AN: THANK YOU SO SO MUCH FOR ALL THE REVIEWS!!!! AND FOLLOWS!!! AND FAVORITES! It means the world to me.
I'm dreading uploading this as I hope it lives up to chapter 1.
Let me know what you guys think!?!
Edward woke up to shivers wrecking his body. He looked up and saw one of the planks on his roof had blown off, most probably during the night.
The alarm on his phone next to his bed was going off, so Edward turned it off and decided he would have a quick wash while he still had the guts to brave the cold.
Edward grabbed a few bottles of water and his bar of soap and went behind the shed. He would have to get a bucket today, to make it easier to wash. Inside was far better than washing outside in the bitter cold.
Edward moved as fast as he could and washed as many areas of his body before the cold got a bit too much. He rushed inside the shed to dress properly and get as warm as he could in the chilly little place he now called home.
Edward looked at the time and noticed it was nearing 8 so he decided to have a quick breakfast.
He remembered that he'd snuck some biscuits from the pharmacy and chose to have those for a snack instead of wasting the few food items he had left.
Edward munched on the biscuits and moaned in appreciation. Even though they had been sitting in his jacket pocket for hours they tasted still, as if they had just come out the oven. Esme was a phenomenal baker.
Once he had drunk some water to wash it all down, Edward took his toothbrush and the travel toothpaste he bought yesterday and went to brush his teeth.
Once done, Edward knew Esme expected him at 10 but he wanted to go in earlier, to show appreciation for the fact that she had been so kind to him. She'd saved his life without even knowing.
Edward walked the journey to the pharmacy in a good mood.
He hadn't seen his so called father since arriving in Forks and he was eternally grateful for that small blessing. He had no desire to meet that man.
Edward saw the sign for the pharmacy become clearer as he drew nearer.
Just as Edward was about to open the door, Esme beat him to it.
"Sweetheart, I wasn't expecting you till 10. No matter, come in from the cold." Esme said as she ushered Edward in.
"I know, I'm sorry. I just wanted to come early to see if there was any work you'd like me to do. Heavy boxes to be moved, sweeping or mopping. I can do it all. It's the very least I can do for you." Edward said with a bashful smile in Esme's direction.
Esme stood in front of Edward and placed both her hands on his rosy, warm cheeks.
"You silly child. I will tell you one more time, you are helping me more than I, you." she whispered softly.
Edward blushed again and felt that the words she spoke were doubtful but Edward would not push it.
"Now, you can help me sort out the new prescriptions that just came through." Esme said as she turned to go behind the counter and started to pull boxes and place them on the counter.
Edward rushed to help with the boxes as they looked to be quite heavy.
Edward stared at Esme incredulously, baffled that a small woman like Esme could lift those heavy boxes with such ease.
"Now, we're going to do stock take and then we will place them on the shelves." Esme stated as she started to empty the boxes of their contents.
They worked for a few hours, chatting aimlessly about anything and everything. Edward realised that Esme was the easiest person he could talk to other than his mother. She understood him and his view points on matters and before they both knew it, it was 2pm.
Edward stood up straighter to stretch his back and wiped the perspiration off his brow. His back was aching and his feet were a bit numb but Edward enjoyed spending the day with Esme, the hole left in his heart by his mother's passing was slightly less painful when around Esme.
"Edward, I hope you don't think of me as rude but I made too much food last night so I had packed some up and was wondering if you would want it for supper tonight? It's in a cooler box at the back." Esme asked cautiously, afraid she would wound Edward's pride.
"That would be great, thank you." Edward said with a smile.
Edward was relieved he wouldn't have to buy more food and could try and save his pennies. He was anxious to eventually put proper electrical outlets in the shed but to do that he knew it wouldn't be cheap.
"Edward, if you would like to freshen up before you head home, there's a bathroom in the back. It has a shower installed as this place was originally a Bed and Breakfast." Esme said distractedly as she was writing something down on a notepad.
"Thank you, Esme. I won't be too long." Edward said with a grin.
A hot shower! Edward felt that this was too good to be true.
He was certain his life would be terrible once he had moved to Forks but now, it was anything but.
