〃I　think　I　can　handle　it；〃　he　said；　and　then　frowned。　〃If　I'd　had　any　idea

that　you　could　respond　to　a　gift

this　appropriately；　I　would　have　made　you　open　it　in　front　of　Carlisle　and

Esme。　I　thought　you'd

plain。〃

〃Well；　of　course　it's　too　much。　But　I　get　to　take　you　with　me！〃

He　chuckled。　〃Now　I　wish　I'd　spent　money　on　your　present。　I　didn't　realize

that　you　were　capable　of

being　reasonable。〃

I　set　the　tickets　aside　and　reached　for　his　present；　my　curiosity　rekindled。

He　took　it　from　me　and

unwrapped　it　like　the　first　one。

He　handed　back　a　clear　CD　jewel　case；　with　a　blank　silver　CD　inside。

〃What　is　it？〃　I　asked；　perplexed。

He　didn't　say　anything；　he　took　the　CD　and　reached　around　me　to　put　it　in　the

CD　player　on　the　bedside

table。　He　hit　play；　and　we　waited　in　silence。　Then　the　music　began。

I　listened；　speechless　and　wide…eyed。　I　knew　he　was　waiting　for　my　reaction；

but　I　couldn't　talk。　Tears

welled　up；　and　I　reached　up　to　wipe　them　away　before　they　could　spill　over。

〃Does　your　arm　hurt？〃　he　asked　anxiously。

〃No；　it's　not　my　arm。　It's　beautiful；　Edward。　You　couldn't　have　given　me

anything　I　would　love　more。　I

can't　believe　it。〃　I　shut　up；　so　I　could　listen。

It　was　his　music；　his　positions。　The　first　piece　on　the　CD　was　my　lullaby。

〃I　didn't　think　you　would　let　me　get　a　piano　so　I　could　play　for　you　here；〃　he

explained。

〃You're　right。〃

〃How　does　your　arm　feel？〃

〃Just　fine。〃　Actually；　it　was　starting　to　blaze　under　the　bandage。　I　wanted

ice。　I　would　have　settled　for　his

hand；　but　that　would　have　given　me　away。

〃I'll　get　you　some　Tylenol。〃

〃