Chapter 9: Mother and Daughter

Another day went by and Bella was sitting outside reading when she heard the backdoor of the house open. "I know yesterday was kind of busy so we didn't really get a chance to talk," a voice commented. Looking up, Bella glanced over to see Esme standing there with a small smile.

"It's alright, it was Alice and Jasper's evening," she replied putting her book down.

The woman walked over and sat down with a sigh. "So…when is the baby's due date?" Bella asked gesturing to her stomach. Esme smiled moving her hand over her stomach.

"In three months maybe," she replied.

Bella smiled, but then they both fell into an uncomfortable silence. "So…what happened…why did you give Emmett and me up?" Bella asked. Esme sighed, twisting her wedding ring around on her finger.

"Why...the biggest question of them all," Esme said quietly.

Bella gave her a quizzical look. "Emmett told me that you did not have a note that you could read over and over like he did. Bella I didn't have time to write a note. Charles was so horrible and scary I was worried of what he would do if he caught me trying to hide another child," she explained.

"You were planning on hiding me all along?" Bella asked surprised.

"No, Bella no, I wasn't planning on hiding either you or your brother," Esme answered.

Getting up, she sat next to the young woman. "If only people could remember their time as infants," she said quietly moving the hair from Bella's face. "I kept your brother for a week, but then every single time your father walked into the room he kept talking about all the things he was teaching him. It was heart wrenching to imagine that my son would grow up being as selfish and evil as him. After bringing Emmett home for a few days, I wrote Emmett's letter and hid it in the folds of his blanket when I left him on the McCarty's doorstep."

"What about me?" Bella asked quietly.

Esme was holding back tears as she looked at her daughter. "When you were born, I kept thinking, this is it, this is the one thing Charles could never destroy. He could never turn my little girl into an evil girl, she would be all mine. I held you so tight and so close I never wanted to let you go," she explained.

"What happened that made you let me go?" Bella asked.

The woman let out a shaky sigh. "Charles came home one day, talking about all the big industries and businesses that you could be a pawn for. Bella, he was going to use you as a bargaining chip to become more successful. He was going to make your life worse than mine and I refused to let that happen. I wanted my daughter to fall in love with the person she was going to marry, not to marry the man because of a business deal. I wasn't going to let that happen," she explained.

Bella felt the ache in her chest at the idea that her biological father only wanted her for a bargaining tool. "I thought because he never wanted a daughter that he would leave you alone, but I was wrong. The night after he returned home from work, he was asleep and I only had little time before he would wake up and find me sneaking out of the house with you. I couldn't write the note, I tried on several occasions but after Emmett he kept a close watch on me, he was going to try to make sure I didn't give you up to another family," she told the young woman tearfully, "I had only enough time to take my picture from one of the picture frames in the parlor, put that in the folds of your blanket and escape the house with you."

Esme felt tears press against her eyes as the same pain she felt seventeen years ago come back at full force. "I don't know how long I held you in front of that house. I just remember sitting next to the Swan house holding you in my arms telling you how much I loved you and I promised one day we would find each other again. I longed to take you away, to some place where it could've been just us. I would have run away but I was afraid, scared of what Charles would do if he found us. I didn't want to risk it so it was better if someone else took care of you in a safe home, a loving home," she said quietly.

"So you left me with Renee and Charlie," Bella concluded.

Nodding Esme pushed the falling strand of hair from her face. "Oh sweetheart, I wanted nothing more than just to keep both you and Emmet," she answered.

"What happened after that?" Bella asked curiously.

Esme's gaze went towards the rose bush. "It was three months after I left you with Charlie and Renee. Charles…oh…he became so angry that I was unable to get pregnant again. He was angry all the time because I gave up the son he wanted and the daughter he could've used to gain business," she replied. Sitting back against the back of the bench she started rubbing her baby bump as her mind drifted back to that day.

Esme let out a small scream as he threw her against the wall. "You filthy disgusting wench! You give away the son I wanted and yet you can't give me another!" He snapped his hand around her throat. Gasping for air, she gripped his wrist.

"Charles…don't…" she gasped out.

He threw her down on the ground, her head smacking against the hardwood floors. She screamed as he kicked her stomach. "I want that son you whore," he snapped grabbing her hair and lifting her up from the floor.

"Charles stop!" She screamed.

