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〃Well； I need to go get a suitcase of clothes； at the very least。〃
I threw my arms around her。 〃Alice； you're the best！〃
〃And I think I'll need to hunt。 Immediately；〃 she added in a strained voice。
〃Oops。〃 I took a step back。
〃Can you stay out of trouble for one hour？〃 she asked skeptically。 Then； before I could answer； she held
up one finger and closed her eyes。 Her face went smooth and blank for a few seconds。
And then her eyes opened and she answered her own question。 〃Yes； you'll be fine。 For tonight；
anyway。〃 She grimaced。 Even making faces； she looked like an angel。
〃You'll e back？〃 I asked in a small voice。
〃I promise—one hour。〃
I glanced at the clock over the kitchen table。 She laughed and leaned in quickly to kiss me on the cheek。
Then she was gone。
I took a deep breath。 Alice would be back。 I suddenly felt so much better。
I had plenty to do to keep myself busy while I waited。 A shower was definitely first on the agenda。 I
sniffed my shoulders as I undressed； but I couldn't smell anything but the brine and seaweed scent of the
ocean。 I wondered what Alice had meant about me smelling bad。
When I was cleaned up； I went back to the kitchen。 I couldn't see any signs that Charlie 'lad eaten
recently； and he would probably be hungry when he got back。 I hummed tunelessly to myself as I moved
around the kitchen。
While Thursday's casserole rotated in the microwave； I made up the couch with sheets and an old pillow。
Alice wouldn't need it； but Charlie would need to see it。 I was careful not to watch the clock。 There was
no reason to start myself panicking； Alice had promised。
I hurried through my dinner； not tasting it—just feeling the ache as it slid down my raw throat。 Mostly I
was thirsty； I must have drunk a half gallon of water by the time I was finished。 All the salt in my system
had dehydrated me。
I went to go try to watch TV while I waited。
Alice was already there； sitting on her improvised bed。 Her eyes were a liquid butterscotch。 She smiled
and patted the pillow。 〃Thanks。〃
〃You're early；〃 I said； elated。
I sat down next to her and leaned my head on her shoulder。 She put her cold arms around me and
sighed。
〃Bella。 What are we going to do with you？〃
〃I don't know；〃 I admitted。 〃I really have been trying my hardest。〃
〃I believe you。〃
It was silent。
〃Does—does he…〃 I took a deep breath。 It was harder to say his name out loud； even though I was
able to think it now。 〃Does Edward know you're here？〃 I couldn't help asking。 It was my pain； after all。
I'd deal with it when she was gone； I promised myself； and felt sick at the thought。
〃No。〃
There was only one way that could be true。 〃He's not with Carlisle and Esme？〃
〃He checks in every few months。〃
〃Oh。〃 He must still be out enjoying his distractions。 I focused my curiosity on a safer topic。 〃You said you
flew here… Where did you e from？〃
〃I was in Denali。 Visiting Tanya's family。〃
〃Is Jasper here？ Did he e with your'〃
She shook her head。 〃He didn't approve of my interfering。 We promised…〃 she trailed off； and then her
tone changed。 〃And you think Charlie won't mind my being here？〃 she asked； sounding worried。
〃Charlie thinks you're wonderful； Alice。〃
〃Well； we're about to find out。〃
Sure enough； a few seconds later I heard the cruiser pull into the driveway。 I jumped up and hurried to
open the door。
Charlie trudged slowly up the walk； his eyes on the ground and his shoulders slumped。 I walked forward
to meet him； he didn't even see me until I hugged him around the waist。 He embraced me back fiercely。
〃I'm so sorry about Harry； Dad。〃
〃I'm really going to miss him；〃 Charlie mumbled。
〃How's Sue doing？〃
〃She seems dazed； like she hasn't grasped it yet。 Sam's staying with her…〃 The volume of his voice faded
in and out。 〃Those poor kids。 Leah's just a year older than you； and Seth is only fourteen…〃 He shook
his head。
He kept his arms tight around me as he started toward the door again。
〃Um； Dad？〃 I figured I'd better warn him。 〃You'll never guess who's here。〃
He looked at me blankly。 His head swiveled around； and he spied the Mercedes across the street； the
porch light reflecting off the glossy black paint。 Before he could react； Alice was in the doorway。
〃Hi； Charlie；〃 she said in a subdued voice。 〃I'm sorry I came at such a bad time。〃
〃Alice Cullen？〃 he peered at the slight figure in front of him as if he doubted what his eyes were telling
him。 〃Alice； is that you？〃
〃It's me；〃 she confirmed。 〃I was in the neighborhood。〃
〃Is Carlisle…？〃
〃No； I'm alone。〃
Both Alice and I knew he wasn't really asking about Carlisle。 His arm tightened over my shoulder。
〃She can stay here； can't she？〃 I pleaded。 〃I already asked her。〃
〃Of course；〃 Charlie said mechanically。 〃We'd love to have you； Alice。〃
〃Thank you； Charlie。 I know it's horrid timing。〃
〃No； it's fine； really。 I'm going to be really busy doing what I can for Harry's family； it will be nice for
Bella to have some pany。〃
〃There's dinner for you on the table； Dad；〃 I told him。
〃Thanks； Bell。〃 He gave me one more squeeze before he shuffled toward the kitchen。
Alice went back to the couch； and I followed her。 This time； she was the one to pull me against her
shoulder。
〃You look tired。〃
〃Yeah；〃 I agreed； and shrugged。 〃Neardeath experiences do that to me… So； what does Carlisle think
of you being here？〃
〃He doesn't know。 He and Esme were on a hunting trip。 I'll hear from him in a few days； when he gets
back。〃
〃You won't tell him； though… when he checks in again？〃 I asked。 She knew I didn't mean Carlisle now。
〃No。 He'd bite my head off；〃 Alice said grimly。
I laughed once； and then sighed。
I didn't want to sleep。 I wanted to stay up all night talking to Alice。 And it didn't make sense for me to be
tired； what with crashing on Jacob's couch all day。 But drowning really had taken a lot out of me； and my
eyes wouldn't stay open。 I rested my head on her stone shoulder； and drifted into a more peaceful
oblivion than I had any hope