CPOV
After hours of meeting important hospital personnel and staff, Carlisle was finally heading home. The meeting with Bella in the morning, however, was still very fresh in his mind.
How? When? Who?!
Oh dear God. Edward.
As he pulled up into the large driveway, he tried to sense where Edward and Esme were in the house. He didn't hear Edward's voice and assumed he was out. Esme, however, was in the kitchen painting the cabinets and humming a tune of an old classic song. Carlisle hurried to the kitchen trying not to raise any suspicion from his children.
"Hello, dear. How was your day?" Esme greeted as she kissed his cheek.
"It was good and interesting. I need to speak to you immediately darling, would you take a walk with me?" he answered in a whisper.
A quizzical look appeared on Esme's beautiful face as she dropped the paintbrush into the bucket and removed her painting smock. "Of course," she whispered back.
Carlisle offered his arm to his wife and led her into the forest behind their home. They walked quietly until they could no longer see the house in the distance.
"What's the matter Carlisle? You look as if you've just seen a ghost," Esme asked with a worried expression.
"No Esme, not a ghost. Bella," he answered in a tone dripping with sadness.
"What! Bella? Where? How? Here?" Esme almost shouted in surprise.
"Sshh! At the hospital where she works as an attending physician," he whispered again while looking around to see if anyone had heard his wife.
"How does she look Carlisle? She must be in her thirties by now. I hope she's happy." Esme exclaimed.
"Well, the thing is, she looks exactly as we left her. You see, my dear, it seems that Bella was turned." Carlisle stated the words slowly making sure that his wife followed his full meaning.
"You mean she's a vampire?! "
"Yes, she is." Carlisle replied as he slumped down on a boulder to sit.
Esme followed him down and was sitting on the ground when she looked up at him and said, "Does Edward know?"
With his hands on his face, Carlisle shook his head from side to side.
"Oh, dear."
"Don't worry my dear, he'll find out soon. I'm just afraid of what would happen when he does. I couldn't bear to see him leave us again," Carlisle muttered.
Esme was speechless and could only nod her head in agreement.
BPOV
Bella quickly returned home after her thirst was sated. She never grew to enjoy hunting and the lingering smell of animal blood nauseated and shamed her. Showering after a hunt had become a necessary ritual.
The rush of hot water on her tense muscles usually helped Bella to relax and clear her head, but today was different. Her mind would not settle. Images of the meeting with Carlisle kept replaying in her head.
Get a hold of yourself, Bella!
It was a long time ago and everything's different now. You're different now.
Bella turned the hot water to its highest setting hoping that the heat would clear her head, but as expected, the temperature against her skin remained luke warm. Realizing that a simple shower won't help, Bella decided to turn to work.
Most of Bella's days at home were spent in her office reading and browsing medical journals online. She strived to always be up to date on all the current research in her field. Medicine had become her passion.
While Bella was reading over the current trends in Pediatric oncology, the telephone rang.
"Hello?"
"Good afternoon, Dr. Swan. This is Dr. Jacobs calling from the hospital," said the voice on the line.
"Oh yes, Dr. Jacobs. Can I help you with something?," Bella responded.
"Well, I wanted to ask you for a favor. My father has gotten ill and I would like to visit him, but he's in another state and I'm scheduled to be on call tonight. I was wondering if you would be willing to take my call for me and I will take one of yours this following week?," the man asked.
"Of course. I don't mind at all. Hope your father feels better and I'll see you when you get back," Bella quickly responded without hesitation.
Work is good. Work will clear my head.
Bella hurried to the bedroom to fetch her on call bag which she kept packed with scrubs and the usual necessities. After dressing up in scrubs and grabbing her white coat, Bella checked her image in the mirror to make sure everything was in place before heading out the door.
