No one was excited to see them back, especially with his half-burned companion trailing behind, but Edward was too elated to care. He practically skipped home, hand hovering just over her back as they walked. Lettie stayed as close as she could without passing through, whispering concerns in his ear about how his family would react upon seeing her again, but Edward simply shook his head. He knew, even if it might take a while, that things would turn out for the best. He had hope, anyway, and that was more than he had felt in a very long time.
The sun was rising as they walked back up the steps to their home.
Rosalie was fuming as she paced across their patio, still evidently being able to conjure the feeling of humiliation as she remembered cowering away from Lettie, and she had no problems directing that anger toward Edward, who couldn't even spare a roll of his eyes, too entranced with the possibility that Lettie got to stay. He pointedly ignored the small, stray thought of gratitude for saving her family. Emmett wore a bright smile whenever Rosalie wasn't looking at him, unabashedly staring at Lettie as Carlisle explained what happened. Esme was just thankful none of them were seriously hurt.
"Thank you, dear, for what you did." Esme's voice was always sincere, but never more so than when she was thanking someone. Her gentle hands reached out and tried to grasp Lettie's, an obvious sign of affection, but her smile fell when she passed right through. "Oh!-"
"Apologies, , but I do not possess the strength to receive your admiration through physical touch." Her smile was sad. "Though I thank you for your kind words."
"Then, I'll just wait until you're all better to do so. You will get better…won't you?" Lettie reassured her with a tight nod.
"I have not expelled so much energy before, so I cannot say when I should return to normal, but I have faith."
"Is there anything we can do to help?"
"My knowledge is limited in that regard. I fear time is the only cure."
"Then, please, make yourself comfortable." She and Lettie shared a smile before she turned to Carlisle. "Dear, I'm going to prepare a bath for Alice. You'll tell me everything later?"
"As always, my love," Carlisle reassured, pressing a long kiss to her lips.
"Does this mean we have a permanent ghost roommate now?" Emmett asked, pulling eyes away from their parents' romance. As always, his smile was all teeth, lips pulled back with unfiltered joy. It was one of the things both Edward and Jasper liked about their brother; Emmett rarely had an ingenuine moment. "Awesome."
"Absolutely not!" Rosalie cut in, eyes downcast in her glare. "We were just about to kick this girl out, and now, what? She's a member of the family?"
"Rosalie…-"
"No! We all agreed it was best for her to go away to protect the family. Nothing's changed in the last few hours!"
"A lot has changed, Rosalie, and you know this." Rosalie simply rolled her eyes at Carlisle's retort, though she didn't have much to stand on. Everyone in the room knew what she said was a lie, no matter how much she wanted to dilute herself into believing it. "Especially with Samuel now knowing what the family looks like-"
"Which never would have happened if we just got rid of-"
"With Edward's account and Lettie's knowledge, there is no way to know for sure. Samuel may have come in contact with any one of us in the near future, and we wouldn't have a clue how to survive. For now, Lettie will stay, so that I can get more information, and we can devise a plan in case we encounter another spirit in the future." Rosalie huffed.
"But it just had to be her-"
"Lettie doesn't have any say in who touches her necklace," Edward spoke up before Rosalie could continue. That only angered her more. "As she said, she can't touch or move her necklace, and no one can hear her until they do, so why don't you find an actual reason to pick a fight before you just start blaming everyone for things they have no control over."
That was enough, especially with the tail end of a thought that crossed her mind, needing a scapegoat to explain her family's problems. Rosalie fled the room in her usual burst of anger, blonde hair whipping behind her. Emmett laughed good-naturedly, a disgusting thought of endearment for his wife passing through his mind, and turned to Lettie.
"Isn't she sexy when she's angry?" That caused Lettie to stutter, who looked scandalized by Emmett's words. "I gotta talk with her, but after, it's you and me. I have so many questions!"
He was gone in the next second.
"I'm going to head up to my office," Carlisle said, stepping into Emmett's newly vacated spot. "I know it has been a long night, but there are many questions I still need answers to. Take a moment, gather your thoughts, and let's meet when you're ready." He left without waiting for a response.
As soon as Carlisle was out of the room, Edward gently guided Lettie to take a seat on the plush couch, more than a little relieved when she didn't pass through the furniture. She looked overwhelmed, staring down at her hands, so see through the grain of her dress was visible through them. Her shoulders were shaking lightly.
