Chapter 45

Carlisle and Esme had enjoyed their week on Isle Esme, and intended to take advantage of their last day there. On the same note, they were more than ready to get back home and return to their family.

The sun had shone brightly all week, as they had anticipated and both of them spent every second they could get in the sunlight. Their days were filled with cliff diving, hunting, swimming and just laying around outside in the swimsuits that typically got little to no use.

For the time being they sat on the top of a cliff, both soaked from taking plunge after plunge into the water below them. From there they could see everything for miles, which was nothing but gorgeous untouched land and open ocean. It looked like a post card, or something you would see on the screen saver of a computer.

"It's unbelievable," Carlisle said.

"Much different from Forks," Esme laughed.

He nodded, "Much much different."

"But that's home," Esme went on, "There's nothing like being home."

He grabbed her hand, "Ready to go back?"

"I'm about ready, yeah," she took in the ocean air, "But I will definitely miss being here."

"Me too." He guessed it was about 6 o'clock in the early evening, "We still have a little more than twelve hours. Is there anything we haven't done that you'd like to do before we leave in the morning?"

"What about the waterfall?" Esme suggested, "Maybe we could go spend some time out there."

"Sure," he leaned his head back, soaking in a few extra seconds of sunlight before they headed to the waterfall.

As romantic as the atmosphere was, it was equally just flat out relaxing. They weren't jumping off cliffs and whipping around the woods in some type of survival mode. They did everything at their leisure, and it was a pleasant break from every day life.

Carlise threw the bag full of their things to the side. It had some towels and their phones in case Masen decided to send them another video, or one of the kids were to call.

Esme jumped down the waterfall and lounged in the water beneath it. Carlisle joined her and she splashed some water at him.

He eyed her and smiled, "I'll win this game, Esme," he said playfully.

She splashed him, "Carlisle. I always win."

"Only when I let you."

Esme loved the side of him that he never showed to anyone else. Carlisle had a playful, flirtatious charm about him that he chose to keep only between them, and she loved the occasions when he decided to let it out.

They stared across the water at each other, waiting for the other to continue their lighthearted game that Esme had started. Carlisle broke up the stalemate when he finally let out a smile and a brief laugh. Esme returned the laugh and Carlisle's phone went off.

He made his way to the edge of the water and answered what ended up being Emmett's phone buzzing in. "Hello."

"Hey Dad, it's us," Masen said, "Coming home tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow," Carlisle confirmed with his son, "Can't wait to see you. You're not six feet tall or anything are you?"

He smiled and looked at Esme, who he could tell was actually pondering it as a possibilty. He shook his head at her and waved his arm, letting her know he was kidding.

"No," Masen laughed, "But-"

There was some quiet whispering on the other end.

"But what?" Carlisle asked.

Masen giggled, "Nothing. Nevermind.

He could tell they were up to no good, but decided to leave it alone, "Do you want to talk to Mom?"

"Yeah. I love you."

"I love you too."

Esme climbed up next to Carlisle on the bank and grabbed the phone. She and Masen talked about their week on the island and how his week went in Forks before she hung up with a smile.

"I can't wait to see him," she told Carlisle.

"Tomorrow at this time we'll be back home."

"I'm ready to get back."

"Me too."

"But let's enjoy tonight," she said in a provocative tone.

"We've got twelve hours," he said with a smile.