"Alice, how nice of you to call?" Carlisle answered his cell phone at Home Depot.
"Just called to check in," She said with a smile, appreciating their care as she looked at the black and white picture of her human self at the age of nine, with her grandparent's arms proudly around her. She has always been appreciative of Carlisle and Esme, no matter how over-protective they can get sometimes it would never annoy her, she appreciated their concern. She knew what it was like to have people care that much. Even though she didn't know it, she understood sometimes rules that may seem limiting protected a larger freedom.
"Well, always nice to hear from you," He smiled.
"Is that Alice?" Esme asked, dancing up to him with excitement.
"Yes," Carlisle answered her happily.
"I want to talk to her." She said thrilled to hear her voice. "I want to hear what she found out."
"We want to hear what you found out," Carlisle started putting the phone on speaker.
"I got a question about one of your patients you had during the Civil War." Alice started, knowing Carlisle memorized all of his patients with his advanced memory.
"Sure," Carlisle answered, figuring this was a way to help her out. "Who would you like to know about?"
"Apparently I have a grandfather, Privet Allen Brandon, there is a record of him staying in a prison hospital where you said you worked." Alice answered as Carlisle smiled.
"That is one who's certainly worth remembering, he was a POW brought to my attention with a hand injury." Carlisle sighed. "A very bad one, and with little technology at that time I had no choice but to amputate it. I felt bad for him, I did everything I could to make sure he remained alive but it caused him to lose a lot of hope. I tried to comfort him, in saying that he can still live a normal life. I was lonely back then, and he was one of those patients I would talk to in order to pass time."
"What did he talk about?" Alice asked.
"His family, mainly," Carlisle answered. "He was big on family, he didn't have any special girl he was writing to, but he seemed to have long conversations on his parents. They sounded like interesting people to talk about. Some of his childhood experiences I could relate with him considering both of our fathers were ministries. They were incomparable though, Allen would tell me how he would get annoyed when he would ask his parents not to have a party for his birthday, and they threw one anyway."
"How did he leave?" Alice asked with a smile.
"That's remarkably what makes him stand out the most, he stole my horse." Carlisle explained.
"You had a horse?" Alice asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, it would look strange if I didn't and it was something to talk to. This was the best horse I had ever owned." Carlisle explained. "Anyway, while he was at the hospital, he befriended this one soldier from Alabama, who talked nonstop about his fiancée." Carlisle sighed. "They both recovered around the same time, and when the staff employee with the army did their check-up, it was reported they were healthy enough to return to the prison camp. I was working that night on another group of soldiers who just came in. I was still trying to learn control, so I had to take a break in order get away from the scent, for safety reasons. Then I saw Allen sneaking out, and then he went into the stable. His friend asked 'how are we going to get out of here when you only had one hand.' And your grandfather answered 'How strongly are you opposed to horse theft?' Then they went in and grabbed my horse, while I went to unlock the gate for them to leave. So he became your grandfather?" Carlisle asked.
"Yes," Alice answered.
"That's good, he kept saying no woman's going to want to have a one handed man as a father to their children. I guess he was wrong about that."
"I guess." Alice smiled.
"You treated her grandfather?" Esme smiled excitedly. "Did you find anything else?"
"I am just getting to look up what they found on my mother's side." Alice answered.
"Well, good luck with that," Esme smiled. "We have to go now, the sale's man is coming with the part, we love you."
"I love you too," Alice smiled at them.
"Be sure to send Jasper our love," Esme said again.
"I will," Alice smiled. "Bye." She hung up the phone and got more information. She was particularly interested in Susan, considering that's where she might have gotten her ability. She wondered if maybe any of Susan's relatives had strange ways of knowing things before they happened. It sort of gave Alice a new sense of pride when she thought of her ability; she use to consider it was something of her own. Now, knowing her biological grandmother had a similar trait, she saw her clairvoyance in a whole new light. It was a connection, reading the article on what her grandmother did for her as human, and how her attempts failed. She felt it was the only thing that Susan gave her, that wasn't taken away.
