Still Dawn: The Saga Continues

Chapter 13: Saying Good-Bye

CHAPTER 13: SAYING GOOD-BYE

"Oh Bella, Do you have to go?" Renee complained. It had been 4 days since Billy's funeral and Jacob had announced yesterday he was ready to go home.  

"Yes Mom" I sighed "Nessie's already missed 2 week's worth of school, We can't have her falling too far behind"  

"But we haven't spent enough time together" she whined "Why don't I come back with you for a week or so?",  

"No Mom, you need to go home, I'm sure Phil's missing you" I paused, trying to think of a good excuse, I glared over at Edward, but apparently he didn't have any suggestion's "And beside's," I continued "with everything that's been going on, we need her to get back to some kind of normality" I finished, thinking to myself that sounded like a perfectly reasonable excuse.

 The truth was I'd loved spending time with my Mom again, but I hated lying to her all the time. I hated having to eat the awful meal's she had prepared for us, only to cough them back up later. And I knew that with every minute she was near us, she was getting closer to finding out the truth. She'd picked up on the fact that Renesmee looked like me and Edward, she'd noticed Ness and Edward having one of their silent conversation's. She had even commented on the fact that I didn't look like 'the average human'. No. I couldn't continue risking her like that.  

"OK, OK" she agreed, much to my relief "But promise we'll get together again soon?" she begged,  

"Mom, there's just so much going on right now, I mean, we've got Nessie to think about, Me and Edward have both got work" I continued, we'd told Renee that we were both working, and when she'd asked more we'd just avoided the question's "But I'll call you soon, OK?" I promised.  

"Fine!" she pouted, before turning to look at me "I just can't get over how grown up you are Bella, it only seem's like yesterday you were a tiny baby in my arm's", she paused, I glanced quickly over at Renesmee who was sitting on Edward's lap, I knew the feeling "and now..." she continued "well now, look at you! You're a beautiful married woman, and you have a child, I just feel like I've lost my little girl",  

"I know Mom, I'm sorry" I muttered, and I was sorry, I was sorry that I was hurting my own Mom, I hated cutting her out of my life, but I knew this was going to happen. From the minute I decided I wanted to be changed I knew that I couldn't keep Renee in my life. I'd come to term's with that over the year's. But seeing her here in front of me, it had re-opened all the old wound's. I missed my Mom.  

"I love you Mom, never forget that OK?" I wrapped her up into my arm's and held her close for one last time. I pulled away eventually, if I could have cried, I would have.  

"Right come on you two" I said looking at Edward and Renesmee "Where's Charlie and Sue?" I asked "we can't leave without saying good-bye",  

"They carried the bag's outside for us love" Edward answered, walking over and kissing me gently on the head.  

"OK, lets get going then" I attempted to smile,  

"I'll meet you all out there" Edward paused "I need to ring Carlisle and let him know we are on our way home" he lied, winking at me. He was actually going to ring Jacob and tell him we were on our way to pick him up. Jacob was all for running home, but we'd managed to convince him to ride with us. Renee was unaware that Jake lived with us, it would only spark more awkward question's.  

"OK love" I replied "Come on Ness, let's get going" I said wrapping my arm around her shoulder and guiding her towards the front door. I could hear Renee following.  

Charlie and Sue were stood out on the porch waiting for us, huddled together in an embrace. Charlie looked at me as we walked out,  

"Come here kiddo" he smiled, moving away from Sue and holding his arm's out to me to hug me "Ring when you get back so I know you arrived safe" he continued patting me lightly on the back.