed my left hand as if she was looking for a ring.

"You said no?" she asked as she noticed no ring.

I shook my head.

"You said yes?" My mother asked, her voice filled with shock.

"I told him that I loved him but I wasn't ready for that chapter of my life."

My mother continued to brush my hair in silence for another five minutes before she was finished. Then she rose to her feet and set the brush on my dresser and then pulled me to my feet.

"You remind me a lot like myself." My mother said to myself as she picked up the picture I had of her and my father when they were dating. She ran her finger across the picture and then set it back down. "The first time your father proposed to me I said no as well. He proposed again and the answer never changed until the third time. The moment felt so right. I was scared out of my mind but I knew it was what I wanted, so I said yes." I watched her pick up another picture of my mother, father and myself when I was just a baby. "Best decision of my life."

I smiled at the picture of the three of us before turning and looking at my mother. "So if I was to say yes?"

"Your father and I would be happy for you." She touched the spot on my chest where my heart is. "But don't do it only to please us or Nic, say yes if that is really what you want."

"When have I ever done anything to please anyone but myself."

My mother crossed her arms and gave me 'the' look, her eyebrows risen and her lips pursed smugly.

"Jake doesn't count mom."

"Does it?" she countered.

Suddenly I wondered what had become of Jake since the last time I saw him. I had kicked him off my property when I discovered that he had been killing humans and drinking their blood to sustain his thirst. Only my mother didn't know this. Did she?

I sighed. "Mom, Jake isn't the same anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"I saw him once more after he was changed, he came to visit and his eyes were red. I saw into his thoughts and he killed humans. Children."

My mothers mouth fell open in an 'o' shape. Then she just seemed to freeze, her muscles locking into place.

"Mom?" I touched her shoulder.

After a few moments she blinked and then took a deep breath.

"Um, whenever you feel like it you can come join us downstairs." My mother said before she gave me a forced smile and walked from my bedroom, leaving me to myself.

What had just happened with my mother? What was on her mind and why did she react like that?