It was just beginning to drizzle when Edward turned onto my street. Upuntil that moment, I’d had no doubt that he’d be staying with me while Ispent a few interim hours in the real world.
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And then I saw the black car, a weathered Ford, parked in Charlie’sdriveway — and heard Edward mutter something unintelligible in a low,harsh voice.
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Leaning away from the rain under the shallow front porch, Jacob Blackstood behind his father’s wheelchair. Billy’s face was impassive as stoneas Edward parked my truck against the curb. Jacob stared down, hisexpression mortified.
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Edward’s low voice was furious. "This is crossing the line.""He came to warn Charlie?" I guessed, more horrified than angry.
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Edward just nodded, answering Billy’s gaze through the rain with narrowedeyes.
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I felt weak with relief that Charlie wasn’t home yet.
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"Let me deal with this," I suggested. Edward’s black glare made meanxious.
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To my surprise, he agreed. "That’s probably best. Be careful, though. Thechild has no idea."I bridled a little at the word child. "Jacob is not that much youngerthan I am," I reminded him.
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He looked at me then, his anger abruptly fading. "Oh, I know," he assuredme with a grin.
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I sighed and put my hand on the door handle.
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"Get them inside," he instructed, "so I can leave. I’ll be back arounddusk.""Do you want my truck?" I offered, meanwhile wondering how I wouldexplain its absence to Charlie.
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He rolled his eyes. "I could walk home faster than this truck moves.""You don’t have to leave," I said wistfully.
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He smiled at my glum expression. "Actually, I do. After you get rid ofthem" — he threw a dark glance in the Blacks’ direction — "you still haveto prepare Charlie to meet your new boyfriend." He grinned widely,showing all of his teeth.
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I groaned. "Thanks a lot."He smiled the crooked smile that I loved. "I’ll be back soon," hepromised. His eyes flickered back to the porch, and then he leaned in toswiftly kiss me just under the edge of my jaw. My heart lurchedfrantically, and I, too, glanced toward the porch. Billy’s face was nolonger impassive, and his hands clutched at the armrests of his chair.
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"Soon," I stressed as I opened the door and stepped out into the rain.
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I could feel his eyes on my back as I half-ran through the light sprinkletoward the porch.
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"Hey, Billy. Hi, Jacob." I greeted them as cheerfully as I could manage.
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"Charlie’s gone for the day — I hope you haven’t been waiting long.""Not long," Billy said in a subdued tone. His black eyes were piercing.
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"I just wanted to bring this up." He indicated a brown paper sack restingin his lap.
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"Thanks," I said, though I had no idea what it could be. "Why don’t youcome in for a minute and dry off?"I pretended to be oblivious to his intense scrutiny as I unlocked thedoor, and waved them in ahead of me.
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"Here, let me take that," I offered, turning to shut the door. I allowedmyself one last glance at Edward. He was waiting, perfectly still, hiseyes solemn.
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"You’ll want to put it in the fridge," Billy noted as he handed me thepackage. "It’s some of Harry Clearwater’s homemade fish fry — Charlie’sfavorite. The fridge keeps it drier." He shrugged.
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"Thanks," I repeated, but with feeling this time. "I was running out ofnew ways to fix fish, and he’s bound to bring home more tonight.""Fishing again?" Billy asked with a subtle gleam in his eye. "Down at theusual spot? Maybe I’ll run by and see him.""No," I quickly lied, my face going hard. "He was headed someplace new…but I have no idea where."He took in my changed expression, and it made him thoughtful.
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"Jake," he said, still appraising me. "Why don’t you go get that newpicture of Rebecca out of the car? I’ll leave that for Charlie, too.""Where is it?" Jacob asked, his voice morose. I glanced at him, but hewas staring at the floor, his eyebrows pulling together.
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"I think I saw it in the trunk," Billy said. "You may have to dig for it."Jacob slouched back out into the rain.
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Billy and I faced each other in silence. After a few seconds, the quietstarted to feel awkward, so I turned and headed to the kitchen. I couldhear his wet wheels squeak against the linoleum as he followed.
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I shoved the bag onto the crowded top shelf of the fridge, and spunaround to confront him. His deeply lined face was unreadable.
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"Charlie won’t be back for a long time." My voice was almost rude.
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He nodded in agreement, but said nothing.
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"Thanks again for the fish fry," I hinted.
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He continued nodding. I sighed and folded my arms across my chest.
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He seemed to sense that I had given up on small talk. "Bella," he said,and then he hesitated.
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I waited.
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"Bella," he said again, "Charlie is one of my best friends.""Yes."He spoke each word carefully in his rumbling voice. "I noticed you’vebeen spending time with one of the Cullens.""Yes," I repeated curtly.
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His eyes narrowed. "Maybe it’s none of my business, but I don’t thinkthat is such a good idea.""You’re right," I agreed. "It is none of your business."He raised his graying eyebrows at my tone. "You probably don’t know this,but the Cullen family has an unpleasant reputation on the reservation.""Actually, I did know that," I informed him in a hard voice. Thissurprised him. "But that reputation couldn’t be deserved, could it?
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Because the Cullens never set foot on the reservation, do they?" I couldsee that my less than subtle reminder of the agreement that both boundand protected his tribe pulled him up short.
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"That’s true," he acceded, his eyes guarded. "You seem… well informedabout the Cullens. More informed than I expected."I stared him down. "Maybe even better informed than you are."He pursed his thick lips as he considered that. "Maybe." he allowed, buthis eyes were shrewd. "Is Charlie as well informed?"He had found the weak chink in my armor.
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"Charlie likes the Cullens a lot," I hedged. He clearly understood myevasion. His expression was unhappy, but unsurprised.
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"It’s not my business," he said. "But it may be Charlie’s.""Though it would be my business, again, whether or not I think that it’sCharlie’s business, right?"I wondered if he even understood my confused question as I struggled notto say anything compromising. But he seemed to. He thought about it whilethe rain picked up against the roof, the only sound breaking the silence.
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"Yes," he finally surrendered. "I guess that’s your business, too."I sighed with relief. "Thanks, Billy.""Just think about what you’re doing, Bella," he urged.
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"There’s no picture anywhere in that car." Jacob’s complaining voicereached us before he did. The shoulders of his shirt were stained withthe rain, his hair dripping, when he rounded the corner.
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"Hmm," Billy grunted, suddenly detached, spinning his chair around toface his son. "I guess I left it at home."Jacob rolled his eyes dramatically. "Great.""Well, Bella, tell Charlie" — Billy paused before continuing — "that westopped by, I mean.""I will," I muttered.