The Day Before - Esme
Sunday is not my normal marketing day, but I went to the Thriftway anyway. It was a sad little supermarket as such things go, but I so enjoyed the – the atmosphere in this place. It wasn't the decoration – they could have benefited from a renovation – but the people. Forks was a small town and small town people talked. Hearing the local gossip made me feel more a part of things.
Then, too, as I told Carlisle, I could hear what people thought about the children.
But that day, I was actually not going for any noble purpose. I just wanted to be first to see the girl Alice was so excited about. I wanted to see Bella Swan. It was just a guess, but I knew that Charlie Swan was a bachelor and I imagined he would take his daughter to the market at the very least so that she could get a few things they might need for the house.
Or personal items. I knew for certain that the chief wouldn't have anything in his house a girl would need! How could he? Men were so unaware. Sometimes, even my wonderful mate lacked a certain insight.
So I went to the store, expecting to see Charlie and his daughter. I didn't know what she looked like, of course, so I was waiting to see him. I dawdled in the cereal aisle, waiting. Returned a bit later with a list of things I had pretended to forget. Still, no Charlie.
But then I saw a young lady with damp brown hair and large brown eyes who was so pale I almost thought she was one of us.
"Oh, there's Charlie's girl," one of the ladies in Canned Foods whispered.
"Really? Where?" another said, not whispering at all.
The curiosity was tangible even to me – and I have no gift like my son, Jasper.
I peeked down an aisle and saw the girl with the brown hair. She was being greeted by the cashier and I knew then for certain.
I returned home, hoping that everything would go as Alice saw it might, the next day. Bella Swan looked very unassuming, but she was doing the family marketing all alone, which meant she must be quite mature.
I hoped so.
Carlisle just laughed when I told him my story as he read the latest medical journal.
I sniffed. "Fine, you keep laughing."
He looked up at me, his eyes wise but cautious. "Esme, try not to be disappointed."
"You should have more faith, Carlisle. You really need to get out more."