Here's chapter 10, never thought I'd get this far. Just going to say a quick thank you to those who've read and reviewed A Different Life. Hopefully you guys continue to read.
Warnings: mild cursing, so I apologize in advance if this offends anyone. A few mild time jumps, a few months at most, a majority of them spanning a few weeks.
"Esme?" I heard Jasper, but I didn't look up from the box in my lap. There was no way that this had been in the custody of the Post Office for a week. Unless someone found it and turned it in, not wanting it to be lost. Honestly, I was afraid to touch anything in the box, worried that as soon as my hand came in contact with the soft, slightly faded fabric, I would be thrown back fifty years in time.
I startled slightly when a small hand came in contact with my side.
"Who gave you the blanket, Mommy? The hat is too little to wear!" Sophia exclaimed and I had to smile at her innocence. I pulled the faded blue blanket out of the box and was immediately assaulted with the scent that had belonged to my little boy. Even after all these years, his scent still clung to the fabric.
"Mommy made the blanket and the hat, Cricket." Carlisle said, giving me a chance to collect my thoughts.
"Who did you make them for? They're teeny tiny." Sophia said and slid closer to me.
"I had a baby boy a long time ago. I made his blanket and hat before he was born." I explained, the memory of my son clenching painfully at my heart. I saw Jasper wince.
"How come he's not here now?" She asked, her head tilting to the side like a puppy hearing a strange noise.
"He was very sick as a baby. He died a few days after he was born." I told her and she was silent for a few moments.
"What was his name?" She asked, her voice timid.
"William. I named him after my grandfather." I told her, watching her process the information I had given her.
"Why was he sick?" She asked.
"His lungs were sick. The doctors had said he had a lung infection." It was silent after that. She rubbed the edge of the blanket between her fingers, a pensive look on her face.
"Do you miss him, Mommy?" She asked, her soulful brown eyes finally meeting mine. I put the blanket back in the box and pulled her into my lap.
"I do miss my little boy, very much, but you know what? I have you and you're my little sweet pea. And you and Daddy and Rose and Em and Allie and Jas and Edward are all I need. And I love you from the moon and back a billion times."
Sophia had asked a few more questions throughout the rest of the day and throughout the following weeks. She had even peeked inside the box when she thought I wasn't looking to sift through the fabric and the few pictures.
But after she was in bed for the night, did the rest of us come together to figure out exactly where all of this came from. We had come up with a few plausible scenarios, but they seemed a little too fat fetched.
"Is there any other family your dad may have sent your stuff too?" Rose asked as she studied the picture of a very pregnant me and the students I taught. I thought about it for a minute, but there was no one that my father would have trusted enough to keep my belongings safe.
"I don't think so. My mother was an only child and my father had two sisters. One died when she was a teen and the other moved to Arizona when she married. It was her daughter whom I stayed with when I was on the run." I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, wincing slightly when my fingers snagged a tangle.
"Maybe your father took it with him when he left and when he died, the police took the box and it's been shuffled between post offices since then?" Edward offered. I shrugged and put everything back in the box, re sealing the flaps and flopping back on the couch. Carlisle wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me in closer to him. Eventually, we all drifted off to do our own thing. Edward went to his beloved piano, Emmett and Rose left, deciding on a run around the property, and Alice and Jasper went to the library.
"I wish I had more answers for you, Esme." Carlisle murmured, his breath fanning out over my head. I snuggled closer to him.
"There's always going to be more questions than answers in life, Carlisle. We can't change that. But between this and the fact that we were never able to find my father's obituary, something seems a little off." I admitted and fiddled with the fabric of Carlisle's shirt.
"Maybe he left the country after you…died." He offered and I shrugged yet again.
"I don't know what happened, and I never may, but life goes on and I you and Sophia and the 'kids', and life is good. I know he's my father and he'll always be a part of me but I have to focus on the now and the now is you guys."
