Two Weeks Later
I had settled into this new home easily, pleased that it was everything I had ever dreamed of. Today, or rather tonight, was Carlisle's first night at work and I was finding that I was rather anxious about him being away for the entire night. Edward had enrolled at the local high school after discussing with Carlisle the best way for me to not be alone while I was still considered a new born. I knew that the first year would be the hardest for me and I had made up my mind to accept life as it now is. Carlisle had purchased a brand new sewing machine and had given me the back porch, which was all sealed in by huge windows, as my sewing room. Our first week here he had surprised me with a body shape that I could use to make my own clothing. I laughed as he set it up, his dexterous hands struggling with the small bolts and screws. He had eventually broken down and gotten a tool set, which had become mine.
Over the course of the last week, we discovered several things wrong with the house that I had taken the time to fix. From a creaky stair to a broken hinge on the upstairs bathroom door. Edward had been spending his evenings tuning the piano that Carlisle had delivered. He was at his happiest around that object and I began to worry about him, finding that there was a sense of deep sadness within Edward. I would watch him writing out his papers or doing homework and his face would fall, his eyes seeming to fade into deep distance. I knew that it was hard for him seeing Carlisle love and devote his time to another, especially a woman who he loved. Perhaps Edward was yearning for a love of his own.
Edward would arrive home from school in another hour and I was working on a new suit for him. I had started the pants yesterday, enjoying the time that it took to force myself to do the tasks slowly rather than at vampire speed. I had been doing the laundry on Sunday and had found that his suit was falling apart at the seems. His ties were even outdated and the patterns were fading. I had laughed upon finding them, tearing them apart for rags at another time. In the mean time, I had to replace the suit before Edward had even noticed, not that I thought he would.
"Esme?" I heard Carlisle's voice floated down the hallway, a hint of caution in his voice. I immediately sat a little straighter, listening for something that could potentially cause us harm.
"Yes darling?" I slipped the pins from my mouth back into the sleeve before sliding the seat back.
"I'm on the front porch, there is a blind fold on the hall table. Put it on." I felt my nose wrinkle at the idea of covering my eyes but Carlisle had asked. I closed the porch door behind me, picking the simple blue silk tie off the table, lifting it to my eyes and tying it around my head. The silk felt strange but Carlisle's scent filled my sinus's and I smiled, feeling at home even with one of my senses gone. "Now come here sweetie."
I snarled playfully encouraging a laugh from Carlisle. I had this house memorized and knew exactly where each object sat. I was amazed at the abilities that my new body still had to show me even after all this time. Within moments I felt two arms wrap around me from behind and Carlisle take a deep breath.
"Oh Esme, your scent is one that I have never forgotten." He kissed my head before slipping away, leaving me alone, wondering what on earth was going on.
"Remove the blind fold." I slipped the silk from my eyes and gasped at the scene before me. There were candles all over the deck, flickering in the light afternoon breeze. There were two beautiful bouquets of white and pink lilies on each side of Carlisle who was on one knee. I brought my hands to my mouth as I realized what was going on.
"I remember the first day that I met you, when you came to the emergency room with a broken leg because you were trying to save a bird. Your energy and heart lit up the room and you gave with everything that you were. I knew that you would grow into a kind hearted and beautiful young woman who would make some man very lucky some day. Yet that was not how things turned out. Instead I found you in a body bag, written off for dead. I was shocked, angered and pained to see such a light snuffed out. Yet there you were, clinging to life with every fiber that you had, not willing to die. I knew, in that moment that I could not let you die." Carlisle, paused, cleared his throat and took a deep breath. "So I gave you another chance and you have proven to me that you have so much to offer. I never dreamed that I would fall in love with you but from the moment you opened your eyes I have felt this sense of protectiveness and this need to be near you as much as I could. Esme, you have become my world and I want to give you everything that the world has to offer. I want to spend every day with you by my side, as my equal and my partner. Esme, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" He opened a small box, showing me a beautiful yet simply diamond ring, a single diamond set in a white gold band with two topaz gems on each side. I laughed at the color, as it matched Carlisle's eye color perfectly. I then looked at his face, into his eyes and saw nothing but love. I knew that this was the man that I was meant to love for eternity, that he would never lay a hand on me accept in love.
"Carlisle, yes, I would be honored to marry you." He slipped the ring on my finger and pulled me into his arms at the same time. We spun around, simply looking into each other's eyes before I leaned forward and we shared our first kiss. His lips were perfect and soft. He hesitated but once I continued he knew that I was ready. When we finally broke apart, I was filled with joy.
"Does Edward know?" I looked down and admired the ring once again, amazed that this had been given to me. I had long since thrown away the plain yellow-gold band that Charles had purchased when he decided to claim me as his. This was a gift, carefully chosen and crafted to Carlisle's idea. It was the most beautiful thing that I had ever had the honor of being gifted.
