〃Does—does　he〃　I　took　a　deep　breath。　It　was　harder　to　say　his　name　out

loud；　even　though　I　was

able　to　think　it　now。　〃Does　Edward　know　you're　here？〃　I　couldn't　help　asking。

It　was　my　pain；　after　all。

I'd　deal　with　it　when　she　was　gone；　I　promised　myself；　and　felt　sick　at　the

thought。

〃No。〃

There　was　only　one　way　that　could　be　true。　〃He's　not　with　Carlisle　and　Esme？〃

〃He　checks　in　every　few　months。〃

〃Oh。〃　He　must　still　be　out　enjoying　his　distractions。　I　focused　my　curiosity

on　a　safer　topic。　〃You　said　you

flew　here　Where　did　you　e　from？〃

〃I　was　in　Denali。　Visiting　Tanya's　family。〃

〃Is　Jasper　here？　Did　he　e　with　your'〃

She　shook　her　head。　〃He　didn't　approve　of　my　interfering。　We　promised〃　she

trailed　off；　and　then　her

tone　changed。　〃And　you　think　Charlie　won't　mind　my　being　here？〃　she　asked；

sounding　worried。

〃Charlie　thinks　you're　wonderful；　Alice。〃

〃Well；　we're　about　to　find　out。〃

Sure　enough；　a　few　seconds　later　I　heard　the　cruiser　pull　into　the　driveway。　I

jumped　up　and　hurried　to

open　the　door。

Charlie　trudged　slowly　up　the　walk；　his　eyes　on　the　ground　and　his　shoulders

slumped。　I　walked　forward

to　meet　him；　he　didn't　even　see　me　until　I　hugged　him　around　the　waist。　He

embraced　me　back　fiercely。

〃I'm　so　sorry　about　Harry；　Dad。〃

〃I'm　really　going　to　miss　him；〃　Charlie　mumbled。

〃How's　Sue　doing？〃

〃She　seems　dazed；　like　she　hasn't　grasped　it　yet。　Sam's　staying　with　her〃

The　volume　of　his　voice　faded

in　and　out。　〃Those　poor　kids。　Leah's　just　a　year　older　than　you；　and　Seth　is

only　fourteen〃　He　shook

his　head。

He　kept　his　arms