12. Rings
Carlisle's graduation ceremony was the day after our Kindergarten graduation. Him and grandpa came to it, but I didn't understand why. We did not do anything to graduate. It was Kindergarten. We just had to show up and learn how to spell our names.
Grandpa came the night before our ceremony. At first he seemed uncomfortable with us, but in a few hours he started playing dinosaurs with Alice and I. He was the evil dinosaur and chased us around the apartment almost all morning. He sat in between us on the way to school and taught us the words to annoying kids songs.
Esme announced to all the families that she was moving to Anchorage in July after the ceremony ended. The other teachers were sad, but they were happy that Esme was happy.
"You're moving to Alaska for him and he still hasn't proposed to you?" Mr. Benjamin said.
"We haven't been together for that long. I don't even know if he wants to marry me or if he is just keeping me around because Alice and Edward like me"
He laughed, "Have you seen the way he looks at you? He is head over heels for you; It's merely a bonus that the kids love you too"
She looked up at him like she was uncomfortable.
"I guarantee he will ask you before you leave. He loves you. He got you away from Charles. He let you move in with you as soon as it was confirmed he was abusing you. He said he loved you the day you left your horrible husband. He waited 3 months to have sex with you even when you were living together. No person would do that unless they were crazy; crazy in love" Mr. Benjamin looked like he was teasing
"I want a wedding invitation, by the way" He said, "And you have to promise to call me when you are in Alaska"
I brought my camera and took pictures of the classroom. I picked my favourite things: the big window, my desk, my favourite spot on the carpet, the play doh table, and Alice's painting of a flower.
We stayed after everyone was gone, and we helped Esme pack up all her things. Almost everything in the room she paid for with her own money and she wanted to bring to her new school. She was going to be teaching Kindergarten again, and I was sad she wouldn't be my teacher next year.
"I will still be close by, my little Eeyore" she explained, "But now I'll just be your…. Esme. And you'll have someone who will be just your teacher."
"But what if I'm not the new teachers favourite?"
"You and Alice will always be my favourite" She winked at me and put me on the desk
"Stay here with your sister when we load the car" she said as she left the room
Alice and I fell asleep in the car, and we both woke up to Grampa singing the graduation song. He made us toast when Esme and Carlisle slept, and tried to get us to quietly play.
Alice and I both wore the same thing we wore to our adoption as we did to Carlisle's ceremony. My outfit was uncomfortable, but Esme insisted that I was adorable in it, and that Alice and I both had to wear fancy clothes.
Esme's parents did not want Carlisle to marry Esme and they did not approve of him. They called Alice and I "savages" when Carlisle went over to their house to talk to them in June. They said that we had to call Carlisle Dr. Cullen because he was not our friend, and they said we should call Esme Ms. Platt.
"Ignore them" Carlisle said to us, "They need some time to get used to the idea of both of you. But they are still going to come when I ask Esme to marry me".
Esme had no idea they were coming, nor did she know Carlisle was going to give her an adoption ring. We were told to keep it a surprise.
I sat on Grandpa's lap and Alice sat on Esme's. We tried our best to stay still, but it was hard. When they called Carlisle's name we cheered extra loud. We both screamed "Yay Daddy" as loud as we could, and everyone in the room laughed at us. It was boring when the old people stood up and talked, but Esme said that they were saying important things.
We met Carlisle outside the stadium.
"I could hear you two all the way from the stage" Carlisle laughed, but Alice and I looked away, embarrassed.
"All my classmates thought you were both sweet," He continued, "And you were both super quiet when the boring people talked"
"They were so boring" I said, "I didn't know anyone could be that dull"
Carlisle, Esme, and Grandpa laughed.
I took pictures of Carlisle in his tacky blue graduation outfit. He got a picture with grandpa, (which I was supposed to make two copies of and send the second to him), and with the four of us.
When Carlisle bucked us in the car seats, Alice and I began vibrating. We knew what was happening next. Carlisle put his fingers to our mouths, reminding us to be quiet. He winked at us when we started laughing uncontrollably at the idea of being quiet.
"Can we stop at the school for a second? I forgot Alice's boot in the classroom and she could still fit into them for a few more months…"
"Sheesh Carlisle, you are so forgetful" Esme said playfully as she turned towards the school.
She held his hand as he walked towards the room.
I could see Ms. Tia and Mr. Benjamin in the room, with Mr and Mrs. Platt.
"What's all this?" she said as she looked around the room. There were vases of roses everywhere, and I could see a wall of tears wave through Mr. Benjamin's eyes.
Carlisle got down on one knee. Esme began to cry.
"Esme Ann Platt… I love you. I knew I loved you when you let Edward and Alice in your class even though they were too young. I fell more in love with you when I saw how loving, selfless, and pure you are. You love everyone with your whole heart, and accept everyone with every fiber of your being. You're the most selfless person I have ever met, and I love you with every piece of my soul. I promise to love you forever- every single day of forever. Will you marry me?"
"Yes," Esme said, somehow without her voice breaking.
Carlisle placed the ring on her finger.
"H-How did you afford this ring? It's beautiful" Esme asked, quivering
"We are cute" Alice said, "So the ring people gave it to him for no money"
Esme raised her eyebrow at Carlisle
"It didn't exactly go like that," He said, and then chuckled.
Carlisle stood up, and everyone started to clap. Alice and I ran over to them.
"Does this mean we get to stay together forever?" I asked Esme
"Forever," She repeated.
We drove home and dropped grandpa off at a hotel for the night. He was flying home early the next morning, and Esme did not want to drive him to the airport because she knew airplanes scared me.
"Thanks for coming" Carlisle said at the hotel, "I know this is not exactly what you wanted for me, but.."
"But it's perfect" Grandpa said, "Promise me that you will come to London when you can?"
"Of course" Carlisle sighed.
Grandpa hugged Esme and kissed Alice and my cheeks
"Be good for you mom and dad" He said to us
Alice and I nodded.
We got back into the car and drove back home, and Alice and I sang "99 bottles of beer on the wall"
"Why did your dad teach them that song?" Esme asked
"I think it's karma for the one road trip he took me on"
"Does he realize that we are going to have two weeks of this?"
"I dont think so"
They both laughed and Alice and I continued our song throughout the ride.
The phone was ringing when we got inside, and Esme ran over to answer it.
"I told you she would say yes" Alice said to Carlisle as he tucked us in
"You did, you little future teller"
"Does this mean you will have a big wedding? I want to be a flower girl and Edward will be a ring barrier"
Carlisle laughed, "I'm not sure, but I promise you with both be invited"
Esme barged in then, her face full of anguish
"Esme!" Carlisle said, "Are you okay?"
"No" she exclaimed, and then started to cry.
Both Alice and I sat up, trying to figure out what happened.
"It's Sasha," She said between sobs, "My sister is dead"