Chapter 43: To Say Goodbye
Mature section from beginning until marker.
"I love you," they murmured in-between kisses. That's all they needed to say, their bodies doing the rest of the talking for them. Edythe was thankful that their balcony was on the top floor, knowing they would not be disturbed. She hummed contentedly, pressing her forehead into Beau's collarbone as the pressure continued to build. His length pressed against her walls smoothly, invoking the primal feeling of fullness she always felt when they made love. The experience was even more stimulating as Beau's thumb circled against her clit, resulting in more emphatic moans from his bride.
Edythe exhaled shakily as she readjusted, torn between stimulation overload and not getting enough. Her hips pressed into his hand though, and a moan against Beau's shoulder gave him his answer. He kept the same rhythm he knew she liked, running his free fingers along her entrance in time with his thrusts. Despite the jacuzzi water absorbing part of their fluids, there was no chafing, and Beau leaned down to return his lips to Edythe's. She straddled facing him in a kneeling position, her front pressed to his as he penetrated her. Their movements caused gentle splashing of the water, but neither of them noticed.
After a few minutes, Beau turned her, readjusting Edythe to sit in his lap with her back against his chest. She lay her head against his shoulder, pressing her lips to his throat as she spread her legs for him, purring contentedly. Beau's fingers did not cease their work against her and she writhed against him from the feeling, both of them eventually reaching their climaxes, Beau following as Edythe's walls gripped him tighter as she came. Breathing heavily, their bodies covered in sweat and water from the hot tub, the newlyweds recovered from their most recent lovemaking.
"You're going to need to open the other box," Edythe said with a slight tease. Beau chuckled.
"Or we could just skip one round," he suggested, unwilling to get out of the bath to retrieve the condoms. But Edythe made a face, one which he already knew the reason for.
"Not a good idea," she said, "We're not that lucky."
"Isn't there a study that the temperature of the water or something will protect us?" he asked jokingly. Edythe snorted delicately.
"Not likely. I know you're smarter than that, Beau," she responded. She understood his words though; even though it would only be a few moments of separation, Edythe didn't think it was appropriate for their honeymoon. But she was not willing to budge and relax her requirement of using protection during sex.
Eleanor and Jessamine had been surprised when Edythe had asked them to pack a box of two of condoms in her honeymoon bag. Her sisters insisted it would put a damper on the experience to add the extra step. The human was adamant though.
"I don't want to run the risk of getting pregnant, no matter how unlikely it may be," she told them.
"Don't you and Beau want to have kids?" Eleanor asked, her eyebrows raised and confused.
"Of course we do," Edythe responded, "But with us leaving in a few weeks and me starting school, now is not the right time." She glanced at them, sensing the look they exchanged.
"I don't want to have to raise a child while I'm in school full-time," she explained, "It wouldn't be fair to anyone involved. I want to be home when we choose to. And I don't want to take that experience away from the family."
"Edy, you don't need to plan your life around us," Jessamine said after a moment. "We will be happy as long as you are happy. Don't make sacrifices or change things to try to please us." Edythe had smiled slightly at the words, feeling touched at their message.
"I was lucky enough to be able to have a second chance," she said quietly, "And I'm going to share that as much as possible; it's as fair as I can make it. I'm not going to take away that experience from you, to make you miss the first few years of your niece or nephew's life. Neither of you would want that."
"True," Jessamine admitted after, "I know Carine and Earnest wouldn't want to be far from their grandchild, or from you, for that matter." Edythe nodded in agreement, knowing she couldn't do that to her parents.
"Not only that. I'm not bringing a child into the world until Beau and I are as ready as we can be. And I know I won't be ready while I'm away."
Eleanor and Jessamine had thought about that for a moment then grinned, Eleanor reaching forward to pull Edythe into a side-hug.
"We're going to miss you," she had said, trying to make it sound light, but not quite succeeding.
"I'm going to miss you too, El," Edythe replied, laying her head against her sister's shoulder, "All of you."
Edythe could feel the negative emotions coming to the forefront of her mind and quickly shook them away, bringing herself back to the present. She would not allow those feelings to invade her now, when she was having the most intimate, perfect honeymoon she could wish for. In one motion, she removed herself from Beau's lap, though not wanting to separate from him, and turned to her husband.
"Go," she ordered with a playful glint in her eye, "I'm not done with you yet."
