s　as　stay

…at…home；　family

affairs—this　was　my　first　birthday　with　him；　the　first　birthday　since　my　mom；

Renee；　had　remarried　and

gone　to　live　in　Florida；　so　I　didn't　know　what　he　would　expect。

〃That's　fine—the　Mariners　are　playing　the　Sox　tonight；〃　Charlie　explained；

and　my　hope　disappeared。

〃So　I　won't　be　any　kind　of　pany　Here。〃　He　scooped　up　the　camera　he'd

gotten　me　on　Renee's

suggestion　（because　I　would　need　pictures　to　fill　up　my　scrap…book）；　and　threw

it　to　me。

He　ought　to　know　better　than　that—I'd　always　been　coordinationally

challenged。　The　camera　glanced　off

the　tip　of　my　finger；　and　tumbled　toward　the　floor。　Edward　snagged　it　before

it　could　crash　onto　the

linoleum。

〃Nice　save；〃　Charlie　noted。　〃If　they're　doing　something　fun　at　the　Cullens'

tonight；　Bella；　you　should　take

some　pictures。　You　know　how　your　mother　gets—she'll　be　wanting　to　see　the

pictures　faster　than　you

can　take　them。〃

〃Good　idea；　Charlie；〃　Edward　said；　handing　me　the　camera。

I　turned　the　camera　on　Edward；　and　snapped　the　first　picture。　〃It　works。〃

〃That's　good。　Hey；　say　hi　to　Alice　for　me。　She　hasn't　been　over　in　a　while。〃

Charlie's　mouth　pulled　down

at　one　corner。

〃It's　been　three　days；　Dad；〃　I　reminded　him。　Charlie　was　crazy　about　Alice。

He'd　bee　attached　last

spring　when　she'd　helped　me　through　my　awkward　convalescence；　Charlie　would　be

fore'ter　grateful　to

her　for　saving　him　from　the　horror　of　an　almost…adult　daughter　who　needed　help

showering。　〃I'll　tell　her。〃

〃Okay。　You　kids　have　fun　tonight。〃　It　was　clearly　a　dismissal。　Charlie　was

already　edging　toward　the