Honeybee

Chapter Twenty-Five~Denali Disaster; Part One

Chapter Twenty-Five
Denali Disaster; Part One
Elizabeth Cullen
Denali, Alaska. March, 2006.

"Elizabeth!" Carmen screeched my name the moment she opened the front door, bypassing Carlisle entirely as she rushed forward to hug me tightly to her. "It's been ages! Look at you! You're just as stunning as ever!"

"Just as you are my lovely friend." I smiled graciously at her as she untangled herself from me. "How are you?" I asked her softly, her extreme excitement catching me off-guard per usual.

"Wonderful! Family is visiting and there is truly nothing greater than that!" She clapped happily before turning her attention to the other Cullens. "Carlisle, you keep getting handsomer every time I see you." She peppered his cheek with friendly kisses. "And Alice and Jasper, it's so good to see you again. The girls were quite put out when you left us."

"We did have a lot of fun working on their wardrobes." Alice giggled beautifully. "If you'll excuse us, Jasper and I are eager to get some good hunting in after the flight."

"Of course! Mi dulce sobrina, anything you want you get! Go! I'll catch up with your wonderful parents while you're gone." Carmen kissed both Alice and Jaspers' cheeks before shooing them off playfully.

"Carmen, you gave me no time to kiss your cheek in turn." Carlisle teased her, stepping forward to return her old-fashioned greeting.

"My my Elizabeth I don't know how you stand him! I go to pieces every time those kind eyes meet mine. I can't imagine those eyes looking at me with love. I'd drop dead on the spot!" Carmen giggled with me like we were schoolgirls.

"I did." I winked playfully, causing her another round of hysterics.

"You married very well, the both of you." She collected herself. "I know it brings Eleazar great joy to know that his dear friend is being cared after so well. Your marriage brings the both of us lots of happiness." She added on a much softer note.

Ah, right, that's why I befriended Carmen. In-between her excitement and teasing she has profoundly heartfelt moments. Her huge heart and genuine love for her family and friends is a great kinship to me.

"Eleazar, girls, come and greet our cousins!" Carmen called as she led us inside the Denali's sprawling mansion tucked in the remote Alaskan wilderness.

"Dear friends," Eleazar greeted, stepping out of his office and joining us in the large entryway, a large friendly smile on his face "we are so happy to have you! It's been too long since we have had the pleasure of visiting together."

"It's very good to see you, Eleazar." Carlisle offered him a handshake and a hug. "I don't believe you and I have seen one another since 1996, if I remember correctly."

"A whole decade without seeing this angels face." Eleazar grinned teasingly, stepping forward to kiss my cheek and hug me tight.

"Oh? Still a flirt I see." I giggled, smacking his shoulder playfully as he let me go. "Shame on you, flirting with me in front of this gorgeous creature you call a mate." I teased him.

"Easy now, Red. No need to get me in trouble with the wife." Eleazar taunted back and I kissed his cheek in greeting, laughing at our easy banter.

"Are we resorting to name calling already?" Kate giggled as she descended the stairs and joined our grouping. "I'd like to at least greet our dear Carlisle and Liz before you scare them away Eleazar."

"Katie, sweetheart, how are you?" I cooed, excitedly stepping forward to hug her.

"Electrified, actually." She stepped away from me apologetically. "Sorry, give me just a moment, it's harder to control when I'm excited."