Beauties | Esme Cullen

Chapter Ten

 "And now...I don't know," Esme finished. She had just told Carlisle about her conversation in the woods with Sarah. "Who would have known that she was connected to James and the others?" 

 "Not I," Carlisle replied. "I thought there was only the three of them. I didn't think there was ever a fourth. But she did tell you that she parted from them years ago, which is probably why we didn't know about her. Does she know why we killed James." 

 "Yes, I told her. She seemed to understand why we did it, and she didn't seem surprised by what he did. She said he was like that when she knew him. But I think the news was a little upsetting for her. After we talked about for a bit, she said she wanted time alone." Esme sighed. "This feels like a setback. I thought we were doing well." 

 "I think you are doing well, Esme. This has probably come as a shock to Sarah, and I imagine she'll be over it soon. Despite the kind of vampire he was, James was the one who turned her, and that does hold significance. Why don't you go talk to her? A conversation with someone like you might help, especially if she is your mate. Be there for her." 

 Following Carlisle's advice, Esme went upstairs in search of Sarah. She found the other woman up in one of the bedrooms, sitting in front of the vanity mirror, applying makeup. 

 "Oh. Did you bring that with you?" Esme asked, looking down at the makeup bag on Sarah's lap.

 "I did. I know it must sound a bit frivolous or something like that, but I really do enjoy wearing makeup. Not too much at once, though; that'll just look bad. I heard you and Carlisle talking about me," she said, abruptly changing the subject. "He knows about James?" 

 "He does. He doesn't think anything bad of you, though, not because of your connection to James." 

 Sarah shrugged. "It's all right. It's over and done with. I'm just a little surprised that neither Victoria nor Laurent have tried to find me, far as I know. I would have thought they'd want me to know, unless they forgot about me. It has been a long time." 

 While listening to Sarah talk, a thought had come to Esme, one she really didn't want to think about, but she felt she had to ask. 

 "Sarah," she began. "It sounds like you did have a real connection to James. I know it was probably a bond between the two of you since he turned you. But...were you ever...in love with him?" 

 Sarah abruptly swiveled around in the chair. "What the hell would give you that idea?" 

 Being a little taken aback, Esme went on, "I-I just wondered. You know, if you ever felt that way about him." 

 Sarah slowly shook her head. "No. I was never in love with James. I don't...swing that way. I think that's the correct term. Yes, he turned me, but other than that there was nothing between us." 

 Feeling relief, Esme said, "Oh. All right, then." 

 Sarah nodded. "Besides, it's not like he was my mate." 

 Esme raised her eyebrows, and Sarah gave her a knowing look. 

 "Yes, it hit me," Sarah said. "I do care about you, Esme, very much. I mean, we really haven't known each other for long at all, but...I want to see where this goes." 

 Esme nodded. "So do I. I want to know." 

 After staring at each other for a few moments, Sarah broke the silence by saying, "Well, then." She held out her makeup bag. "To show how serious I am, I'm inviting you to share my makeup bag. Let's have some fun." 

 Esme smiled and took the bag in her hands, clutching it gently. Despite how silly it might have sounded, she knew Sarah was very serious.