Marvellous days

Chapter 48 -What Is Wrong With Esme?-

The week following that, there was no stopping Carlie! The morning we spent following her through the house. I held onto her hands and she walked in front of me with my assistance. She could also walk on her own but not long distances yet although she was quite confident in walking.

Everyone took his or her turn to walk around with her. Rose for example enjoyed it so much and walked all around with her and we could hear their laughter the entire time. Emmett rather liked it to get Carlie to laugh and let her fly into the air or making funny faces.

Jasper was just as patient with Carlie and in her pace walked through the garden. Alice was with them, too.

Carlie was already rubbing her eyes while walking from Alice to Jasper around the evening. She was just too exhausted from her new ability. “Now, relax a little, Carlie. Enough for today,” I told her and sat her down next to me. She started to protest but I got a red shiny ball out from behind my back and pushed it towards her. She stopped fussing and pushed the ball back to me. She clapped and squealed. I laughed with her and pushed the ball back again. And so we did for half an hour.

“Alice, could you get a bottle with milk ready?” I called. “Yes,” she called back and I heard her in the kitchen. Two minutes later she danced into the room, gave me the bottle and kissed Carlie’s hair. I grabbed Carlie and sat with her on the couch and fed her. Her eye lids already drooped as I was expecting it. She fell asleep when she was finished.

I sighed and kissed her cheek. “Up to bed then,” I whispered and carried her upstairs into the nursery. I kissed her forehead and tucked her in. “Sleep well, my love,” I whispered and closed the door quietly behind me.

I walked towards the stairs when I felt dizzy and held onto the banister. “Whoa.” I held my head, but the dizziness disappeared as fast as it came. “I should sleep more,” I sighed and walked down the stairs to spend some time with my kids.

The next day when I woke up, I felt dizzy again and fell back into the cushions. “Are you fine?” Carlisle asked worriedly. “Yes, just dizzy. I might have the flu or something,” I muttered and unsteadily got up. “Let me examine you to be sure,” he said with worry. “No, I’m okay. Really,” I assured him.

He only sighed, “you should also look after yourself a bit more, my love,” he said. “I will,” I replied and kissed him. “You should get ready, otherwise you will be too late,” I urged and he went to get ready.

“Take care,” he whispered into my ear when he went to work. I smiled and nodded. “Always.”

I had one hell of a headache when I walked into the kitchen. I grabbed some painkillers and a glass of water and leaned against the kitchen counter. I closed my eyes after taking them and tried to ignore the pain.

Alice, Jasper, Rose and Emmett walked into the kitchen with a worried look. “Where were you?” I asked in what rather sounded like a whisper to me. “We were hunting tonight and just came back. We also met Carlisle on the way,” Alice explained.

Rose walked towards me and put a hand on my forehead. “Esme, you are burning up,” she gasped. “I’m fine, really,” I murmured. Rose ignored my comment. “Have you had fever last night, too?” “No… Carlisle hasn’t said anything this morning, I haven’t noticed it,” I told her.

“Rapid fever, dizziness, headache… I fear you have the flu,” Rose made the diagnosis. “I already thought so,” I sighed. I drank the rest of the water and put the glass into the sink.

I let them stay in the kitchen and walked into the living room to clean the toys and stuff from yesterday. I just had picked up Carlie’s stuffed monkey and the ball when Rose and Alice stormed into the room.