Chapter 5: Strange Family
Nessie
The woman's ice cold arms had me locked into place. It sounded like she was crying though no tears fell from her eyes. Kayden cried a little as he was squished in between both of us. I myself felt like I was beginning to lose oxygen from how tight she was hugging me. It was not until Edward came and gently pulled Bella away that I began to feel like I could breathe again. I took several deep breaths to fill my lungs with some much needed oxygen.
My heart was beating fast and I could feel my body shaking slightly. I was trying to get my own nerves under control but I was having a hard time. I think even Kayden was feeding off of my nervous energy because he begun to cry as well. Then out of nowhere I felt a wave of calm suddenly come over me. This was the fastest anxiety had ever left my body. Kayden also calmed down as well.
The blonde haired guy that was dressed like a doctor approached me slowly. I didn't know what to do or say. I was at a complete loss for words. "My name is Carlisle and it's very nice to meet you. I'm sorry my son here didn't give us much warning that he was bringing a guest over," Carlisle shook my hand. I winced at the cold temperature.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude or anything. I can leave-"
"No. We want you to stay,"
I was so confused. "Are you sure?" I asked. This all just seemed way too weird for me.
"Of course. Let me introduce you to the rest of the family. This is my wife Esme, my daughters Bella, Alice, and Rosalie. My sons Emmett, Jasper, and you already met Edward of course," Carlisle's smile made me feel even more at ease for some reason.
"My name is Renesmee, well, people usually just call me Nessie,"
"Is that your son?" he asked me.
"Oh no. Not at all," though I did love Kayden like a son. I took care of him so much that it was hard for me not to form a mother-like bond with this little baby. Especially after watching him get cast aside over and over again from potential adopters because of his illness. For something that was not in his control.
Next thing I know I'm almost being crushed to death. This time by the huge sumo wrestler looking guy who I'd learned was named Emmett.
"I. Can't. Breathe," I barely managed to gasp out.
He then released me. "I'm sorry I couldn't help myself. I've missed-"
"Emmett," Edward said with a tone of warning in his voice.
"So kid. Have you lived here your entire life?" he asked me.
"Yes I have actually. Well, most of it anyways,"
That answer was like opening a can of worms. Question after question came my way. I could tell that they weren't merely just looking for something to gossip about but they were genuinely interested in my life.
"How long have you lived here?"
"Where did you live before?"
"Where are your parents?"
Questions were being hurled at me right and left. "Woah one question at a time please," I laughed.
"Well first question. I've lived here for about a decade. Before moving here I lived in Washington state though I don't remember too much about living there. We moved here shortly after I was adopted. Third question? Well right now my parents are at work,"
"You were adopted?" Esme asked in a very nonchalant way.
"Yeah I was," I said. "I was about five or maybe six years old at the time," I explained.
"Do you remember your real family?" Bella asked.
I felt a flare of anger. "My adoptive parents are my real parents. I don't remember the family that decided to give up on me. It's probably better that way anyway,"
Bella opened her mouth to say something but Edward stopped her.
"Why don't we go inside already? Nessie, would you like something to eat? I would be happy to make something for you," Esme offered.
"That would be great. I'm hungry," I hadn't had anything to eat since breakfast earlier.
As soon as I sat down at the table Alice came up to me. "Nessie I think I should take you shopping,"
"I'm good," I said as I attempted to soothe a fussy Kayden. "Shopping isn't really my thing,"
Alice looked at me like I had two heads. Bella shook her head. "Um, did I say something wrong?"
"You might have just unleashed Alice's inner demon. Trust me. You never say no to a shopping trip with Alice and live to talk about it,"
"She's right you know," Alice had a somewhat menacing tone of voice when she said that. "If you don't go I might just have to kidnap you,"
"I guess I'll go then," I shrugged.
"Good girl. You made a wise decision," Alice chirped.
"She kind of scares me a little," I told Bella as soon as Alice had walked away.
Bella laughed. "Alice does have that effect on people. Don't let her size fool you. She can be quite the little terror,"
Kayden's fussiness turned into crying. He was hungry again. I reached into my bag for the bottle and the thermos that contained the milk.
"Can I hold him?"
I jumped a little when I heard Rosalie's voice. I hadn't heard her approaching. "Um I was just about to feed him,"
"Do you mind if I feed him?" she asked me.
"Sure," I said. I was surprised.
"Shh it's okay little guy," she rocked him which did calm him down a little. I handed her the bottle and she began to feed him.
"You have an adorable little brother,"
I smiled. "Thanks but he's not my brother. Not exactly. He's a foster baby that my parents took in after his own mother abandoned him. She threw him out in a dumpster like he was trash and left him to die,"
Rosalie looked furious. "What happened to her?"
"Luckily she was caught on camera. She was found and arrested. So my parents decided to foster him until we can get him adopted. The problem is no one wants to adopt him,"
"Why not? He seems like a sweet innocent little baby,"
"Because he's sick. He has a heart condition that will kill him within the next year or two. It can be fixed but it's extremely expensive and no one wants to pay for it. I've heard a lot of potential parents say things like That sick baby isn't worth our time or money. Or He would be just a useless waste of space, time, and money. We want a perfect and healthy baby boy. He's useless to us. No one wants him because he's sick. It's awful. They just cast him away like his life means nothing," I tried to fight the tears I felt. "I'm sorry. It just bothers me that no wants give him love just because he's going to die,"