"Are you alright?" he asked quietly. He could hear Carlisle and Esme speaking quietly in the upstairs bathroom, words just mumbled enough he couldn't hear it over the rushing water. Their thoughts, however, were nothing but concern for their children, both wondering what the best course of action would be. Lettie shook her head.
"I wish you would not speak to your sister so hastily."
"What?" That wasn't what he thought she'd say.
"I thank you for standing by my side, but it should not be at the cost of your relationships with your family members."
"Rosalie and I historically don't get along. She doesn't like that I can read her mind, and I find her attitude grating. We just…aren't compatible people. And she likes to make accusations with no evidence."
"The evening your family stepped foot in my attic," Lettie started, trailing when the words got stuck in her throat. It was the first time she really spoke about their first encounter, and he was on the edge of his seat. "That evening, upon seeing life so close to my necklace, I…I found myself begging, to any entity that could hear me, that my necklace would be found, and I finally would have a companion again. I have been in turmoil since that moment, as I never should have begged for something so selfish-"
"Woah, woah, hey." He tried to soothe her as best he could without touching her, opting to run a hand over her shoulder to mimic what he so desperately wanted to do. "Everyone has selfish wishes, but it's not selfish to wish for companionship."
The words were out of his mouth before he realized how vulnerable it made him sound, how he so desperately wished to hear someone tell him that exact thing and not have the pitying look behind it. Carlisle and Esme were wonderful parents. They cared for each other more deeply than anyone else he knew, building each other up into a fortress of kindness, and looked after Edward and his siblings without ever making them feel like a burden, no matter how much each one of them had thought it at one point. Rosalie and Emmett, no matter how different they were, fit together in that unspoken way, the kind that made them face the world with the confidence of always knowing someone had their back. Alice and Jasper, no matter how much the family thought they were going to fall in love, never let that expectation drive a wedge in their friendship. They loved each other just as deeply, no matter what people thought of them.
And Edward? Edward tried not to let their love suffocate him.
"But I bring only misfortune-"
"Lettie, when I tell you that meeting you is one of…no, the greatest thing to ever happen to me, know that it's the truth." He gave her a smile far bigger than the quiet moment deserved, but he couldn't help it. "You've turned my existence upside down, and showed me that life is not just monotony. When we met…I was struggling. Struggling to understand who I was, what the point of existing if nothing ever changed, and then…you were there."
Lettie's face crumbled as he spoke, lip jutting out and eyes shining with unshed tears. She reached out to him, just as he was, hovering her hand over his.
"I understand," she said quietly.
Carlisle's office was a near constant in all of their homes. A heavy desk was placed in the center, covered in meticulously organized pens and files. A large chair, big enough for Esme to sit on his lap while he worked. Behind him were floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, organized by subject and then alphabetically, filled with the concepts and fields of study that currently held his interest. The walls were covered in paintings, a long-held collection he never moved without, depicting memories too old for photography. The floor, always wood, was covered by an intricately patterned rug, muted tones, faded from years of use. He liked having any windows covered, to preserve the delicate pieces in the room, so the drapes were the one thing he allowed Esme to pick, and always said he loved her choice, even if his thoughts betrayed him. The same two chairs sat on the other side of his desk, the very ones Edward first sat in when Carlisle explained what a vampire was. Emmett every few years would repair them for Carlisle's birthday, so despite the small notches here and there, they were practically as new as the day he first laid eyes on them.
It was these chairs that he and Lettie now sat in, patiently waiting for Carlisle to gather his thoughts as he sifted through the last couple of hours. His usual plans for Christmas day were derailed by the unexpected guest, something which Edward knew he was really excited about, so he spared him an apologetic look. Carlisle simply waved him off, using his thoughts to replay the conversation he had with Esme. They canceled their plans in favor of taking a long vacation over the summer, a month of just the two of them at Isle Esme, an island off the coast of Brazil that Carlisle bought for Esme many years ago. The island itself is completely uninhabitable by humans because of the overpopulation of toxic plants, but his parents found the warm beaches and guarantee of no human contact the perfect location whenever they wanted time alone together.
"Thank you, again, Lettie, for everything you did to protect my family," Carlisle said after a moment of silence. Lettie jumped in her chair at the unexpected praise.
"I…I thank you and your family for your gracious hospitality." Carlisle chuckled lightly.
"I know you're lying for my benefit, but thank you for the compliment all the same. We are a tight-knit family." He flickered his eyes to Edward, before giving Lettie one of his soft smiles. "I don't know if Edward has told you, but we aren't…the most popular of families in our community."
"Edward has been very gracious in the information he has spared me, though I am not privy to all his thoughts."