She had to be fair with her search. She looked up her maternal grandparents, to see if any of her traits related back to them. She was able to go through and know information about her maternal grandparents, finding information Eliza didn't even know. Her other grandmother, Ruth was from Canada, and also sung at opera houses throughout North America. She was famous for singing on high ques. Alice also found out Ruth's parents were from France, and her great-grandmother was a ballerina, who was known for making the other ballerinas in Paris feel humiliated for the way she danced. She found out her maternal grandfather, William was an abolitionist who ironically was in support of the Union. He had a mother from Ireland, that came here as an indentured servant and a father that started one of the first factories in the country. William also fought against child labor, equality of women, and justice of the disabled. Alice wondered what he would have thought of his daughter putting her away.
Alice went back to the site and found information on her paternal grandparents, who were around to fight for her. They were the ones that missed her when she went to become what she was suppose to be, Alice sighed thinking of her grandma Susan, who loved her so much she couldn't bare being without her, feeling guilty for having no memories of her. Everyone in her family seemed to have someone, Carlisle had his father, Esme had the cousin who helped her get out of that marriage, Edward, he still at least had his friend that died shortly after he was turned, Rosalie had her whole family, and recently found her mother lost it after she left, Emmett also had his family, but his brother continued to look for him. She also knew Jasper had his father, and Julia on some degree waiting to tell someone of the injustice done to her. Every vampire she knew had a relative, a sister, a brother, someone who mourned they were no longer human. Alice smiled, she had someone too.
She found out her grandfather was born in Biloxi as well as Noah. He actually was one of the first students to graduate from the University of Mississippi in seminary. The site was also able to dig up information on Gloria, which included a record book of her employing to Lowell's factory mills when she was twelve and later came to Mississippi with a ticket parched by Noah.
Alice finally decided to research Susan, it seemed sketchy that she just appeared in Biloxi, never mentioning her past but Alice figured, knowing their common trait she was too busy looking for her future to care about the past. The sight was only able to find one link. It was an employment record of a steamship, 'The S.S. May' and her signature taking the job:
'Susan May, 17, Laundry Maid'
Alice printed it out and highlighted it, putting it in the pile with her grandfather's army registration and their business records. This frustrated her, this was one of the best genealogy sights that was available, known to find generations dating back to BC times. They found everyone on Eliza's tree, and Allen's tree seemed to be filling up, yet for the one she found most interested it stopped in 1863 with the record book of the 'The S.S. May'. Alice wanted to know more information about the woman who took her in, and see if there was anyone else in her family that had a strange way of knowing what people are going to like before he or she met them. She sighed wishing that somehow she could have talked to someone who might have known her, as Alice picked up the phone and called Jasper.
"Alice," Jasper smiled, picking up the phone. "Did you find anything interesting this time?" He said with a concerned expression. Jasper had a hint of fear remembering when Alice finally learned the truth of her human life, that heartbreaking look in her eyes, the emotions coming from her. It was something he didn't want to feel coming from her again. Alice had always imagined her human life; it was easy to say they were fantasies considering how far they were from the truth. Jasper hated her face when Alice watched the video; it was as if everything she thought good about herself shattered. He was against the idea of her looking up her tree, and with good reason to find what she found last time….disappointment and land evidence that her family wanted nothing to do with her.
Jasper admitted to himself, he always had thoughts of Alice's human life, hoping she had what he had, something he always carried with him even during the years of war, the decades of carnage and a century of killing Jasper never forgot what it was like to be loved. He never forgot the feelings that emerged from his mother, father, brother and sister. It was something he held dearly, and helped him find comfort in this life. When Alice told him about his new family, he knew what to expect because he felt it before. Even though Alice has no recollection of her human life, he always figured she knew the feeling but the truth was far from it.
"Yes, actually," Alice smiled. "It turns out, my grandparents, fought for me."
"What did they do?" Jasper asked, relived someone in her human life had hopes for her. "And how did you get in there anyway?
"It's hard to explain," Alice spoke letting her breath out. "I am printing some things off now, do you want to meet?"
"Well, I can't," Jasper started nervously. "Something came up, and I don't think I can consider myself responsible if I leave. I am sure you know what I am talking about."
