Bella accidentally calls Esme “mom”
It had been a few decades after Renee passed
But even then Bella barely ever referred to her has anything but Renee
Esme and Bella are in the greenhouse, tending to the wide array of plants they had collected throughout the years
Flowers from Forks, cacti from Arizona, as well as flora from Isle Esme
They talk some, about how their plants are doing, or about the books they’ve read recently, or about the people in the town they’re currently living in
But most of the time they are silent, neither of them feeling a need to fill in the quiet
It happens quickly and unexpectedly
Bella asks Esme for pruning shears, and after she hands them to her it just sort of comes out
“Thanks Mom”
Esme’s so happy she could soar through the roof
But she sees the pain and sorrow in Bella’s eyes for a split second, when she remembers Renee
And she, in turn, remembers her son, from all those years ago
Bella does her best to carry on as if nothing happened, too embarrassed by what happened
While Esme had always been welcoming towards Bella and saw her as part of the family, Bella had never heard Esme refer to her as her child
Later that day, after their garden was tended, they each retreat to their rooms and husbands
Bella talks to Edward about it, unsure whether she crossed a line or not
Esme talks Carlisle’s ear off about it. How happy she is but also how concerned she is about Bella
Edward and Carlisle reassure their partners
“Esme’s happy about it, trust me”
“Really? I seem to remember a certain 108 year old saying that you can’t trust vampires”
“I can read minds, remember? The only thing keeping Esme from calling you her daughter is that she’s concerned you didn’t mean it. That you feel ashamed for turning on Renee.”
The next morning Bella walks up to Esme and gives her a hug and says “Bye Mom” before leaving for school
Every time Bella calls Esme “Mom”, she can’t help but to smile
Jasper will sometimes sit in the garden while they’re working, to bask in their happiness