"You and I have that in common then." Carlisle waved off Edward's offended look with a laugh. "You see, most vampires choose to drink from humans. It makes us powerful, and satiates our thirst for longer periods of time. Once fully trained, a vampire with no abilities could live off of one human every three weeks, longer if they didn't need to be at full capacity." He shook his head, lips downturned. "A vampire with abilities as powerful as, say, Alice, would need to feed every week. if they wanted to stay strong. But, our family, even fully trained, how could we justify killing so many humans just to survive? So, we feed on animals instead."
"Animals?"
"It depends on the population of the animals around where we are living. Here, it's common for us to feed on deer and the occasional mountain lion. Whatever we don't need, such as the meat or skin of the animal, we either bring it home or to town to help feed others, or we try to leave it for other animals to scavenge. It's not the most perfect system, but it allows us to live among humans, and not hurt them."
"And this…method? This works?" Carlisle nodded.
"We aren't as strong as our human drinking counterparts, but this helps in other ways. Our senses are not as strong, so living in cities temporarily is an option for us. Sunlight is not as painful on our eyes, nor is the brightness from newer technology." He gave Lettie another smile. "I have tried for many years for my brethren to see the positives of our lifestyle, but I have not been as successful as I wished."
"Yes, Edward has spoken of some of the families who you have remained in contact with for they share a similar…diet. Your cousins in Denali, as well as the family in Michigan. And, your old friends…" She paused, combing through her memories, before turning to Edward with a lost expression. Edward smiled.
"Louis and Alastair."
"Oh, yes! and his companion. I find their story very compelling."
"Edward told you all of this?" Lettie nodded hesitantly, to which Carlisle smiled. "I'm glad he's felt so comfortable around you."
Edward looked away at Carlisle's pointed playful stare. Lettie immediately looked between them with a guilty look.
"I apologize if Edward has revealed anything you should not-"
"Oh no, nothing like that. It's just been a very long time since Edward was so comfortable around another person. He might have told you we've spent some years with our cousins, as both families occupy a more permanent residence than we do, but other than these instances, it's hard for our family to make connections, especially one as close as it seems you two have made."
"Carlisle…" Edward warned, well aware he sounded perfectly the part of his teenage son. Carlisle simply smiled at his whine.
"I'm telling you all this, Lettie, because I want you to fully understand the scope of being associated with my family. We aren't the typical coven. Though you may not have the ability to choose who touches your necklace, I wanted you to know your comfort is still important to us. Especially with how kind you've been recently." When Lettie didn't respond, too struck by his words, he opted instead to lean back in his chair, changing the topic to a lighter one. "So, tell me, how long have you been living with us?"
Edward was extremely glad it was just the three of them in there.
Lettie, it seemed, retained her politeness from her time as a human, because whatever Carlisle wanted to know, she was forthcoming with her answer, even if it embarrassed either of them. He wasn't pleased to know that she had been with them ever since the end of summer, nor was he pleased when he found out Lettie had been doing all his schoolwork for the last few months (despite Edward making a very compelling argument that he had already done his schoolwork more than enough times already), but he was unexpectedly happy for her when she explained how Edward was helping her learn new things, and proud when she shyly told him about her grades improving just over the course of the semester. His thoughts were a whirlwind of emotion, both positive and negative, when she explained keeping her distance so their family could have their privacy, and her promise that she never stepped foot outside of the communal spaces. But, most of all, he appreciated how candid she was, especially when it was clear Edward wanted to brush a lot of what they'd been up to under the rug.
Then, he moved on to the more difficult questions. Thankfully, he didn't pry, leaving Lettie plenty of space to be vague if the answer was not needed. Carlisle was especially good at identifying and navigating topics that people he talked to found difficult; for Lettie, her Father, and the time spent as a human, were things Carlisle spoke around. He had her repeat how she found out she was a ghost, though reassured she didn't have to give any details about her Father's reactions. When speaking about the first time she touched her necklace, which caused her Father to forget her and re enter his depression, Carlisle gave her his best understanding look, not speaking to allow her time to speak. Once Carlisle found she had an easy time speaking about Charles Gorham, he phrased all his questions around their interactions. By the time he finally got Lettie to laugh, the airy sound making her shoulders finally straighten from their hunched position, the birds were chirping outside.
"-the thief was captured before Sir Charles could provide me any more information," Lettie finished, bringing her hand back to her lap from where they had been waving around. Carlisle hummed with understanding.
"And there is no way you could find him again." Lettie shook her head.
