Storytelling-The Vampire Moms' Social Club

Disclaimer: Twilight and the characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. So far as I know, the website I mention is my own creation. If you wanna borrow it, let me know!

Esme

I sit down at the computer in my office-finally, some peace and quiet-to check email before the kids get home. Some days, like today, I still freak out a bit about the whole vampire-mom thing. Actually, I tend to freak about the vampire thing more than the mom bit, but it's only on days like today. Today, I caught Emmett watching TV in the garage. Normally, I wouldn't mind this, except I had asked him to rake some leaves in the backyard. So yeah, stress. So far, it's mostly junk email-the grocery store's coupon generator (so not useful), an ad for reduced-fee checking at the bank (actually, maybe not so much junk), aww, a message from Carlisle (wonder what he did), and-what the-? I don't know anybody named Sio…oh, it's that Siobhan. Wonder what she wants? I click open her message, and instantly her perfectly-cultured Dubliner accent fills my head.

Esme,

Hope this email finds you and the family well. We miss you all; lots of love to the precious grandchild.

I have a girlfriend in Belfast who had a fantastic idea, and I thought I'd see if you'd like to get involved. She is forming an online vampire-mom support group; she and her husband just had a child and have two more in their coven and is, in her words, "going a bit batty." If you're interested, I'll send you the link. Could be fun. Let me know.

Warmest Regards,

Siobhan.

Sounds like a fantastic idea to me. I click on "reply" and tell her this.

Siobhan,

Thank you for the invite. Sounds to me like a fantastic idea. Please do send me the link. Do you mind if I pass this on to Bella?

Thank you kindly for your wishes for the family, and Carlisle sends his best, too. Hug Liam and Maggie for us. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Cordially,

Esme Cullen.

I scan to make sure I spell everything correctly-just because our society has reduced Email to yet another expression of laziness, I believe that no matter what form of communication you use, the person you are speaking with deserves the respect of proper spelling and grammar. Of course, I was an English major in my former life, so I am probably a bit biased. I click "Send" just in time to hear Nessie wail. I close down the net browser and stand to go upstairs, clicking off the light as I leave. I want to know more, but it will have to wait, I suppose.

Several hours later, the crew is home, everyone has hunted or eaten, homework/paperwork is done, and chores are finished. I am going to hole up in my office and investigate this online group thing a little bit more. I flick on the computer in tense anticipation, and for a fleeting moment, I feel really pathetic that this is the one thing that has brought me joy in a while (except Nessie, of course). But then I remember that I have been around a great many years, and that I have seen much in that time, and I feel a little less bad. Man, this DSL is slow-we can send a man to the moon and we have vampires living alongside mortals, but I can't get my email to open any faster? Here we go. Be patient, Es.

Ah, there it is. But I realize with minor chagrin that I didn't even read Carlisle's email from this morning. I suppose I should check it out first…it's a love letter. He's the sweetest man ever. I reply back a "Thank you" and a SWAK. Is it gross that we do that? I am still unsure; sometimes I still get a little giddy when he's around. I'm scatter-brained today. Finally, I click on Siobhan's message.

Esme,

I am so glad you're on board; Moira (that's the girl I was telling you about) will be chuffed (that's happy to you) to hear it, I am sure. Of course you can invite Bella; I know Moira will adore her. The site is already up (her husband does Internet Technology for work; I don't understand it all myself) and the link is . The temporary log on she made you is american_mommy1 and the temporary password is VampireGirl. Hope to see you there soon!

-Siobhan.

I cut and paste the link and forward Siobhan's original email to Bella. Then, I click the link myself and enter the site. It's a bright, cheery background, blue and green font with flowery script. I click on the block that says "Welcome."

Welcome to the Vampire Moms' Social Club. I am Moira McCorkle, and I invented this site to help all of us vampire mummys. Please leave a message about yourself in the Bulletin Board area, and don't forget to register with a new password! Thank you.

I click on the Bulletin Board's link and am immediately pulled in by the immense popularity the site has garnered. I scroll through and read some of them and realize that most of these women are European vampires and know each other in someway or other. I click on Fiona's.

"Hello. I am Moira McCorkle. Thank you all for getting involved; I hope this can be an effective tool for all of us Vampire moms-so tell your friends. About me: I am fairly new to the Vampire world, I have only been changed for about three years. My children are Sean, Andy and Felicity; the boys are mine but the girl joined us last year after defecting from another coven (long story there-we must do margaritas and discuss). Andy is a half-blood, and is only a year old; the other two are older teenagers and that is why I am going batty. For a job, I am a psychologist and a mom. I live in Belfast, Ireland, and it is currently about 25* and foggy. My biggest issue (at least, right now) is that my oldest child, Sean, ate an entire pint of cherry tomatoes this morning, and is now, of course, violently ill. These children will be the death of me yet. Please post your story, and how you heard about this place, just because I am nosey and want to know. Don't be shy! I am here because this is my brain-child (more children?) and I invited Siobhan Murphy and Roxanne Temperly. I went to Uni with both girls J. Ta-ta for now; if anyone is up for it, let's do a group chat to get to know each other later this week. It will take some do, as we have ladies from all over, but I am sure we can set it up.

I like her already. I notice that Bella is now online, the stupid chat window thing that Alice set up for me just blinked on with her screen name-EdwardsBella4Ever. Disgustingly cute. But I remember being a teenager and crushing hard on the boy who worked for my father. Boy, was that eons ago…

I sit for a moment, and think about what to post. I am not as flamboyant with things as these European girls are; I wonder if that's an American thing or due to my background? I don't know. I fight an odd urge to call Carlisle in here and get his opinion; I am unsure how he'd react to this. But I know that lately, I have been craving some mom-to-mom interaction; I never had teenagers, especially teenagers whom, together, are over 600 years old, and it is oftentimes a trial-I feel like a girl myself sometimes. I was only 24 when Carlisle changed me; I had been married just a year and a half before, and had had a baby. I love my children, but I need this just for me. Oh, yes, I will tell Carlisle-we don't keep secrets from each other, and it's pointless anyway. I click on "Add your Story" and begin to compose a short blurb. I notice that Moira and Siobhan have chosen a different script, and, even though I sometimes find it annoying, I will, too.

"I am Esme Cullen. I currently live in New Haven, Ct (that's in America), and I have six children and one grandchild. Well, seven children if you count my husband, Carlisle. I am a free-lance interior designer and full-time mom to teenaged vampires. It is scary for me to say that. I was invited to join by Siobhan, who is a friend of the family. I have invited my daughter-in-law, who just had a baby. Thank you for starting this website; I hope to have a place to meet other moms like me."

I click "Post" and pray that I don't sound contrived. I shrug at the screen, rereading my words. No, that sounds fine; perhaps I will add more later when I get to know these ladies more and decide if I like them. There is a knock at the door, and I hear Carlisle's voice and of course, he smells good.

"Honey?" I sigh, and close the internet window. I stand up to see what he wants, surprised that it feels like an intrusion. I will speak to him tonight about this new project; I feel I must, if for no one's sake but my own. I open the door and smile at him.

The End.