Esme had stepped up to Alice's side, slipping her purse.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Cullen."

Came one voice from the edge of the looking crowd, a rather austere looking woman, with a pinned hat, whose hand was being tugged at by a young teenage girl, pointing at a dress and babbling about the color of the skirt still.

"Thank you, Mrs. Vander," Esme said as they walked up, a smile brightening her face instantly. "How is your husband faring?"

"He is well," she said, with strict pride as she straightened her back. "I keep him strictly on the plan Dr. Cullen gave him." Turning her green eyes and lavender ensemble with hat toward Esme's companion, she added. "And this is?"