Beau grinned at her words and immediately moved to obey. Edythe waited for his return, her heat already starting to burn anew.
End of mature section.
It all went by far quicker than Edythe anticipated, and far faster than she would have liked.
Beau and she had an abbreviated honeymoon, just a weekend, not wanting to be far from the family for long considering the move to Arizona was only three weeks after their wedding. But, even with that extra time, it seemed to be over too quickly. Soon enough, the majority of their things were backed, the Volvo and Honda secured to flat beds, and the moving truck on its way southwest.
Days later, Edythe finished her final shift at Tompkins Veterinary Center; besides the countless farewell hugs and cards from the clients, the entire staff as well as her family was hosted at Amanda and Sky's house as a final soiree the night before their flight was scheduled to depart. Surrounded by the technicians, assistants, receptionists, and other veterinarians, Edythe was thoroughly entertained as they trail rode bareback around the property, played jumbo Jenga and argued over Uno and other games. The dogs were crowded around at all times, and the Cullens found in them companions to sneak the barbecue food to; though Amanda and Sky knew better than to offer them any, the vampires were compelled to keep up the facade for the couple dozen other people.
The few hours of fun, joking, and teasing kept Edythe's mind off the inevitable, the purpose for the get-together. But, all too soon, the night had ended.
Edythe started her goodbyes to the menagerie of animals she had helped her mentor and her wife care for during the past two and half years. She stroked Yoshi's chest as she transferred him to his perch, pausing to scratch behind Jinx's ears as she bid the rest of the reptiles and small mammals goodbye. The bengal cat followed her to the door, lounging on the front porch as she made toward the barn to pass through the horses and then the dogs as she made toward the human gathering.
The goodbyes started formal, with just the newer employees and interns that she had trained and taught during her time at work. Donna and Terese were next, and they gave her tight embraces as they departed. Charlotte stepped in too, sternly but teasingly ordering her to contact her friend in Phoenix to continue her therapy; Edythe had laughed but agreed.
The technicians were next, including Danielle and Lex; her heart clenched as they wished her luck and she promised to text them on updates. The other doctors of the practice followed, giving their own well wishes and promising to help her how ever she needed in school. She was thankful for them, as well for their generous donation of her school scrubs that sat on the table, the Arizona logo and her name emblazoned on the front.
Once the guests had left, it was just the Cullens and the Thompson's. They moved in mostly companionable silence as Royal and Archie helped Sky tear down the tables, and Earnest and Carine moved the leftover food to the kitchen to pack away. Edythe and Beau moved robotically, completing each task until everything was done. Amanda reached out to touch Carine's arm, assuring her that she was always available if she needed to talk. The matriarch had smiled and thanked her—promising she would still come by the hospital to visit—as Earnest and she made their goodbyes, moving to follow their children to where the Mercedes and Jeep were parked up the drive.
Beau moved toward the women first and Sky pulled him into a tight embrace, whispering in his ear; Edythe paused, almost unwilling to move forward until Beau had moved from Sky to Amanda. The blonde's eyes turned to Edythe's and moved forward herself. Edythe met her the rest of the way, feeling Sky's tightly muscled arms squeeze her tightly.
"You have our numbers," she told the young girl quietly, "Never hesitate to text either of us. We're always here for you, all right?" Edythe nodded against her shoulder, unable to speak, feeling a lump form in her throat. Sky didn't need her to respond, already guessing what she was feeling. She rubbed her hand down Edythe's back comfortingly.
"You're going to do amazing, kiddo," she said, "And then you'll be back here, kicking ass alongside Amanda." Edythe smiled a little at the words and nodded, hugging the older woman tighter for a moment before letting go. She looked over at Amanda who had stepped away from Beau. Out of the corner of her eye, Edythe saw her husband move a few paces back, giving them their privacy. Amanda opened her arms and Edythe stepped forward to hug her tightly. The veterinarian pressed her face into the top of Edythe's head, sighing slightly. There was a long pause before she spoke.
"I'm indebted to you, Edythe," Amanda said; she didn't need to look in Edythe's eyes know she was confused. "You have been an asset to the hospital; as a technician, I've taught you everything I can. Now, you need to go, to get the rest of the training you want so badly." Edythe nodded, pulling back slightly when Amanda did. She looked down at her, and she could see there was the threat of tears in the woman's eyes.
