Chapter 27: Preparations

Carlisle and Esme worked over the next few days, arranging for transport to Rochester, and packing up all there things in boxes so they could be moved. When Carlisle returned form the hospital each day, he would spend time with his wife, packing all there things up, sealing there memories into packages.

Carlisle was spending the day packing the books from hi study. Handwritten medical texts form years ago, anatomy guides, and slightly yellowed newspaper clippings about medical discoveries. He sorted and packaged them until the bookshelves became bare and glistening. He carried all the boxes down the stairs into the front room and stacked them with the assortment of others.

He didn't see Esme in the front room. She had been down there moments ago, straitening boxes and preparing them for the trip. "Esme?" He called, but no answer.

Frowning to himself he went upstairs. He didn't hear anything, but strong waves of her floral scent wafted out of the room at the end of the hall. Edward's room.

Concerned he went down the hall, and pushed open the door. It looked exactly the same as it had when his son had abandoned them and left to travel by himself. With the exception of Esme, seated at the small writing desk in the far corner of the room.

She was reading a small piece of paper that she held in tightly in her hands. Being absolutely silent Carlisle walked over behind her and put his hands on her shoulder. She didn't move at his touch, just remained silent and continued to gaze at the page.

Carlisle glanced at the paper. It was a note page. Musical notes. The entire page was laid out with scales, and measures. The notes were etched across the paper in Edward's elegant manuscript. But most of all, at the top of the page was the title of Edward's composition.

"Esme".

He had written it for the woman he thought of as a mother. She had suggested that he compose music for his piano before, but Carlisle wasn't aware that he had actually take the the idea to heart. He could understand why Esme was so speechless when she looked at the paper.

This was from Edward. One of the last connections they had to their missing son. "Bring it with us Esme." Carlisle said suddenly, breaking the silence.

As if just noticing her husband's arrival in the room, Esme stiffened and looked up at him. She smiled briefly at him, before she nodded and rose out of her chair. Carlisle wrapped his arm around her and she put her head on his chest.

"Why did he have to leave Carlisle? Why couldn't he stay?" Esme asked. Carlisle couldn't answer; just hold her tighter, as they went through this together.

"Why don't you put that in a box so we can take it with us?" Carlisle said softly.

Esme nodded again, and pulled out of his arms to pack up the song in a box of Edward's things that Carlisle hadn't even noticed on entering the room. He sighed. How could this ever be fixed?