All I have to say is you have such a gift with the written word that you turn me into a huge sap!! LOL.. I love your story and I am wishing it was Friday of next week already so you would just update already!! LOL... I love it and I hope that my review helps inspire you or at least makes you feel good about the beautiful story you written and continually bless me wtih!

Love it, Love you, Love Edward and Bella! hehehe

Author's Response:

Well, hello, sappy!  Your reviews are definitely encouraging (as are they all) and it means so much that my story is touching you and others in such a way.

Thank you so much for reading and for your review! Oh yeah, those stars are very pretty too!

Oh my, I can only imagine the sadness that is to come. I am so sorry you had to go through that pain, I hope writing about it helps you move forward.

Author's Response:

Writing this helps me remember, move forward, and hold on to the memories I cherish the most.  It wasn't easy, but it was an experience I would never regret.  Thank you for reading and for your review.

Beautifully written chapter, again. It takes a lot for me to cry when reading a book or watching a movie, but reading this made my eyes water. You have the ability to allow your readers to go on a journey with the characters. When I was reading this, I kept thinking back to what it must have felt like for you to go through this. I admire your strength and I hope that you know that your story enables others to see the power of the human spirit. All the best,
Karry.

Author's Response:

I never aim to make anyone cry, but that my story is emotionally affecting makes this journey that much more worthwhile. Thank you so much for continuing to read, review and rating my story at such a high level, I am humbled.

Thanks for the tissue warning...I had to walk away from my laptop several times to get through this chapter. You are an amazing writer.

Author's Response:

OH!  <<<<Hugs>>>>>

I really don't like to make people cry, but when I set out to write this story, I never expected to get the response I have.

I cry with each and every one of you, I promise.

Thank you so much for reading/reviewing/rating my story.

 

I'm not sure that I ever said this to you, either out of fear of overstepping my bounds, or out of fear of not being able to express my true feelings, but I respect you and your family a lot. I work in a nursing home where people that I grow to love and care for are torn away from their loved ones before their family or even I have the time or heart to really accept the situation. I can't say that this makes me understand your predicament or what you went through, but I can say that his makes me respect you so much more. This chapter, because you said it was based on more real life experience, gave us as readers more insight on your experiences with your father and your family as you dealt with this horrible disease. I don't know if I've ever respected the situation someone was in and how they dealt with it as much as I have come to respect yours today. I wish you never had to go through what you must have went through, but I commend you for your strength and commitment in dedicating a story to your family like this one. I'm so inspired by you!

I did need a tissue for this chapter! "It was the last time we were all together." Noooooooo! I know it has to happen, but up until that line, I was kind of hoping for a miracle. I'm sure we all were.

I hope I didn't overstep my bounds or rights in this review. I truly am not saying all of this out of sheer flattery - I mean each and every word. 

Thanks for another great chapter! 

Love you lots, edward-prefers-brunettes

 

 

Author's Response:

Hi Honey!

Your words absolutely flatter me and in no way are you overstepping your bounds.  I'm honestly moved to tears by your review.  It means so much that I have garnered your respect through sharing my experience and perhaps you can understand it from a perspective others wouldn't. 

Love you back,

Jules

Wow, just wow! Thank you for sharing such personal feelings, it nearly broke my heart. I've dealt with death many times and know that it is such an emotional thing. You do so well in expressing that emotion. I am glad that Bella has such a great support system and I can't wait to read the next chapter!

Author's Response:

Thank you very, very much. I've been through the loss of loved ones way too many times and despite this, I have grown more hypersensitive to it rather than numbing to it.  You think that experience would make it easier, but it definitely does not.

Thank you for reading and reviewing.

it's beautiful.

did you ever read Tuesday's with Morrie by Mitch Albom? it's a book about the symptoms of ALS on a dear college professor. i recommend it.

You just have such a beautiful way of telling this story. 

My heart is breaking.  My dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease 15 years ago.  The decline is very slow, but combined with other illnesses he suffers from, we know where we are headed.  The tremors make it impossible for him to tie his shoes, walk very far, drive, feed himself well, and he also suffers from what they call Parkinsonian Dementia.  It is a difficult road, but one I feel blessed to travel with him. 

This story feels a bit like a support group to me.  Although I know it is fictional to a point, I appreciate hearing about the experience of someone else who has helped care for a parent in their final days.  Thank you for this.

Author's Response:

Thank you so much and I am sorry for your own, personal relatability to this story.  My dad was sick for 11 years and I understand the pain of watching someone close to you dwindle away at a slow pace.  I am glad that you can already see the blessing in sharing the experience with him, not that it stifles the pain.  I am always here and would be happy to chat with you any time - you can find support in the most unexpected of places.

