Chapter 4: Time
Nessie's POV
Time began to pass by quickly. After my meeting with my grandfather I went back to the Masen's for the night. Then the next day Carlisle 'accidentally' ran into us in town and 'recognized' me as his younger sister. The story that we were going with is that I had amnesia as a result of an accident and couldn't remember everything about my life just yet. But there was hope that I would soon. His story was really elaborate and well thought out.
The day after that Carlisle had gotten me a job as a nurse at the hospital that he worked at. It was nice to work alongside him and help out as much as I could. I was even able to correctly diagnose some of the patients before he did. My powerful sense of smell had always been a useful diagnostic tool.
Several of the other doctors tried to hit on me a couple of times. It honestly annoyed the hell out of me. I guess guys were pigs no matter what time period it was. Luckily I had my grandfather there and he would step in and stop it.
My grandfather was still the same compassionate man that I knew and loved.
"You certainly are an interesting young girl Nessie" Carlisle said one day after work.
"Am I? How so grandpa?" He didn't mind that I called him grandpa when it was just us. Actually he loved it. He loved knowing that a family was in his future.
"You're very free spirited and not afraid to speak your mind. Or stand up for what you believe in"
"Are you referring to what I said to Dr. Patterson earlier?" Let's just say I used some very un-ladylike language when he started making sexist remarks about me. I don't care what year I'm living in I refuse to let men treat me like a second class citizen just because I'm a woman.
"Yes Nessie but I like it. I think there should be more women like you"
"Well thank you Gramps"
"I mean it Nessie, don't ever change"
I just smiled.
After having been here for only two weeks I couldn't quite say that I was getting used to life in 1918 but there were some things I liked about it. People were definitely much closer here then they were back home. Having no phones to constantly be connects to made people closer as a community and as a family.
The main thing I didn't like was the racism and the segregation. Seeing signs like 'Colored' and 'Whites Only' both infuriated and saddened me at the same time. It just wasn't something that I was used to.
"Nessie what are you thinking about?" Carlisle asked me. I must've been spacing out again.
"Injustice" I simply said.
The look on his face told me that he wanted me to elaborate.
"Where I'm from legal segregation is a distant nightmare. It's sad to see people getting treated this way just because of the color of their skin"
"I know Nessie. I see it all the time and I hate it. Everyone should be treated equally. I want everyone to be treated the same"
I smiled. Yes, he was definitely the same grandfather I knew and loved.
"Nessie why don't you go to the market and pick up some meat for dinner?"
"You don't eat" I pointed out.
"No but you do" he answered. "I know you prefer blood but I think you'll maximize your strength of you eat human food to"
I hated to admit it but he was right. A diet of blood and human food did usually make me stronger.
"Okay I'll be right back" My grandfather gave me the necessary money I needed and then I left.
I passed a draft registration place and I was surprised to see my father standing in line. What was he doing? He wasn't old enough to register.
"Edward?"'
He automatically looked at me.
"Carlie? What're you doing here?" he asked.
"I could ask you the same thing. You're not 18 years old. What're you doing?"
My father looked extremely annoyed indeed. Probably because everyone had just overheard our little exchange and now his plan to join the army under false pretenses was ruined.
"Well I was going to register for the draft without my mother knowing about it but now that plan is ruined. Thank you very much Carlie" he said in a menacing voice.
Oh my god my father was already driving me crazy. Usually he drove me crazy just because he was my dad now this was something else entirely.
"Why would you do something like this?"
"Because I want to join the army. I want to serve my country"
"And break the law? Break your mother's heart? Risk your own life? Why?"
"Carlie stay out of my business will you. I don't have to explain myself to anyone. Especially you"
Okay. Breathe. I must resist the urge to choke him out. Killing him before I was even born is a surefire way to screw myself over.
"Edward what's going on? Carlie is that you?" It was Edward's mother. She had found us.
"Great" dad muttered.
"I was stopping him from doing something incredibly stupid" I answered.
"What were you doing Edward?" she asked him.
"Nothing" My father was glaring at me big time. Jesus if looks could kill I would be a pile of ashes by now.
"It's not important" I added.
"Never mind. I'm glad to have run into you l. I was going to look for you anyway. I was wondering if you'd go on a chaperoned date with my son"
"What?" Edward said.
"Yes" I said without thinking.
Oh my god did I just agree to go on a date with my dad?!
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