lawful_lizzie (lawful_lizzie) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-09-04 00:08:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, elizabeth weir, esme cullen |
Who: Esme Cullen and Elizabeth Weir
When: Late August
Where: A cafe
What: Motherly advice on a delicate situation
Rating/Warning: G
Status: Complete
Esme was standing in line at the coffee shop having just made up her mind what to order when she noticed the pale worried looking woman sitting lost in though wringing her hands. It really wasn’t any of her business, she thought stepping up to the counter.
Once she had her order she turned to leave but noticed the woman she’d seen earlier hadn’t moved. Still telling herself to stop being so nosey she walked over. “I’m sorry to bother you but you look quite distressed, are you alright my dear?”
Elizabeth jolted out of her thoughts as the woman spoke to her. “Sorry,” she apologised pushing her hair back from her face and trying to wipe her cheeks discreetly. “I uhh...I was a little distracted,” she gave a little nervous laugh.
Esme noticed of course, but instead of saying anything she simply removed a packet of tissues from her bag and placed them on the table in front of the woman. “Don’t apologise, please. Do you need to talk?” she asked, “I know it’s kind of odd what with me being a complete stranger and all but sometimes that’s better”
“I uh...I…”Elizabeth looked around. Regardless of how they had just met, Elizabeth couldn’t help but think about how good it would probably feel to talk about her scare. She hadn’t wanted to worry Sam with it since she had been dealing with being in someone elses body at the time. “Please,” she motioned to the chair opposite her with a shy smile then buried her face in her hands. “First time for everything,” she laughed bitterly, dropping her hands and crossing her arms on the table in front of her. “A politician who can’t speak,” she mused.
Esme sat down and patiently allowed the woman time to compose herself, when she appeared to be ready but unable to begin Esme placed her hand on the woman’s arm, "Take your time sweetheart, there's no rush"
Elizabeth gave another bitter laugh at that. “Time is somewhat against me with my current problem,” she told her. “That’s part of the problem,” she told her quietly.
“What’s happened?” Esme encouraged softly, squeezing the arm under her hand in reassurance.
"I...I..."Elizabeth took a deep breath and sighed it out. "My partner and I...we...we got a little...carried away a few weeks ago," she told her in a quiet voice, hoping she would understand her meaning.
It took Esme a moment but then her eyes widened slightly, “Oh” she said softly, “I see. And I take it that it wouldn’t be a welcome situation right now?” she guessed.
"We...it was only our second time together, he's got more issues than you can shake a stick at and we're both very career driven people and always have been," Elizabeth shrugged. "I just...it's so early in our relationship, but I can't help..." she said almost wistfully, finding it difficult to finish the sentence and acknowledge what might be true.
“I know it must be very scary and worrying right now but you need to talk to him, he may surprise you. And having a child doesn’t mean an end to either of your careers” she said softly.
"I can't imagine it, y’know?" Elizabeth told her. "I've never pictured being a..." she almost chickened out of saying it. "Being a...mom," she said quietly. "I can barely look after my friend's goldfish when they go on holiday! How could I think I could be a good mother?!" she shook her head in dismay, hiding her face in her hand.
“You know the people who want children aren’t any more qualified to have them than those that don’t” Esme said, “Nobody knows what they’re doing, not really. It takes a lot of hard work and sometimes it will feel like it’s too much but it’s the most incredibly rewarding thing in the world”
"But I've never thought about wanting it before," Elizabeth told her. "I know women who have known all their life that they wanted to be mothers and they're great at it," Elizabeth swept her hair back from her face again. "I just...I guess I don't know what I want," she trailed off. "Or what he wants..."
“You have to talk to him” Esme told her, “It’s the only way. You’re adding to your worry by trying to guess how he’s going to react. And he’ll notice something is wrong” Carlisle had when she had fallen pregnant and been too worried to tell him.
"Probably a good thing I'm going to see him this afternoon then," Elizabeth laughed. "Nothing like addressing the elephant in the room," she said sadly. "I hope we can get through this, it's been so long since I've been in love."
“It is” Esme said nodding, “Please don’t worry, you seem like a lovely girl, I’m sure you’ll both be just fine. Love can see you through all kinds of things” She may look young and she was really at 45 years old but Esme had an old soul.
