As I round the corner into the office I look over the handsome man once and then I sigh deeply as I shake my head.
"Well, Doctor Cullen we meet again." I grin. He turns around surprised, but smiles widely when he sees me. Wow he looks older, his hair has a little gray in it and he looks worn out.
"Bella." He breathes and hugs me fatherly. I hug him back and actually relish his loving embrace.
"I missed you too." I whisper and he hugs me a little tighter before he lets me go. We smile at each other for a few seconds, then I take a deep breath and shake my breath. "So I met Brenda when she was three years old, we instantly began chemo since her brain tumour is so complex and then we…." I explain her history as well as some things that aren't in her file.
"Bella." Carlisle stops me after another few minutes and I smile sheepishly. "I'll ask you the questions I have, okay?" He suggests and I nod as I sit down in one of the chairs. He asks me some intelligent questions and I answer the best that I can, then after about two hours we are finished and have come up with a treatment plan for Brenda. Carlisle pulls his phone up and looks at it, then he smiles.
"Mind if I ride with you? Jasper and Edward have apparently taken my car home." He says and I smile at him.
"Of course, but we will have to drive by my house on the way." I say and he nods. "Ready to leave?" I ask as I gather the last of my stuff. He nods and takes my briefcase, carrying it for me. You see, this is what happens when you grow up. My seventeen year old self would have thought he tried to say I was weak or something by the gesture but now, the older me, really appreciates the gesture. We get into the car and I head out of the city again.
"So where do you live, Bella?" He asks and I smile a little.
"At a ranch outside of Seattle." I say and he looks surprised at me.
"You got animals there?" He asks and I chuckle, nodding.
"The farmer next door has some cattle and it's on my land." I explain and he smiles.
"How come you live there?" He asks and my smile disappears as I think of my past.
"Something happened so I don't like living in the town anymore, I might tell you all about it tonight." I say and avoid looking at him as I turn in on my long driveway.
"Are you okay?" He asks and I nod a little.
"It was a long time ago now." I say and he nods understandingly.
"Change of subject?" He suggests and I nod relieved.
"Yes… how's Esme?" I ask and he smiles.
"She's well, she has really missed you Bella. She misses her daughter. I don't think no one who's not a mother can understand just how much a mother loves her child…" He interrupts himself as we get out of the car. "Being a parent is the most wonderful thing." He says and I nod a little.
"That it is." I agree and he freezes, looking surprised at me. I smile a little and open the door.
"Ma!" The twins run to me excitedly and I scoop them up in my arms, settling one of them on each of my hips.
"Hi babies, were Molly nice to you today?" I ask and they nod completely in sync, making me smile even wider. "What would you say about going for an adventure tonight?" I ask and they both squeal, wiggling out of my arms and running upstairs.
"We'll be ready in three minutes!" Elsa calls. I laugh at them, then I turn back to a very shocked Carlisle.
"Isabella?" Andrew asks as he rounds the corner from the kitchen.
"Oh hi Andrew, where's Molly?" I ask awkwardly as I take a step back, almost straight into Carlisle. Carlisle lays a hand gently on my lower back and comes to stand beside me instead. I feel a little better instantly.
"Sorry, she had to go into town. There was an emergency at her mother's home so she asked me to babysit them." He explains and I nod a little, then the kids run down to us again. They are dressed, packed and ready.
"Uh, well, you'll lock up, Andrew?" I ask as I take a hand from either of the kids and pull them with me without waiting for an answer. "Kids this is Carlisle, he's my father. He is a very nice man. Carlisle, could you help Elsa up in the back?" I ask as I hurry around the car with Cameron.
"Of course. It's nice to meet you, Miss. Elsa." Carlisle greets politely as he helps her up.
"Nice to meet you too, sir." She responds happily and then she introduces Cameron as well. Carlisle says hello to him as well and then as soon as he closes the car door he looks worriedly at me.
"Are you feeling okay? Your heart is beating so fast." He asks and I nod a little.
"It's just, um…" I shake my head and take a deep breath. "I have trouble being around men and get kind of panicky around them." I mumble quickly and reach out to open the driver door, but he holds up a hand to wait.
"You do know I'll never hurt you, don't you Bella?" He asks concerned and I look questioning at him, then I smile sheepishly.
"I didn't mean you, I meant Andrew." I say and he smiles relieved. We get into the car and the kids instantly start babbling about their day and asking Carlisle millions of questions, which he answers politely. He's so good with kids.