-Emmaline's Point of View-

. . .

The next day I surprisingly woke up bright and early. I showered and did my hair. I put on my most "wholesome" outfit and brushed on a bit of make-up.

"Well goodmorning miss Emmaline, don't you look as pretty as a bluebonnet in spring." Marta sounded sweetly.

"Thank you Marta, I thought I would get an early start to the day and take over the cake to the new neighbors."

"The Cullens." My mother put in. "The family is The Cullens."

I smiled and greeted her before sitting down with her and bombarding her with questions about the mysterious new family.

"The only thing Hattie Wells told me is that the Husband is a top-notch doctor, good lookin to boot and the wife is a gorgeous home-maker."

"And what about kids?" I asked.

"Oh yes, Hattie said the Wife mentioned 'the children' and when Hattie asked if the children would be looking forward to school the wife replied with 'well you know teenagers.' but She swears the husband and wife can't be older than 35."

It was a curious commodity "well maybe they had like twins or triples at a really young age." I suggested.

My mother simply shrugged her shoulder as she sipped on her coffee.

"Now miss Emmaline I've put your cake on a lovely cake platter so that you could cover it with the glass dome and not ruin it." Marta said.

"Thank you, hey momma do you think I can grab one of the family cards to put a little welcome note."

My mother nodded her head as her cellphone began ringing, no doubt it was Hattie Wells, Treehaven's biggest real estate agent as well as the towns biggest gossiper.

I slipped into the office and grabbed one of the white cards, they we usually reserved for thank you notes. On the very front of the card there is a black embossed border so I wrote the word 'Welcome' right in the middle. On the inside I added a quick little note:

'Welcome to Treehaven, we hope you find the town both beautiful and welcoming.' I added my number as well for added measure then signed 'The Harpers.'

"I'll see you later momma." I called out, she waved me goodbye (as she was still on the phone) and Marta helped me get the cake into the car.

"Marta what if this is a bad idea?"

"Hush child, this is a nice gesture and I'm sure they will love it." she insisted.

"But what if they don't like me."

"Then that is their problem" she smiled, "Emmaline you are a special girl and you do not need to seek the approval of everybody, now go and deliver your cake and just be sure to be back in time for your Daddy's Bar-B-Que tonight."

"Yes ma'am."

Marta closed the car door and with a big sigh I turned the car on and drove. it was a nice day so I drove with the windows down, I smiled and waved at fellow Treehavians and then got just a little creeped out as I got toward the last stop sign of the town.

As a child everyone grew up being told to stay away from "the big house" because it was haunted. So naturally everyone went there occasionally to see if the creepy old house cover in dead Ivy and chipped paint was really haunted.

But no one ever found anything unusual.

I continued on my way and finally approached the entry way of the long driveway.

Already this family had improved the appearance of the place, the driveway had been cleared up and paved, trees seemed to have been planted to line the newly paved driveway and little recessed lights (which were off) also lined the road on either side.

I drove slowly so I could take in the now lush green lawn, so perfectly manicured. There was also a gazebo near a man made pond off in the distance. On the other side was a little two seater swing, they had so much land.

Finally I pulled up to the house.

It definitely was not the creepy old house that I remembered.

This house was enormous and grand, pristinely white and every window seemed to lack blinds. Then again, living out here I'm sure you don't really require as much privacy as you do closer to town square.

I put my car in park and stepped out. I ran a hand over my dress to make sure it was laying right then went into my back seat to retrieve the cake.

The cake itself was heavy, but added to the glass encasement made it nearly impossible to carry as I walked up the steps.

Then came the next obstacle, knocking on the door.

I took the stem of the cake platter in my left hand so that I could knock with my right.

Big mistake.

Almost as soon as my right hand made contact with the door, the cake began to weigh too much in my left hand alone and I was losing grip, I panicked and jerked the cake platter right causing the cake to slide.

"Woah." A masculine voice sounded as his hand reached out and grabbed the cake platter right above mine. "I got it."

I looked up and lost myself as I stared at a very attractive man, he wore a quizzical yet amused look, he had blonde hair and these amazing golden eyes. I didn't know people could have eyes that color. "Oh, um, Thanks, thank you." I corrected myself, "it's a lot heavier than it looks." I offered with an embarrassed sort of chuckle as I watched him take it effortlessly away from me.

He offered a slight sideways smirk.

"I-I'm Emmaline Harper" I stated "and I thought it would be the neighborly thing to do to come over and introduce myself, of course i'm sure y'all are probably tired of strangers approaching y'all, since you've been here a week already." I rambled.

His smirk stretched even further.

"I'm Jasper and to be honest, you're the first to greet us, why don't you come in."

He held the door open and I walked in. The house was cool and I embraced it welcomingly as it was rather hot out today.

"Jasper?" A feminine voice sounded.

"In here."

I stood still next to the tall Jasper guy. I had to admit that he was extremely good looking and I was finding it rather hard to not just openly stare at him. No doubt this was the handsome husband Hattie Wells had told Momma all about.

A beautiful woman approached us with a warm smile. "Hello" she said softly.

"Emmaline this is my Esme, My mother, An this is one of our neighbors Emmaline." Jasper introduced us.

I could have swallowed my own tongue and been less surprised than to hear that this man is this woman's son! The mother, Esme was a small sort of woman with a warmth about her, she seemed every bit a mother, just not this guys mother.

"Yes, I'm Emmaline Harper." I reiterated as I held out my hand to her.

She gently took my hand in hers and a chill ran through my body. Her hand was so cold.

"Esme Cullen, I do apologize" she said as she began rubbing her hands together, "I was making my youngest daughter an ice cream cone."

I smiled and nodded, "well like I was telling your son, I just wanted to stop by and bring you a cake to welcome you to the town."

"Oh how sweet of you." She cooed, "Jasper why don't you take that to the kitchen and get our guest something to drink."

"Thank you."

She led me to a very pretty sitting room where there were three girls.

One was extremely gorgeous and seemed to give of a rather mature vibe, she had blond hair and wore a lovely dress and heels. on the opposite end of the sofa sat a lovely brunette girl, she seemed quite sensible as her outfit was more casual, and right in the middle was a girl with hair similar to my own, her style was very girly and she was in fact eating an ice cream cone.

"Girls this is Emmaline Harper, Emmaline, these are three of my daughters." Esme informed me, "Rosalie, Renesme, and Isabella. The other, Alice, is out shopping at the moment."

I stood in awe, there was absolutely no way that this woman birthed these three girls, plus another called Alice, plus Jasper.

I quietly smiled and took a seat.