"Daddy?" Nessie questioned me as I was lost in the world of my book, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It was a favorite of mine, since Carlisle knew Victor Hugo when he wrote and had inherited all his original manuscripts when he passed. I looked up and saw crocodile tears in her beautiful chocolate eyes. She buried her sweet face in my granite chest, flung her tiny arms around my marble neck, and sobbed. If that dog did this… My thoughts trailed off into searing fury.
"What's wrong, my love?" I questioned her quietly, rubbing her back gently.
"I heard Grandpa Carlisle and Grandma Esme say you left for Alaska. I was scared you were gone."
Your heart snapped and melted at the same time. It was hard to understand unless Renesmee loved you. Her love was so pure, beautiful, and good the shock of it hit you every time she showed you she cared.
"That was a long time ago, before you were even born. I will never leaving you, Nessie, because I love you so very, very much." My chest heaved as I fought back dry sobs, the closest thing I could come to crying. I gathered Nessie closer to me and buried my face in her thick copper curls.
"So you won't leave to Alaska?" Her high soprano rang through the air.
"Not for the world." I noticed the lack of light outside and realized Renesmee was wearing her pajamas. "Aren't you supposed to be in bed?"
"Yeah." She said quietly.
"Then let's go. Hang on tight." She squealed with excitement, knowing I remembered our bedtime tradition. She hoisted herself onto my back, wrapping her tiny arms and legs around my neck and waist. She was squeezing with all her strength, to me it felt like a slight pinch. I ran upstairs as fast as I could, avoiding every piece of furniture I knew Esme liked and said quick prayer for one of the end tables in the hallway. Nessie exploded with laughter as wood splinters fluttered to the carpet. We arrived at her room, which was perfectly decorated and maintained in her favorite color, pink. I gently laid her down and kissed her forehead.
Esme's shrill scream interrupted my good night. "Edward!!"
Renesmee stared at me, her brown eyes round wih mischief and fear. "Daddy's busted."
"Yes. It would appear so." He chuckled. "Good night, my angel."
"I love you, Daddy." She mumbled before she fell asleep.
"As I love you." I kissed her forehead, then exited the bedroom quietly.
"Edward! You broke my end table!" Esme rebuked me with a hiss.
"Sorry, Mom. I was running with Renesmee."
Her face softened at the mention of her beloved granddaughter. "You know that I'll forgive you for the end table. I would break a thousand of them to see you smile. Before Bella and Renesmee, I think I saw you smile twice in fifty years."
We walked downstairs. "I'm like putty in her hands, " I chuckled. "I can't believe myself sometimes. "
Esme hugged me tight. "You'll still have to see clean the table up though."
"I figured."