Carlisle and Esme

40. Leaving Forks

Chapter Forty

Years pass like days for humans. They go quickly. And all too quickly it had been two years. We had attended the graduation of Rosalie and Emmett the first year and the second year was Edward's graduation. Esme had been designing the cap collage. All the caps were arranged in colour ranging from black to navy blue going to the most recent light blues. It looked amazing but it was still half finished.

Eventually it was time to move on. I ended my work with the hospital and we said goodbye to the various friends we had made. Then we were on our way to elsewhere. We had decided to go join our cousins in Denali, Alaska and to accept the invitation. This had also meant leaving behind some of our personal belongings like Esme's collage and the wooden crucifix I had taken everywhere from when I had rescued it and kept it from the early 1700s to this moment in the late 1900s. However it wasn't that big a deal. We could always ship out these pieces if it meant that we would be coming back. All of them were covered in dust sheets for if and when we returned.

So we were set. Edward was driving his Volvo, Esme and I had the Mercedes and Rosalie had her BMW with Emmett as passenger. The Denali coven was expecting us and was waiting outside when we arrived. I stopped and Eleazar tapped on my window. I rolled it down with a flick of a switch and my old friend pointed me towards the garage. I drove straight in among the other three cars already in there. One was a red Porsche, one was a blue Ferrari and the last was a silver Mercedes, completely different to my black one.

I got out of the car to see that my children were parking their cars and the Denali coven was in the garage. Tanya hugged me and Esme.

"Carlisle! We're so happy you're staying with us."

"Me too Tanya. Thank you so much for letting us stay."

"No problem." Tanya went off to hug the rest of my family and Eleazar and Carmen came to hug us. As soon as they had greeted us, Carmen had linked arms with Esme and the pair had walked off together. Rosalie was in full chat mode with Irina and Kate. Tanya was trying to strike up a conversation with Edward.

"So how's it all going?"

"Not bad. Not bad at all." I smiled as Eleazar walked with me to the house.

"Hospital shifts tiring you out yet?" He smirked as he spoke.

"Ha. No... They couldn't do that."

"Are you going to work while you're here?"

"I guess I'll just see how it goes."

"What about Rose and Emmett and Edward?"

"It's up to them what they decide to do. Do Tanya, Irina and Kate go to school?" We were in the family room now and everyone was sprawled out on the white leather couches, staking a claim in the matching white leather armchairs or sprawled out on the floor.

"No... They go to the local community college. Well Irina and Kate do. Tanya doesn't. Carmen did for a year but wasn't too keen on being so far away from me." He smiled softly, reaching down from his chair to stroke her cheek.

"Eleazar?" Edward peered in from the hallway.

"Yes, Edward?"

"You have a piano?" Eleazar smiled.

"It's Carmen's." Edward turned to her.

"Mind if I have a go on it?"

"Of course not. Would you like some sheet music?"

"No thanks." Edward left the room and a few seconds later, a familiar composition started to play.

"He's so good!" Carmen exclaimed. Esme and I smiled proudly.

"Yes he is. Rosalie can play very well too. She's the best musician in our house after Edward." Rosalie smiled at my compliment.

"Thanks." I winked at her.