"I just hope he feels the same way," Elizabeth mused quietly. "I'm really sorry, I don't think I caught your name before I off loaded my emotional baggage on you," Elizabeth joked weakly.
Esme looked at her sadly, wondering what had happened in the girls past to make her doubt things so much. "Oh don't worry about that. I'm Esme"
"Elizabeth," she reached over a hand to shake Esme's. "Thank you, for being so kind," she smiled.
Esme shook her hand, “You’re welcome, I couldn’t just leave you looking so upset. It just wouldn’t have been right”
Elizabeth smiled, Esme had a kind face and she gave off a warm and comforting aura. “Well, I reckon you’re a saint,” she started digging through her handbag looking for her purse. “So please let me take you out to dinner as a thank you,” she handed over one of her business cards. “When I’m more myself at least,” she joked.
“I’m far from saintly but thank you” Esme replied, “Oh you don’t have to do that, but I will happily meet up with you again” she pulled a pen and paper from her own bag, “I’m afraid I don’t have business cards but here’s my number. Please feel free to call me even if it’s just because you need someone to listen”
“Thank you,” Elizabeth smiled, feeling more relieved than when she had walked into the coffee shop. She was still worried about, firstly the result of the test she had hidden away in a ziplock bag in her handbag and secondly the conversation she was going to have with Leonard that afternoon. “So do you have children yourself? You sound like someone who’s experienced the worries of motherhood,” she smiled with a little shrug.
Esme smiled, “I do. Five. Six including my daughter-in-law. And I’ve recently become a grandmother too” she admitted.
“Congratulations,” Elizabeth told her with a smile, perhaps hearing about someone else’s mind would distract her enough. “Six, that sounds like a big family, are they a handful?”
“Thank you” Esme said, smiling lovingly as she always did when talking of her family, “They are three boys, three girls. My youngest, Alice, is wonderfully creative. She’s going to college very soon”
“She an artist then?” Elizabeth asked. “Where’s she planning to study?”
“Not quite” Esme replied, “She wants to be a fashion blogger. She’s going to the Laguna College of Art and Design, studying fashion and computing. All very different from when I went to an Art school” she laughed.
“You’re an artist too? Following in her mother’s footsteps then,” Elizabeth smiled. “Do you still make art?”
“I am, though I am primarily an art supply teacher” she told her, “When I’m not babysitting my granddaughter. I’ve recently been taking commissions again”
“That must be nice; being your own master as it were,” Elizabeth commented. “Do you have any preference for medium?”
“It is. I find it fits around my life rather well” Esme loved being able to be there when her family needed her, “I work best in pencil or watercolor”
“I’d love to see your work,” Elizabeth told her. “It’s been too long since I did anything particularly cultured,” she smiled.
“I’m not sure I could be classed as cultured but you’re more than welcome to come and see. i have a studio at my home”
“That would be lovely,” Elizabeth smiled at her. Considering how the day had started out, with her as a nervous wreck, Elizabeth was happy to have seemingly made a new friend over coffee. “I’m sorry, I’ve surely taken up too much of your time,” Elizabeth apologised.
“Please don’t apologise” Esme said, “I only hope I’ve been of some help. I should be getting going though, if you’re sure you’re alright?”
“I feel a lot better, thank you,” Elizabeth told her genuinely. “Still...terrified, but I can see what I need to do now. It was all a haze of panic and terror before,” she laughed softly.
“That’s understandable” she consoled, “But just try to focus on keeping as clear a head as possible and you’ll get through it”
"Thank you," Elizabeth smiled warmly at her. "So much. If there's ever anything I can do for you, just let me know and I will definitely buy you dinner when this is over," she told her.
“You’re welcome” Esme smiled, “As I said before you don’t have to do that. But I look forward to hearing from you Elizabeth. I hope everything goes well, I’m sure it will” she added as she stood squeezing Elizabeth’s arm.
"I'll call you and we can arrange another coffee," Elizabeth smiled, checking her watch she stood as well. "I need to head to the hospital and meet Leonard anyway," she stood for a second, unsure of what to do next. Deciding, she impulsively stepped forward and gently hugged Esme.
“Sounds like a plan to me” Esme returned the hug, “Go see that man of yours” she said nodding, “and take care of yourself”
"I will," Elizabeth picked up her handbag and waved at Esme as she left. "See you later!"
“Bye” Esme replied with a wave of her own as she made her way out of the cafe.