"I already see you as my colleague," Amanda told her, "And I look forward to, in a short time, being able to practice alongside you. Go to Arizona, for now. And while you're there, make them chase you, E." Edythe laughed, but it was not as strong as normal, given her throat was clogged with emotion. She hugged the veterinarian for a moment longer, before forcing herself to step back. She took one long look at the Thompsons, saying nothing—knowing they didn't need her to—before moving to Beau and making their ways to the cars. Edythe swallowed back her tears, forcing them down as she walked down the familiar drive toward her family. It felt too final for her, and it unsettled her.
Once the Cullens arrived home, Edythe moved to shower immediately; in getting the grime and dirt and dust off her from the day of perusing the Thompson's property, it felt she was washing all of it—the memories, the people—away too. But she shook herself free of that, ignoring the twist in her stomach. When she got out of the shower, Beau moved to take her place, pausing to kiss her gently with a quiet whisper of goodnight. He remembered what they had agreed upon and, as he moved to get ready for bed, Edythe made her way downstairs.
Her siblings were there, most likely gathered by Archie. Edythe went to her brother now, sitting between him and Eleanor on the couch. The vampire pulled his human sister to his side, and she willingly curled into him. Eleanor moved closer, and Edythe could feel her, reaching out to grip her hand. Eleanor squeezed her fingers gently, as Royal and Jessamine shifted a little closer. None of them spoke for a while, each of them caught in their own thoughts.
As Edythe's eyes moved to each of them, her mind reflected back. She had never been apart from them the entire time she had known them; her time hunting humans had been before Royal had been changed. For all their vampire lives, the five Cullen children had never been separated before. It felt wrong, to all of them. Not for the first time in the past few months, Edythe remembered back to the past several decades.
Little, insignificant moments at the time, weighed down on her heart now, and she fought the wave of sadness that overcame her. But, just as quickly, the feeling was gone, replaced by soothing, optimistic thoughts. Edythe looked up with a wry smile at her sister.
"I appreciate the attempt, Jess, but it's only going to get worse," she said. The honey blonde smiled.
"That doesn't mean we want you to be so upset," she said, "This is what you've wanted for a long time."
"I know," Edythe sighed, "That doesn't make this any easier." None of them answered, unsure how to respond; but Edythe spoke again.
"I miss it, you know," she said, her eyes focused down, not looking at any of them.
"I miss it more than I thought I would," she continued, "But I guess, even simple mundane things, like hunting and school, is worth far more when you don't have to do it alone." The vampires exchanged a glance when they realized what Edythe was referring to.
"I miss being able to participate in our games, I miss the fun of hunting trips, I miss a lot of it," the human admitted. "Before I changed, I never fathomed there would be regrets, especially after I found Beau. I never thought I would be giving up much in losing my immortality. Since then, I realized there is a lot to lose, both the relatively inconsequential and the huge, almost insurmountable."
"But…" she paused, "It was either I changed, or he did. I understand his desire now, why we argued about it, why his idea made far more sense than mine. We would have only been able to do so much, being different species. Now, we can—and be—so much more. And I have no problem taking the repercussions that came with the change. But…" Edythe trailed off.
"Some of it still sucks," Eleanor finished for her. Edythe laughed, but it wasn't carefree, burdened with thought and emotion. She agreed though.
"It is different now," Jessamine said, "But the heart of it hasn't changed. We still love you as much as we did before, just as you do for us. No, you can't do what you used to, but we know you're happier being able to be with Beau as you couldn't before. And we're happy to see you happy. The dynamics have changed a bit, but the love stays the same."
Edythe glanced at her, and nodded in affirmation, knowing she was right.
"We're going to miss you, Edy," Archie said quietly, hugging her tighter to him. She let him, feeling his granite arm around her. She knew she was safe with them near; she knew she was home, with her family. She leaned her head against his shoulder, pressing her nose into his collarbone.
"I'm going to miss you too," she said quietly, "All of you."
Nothing else was said, and Edythe fell asleep that way, surrounded by her brothers and sisters. They stayed close, and she breathed in their scents as she slept. Meanwhile, the vampires relished in her closeness, knowing in a few short hours it would be gone. Carine and Earnest stayed nearby, the Cullens feeling compelled to stay close to each other during this final night.