"No," Alice replied as a strange look came on her face. She actually was having a hard time getting any visions of the antique store.
"You don't see her?" Jasper questioned confused, looking down to see Penny satisfying herself by simply twirling her skirt.
"See who?" Alice asked confused as she heard a brief moment of static in the back ground.
"Jasper," Penny tugged on his pant legs. "Jasper, Jasper, Jasper," She kept calling his name in a pitiful beg.
"What?" He asked, looking down at her.
"Is that my brother?" She asked with hopeful eyes.
"No, it's my wife." Jasper answered, shaking his head, he didn't even know her brother.
"Not the mean lady?" She asked.
"No," Jasper answered, letting out a laugh.
"You know my brother and his girlfriend aren't married but they have been together for a very, very, long time." She smiled.
"That's nice," Jasper nodded, going back to the phone.
"So how did you find this out?" Jasper asked.
"In an article about them," Alice answered joyfully. "It turns out, I lived with my grandparents before I was admitted, they wouldn't let me go alone with my parents and did everything in their power to keep me out of there."
"How did you figure this out from the article?" Jasper asked as Alice printed the article on the clothing store about her grandmother.
"My grandmother picked up on what was going to happen." Alice answered. "It's hard to explain over the phone. I am going to print out a few things and meet you there, if that's alright, since you're occupied." Alice suggested as the call started to static again.
"Jasper, I got to ask you something!" Penny came up, asking very loudly pulling on his pants leg.
"Fine with me, it will rain in about twenty minutes, I'll meet you then." Alice smiled. "I love you.""I love you too," Jasper smiled back and hung up.
Alice observed the first signature on record, it was rather different from the other signatures Susan signed, including the one Susan signed taking legal custody of her. The signature Susan May had at seventeen was very different, Alice noticed the second 's' of her name was small, smudged with a tiny hump behind it with a curve going down. Alice also observed the curve of the 'y' in May was tall reaching the top making a loop with another tiny splatter stopping the signature instantly. Alice found a copy of a handwriting analysis in the library, seeing the sun was out and bright. The signature for the ship, was nothing like the signature of the wedding certificate. That one was beautifully embroidered written with a slow steady hand, as is she was making sure she had it right. The employment signature seemed very fast, as if she was in such a hurry that she forgot how to spell her name, it had all signs of nervousness. The line of the signature was also concaved, which meant she was upset about something that happened, at the same time looking forward to going somewhere. Her first and last name was spread apart, indicating instability as if she was unsure. There was also a width in the left margin of the record; it meant distance as if she was trying to stay undercover. Alice also noticed the lower zone of the signature was very developed, meaning it manifested what wasn't known. She noticed the upper part of the signature was very symmetrical and all the letters were lined, meaning ambition and intelligence but emotionally unsure.
It was a mystery to why all records of her grandmother stopped here, because she was most likely never going to meet someone who knew or knew what happened. Alice couldn't help but be a little disappointed that all she was going to know about Susan May Brandon was that she loved her very much. Alice had no memory of her, just an article proving that this stranger fought for her, protected her and loved her. Alice looked up the ship, it came from New Orleans. The site had no records of census, employment, enrollments, or anything before 1863. It was like she just appeared in New Orleans out of nowhere and signed for a ship, most likely knowing it will take her where she needed to be, knowing someone needed hope in his life and she was the only person who could provide that service.
