hc : what if esme helped charlie redecorate bella’s room before she arrived from arizona. Charlie was shy at first but esme said to accept it as a gift since he helped her and carlisle during a road accident.
“My daughter’s going to be coming to live with me.” Charlie explained a little awkwardly.
He and Dr. Cullen we’re making smalltalk near the nurse’s station- Charlie has stopped by to check up with a victim of a car crash. He’d needed to get his statement and document the injuries because of the criminal charges that were being brought forward against the driver.
“Really? That sounds wonderful, Charlie.”
“Yeah,” The police chief said, smiling slightly as he looked down at the papers containing witness statements in his hands. “I’m a little nervous, to be honest. She’s all grown up now. I don’t know how to take care of a teenaged girl.”
Carlisle nodded, listening. He’d always liked Charlie. Since before they’d even moved into town, Charlie had been nothing but kind. He and Esme had been in a car accident a month or so before moving while in town to settle the purchase of the property and the police chief had helped them that evening.
“It’s not like when she was a kid, you know?” Charlie said. “I can’t play board games or call over one of her little friends. Hell, I don’t even know how to decorate her room.”
“Why don’t you give Esme a call?”
“Esme? Your wife? Why?”
Carlisle chuckled softly. “She’s an incredible designer. Artist. She designed and decorated our home.”
Charlie seemed impressed. “Ah, I’m sure she has other things to do.”
“She’d love to do this, Charlie. I mean it- love it.” Carlisle said as he reached into his pocket to retrieve his little flip phone. “I’m going to call her real quick.”
Charlie watched Carlisle speak to Esme on the phone, unable to stop himself from smiling. The tall, strong Dr. Cullen melting at the sound of his wife was always a sight to behold.
Carlisle chuckled and moved the phone from his ear. “Charlie, would this Saturday work for you?”
“She doesn’t have to, Carlisle. Really.”
“I was told to not take no for an answer.”
“…Alright. Saturday.”
That Saturday morning, Charlie heard a gentle but enthusiastic knock on his front door. He set his coffee cup aside and made his way into the living room. When he pulled the front door open, he was a bit surprised by the sight in front of him.
He’d never seen the very kind but somewhat mysterious Esme Cullen looking anything but perfect. Her usual expensive looking dress and heels were replaced by an old Harvard sweatshirt and jeans that were ripped at the knees. She had her hair in some intricate looking braid and a big smile on her face.
“Charlie! Good morning!”
Charlie smiled, stepping aside to welcome her in. “Morning, Esme.”
Esme stepped into the house with a large bag thrown over her shoulder. She glanced around his living room. “Your home is lovely.”
Charlie laughed. “You don’t have to lie.”
“No, I mean it! It’s very homey. Warm. It’s difficult to bring that type of energy into a home. All the decorating in the world can’t always bring that out.”
He didn’t really know how to respond, the sort-of compliment making a blush creep into his cheeks. “Can, uh- do you want some coffee?”
“No thank you.” She said politely, following him into the kitchen.
Charlie watched her survey his kitchen as he took a drink of his coffee. “You really like this…house stuff, huh?”
Esme laughed softly at that. “I do. It’s a passion of mine. Architecture. Art.”
“Maybe you’ll be able to help me make something of that little room I have upstairs. I want Bells to have something nice.”
“It’ll be perfect by the time we’re finished.” Esme sat her bag on the small table, rummaging around and then pulling paint and carpet samples from inside. “If you could pick out some colors you think she’d like, we can begin with that and then pick furniture and other decorations accordingly.”
Charlie’s eyes scanned the supplies Esme kept pulling from the bag. “Esme, you don’t have to do all this.”
“Nonsense,” She said with a warm smile. “I want to help. Your daughter deserves a great bedroom.”
“But-”
“Consider it a thank you for helping Carlisle and I after our automobile accident.”
“I was just doing my job.”
“And I’m doing mine.” Esme replied, gesturing to the paint samples. “Now, what’s her favorite color?”
Charlie ran his hand over the slightly messy hair at the back of his head. “She, uh, she likes purple. The last time she was here she wanted to paint the walls teal but we never got around to it.”
Esme flipped through the paint samples and pointed out a light teal shade. “What if we did the walls in this color and then we can find a purple bedspread?”
Charlie leaned in to look at the color before nodding. “Yeah, I think that’d be nice.”
Hours and hours later, Charlie and Esme stood in the doorway of Bella’s completed bedroom. The furniture was slightly out of place as they gave the paint time to dry but it was finished.
Charlie smiled at the sight of it, at how inviting it looked. He wanted more than anything for Bella to find comfort in this little bedroom, to be happy and at home in Forks. “Thank you so much, Esme. I couldn’t have done this on my own.”
“Yes, you could have.” Esme replied, nudging at his arm with her elbow and smiling up at him. “You made all of the furniture selections. I just placed them in the room.”
“I hope Bells likes it.”
“She will. And once she’s settled in, we’d love to meet her.”
“Maybe your kids can show her around at school.”
Esme nodded. “I’m sure they’ll be great friends.”