A few weeks have passed since the box incident and now, I'm getting ready to send my baby to school.
"She's going to be fine, Esme. She'll be a little quiet at first, but she'll make friends fast." Alice assured me, yet again. I gave her a soft smile and turned back to sorting through the laundry. I'd fold and Alice would sort it.
"Are you still seeing the dark haired woman?" Alice asked as I handed her a few folded shirts.
"A few times last month, but I haven't seen her lately. There's just something about this woman that feels important. I confessed. I listened as Alice prattled on about the different happenings in the fashion world. I pulled a shirt that had been streaked with purple and orange and held it up for Alice to see.
"That's what, the third shirt this month?" Alice asked a grin on her face. I nodded and chucked the once pale green shirt into the trash can.
"It's about two shirts too many. Once, I'm willing to forgive, but after three, something's got to give. Maybe I'll introduce her to tie-dying her own shirts instead of sneaking markers into the wash." I said and handed Alice the last pair of pants, undoubtedly Emmett's judging by the amount of tears and frays. I stood from the floor and stacked two of the baskets while Alice grabbed another two, leaving the basket that belonged to Carlisle and me in the laundry room.
"Clothes!" Alice unnecessarily called and we waited a few moments until everyone came to claim their basket.
"Sophia owes you a shirt, Emmett." I called after his retreating form. He turned and playfully glared at Sophia who squealed when he lunged for her and chased her around the house. He caught her and dangled her over his shoulder, tickling her until she was gasping for breath. At that point, he flipped her right side up and set her back on the floor. She continued giggling, but followed after me to her room.
"Alright sweet pea. You know where everything goes." I supervised her as she sorted away her clothing and handed the basket to me. I left it outside her door and sat on the bed.
"You want to get your outfit ready tomorrow?" I asked and she shrugged, her attention focused solely on the stuffed animal in her lap.
"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" I asked and received only the slightest of nods. I scooted off the bed and leaned back against it, pulling her into my lap instead.
"You have nothing to worry about, Sophia. You're going to the same school as Rose and Alice and Emmett and Jasper and Edward. You'll be able to see them at lunch and during free time. You know they won't let anything happen to you." I said and she nodded against my shoulder. The high school, elementary, and middle school are the same school, except each 'school' has its own building with a shared quad. Everyone had lunch at the same time and at least one free period together, so Sophia really had nothing to worry about.
"And Daddy and I will be in the hospital down the road, so if something ever happens, we'll be there quick, okay?" She nodded against my shoulder again and her fingers fiddled with the silver bracelet Carlisle had given to me for my last birthday. I sat with her for a while longer before I kissed her forehead and left her playing with her dolls while I put away mine and Carlisle's shared laundry.
I was a little nervous about Sophia starting school, but it was a huge comfort knowing that the others are going to be right there – literally – if something were to happen. But with Sophia starting school, I'd be left home alone to keep myself busy, so Carlisle managed to get me into the hospital full time with a fairly flexible schedule. I'd only be going around and talking to the patients and keep them busy while they were there. I'd be starting tomorrow with Carlisle, after Sophia started school.
I felt a pair of arms wrap around me and was flooded with the warm scent that was purely Carlisle. I smiled and turned in his embrace, folding my arms around him.
"Welcome home." I greeted and his lips met mine. It was chaste but sweet nonetheless.
"It's good to be home. Where's Sophia? Usually she races you to greet me, but today both my girls were absent." He said with a small grin. Our lips met again and when we separated, I handed him a stack of his work shirts. He grinned again and hung them in the closet. It only took a few minutes to get everything sorted and put away.
"Sophia managed to sneak another marker into the wash, ruined another one of Emmett's shirts." I said and Carlisle laughed.
"She nervous about tomorrow?" He asked as he sat on the edge of the bed. I nodded and sat next to him.
