»—— act one. twilight
☽⋅── THREE ──this is for you ─⋅☾

The next day, Carlisle found himself at home as his family got ready for school. This was an unusual occurrence, as he typically departed well before they did for work.

As he watched them prepare to go to school, he noticed that one of them remained behind, Alice, a grin plastered on her face.

Carlisle turned to face her, his gaze curious. "Good morning, Alice," he greeted casually.

Alice's perceptive gaze fixed on Carlisle with a knowing smile, "Did you have a good day at work yesterday?" she asked, her voice carrying subtle mischief.

Carlisle paused for a moment, the corners of his lips curving into a playful smile. "Yes, I did," he replied, feigning nonchalance.

Before Alice could skip out, she turned around and cast a glance over her shoulder to add a cryptic remark. "She likes blueberry muffins. Remember that."

Carlisle chuckled at Alice's parting comment. Her cryptic reference to someone's preference for blueberry muffins, coupled with the knowing smile on her face, left him curious. He made a mental note to remember that tidbit.

As Alice and the others departed for school, Carlisle found himself wondering about the significance of her words and the instantly know the identiy of the blueberry muffin-loving woman she was referring to.

Carlisle found himself contemplating Alice's words, a soft sigh escaping his lips. He decided to leave for a few hours before his work shift, intending to 'kill some time'.

As a result of the information Alice had left behind, Carlisle decided to deviate from his usual route and venture to a bakery located in a town nearby. He had overheard the nurses at the hospital speaking about the bakery's delicious and fluffy muffins, and he considered this information as he made his way there.

When his arrived at the bakery, the warm light spilling out from the windows and the enticing aroma of freshly baked goods filling the air. Carlisle stepped inside, his eyes taking in the well-lit display of pastries and even savoury food. He walked to the counter and addressed the baker, a pleasant smile on his face.

"Good morning," he began, "I was told you have the finest muffins around here?" He requested.

The baker appeared to be a well-groomed older man, with a warm smile on his face as he heard Carlisle's greeting.

"We're known for our fresh, homemade muffins," he replied, his voice friendly, "They are truly quite the fan favourite. Would you like to try one?"

Carlisle responded to the baker with a polite but playful shake of his head. "I'm afraid I'm running a bit behind on time for work," he explained, "But I would appreciate it if you could pack up a few of your delicious blueberry muffins for me to go."

The baker glanced at the stitches on Carlisle's coat and smirked, his eyes sparking with a hint of amusement. "Ah, a doctor from the neighbouring town coming all this way for our muffins?" He teased, "Surely you must have a special someone at home enjoying them."

Carlisle couldn't help but chuckle at the baker's lighthearted jest. The comment struck a chord with him, as he knew there was a bit of truth to it. After a brief moment of consideration, he decided to play along.

With a hint of warmth in his eyes, Carlisle nodded slightly and replied with a wry grin, "You're not so far off the mark. As it so happens, I do have someone special at home."

Carlisle stood there momentarily, a silent determination filling him. Despite his limited time with Eve, he was already resolved to do whatever it took to get to know her.

As he paid for the muffins, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt at relying on Alice's help, almost as if using a secret cheat code in a game, but a part of him knew that the end justified the means in this case.

As Carlisle drove back to town, the aroma of the freshly baked blueberry muffins permeated the air within the car. Although food was of little significance to him, he couldn't deny the pleasant thought that crossed his mind. He imagined Eve taking her first bite, savouring the sweetness and appreciating the gift.

A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he turned onto his street.

The entire drive from the bakery to the hospital, Carlisle found himself unable to suppress the smile that persistently graced his face. He found himself humming a song from the radio, his mind filled with thoughts of Eve.

As he drew closer to the hospital, Carlisle could finally see the towering structure in the distance. He took a deep breath, his anticipation growing.

Finally arriving at the hospital, Carlisle parked his vehicle in the lot and turned off the ignition. He sat there for a moment, adjusting himself and regaining his composure. After a few moments of anticipation, he then pushed open the door and stepped out, his shoes hitting the pavement with a soft crunch.

He began walking into the building, the hospital's familiar scent, a mix of antiseptic and human life, filling his nostrils.

But it was one particular scent that caught Carlisle's attention immediately - the alluring fragrance of Eve, a sweet combination of vanilla, antiseptic, and even a hint of coffee. He tried his best to hold back a hum, not wanting to draw attention to his eagerness.

There was no need to spend much time searching for her, as her office was conveniently situated right next door to his own. Before heading to his, he gently knocked on Eve's door, and upon hearing her soft "Come in," Carlisle entered the room.

"Well, good morning, Dr. Eve."

Eve looked up from her computer, a warm smile crossing her face as she met Carlisle's gaze. "Good morning, Dr. Cullen. I must say, you're here earlier than usual," she remarked with a hint of amusement.

He chuckled, making his way over to her desk. "I like to get my paperwork out of the way as soon as possible," he explained, "and today seemed like the perfect opportunity."

Eve's eyes landed on the pink paper bag in his hand.

"Oh, this is for you," Carlisle said, holding out the bag to her.

"Thank you," she replied gratefully as she took it from him.

As she opened the bag, her smile grew wider in recognition. "Ah, I knew it! I heard so much about this bakery from the other nurses. I even looked it up online, but the only location is in the next town..." She trailed off, looking up at Carlisle.

The man chuckled in response, "I had some things to take care of in the next town, and since the nurses talked about it so often, I thought it would be nice to share it with you."

He paused, then went on, "Unfortunately, they only had blueberry muffins."

"That's great!" Eve replied, practically dancing in her chair. "Because I absolutely love blueberry muffins!"

She quickly bit into one and hummed in delightful pleasure. Her eyes sparkled with glee.

Carlisle smiled and nodded. "Well, I'm glad to hear it." He remained standing in front of Eve's desk, a gentle smile on his face as he watched her enjoy the blueberry muffin. The sound of her delighted hum filled the air, creating a sense of warmth and joy.

After the lovely moment with Eve, Carlisle reluctantly had to leave her office and return to his own. Despite the disappointment, he understood the importance of taking things slowly and not rushing anything.

Once he shut the door behind him, he let out a delightful sigh before settling at his desk and attempting to focus on his work.

He tried to push away the memories of Eve's smile and the sound of her humming with delight, but they lingered stubbornly. He found himself tapping his pen impatiently against the desk, his mind still occupied with thoughts of her.

Finally, after an hour, Carlisle realized that he was getting nowhere with his work. He let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair, running his fingers through his hair in frustration.

Amid his frustration, it quickly went away, as he heard a gentle knock at his door. The sound broke the silence and drew his attention away from his thoughts momentarily. The door opened, and Eve stepped into the room, closing the door quietly behind her. Her presence immediately eased some of his frustration, but his mind was still racing.

"Sorry for the bother, Dr. Cullen," she started, holding up her clipboard. "I need to ask you about one of the patients. Can I get a consultation?"

Carlisle's smile widened, grateful for this chance to interact with Eve further. He gestured for her to take a seat in the chair opposite his desk, "Please, come sit."

He responded, a gentle smile tugging at his lips," I would be happy to help."

She moved to the chair and took it, her clipboard still cradled in her hand as she settled into it. A comfortable silence fell between them. Carlisle turned his chair slightly to face her more directly, his demeanour welcoming.

"So," he began, his voice soft. "What is the case with the patient?" He inquired, tilting his head slightly to show his willingness to listen.