Thank you for your kind thoughts, for reading and offering your own personal story. 

Really good. Wonderful story! :)

Author's Response:

Thank you so much!  I appreciate your read and review!

Wow.. this has been such an emotional story.. I love it!! I have truly enjoyed reading it thus far.. and I can't wait for you to continue on with it. I have no words.. except.. amazing. Thank you for writing and sharing it with us! Now finish it! :-)

Author's Response:

Thank you so very much.  It is emotional to write as well.  I always wanted to write this story, I just had no idea it would be in the realm of fan fiction.  I am so grateful for your read and review.

Sweetie! Sorry it took me so long! The tab was open again, and I've distractions everywhere. I think I like this one more in the weekends. ^^

Loved the part where Charlie said that he wanted her to have a future with what, and whom she wanted. *grin* They've been seen. :P

It's good to see that Bella got accepted at the school in Seattle. Like Edward said, she needs a future to move forward to, to get out of the shock of losing her father quicker. If not, she'd wallow for way too long. It's okay to think of someone lost, but grieving too long isn't good either.

In the previous review I said that perhaps Edward could drive up and down to Seattle every weekend or so, if it worked for him, but I guess Edward could, if he wanted to, be a private nurse wherever she is. :-D Yet he'd lose the place his parents had made for him, or how was that again.

Sweetie, can you help me a bit with the time line? I think that Bella's been divorced for almost, or a complete, 4 years now. In the first chapter, Charlie's symptoms started 3 months after her divorce (that's quick!), but it took a year for him to get his diagnosis. But that means Charlie's been sick for so long already... And Bella's been staying home with him for so long, too? And how long has Edward been working for them? I think in the previous chapter, perhaps, it was said he'd been working for more than a year for them, by now? Dude...

Loved the update, in a kind of bittersweet way. Love that there is one, but if my feeling of losing Charlie before chapter 30 is correct, dude, this was 24! Shit...

Hope it won't be too hard to write the scenes around his death, burial, etc. *sniff*

See ya next week.

Spikey

Author's Response:

Don't be sorry - everrrr!

My mom didn't think too much beyond losing my dad, and the months that followed were very difficult for her as a result.  There are still lingering effects from her lack of consideration for her own self afterward.  It was also hard for her to see everyone moving on around her. Bella is lucky to have so many advocates for her, gently pushing her toward her future, because she has one to deal with.

 

Here's the timeline clarification:

5 years ago - Bella & Emmett divorced - though they still had some "Ex Sex" afterward, so hence the four year dry spell for B. Bella maintains her job with the travel agency and moves back in with Charlie to save money.

4 years 9 mos ago - Charlie started showing signs and symptoms of an undiagnosed condition illness and started seeing doctors

3 years 9 mos agoish - Charlie is finally diagnosed by his latest neurologist, Dr. Carlisle Cullen.  Bella continues to work for the travel agency.

2 years ago - Charlie's symptoms start presenting more frequently, Bella leaves her position at the travel agency.

1.5 years ago - Dr. Cullen suggests that Bella consider hiring a private nurse

1 year 2mos ago - Bella/Charlie hire Edward

I hope that clarifies!

Thank you again for reading, reviewing, supporting me.  It means more than my words can express.

 

I say this alot, but thank goodness Bella has Edward. What a tower of strength he is, and every time something happens with Charlie, it makes it all the more apparent how right he was that they can't be together whilst Charlie needs to be Bella's primary focus.

Charlie's health turn was scary...I can only imagine what it'd be like to hear your father struggling like that and rush up stairs to be confronted with him struggling to breath. Edward was eerily calm and professional throughout the whole situation.

Yay for Bella putting in her application and then getting her acceptance letter. Charlie pushing the fact just says what his words can't. He's accepted that he isn't going to be around much longer and he wants Bella to keep pressing forward so that when he's gone she has something to focus on to take her mind off the grief. So glad her approves of Edward for her as well.

Author's Response:

I'm so, so, so grateful that you understand where Edward was coming from with his resistance to start a relationship.  Bella already has enough emotion to deal with without having the added complication of navigating a relationship. 

When my dad was sick he was always pushing everyone who would be left behind to carry on - he hung on, though he felt horrible and was constantly in pain- for everyone else, because he worried about what would happen to all of us once he was gone.  There is a lot of my dad in Charlie and that is why he has been gently pushing Bella down the path of her future.

I'm with Bella - it's going to be hard to let this story go when Charlie is gone!

Author's Response:

The story doesn't end there, so hopefully you'll be around :D

Thanks for reading and reviewing!