"I made sure that he was okay with it before I even began to plan Esme. He is my son and my best friend. I needed him to be okay with this. He gave us his blessing." Carlisle smiled as he spoke of his son, soon to be our son. I was amazed that I had gone from being alone to having a fiancé and a son.
…
Edward had surprised me by bringing home several wedding magazines with patterns for a dress. He was not one hundred percent sure that I would say yes but he wanted to be sure that I had everything available to plan my wedding. I was sitting in the sun room, listening to Edward practice on the piano while I flipped through the magazines. The dresses were stunning but there was no way that I would be ready anytime soon to be able to shop for my dress. No, I would have to make it myself. I began flipping through till I found a list of materials that dresses were normally made of. I would have to pick one and have Edward or Carlisle pick it up. Oh!
"Edward?" He stopped playing, his fingers hovering over the keys, waiting for me to say something. I smiled at his attention, amazed that this seventeen-year-old could deal with me so well.
"Not seventeen anymore Esme." He smirked as he spun around to face me. "Find something you like?" I grabbed the pillow that was next to me and threw it at his head. He caught it and settled it into his lap.
"Not yet but something occurred to me. Who can do the ceremony?" Edward's brows wrinkled as he began to think, caught of guard by this idea.
"Carlisle and I never thought of that when we discussed the idea of a wedding. I'm, I am honestly not sure." I saw his face fall.
"No Edward!" I knelt in front of him and placed two of my fingers under his chin. "You, you can marry us. I am positive that Carlisle will not mind, in fact he will most likely be pleased! What do you say?" I waited patiently for his response as he realized what I was asking.
"I would love to."
…
The next hurtle that I came across, was getting the right material once I had chosen. I knew that I could not ask Carlisle, as I wanted every aspect of the dress to be a surprise yet I was not sure that I could trust Edward to get the right thing. The shoes I had already ordered over the phone and had calmly told Carlisle that if he dared open the box when they arrived I would kindly dismantle him. He had simply laughed making me slap him on the shoulder so that he would know that I was serious.
Keeping Carlisle away from my sewing room was harder then I imagined. When he was at home with me he wanted to spend the time talking, getting to know me. I knew that he was simply trying to keep my mind off of my thirst but it was not a problem currently. Edward had been keeping me well fed at night, when there were no people around and not a chance for me to have a mishap. I was now making it a week at a time with no problems and was beginning to feel myself calming down. I was no longer jittery or antsy everyday, finding it easier to keep my mind on my current task or learning something new. Today I was working on my necklace for the wedding, which was going to be made out of the shells that Carlisle had helped me gather. I was also planning on decorating the shoes with the shells as well, once they arrived.
I found that I was rather frustrated by the tools as they were so small and the clips were so tiny! I know I have delicate hands but when I wasn't used to doing something I found it rather difficult to pick up these new tasks. I had sadly broken at least eight shells at this point but didn't care. This necklace would be beautiful, regardless of how long it took me. I settled into my task, taking my time even though I wanted to move at the fastest speed that I could but was fully aware that taking it slower was the best option that I had.
…
I stood in front of the mirror, making sure that my hair was staying in place. The curls were always perfect but I was nervous. Today I was getting married for the second time, this time to a man that I loved and who loved me in return. Today was about me, today was the start of a new marriage, a marriage that would be filled with love. I placed my hands on my hips, admiring how the dress fell on my figure. The dress was simple, a plain white organza that I had been working on for the last month. It was an off the shoulder design that ended halfway between my knee and my foot. I had added a lace trim that was a pale blue around the top and the bottom to add some color. My shoes were the same hue as the trim and I had woven a blue flower through my hair. I took a deep breath and smiled, I was ready.
Edward had taken the liberty of decorating the house for today. He had made me promise that I would not peek at anything he was doing. Once I was ready, I was to wait for him to knock on the door. I took another breath and reached for my bouquet. I took a small smell of the flowers but found my nose wrinkling at the scent. Things that I used to enjoy were not the same anymore. I laughed at the thought of cooking and the smells that it must create. I took one more glance in the mirror before walking away, afraid that I would loose myself in the obsession to be perfect. I grabbed the small box that I had placed on my side table over three months ago and opened the lid. Inside sat the necklace that had taken me over two weeks to create. Yet it was stunning. The silver links attached six shells together in perfection with a small silver chain being the rest. It was simply but held so much significance for both of us and it was perfect for this day. I slipped the necklace around my neck and carefully did up the clasp. I was now over six months old and found that everyday was getting easier. I felt that I fit in here and that perhaps this was what I had been meant to be my entire life.
