Author's Note: I do not own Twilight. Twilight and all of the characters are the creation of Stephanie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.
Not all good things can last. Or, in this case, not all good days can last...
Esme's POV
It was about two in the morning. Edward, Bella, and Nessie had left to their cottage, Alex went to sleep, Alice and Jasper were in their room, and Rosalie and Emmett were sitting on the couch.
"Esme," Carlisle called from his study. "Can you come here for a second?"
I walked up the stairs to his study, opening the door, walking in, and shutting the door behind me. He was sitting at his desk in front of his laptop. Various maps and notepads covered with writing were sprawled out all over the desk.
"Is everything alright, dear?" I asked.
"I need to talk with you," he said. "About moving."
"Let me guess. You have found a place," I said.
"I am thinking about a place, but I have not decided yet. What would make the final decision is your opinion," he stated.
"Where are you looking at?" I asked, walking over to stand next to him.
"Astoria, Oregon. There are two acres of land in the forest for sale that we could build a lovely home on. And I would let you design the architectural plans."
I sighed. "I would love to design the new home, but everyone might be upset and they would have to start school again. Alex needs to start high school, and what about her friend? He might have difficulty finding her... and... and..." I paused and took a deep breath. "I really love it here..." I sighed.
"I do, too darling, but we've been here for a while and I am supposed to be thirty-seven. Do I look thirty-seven?" he asked.
I smiled. "No. You look so much younger and handsome."
I sat down on his lap and connected our lips. His tongue moved on my bottom lip until it could find its way into my mouth. My hands moved north to his hair and I tangled my fingers in his blond locks. His hands traveled underneath my shirt where he slid them up and down my sides. We sat like this for a few minutes until Carlisle broke the kiss and removed his hands from underneath my shirt.
"You distract me too easily," he said, kissing my nose. I got up off of his lap and smoothed out my dress.
"So, Esme, I think it would be best if we moved to Astoria," Carlisle said.
"I think you are right, Carlisle," I said, sighing.
"So it is settled. We should expect Alice here in a few seconds," he said, and sure enough, Alice walked in.
"We're moving?" she asked quietly.
"Yes," Carlisle said, looking her right in the eye. "The decision has been made."
She looked at me. I'm so sorry, I mouthed. Turning, she fled out of the room. I could hear the door to her and Jasper's room slam. It made me wince.
Carlisle sighed. "She will be fine in a while." He passed his laptop to me. "You can use the computer to find some inspiration for your designs. But, I need them by tomorrow," he said. "If it is not enough time, then-"
I stopped him mid-sentence. "I can do it."
He smiled. "You are so strong. I love it."
"Don't get me distracted again," I said with a chuckle.
He laughed and placed a kiss on my cheek. "When Alex wakes up, we need to call a family meeting."
I nodded and started searching the web for my muse.
-oOo-
It was nine a.m. and I had the front design of the house done and the first level floor plan almost done.
I was sitting at the dining room table when Alex came down the stairs.
"Good morning, Esme!" Alex said.
"Good morning, sweetheart," I replied, looking up from my sketch papers for the first time in hours.
Carlisle then walked down the stairs. "Family meeting," he called out. He sat down at the end of the dining room table with me to his left. Alex sat down across from me to the right of Carlisle.
Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett made their way down the stairs. Alice sat next to Alex with Jasper right next to her and Rosalie sat next to me with Emmett by her side.
Edward, I said mentally, Family meeting.
Seconds later Edward walked in with Bella, carrying the sleeping Nessie. After everyone was seated, Alex asked, "What is this all about?"
"We are moving," Alice said, not taking her eyes off of the table.
"I figured something was up," Rosalie said to Alice. "You have been acting weird all morning."
"Where are we moving?" Bella asked.
"Astoria, Oregon. It's pretty far away from here," Carlisle said.
Alex stiffened, causing Alice to put her hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong?"
"Exactly how far away is Astoria from here?" Alex asked, staring straight at Carlisle.
"About one hundred and eighty-five miles from here. It is approximately
a four hour drive," he said.
Alex stared at the table. "He'll never find me now..." she whispered.
"He will trace your scent wherever we go," Edward said. "And besides, we will still be in this town for a while. Parker will find you, Alex."
Alice gasped. Alex whirled her head to look at her. "What?" she asked.
"Sorry. I got my foot caught on the bottom of the table," she said.
"So, when Esme finishes the designs for the new home, they will be submitted to the builders. We have the property already purchased. There will be the main house and there is still space for your cottage, Edward and Bella. Construction will start as soon as possible and we will move to Astoria for the first day of school, which is August twenty-fourth," Carlisle said. A chorus of moans and groans rose from everyone except for Alex.
"Wait, you guys have to go to school? Again?" she asked.
"We've been in school so many times it's not even funny," Jasper said.
Alex turned to Carlisle. "Will the house be done in time for school to start?"
"With money, the more there is the faster things go," Emmett said.
"Emmett!" Rosalie hissed.
"I'm thinking Alice and Alex will start in ninth grade, Edward, Bella, and Jasper in tenth grade, and Rosalie and Emmett in eleventh grade," Carlisle stated.
Alice squealed. "Okay, Alex, we need to sign up for all of the same classes!"
Alex nodded and stood up from her chair. "If you guys will excuse me," she said, and then she ran up the stairs.
I stood up and followed after her. I walked into her room and found her on her bed crying into the pillows. Sitting down next to her, I asked, "Alex, what is wrong?"
She sniffled and sat up. Her eyes were red and her cheeks were wet with her tears.
"I don't want to think about my future," she said. "I don't want to think about high school, or what classes I'm going to take. I don't know where Parker is and everyday he doesn't show up kills me inside. I never know what to expect and I don't even know how to anticipate tomorrow! I don't want to think about my future because there is the likelihood that I won't be in yours or the family's!"
She collapsed down onto her pillows and began crying again.
"What makes you think you won't be in the family's future?" I asked.
"What's going to happen when I'm old and you're not? You will always look young and beautiful. I'm aging everyday! Bella told me how much Rosalie was against her becoming a vampire but Edward turned her into a vampire to save her life! Rosalie will be so against me turning because I will have no reason to and I will miss out on life experiences," she shouted.
"It is your decision, Alex. When, or if, the time comes, who cares about
Rosalie's opinion except Rosalie herself?" I said quietly.
She sat up and looked me right in the eye. "I care. I care because I love her. I love everyone in this family and I care about all of their opinions."
I nodded and got up off of her bed. I left her room, shutting the door behind me.
When I got back downstairs, everyone was quiet and Rosalie was staring at the table.
"It's my fault she's upset," Rosalie whispered.
I sighed. "No, it is not your fault Rosalie."
"If it's anyone's fault it's mine," Bella said. "I told her how Rosalie felt."
"It's nobody's fault," Edward said. "She's mostly worried about Parker and that's causing her to be stressed about everything else."
I nodded. "Edward is right."
"I still need to talk to her," Rosalie said.
"I think you should just give her some space for now," Carlisle said. "I think it would be for the best."
-oOo-
The stress is just too much for Alex... Will Parker ever show up to ease the burden on her shoulders?