With dawn came the next day, and Edythe awoke the same she always had. Beau was awake before her, and they shared breakfast together—courtesy of Earnest, who made her bacon and eggs her favorite way—before getting ready. Edythe seemed to be in a fog as she packed the rest of her toiletries in her suitcase, pausing to look around the bathroom and the bedroom beyond. It all looked mostly the same—there was no point in moving everything across the country when they could just as easily furnish their new house—so it felt normal, too normal. The two rooms, as well as the rest of the house, looked completely unchanged, like she wasn't really leaving. And, in that Edythe was able to lie to herself that she wasn't.
But when she came downstairs, Beau taking her bag to pack in the trunk of the Mercedes, Edythe looked to where her family stood in the front room, waiting. And she knew it was real, painfully so.
She went to Royal first, and she was a little surprised as he immediately pulled her into a hug. Their relationship had never been as close as others', and she remembered expecting Royal to despise her when she became human. And he had, for a while; but after her accident, his mind had shifted, turning to the protective, though slightly removed, older brother. She had been relieved they had been able to overcome the awkwardness, but it had never become as tactile as between Edythe and his wife.
But now he squeezed her tightly, and she lay her head against his chilly shoulder, hugging him back with as much as she had.
"I'll miss you, Edy," he told her quietly, and Edythe's throat thickened. He had never called her by the affectionate nickname before, and him doing so now meant that much more.
"Me too, Roy," she responded; she kept her words brief and succinct, not knowing how much she could handle before her emotions would overcome her. But Royal gently stepped back, allowing Jessamine to come forward. Her older sister wrapped one arm around Edythe's shoulders, and another around her back; the human could feel as a little bit of something was pushed into her. It wasn't confidence or happiness, but perhaps a bit of strength. She latched onto it, willing it to last her through the worst of the goodbyes.
Jessamine didn't say anything, knowing that Edythe knew what she was thinking, though her telepathy was gone, and Edythe knew Jessamine could tell her emotions and what she felt. Words felt unnecessary.
Eleanor was next, and she pulled Edythe into her embrace quickly, hugging her as tight as she could allow herself. Edythe squeezed her back as tightly as her strength would allow, holding onto her big sister almost desperately. The human pressed her face into Eleanor's shoulder, swallowing the moisture in her throat and willing the tears to stay embedded in her tear ducts.
"It's gonna be okay, Edy," Eleanor told her, "You're going to have fun. But don't have too much fun; then you may not come back." Edythe laughed a little, her grip on Eleanor tigthening slightly as she responded.
"Unlikely, El," she murmured; her voice was quiet and Eleanor stepped back to crouch down to her level.
"Hey," she said softly, the joking attitude gone, "We won't be far. You can always call; I'll always answer. I'll miss you, little sis." Edythe suppressed the grimace that threatened to come over her face; she knew what Eleanor meant, and so she deliberately did not point out that they would, in fact, be very far. Instead, she nodded then moved forward to hug her once more. Eleanor reciprocated, the vampire glancing up to see the expressions on the rest of her family's faces as the human clung to her for one long moment. As Edythe finally forced herself to let go and move to Archie, they could see the salt water pooling in her eyes.
Archie reached for her, allowing her to rub her face into his shirt, wiping away the drop or two that she could not stop. He placed his chin against the top of her head, letting her hold onto him. He didn't say much either, predicting what she would say in response to what she could feel him saying. Though she no longer could hear his thoughts or see his visions, they had always seemed to be able to predict one another's moves, something that stemmed from them just knowing each other that well. Finally, he pressed his lips to her hair, a quick peck.
"Miss you, Edy," he said quietly.
"Miss you, Arch," she managed before, after another moment that was longer than was customary, she stepped back. She barely noticed that, during her own goodbyes, Beau had given his own farewells to his adopted siblings. Now, he took Edythe's hand, running his thumb against the back of hers soothingly, providing his support when she so desperately needed it. Carine and Earnest stood by the door, waiting for the humans to be ready to take the drive to the airport. Edythe looked up at her siblings again.
"I love you," she said quietly, but firmly. And the déjà vu came back to her, as she remembered how, a little over two years ago, a similar scenario had occurred, when Beau had taken her to his house as she had sorted out her newly changed body. At the time, she was terrified of her family, unable to be in the same room with them without nearly breaking into hysterics. She hadn't had the courage to stay goodbye then.
"I love you," she repeated, a little stronger with that old memory in the back of her mind.
