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should have been thundering like a steam engine about to hit us。 Deafening。 My cheeks should have been
brilliant red。
For that matter； I ought to have been exhausted。 This had been the longest day of my life。
I laughed out loud—just one quiet little laugh of shock—when I realized that this day would never end。
〃Do I get to hear the joke？〃
〃It's not a very good one；〃 I told him as he led the way to the little rounded door。 〃I was just thinking
—today is the first and last day of forever。 It's kind of hard to wrap my head around it。 Even with all this
extra room for wrapping。〃 I laughed again。
He chuckled with me。 He held his hand out toward the doorknob； waiting for me to do the honors。 I
stuck the key in the lock and turned it。
〃You're such a natural at this； Bella； I forget how very strange this all must be for you。 I wish I could
hear it。〃 He ducked down and yanked me up into his arms so fast that I didn't see it ing—and that
was really something。
〃Hey！〃
〃Thresholds are part of my job description；〃 he reminded me。 〃But I'm curious。 Tell me what you're
thinking about right now。〃
He opened the door—it fell back with a barely audible creak—and stepped through into the little stone
living room。
〃Everything；〃 I told him。 〃All at the same time； you know。 Good things and things to worry about and
things that are new。 How I keep using too many superlatives in my head。 Right now； I'm thinking that
Esme is an artist。 It's so perfect！〃
The cottage room was something from a fairy tale。 The floor was a crazy quilt of smooth； flat stones。 The
low ceiling had long exposed beams that someone as tall as Jacob would surely knock his head on。 The
walls were warm wood in some places； stone mosaics in others。 The beehive fireplace in the corner held
the remains of a slow flickering fire。 It was driftwood burning there—the low flames were blue and green
from the salt。
It was furnished in eclectic pieces； not one of them matching another； but harmonious just the same。 One
chair seemed vaguely medieval； while a low ottoman by the fire was more contemporary and the stocked
bookshelf against the far window reminded me of movies set in Italy。 Somehow each piece fit together
with the others like a big threedimensional puzzle。 There were a few paintings on the walls that I
recognized—some of my very favorites from the big house。 Priceless originals； no doubt； but they
seemed to belong here； too； like all the rest。
It was a place where anyone could believe magic existed。 A place where you just expected Snow White
to walk right in with her apple in hand； or a unicorn to stop and nibble at the rosebushes。
Edward had always thought that he belonged to the world of horror stories。 Of course； I'd known he
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was dead wrong。 It was obvious that he belonged here。 In a fairy tale。
And now I was in the story with him。
I was about to take advantage of the fact that he hadn't gotten around to setting me back on my feet and
that his witsscramblingly beautiful face was only inches away when he said； 〃We're lucky Esme thought
to add an extra room。 No one was planning for Ness—Renesmee。〃
I frowned at him； my thoughts channeled down a less pleasant path。
〃Not you； too；〃 I plained。
〃Sorry； love。 I hear it in their thoughts all the time； you know。 It's rubbing off on me。〃
I sighed。 My baby； the sea serpent。 Maybe there was no help for it。 Well； wasn't giving in。
Tm sure you're dying to see the closet。 Or； at least I'll tell Alice that you were； to make her feel good。〃
〃Should I be afraid？〃
〃Terrified。〃
He carried me down a narrow stone hallway with tiny arches in the ceiling； like it was our own miniature
castle。
〃That will be Renesmee's room；〃 he said； nodding to an empty room with a pale wooden floor。 〃They
didn't have time to do much with it； what with the angry werewolves___〃
I laughed quietly； amazed at how quickly everything had turned right when it had all had looked so
nightmarish just a week ago。
Drat Jacob for making everything perfect this way。
〃Here's our room。 Esme tried to bring some of her island back here for us。 She guessed that we would
get attached。〃
The bed was huge and white； with clouds of gossamer floating down from the canopy to the floor。 The
pale wood floor matched the other room； and now I grasped that it was precisely the color of a pristine
beach。 The walls were that almostwhiteblue of a brilliant sunny day； and the back wall had big glass
doors that opened into a little hidden garden。 Climbing roses and a small round pond； smooth as a mirror
and edged with shiny stones。 A tiny； calm ocean for us。
〃Oh〃 was all I could say。
〃I know；〃 he whispered。
We stood there for a minute； remembering。 Though the memories were human and clouded； they took
over my mind pletely。
He smiled a wide； gleaming smile and then laughed。 〃The closet is through those double doors。 I should
warn you—it's bigger than this room。〃
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I didn't even glance at the doors。 There was nothing else in the world but him again—his arms curled
under me； his sweet breath on my face； his lips just inches from mine—and there was nothing that could
distract me now； newborn vampire or not。
〃We're going to tell Alice that I ran right to the clothes；〃 I whispered； twisting my fingers into his hair and
pulling my face closer to his。 〃We're going to tell her I spent hours in there playing dressup。 We're going
to lie〃
He caught up to my mood in an instant； or maybe he'd already been there； and he was just trying to let
me fully appreciate my birthday present； like a gentleman。 He pulled my face to his with a sudden
fierceness； a low moan in his throat。 The sound sent the electric current running through my body into a
nearfrenzy； like I couldn't get close enough to him fast enough。
I heard the fabric tearing under our hands； and I was glad my clothes； at least； were already de