Twice in one lifetime
March 2008
"Dad!, Mom! We're home!"We are finally home.
Esme comes running out of the kitchen. "My boys are home!" jumping into Emmett's arms and then to Jasper's arm.
Jasper looked around the house "It's so good to be back home." Esme concerned with her sons asked, "How was the trip?" Emmett placing neatly the last of the luggage, "Exhausting, but productive. " They looked around as they were heading for the huge kitchen. "Where's Dad? We have a lot to talk to him about?"
As Esme grasped both of her sons'arms, "He's at the school. One of the teacher's fell ill and he is substituting?" Jasper continued "Mom, how's Edward?"
Esme then continued to get 2 bottled waters "He's coming along. Marie's death and what she gave to him has been overwhelming for him. He's slowly getting out the depression, but he doesn't want to use his hearing or voice. "
Emmett taking the water, "Thanks Mom but where is he?"
Esme replies "He teaching too. He has been concentrating on teaching 24/7 but he is going to be extremely excited to see you missed you both. He has been so good to Alice and Rosalie helping them with whatever they needed.
Both then asked, "Where are Alice and Rosalie?"
Esme smiles, taking her hand against their cheeks."Calm down both of you. They are both shopping. They are both actually getting a little big and they were running out of clothes. As well, I think they just needed to get out. They miss Marie so much."
Esme starting to tear up.
Jasper POV
I can't believe we are home. After a month traveling and getting funding for the school, but we have enough funding to last us for two years. It's hard but we are dedicated to this.
See, our little brother is deaf. He lost his hearing due to an illness, a virus he contracted when he was 3 years old. Emmett and I are twins and we have always protected our little brother. I mean we were amazed of what he has been able to do. He is extremely intelligent but stubborn as a mule. He barely recalls hearing things, but he plays the piano and guitar beautiful. He loved to dance and he is a dedicated teacher.
See, when Dad and Mom learned that their son would be deaf and found that no real schools could cater to Edwards inability to hear, they decided to open a school for the deaf and blind. It started small and there were several children in the surrounding area that were in need of this school. Dad always liked teaching, though he was a doctor of medicine. When Edward lost his hearing, he, well, we all dedicated ourselves in learning sign language and learning the world of death and the blind. Though Edward wasn't blind, Dad thought that it would be an excellent idea to create a school dedicated to the advancements of students with these challenges.
Emmett and I couldn't be prouder of our family. Emmett and I pursued our degrees in Education & Business. We weren't only teachers within the school, we were the business itself. The school needed funding since we did not want to charge those famiy with tuition. We were located in Seattle, Washington and we were world known. Many of our past graduates have lead successful lives and reputable citizens.
Emmett POV
I am so happy we are back home. I am getting a bit tired of the traveling, but we must do it. I missed my Rosalie. This trip was harder than most since she is 4 months pregnant. So is Jasper's wife. Trust me, we didn't plan this… honest. It just came all about the same time Marie passed away.
See, Marie wasn't just Edward's girlfriend and soulmate, but she be our little sister to Jasper, Alice, Rosalie and me. When she passed away, we found out that Alice and Rosalie were pregnant. That time was hard. Edward was crushed. Marie and he met at the school and were sweethearts since attending the school. They both went to college together and came back to teach at the school. Marie wasn't deaf, but she was blind. She was born blind. She never knew why and how since she was adopted by Renee and Charlie Swan. She was abandoned on their stoop when she was not even a week old so many years ago. They took her and tried to find her parents with no avail. Renee and Charlie kept her and provided a loving and caring home. See, they couldn't have children, so Marie was a gift from God to them. With that said, no one knew her DNA histrory or anything on her biological family.
As we all grew up together, she always knew that she wasn't going to live a long life. Because of what she thought, she lived life to the fullest. She adored Edward and tried to never speak to him about her thoughts of her death because it would pain him so much. Marie was the only woman who accepted Edward for who he was inside. Edward, if I say so myself, is a handsome man. I think it's the eyes. His green eyes captivate many women. Marie didn't know of this because she had never seen him. She fell in love with him because of him. They had a genuine and true love for each other. Marie had a heart of gold. Of all the years I had the pleasure of knowing her, I had never seen her in a bad mood, crying, sad. She saw the world has a gift, a gift to be cherished daily.
