of　my　dad's

sheriff　jacket。　Charlie

staggered　under　my　weight。

〃Maybe　I　should　hold　on　to　her；〃　Sam　Uley　suggested。

〃I've　got　her；〃　Charlie　said；　a　little　breathless。

He　walked　slowly；　struggling。　I　wished　I　could　tell　him　to　put　me　down　and　let

me　walk；　but　I　couldn't

find　my　voice。

There　were　lights　everywhere；　held　by　the　crowd　walking　with　him。　It　felt　like

a　parade。　Or　a　funeral

procession。　I　closed　my　eyes。

〃We're　almost　home　now；　honey；〃　Charlie　mumbled　now　and　then。

I　opened　my　eyes　again　when　I　heard　the　door　unlock。　We　were　on　the　porch　of

our　house；　and　the　tall

dark　man　named　Sam　was　holding　the　door　for　Charlie；　one　arm　extended　toward

us；　as　if　he　was

preparing　to　catch　me　when　Charlie's　arms　failed。

But　Charlie　managed　to　get　me　through　the　door　and　to　the　couch　in　the　living

room。

〃Dad；　I'm　all　wet；〃　I　objected　feebly。

〃That　doesn't　matter。〃　His　voice　was　gruff。　And　then　he　was　talking　to　someone

else。　〃Blankets　are　in　the

cupboard　at　the　top　of　the　stairs。〃

〃Bella？〃　a　new　voice　asked。　I　looked　at　the　gray…haired　man　leaning　over　me；

and　recognition　came　after

a　few　slow　seconds。

〃Dr。　Gerandy？〃　I　mumbled。

〃That's　right；　dear；〃　he　said。　〃Are　you　hurt；　Bella？〃

It　took　me　a　minute　to　think　that　through。　I　was　confused　by　the　memory　of　Sam

Uley's　similar　question

in　the　woods。　Only　Sam　had　asked　something　else：　Have　you　been　hurt？　he'd

said。　The　difference

seemed　significant　somehow。

Dr。　Gerandy　was　waiting。　One　grizzled　eyebrow　rose；　and　the　wrinkles　on　his

forehead　deepened。

〃I'm　not　hurt；〃　I　lied。　The　words；　were