The Vampire Social Club, Part 6-Conversations with Other Women
Esme
I sit Carlisle down on the armchair in our bedroom, and I perch on the edge of the bed. I told him we needed to talk, and, for a fleeting moment, he looked scared and I felt bad. But he has nothing to worry about, at least not that I am aware of. Now, I think he senses that it is I who has something on their mind, because he looks concerned. I measure my words carefully, trying to express exactly what is going on. It is more than jus the online group; while that is fun and I am enjoying reading the banter and posts and advice from vampire moms all over the globe, I have realized the reason that it is so important to me, and that is what worries me. I have begun to feel that there is a piece of life missing, and while I cannot tell you what that might be, I am thinking that it's adult interaction. Of the female variety. And intellectual stimulation. What I guess I want is an outlet to express myself as both a woman and the smart person I am. Carlisle certainly isn't a Neanderthal, but we've never discussed my working outside of the home, and it's been an unspoken assumption between us that he makes the money and takes care of us financially, and I take care of us domestically. It is normally fine, but with my children all branching out and exploring their own lives, and with Nessie now and all the hopes and dreams we all have for her, I am feeling a hole. I decide to just tell him this.
"So, Ok. Siobhan Murphy invited me-and Bella-to be a part of this online Vampire mom's support group thing, and I have checked it out, and I like it." He smiles, but still looks a little weary. I continue.
"I love it, actually. But there's more to it, I think. I have been thinking that maybe something is missing. Now that the kids are branching out more, and with Nessie here, and Bella now one of us, officially, I don't know. Most of these women work, and they are all well-educated, and they seem to have great lives. Not that my life isn't great; I love you and the children, and in general, I'd categorize myself as generally happy. But I feel like I have been needing more female interaction. With adults. And also, something cerebral. I cannot tell you how sick I am of listening to arguments about shopping and football. I want to listen to arguments about politics and literature." I realize I am being more open than normal, and I have his full attention. I don't think I've been this forward with my feelings in many years. I generally don't care strongly about most things, and I AM happy with my life in general. He is nodding, though, and appears to be thinking about what I just said. He replies, and it stuns me a little.
"Esme, I have wondered occasionally why you have never sought work outside of our home. I have never asked you to stay home and do the housewife thing. I wouldn't expect you to. I know how intelligent you are, but I was afraid to bring it up because I didn't want you to feel like I was not grateful for the things you do. If you wish to go to work, or take classes, or hell, if you want to travel to India with Siobhan, you can. Whatever you wish; I just want for you to be your most happy. And the best you can be. I know that I am lucky that you've supported my career, but I guess that I have been stupid in simply assuming you were happy here. Am I around enough?" I nod.
"Yes. And I am glad that you understand what I am saying. I am happy to have your support; I don't know about working fully outside of the home, but a class or two is genius. And a trip with Siobhan sounds heavenly; I wonder if she could get time off, she's told me her boss is kind of a nutcase." Actually, she had called him a "fool eegit," which, after Googling, made me laugh. It means "idiot", but that seems so strong, considering I've never met the man, and the Irish women sometimes blow things out of proportion. Carlisle laughs and says that he's heard pretty much the same from Liam, who he's known for years through his time at Oxford, and I believe that if Liam says the guy is a jerk, he probably is. I laugh now, and kiss him. He hugs me, and then pulls me into his lap.
"Tell me more about this online support group." I snuggle close to him and tell him about Siobhan's email, and Moira and her coven, and even the slightly mysterious Roxy, who seems to have connected quickly with Bella. He laughs and sighs and seems excited as appropriate, and I realize later that we were holed up in the bedroom, just talking and kissing and snuggling for over an hour; we hadn't done that in eons, and I treasure it when it happens. But I am SO happy that this has been resolved. Later on, I go downstairs to use my computer to check in at the social club, and I notice that some of the girls are signed on, having a chat. I am still a little confused by the whole chat room thing, and it's really WEIRD to talk to invisible people, but I guess it's OK in this situation. This week, we've all posted answers to the questions/subjects we posted in our intros. I've also "met" two other American vampire moms, one of them I get a bad vibe from, but the other is nice. Her name is Mary Ellen Barnard, and she and her coven live in Jersey. She stays home, too, but her husband is a lawyer, not a doctor. She has three children in her coven, and while they are not Stregoni, they seem to have a lot of similarities to us. Like, her children fight a lot, and she worries about losing herself to her family, too. It was so nice to be able to talk about that with someone who understands. The other American woman was Jenny Lee, and, while she seemed fine, I didn't like some of the comments she had made about the Irishwomen. Moira is too nice, it seems, to boot anyone off, so I just try to avoid her. I notice that Moira, Roxy, Siobhan, a Scottish woman called Jane Smith, and Bella were all online. I click on the chat icon, and enter.
Esme_Cullen has entered chat room
The first "Hello" is from Siobhan.
Spuds_from_Dublin
"Hello, Esme. Welcome,. We were hoping you'd log on tonight; did Bella tell you I phoned?
Ciao_Bella
"I tried, but her and Carlisle where holed up for hours."
Spuds
"Ah. Well, I did phone."
Esme
"Well, thank you. Please, Bella, don't think we were holed up for any other reason than to discuss all of this.
Bella
"Of Course."
Moira_in_Belfast
"Hello, Esme. Please, ignore these two, they are annoyin' the feck outta me tonight."
