Chapter 4: Washin' Day
"I want one man who can show he cares for more than cookin' and dusted chairs."
-"One Man" from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Eleazar sighed and leaned back against the hard, wooden back of the settee. Edward had settled himself into his piano bench and was softly playing a foreign melody. Emmett and Garrett were playing an interesting game of checkers where they cursed happily instead of stating "king me".
Carlisle had taken it upon himself to clean the kitchen for his new wife. Benjamin had already retreated upstairs to go to bed early. Jasper had disappeared through the door, claiming he had wanted to hunt.
And Esme, finally, was given a chance to sit and think. She looked through the doorway into the kitchen where Carlisle stood with his back to her, washing the tin cups. She smiled to herself; he really was a sweet man. His brothers were not too bad, either. A little eccentric, perhaps, but they all seemed to be gentlemen.
Eleazar closed the book he had his nose buried in and walked over to Esme, who was seated in the rocking chair by the fireplace.
"Esme, may I ask you a few questions, so perhaps we might know you a little better?" He asked cordially. She looked at him and smiled softly.
"I wouldn't mind at all," she said, prompting him forward.
"Where are you from?" He asked.
Esme answered a wistful smile on gracing her features, "I was born in Ohio, after my parents passed away, I moved here, to Washington."
Eleazar nodded and continued, "Why did you choose to come here? Why not stay where you were raised?"
Esme contemplated for a moment, "I needed a change, and I saw an ad for a cook at the restaurant in town, so I seized the opportunity."
"Was Carlisle another opportunity you seized?" He asked, his face a mask, void of emotion.
Esme staggered, "No! Of course not. He took me by surprise, I would never consider him to be something easily taken like a new job." She blushed, unaware of the proper way to answer such a question.
Eleazar burst into a round of hearty laughter. "I didn't mean to offend you," he said between chuckles, "I can see that you care deeply for my brother. You will be good for him.
"Quite frankly, I believe you will be good for all of us. We all need a woman, whether she be a sister, a other or a friend—whatever role that may be, it will make our lives a little brighter."
Esme wiped happy tears from her eyes. "Oh, I'm so happy to be here. I love Carlisle, and I am so happy to have a family again. It's such a refreshing feeling to be loved and to belong."
She had not realized that Carlisle had snuck up behind her until he wound his arms around her shoulders and peppered her face with kisses.
"Shall we head to bed, Mrs. Cullen? It has been a long day, you must be tired," Carlisle said sweetly, rubbing her back in gentle circles.
She smiled at him gratefully and stood, he wrapped his arm around her waist and led her up the stairs; ignoring whatever flippant comments Emmett was making.
Carlisle led her through the open bedroom door and closed it behind him.
"Your things are still in your bag on the bed. I would have unpacked it for you, but I didn't know if you would be particular about that sort of thing."
Esme smiled at his almost-thoughtfulness. She reached into her carpet bag and pulled out her cotton nightgown. She woefully thought that she should have bought something prettier when she had the chance, but quickly pushed that thought aside.
She ducked behind the dressing screen and pulled the gown on. She let her hair out of its bun, and the caramel waves fell around her shoulders.
She walked timidly around the barrier, not quite knowing why she was feeling bashful. Carlisle was seated on the bed, his back to her. He wore a pair of clean long Johns, and appeared to be just as nervous as she.
Esme cleared her throat and Carlisle turned around. His eyes were soft as he smiled at her.
Garrett blew out the last bedside candle, listening to the light snores of his brothers. Benjamin, who slept on the bed next to him, rolled over and looked at him. His wide, brown eyes shone in the pale moonlight.
"What do you think they're doing over there?" He whispered.
Edward, who lay on the bed across from Benjamin, grumbled and sat up, "Just go to sleep and don't worry about it."
"They're probably making you an uncle," Emmett commented from his bed closest to the window.
"Emmett!" Eleazar hissed in the darkness.
"What?" Emmett shot back and chuckled.
Jasper just sighed, shook his head and rolled over.
Benjamin pulled his patchwork quilt over his head and fell into a deep sleep.
The boys awoke in the morning to the sound of Carlisle's happy whistling punctuated by the sound of an axe falling on firewood.
"Emmett, where the devil did you put my pants?" Edward demanded, rattling his brothers out of their groggy state.
Jasper groaned, "Emmett! I can't find any of my clothes!" He accused, balling his hands into fists.
Emmett leapt out of bed, and stared candidly at his brothers, "I didn't take them, honest to God, I didn't!"
"No," a clear voice said from the door, "I did."
Esme stood over the threshold of the boy's door, trying very hard not to laugh at the looks of shock on her brothers-in-law's faces. Benjamin was the first to realize they were all standing in their underclothes in front of their sister. He dove to his bed, laughing, and wrapped himself in his quilt.
Esme let out a stray giggle and quickly smothered it with her hand. "I'm washing all of your outside clothes; I just need your underclothes and then I'll be done."
"Well what are we supposed to wear in the meantime?" Emmett demanded, his dimples showing, even as he frowned.
"I think Benjamin has the right idea," Esme stated with a wicked smirk.
Garrett burst out laughing.
"She's not joking, Garrett," Edward said warily.
Garrett's gales of laughter ceased, "Wait. What?!"