Alice went to exit the many windows she had opened on the computer, clicking the 'x' one at a time. She came to the shop, set in its modern day, staring at a picture taken from the entrance. It was then she had another vision, like the one she had earlier. It had the same blurs, and lack of clarity. It was of a shop with the exact same entrance, except with a shade of dark, as if the lights were turned off. She saw a large white wooden door open, and had a tremendously welcome feeling come about as she saw these faces staring at her. She couldn't quite make them out, they were blurs, she could tell the faces was a mixture of different races of people who were looking down at her with a smile. She looked around to see a room surrounded with color, with fabrics of laces, silks, and cloth made from fine cotton and wool. Alice saw full blown skirts of ribbons shaped like flowers with fine hats, fabric belts, broaches and pearls being passed around with others helping them being fit. Alice thought to herself having this vision, the more she thought the clearer it became. These faces were of woman, and they were shopping or socializing. Alice had a feeling that this was sort of like a hang-out, but that wouldn't be the appropriate word for the time. She noticed some she got the notion were rich, very well off and others weren't so well off but just as welcomed. She saw their faces; they were Black woman, White women, Hispanic women, Asian women, Native American women, old women, young women, skinny women, fat women, short women, tall women, rich women, poor women, foreign women, all in there for something. They were there for different occasions; she saw some in white, with veils, some in flowing ball gowns, some wearing simple every day dresses. She noticed a group wearing the same blue skirt and white button blouse helping fluff petticoats while others were trying on these overly heavy skirts, and some were just sitting there gossiping with each other, not buying or working, but just there. Each stopping to smile as the vision came pass her, looking down at her. She then heard a voice, a voice that made her jump with pride: "Well, look who it is, my favorite customer has just walked in. No offense to y'all who have been coming here for awhile." Alice then felt this cold, wrinkle hand on her shoulder as she heard a crowd of laughter. She then heard a whisper, "Why don't you go back, and get something to eat, your momma must be looking forward to seeing you. Maybe, I can come and take a break, made your favorite this morning."
She felt the woman's hand on her; she looked up and saw the woman with silver hair, and those green eyes looking down on her. She stopped at the woman wearing those blue skirts and white shirtwaists, telling them something. The women would follow her command with nods until the vision navigated itself to the back. It was something about this vision that made her feel so at home, hearing the old-fashion sewing machines and the smell of the freshly washed fabrics. Alice then saw another woman. This woman seemed just as familiar as the silver haired woman, but not nearly as beautiful. She was a short, frail woman with her faded red-brown curls pulled back. Alice found it frustrating she wasn't dressed as beautiful as the other women. She looked up towards Alice with faded unsure brown eyes. Something about this ill-confident woman seemed to bother Alice. Alice was disappointed with her, her very meek presence just seemed so betraying. It was when she looked down towards her, the vision was interrupted by the sound of rain hitting the window, causing a light sprinkle to fall over Houston.
~X~
"And then they went to a place in a dark ally, where they stole from him." Penny sighed shaking her head.
"What did they take this time?" Jasper asked knowing Penny wouldn't state the answer.
"Something," Penny answered letting out a sigh shaking her head back and forth.
"What is something?" Jasper asked really not caring.
"Something that people don't want taken away never, ever, ever. The man got mad afterwards, and came after me but then he was stopped and moved on." Penny explained. "Then they found another person….."
"Alright, why do these people keep taking from them?" Jasper asked as Penny went into another story that was going nowhere.
"Because they have a drinking problem," She answered simply. "That gets people angry, they then come after me but don't worry, the mean lady's brother takes care of them."
"Okay," Jasper nodded anxious to get out. "Now, if I buy this music box, will you keep quiet?"
"Yes, because I will eventually see my brother when you take it home." Penny smiled, jumping up and down.
"Who is your brother?" Jasper asked.
"You know him," Penny let out a giggle as Jasper came to the front of the store.
"Alright," Jasper shook his head, it seemed every time he asked about her brother, Penny would just giggle and say. "You know." He decided to take the music box, and hopefully that will keep her quiet.
"Is this your final purchase?" Charlotte asked as Jasper came up front.
"Don't give it to her, she's not the right one," Penny urged quickly.
"What are you talking about?" Jasper asked her.
"It's the wrong Charlotte, she doesn't have the stuff in her eyes, she's too tan and too soft." Penny explained. "The right one is much prettier."
"Yes, I'm buying it," Jasper answered, ignoring Penny.
"Good, I'll see my brother. When is he going to visit you?" Penny smiled, jumping up excitedly. Jasper sat it down for Charlotte to package it, he turned around and Penny was gone.
"Where did she go?" Jasper asked Charlotte looking behind the counter.
"Where did who go?" Charlotte asked as she took out a sheet of bubble wrap for the old music box.
"The girl," Jasper answered as Alice walked in, to surprise him.
"There you are," He smiled as she came to kiss him. "Missed you."
