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two。 There was no division—my love was not split between them now； it wasn't like that。 It was more
like my heart had grown； swollen up to twice its size in that moment。 All that extra space； already filled。
The increase was almost dizzying。
I'd never really understood Rosalie's pain and resentment before。 I'd never imagined myself a mother；
never wanted that。 It had been a piece of cake to promise Edward that I didn't care about giving up
children for him； because I truly didn't。 Children； in the abstract； had never appealed to me。 They seemed
to be loud creatures； often dripping some form of goo。 I'd never had much to do with them。 When I'd
dreamed of Renee providing me with a brother； I'd always imagined an older brother。 Someone to take
care of me； rather than the other way around。
This child； Edward's child； was a whole different story。
I wanted him like I wanted air to breathe。 Not a choice—a necessity。
Maybe I just had a really bad imagination。 Maybe that was why I'd been unable to imagine that I would
like being married until after I already was—unable to see that I would want a baby until after one was
already ing。。。。
As I put my hand on my stomach； waiting for the next nudge； tears streaked down my cheeks again。
〃Bella？〃
I turned； made wary by the tone of his voice。 It was too cold； too careful。 His face matched his voice；
empty and hard。
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And then he saw that I was crying。
〃Bella！〃 Hecrossed the room in a flash and put his hands on my face。 〃Are you in pain？〃
〃No； no—〃
He pulled me against his chest。 〃Don't be afraid。 We'll be home in sixteen hours。 You'll be fine。 Carlisle
will be ready when we get there。 We'll take care of this； and you'll be fine； you'll be fine。〃
〃Take care of this？ What do you mean？〃
He leaned away and looked me in the eye。 〃We're going to get that thing out before it can hurt any part
of you。 Don't be scared。 I wont let it hurt you。〃
〃That thing？〃 Igasped。
He looked sharply away from me； toward the front door。 〃Dammit！ I forgot Gustavo was due today。 HI
get rid of him and be right back。〃 He darted out of the room。
I clutched the counter for support。 My knees were wobbly。
Edward had just called my little nudger a thing。 He said Carlisle would get it out。
〃No；〃 I whispered。
I'd gotten it wrong before。 He didn't care about the baby atall。 He wanted to hurt him。 The beautiful
picture in my head shifted abruptly； changed into something dark。 My pretty baby crying； my weak arms
not enough to protect him。。。。
What could I do？ Would I be able to reason with them？ What if I couldn't？ Did this explain Alice's
strange silence on the phone？ Is that what she'd seen？ Edward and Carlisle killing that pale； perfect child
before he could live？
〃No；〃 I whispered again； my voice stronger。 That could not be。 I would not allow it。
I heard Edward speaking Portuguese again。 Arguing again。 His voice got closer； and I heard him grunt in
exasperation。 Then I heard another voice； low and timid。 A woman's voice。
He came into the kitchen ahead of her and went straight to me。 He wiped the tears from my cheeks and
murmured in my ear through the thin； hard line of his lips。
〃She's insisting on leaving the food she brought—she made us dinner。〃 If he had been less tense； less
furious； I knew he would have rolled his eyes。 〃It's an excuse—she wants to make sure I haven't killed
you yet。〃 His voice went ice cold at the end。
Kaure edged nervously around the corner with a covered dish in her hands。 I wished I could speak
Portuguese； or that my Spanish was less rudimentary； so that I could try to thank this woman who had
dared to anger a vampire just to check on me。
Her eyes flickered between the two of us。 I saw her measuring thecolor in my face； the moisture in my
eyes。 Mumbling something I didn't understand； she put the dish on the counter。
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Edward snapped something at her； I'd never heard him be so impolite before。 She turned to go； and the
whirling motion of her long skirt wafted the smell of the food into my face。 It was strong—onions and
fish。 I gagged and whirled for the sink。 I felt Edward's hands on my forehead and heard his soothing
murmur through the roaring in my ears。 His hands disappeared for a second； and I heard the refrigerator
slam shut。 Mercifully； the smell disappeared with the sound； and Edward's hands were cooling my
clammy face again。 It was over quickly。
I rinsed my mouth in the tap while he caressed the side of my face。
There was a tentative little nudge in my womb。
It's okay。 We're okay；I thought toward the bump。
Edward turned me around； pulling me into his arms。 I rested my head on his shoulder。 My hands；
instinctively； folded over my stomach。
I heard a little gasp and I looked up。
The woman was still there； hesitating in the doorway with her hands halfoutstretched as if she had been
looking for some way to help。 Her eyes were locked on my hands； popping wide with shock。 Her mouth
hung open。
Then Edward gasped； too； and he suddenly turned to face the woman； pushing me slightly behind his
body。 His arm wrapped across my torso； like he was holding me back。
Suddenly； Kaure was shouting at him—loudly； furiously； her unintelligible words flying across the room
like knives。 She raised her tiny fist in the air and took two steps forward； shaking it at him。 Despite her
ferocity； it was easy to see the terror in her eyes。
Edward stepped toward her； too； and I clutched at his arm； frightened for the woman。 But when he
interrupted her tirade； his voice took me by surprise； especially considering how sharp he'd been with her
when she wasn't screeching at him。 It was low now； it was pleading。 Not only that； but the sound was
different； more guttural； the cadence off。 I didn't think he was speaking Portuguese anymore。
For a moment； the woman stared at him in wonder； and then her eyes narrowed as she barke