I　don't　need　anything；〃　I　protested；　but　he　slid　me　off　his　lap　and　headed

for　the　door。

〃Charlie；〃　I　hissed。　Charlie　wasn't　exactly　aware　that　Edward　frequently

stayed　over。　In　fact；　he　would

have　a　stroke　if　that　fact　were　brought　to　his　attention。　But　I　didn't　feel

too　guilty　for　deceiving　him　It

wasn't　as　if　we　were　up　to　anything　he　wouldn't　want　me　to　be　up　to。　Edward

and　his　rules

〃He　won't　catch　me；〃　Edward　promised　as　he　disappeared　silently　out　the　door　。

。　and　returned；　catching

the　door　before　it　had　swung　back　to　touch　the　frame。　He　had　the　glass　from

the　bathroom　and　the　bottle

of　pills　in　one　hand。

I　took　the　pills　he　handed　me　without　arguing—I　knew　I　would　lose　the

argument　And　my　arm　really　was

starting　to　bother　me。

My　lullaby　continued；　soft　and　lovely；　in　the　background。

〃It's　late；〃　Edward　noted。　He　scooped　me　up　off　the　bed　with　one　arm；　and

pulled　the　cover　back　with

the　other。　He　put　me　down　with　my　head　on　my　pillow　and　tucked　the　quilt

around　me。　He　lay　down　next

to　me—on　top　of　the　blanket　so　I　wouldn't　get　chilled—and　put　his　arm　over

me。

I　leaned　my　head　against　his　shoulder　and　sighed　happily。

〃Thanks　again；〃　I　whispered。

〃You're　wele。〃

It　was　quiet　for　a　long　moment　as　I　listened　to　my　lullaby　drift　to　a　close。

Another　song　began。　I

recognized　Esme's　favorite。

〃What　are　you　thinking　about？'〃　I　wondered　in　a　whisper。

He　hesitated　for　a　second　before　he　told　me。　〃I　was　thinking　about　right　and

wrong；　actually。〃

I　felt　a　chill　tingle　along　my　spine。

〃Remember　how　I　decided　that　I　wanted　you　to　not　ignore　my　birthda