Who: Olenna and Esme What: A first meeting When: Saturday 10th August Where: Childrens charity event Rating: Low Status: Complete
Esme rose from where she had been sitting reading to a child as the little boy had fallen asleep. She wasn’t really supposed to be here as the adults were being entertained down the corridor but she just couldn’t resist when she noticed a small child looking around the corner at her. Making her excuses she had followed him and started reading to him and the other children in the room.
Carlisle and herself had always supported the local children’s homes which meant they were invited to the charity events that were held there. Esme would adopt or foster them all if she could but she knew that it wasn’t a solution as much as it broke her heart. Tonight she was here alone as Carlisle was working.
Since moving to California, Olenna had been trying to decide exactly what it was she was going to do. While she had moved there, in part to be with Loras and Margaery, she didn’t want to simply sit around her condo when she wasn’t spending time with her grandchildren, but at her age, getting a job wasn’t one of those things she had any desire to do. However, the thought of charity work did appeal to her; mostly children’s charities. Having come from such a prominent family, Luthor had been used to doing charity work and that had rubbed off on Olenna.
It hadn’t taken long to decide which charity she was going to support and now here she was at one of their events. She hadn’t been to any kind of event in ages, so it felt nice to be out doing something and to her surprise there were actually a few people there who had heard of the Tyrells before.
Esme re-entered the main room and began circulating, she was much more confident when Carlisle was with her though a few people knew her and she managed to speak to them. They were interested to hear that she had started to give art classes over the summer and it wasn’t long before someone suggested she come along and work with the children which she readily agreed to.
She was standing at the side of the room having a breather and watching everybody interact when she realised she was no longer alone. Turning she smiled at the other woman, “Hello, I don’t believe we’ve met before. I’m Esme Cullen” she said holding out her hand.
Olenna had been making the rounds, talking to just about anyone she could. She wanted to find out as much about the charity as possible and what better way to do that than to speak to other supporters. So far she liked what she was hearing. She moved from person to person, she noticed the young woman standing off to the side and decided to go talk to her. However, Olenna didn’t introduce herself just yet and waited a moment or two until the woman noticed her, “Olenna Tyrell.” She said, taking the woman’s hand in a firm handshake, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Cullen. Have you been a support of this particular charity for long?”
“Pleased to meet you too and please call me Esme” she replied with a nice smile, “Myself and my husband have been supporting this charity for over ten years now, since we first moved into the area really” she explained, “They do some excellent work and the children are simply wonderful. Always happy and bright” Which was so important, they needed to enjoy their childhood despite their circumstances.
“That is remarkable. What made you choose this particular charity?” She was curious, wanting to know as much as this woman, Esme, was willing to tell her about her involvement in the charity, “Is your husband here with you tonight or are you also on your own this evening?” Olenna could have suggested Tywin join her, but she wasn’t the type of woman who constantly needed a man by her side; besides, she’d done perfectly fine on her own since Luthor died.
“The children” Esme told her, “We have five children of our own that we adopted so it was just a natural choice for us” Esme was open to talking about the charity especially if it might help them gain more support. “Carlisle, my husband, is working at the hospital this evening. He’s a doctor you see, so I am on my own this time”
“That’s remarkable. Is there a specific reason you adopted five?” Olenna had, had three children of her own and that had been more than enough for her; she couldn’t imagine having five in any capacity. “Three children were plenty for me. I’ve made up for it with seven grandchildren though.”
"It just happened. We didn't plan it. I mean we planned to adopt Edward, he was our first but the rest just seemed right" she smiled softly as she thought of her beautiful children. She was blessed really, if she could have had her own she could only have hoped they would turn out as well. "I love being a mother and a grandmother. Although I only have the one granddaughter right now. Seven I can't imagine, it must be lovely"
Olenna never would have guessed that Esme was a grandmother. She certainly didn’t look old enough to have grown children. However, there was one notion that came to mind, “Unplanned teenage pregnancy?” Olenna Tyrell could never be accused of being subtle, “You don’t look old enough to have a grandchild otherwise.”
“Yes, Bella my daughter-in-law fell pregnant around their graduation” Esme replied, “But they’re doing the best they can. We support them as much as we can of course but we raised Edward right, he’s a hard worker” she smiled proudly, “And my granddaughter is simply adorable”
“It’s nice to hear about a teenage boy who took responsibility for his child. Too many leave the poor girl to raise the child on their own,” Olenna’s own grandchildren had all been born after her children had been married, not that she would have thought any differently if it had happened the other way around, “I’ll admit, I do miss having babies around. My grandchildren have yet to give me any great grandchildren. Only one of my grandsons is married. My grandson Loras will be engaged soon, but it’s highly unlikely that they will have any natural children.” Not that Olenna would have a problem if Loras and Renly adopted of course.
"Edward adores Bella, he'd never have left her alone and even if he didn't we've always taught him responsibility and not to run away from things" Esme smiled, all of her children had solid moral cores and it was something herself and Carlisle were especially proud of. "I don't think that I will be a grandmother again too soon though, none of my other children are in committed relationships right now"
She looked at Olenna, "Sometimes having natural children just isn't meant to be. But adopting can be just as fulfilling" Esme advised softly.
“Well, until science finds a way for two men to have a child, biologically, if they do decide to start a family, adopting may be the only way,” Olenna had never had a problem with Loras being gay, which wasn’t exactly common for a person of her generation, but the way she saw it, Loras wasn’t hurting anyone by loving another man and his sexuality didn’t change the person that he was as far as she was concerned.
"Unless they opt for a surrogate mother" Esme replied easily, having no problem with the revelation that Olenna's grandson was gay. She didn't think any of her own children were but she would support them should they be. Why shouldn't people be allowed to love and marry whomever they wanted to.
Olenna nodded, “There is that as well, yes.” Of course she would be weary of that option, depending on who they chose, because what was stopping some woman from becoming pregnant then running off? There was one person Olenna thought of, but that would be a big decision if that option was ever brought up. “Either way, I don’t think they’ll be starting a family for some time, if they decide to. They’re both still quite young.” Sometimes she forgot that Loras was only nineteen, because he was so independent.
It would be a big decision but one open to them. As long as they found someone they trusted then Esme thought it could definitely be something they could consider, not that she knew the people in question of course. But she and Carlisle had looked at all of the options when she had lost their child and been informed she could not have more.
“Plenty of time for those conversations then” Esme smiled.
"No matter how it happens, I'll love the child just the same." Olenna wouldn't say it out loud to someone she'd just met, but she tended to favor Loras and Margaery among all her grandchildren so when they had their own children, respectively, she would more than likely favor them more as well.
“Of course” Esme agreed, “How could you not” It was simple to her, a child was a child their conception was irrelevant really, he or she still needed to be loved. She glanced at the clock on the wall, “And I’m afraid I really should get back to my youngest, she may be eighteen but I still don’t like getting in too late” she admitted.
Olenna nodded, "It was a pleasure to meet you, Esme. Perhaps we will run into each other again." Esme had been very pleasant to talk to and she was sure that if she became involved with the charity that she was bound to see her again at other events. "Have a good evening."
“I do hope so” Esme replied, “I could do with an interesting conversationalist at these things when Carlisle cannot join me. Enjoy your night” she said before collecting her bag and saying her goodbyes.