A small knock at the door brought me out of my thoughts. I quickly went over and opened the door, feeling the butterflies for the first time since Carlisle had proposed. This was finally it; I was going to become the wife to the man of my dreams. I opened the door to Edward, smiling at my son.
"Ready Esme?" A soft tune came up from downstairs, playing on the record player as Edward offered me his arm.
"Ready as I will ever be." I smiled softly as I slipped my arm through his, preparing myself to walk down the isle for a second time. The difference? This man loved me in every way shape and form, he loved the broken pieces, the ugly pieces and the parts that made me, me. Today was about us and our love for each other. The future was full of possibilities for the first time in my life.
The banner along the stairs had been decorated with flowers, Edward had gotten fake ones and slowly wound them through each railing creating a pathway for me to follow. Upon reaching the bottom step, I could see Carlisle standing under and arch way in the middle of the living room. He and Edward had moved all the furniture out to fit in the archway and a small table. On the table sat a marriage certificate with a quill and ink beside it, the most Carlisle idea within the entire room. The arch appeared to be built by hand, with the same flowers that were in my bouquet wrapped around it. It was simply stunning and exactly what I had planned.
"Edward..." He raised a hand to my lips and shook his head. He simply smiled at me and walked me over to Carlisle, slipping my arm from his and placing my hand in Carlisle's waiting palm. I looked into his face and saw nothing but pure joy looking back at me. His golden eyes even seemed to sparkle as he stared into my eyes. My eyes. He adored me for who I was. I slipped my other hand into his and we both turned to face Edward, who now stood completely under the archway.
"Carlisle, Esme, today we have come together today to allow you to express eternal love for each other. While I am over seeing this, Esme had asked to speak rather then following vows that someone else wrote." I take a deep breath, gathering my courage to tell this amazing man what has been sitting on my heart since he proposed.
"The day that you found me, was what I believed to be the worst possible day of my life. I had been doing wonderful in the town where I had carried my child through my entire pregnancy but Charles refused to give up and he found me. I fled for the second time in my life and made it safely away. Yet my trials were not to be over. I gave birth to my son only to loose him shortly after and I knew, rather I believed, that I had no reason to go on. Why should I stay alive when there was nothing for me to go back to? So I jumped. Of all the hospitals in the world, I ended up at the one where you were working. I cannot believe that it was simply a coincidence. Rather I have to say that it was fate, guiding us together. I am aware that I have not been the brightest person during my first few months in this life. Yet I know that with your love and guidance that I can finally blossom into my full potential and be able to love you the way that you deserve. As vampires, there is no sickness or health but there will be trails. Whether it be the trails of learning to live and love or be the trials brought on by our kind I will stand beside you. I, Esme, promise to love you and remain faithful to you until the day that I am no longer capable." I smiled as I watched Carlisle eyes, his patience and pride beaming through as I declared my eternal love for him. He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it, breathing in my scent before straightening up once again.
"I have lived for over three hundred years and I had almost given up that this day would come. Yet here you stand before me, the most amazing woman that I have ever had the honor of meeting and getting to know. The day that was the worst for you, was the day that I finally fulfilled my hearts desire and created another, someone to be my mate not just a companion. Today we become husband and wife, equals in all things." I swallowed hard as Carlisle declared his love for me and gave me the final reassurance that he would never give me a reason to fear him. Edward cleared his throat and reached into his pocket, producing a ring box.
"Esme, I know that today is about you and my father but he agreed that I needed to be included in this as well." He opened the box and placed the ring in Carlisle's hand before looking back at me.
"With this ring, I thee wed." Carlisle slipped the ring onto my finger but there was nothing special about it.
"This was my fathers wedding band. I know that it rightfully should be going to Carlisle, yet we agreed that you should have something from me. I am giving you this band as a reminder that now and forever you shall be my mother." Edward gave me a quick hug, shook Carlisle's hand and then left the room. I felt my chest tighten at the realization that Edward had just accepted me into this family and would love me as a mother from this point forward. I turned to Carlisle and kissed him, sealing our wedding vows.
"Now, my wife, I have one more gift for you. I know that it may seem like a lot but know that my love for you simply cannot be expressed." He grabbed the envelope off the table and held it out to me. I hesitated, wondering what else this man had in store. He nodded in encouragement and I took it shaking my head. I slipped the thin paper open, pulling out the sheet that lay within. I opened it and felt everything come to a crawl. "Well?" I heard the fear in his voice and I squealed, throwing my arms around his neck. I kissed him passionately before rushing upstairs to pack.
My husband had bought me an island.
Hello Readers!
Please let me know what you think of this story! I honestly adore Esme and can only hope that I did justice to her with this story! I am considering two options for my next fanfiction, which will be the next in live chronologically. I was thinking of either writing about the time that Edward leaves Carlisle and Esme or writing Rosalie's story! Let me know which you would like to read next!