in　it。　〃I　wouldn't　make

assumptions；　Charlie。〃　I　knew

how　her　eyes　would　flash　when　she　used　that　tone。

A　chair　scooted　from　the　table；　scraping　loudly　across　the　floor。　I　pictured

Charlie　getting　up；　there　was

no　way　Alice　would　make　that　kind　of　noise。　The　faucet　ran；　splashing　against

a　dish。

It　didn't　sound　like　they　were　going　to　say　anything　more　about　Edward；　so　I

decided　it　was　time　to

wake　up。

I　turned　over；　bouncing　against　the　springs　to　make　them　squeak。　Then　I　yawned

loudly。

All　was　quiet　in　the　kitchen。

I　stretched　and　groaned。

〃Alice？〃　I　asked　innocently；　the　soreness　rasping　in　my　throat　added　nicely　to

the　charade。

〃I'm　in　the　kitchen；　Bella；〃　Alice　called；　no　hint　in　her　voice　that　she

suspected　my　eavesdropping。　But　she

was　good　at　hiding　things　like　that。

Charlie　had　to　leave　then—he　was　helping　Sue　Clearwater　with　the　funeral

arrangements。　It　would　have

been　a　very　long　day　without　Alice。　She　never　spoke　about　leaving；　and　I

didn't　ask　her。　I　knew　it　was

inevitable；　but　I　put　it　out　of　my　mind。

Instead；　we　talked　about　her　family—all　but　one。

Carlisle　was　working　nights　in　Ithaca　and　teaching　part　time　at　Cornell。　Esme

was　restoring　a　seventeenth

century　house；　a　historical　monument；　in　the　forest　north　of　the　city。　Emmett

and　Rosalie　had　gone　to

Europe　for　a　few　months　on　another　honeymoon；　but　they　were　back　now。　Jasper

was　at　Cornell；　too；

studying　philosophy　this　time。　And　Alice　had　been　doing　some　personal

research；　concerning　the

information　I'd　accidentally　uncovered　for　her　last　spring。　She'd　successfully

tr