I laugh, but realize that no one can hear me.
Esme
Moira-LOL! Me, too. J
Spuds
"Hey!"
Bella
"Hey."
Esme
"Actually, I wanted your ladies' opinions. I just spoke with Carlisle, and he's suggesting a girls-only trip somewhere. I wanted to see if anyone else was interested. He did suggest India, but last I checked, there's not too many wild animals there…."
Moira
"Wild animals?"
Spuds
"Yes, the Cullen's are vegetarians."
Moira
"Bloody Hell. How about London? We can feast on fat Clergymen?"
Spuds
"Not funny."
Moira
"Sorry. But really, vegetarian? What does that entail, exactly, Esme?"
Esme
"We only feast on animals."
Moira
"Bleedin' Jaysus sheep. And Si and Liam said *I* was weird."
Esme
"Do explain."
Moira
"I buy blood from our butcher. Being Belfast, it's usually sheep, but sometimes I can get goat. I just simply don't have time to hunt, though my family doesn't eat the same way I do."
Esme
"Interesting."
Spuds
"It's bloody savage."
Moira
"Si, feck off, and don't be annoyin' me, OK? Back to the subject at hand, I personally think a girl's weekend is definitely in order. How about we come there? I can cover Roxy and maybe we can even invite the husbands?"
Bella, Spuds, and Esme
"NO."
Moira
"Jaysus. Sorry. Just an idea. Let me talk to Dec and I'll be in touch."
Moira_in_Belfast signs off
Esme
"Um, where did she go?"
Spuds
"Declan, or Dec, as we call him, is her husband. I assume he's home and she's off to talk to him already. Moira doesn't let much pass her by. Either that or Sean just did something really, really stupid. That kid is such a Fecky the Ninth. That means "idiot" to you."
Esme
"I see."
Bella
"Am I invited?"
Esme
"Of course, dear."
Bella
"Great."
Spuds
"You can only come if you bring Nessie. I don't know what Liam's problem is, but he won't let me adopt another."
I laugh again.
Esme
"You all crack me up. But I just heard a really loud crash from the den, which means that Emmett just either hit something or ran into it in an effort to get away from Rosalie. I better go."
Spuds
"Good luck. Actually, Maggie is just coming in from school. I should go, too."
Esme, Bella
"Let's chat later."
Spuds
"Yes."
Spuds_from_Dublin just left chat room
Esme_Cullen has left chat room
Ciao_Bella has left the chat room
Several hours later
The sound I heard earlier was actually Alice throwing a ball against the garage door. To quote the Irish girls, Bloody Hell. I smile, their slang makes me feel good to say. From the den, I can hear the phone ring, and Rosalie answers, politely. A second later, she is calling for me.
"Esme? Phone. Someone called Moira McCorkle?" I stand and fly to the phone. I can hear two voices giggling and what sounds like Abba playing in the background.
"This is Esme."
A strong, harsh Irish accent trills down the phone, and I almost drop it.
"Esme? Howya. This is Moira, actually, it is me and Siobhan. British Telecom has added that conference phone lark to our mobile plan, so we are trying it out. Si is phoning Roxy on her end, can you get Bella?" I am unsure exactly what "Lark" is, but I get that conference phone is the same as our three-way calling, and I call out for Bella to get an extension. She clicks on. Moira continues when Bella says Hello.
"How's your form? Anyway, I was calling, Esme, to see if you were serious about your idea. For a get-together, I mean. Oh, here's Roxanne. Rocks, I was just asking Esme if she was serious about her earlier idea, for us to get together for a girl's weekend sometime. Hopefully soon, these chiseller's are making me bleedin' bollocks." Siobhan kindly translates for me.
"Esme, Bella, please excuse Moira. She forgets that outside of Ireland, most people don't speak Belfast slang. She simply said that her children are driving her crazy." I laugh.
"Yeah, I get that. Um, yes I was serious, why?"
"See, she was serious, you ould birds. So, my husband and I have some property in Greece; the Isle of Hydra, actually. We'd have to fly into the mainland and take a boat, but we can iron that all out later. How's it sound?"
"Heavenly. How soon can we do it?"
"Our home there we rent out to summer holiday tourists, and they will be tossing off soon. We can plan for the middle of next month, unless that is too soon for everyone."
"That works for me. I can arrange it with Carlisle, and that's when Bella has break from school." I just realized I spoke for Bella, and I apologize to her. The other women laugh as Bella assures me that it's OK. Siobhan speaks up.
"I think I could get that off then; let me tell Liam and Mags, though. If there's a problem, he can call his sister; she's in Rosemeade and can be here in a Dublin minute."
"Roxy, you've been quiet, can you say something?" Moira asks.
"Yeah, I don't know. I have Peter…"
"Send him here to Belfast; Dec can keep an eye on him, and besides, he can entertain Lissy and Andy. You'll see, it'll be fine."
"Ok, Moira. Shite, I gotta bang off; Peter is home. Chin-chin." She hangs up. Then Si speaks.
"Actually, it's early morning here in Dublin, and I should be getting off to work. Talk to you later." She hangs up.
"Well, then, I guess it's time to go get Dec and the monsters off for their days. Thanks for the chat. Let's do it again. I'll be in touch! Bye." She hangs up quickly. I hang up and go find Carlisle to tell him the news.
