When Bella noticed that Rene felt lonely due to the lack of romance in her life, she encouraged her mother to go on more dates. Eventually, Rene fell in love with and married a minor league baseball player named Phil Dwyer. Bella wasn't entirely fond of the idea, but nevertheless offered her blessing. They married in the same month that Bella turned 17. While Phil traveled around for his job, Rene stayed home with Bella; however, Bella, noticing her mother's unhappiness with this arrangement, chose to move in with her father in Forks so Rene could go on the road with Phil during baseball season, leading to the beginning of Twilight.