He shoved her backwards, making her stumble against the table, knocking the glass plate that sat on top onto the floor. Smacking her across the face, she fell, landing upon the shattered glass that littered the floor, the sharp shards cutting into her skin. "I'll be back and this mess better be cleaned when I return!" He snapped before he stormed out of the house.

Esme lay on the floor for what felt like forever. She lost everything because of this man, her children, her one love, everything. Slowly she got up from the floor and stumbled out of the house.

Esme opened her eyes to see Bella still staring at her. "He beat me so badly one day, I escaped, I somehow made it to Carlisle's house. I woke up there and he was taking care of me. He and I knew each other from our childhood, childhood sweethearts actually," she explained.

Bella smiled a little to see her mother's eyes shine as she spoke about her husband. "Bella, never ever think I didn't care about you. That is just not true, I loved you with all my heart that I just wanted to do everything I could to be the best mother. It's just that, with everything how it was, it wasn't safe for you or Emmett," she explained. Esme placed her hand on her daughter's face. "I hope one day you can forgive me," she whispered.

Bella swallowed hard, letting out a shaky sigh. "There's nothing to forgive," Bella answered quietly. Smiling, Esme wrapped her arms around her daughter hugging her tight. Bella hugged her back with a small smile.

Carlisle was standing in front of the large window, staring out into the gardens when he noticed his nephew standing next to him. "I recognize that look," he commented.

"What?" Edward asked snapping out of his daze.

Chuckling the older man placed his hand on Edward's shoulder. "The look where nothing else in the world matters except her," he replied. Sighing, Edward moved his fingers through his hair.

"I just finally gained her trust back, I'm going to wait as long as it takes for her," Edward told his uncle.

Carlisle smiled gripping his nephew's shoulder briefly before they looked out towards the window. His mind started to drift as he stared at the love of his life, drifting back to the moment that she had reentered his life. It started playing in his head as if it had happened just yesterday.

Carlisle was in his room reading over some of his medical books as he glanced at the photograph of Esme on her sixteenth birthday, the only picture he had of her. "Esme…" he whispered. His train of thought cut off when he heard the buzzer on the door going off.

Getting up from bed, he pulled on his robe and exited his room to find his brother-in-law exiting his own room. "Who could that be at this hour?" Edward Senior asked curiously. Oliver went to go downstairs when Edward Senior held up his hand. "Go back to bed Oliver, we will handle this," he instructed before he and Carlisle went downstairs.

Walking over to the door, Carlisle opened it, looking outside. "My God!" he exclaimed in shock, his eyes widening and the pain rushing through his heart. There on cold, wet ground laid Esme Evanson. "Esme!" He gasped as he kneeled next to her.

"Edward?" Elizabeth called from upstairs.
"Elizabeth get the extra room ready quickly," Edward Senior told his wife.

Carlisle carefully lifted Esme up into his arms and she let out a small shriek of pain before a sob escaped her lips. "It's alright darling it's alright just hold onto me," he told her as he carried her up the stairs.

Sighing, Carlisle looked over at Edward. "Edward, whatever you do, no matter what, don't let her go. Fight for her, I didn't fight hard enough for Esme and I nearly lost her forever," he informed.

"Uncle…" Edward started.

"Keep her close and you will know when the time is right that she will want to be with you," Carlisle informed with a gentle smile.

Nodding Edward looked back out the window at Bella with a small smile appearing on his face.

Esme let Bella go with a small smile. "I'm happy that you've found real happiness," Bella told her. Looking towards the window, Esme saw her husband staring at her and smiled softly before turning her gaze back towards her daughter.

"One day you will find true happiness yourself Bella," she answered with a sigh.

She patted her daughter's hand before standing up. "We should go back inside, the air is getting chilly," she commented. Bella laughed a little before she grabbed her book, following Esme. Glancing over at the large window, she saw Edward watching with a smile. Biting her lower lip, Bella blushed before entering the house.

"I am guessing your conversation was productive?" Carlisle asked.

"You guess correctly," Esme replied with a smile.

Bella looked up to see Edward disappearing into his music room again. Walking over to the door, she stood against the wall as she listened to him play the piano. She smiled a little, it was the most beautiful sound in the world.

For the next two hours, Edward played his piano and Bella sat outside the room listening to him with a smile on her face.