Chapter Two – Influx

The night was cool, normal for a summer night to be. It was our first night in Minnesota, on Lake Pokegama. Sleep had eluded me for hours, turning restlessly in some stranger's bed. When our train had arrived earlier today, it wasn't Dr. Cullen who greeted us, but his uncle, Mr. Crowley—the proprietor of this estate. I was hardly content that I would not meet the illustrious Dr. Cullen—the one whose story I had heard endlessly on the train ride—until the morning. His excuse was pliable, but I remained unnecessarily upset. My homesickness only fueled this annoyance.

So for numerous reasons, sleep evaded my advances. In my restless state, I tossed and turned until something resembling rest arrived. Its hold was hardly capable of clinging to me. It didn't take much to wake me up again.

But then a beautiful voice, a siren's song, called from the window. I clamored from my nearly wakeful state to see the source. In the soft moonlight, across the lake, her face was all I could see.

And it was the most beautiful face I had ever seen. Her pale cheeks shimmered in the light, gracefully smooth as she smiled softly. The white train of her dress fanned out in the water, framing her perfect figure. Even from this far away, I knew she was perfect.

Without restraint, I dashed down the stairs, through the lobby, through the front door. From the yard, she was still there. My beautiful angel, waiting there for me, in her effervescent splendor.

I was drawn to her. It was as if all laws of gravity ceased to exist, and she was the center of my universe. Each step I took towards her perfect silhouette, I felt closer and closer to complete and utter happiness. I called out to her, taking more frantic steps, desperate for her name.

She looked at me one last time, her brown eyes sparkling. And before I could process another thought, she turned and simply walked away.

I ran. I ran towards the edge of the water, and even the aquatic barrier wouldn't stop me. I trudged through the water until it was has high as my waist. It was all in vain.

The beautiful girl was gone. My heart deflated...

And then I woke up.

A dream. I had dreamed up the most perfect creature in existence. My imagination had betrayed me, and as I lay in a complete stranger's bed, I longed for that illusion.

Still unable to sleep, I made my way back outdoors, walking to the edge of the water. Perhaps my subconscious was hoping that illusion would return, only in reality. Only where I could touch her, feel her, love her. She lingered in my thoughts, though I did not even know who she was.

And then suddenly my life felt empty, incomplete. I was missing something essential, one last piece to the puzzle. Back home in Chicago, I had never once felt the attraction to any of the girls. While Emmett and his boorish friends chased them endlessly, I never coveted that position. I had been so concerned about growng up, becoming a man, supporting my mother. Maybe that is the reason I fantasized such a beautiful creature—I had missed out on some experience.

Was I too late? Had my perfect match, my soul mate, passed me by? In my seemingly uninterested state, had my one true chance at pure happiness bypassed me?

It all seemed irrational. My only hunger was not for love, but for battle. The glory of being a hero. Marriage was illogical—look where it got my mother. Thirty six and abandoned. No, I was not meant for love. That was my reality. No figment of my daydreams would sway that.

"Couldn't sleep?"

Startled, I turned around to see a dark shadow creeping towards me.

"You must be Edward."

Lit up by the soft moonlight, my mother's descriptions personified themselves in this man, no older than 30. He sauntered towards me, his blonde hair tossing gently in the soft drafts.

"Dr. Cullen." I stood up, offering him my hand, a very formal greeting.

"Please call me Carlisle. They call me Dr. Cullen at the hospital and when you hear it 12 hours a day, you become sick of hearing it." He chuckled warmly, and I felt slightly more at ease in his presence. "I'm very sorry I wasn't able to greet you and your mother when your train arrived, but Dr. Black called in sick and there was nothing I could do to avoid it."

"It's alright." I muttered. "Your uncle seems friendly."

He laughed, traces of bitterness in that sound. "You clearly haven't lived with him." He cleared his throat, the disdain escaping with the cough. "I suppose I shouldn't disparage the man. He did get me the job, the house, and the car..."

I nodded, unsure of how to respond. Was I to judge both men based on my limited knowledge? Based on their history, an ambiguity to me?

"It's nice out tonight." Carlisle declared, resting his hands on his hips, looking out over the water. "Are you a swimmer, Edward?"

I shook my head. Most sports I was average at, but swimming eluded me. Holding my breath underwater was difficult.

"Me neither." He chuckled. "I was always more of the studious type."

"Music was my thing." The past tense bothered me. Music had always been my passion, whether it was playing or listening. But limited family funds regulated that pursuit.

His eyes illuminated with something. An idea, a scheme—I couldn't interpret it. "Your mother tells me you used to play piano every day. Do you still play?"

"Not anymore. We had to sell our piano." I cleared my throat, those biting memories instantly coming back to me. My father's brutal words slapped against the walls of my head with a resonating crack. "It wouldn't feed us or keep us warm, he would say."