Esme was his guardian angel.
He now had food for tonight and he could have a hot shower so he wouldn't have to have a cold wash later on.
Edward went to the back with a skip in his step and took off his clothes, folded them and placed them on the wash basin. He turned the shower taps and found the perfect temperature and hopped in.
There was shampoo and conditioner strangely enough, it was his favorite scent. Sandalwood Musk.
He scrubbed his body and hair, Edward knew it would be a while before he could take advantage of this bathroom as Esme would get suspicious soon.
Once dried off and dressed, Edward went out to thank Esme again for her kindness.
"Here love, I've packed the food up as well as some bottles of health smoothies my children don't like. I tried to make them drink it as they have high nutritional value but they are incredibly stubborn. My daughter Alice, gave you a few of her old Junior books and assessments, to familiarize yourself with the work you should be expecting." Esme said with a smile.
Edward gratefully accepted the bag of goodies. Esme once again was a savior.
"Thank you so much, ma'am." Edward smiled a shy grin at Esme.
"Call me Esme. Ma'am makes me feel old." Esme winked
"Okay Esme." Edward tried it out, it was a bit awkward as Edward grew up never to call adults by their first names as it seemed impolite.
Esme beamed at Edward like a proud mother, warmth filled Edward's chest at the look he received.
"Now I'm going to drop you off, no buts Mr. It's raining cats and dogs out there and you will catch a cold. Can't have my favorite employee out on a sick day." Esme winked again at him. Edward was her only employee so they both chuckled at the irony.
They went out the back entrance to get to Esme's car. And what a car it was. It was a slick, brand new Audi.
They hopped in and Esme turned up the heater as she must have seen Edward shaking a bit from the cold.
The journey was pleasant, they made small talk but between them it was anything but forced. Esme made him feel so at home with her.
Before he realized it, she had stopped the car outside of Edward's father's house. Edward turned curiously to her, wondering how she knew where he lived.
"Forks is a small town. Everybody knows where everybody lives." Esme said with a tight-lipped smile.
Edward felt shame creep up on him as he realized Esme would see him walk to his shed in the back.
Steeling himself for the rejection or disgust from Esme for being a freak forced to live in a shed.
"Thank you Esme for everything." Edward mumbled, not even looking at Esme to see her reaction.
He hurried to his little shed and slammed the old,creaking door behind his trembling body.
Sobs shook his body as Edward prayed Esme would not shun him for this. Esme was the last good thing left in his life, no matter the short time he knew her, it mattered not to Edward.
A soft knock at his door pulled Edward from his dark thoughts.
He composed himself, wiped his face and squared his shoulders.
There was Esme, concern and sorrow written all over her face.
"Oh my boy, come here." Esme said as she pulled him into her arms.
Esme was hard as concrete, it was similar to hugging a wall. But Edward did not care, her hug felt as if she was healing his very soul.
Like the hugs his mother used to give him when his days were especially rough.
"I'm so sorry I never told you, I was and still am ashamed." Edward stated softly pulling back from the hug but avoiding eye contact.
Esme put two fingers under his chin and made him meet her eyes.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of, Edward. Nothing." Esme said firmly.
To explain the situation better without saying anything himself, Edward went to his jacket pocket and pulled out the rules his father had set out for him.
Edward hesitantly handed the piece of paper over, ashamed of the words written on them.
Esme read it over and as each word she read ,her face became more rage filled, her eyes had changed from the honey-kissed, butterscotch to a deep, dark almost black color.
As if feeling Edward's watchful eyes on her, Esme pulled herself together as much as she could and folded the letter and held it in her hands.
"Sweetheart, I will be showing this to Carlisle and we will come up with a plan and before you object, we will not approach your father. This will not be told to anyone." Esme said calmly.
"If it gets back to him that the authorities know what he wrote there... I will most likely be beaten to death." Edward said.
"Let him try." Esme growled, her growl similar to that of a mother bear protecting her cubs.
Edward felt a flood of affection for this woman who he had only met a day prior.
Esme sidestepped Edward and walked into his little shed and peered around, her eyes taking in everything.