Eleanor, Archie, Jessamine, and Royal all smiled slightly at the phrase, and gave their own in response. That seemed to give Edythe the willpower—albeit with a few more tears leaking from her eyes—to let Beau guide them out the front door and to the car. Earnest was already in the driver's seat, and Carine sat in the back. Edythe immediately moved to join her, Beau closing her door and taking the passenger seat.
As Earnest backed out of the driveway, Edythe took one more glance at the house; the two story veranda, the white posts framing the front door, the large glass windows, all things she had associated with home, all seemed to beg her to return. Only when the big white mansion was out of her sight did she turn away, to look at Carine. Her mother reached for her hand and Edythe grasped it tightly, settling back into the seat as she waited out the drive to Ithaca Tompkins Regional.
As the miles grew between her and the house, she felt her heart begin to ache. She felt as if she were being taken, ripped away from the one place—not a physical place, but a more fluid though ever present state—she knew and trusted and felt safe in. It felt wrong, almost blasphemous.
Her unsteady vitals prompted Carine to squeeze her hand again, and Edythe relaxed slightly at her reassurance. But, after a moment, the next part of the dread came to the forefront of her mind. In the same way Carine's presence grounded her through this pain, she knew that was going to be taken from her too. And so, when the car pulled into the short-term parking lot at the airport, she was almost completely unable to get out of the car.
But she did. Beau and Earnest removed the luggage from the trunk, rolling it into the brightly lit atrium of the departures level. Carine stayed behind, keeping pace with Edythe as she slowly moved to follow them, acutely aware her daughter would not let go of her hand. So, she stayed besides her, saying nothing as their husbands got the two large suitcases checked in and paid for. The two of them returned and the four moved down the large space, pausing in front of the departures desk for check in. Beau took their ID cards and paperwork from his carry-on; as he stepped away, his eyes caught Edythe's, giving her a meaningful look as he went to check them in.
Edythe turned toward her parents, and they could see the reluctance and pain in her eyes. Immediately, they stepped closer and she met them the rest of the way. Carine and Earnest wrapped their arms around her securely, hugging her to their granite-hard bodies. She took a deep breath, and it was shaky, taking in their scents as deeply as she could. They could hear the unsteadiness and their arms tightened.
"We're only a phone call or plane ride away," Earnest promised her quietly, pressing his lips to the top of her head. Edythe nodded silently, unable to respond, knowing her mind and heart couldn't take any more. They seemed to understand though, letting her hold onto them as she gathered the courage to let go.
Edythe recalled a conversation she had with Carine, over eighteen months ago. It was the morning after she had nearly sent her family into a panic, after she holed herself up to wallow in the emotions that were too hard to bear. She remembered how unstable and afraid she felt then, and how she had relied on her mother to help her, both to express and work through feelings and fears she barely understood, let alone cope with. One of those had been the fear of having to leave her family, to be forced to separate from them. Being without them is something Edythe had never had to face before, and she feared then she couldn't do it.
That fear had been realized; though it was apparent for months, it had come to the forefront now.
With that, the tears flowed steadily, and Edythe's breath hitched as she tried to breathe through her suddenly blocked sinuses. The pain rippling through her chest was acute, and though nonphysical, hurt more than even the worst of her back pain had. The panic, the uncertainty, and the distress from all that bore down on her, and she didn't feel strong enough to overcome it.
Edythe wasn't sure how much time had passed as she had come to this conclusion, but she knew it was long and she knew she and Beau needed to get going. She finally forced herself to pull back slightly from where her face had been pressed into Carine's shoulder. Her mother moved her hands from her back to either side of Edythe's face, cradling her in her hands. Edythe reached up to hold her hands over Carine's as the vampire pressed her lips to her forehead, smoothing the silent tears away with her thumb.
"You will enjoy it," Carine said softly, smiling despite the emotion behind her eyes. Edythe still didn't trust herself to speak and, looking between her parents, the second wave of déjà vu of the morning hit her, as she was reminded of the day over ninety years ago, where she had left to go on her vigilante human-killing spree.
She remembered their understanding then, and the sincerity behind that understanding. She remembered that hearing it in their thoughts, their acceptance and support of something they lived in opposition of, had almost made her change her mind back then; and, many times looking back on it, she wished she had. If she had, she never would have gone against their wishes, never would have known what human blood tasted like, never would betrayed Carine's centuries of effort and sacrifice.
Edythe found herself just as unwilling to move now, but her reasons were slightly different. She didn't want to be separated from them, didn't want to wake up every morning without them there, didn't want to leave the safe space of their arms. Carine and Earnest seemed to sense that, as well as where her mind had wandered.
