eyes　that　flashed　down　to　note　Jacob's　hand

around　mine。

〃Billy　invited　us　for　dinner；〃　Charlie　said　to　us　in　an　absentminded　tone。

〃My　super　secret　recipe　for　spaghetti。　Handed　down　for　generations；〃　Billy

said　gravely。

Jacob　snorted。　〃I　don't　think　Ragu's　actually　been　around　that　long。〃

The　house　was　crowded。　Harry　Clearwater　was　there；　too；　with　his　family—his

wife；　Sue；　whom　I　knew

vaguely　from　my　childhood　summers　in　Forks；　and　his　two　children。　Leah　was　a

senior　like　me；　but　a

year　older。　She　was　beautiful　in　an　exotic　way—perfect　copper　skin；

glistening　black　hair；　eyelashes　like

feather　dusters—and　preoccupied。　She　was　on　Billy's　phone　when　we　got　in；　and

she　never　let　it　go。

Seth　was　fourteen；　he　hung　on　Jacob's　every　word　with　idolizing　eyes。

There　were　too　many　of　us　for　the　kitchen　table；　so　Charlie　and　Harry　brought

chairs　out　to　the　yard；　and

we　ate　spaghetti　off　plates　on　our　laps　in　the　dim　light　from　Billy's　open

door。　The　men　talked　about　the

game；　and　Harry　and　Charlie　made　fishing　plans。　Sue　teased　her　husband　about

his　cholesterol　and　tried；

unsuccessfully；　to　shame　him　into　eating　something　green　and　leafy。　Jacob

talked　mostly　to　me　and　Seth；

who　interrupted　eagerly　whenever　Jacob　seemed　in　danger　of　forgetting　him。

Charlie　watched　me；　trying

to　be　inconspicuous　about　it；　with　pleased　but　cautious　eyes。

It　was　loud　and　sometimes　confusing　as　everyone　talked　over　everyone　else；　and

the　laughter　from　one

joke　interrupted　the　telling　of　another。　I　didn't　have　to　speak　often；　but　I

smiled　a　lot；　and　only　because　I

felt　like　it。

I　didn't　w