I mimicked those words perfectly.

"Did my uncle show you the basement?"

I shook my head, and that scheming in his eyes intesntified instantly.


"I'll get you a lantern or something down here, so you can come down more frequently." Carlisle said, a dull orange flame flickering from behind dusty glass. He led me through the catacombs, through thick veils of cobwebs and dust. Its musky scent nearly choked me at first, but soon it became somewhat manageable. A few good sweepings would help, no doubt.

We stopped abruptly at an open room. An open room that had openly seen better days. Fine balls, dances, camaraderie, laughter. Now it hosted spiders and grime. My steps slowed as Carlisle escorted me across the old oak floors. Against one of the walls rested a piano, quite old and its dust collection like moss covering it.

"My dear aunt, rest her soul, loved playing this for company. I can remember visiting their grandiose parties, even as a child." His eyes sparkled in the darkness with reminiscent. Somehow, his smile was infectious and I caught it readily. "Now that's she's passed, my uncle refuses to even come down here."

I trailed my hand along the cover, thickets of grime soon revealing teal colored wood. With extreme caution and slight awe, I lifted the lid, revealing perfectly white and black keys. Sharply, I became overly wary, as if one touch from my hands would crumble the relic.

"Go on. It won't bite." Carlisle's words were warm and comforting.

At his counsel, I sat down on the bench with caution. A deep breath gave me more confidence.

As I pressed the keys down, an influx of old and new feelings returning at once. I no longer felt homesick, but rather relaxed in the comforting sound of keystrokes. Each note sounded more poised than the first, and soon it was as if I had never taken a sabbatical—I was still thirteen years old and discovering my love for its harmonious sound.

As I played the last few chords, Carlisle clapped slowly and heedlessly. "You are too modest."

I carefully closed the lid, allowing the black and white keys to rest quietly for the night. "I was raised under the impression that boasting was discourteous."

Carlisle scoffed. "If I had your talent, it would not be considered discourteous to show it off."

I merely shrugged. "Are you sure it's alright that I play this? Your uncle..."

"That old kook couldn't play two notes without the assistance of a trained pianist, such as yourself. Beethoven would turn in his grave if he, or I, were to attempt to employ that piano." He ran his fingers along the smooth cover. Dust collected quickly on his hand. "As you can see, the antique is never used. It is better someone uses it before it crumbles away." We both laughed nervously, taking deep breaths of musky air in along the way.

"Thank you, Dr. Cullen." I whispered. I'd always been raised to decline most acts of charity, and when I did accept them, it made me feel exceptionally uncomfortable. "Carlisle." I added, as he had grimaced at the title Doctor Cullen.

He headed towards the stairwell, setting the lantern on the last step. "I'm off to bed. Please stay down here as long as you'd like."

With another hospitable smile in my direction, he turned and traipsed up the stairway. In the dark basement, I did not feel anxious or afraid. There was something comforting about it. Familiar. I sat back at the piano, reawakening the quiescent keys. I took one deep, dust-marinated breath and began again.

My homesickness subsided wholly with each peaceful note played.


I spent countless hours down on that piano, revisiting old music I had once memorized. And the next morning I paid dearly for it. Bright noon sunlight flooded my new room as I woke up.

My mother laughed eagerly as I stumbled into the kitchen, still overwhelmed by exhaustion. "Good morning. Or should I say, good afternoon?" She poured herself another cup of tea, her favorite morning tradition.

I could hear Carlisle's chuckle in the background, and took a seat across the table from him. Embarassment overcame me. My cheeks burned violently with it.

But Carlisle defended me. "It's summer. Besides, I was the one who showed him the piano. If you long to blame anyone, I believe it belongs to me."

"Is that true?" She said, taking another chair at the long cherry wood dining table. Shame intensified in my stomach, though it was hardly the appropriate reaction. I nodded solemly. "And you were worried you wouldn't like it here." She chimed in, chirpily.

"Your Uncle?" I asked, my voice choked from sleep. I had first noted his absence as I was walking past his empty study. But I merely assumed he'd be in the kitchen.

"He usually spends his days in town, hobnobbing with the bankers and lawyers." Carlisle spoke between sips of tea.

"I do not believe I've mentioned it yet, but Carlisle, your estate is absolutely breathtaking." My mother always taught me that gratitude was an essential character trait.

Carlisle shifted around, uncomfortably.

The estate was vast—far larger than a surgeon in these times would make, I presumed. My curiosity on the money matter got the best of me. "Do you really earn this much money working at the hospital?"

Mom's head buried with shame, her cheeks a violent red. Carlisle merely chuckled, a warm and welcoming sound. I suddenly felt less uncomfortable.

