Chapter 14: Memory Lane
Rosalie hardly left Emmett's side, no matter what the doctor said or what anyone else said. She refused to leave Emmett. She was glued to his bedside and her hand was practically cemented to his. Esme understood how Rosalie felt, even though Emmett is her child she could understand what Rosalie was going through.
Two days after the attack, Esme walked in with a tray of food. "I brought something for you sweetie," the older woman informed, placing it by Rosalie.
"I'm not hungry," Rosalie replied.
Sighing, Esme stood behind Rosalie, stroking the young woman's hair gently. "Let me at least brush your hair," she insisted softly. Rosalie glanced over her shoulder before nodding slowly. Esme smiled softly as she reached into her bag, pulling out a brush and started brushing out the tangles in Rosalie's hair. "You know I always wanted a daughter. A little girl that I could put braids and bows in her hair while playing dolls with her," the woman said smiling.
Rosalie was listening to the woman while her eyes were glued to Emmett. "But I guess my destiny was to be a mother to three rambunctious and very different boys. I love all three of my boys dearly and I'm so happy that they found three girls that could meet up to their personalities," Esme explained.
"I heard Sophie say how she and Elliot disapproved of your relationship with Carlisle," Rosalie commented.
"Oh no, Elliot adored me as much as he adores you and your sisters. It's Sophia who doesn't like us," Esme replied as she braided Rosalie's hair.
"I don't understand what I did to make her hate me," Rosalie answered.
Esme tied the braid off. "It's not you sweetheart, trust me," she assured her. Pulling up a chair, she sat on Emmett's other side, holding his hand. "Sophia despised me from the moment Carlisle brought me home for Christmas," she added. She kissed her son's cheek with a smile. "Carlisle and I were young and so in love. We couldn't stand the thought of being apart so we decided to spend the Holidays together. He spent Thanksgiving with my family so in exchange I was spending Christmas with his," she explained.
"And that didn't go well," Rosalie observed.
Esme shook her head slowly. "Not in the least. His mother called me a gold digging whore who was only after her son's future successful private doctor practice," she explained.
"Carlisle doesn't…" Rosalie started.
"No, and that's what made Sophia even angrier was that Carlisle was going to work at the emergency room first. She blamed me for all of Carlisle's decisions even though he just spoke to me and I listened," Esme explained.
Rosalie entwined her fingers with Emmett's. "Just like she blames me for Emmett dropping out of law school," the woman murmured.
"She did?" Rosalie asked incredulously.
"Yes, she blames me for all of my children's decisions. Telling them that my future choices rubbed off on them. I carried each of my boys for nine months, as soon as they were brought forth into the world Sophia tried to sink her nails into them. She would come over at the worse of times. When Emmett was six months old and teething, she came over and insisted that I was doing everything wrong. She took Emmett right out of my arms and tried to get him to get him to "self-sooth"," Esme explained.
"What did you do?" Rosalie asked.
Esme laughed softly. "I walked back over to her and took my son back and said, "Emmett's my son, I gave birth to him not you"," she replied laughing a little. Rosalie started laughing, thinking of what kind of expression would've been on Sophie's face with that comment. "She really would try to take my boys away. When Jasper was born, I only got to hold him for like ten minutes before she snatched him from me, whispering of how he'd be a great doctor or a lawyer. Carlisle stepped in and said that our children would be what they wanted to be," Esme explained.
"And I guess it was the same with Edward?" Rosalie asked.
"Oh she was worse when Edward was born. Actually, she favors Edward now because he's becoming a doctor. What she doesn't know is that Edward is also taking a music major while he's in college, because he also wants to write and teach music," Esme explained.
Rosalie smiled before looking up at Emmett's face. "He loves you, I have never seen my son so in love before," Esme said quietly.
"I love him too," Rosalie answered softly.
"Oh I know you do dear. You don't have to say the words, but I can see it. Carlisle and I share that same thing where you can talk to each other with just by looking at each other. Those are the most incredible moments when it comes to being in love," Esme explained.
The young woman smiled before kissing Emmett's hand. "It's also because he loves you and Maggie that's he's fighting. The other doctors don't believe he's fighting but Carlisle and I see it," Esme added.
"Emmett's strong," Rosalie answered softly.
"Oh yes very strong, the strongest boy I ever knew. To think this boy was fighting for his life the first week of his life, the doctors telling us he wouldn't live to see the next week. Oh how I cried and cried at the thought of losing my precious boy and how helpless he was. I am his mother I'm supposed to protect him from everything hurting him," Esme explained.
Sniffling, Esme moved her fingers through her son's hair. "Esme, this wasn't your fault," Rosalie whispered softly.
"Nor was it yours," Esme said suddenly.
She looked at the young woman. "I see how you look at him with the guilt. Just because Royce was a coward and sent someone to do this to my son, if that is what happened, it doesn't mean it's your fault. Emmett loves you and he will do everything he can to protect you and Maggie," Esme explained. Nodding her head slowly, Rosalie stood up and hugged Emmett gently.
"You need to wake up Emmett, I need you," she whispered.
She kissed his forehead sniffling. "I need you, Maggie needs you, your family needs you. I love you Emmett, please don't leave me," she whispered crying softly. Esme stood behind the young woman, her hand on her shoulder with tears in her eyes as they both stood in silence.
"I…love…you…Rosie…" they suddenly heard him whisper.