Esme chuckled, "Your clothing is filthy, and I'm washing it. I've already had Carlisle come into to take all of your clothes, except the ones you are wearing."
"Do you expect us to do our chores completely bare?" Eleazar asked a tone of humor in his voice.
"No, actually Carlisle has already tended to most of the animals, so he will be doing the chores for this morning, and you boys will be helping me clean the house once you get your clothes back."
Edward sighed, and with his quilt wrapped around his shoulders, escorted Esme to the door, "We'll hand our clothes out to you once we are done."
Esme smiled and stood on the balls of her feet so she could give him a quick kiss on the cheek, "Thank you, Edward."
He turned around and grumbled as he shut the door. A faint blush coloured his pallid cheeks.
"Oh, Eddie's embarrassed," Emmett laughed.
"Oh hush and strip," Eleazar demanded, pulling his own underclothes off. After they were all neatly wrapped in blankets and had handed their underclothes around a half-open door to Esme, they sat in their room, waiting. Emmett climbed back into bed.
"Emmett, get out of that bed naked, Esme's going to have to wash your sheets," Jasper cautioned. "That's disgusting, Emmett. Get out of the bed."
Emmett laughed and rolled out of his bed, wrapped in his blanket. "So what are we supposed to do?"
At that moment Carlisle entered the room and could not contain his laughter. "I didn't believe her; I never thought in a million years she would actually get you boys to give her your underclothes."
"Carlisle," Eleazar said warningly, "you might not want to egg them on, most of them are already angry."
"Yes, Carlisle," Edward said in a dangerously even voice, "I wouldn't egg us on."
Carlisle did not look convinced, but he stopped his teasing nonetheless. "Don't worry, boys, Esme is almost done with your clothes. She's mending your shirts as we speak, and she's just waiting for your underclothes to dry."
"You really like her, don't you?" Garrett asked, awed.
Carlisle's wide grin was answer enough. "She's absolutely perfect," he said reverently.
Eleazar smiled and clapped his brother on the shoulder, "We are all very happy for you, Carlisle."
Carlisle laughed, "It will be your turns next, there were some lovely women in the town."
Emmett's head shot up, "Really. You'd let us go into town to find someone to marry?"
Carlisle shrugged, "I don't see why not—you all deserve the happiness I have found with Esme."
Carlisle turned and walked out of their room, still trying very hard not to laugh at their predicament. It would seem they were the married ones and not him. He scratched at his blonde stubble, and leap to the bottom of the stairs, suddenly eager to see his wife.
Esme was seated in the rocker, six shirts spread out on her lap, mending one that appeared to be Emmett's from the sheer size of it. She hummed while she worked, and occasionally pursed her lips to whistle when her song became too much to contain.
Carlisle found the determined look on her face very endearing. He leaned into the kiss her cheek before sauntering off to cook dinner. He wanted to surprise her.
Four hours and four burned fingers later, Carlisle found that his calling was not to be a chef. Esme stood in the doorway, snickering at him as he burned his fifth and final finger. It was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak, and Carlisle stormed outside to go run his hand under the cold well water.
Esme trailed behind him, her expression torn between amusement and worry. "Carlisle, let me see it. Are you alright?"
He grumbled, "I'm fine. I was just trying to cook you a good dinner, and well I ended up making even more of a mess."
Esme laughed musically, "I don't mind the mess. You should know I don't, Carlisle—considering you brought me home to a houseful of rowdy men, I think I'm passed being angry with you."
"You were angry with me?" He asked, looking at her through his dark blonde lashes.
"For a moment, yes. Until I heard the way you spoke about your brothers—even just saying their names, you loved them. And because I love you, so I shall love them, too."
Carlisle smiled and pulled her close to him, with the hand that was burned the least, and cradled her face so he could kiss her. They were so wrapped up in their own little personal bubble that they didn't notice Edward coming through the backdoor, garbed in his fresh clothes.
He scoffed, "Sorry to interrupt," he said quietly, "but I saw the mess in the kitchen—" he shot Carlisle a despairing glance, "—and I figured that I would clean it up, but I needed fresh water."
Esme smiled and pulled Carlisle away from the well, "Thank you, Edward."
He nodded cordially and walked back into the house.
"Your brothers truly are wonderful," she said wistfully.
Carlisle sighed, "I'm glad you think so. They all have their quirks, but it just makes them even more loveable."
Esme nodded, "I do love them, but I love you the most."
Carlisle smiled and continued kissing her.
Awww! They're so cute. As always, I'm tickled pink that you all have liked this story so much. I do realize that currently it's kind of boring and redundant. BUT, do not fret my lovlies, because next chapter is the introduction to the lovely ladies of the town!! I know you guys are excited to see that.
Next time on 7B47B:
"She's...stunning," he said gaping at something.
"Who are you staring at?" Esme asked gently.
"Blonde hair."
"You're staring at Jasper?" Garrett asked, clearly amused. Emmett punched him in his upper arm.
"You know, Gar', you have blonde hair, too," Edward pointed out, looking forward to the fight that would undoubtedly ensue.
"No, I'm looking at a girl," Emmett said, still distracted.
"Thank you for the clarification, Emmett," Jasper said sarcastically, staring at the group of young women also.