"Tomorrow, you will be coming to our place. I think we both need a day to relax and do some gardening. We can have a chat and if you are comfortable with it, we can talk about your situation." Esme said, not before carrying on,
"I'll be back here in thirty minutes with some things, why don't you have some food and relax. Go through some of the work Alice sent you." Esme finished with a smile at Edward.
"Thank you Esme, for everything. You really don't have to go through all this trouble for me." Edward said gratefully.
"Nonsense, I would do the same for my children and I will do the same for you." Esme leaned forward on her tiptoes and kissed Edward on his forehead.
And before he knew it, she was gone.
Edward's stomach grumbled in hunger, Esme was right, he should eat something.
CULLENS
Esme moved as fast as she could without drawing the attention of the nearby humans.
Her eyes were filled with tears that would never fall.
How could a man be so cruel to his own child. If Esme were to be human, she knew she would be sick right now.
Her phone buzzed with an incoming call and Esme knew who it was.
"Alice." Esme sobbed.
"I know mom, it's much worse than we assumed. I ...I had no idea that this was extent of it all." Alice mumbled softly.
"Ofcourse you never, sweetheart. We need to tell Bella. She has a right to know that her mate is suffering."
"I know. I've seen us tell her and her reaction is not good but it's understandable. She's been waiting for Edward for a century. She will be angry at us for not telling her that he's here in Forks and we've known he's been coming for a month... but ultimately she will understand why we kept it from her." Alice says quietly.
Esme knew her sweet daughter, Bella would be crushed.
To be a vampire and have a mate who is suffering ... it was the worst pain. Your whole body aches with the need to eliminate what ever was the cause of the suffering. Your very being demanded it.
A month ago Alice had foreseen a vision of a young man who would be Bella's other half. She saw very few details but knew he had a rough life.
As a family they had all decided to not mention it to Bella as not to play with fate but now they had no choice. She deserved to know, if anything, Edward needed her.
Esme ended the call and asked that Alice get the family together for a meeting in a few hours.
But right now, Esme was on a mission.
Edward's little shed was far too cold by human standards.
She would be getting him more blankets, pillows and preferably a new bed and not that sorry for excuse one he had.
Tonight she would ask Emmett to go over to Edward's shed tomorrow and install proper electricity with small electrical appliances that would hopefully make his life a little easier.
Esme wanted nothing more than to bundle Edward in blankets and bring him back to their home and to keep him,to look after him but she knew that was not realistic . She already considered the boy her own son.
It took Esme a total of 40 minutes to have everything for Edward's shed.
She called Edward ahead of time as he gave his phone number to her today, to ask for him to help her carry everything as it would seem suspicious for a woman of her size to carry a single bed on her own as well as the linen and everything else she bought. As a vampire she could do it with ease but she wasn't looking to give Edward a heart attack.
Edward was speechless at all Esme had bought for him and felt a lump form in his throat.
Once they'd done a few trips to carry it all, they got to throwing his old cot out and placing his new bed where it had been, Edward dreaded looking up the price value of the bed as it felt incredibly expensive.
Esme made the bed for him with all the new linen and multiple pillows as well as a throw over for the end of the bed. It was classy yet still had a male touch to it.
"Have you eaten, I hope?" Esme asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes I had the meal you gave me, it was delicious. Thank you once again." Edward mumbled bashfully.
Esme preened on the inside. The last time she had cooked was in her human days before she was changed. It made her feel good to know that she could still do it while providing for her now youngest son. He just didn't know it yet.
"Good boy. It's getting dark, why don't you get under the covers and I'll let myself out. Sweet dreams, little one." Esme whispered softly as she helped Edward under the covers.
She was no fool, she knew Edward was a grown boy well growing into a fine young man but this human child made her truly feel like a mother and as long as he'd let her, she would carry on mothering him.
As she watched his eyes grow heavy and eventually close due to the day he had, she vowed she would protect her son for as long as she was around.
In Esme's eyes, Edward was now her 6th son. Soon he would know that too.
She let herself out quietly as to not disturb the boy sleeping peacefully on his new bed, finally warm.
Esme got in her car and started the journey towards home, where her family were waiting for her to begin the family meeting.