Esme POV
I remember that fateful day when our Marie passed on. Marie was found passed out in her home by her Dad. No one knew how long she had been in that state. At that moment no one had an idea what happened, but from what the autopsy stated later, she had had a massive aneurysm. No one had ever noticed any proble, but the doctors agreed that she had lived past her prime.
I can never forget the day of the funeral. Charlie was heartbroken. Renee hadn't slept in days. Edward was beside himself. We were all unconsolable. At the cemetery, Charlie spoke to Carlisle and provided him a letter he found in Marie's drawer addressed to Edward. When Edward read it that night, it was the first time I had heard anything from him. He screamed so loud from the pain. We all still have nightmares from it. But true to his word, he was to be operated the following day. Marie had left in her living will that Edward receive the missing piece he needed to hear again. She had donated her body and organs for donation and she provided my son the ability to hear. Though he has this missing piece, he refuses to use it. He can hear, we all know that but he only answers to sign and never talks. I hope, we hope he can get through this and use his new gift.
Six months later:
Carlisle POV
Esme!
Esme!
In the kitchen! I start to run to her and I pick her up and twirl her around.
"I love you!" and hug her. I see that she is frightened. "What happened?You are scaring me dear."
"It's a miracle sweetheart. A miracle."
I went on to explain my interview for a new teacher for the school. She was exactly, identical to Marie. Her name was Isabella Smith – but she goes by Bella. She was from Forks, Washington and was deaf. She had become a teacher for the deaf as well as for the blind. She taught literature, math, art and music.
I couldn't believe it when I saw her. She looked exactly like Edward's Marie – our Marie. I was astonished. I immediately apologized for slurring so much and took her out to lunch for the interview. After three hours, I had learned that she was an orphan. All she knew was that she was abandoned 24 years ago with no paperwork. She never knew who her parents were and her birthday was assigned to be January 1, the day she had been abandoned. They belive that she had been around 5 to 6 months old when she was found. She had grown up in an orphanage in Forks. She had never been adopted due to her being deaf and she had been slowly losing her eyesight. Because of this, she has had to learned the Braille system as well. Though she had these challenges, she graduated from high school with top honors and received her degrees in education, literature, math and music from Syracuse University 6 years later on a full scholarship.
Though she had already taught at a school like ours in London for a bit, she wanted to teach in our school since she knew we were the best. I hired her on the spot. I knew she was going to be an assett in our school, but I felt that she was the key back to our happiness and especially to my son's happiness. I just didn't know how to tell her and to Edward.
I went into my study and called the kids except for Edward. They came into my study and I explained to them that were were going to meet the new teacher I had hired. I told them everything I had explained to Esme and we decided to meet her the next day. I didn't want to tell Edward because I was just afraid on how he would take it. He finally has been able deal with the loss, but he has placed all his energies towards teaching.
The kids was having problems believing this new teacher had arrived in our lives. I mean what are the chances of finding two woman who looked alike. We came at the conclusion that Marie and Bella must have been born as identical twins. We think that their birth mother could not handle two children and just decided to abandon Marie before heading to Forks. I had started to investigate if that was true. That information was going to take a little longer to get but I had people working on it. We decided together that we all needed to agree on hiring Bella as a new teacher in our school. I called Bella at her hotel room and she agreed to meet us tomorrow at 1pm. She would take a cab to meet us at our home.
The next day, Edward was picked up for classes. We have pretended that we had meetings or other things to do. Then once he left, we all starting getting ready. We knew that we had at least until 4 pm to have with Bella.
We were all nervous and when 12:49pm came around and the doorbell rang.
Jasper and Emmett scream that Bella was here. I was amazed at how loud my children were. Esme, Alice and Rosalie were already downstairs talking about stuff. I went to the door and received our guest.
I took a deep breath and opened the door. I took her hand immediately and started to sign, "Bella, it is so nice to see you again. Please come in and welcome to our home." Bella came in so delicately and signed, "Thank you for inviting me." Even though she still had some eyesight, she carried a walking stick to avoid any slipping. I signed, "Here let me help you. There are three steps." Bella struggled as she took my hand, but said quietly"Thank you." I could tell she was having a problem with her losing her sight.