"My eyes have not laid upon his dagger. I only have the vague description I received from Sir Charles, and from my understanding, the dagger belonged to another family before their defeat in a duel. There would be no connection through his family history in order to find it."
"A shame. It would be useful to have someone as knowledgeable as him to help with understanding your kind, but you have been more than helpful. Thank you, Lettie."
"I only wished I possessed the answers you desired."
"Nonsense. You've given me plenty to work with. If I have any more questions, would it be alright if I came to you?" Lettie nodded enthusiastically.
"I would be most delighted to assist by any means possible. When my body is once again tangible, we may try the experiments you proposed." Carlisle smiled, getting to his feet with a nod.
"Excellent. Now, if you don't mind, there are some books in here I wish to consult." Though, when Edward, also began to leave, Carlisle stopped him with a simple, "Could you stay behind for a moment, son?"
Edward did not like the thoughts swirling through Carlisle's mind.
"You go ahead," Edward reassured when Lettie hesitated. "Your book is still in my room."
"Why don't you go keep Esme company?" Carlisle suggested, surprising the two. "She usually sits out on the porch at this time of morning."
"Will her skin glitter as Edward's does?" Carlisle laughed.
"It is the most beautiful sight in the world."
"Ever the charmer, my husband," Esme playfully teased from the other side of the door. Carlisle's responding laugh was enough of an invitation to enter. She sped through the room, situating herself beside her husband, wrapping her arms around him in a loose hug, and dropped a kiss on his shoulder. Carlisle responded with a kiss to her crown. "Alice is warm and I've bundled her in the living room near the fireplace. Jasper will keep her company for now. He let me know her emotions are more stable. She just needs some more rest to get her energy back."
"That's good to hear. Thank you for taking such good care of her." Esme kissed his shoulder once more before detaching. This time, she turned to Lettie, a kind smile on her face. Lettie returned it sheepishly.
"The weather is chill, but lovely this morning." Her mind flashed with the idea of holding Lettie's hand as she guided them outside, but it only took a glance at her near-transparent land to instead switch to gesturing. "Would you care to join me, dear?"
Esme, like the rest of his family, enjoyed structure. Their existence was already so chaotic that finding just the smallest bit of normality was enough to bring joy to her day. So, after living in several small towns and picking up on their habits, Esme liked to spend her morning sitting on their porch outside, letting the sun warm her skin. She'd even developed the habit of holding a hot cup of water in her hands when the weather was chilly, reheating it twice before she was ready for the day. Rosalie would join her occasionally, but Edward knew that this action was too close to playing human. She was usually in a worse mood for the rest of the day after that.
"Would that…would that be alright?" Lettie looked between Edward and Esme, hands clasped in front of her.
"I would love it if you joined me." Her gentle determination was enough for Lettie to break out in a smile, nodding her head.
"Would that be alright, Edward?"
He looked at her confused, wondering why she was asking his permission, before the realization hit him. The necklace felt ten times heavier than usual in his hand as he pulled it from his breast pocket. Would it be alright? It was rare for him to be parted from the necklace. If it wasn't on his person it was near enough he felt confident he could reach it before anything happened.
But, this was Esme. Kind, loving Esme, who only ever wanted to do right by her family, who loved him like a son even when he was being difficult.
And yet, he found himself hesitating to pass the necklace over.
It wasn't like Esme was going to run off with it, he reasoned. This is Esme we're talking about. She'd rather save the fly than kill it. Who else would take better care of Lettie than Esme?
And yet…
"Son?" Carlisle called, noticing his hesitation. Edward looked between his father and mother, the necklace and Lettie, mind rolling. Lettie was free, free as she could be, and his family was willing to accept her, to bring her into their lives, and to treat her like a friend. Why, why was he hesitating?
"If you would feel more comfortable, I shall remain just outside the door," Lettie spoke without hesitation, without the feeling that Edward was holding her back from something she really wanted to do. Her smile was the same, her trust in him making his hollow chest clench.
"No, no, it's alright." He forced a tight smile, ignoring Carlisle's pointed look. "You should go, enjoy the sun. Esme will take good care of you."
He looked at the necklace once more, then promptly passed it to Esme without another word. Lettie hesitated, looking him up and down, before following Esme out the door.
The two men stood perfectly still as Esme's soft voice grew further and further away, her feet lighter on the stairs than her ghostly companion. Edward, who had heard those same steps so many times before, felt a rock settle in his stomach as they walked away from him. It wasn't until they heard the back door swing open that the two men turned to each other, finally pulling their eyes away from the door.
