Beauties | Esme Cullen

Chapter Eight

 "It looks like the whole house is in order," Carlisle said. "Esme, you know you don't have to dust the entire house tonight? Save some for tomorrow. We're going to be here for a little while. Where's Sarah?" 

 "Still in the living room," Esme replied. "I think she must be thinking about something. She's been staring into the fireplace for quite a while now." 

 "Hmm. Well, while we're alone," Carlisle quietly shut the door, "I wanted to talk to you about Sarah." 

 "What about her?" Esme asked, avoiding his gaze. "I don't think having her here will be any problem. She's willing to try drinking animal blood, and I think it might good for her." 

 "Esme." Carlisle stepped up and gently pried the duster from her hand. "You know that isn't what I wanted to talk to you about. This is about you and Sarah, not hunting." 

 Still avoiding his eyes, Esme nodded. "Yeah. I guess it is, isn't it?" She sighed. "I know what it is you want to talk to me about. I just wanted to avoid having the conversation for as long as I could. Is it..." She trailed off, knowing Carlisle knew what she was going to ask.

 "I've seen it many times," he said. "I know what it looks like, Esme, and I think it's Sarah." 

 "I know. I can feel it." Esme finally looked up at Carlisle. "I feel something, and I'm just...attracted to her. After all this time, I wasn't sure I would ever find someone, but Sarah...I think she's the one. Do you think it's reciprocated, what she feels the same?" 

 Carlisle nodded. "She is a little awkward, and she doesn't show many emotions outwardly, but I've seen the way she's been looking at you, Esme. I think it's true: Sarah is your mate. I don't know it she knows it, but I would say it's true." 

 And with that, Esme smiled. "It's true. I have a mate." She threw her arms around Carlisle and hugged him tight. "I'm so glad I told you about it. Now I just have to find out how Sarah feels." She paused. "It's nice to have something like this to think about, to distract me. You...haven't heard from Edward yet?" 

 Carlisle shook his head. "I did get a call from Jasper about an hour ago. He and Alice are fine, and he said the same about Rosalie and Emmett. I don't know about Edward. I haven't talked to him in a while." 

 "It's just...it's been two months since we left Forks," said Esme. "I hate us all being apart like this, and that Edward has to be separated from the girl he loves." 

 "I know. It is unfortunate. It was Edward's choice, though. He felt it was in Bella's best interests for him to leave Forks, and I think it might have just been best for us to move on, and maybe it's even a good idea for everyone to have a little time apart. Esme, you know we'll all be back together by Christmas. None of them would miss that, not even Edward, no matter what kind of bad mood he's in." 

 Esme gave him a small smile. "I know. I think you're right. Hopefully, they'll all show up here for Christmas. Maybe I can even convince Sarah to stay here with us for Christmas." 

 "Maybe. I think the two of you do need to have a conversation about what we've discussed. If you start a conversation, I think Sarah will listen." Carlisle held out the feather duster. "I'm assuming you'd like to be left alone to your cleaning now?" 

 "I think I would," Esme answered, taking it back. "Let me know when we're going out to hunt." 

 Carlisle left the room without another word. As soon as he was gone, Esme lowered the duster and smiled to herself. She finally found something she had been hoping to find for a long time, and that something had come in the form of Sarah Harris.