Chapter 75

Sue needed an honest woman to talk to, and lately she had found Esme Cullen to be a great friend. It was getting later, at nearly 9:30 at night, and for a brief moment, Sue thought to herself, 'what if she's aleady sleeping'? The thought left her mind as quickly as it had entered, knowing that no one in their family, aside from Renesme, slept at all.

She quickly punched in the number and waited. When Esme picked up by the second ring, she invited her over for a talk.

Esme arrived no longer than fifteen minutes later, slightly concerned, but not overly due to the lack of panic in Sue's voice, though she did seem somewhat urgent. She politely knocked on the door and Sue opened it a few seconds later.

"Hi Sue," Esme said with a smile. She leaned in for a hug.

"Thank you for coming by," Sue told her.

"Oh, sure," she continued to smile, "Is everything alright?"

Sue nodded, "Yes," she took a deep breath, "I think I just need a little advice about something."

Esme smiled, "Okay. I'm definitely here to listen."

"I've talked with Billy over the last few days. He seems to think that those head vampires, the ones who sent the girl to bite Charlie, may not ignore the fact that he knows now that there is such a thing," she thought for a moment before continuing, "He thinks it's smart that we make him a part of the tribe, because then they'll leave him alone."

Esme nodded, "I think that could be a good idea, as a precautionary. Can you do that?"

Sue nodded in return, "Yes. I don't think it would take long."

She knew she had more to say.

"Alice," Sue went on, "She can read what happens in the future?"

"Yes," Esme told her, "But it's subject to change if people in her visions change their minds."

"Do you know if she's seen anything between Charlie and them?"

"Not since the time he was bitten. She would have certainly said something if she thought they were planning on coming back." She sensed a pain in Sue's eyes and put a hand on her shoulder, "We'll make sure he stays safe."

Sue placed her hand over Esme's, "Thank you. So, do you think it's a good idea? Billy thinks it would help, and I saw him talking privately with Charlie earlier today. I'm assuming that's what it was about."

"I think it's a great idea," Esme said.

"And you'll let us know if something changes with what Alice sees?"

"Of course. Immediately, should it happen."

Sue nodded, "Thank you," then added, "I'm sorry to drag you out here like this."

"Oh, Sue," Esme said with a wide smile, "Don't be silly. You would do the same for me."

"You're very kind, and a good friend. I wish we all were able to get along like this earlier."

"Well, we have each other now, and that's all that matters." Esme looked at Sue and gave her some reassuring words, "We won't let anything happen to Charlie. Ever."

Carlisle and Emmett had just gotten home, finding themselves in an empty house. Neither of them were used to the quiet, and it gave off an almost uneasy feeling. Carlisle had spoken with Esme just before he left the hospital, as did Emmett with Rosalie.

"Where'd everyone go?" Emmett wondered aloud. No one's scent was strong, but Edward and Bella were close by. "Edward!"

Thirty seconds later, or so, Edward and Bella were inside. "Wondering where everyone is?" He asked.

"I just talked to Esme," Carlisle told him, "Now no one's here."

"Jacob took Renesme to see Charlie, they should be home..." Edward looked at the clock, "No more than fifteen minutes from now." He looked like he was concentrating hard, but Carlisle knew he was listening in on people's thoughts, "Rosalie took Masen hunting. Esme had said she doesn't want him going alone. I can hear both of their thoughts."

"So, is Esme with them or no?"

Edward shook his head, "I don't think so."

"What about Alice? Jasper?" There was a hint of concern in his voice.

"I don't hear any of their thoughts," Edward told him.

"Oh," Bella said, "Jasper took Alice shopping earlier. Sorry, I forgot."

Edward turned to Bella, "Esme's not with them, right?"

"She told me she was home when I talked to her a little after nine," Carlisle told him.

Renesme and Jacob burst through the door.

"Hey," they said at the same time. "Is something wrong?" Jacob added.

Edward looked at Carlisle, then asked, "Esme wasn't over there, was she?"

The two of them looked at each other, then back to the rest of them, "No," Renesme said, "Why, was she going there?"

Carlisle ran a hand through his hair, "I wonder where she went."

Edward recognized concern in his eyes, "I'm sure she's fine, Carlisle. She could be hunting."

He nodded, then said, "I figured she would have said it on the phone with me if she were going."

