at　all。　His　eyes　were　only

for　Alice。　She　went　quickly　to　his　side；　they　didn't　embrace　like　other

couples　meeting　there。　They　only

stared　into　each　other's　faces；　yet；　somehow；　the　moment　was　so　private　that　I

still　felt　the　need　to　look

away。

Carlisle　and　Esme　waited　in　a　quiet　corner　far　from　the　line　for　the　metal

detectors；　in　the　shadow　of　a

wide　pillar。　Esme　reached　for　me；　hugging　me　fiercely；　yet　awkwardly；　because

Edward　kept　his　arms

around　me；　too。

〃Thank　you　so　much；〃　she　said　in　my　ear。

Then　she　threw　her　arms　around　Edward；　and　she　looked　like　she　would　be　crying

if　that　were　possible。

〃Youwill　never　put　me　through　：hat　again；〃　she　nearly　growled。

Edward　grinned；　repentant。　〃Sorry；　Mom。〃

〃Thank　you；　Bella；〃　Carlisle　said。　〃We　owe　you。〃

〃Hardly；〃　I　mumbled。　The　sleepless　night　was　suddenly　overpowering。　My　head

felt　disconnected　from

my　body。

〃She's　dead　on　her　feet；〃　Esme　scolded　Edward。　〃Let's　get　her　home。〃

Not　sure　if　home　was　what　I　wanted　at　this　point；　I　stumbled；　half…blind；

through　the　airport；　Edward

dragging　me　on　one　side　and　Esme　on　the　other。　I　didn't　know　if　Alice　and

Jasper　were　behind　us　or　not；

and　I　was　too　exhausted　to　look。

I　think　I　was　mostly　asleep；　though　I　was　still　walking；　when　we　reached　their

car。　The　surprise　of　seeing

Emmett　and　Rosalie　leaning　against　the　black　sedan　under　the　dim　lights　of　the

parking　garage　revived　me

some。　Edward　stiffened。

〃Don't；〃　Esme　whispered。　〃She　feels　awful。〃

〃She　should；〃　Edward　said；　making　no　attempt　to　keep　his　voice　down。

〃It's　not　her　fault；〃　I　said；　my　words