tight　around　me　as　he　started　toward　the　door　again。

〃Um；　Dad？〃　I　figured　I'd　better　warn　him。　〃You'll　never　guess　who's　here。〃

He　looked　at　me　blankly。　His　head　swiveled　around；　and　he　spied　the　Mercedes

across　the　street；　the

porch　light　reflecting　off　the　glossy　black　paint。　Before　he　could　react；

Alice　was　in　the　doorway。

〃Hi；　Charlie；〃　she　said　in　a　subdued　voice。　〃I'm　sorry　I　came　at　such　a　bad

time。〃

〃Alice　Cullen？〃　he　peered　at　the　slight　figure　in　front　of　him　as　if　he

doubted　what　his　eyes　were　telling

him。　〃Alice；　is　that　you？〃

〃It's　me；〃　she　confirmed。　〃I　was　in　the　neighborhood。〃

〃Is　Carlisle？〃

〃No；　I'm　alone。〃

Both　Alice　and　I　knew　he　wasn't　really　asking　about　Carlisle。　His　arm

tightened　over　my　shoulder。

〃She　can　stay　here；　can't　she？〃　I　pleaded。　〃I　already　asked　her。〃

〃Of　course；〃　Charlie　said　mechanically。　〃We'd　love　to　have　you；　Alice。〃

〃Thank　you；　Charlie。　I　know　it's　horrid　timing。〃

〃No；　it's　fine；　really。　I'm　going　to　be　really　busy　doing　what　I　can　for

Harry's　family；　it　will　be　nice　for

Bella　to　have　some　pany。〃

〃There's　dinner　for　you　on　the　table；　Dad；〃　I　told　him。

〃Thanks；　Bell。〃　He　gave　me　one　more　squeeze　before　he　shuffled　toward　the

kitchen。

Alice　went　back　to　the　couch；　and　I　followed　her。　This　time；　she　was　the　one

to　pull　me　against　her

shoulder。

〃You　look　tired。〃

〃Yeah；〃　I　agreed；　and　shrugged。　〃Near…death　experiences　do　that　to　me　So；

what　does　Carlisle　think

of　you　being　here？〃

〃He　doesn't　know。　He　and　Esme　were　on　a　hunting　trip。　I'll　hear　from　him　in　a

few　days；　when　he　gets

back。〃

〃You　won