I continued to sign as I led her to the living room, "I would like to meet my family. They are all involved in the school and are my right hand people for the school." She smiled and signed "OK." I led her to the living room and when my family saw her they gasped. Thank God should couldn't hear. I saw that Esme and Alice were tearing up.
Alice POV
I couldn't believe it. Bella looks exactly like Marie. She stood like her, she walked like her, she even smiled liked was as pale as Marie was and her hair was that beautiful mahogany brown. Her eyes were a beautiful brown.
I can not believe that we had Marie back. Carlisle started to introduce Bella to us. "Bella, I would like you to meet my wife, Esme". Bella spoke with a struggle and said softly "Hello" and Esme took Bella in her arms. Bella smiled. She seemed like she wasn't afraid. She looked like she was a strong woman. She looks like she has been through hell and back. She got introduced to everyone and everyone just simply hugged her. I couldn't believe it. Jasper was the one who was more entraced. Jasper always had this connection with Marie and now he looked at Bella like he had another opportunity to be a big brother.
Bella POV
I didn't really understand the reaction of the Cullen and Hale family. I have always been an affectionate person, but these members of this family, from what I could take were in awe of me. I don't know why. I am a nobody, a plain Jane. All I wanted is to teach at a great school. I guess I had to deal with this in order to teach.
Carlisle POV
As I had finished the introductions, I led Bella to the sofa. The boys sat on the floor staring at Bella. The women were on the chairs or sofa. I signed, "Bella, you speak as well?" She answered yes. She signed, "I won't speak as much now, because it does take a lot of energy for me to speak and as I understand, this is my second interview. I was forced at the orphanage to learn how to speak but I got better at Syracuse. I had really kind and excellent professors which help me with my speech. They believed that it would help me for the future. I still practice every night, but I still learn every day."
We were all fascinated with this creature. We all asked questions, but I signed them to her. She finally was a little tired and asked why the sudden personal interest.
I couldn't lie. I explained to her about Marie and I explained about how special she was to us and to Edward. She listened and she cried a bit. She understood and she was cautious though. She was so kind. Her eyes glistened with care and she was cautious on her thought.
She started to sign "Carlisle, I want to thank you very much for this opportunity. But I need to ask this and please don't take it the wrong way. Are you and your family hiring me because I am a good teacher or because I look like Marie?
I smiled. I signed back to let her know that her credentials were excellent and her references have been found outstanding. I let her know as well that I would be a very stupid man to let go such a talented teacher.
She smiled and then she continued to sign. "Thank you, Carlisle." She paused. "I am going to say this because I am somewhat frank. I have had to be in order to get where I am now. I understand why I have met your wonderful family. As well, I understand your situation and I grieve for your lost. But please understand that I cannot replace this special woman, Marie. I am Bella Smith and no one else."
Then she paused and we noticied her eyes tear up. "I have dedicated my life to teaching because I wanted to teach those who faced no challenges that we who did have these challenges were as smart and maybe smarter handicaps. "
Then she paused again and her tears started to fall. "I have no interest in falling in love or marriage or kids. Please undertsand that I have no family history. I have no idea my DNA history. I am a nobody. I have no family to fall on. I have no real last name. I don't want to have kids because I wouldn't be able to live with myself if they came out to be blind or deaf. I was born with this impediment but that hasn't stopped me from being a teacher and a good teacher. With that said, please only accept that I can only be a friend." She looked down and she started to tremble and looking for her walking stick.
My family and I were speechless.
Esme POV
This poor child. She has done so much and still feels so unworthy. She is strikingly beautiful. Though she was losing her eyesight, her beautiful brown eyes were kind. She spoke through them. She was a type of woman that could never lie. Though she was confidant in her knowledge, she gave off a aura that was approchable. She had a good heart. My God, why couldn't she have found a home as Marie did. I went over to her, I couldn't stand seeing her cry.
I took her hand and starting to sign back. "My dear, we want you in our school and possibly in our lives if you allow us. You are a worthy person. Please never forget that. Personally, I feel so close to you and I wish that I could take away everything bad that might have happened to you, but please know that if you allow me, I can be here for you."
She looked up and calmed down. She grabbed my hand and gently stroked it. She strained herself and spoke, "Thank you Esme."
A/N Ok = please review and let me know what you care to all!