"We know, sweetheart," her mother assured her. "It's going to be a new adventure. And it won't be for long; then you'll be back home with us and the others. It will be all right." Edythe tried to nod, but it was halfhearted. Her hands were holding onto Carine tightly, as if she were scared to let go.
"I love you," Edythe whispered, almost mouthed. The pain ricocheting in her chest made it feel like her heart was, quite literally, breaking. Her throat was closed up and she couldn't say any more.
"We love you too, Edythe," Earnest said, "We love you so much, sweetheart, and we are so proud of you."
Edythe tried to smile, but her face was not cooperating. Instead, she tried again to disentangle her grip on her parents, managing to move back enough to only hold Carine's hand tightly. She tried to work up the courage to say goodbye. Her mouth opened, but the word got caught in her throat. Instead, a small whimper escaped and she found herself moving forward once more, burying her face in her mother's neck.
Carine accepted her immediately, hushing her softly, with her chin on the top of Edythe's head.
"Shhh, darling," Carine soothed as Earnest wrapped his arms around both of them. Over their daughter, the Cullens parents could see that Beau was done, staring absently at his phone as he patiently waited out the goodbye, not caring how long it took. He knew how much it was going take for Edythe to leave her parents.
After another long moment, Carine bent down to look into Edythe's face, rubbing her fingers gently across Edythe's tear-stained cheek. The burning emerald eyes were pained and her vampire mother had to work to suppress the desire to call off the whole thing, knowing how much suffering it was causing not just Edythe, but the entire family. But she didn't.
"You can come home any time you want, Edythe," she promised. "We love you so much, sweetheart." Edythe nodded again and she felt as her father pressed his lips to her temple, holding Carine and she in his embrace for one long moment. She squeezed their hands as hard as she could, and they reciprocated, albeit far more gently.
"I love you," she said once more. Finally, reluctantly, she let go, almost internally screaming at her muscles to release them. Her eyes squeezed shut as she did so, before forcing herself to turn away, and move to Beau's side. He looked up at her approach and reached for her. Edythe leaned into him, and Beau could feel she needed the support as her world fell apart around her. He guided her gently to the escalator down to the security gate, glancing back once more to wave goodbye to Carine and Earnest. They stood dutifully there, listening to Archie's instructions, knowing Edythe would be more inclined to turn back and find them if they weren't there until she and Beau had gone out of view.
When they were through and out of sight, though, the departure felt real, and far more permanent than the vampires wanted to admit.
Edythe stayed silent the entire time Beau moved with her through security; the tears were silent and continued until they made their way to the gate. She curled her legs up on one of the seats by the windows, leaning against Beau across the chair's arm between them and looking out to take in the deep green lush foliage that surrounded the runways and terminal. She knew she probably wouldn't be seeing much of it for a while.
Beau didn't try to get her to talk, knowing Edythe would talk when she wanted to. Instead, he silently offered her her noise-cancelling headphones when they were settled in their first class seats. She accepted them, and within a minute was working to occupy her mind. However, she found there was nothing she could do to distract herself; so, once they had ascended and leveled out, she settled for trying to get comfortable and sleep.
Beau was relieved when Edythe drifted off, and was content to hold her for the majority of the flight. Thankfully, there was no turbulence, and Edythe snoozed soundly until the pilot called for seatbelts to be fastened as they made their descent into Sky Harbor. At the customary ding of the light, Beau felt her stir underneath his arm, looking around and sitting up after a moment, rubbing her eyes.
"Hey," he greeted quietly; she groaned a little, stretching in her seat before looking at him. She could see the caution in his eyes, waiting for her to react.
"I'm okay," she told him as she leaned into the back of the leather seat. "I'm sorry."
Beau smiled sadly before leaning forward, pressing his lips to hers lightly.
"Don't apologize," he said, "Remember what we promised." Edythe smiled, knowing he was referring to their vows, and kissed him back, settling for holding his hand as they descended. Edythe glanced out at the landscape when they were finally freed from the aircraft; though all airports shared some characteristics— the runaway and wide open spaces—the new sights caught her attention. Everything was flat, with just a few larger buildings—she didn't think calling them skyscrapers was appropriate—dotting the edges of the airport. There was a lot more people in Sky Harbor than Ithaca, expectedly, and she recalled the first time she was in this airport. That time was like a completely different world, and then she had never expected to return in this capacity.