"She says she's not, but she is. I think knowing that the kids are soo close to her if she needs them is the only thing that's keeping her from having a meltdown. And then we're right down the road, so we're all relatively close if she needs us." I said and leaned against him. He dropped a kiss to my head before standing up changing out of the clothes he wore at the hospital.
"How was your day?" He asked as he pulled a white t-shirt over his head.
"Good. Did some laundry, got dinner planned for Sophia and her backpack packed for tomorrow. Bleached about a dozen of Emmett's shirts. Finished reading the book you gave me and started a new painting. That's about it." I said and took notice of how good Carlisle looked in a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. From somewhere in the house, I heard Edward laugh and then Emmett's teasing.
"Daddy! When did you get here?" Sophia squealed as she threw herself at him. Carlisle easily caught her and tickled her.
"I've been home, Cricket. For a little while now, but you and mommy weren't there to greet me. I thought maybe you and mommy had gone on vacation and left me here." He joked and earned another set of giggles from Sophia.
"NO! We've been home aaalllllll day." Sophia stated matter of factly, crossing her arms over her chest. I stifled a laugh at her expression.
"Well then, why don't we help mommy get dinner ready, then after you eat dinner, we can watch a movie or play a game?" Carlisle bargained and Sophia nodded. I followed Carlisle and Sophia back downstairs where Carlisle sat Sophia down on the counter next to the sink.
"Alright sweet pea, what does your tummy want for dinner?" I asked and she mulled it over for a moment.
"Chicken and mashed potatoes. But no potato skin." She said and I smiled.
"I think we can do that. How about while you help me with the chicken, we can have daddy peel the potatoes?" I said and she nodded. She opened the drawer next to her feet and fished out the peeler, handing it to Carlisle with an order to 'get going'. This time I did laugh and began to get the things I needed for Sophia's dinner.
It didn't take long to get the chicken and potatoes ready and now, Sophia was eating eagerly between bouts of conversation and stories of her day.
"More juice please, mommy?" Sophia asked. She had already eaten a good portion of what was on her plate. Usually she drank a majority of her juice before she had even eaten half of what she had already eaten.
"Eat a little bit more and I'll get you more juice." I compromised and watched as she took a few more big bites before refilling her cup with watered down apple juice. She thanked me and took a few gulps before fixing Carlisle with a questioning look.
"Daddy, how come you don't eat dinner?" She asked and I caught the worried look Carlisle gave me. We all knew it was only time before Sophia began asking questions. She had asked questions about the Cullen's eyes and the Volturi's eyes and we had explained it away as unique eye colors. Just like her friend from the park who has blue eyes with green around the pupil.
"I ate at the hospital, Cricket." He lied. Excuses were only going to last so long before she questioned those too. She stared at him a second longer before turning back to her food. She finished off her mashed potatoes and two more pieces of her chicken before she declared herself full. I let her go and play while I cleared off the table and put the left overs in the fridge.
"We can't keep diverting her questions, Esme. We're going to have to tell her eventually." Carlisle said as he leaned against the counter next to me. I sighed and swept a hand through my hair.
"I know but I'm more worried about Sophia and what the Volturi would do if they learned that she knew. She may be my daughter, but the rules don't not apply to us. Marcus would try to find a way around it; Aro would listen to all the sides, but Caius…Caius wants blood. He has never liked me and he's been waiting for the day to get me, and something like this could be what he's been waiting for. I can't put Sophia and the rest of you into that kind of danger." I told him and all was silent for a while. I knew the others had heard what I said and they too, were silent. The only noise in the house was Sophia sifting through her toy box.
"Then we wait until she's older to tell her. Let's just give her this time to be a child and carefree." Carlisle took my hand in his and pulled me into the living room. We squeezed into one of the chairs and Sophia clambered on with us, a book in hand. She settled on my lap and Carlisle wound an arm behind me and pulled me in closer as he began to read from the book.
"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."
"Sophia, come on baby girl, it's time to wake up. You've got to get ready for school." I said softly as I smoothed my hand over her cheek.