"This is was my aunt's home, and when she passed she left it to me." He seemed embarrassed by the concept of being prosperous. "Her inheritance was quite generous, but my true love still remains the hospital. I wouldn't give that up for anything."

I suddenly had more respect for the man. He had been handed a tremendous amount of wealth, yet he wanted to help others. Noble, I think is the word for it.

"Now, I must ask. You are twenty seven, aren't you?" My mother asked softly, and Carlisle nodded in agreement. "Are you engaged to be married yet?"

A sore spot, evident in his sullen expression. "Like I said, my only love is the hospital."

Deep in his eyes, I could tell that it was hardly the truth. There was someone who caught his eye. But there was an obstacle. Perhaps another man, perhaps ages. I had no idea which.

Before my mother could even begin contemplating matchmaking, I decided now was a time to leave. "I'm going to play for a while, if you'll excuse me."

I bowed out gracefully, and was on the way towards the cellar door when I felt Carlisle's hand stop me.

"Wait. There's something I'd like to show you outside."


We were standing out near the lake, just as we had been last night, only now we stood slightly closer towards the dirt road that stretched from here until town. If Carlisle did not have that specific eager look in his eyes, I would've questioned his intentions. Instead, I waited for whatever really brought us out here.

"It's absolutely gorgeous when the sun hits it...just right..."

His eyes shifted quickly from the water, a boring sight, to a growing shape in the distance. It strode towards us gracefully, and I realized that it was a human. A woman, to be more specific, judging by the skirt and flowing brown hair.

"Miss Platt." Carlisle blushed.

"Dr. Cullen!" She said amiably, clutching a wicker basket filled with a variety of colorful flowers under her arm. When she was finally within range, she curtsied and stopped before us. "I didn't realize you had company. Is this your cousin Tyler?"

Carlisle shook his head. "No, this is my dear friend Elizabeth Masen's son, Edward." He paused, trembling with... nerves? Miss Platt curtsied again for my benefit, evidently. "His mother used to care for me as a child, and I've invited them to stay with me for the summer."

"That's charming. And it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Masen." Miss Platt was certainly an attractive woman, presumably about Carlisle's age. She had caramel hair, though it was tied back, pieces fell and framed her pale face. No wonder Carlisle was so intimidated.

"Edward." I corrected her curtly, but she barely flinched.

"Alright, Edward. I am Miss Platt, but please call me Esme. I cannot convince your friend here to do the same. Perhaps you could persuade him." She rectified, though I doubt she would be less than lax on formalities. "I'm afraid I'm all out of sunflowers today. You know how demanding Mrs. Newton can be." She and Carlisle laughed together, leaving me in the dark of the town gossip.

"It's alright." Carlisle replied, digging through his pockets. "I'll just take some of your lilies, if you don't mind."

"I don't mind at all." Esme replied, the same meekness Carlisle possessed now obvious in her voice. She reached into her basket, retrieving a small bunch of white flowers and handed them, trembling, to Carlisle. "You are the only unmarried man who buys flowers from me, Dr. Cullen."

Carlisle smiled embarrassed, like he'd been caught. He handed her a silver coin with that sheepish grin still visible. "My patients..." The rest of the words eluded him. The space between them was taut with unspoken words and hidden passion.

"Alright, I must carry on." Esme said, breaking the tension reluctantly. She shifted her basket to a more comfortable position, and began walking off towards town. Carlisle's gaze was still on Esme as she waved and strode off.

"There wasn't anything you wanted to show me, was there?" I asked, thoroughly amused. He was still watching her so intently.

"She sells those flowers to support her family, walking to town, stopping a few places along the way." He kicked his feet, still mesmerized by her presence. "Seeing Miss Platt truly is the light of my day." He whispered faintly. "Can I confide something in you, Edward?"

I nodded immediately. Somehow, I had already felt a bond with the man.

"If it weren't for my uncle's constant insistence I marry someone as wealthy as he is, I would ask Esme to be my wife." His voice was so small, yet so passionate. "Of course, I've heard James has already offered her marriage, to no response."

"So there's hope." I offered. "Carlisle, I'm hardly the expert in love here. But if Esme makes you happy, I think you should pursue it."

"Thank you for coming out with me." He did not sound twenty seven when he spoke. He sounded more like a thirteen year old boy, his first real love doing wonders on his esteem. "I'm afraid she'll think I'm absolutely crazy, buying flowers from her all the time."

I slapped him on the back playfully, making my ways back towards the house. "Frankly, the only way you'd be crazy is if you weren't in love with her already."

It was then I realized that perhaps this summer might be more interesting than I'd first anticipated.

So... theories on who the beautiful girl Edward dreamed about?? I've got links up on my profile for reference. I can't promise the next update will be in the next few weeks...i've got a ton of things going on. But I can promise that it will be soon. So please review anyways!