"What were you thinking?" Carlisle's exasperated voice was coupled with the heavy way he sat back down, the chair creaking in protest to his abrupt weight. His look of disappointment made Edward shrink.
"I wasn't."
"That's not like you, Edward." Carlisle shook his head. "I think you did think it through, and I think your conclusion was not one that had the best interest of the family in mind."
Edward sighed, slumping in his chair to match his father.
Was he thinking? He had lots of time to think in the last hundred years of this existence. His thinking was the reason he felt like life was passing him by with no consequence, why he's spent countless hours in classes and in public, but never connected with anyone he met. He overthought his first college degree until he dropped out, overthought his relationship with Carlisle and Esme until he ran away, and overthought his desperation for connection that he entered into a relationship that made him so unhappy, that it ruined any chance of his family living with the Denali's for many years. He spent hours in public thinking about how miserable he was, surrounded by people who'd never know him, and then hours at home alone thinking how lonely he was. It was a never-ending cycle of self-loathing and hatred that had the greatest goals of his future included burying himself in the dirt. It was his thinking that kept him going, the only thing stopping him from going to the Volturi and asking for death.
But, ever since he'd met Lettie, the voice in his head that plagued his day-to-day life with misery had quieted to a low murmur. He would start to fall into the endless void of his own thoughts, only to look up and see Lettie's twinkling eyes, her kind smile, her gentle nature, and find his feet on solid ground again. He did things without thinking, like taking her with him, and his only regret was not being more truthful with her, because she deserved nothing but. And yet, it was his thinking that drove her away, kept the secret of his powers, kept her away from his family, and brought her into the familiar shadow of his depression, locking her away to feel so alone.
So, yes. He did think. He thought himself in circles until, somehow, he managed to pick the one that hurt every member of his family, and then some.
"It was never my intention to hurt any of you. Keeping Lettie a secret, I thought that was what was best for the family." Edward sighed. "I'm sorry, I only ever wanted to protect everyone."
"And that is precisely why you should have told us. We're family, Edward, a coven. We protect one another." He stood, circling the desk to crouch, placing a comforting hand on his son's shoulder. "I only wish you'd learn that, and stop trying to take everyone's burdens for yourself."
"Thanks, Carlisle." Carlisle laughed humorlessly.
"Don't thank me just yet. I've contacted the Park Ranger at Bogachiel State Park and volunteered your services for trash pick up tomorrow." Edward looked at him, mouth agape. "They were extremely happy for the help. Apparently, it gets pretty messy around there this time of year."
"But-"
"No 'buts', Edward. And no Lettie, either."
Edward snapped his mouth shut when Carlisle turned to sit down again, the conversation obviously over and shut. It was more than he deserved, a punishment as light as simply spending the day cleaning up a park, but not getting to bring Lettie with him? To ensure her safety?
"Why can't I bring Lettie?"
"She hasn't had anyone to speak with in years, Edward. You've taken good care of her until now, but I think some time apart will be good for you. And it's only fair. It'll make it easier to focus on the task at hand." His smile was more mischievous than Edward liked, but then, he sighed, rubbing his hand over his forehead as if he was getting a headache. "Now, if you'll excuse me. There are some shapeshifters I need to call, and I imagine they won't be too happy to hear from me."
Edward didn't envy the upcoming call, fleeing the room as soon as Carlisle started dialing. It wasn't that they had ever done anything truly bad to the shapeshifters, in fact, they had been as cordial as possible, but he understood why they were upset with his family. Due to Emmett's accident, they hadn't been properly prepared, and thus, Forks was their home once again, less than 100 years since their last time living there. It was risky, far more than they normally would like, but it was necessary. Carlisle tried many times to bridge the hatred the shapeshifters had for their coven, but years of hatred since the signing of the treaty, and even more passing down legends of how vampires ruined tribal communities festered into unwilling cooperation. It was just as well - it wasn't like his family needed to hunt near their land anyway.
Still, Carlisle tried, making sure the tribe was up to date on any of their movements or any news they would need to know; hence, the unhappy call to inform the tribe that they had nothing to do with the vampires they were chasing, and hope they would believe him.
Edward found Esme and Lettie easily, Esme taking her to her favorite spot on the porch, the one section that got the perfect amount of morning light. Esme was holding a cup of steaming water in her hand, grasping it like a human would to heat up their cold hands, chatting happily. Lettie sat completely upright, ankles crossed politely as she listened, her own steaming cup of water on the table beside her. They looked picture perfect sat at the tea table, sun reflecting off of Esme's skin to glitter around them, shining onto their teacups and Lettie's necklace, wrapped up in their own little world.
