Spirit to Flesh: A Twific by LittleWing, betad by the divine Jessica1971
I don't own Twilight or The Love Letter. I'm just playin around and havin a ball. No infringement intended. No money made. Viva Le Fan Fiction!
Chapter 4: A Novel Idea
Edward walked around to the passenger side door, planning to open it for Victoria. He could hear the laugher spilling from the kitchen out into the open back patio. Before he could fully open the door, Victoria sprang from the car.
"A little excited are we?" he teased.
"You know you can never impress the in-laws too much. I need to have them wrapped around my little finger before the wedding."
Instead of saying Good luck with that, which is what he honestly thought, he simply said, "Naturally." Edward tried hard never to lie to Victoria, but he also saw no reason to be unnecessarily cruel.
Carlisle and Esme's house was the perfect intersection of grandeur and comfort. The two story colonial was set on a hill that gently sloped down to a creek just through the partially wooded back yard. The front of the house was elegant and understated with its half moon driveway, classic open shutters, and black lacquer door. Looking at the house, you couldn't tell that the entire back of the house was open with floor to ceiling French doors that led out to a beautifully landscaped backyard with pathways to private coves and hidden places throughout the ten acre property. Nor would you guess that the interior was thoroughly modern, warm, and open with a big off white kitchen, sunken living room, and enormous library. It was Edward's childhood home, where all his best memories were made.
In the entire house, which now housed his parents, his older brother Emmett and his wife Rosalie, and his younger sister Alice and her husband Jasper, Victoria didn't have a single ally beyond him. Everyone was nice, of course, welcoming and kind to the very edge of sincerity. They just didn't think Edward and Victoria fit together. It made matters infinitely worse that no one believed for a second that Edward was in love with Victoria, and they each, in their own way, told him so regularly.
In his defense, Edward pointed out that he didn't think he'd ever been "in love" with anyone, and was fairly certain that he was incapable of swooning emotion. Edward loved Victoria; he cared for her well being and was ready to commit to her. That was enough.
As his mother opened the door, Esme's kindness could not fully mask the look of disappointment that flashed across her face every time she saw Victoria and her son together. Carlisle, standing just behind his wife, chuckled at his son's exasperated expression.
"Hi, mom," Victoria sang. Esme smiled and pulled her into a hug, saying nothing.
Carlisle quickly filled the void with, "Well hello, Victoria. We're glad you could make it back from your trip in time to come over tonight. Emmett and I are just finishing up with the grill." He placed his arm around her shoulder as he spoke, pulling her deeper into the house where Alice and Jasper were getting plates in the kitchen. Carlisle gave Edward a nod before leaving his son and his wife hovering by the front door.
"Mom, please try..." Edward began before Esme cut him off.
"Oh please, Edward," Esme said, waving his words off before checking to make sure that they were alone. "I have something for you," she whispered, grabbing a black box that was sitting on the mahogany bench by the door. "Let's go outside."
"Mom, what's going on?" Edward asked, eyeing her suspiciously as she stopped behind the trunk of Edward's car.
"This is for you, but before you open it, I want you to promise me that you'll keep an open mind."
Edward's eyes narrowed, but he nodded his agreement.
"Alright, open it," Esme said.
The box was big enough to hold a large candle or a metronome, both of which he didn't need. He couldn't imagine what it was. Flipping the lid open didn't clarify a thing for him.
"You got me ink and a fountain pen?" he asked, confused.
"And stamps," Esme added, pointing to the small satin pocket on the box lid that held the stamps.
"And stamps," Edward echoed his mother, more confused than he was used to being.
"These aren't just any stamps. They're stamps from 1918," Esme said slowly, watching for the understanding she knew was coming.
After a brief pause, they both spoke at the same time:
"Mom..why are you…"
"I want you to answer the letter, Edward."
"What?" Edward asked incredulously. Now he felt he understood why they were outside, otherwise Carlisle would have had his mother committed.
"I want you to answer the letter you told me about on Tuesday - the one that you memorized."
His first thought after the initial shock was Mom –this is crazy. However, the words that came out of his mouth shocked them both.
"How?" he asked with too much earnest curiosity for his comfort.
"Manhasset Post Office, it's the only surviving post office that was built before 1918."
Edward knew the place, could visualize it in his mind, but still.
"Wait," he said to Esme and himself. "This is crazy."
"Just think about it," Esme replied in a rush, grabbing the box from his hand before opening the trunk and putting it in, then slamming it shut.
Just as she was finished, Victoria called from the front door. "Come on guys. The steaks are ready and I'm starving."
"Coming, dear!" Esme called back. As she passed Edward on the way to the house, Esme leaned over, pretending to kiss his cheek. She whispered, "Just think about it."
What she didn't know was that Edward would think of nothing else for the rest of the day.
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