Chapter one

Edward

I walked into Carlise and Esme's new home with reluctance. I didn't want to be here but I had to check in once a month or Esme would probably die with the worry. The new house was just outside of Los Angles but it wasn't like our old house. It had small windows and antique decorating. Flower arrangements everywhere and Persian rugs. I walked into the living room and saw Alice sitting on the sofa. Alice then looked straight at me and smiled.

"Edward!" She said with joy and the next thing I knew, Alice was hugging me with her python like arms.

"I'm just checking in, Alice," I told her but she kept hugging me as if she was never going to let me go.

"I know but I missed you," Alice stopped hugging me and looked at me with sad eyes. "It's hard living with Rosalie and Emmet. They hog the bathroom."

If I keep him talking long enough then Carlise might have time to convince him to stay, Alice thought.

"Alice, I'm not staying. I just want to check in with Esme," I told her and her eyes looked as if her dreams had been shattered.

"Please Edward. Just stay here. If you miss Bella that much then maybe we could go back to Forks," Alice suggested but I knew that could never happen.

I moved away from Forks for Bella's safety. I can't go back. I can't.

"Where's Esme?" I asked before Alice stalled me anymore.

"She's in the library," Alice said sulkily.

"Thanks," I told her and walked around her to get to the stairs.

I walked up the big, old staircase holding onto the banister. All the way up the stairs I knew Alice was watching and that made me feel worse.

How can he just leave us? It's one thing to leave Bella but to leave his family! We have been together for years and it takes one thing to ruin it all. I wish he would do something. Anything! All he does is brood. He can't brood for all of eternity. At least I hope so, Alice thought.

I reached the top of the staircase and went down the hallway and into the library. Esme was reading in a big leather armchair. She was reading Romeo and Juliet. I never did really like that book. The humans were idiots and in the end it wasn't their family that separated them. It was their own idiocy.

"Hello Esme," I said as I walked over to the armchair she was sitting in.

"Edward!" Esme exclaimed and hugged me.

Esme wasn't as tight as Alice's hug but the love was still there.

My darling Edward is back. It may only be a short visit but who cares, Esme thought and squeezed me tighter. Please don't leave again. Please don't. I heard Esme cry inside and it was heart breaking.

I loved Esme as if she was my own mother but hearing her cry inside made me gently push her off of me. Esme looked hurt. I tried to stop listening to her thoughts but when I did the sound of her silent cry haunted me.

"I should go," I told her and walked out of the library.

Esme just stayed standing where I left her. I walked down the big staircase again to see Alice standing at the bottom. I stopped a few steps away from the bottom and had a staring match with Alice.

"You caused this," Alice said.

"I know."

"It may be to protect Bella but hurting your family-especially Esme-is wrong. I hope you know that."

"You're sounding more like Rosalie every visit," I told her slyly jumped over Alice so I could leave the house.

I know you're reading my thoughts so you can go...I stopped listening to Alice's thoughts because I knew what she was going to say.

It wasn't like Alice to be so…so…I can't describe how Alice was acting. I knew she was only doing it because she loved me and missed me. At least I hope.