Endlessly ▸ Jasper Hale [4]

XV

FIFTEEN; FRICTION

Throughout the week, several vampires had showed up to the Cullen residence and none of the family had returned yet. Cassadee wasn't entirely sure what to do at first. She didn't necessarily feel comfortable being around unknown people, especially with Eden. By the time the Irish coven arrived on Carlisle's behalf, Sam and Paul showed up—despite the fact that Leah and Seth were almost always around—and refused to leave no matter how much Cassadee said they would be fine. Siobhan, Liam and Maggie didn't give the equalizer a bad vibe, they were just extremely quiet and kept to themselves for the most part. The only thing that worried Cassadee about them was the fact that they weren't vegetarians, but they were quick to promise not to hunt in the area.

Eden being the sweet and innocent child that she is, greeted everyone with a bright smile and it didn't take much beyond that to make everyone putty in her hands. The coven was still skeptical when they arrived, but Maggie, who is essentially the vampire version of a lie detector, determined that Eden truly was a hybrid and Siobhan and Liam were a little more trusting.

A few days later, Emmett and Rosalie returned with Garrett, the vampire that Cassadee liked to call her favorite outside of her immediate family. If he was skeptical of Eden, he didn't show it. He greeted the healer with a grin that only Eden could match. Everyone could tell Eden had taken a liking to the vampire instantly, she was practically attached to Garrett's hip for the rest of the day.

"I'm wounded," Emmett said, putting his hand over his non-beating heart. "I thought I was her favorite."

Eden took her attention off Garrett for the first time since he arrived to talk to her uncle. "You're in my top five."

"How much ice cream do I have to give you to get to number one?"

"There isn't enough ice cream in the world for you to beat Mama and Daddy."

Cassadee grinned at that, she never got tired of hearing that she was Eden's favorite. "That's my girl."

Eden smiled brightly at her mother before grabbing Garrett's hand and pulling him into the living room. "And Grandpa said I'm a healer! He says I healed aunt Bella and that I'm the reason Mama wasn't in pain when she had me!"

"I really hope she's humbler when she gets older."

"She is your child, Cassie, that's not likely." Rosalie almost laughed, "I think she's more you than Jasper."

Speaking of Jasper, he still hadn't returned, and all Cassadee knew was that he was in Texas. He made sure to call every night before Eden went to sleep, making sure to tell any kind of story she wanted to hear. Though Eden was maturing rather quick, her parents tried to treat her like a child, because that's what she was. So what if she was growing inhumanly fast? Just because she could easily pass as a second grader at this point, Cassadee still saw her as a baby.

Bella called to tell Cassadee that they were heading back with the Denali coven at some point and should be back by that night. Carlisle and Esme were currently in Egypt and talking to the coven there. Alice was still nowhere to be heard or found, which was the most disappointing part of all. Cassadee hoped that she would at least call by now, even if it was safer this way.

With the vampires in the living room and the wolves keeping their distance in the dining room, Cassadee made lunch for them while Eden sat across from Emmett at the small table as he taught her how to play chess. Because she was feeling lazy, Cassadee only made sandwiches for the wolves and Eden, but she was baking them brownies as a thanks for staying with them while the Cullen's were away.

Cassadee sensed the new vampire before she realized who it was. "Could everyone just come back with the vampires they send? That would be great."

"That would also make life easier, and we all know that can't happen, Cassie."