"Come on sweet pea. If you don't wake up, you're going to be late and then you can't go with the others to school." I said and Sophia opened bleary eyes. I smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Are you going to work with daddy today?" Sophia asked as she slid out of bed and followed me into mine and Carlisle's bathroom. I nodded as I filled up the tub.
"I am but if you turn into a turtle, I'll be late and so will you." I said and tapped her nose. She giggled and slipped her pajamas off and climbed into the tub. She shivered from the cold and I put the water a little warmer. I wet her hair with a cup and washed it with her favorite mango shampoo.
"Are you excited?" I asked and she nodded. I rinsed her hair out.
"You're going to be okay. If something happens, you can tell your teacher to call high school and someone will come and get you, then you can call daddy or me. But if something big happens, you can call daddy or me first, okay?"
"Okay." I left her to wash to go and get her clothes for the day. I passed Alice in the hall and she gave me a smile and a thumbs up, signaling that today – so far – would go smoothly.
When I got back to the bathroom, Sophia had finished washing and had begun to drain the tub. I set her clothes on the bed and wrapped her in an oversized towel. I dried her off and toweled her hair before leaving her to get dressed; opting to get myself dressed in the dark red scrubs Carlisle brought me.
"Ready, Mommy." Sophia said and I took a second to make sure her clothes were on the right way and nothing was on backwards. I smiled and grabbed a brush from the vanity.
"How do you want your hair today, sweet pea?" I asked and she deliberated for a moment before settling on a French Braid. Her hair was starting to get long. I'd have to talk to Sophia about that later. I had her hair brushed and braided in a matter of minutes, tying the end off with a bright orange elastic to match her dress.
"Now you, Mommy." She said, handing me a red elastic. And like my daughter, I had my hair brushed and braided in moments. I settled her on the chair in front of the vanity, resting my chin on her shoulder, our cheeks pressed together. Sophia smiled and touched the mirror.
"Well, what do you think? Are we ready to head downstairs?" I asked and she nodded turning and wrapping her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist. I chuckled and made my way downstairs. I greeted Carlisle in the kitchen. He smiled and plated up the pancakes and eggs and settled the plate on the table.
"When did you get a koala, Esme?" Emmett teased as he and Alice came into the kitchen. Sophia giggled and turned her body to look at Emmett.
"I'm not a koala." She said and stuck her tongue out at her older brother. Emmett returned the gesture and leaned against the table.
"Are you sure? Because for a moment there, I thought Esme had left you with the koala's at the zoo." He teased again and this time, received a glare from Sophia.
"Fine. If I'm a koala, then you're Cinderella." She said and I burst out into laughter, as did Alice. This time it was Emmett who stuck his tongue out at Sophia.
"Alright you two, that's enough. Start eating Sophia, we have to leave in twenty minutes." I reminded her and she settled on her knees on the chair and began eating. While Sophia ate, I flitted around the kitchen and prepared her lunch of a peanut butter sandwich, apple slices, a packet of cookies, a juice box and her water bottle was already hooked to her backpack.
"Done mommy." Sophia turned in her seat to look at me. I snapped her lunchbox closed and set it aside for now.
"Alright. Put your dishes in the sink and go get your things." She did as instructed and went to the living room to get her backpack.
"She's gonna be fine, Esme. She'll miss you and Carlisle for a while then she starts playing with a few other kids and she's fine. She'll take to it like a duck to water." Alice assured me for the second time that day. Emmett and Alice left the kitchen upon hearing the others return from their early hunting trip.
"You heard Alice, Es. Soph will be fine. She has the others the next building over and she'll see them at least twice a day." This time it was Carlisle who assured me. I nodded and leaned into his embrace, his lips pressing against my forehead.
"Ready!" I stepped back and turned in Carlisle's arms to face Sophia. She had gotten her shoes on and had her backpack slung over her shoulders and a wide smile on her face. I felt Carlisle squeeze my side and then step forward, picking Sophia up.