"I missed you too," Alice smiled happily kissing him on the lips.
"Is this your wife?" Charlotte asked, coming out with a box.
"Yes, do you mind if I show her the package?" Jasper responded taking back the must box.
"Wow, she's really pretty," Penny appeared.
"Yes, I know she is," Jasper smiled, Penny was a smart girl.
"You know she is what?" Alice asked, confused.
"Oh, I was just responding to her complement." Jasper answered looking back towards Alice.
"That she's your wife?" Charlotte questioned taking the package back.
"That girl over there," Jasper answered, Penny wasn't there anymore.
"Alright your total is seventy-five." Charlotte said as Jasper took the package.
"She's a lot prettier than the mean lady," Penny continued appearing again, as Jasper put the package in a small shopping bag. He turned to respond, but she was gone again.
"Are you ready?" Alice asked looking over, standing in a spot were Penny was previously standing.
"Yes," Jasper answered looking around; it seemed the child had disappeared. "Where did she go?"
"Where did who go?" Alice asked.
"The girl?" Jasper answered trying to find her.
"What girl?" Alice asked, looking around.
"You didn't see her?" Jasper questioned, Penny was right between them no less than a second ago vocalizing how beautiful she thought Alice was, maybe she was just shy and not use to being around vampires.
"No," Alice answered as she smiled towards Jasper. "I missed you."
"I've missed you too," He then noticed her keeping an envelope protected in her coat.
"Can I see?" He smiled as Alice nodded happily taking it out.
"Yes," Alice answered. "This is a picture of me with my grandparents." She smiled as Jasper looked at the picture and nodded. "You looked like you adored them."
"I must of, she owned a dress shop, and knew the size and liking of every customer before she met them." Alice smiled.
"That explains a lot," Jasper said as Alice smiled, taking out the next picture.
"It does," Alice smiled. "And hear is a picture of Grandma and Grandpa on their wedding day."
Alice handed it to him, stopping at the old sepia printed out with Allen in his uniform, next to Susan, in a bright white lace dress that went out into a full skirt, with beautiful embroidered flowers along with sewn on pearls, and a long lace veil that went down to her ankles with a gold piece tying it in her hair to see her face.
"She sort of resembles me doesn't she?" Alice smiled, handing the picture to Jasper who stopped, staring at it. Taking a close look, observing the picture with a confused expression.
"She is something familiar." He agreed staring at the picture. "Alice, where was your grandmother from?"
"New Orleans," Alice answered.
"Really?" Jasper asked. "Is there anymore information?"
"No, unfortunately that's as far as it goes." Alice explained as Jasper nodded, observing the picture.
"Oh," Jasper sighed, observing his grandmother-in-laws face. "So ready to go." He said handing the picture back, quickly.
They walked out to the fine evening of the Buffalo Bayou hearing the soft drums and trumpets in the air along with the Spanish shouts and the smell of fresh roses with woman dancing in large beautiful dresses. They were approaching the subway, when they saw tiny club with casual dress couples in their young twenties, mainly Latinas, dancing to beautiful Latin music doing salsas, and mambos.
"Want to?" Alice asked.
"Minus well," Jasper answered as he took her hand, where they went in and danced for hours unending joy with the company of others, as the sound bland through the air being the only ones in the room whose feet had yet to grow tired. They danced in each other's arms, knowing they couldn't dance with any other. They noticed the musicians playing live, smiled at seeing the most in love couple in the room. It seemed that the horns and trombones pointed to them as they played until their train arrived. They played for them as they continued to dance to the rhythm and music playing lively being the center of this small hang out until their subway arrived.
They got on, with smiles in the early morning, he noticed a woman coming on the subway.
"No, he hasn't picked up or anything." Jasper looked over to notice a woman coming on the subway, wearing jeans, a light blue head scarf, a light blue shirt and covered in bracelets head to toe talking on the phone. "I don't know why he ain't picking up." Jasper went and sat the package of the music box on his lap. He then felt a tug, finding Penny coming in with the girl.
"When will you see my brother again?" She asked worried.
"You mean he left you here?" Jasper asked as his eyes expanded.