Beau led her to baggage claim, and they grabbed their suitcases as they passed on the conveyor belt. Instead of heading toward the rental desks though, they moved to the long-term parking garage.
The first thing Edythe noticed when she stepped out of the air-conditioned airport was the heat. Her last time in Arizona for the interview was in the middle of February, when it was a comfortable seventy degrees. Now, the heat pressed down on her, as if she were surrounded by hot baking ovens. The small exhale, almost surprised and definitely uncomfortable, that escaped her caused Beau to look at her.
"I know," he said, "Everyone's a little surprised in the beginning. But you get used to it."
Edythe raised an eyebrow at him, indicating that she wasn't so sure. But she didn't comment.
With a click on the key fob, the Volvo beeped obediently from its assigned space, pre-arranged by the moving company that had transported their cars. Edythe permitted Beau to drive—acutely aware he was far more comfortable with his surroundings than she was—and settled for looking out the window at her new home.
Phoenix was a bigger city than most in the country, but still not comparable to Seattle or New York. Large hills dotted with cacti and homes were speckled amongst the highways and larger shopping centers, the car twisting and turning as it navigated east from Sky Harbor toward Paradise Valley. This was the neighborhood Beau had grown up in, but this time, they travelled to the more upscale community, where the house they had purchased was located. It was secluded, as any Cullen home was, though only as much as could be achieved in the city. It sat atop the large hills, the drive diverting off the central winding road.
It was small and modest, at least in comparison to the houses Edythe was used to it. It was only two bedrooms, with one of them being outfitted into Edythe's office. There was two bathrooms as well, along with a decently sized kitchen and living space, with no formal dining room. There was a modestly sized pool that led from the sliding back doors, and small yard that led a few feet from the house before stopping at the concrete beige wall. The house was a modernly designed two-story build, an expensive and uncommon style amongst the Tuscan and mid-century ranch homes Edythe had seen on the trip here.
It was more than adequate for what they would need it, but it felt unfamiliar to Edythe. She helped Beau lug the suitcases into the house and up to the master bedroom. The movers had been there already, placing all of their boxes in the center of their living room. Additionally, furniture had been delivered, and the cardboard boxes were scattered about the house. They seemed to fill every room.
Being it was three hours earlier in Phenix compared to New York, eight o'clock felt far later than it actually was as they finally moved their carry ons inside. Beau quickly sent Archie a text to confirm their arrival as Edythe checked that the Honda in the garage was fine from the journey. Beau had also had the wherewithal to have a pizza delivery scheduled when they left the airport, and so, they sat on the floor in the living room as they ate, trying to figure out a plan of what they should do.
The couple settled on finding the mattress and setting that up, knowing they could survive one night without a bed frame. They found it easily from the unique shipping box and hauled it up the stairs to the master bedroom. Pulling it out of the box and then releasing it from its cellophane wrapping triggered its expansion, and Edythe found the box that held a fresh set of sheets and a blanket, as well as two pillows. They made the bed quickly, moving to drop their carry on bags in the master bathroom and get ready for bed.
As Edythe waited for Beau to finish up in the bathroom, she looked out over the balcony adjacent to their bedroom. The city was comparatively quiet, but there was still some lights that illuminated downtown. The landscape was vast, far-reaching, and completely bare. The heat had waned slightly in the night, though it still stayed in the air despite the lack of sunlight. Edythe looked up, seeing the large speckling of stars across the deep blue expanse of the night sky. She picked out a couple of the constellations she recognized before hearing Beau open the door from the bathroom. She turned to him, stepping back into the house and shutting the door firmly.
Edythe crawled onto the mattress on the floor, not bothering to pull the blanket up over her; she was warm enough as it was. Instead, she kept it over just her legs, but settled immediately into Beau's arm. He kissed her gently and she reciprocated similarly. As he pulled away and she laid her head on the same pillow, she murmured.
"I love you," she told him. His blue eyes danced in response.
"I love you too," he returned, leaning down to kiss her once more before both of them settled down to rest after the long journey, and the even longer day.
A/N: Hello again everyone. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, though I found it was far depressing and sad to write than the last. But time is moving forward for Beau and Edythe and new obstacles have met them. The next few installments will examine how they adjust to their new surroundings. It should be interesting to say the least.
Please let me know what you think and I'll see you in the next one!