Edward approached as quietly as possible to avoid disrupting their peace, a smile on his face.
"I knew several women who dreamed of becoming tutors, but to teach at a school…" Lettie's voice was full of awe, looking at Esme with her curious eyes.
"I'm sure you remember better than I can, but the East Coast…growing up felt like they were trying to hold onto a past that valued all the wrong things, all for the sake of pride. I was like your friends in that regard, but in the early 1900s, they started to allow women in schools, and then, it was more unusual to see a man teaching than a woman. By the time I was of age, all I wanted was to be a teacher, but my husband at the time was staunchly against it. Around 1920, I made it to Ashland, Oregon without him, and had almost a year of teaching. Oh, Lettie, it was wonderful." Esme gazed fondly into her cup, swirling her finger along the rim. "It fulfilled me in ways I never felt before."
"And you were able to teach art! I am overcome with envy, ." Esme laughed.
"Yes, well, it was a little hippie of me, but I never had the patience enough to teach Math or English. But art? It was a form of expression that all children had innately, and I loved to watch them express themselves." She shook her head with a smile. Her mind filled with the face of her son, her George, and her smile turned sad. Lettie, having noticed this, reached out, hovering her hand over Esme's arm comfortingly. Esme gave her a thankful smile in return. "Though that dream was short-lived, I've gained so much since then. My husband, my children, and my practice. While I had my happiness teaching children, I find myself enjoying the individual mentorships I have with my staff just as much, who are all so wonderful. Isn't that right, Edward?"
Edward flinched at the call of his name, Lettie's head whipping around to look at him with wide, surprised eyes. Esme glared at him playfully.
"Now, what were you doing over there? Spying on us?"
"Just wondering what you were up to." He stepped out as Esme pulled out a chair for him. He felt a swell of happiness as Lettie's eyes trailed along his body, watching as the sun bounced off his exposed skin. "I've never seen Lettie so enthralled before."
Lettie brushed off his tease with a wave of her hand, though she did a poor job of hiding her smile.
" was engaging me with the stories of her human life." When Edward gave her a pointed look, Esme shook her head imperceptibly. So, not that aspect of her human life. "She has been so kind as to offer a tour of her studio space."
"Oh, really?" Esme nodded her head.
"Though I fear a paintbrush may be beyond my capabilities, I am eager to watch the process once again."
"Lettie was telling me about her Father's painting," Esme supplied, to Edward's confusion.
"Your Dad was a painter?" Lettie nodded her head.
"Though his passion brought much hardship to our family, it was also the reason he fell in love with my Mother." Lettie laughed, smile full of nostalgia. "They met during an artist's outing, painting the same landscape. He was furious her painting was better technically, and she was envious of his use of color. Mother nearly pushed him into the lake. They exchanged paintings after dinner, and agreed to exchange paintings again in a week's time. Father revealed to me his anger was simply a ploy to see her again."
"I've never heard that story before."
It wasn't unusual for Lettie to withhold stories of her past, Edward reasoned, but this felt different. As if his mind was suddenly cleared, Edward came to the horrible realization that, maybe, Lettie wasn't as reluctant as he thought. Though her mind was full of pain, the image of her Father and Mother laughing together, the image of her Father crying over a very familiar painting, she was smiling. A sad, longing-filled smile, but the smile didn't stop her from sharing her pain with Esme, who sat there and listened with the comforting silence only Esme was ever able to pull off.
And, he realized, it was the first time she'd ever spoken about her Mother to him.
"Why don't you join Esme tomorrow?" Neither Lettie nor Esme could hide their surprise, eyes equally wide. "Carlisle signed me up to clean up a nearby park as punishment for hiding Lettie."
"Oh, Edward, I apologize-" Edward waved Lettie off with a smile.
"I got let off easy, and I don't mind doing it." He hesitated, glancing at Esme once. "It's just…it'll be the first time in a while I'll be away from you. Think you'll be alright?"
"Will I not be able to accompany you?" Edward shook his head.
"Carlisle thinks it'll be best if I spend the day alone, so it's more like a punishment than an inconvenience."
It wasn't Edward who interrupted Lettie's apology this time, but Esme, cutting in to say, "None of what happened is in any way your fault, dear. I would be happy to spend the day with you tomorrow."
Edward didn't need Jasper's abilities to feel the rush of affection that ran through Lettie; he imagined it was nearly identical to his.