MacKenzie Elizabeth Cullen

02. unpleasant hereafter

Is it wrong? Yes. Is it impolite? Yes. Am I going to do it anyway? Yes. I knew it would have consequences, but I never intended to kill my grandfather, so maybe this was the respectful thing to do? I really don't know what to do in this situation. It's not like there's a support group for hybrids who accidentally kill their grandfather.

I walked up to the funeral home, my heart beating faster than usual. Dressing for his funeral was not complicated at all, seeing as almost all of my clothes are black. I grabbed the door handle and started to go inside, but Bella already heard me coming and quickly grasped my wrist and pulled me outside.

"What are you doing here?" she growled defensively as she eyed my attire.

I narrowed my eyes in annoyance. What else would I be doing here? Casually visiting dead people? I don't need to visit a funeral home for that. "...Going to Charl-"

Her grip on my wrist tightened. "Don't you dare say his name," Bella threatened.

I kept telling myself that she's just upset, and that's why she's being so hostile towards me. I rolled my eyes and yanked my arm from her hand. "You know what? I'm not even sorry anymore. Everyone else seems to understand that it was an accident."

For a second, Bella let her guard down and almost looked sorry, but it only lasted for a moment before she was angry again. "That doesn't make it okay! You killed someone, MacKenzie! How am I supposed to look my daughter in the eye, knowing she's a murderer?"

A figure in the corner of my eye appeared. It was Edward, dressed in a black dress shirt and black pants. He looked sad and confused. "Is that what you believe?" he asked softly.

Immediately, Bella's face fell. She went to grab Edward's hand but he pulled it away from her. "No, Edward. This isn't about you, it's about MacKenzie."

He frowned. "And what makes her any different from me, or Emmett, or anyone else that's slipped?"

While I full heartedly agreed with my father, I didn't want to be the cause of an argument. "Dad, it's okay. It's different for me because I slipped with Charlie."

Edward ran a hand through his bronze hair, shaking his head. "No, Kenzie, it's not any different. How can she love me, knowing I've killed plenty of humans, but then hate you for making one mistake?" Well, he does have a point. I tried my hardest not to smile because my father was taking my side, defending me against his soulmate. Bella was about to say something, but Edward stopped her. "I don't want to hear it. Come on, Kenz, let's go home."

The car ride home was when realization began to set in. I was drawing a line between my mom and my dad. This line might not be erasable. "Are we going to the cottage house?" I asked.

We usually refer to our small cottage house as 'home.' Renesmee and I have rooms in both houses, because sometimes Bella and Edward want the house to themselves. Plus, Esme cooks better breakfast than Bella, so I like staying at the bigger house.

"No," was all he said.

I sighed. "Dad, I don't want Mom's problem with me to get in the way of your marriage."

He continued to keep his eyes on the road, speeding like every other immortal does. "Yeah, well now I have a problem with her," he admitted sadly. "She says she hates double standards, but then..."