"I'm with her," She looked towards the girl. "He and his girlfriend went drinking with her fiancée."
"Left who here?" Alice looked over confused. "Don't worry, we have everything."
"That's the girl I saw," Jasper explained pointing to Penny.
"What girl?" Alice asked confused.
"The one right there, in the white dress." Jasper explained as Alice looked around, and looked at her watch. "Jasper, it's midnight, I don't think anyone would be leaving their children on a subway in downtown Huston."
"But she's here," Jasper explained as Penny smiled towards Alice crawling up to her shoes.
Alice felt a slight breeze coming from below the subway seat. She sat her purse down for a second and felt it being knocked down.
"What did you do that for?" Jasper asked all of a sudden.
"It just fell," Alice answered, wondering why Jasper got upset that her purse fell.
"Alice, I think it's a good idea if you keep your shiny things hidden." Jasper said quickly, letting out a laugh.
"Alright," Alice said nodding strangely as the woman with the jangled bracelets sitting on the other side of Jasper picked up the phone. "Darrel, this is Lisa, I know I am calling you way too much, but this LA trip has me paranoid. So, would you mind doing me a favor and just call me. Let me know your all right, I miss you and love you. I can't wait until we get married. Mom and I went to pick up the wedding dress today, and nothing for you to worry about. Call me when you get this message. Love ya, bye."
"I know why he's not picking up," Penny said sadly. "He's with my brother and his girlfriend. They have that yucky stuff in their eyes because of him." Then Lisa walked past them with her bracelets clinging.
"Oww, she has a lot of bracelets." Penny smiled as the woman walked their way. "And they are clingy."
"I know," Jasper whispered feeling the emotion of anxiety coming from Lisa. She seemed to be sadden, scared that this Darrel wasn't picking up.
"You know what?" Alice asked.
"The girl has a lot of bracelets," Jasper said as he looked down the subway train, Penny was gone, following Lisa.
"Oh," Alice sighed looking at the door. "I was thinking, maybe instead of going back to your place, we can do some sightseeing, experience the human nightlife."
"Sounds good to me," Jasper smiled putting his arm around her and they got off at the Museum District of Huston.
~X~
By the time the two actually made it to the parking garage, it was nine o'clock the next morning. They notice the sun rising over the skyline, as Alice looked up towards her husband as she set on a parasol for them to walk under in the garage. As they headed in, the couple passed women in pink shirts with a table set on the sidewalk in front of the walkway of the garge with a sign that sat with a large sign that said: Houston Women's Breast Cancer Research Association. He watched behind them, with a list of names on pink ribbons with 'In Memory' neatly typed and names written with dark colored markers. He took a step closer to see it was sponsored by the Houston Women's Health Clinic.
"Would you like to make a donation?" One of the volunteers asked when they came across the table.
"What's this for?" Alice asked reading the names.
"We are collecting money for Breast Cancer research, to help local woman both diagnosed or survived." The volunteer explained. "If you want, you can place one in memory of someone lost in the battle."
"Do we have to state the year of death?" Jasper asked as they shook their heads. Jasper looked towards Alice, who nodded as they both smiled at each other. "I would like to make a donation in memory of my mother; she's from the Houston area." The one volunteer smiled handing him a thin paper ribbon. Jasper gave them a five. He then wrote in old fashion penmanship: 'Sapphire Whitlock' on the ribbon handing it back to them.
"Thank you for your donation, and I am sure she would be proud of you." Another volunteer smiled taking the pink paper ribbon and hanging it with the rest of them.
"I'm sure she would be," Jasper said happily as he grabbed Alice's hand and they made their way up the ramp, heading back to the car. "They could have used something like that back then, she would have probably survived if she had what was available today." He said as they came back to the car.
"What exactly happened?" Alice asked.
"They never really told me she was sick until she died, but now that I think about it, there were some clues." Jasper explained as he started the car. "I remember, the war was heating up, the Union had captured New Orleans, and The Battle of Shiloh took place up and Tennessee. And we were trying to figure out a way to beat them back, I was sent home, were I was to wait for orders. Being the son of a high ranking military officer, it was easy to get a hold off, allowing me to return and visit my family."