mething　important。〃

I　couldn't　help　glancing　up　at　Edward's　face　as　I　spoke。　His　expression　was

critical；　but　resigned。　When　I

looked　back　to　Carlisle；　he　was　looking　at　Edward；　too。

〃Of　course；〃　Carlisle　said。　〃Why　don't　we　talk　in　the　other　room？〃

Carlisle　led　the　way　through　the　bright　living　room；　around　the　corner　to　the

dining　room；　turning　on　lights

as　he　went。　The　walls　were　white；　the　ceilings　high；　like　the　living　room。　In

the　center　of　the　room；　under

the　low…hanging　chandelier；　was　a　large；　polished　oval　table　surrounded　by

eight　chairs。　Carlisle　held　out

a　chair　for　me　at　the　head。

I'd　never　seen　the　Cullens　use　the　dining　room　table　before—it　was　just　a

prop。　They　didn't　eat　in　the

house。

As　soon　as　I　turned　to　sit　in　the　chair；　I　saw　that　we　were　not　alone。　Esme

had　followed　Edward；　and

behind　her　the　rest　of　the　family　filed　in。

Carlisle　sat　down　on　my　right；　and　Edward　on　my　left。　Everyone　else　took　their

seats　in　silence。　Alice

was　grinning　at　me；　already　in　on　the　plot。　Emmett　and　Jasper　looked　curious；

and　Rosalie　smiled　at　me

tentatively。　My　answering　smile　was　just　as　timid。　That　was　going　to　take　some

getting　used　to。

Carlisle　nodded　toward　me。　〃The　floor　is　yours。〃

I　swallowed。　Their　gazing　eyes　made　me　nervous。　Edward　took　my　hand　under　the

table。　I　peeked　at

him；　but　he　was　watching　the　others；　his　fate　suddenly　fierce。

〃Well；〃　I　paused。　〃I'm　hoping　Alice　has　already　told　you　everything　that

happened　in　Volterra？〃

〃Everything；〃　Alice　assured　me。

I　threw　her　a　meaningful　look。　〃And　on　the　way？〃

〃That；　too；〃　she　nodded。