"You sure you're ready?" He asked and Sophia nodded. Carlisle ticked her before setting her back on the ground, taking her lunchbox from the counter and clipping it to her backpack. Sophia took his hand and looked to me.
"Are you ready, mommy?" She asked and I smiled. I took my back from the back of one of the chairs and slung it across my shoulders.
"Now I'm ready."
By the time we reached the school, Sophia had grown quiet. She had elected to drive with Carlisle and I and left the others to take two cars between the five of them. Carlisle parked the car and I turned in my seat.
"You ready to head in, sweet pea?" I asked and she gave me in tiniest of nods. Carlisle and I exited the car and I opened the door for Sophia, her backpack in hand. She slid from the car and I helped her shrug on her backpack before she reached for my hand.
"You have nothing to be nervous about. You're going to have so much fun that you're going to forget about Mommy and I, Cricket." Carlisle said as he crouched down to her level. Sophia shrugged and Carlisle gave her a gentle smile and kissed her forehead.
"I don't know whose more nervous, Sophia or Esme." Jasper teased as he and the others made their way over. I gave him a playful swat when he was close enough.
"Don't worry Soph. You're going to have a whole lot of fun." Edward said, giving her braid a gentle tug. She scowled at him, eliciting a few chuckles.
"Promise?" She asked, her eyes wide. Edward nodded.
"Promise." Carlisle look at his watch.
"Alright Sophia. Are you ready to head in? School is going to start in a few minutes." Carlisle said and Sophia nodded, reaching her arms out, asking to be picked up.
"We'll see you later, alright little bit?" Emmett said and Sophia nodded, meeting Emmett's fist with her smaller one, their knuckles touching before Emmett stepped back and took hold of Rose's hand. They wished Sophia good luck before they headed to class. We watched until they disappeared from sight then headed into the elementary building.
Sophia's class was on the third floor, room 312. Carlisle set Sophia down when we got to the door taking to hold her hand instead. We were met by a rather young teacher, twenty three at the most with a kind face and soulful eyes. She was about Alice's height with brownish red hair and hazel eyes.
"Hi, you must be Sophia. I'm Miss. Abraham." The young woman introduced herself to Sophia and to Carlisle and I.
"I'm Miss. Abraham. I'm a new teacher here." She introduced and held her hand out to Carlisle.
"I'm Carlisle, and this is Esme." Carlisle introduced us and I shook her hand. I saw her flinch when she shook Carlisle's hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. Is there anything I should know about Sophia?" She asked, looking down at the child in question.
"She doesn't have a high tolerance for milk; she'll be okay with small portions. She has five older siblings over in the high school, so if something were to happen, give the high school a call and they'll send one of our older kids over. The high school already knows so there should be no problems there. Carlisle and I are at the hospital, so if something dire happens, call for one of us first." I prattled on and the teacher wrote a few things down.
"Sounds good. Hey, Sophia. Why don't you let your parents head on to work and you can help me get todays activity?" Miss Abraham offered and Sophia nodded. She turned to me and I knelt down. She wrapped her arms around my neck and I wrapped my arms around her. I pulled back a few moments later and kissed her forehead and then her cheek.
"You're going to have so much fun that time is going to fly by and soon Daddy and I will be picking you up, okay." I told her and she nodded.
"I love you." I told her and kissed her cheek again.
"Love you too, mommy." She turned to Carlisle and he picked her up in a hug.
"Behave. I love you." Carlisle repeated my gesture and kissed her opposite cheek and then her nose, making her giggle.
"Love you too, silly Daddy."
There it is. Chapter 10 ( or ch 9 pt 2?)
As always, reviews are welcome and so are suggestions. Actually, I'd prefer some suggestions so I know where to go with this story as I'm starting to struggle a little with the direction I want this to go.
Until next time,
-SilentDaughter