Sometimes, when he catches a glimpse of the Waggoner in his study Carlisle wonders if his family ever worried about what had happened to him. If his father had ordered a hunt for him, only to discover that he couldn't be found. Carlisle faintly remembers the house he grew up in, and on occasion he gets snatches of memories that involved his father, a man whose tyrannical rein over his family and home drove Carlisle's mother to an early grave. If Carlisle's father had been cruel and a religious fanatic, than his mother had been everything that Carlisle considered good in the world.
Carlisle worries about his biological family from a strictly objective perspective. He knows that half of his DNA came from his father and that the other half came from his mother, but it's the paternal set that worries him. After arguments with his children, sometimes he'll take walks. As soon as he knows he's out of range from Edward, he'll scrutinize his every word. He worries that maybe, somehow, there's some part of his father's tyranny in him. He hopes that he won't ever be anything like his father.
One time he told Esme how he worried about becoming his father. He had waited anxiously for her response, afraid that she would think him paranoid. Instead, she had taken his face between her hands and looked him straight in the eye. "Carlisle, you will never be your father. I may not be able to promise you much in this life, but I can promise you that."
"Carlisle?" Edward is waiting in the doorway, and Carlisle is thrown back to a previous conversation, in a time in his life that he's glad he's left. "Are you ready to go, Alice says the storm's only going to be a few hours and I have to convince Charlie to let Bella go."
Carlisle is slow to turn around, his mind still full of memories. He smiles at Edward but the smile doesn't reach his eyes all the way. "I'll be there in a minute Edward, just give me a minute."
Edward steps tentatively forward and he hesitantly meets Carlisle's gaze. "Hey Carlisle. I don't say this enough, but thank you."
Thank you?
"Yes, Thank you. For all you've done for us. We – I – appreciate it. You'll never be like him."
Even with reassurance, Carlisle worries, but on occasion he'll forget about his worries and just live in the moment.