appalled　every

second。　Her　mouth

opened　into　a　little　O　of　horror；　and　the　phone　shook　in　her　hand。

〃Why？〃　she　gasped。　〃Why　would　you　do　that；　Rosalie？〃

Whatever　the　answer　was；　it　made　her　jaw　tighten　in　anger。　Her　eyes　flashed

and　narrowed。

〃Well；　you're　wrong　on　both　counts；　though；　Rosalie；　so　that　would　be　a

problem；　don't　you　think？〃　she

asked　acidly。　〃Yes；　that's　right。　She's　absolutely　fine—I　was　wrong　It's　a

long　story　But　you're

wrong　about　that　part；　too；　that's　why　I'm　calling　Yes；　that's　exactly　what

I　saw。〃

Alice's　voice　was　very　hard　and　her　lips　were　pulled　back　from　her　teeth。

〃It's　a　bit　late　for　that；　Rose。

Save　your　remorse　for　someone　who　believes　it。〃　Alice　snapped　the　phone　shut

with　a　sharp　twist　of　her

fingers。

Her　eyes　were　tortured　as　she　turned　to　face　me。

〃Alice；〃　I　blurted　out　quickly。　I　couldn't　let　her　speak　yet。　I　needed　a　few

more　seconds　before　she　spoke

and　her　words　destroyed　what　was　left　of　my　life。　〃Alice；　Carlisle　is　back；

though。　He　called　just

before〃

She　stared　at　me　blankly。　〃How　long　ago？〃　she　asked　in　a　hollow　voice。

〃Half　a　minute　before　you　showed　up。〃

〃What　did　he　say？〃　She　really　focused　now；　waiting　for　my　answer。

〃I　didn't　talk　to　him。〃　My　eyes　flickered　to　Jacob。

Alice　turned　her　penetrating　gaze　on　him。　He　flinched；　but　held　his　place　next

to　me。　He　sit　awkwardly；

almost　as　if　he　were　trying　to　shield　me　with　his　body。

〃He　asked　for　Charlie；　and　I　told　him　Charlie　wasn't　here；〃　Jacob　muttered

resentfully。

〃Is　that　everything？〃　Alice　demanded；　her　voice　like　ice。

〃Then　he　hung　up　on　me；〃　Ja