"Maybe she thought she would have been back before you got in," Bella said with a shrug.

"Maybe." He didn't seem quite convinced.

"Call her," Emmett said.

Carlisle reached in his pocket and removed his phone, hitting send on the last number he called. A second later, Esme's phone started buzzing from the kitchen table. He hung the phone up, trying not to show his frustration.

"I'm sure it's fine," Bella said, trying to sound reassuring.

He shook his head, "I can't even pick up on her scent right now."

Edward knew he was beginning to get a little on edge, especially after the surprise attack on him not long ago. "Alice would have seen something," Edward said, "They're not here."

"We don't know for sure. Alice may be trying to get a hold of us."

Bella could hear the slightest surge of panic in his voice.

"I'm sure she's okay Carlisle," Emmett said.

"What if she's at the reservation?" Jacob chimed in.

Everyone turned to him, including Renesme.

Carlisle looked at him, having assumed that Sue was at Charlie's, "Was Sue over when you when to Charlie's?"

Both of them shook their heads.

He ran to his wife's phone and quickly viewed her last calls. After his own name was Sue's and he took in a deep breath. Edward walked over and patted him on the back.

"She call Sue?" Emmett asked.

Carlisle nodded, then looked to Jacob, "Thank you for bringing that to my attention. Would you mind giving Sue a call, just to be sure?"

"Sure," Jacob said taking a small black cell phone from his pocket, "No problem."

Bella felt bad for Carlisle, sensing his brief moment of fear for Esme's safety as he made eye contact with Edward.

Jacob chatted on the phone for a few minutes, and everyone could tell in his voice and body language that Esme had been with Sue. When he hung up, everyone waited with much less anxiety. "Sue said she asked Esme to come over to talk. Esme said it was after you called her and that she's sorry if you were worried."

Carlisle nodded, "Thank you, Jacob."

"You're welcome. She's on her way back." He looked at the clock and turned to Renesme, "I have to be getting home. I'll call you tomorrow."

Renesme looked at the rest of them awkwardly, "I'll walk you out." The two of them disappeared through the front door.

Edward tried extra hard to keep his attention toward everyone else's thoughts. He focused on Carlisle's and looked at him, "Don't be mad."

"I'm not mad, Edward."

"It's not Esme's fault. I know you were worried."

"I'm not mad," he said again, just as calmly as before, "I'm... I was just worried, that's all."

"Well, she's fine," Edward told him, "I can hear her thoughts. She's almost home."

Renesme re-entered the house and tried to avoid a conversation with her father, "Goodnight." She went up the stairs quickly.

"Goodnight Renesme. We love you!" Bella called up to her.

"Love you too," her voice answered back.

Masen and Rosalie returned a few moments later, and Edward let everyone know that Jasper and Alice's thoughts were becoming increasingly clear. Carlisle hugged Masen as he made his way to a spot in front of the television.

A minute later, Esme entered and looked directly at Carlisle, "I'm sorry," she said nonchalantly, "Sue called me and really needed to talk. I just headed over quickly."

"It's fine," he told her, "I just wish you'd brought your cell phone."

Esme felt her pockets, "I didn't even realize I forgot it." She could see in her husband's face that he wasn't happy, though no one else picked up on it to the extent that she did. Edward only knew from his thoughts.

Masen looked over his shoulder, somewhat sensing the slightest tension between the two of them but didn't say anything. He continued to watch TV. The two of them headed into another room.

"Carlisle," Esme said, "I'm sorry."

Guilt filled his mind, "Esme, you don't have anything to apologize for. I was just worried there for a few minutes. I had just talked to you and me and Emmett come home to an empty house. I guess my thoughts just went directly to the worst." His voice softened a bit.

She pulled him to her in a tight hug, "I should have left you a note. I've asked you to call me on your way home from work since Felix and Demetri came, and you've never missed a day of doing that for me. I should have done the same for you."

"I guess I can relate to how you've been feeling now, because no one knew where you were and like I said, I just started to think the worst." He kissed the side of her face several times before leaving one kiss on her lips.

"I'm sorry," Esme repeated.

He shook his head, "You have no reason to be sorry."

"For making you worry."

Carlisle kissed her again, "Just send me a text or leave me a note. Remember how you said you couldn't live without me? I can't even think about living without you Esme."