CPOV
Who knew that a dog needed so much stuff? I thought we were going to the pet store to get him some food and maybe a collar so he can have a tag with our phone number on it. Three hours later we have two carts full of stuff and I have never seen a smile this big on Esme's face. That smile makes me smile and that's how we end up with too much stuff to even fit in the car.
Apparently these are all things Sammy needs. He has a food and water bowl set that are lifted off of the floor because "its not good for his digestion to bend down for his food", a sweater because apparently he's cold, rain boots because he doesn't like his feet to be wet, two beds (one for upstairs and one for downstairs), and a special shampoo that helps with dandruff, allergies, shedding and makes his fur soft and shiny. We bought one of every kind of toy in the store along with every puppy bone and treats. The food we finally decided on is the most high end brand that they carry. His collar is being sent away to be embroidered with his name, his leash extends up to 20 feet and has a holder for waste bags, and apparently there are men coming to the house next week to install an electric fence around the property line. I finally relented and told Esme how much property I own and we both agree that he should be able to roam, but she doesn't want him to get lost or in the road…and cue the electric fence.
Esme's smile never falters on the way home as she pets a sleeping Samson, who has had quite the day picking out toys. She's so beautiful that it's hard to keep my hands off of her sometimes. I just want to touch her face or run my fingers through her hair. It was so nice to hold her hand in the vets office. Then when she buried her face in my chest when Dr. Phelps brought out the needle, I never wanted to let her go. She's becoming more comfortable being physical with me, and I love it.
On the drive home we decide to just order pizza and pick it up on the way. Esme is starving and I mentally kick myself for letting her skip a meal. It's only 3:00 so I guess this will be a late lunch.
When we finally pull into the driveway, Esme hurries inside and sets Samson down in her bed to take a nap before coming back downstairs to help me unload the car.
"I can do this. Go into the kitchen and eat. Your stomach has been growling for an hour and you really need to feed peanut." I tell her and hand her the pizza box.
"Okay but I want to help put things away. I have in mind where I want them to go."
"Okay, love. I promise not to unpack anything."
She looks up at me with uncertain eyes when I call her 'love', but then smiles and goes into the kitchen to eat. I breathe a sigh of relief. I didn't mean to call her that, it just slipped out.
Once everything is unloaded, I join Esme in the kitchen where I manage to choke down a piece of pizza. That's not going to be pleasant later.
"How do you stay in such great shape if you don't eat a lot?" she asks me as she starts on her third piece of pizza. It's really good to see her eat. She is too thin.
"I like to keep to a specific diet. It's good for my body and keeps me feeling healthy. The hospital cafeteria actually has a pretty good selection and that's where I usually eat my meals."
"Oh. Well if you give me a list of what you like to eat, I can make better and healthier meals."
"Esme," I say as I take her free hand in mine, "I didn't ask you to stay here so that you could be my maid and chef. If I want something to eat, I'll make it. It's not your job to wait on me hand and foot, okay?" She looks down before nodding.
I know it's hard for her to escape that mindset that she's been in for five years of always having to take care of everyone, but I don't want her to feel like she has to do that here. Besides she couldn't possible cook what I want to eat.
After she's done eating, she runs off to start unpacking all of the dog stuff and I put our plates in the dishwasher and the leftover pizza in the fridge. As I'm wiping down the counter, the house phone rings. The only time anyone ever calls that number is if I'm needed at the hospital. The kids always call my cell.
"Hello?" I answer quickly.
"Dr. Cullen? We've got a multiple car pileup on it's way into the ER. ETA 5 minutes. They're expecting multiple lacerations and a lot internal damage. Can you come in?"
"I'll be there as quickly as I can" I tell them before hanging up and going into the living room.
Esme is sitting on the floor surrounded by plastic shopping bags opening one of Samson's toys.
"Esme" I call and she looks up at me "that was the hospital on the phone. There was a multiple car pileup on the highway. They need me to come in. I should be back later tonight, but I'll call you if I will be late."
"Oh my gosh! I hope everyone is okay. Go! They need you. Be careful. I'll see you when you get home."
Her understanding makes me love her even more.
"Thank you for understanding. If the house phone rings it's me calling. If you need anything my cell number is posted on the fridge. Don't hesitate to call."
"I'm okay Carlisle. Go." She tells me waving her hand in the direction of the door. With a quick kiss to the top of her head, I grab my coat and rush to the car.
It's 11:00 that evening when I can finally go home. We managed to save everyone in the accident except for the drunk driver who caused it. He was dead when the paramedics arrived on the scene.
Physically, I feel fine, but mentally I'm exhausted. I just want to get to Esme.
When I walk in the front door, all of the lights are off except for one upstairs. Throwing my coat on the back of a chair, I head upstairs to find my girl.
There's a light coming from her bedroom and I knock on the closed door, hoping she'll invite me in.
"Come in" she calls softly.
She's sitting on her bed, leaning against the headboard, reading. Samson is wearing his new sweater and is laying on his back snoring next to her. She looks adorable in her pajamas with her hair thrown up in a bun.
"Hi" I say quietly before coming to sit on the foot of her bed.
"Hi, how did it go?"
"We managed to save everyone. The accident was caused by a drunk driver and he was already gone when the paramedics arrived, but everyone else made it. They'll have long roads ahead of them but they're alive."
"That's amazing." She says, her voice dripping with awe.
"It really is. We have a good team and we were able to get to them quickly and assess their injuries." I tell her and she shifts up to lean against the headboard. "So how was your night?"
She smiles softly.
"It was good. I got all of Samson's stuff put away. Most of it is in here except for his food and water bowls which are in the kitchen along with the bag of food. I hope that's okay. That just seemed like the most logical place to put them." I nod at her so she knows it's fine. She could rearrange the whole house and I wouldn't care. "I put one of his beds in the living room so that he can rest in there when we are downstairs and I put the other in your office. I thought that if I wasn't home, he would want to be with you. If I am home and upstairs he'll probably be on my bed. Is it okay that I was in your office?" She seems shy all of the sudden.
"Of course, Esme. This is your house too. You can go wherever you'd like. Maybe if he has a bed in there, we can spend some time together and he will warm up to me a little bit more." She smiles at that but still won't look me in the eye. I'm beginning to wonder if something happened while I was gone.
"Esme is everything okay? You seem upset."
"Everything is fine Carlisle. I just…well when I was in your office I saw all of the books you have in there. I love to read so I thought I would borrow one. I wasn't snooping. I really just wanted to see what books you liked."
"Esme it's fine." I tell her smiling. "Which one did you choose?"
"I just chose a random one off of the shelf but when I started reading it. I got confused." He brow furrows and I want to smooth it out with my fingers. "Um Carlisle…why does this book say you were a doctor in 1922?"
She holds up one of my journals in her hands and I don't know what to say.
"I really wasn't trying to invade your privacy. Once I realized what it was, I stopped reading, but not before I saw the date. Carlisle…how old are you?"