〃He's taken care of his father
physically the way Bella took care of her mother emotionally。 It matured him。
He's a good…looking kid；
too—takes after his mom's side。 He's good for Bella； you know；〃 Charlie
insisted。
〃Then it's good she has him；〃 Alice agreed。
Charlie sighed out a big gust of air； folding quickly to the lack of
opposition。 〃Okay； so I guess that's
overstating things。 I don't know even with Jacob； now and then I see
something in her eyes； and I
wonder if I've ever grasped how much pain she's really in It's not normal；
Alice； and it it frightens me。
Not normal at all。 Not like someone left her； but like someone died。〃 His
voice cracked。
It was like someone had died—like I had died。 Because it had been more than
just losing the truest of
true loves； as if that were not enough to kill anyone。 It was also losing a
whole future； a whole
family—the whole life that I'd chosen
Charlie went on in a hopeless tone。 〃I don't know if she's going to get over
it—I'm not sure if it's in her
nature to heal from something like this。 She's always been such a constant
little thing。 She doesn't get past
things； change her mind。〃
〃She's one of a kind；〃 Alice agreed in a dry voice。
〃And Alice〃 Charlie hesitated。 〃Now； you know how fond I am of you； and I
can tell that she's happy
to see you； but I'm a little worried about what your visit will do to her。〃
〃So am I； Charlie； so am I。 I wouldn't have e if I'd had any idea。 I'm
sorry。〃
〃Don't apologize； honey。 Who knows？ Maybe it will be good for her。〃
〃I hope you're right。〃
There was a long break while forks scraped plates and Charlie chewed。 I
wondered where Alice was
hiding the food。
〃Alice； I have to ask you something；〃 Charlie said awkwardly。
Alice was calm。 〃Go ahead。〃
〃He's not ing back to visit； too； is he？〃 I could hear the suppressed anger
in Charlie's voice。
Alice answered in a soft； reassuring tone。 〃He doesn't even know I'm here。 The
last time I spoke with
him； he was in South America。〃
I stiffened as I heard this new information； and listened harder。
〃That's something； at least。〃 Charlie snorted。 〃Well； I hope he's enjoying
himself。〃
For the first time； Alice's voice had a bit of steel in it。 〃I wouldn't make
assumptions； Charlie。〃 I knew
how her eyes would flash when she used that tone。
A chair scooted from the table； scraping loudly across the floor。 I pictured
Charlie getting up； there was
no way Alice would make that kind of noise。 The faucet ran； splashing against
a dish。
It didn't sound like they were going to say anything more about Edward； so I
decided it was time to
wake up。
I turned over； bouncing against the springs to make them squeak。 Then I yawned
loudly。
All was quiet in the kitchen。
I stretched and groaned。
〃Alice？〃 I asked innocently； the soreness rasping in my throat added nicely to
the charade。
〃I'm in the kitchen； Bella；〃 Alice called； no hint in her voice that she
suspected my eavesdropping。 But she
was good at hiding things like that。
Charlie had to leave then—he was helping Sue Clearwater with the funeral
arrangements。 It would have
been a very long day without Alice。 She never spoke about leaving； and I
didn't ask her。 I knew it was
inevitable； but I put it out of my mind。
Instead； we talked about her family—all but one。
Carlisle was working nights in Ithaca and teaching part time at Cornell。 Esme
was restoring a seventeenth
century house； a historical monument； in the forest north of the city。 Emmett
and Rosalie had gone to
Europe for a few months on another honeymoon； but they were back now。 Jasper
was at Cornell； too；
studying philosophy this time。 And Alice had been doing some personal
research； concerning the
information I'd accidentally uncovered for her last spring。 She'd successfully
tracked down the asylum
where she'd spent the last years of her human life。 The life she had no memory
of。
〃My name was Mary Alice Brandon；〃 she told me quietly。 〃I had a little sister
named Cynthia。 Her
daughter—my niece—is still alive in Biloxi。〃
〃Did you find out why they put you in that place？〃 What would drive parents
to that extreme？ Even if
their daughter saw visions of the future
She just shook her head； her topaz eyes thoughtful。 〃I couldn't find much
about them。 I went through all
the old newspapers on microfiche。 My family wasn't mentioned often； they
weren't part of the social
circle that made the papers。 My parents' engagement was there； and Cynthia's。〃
The name fell uncertainly
from her tongue。 〃My birth was announced and my death。 I found my grave。 I
also filched my
admissions sheet from the old asylum archives。 The date on the admission and
the date on my tombstone
are the same。〃
I didn't know what to say； and； after a short pause； Alice moved on to lighter
topics。
The Cullens were reassembled now； with the one exception； spending Cornell's
spring break in Denali
with Tanya and her family。 I listened too eagerly to even the most trivial
news。 She never mentioned the
one I was most interested in； and for that I was grateful。 It was enough to
listen to the stories of the family
I'd once dreamed of belonging to。
Charlie didn't get back until after dark； and he looked more worn than he had
the night before。 He would
be headed back to the reservation first thing in the morning for Harry's
funeral； so he turned in early。 I
stayed on the couch with Alice again。
Charlie was almost a stranger when he came down the stairs before the sun was
up； wearing an old suit
I'd never seen him in before。 The jacket hung open； I guessed it was too tight
to fasten the buttons。 His
tie was a bit wide for the current style。 He tiptoed to the door； trying not
to wake us up。 I let him go；
pretending to sleep； as Alice did on the recliner。
As soon as he was out the door； Alice sat up。 Under the quilt； she was fully
dressed。
〃So； what are we doing today？〃 she asked。
〃I don't know—do you see anything interesting happening？〃
She smiled and shook her head。 〃But it's still early。〃
All the time I'd been spending in La Push meant a pile of things I'd been
neglecting at home； and I
decided to catch up on my chores。 I wanted to do something； anything that
might make life easier for
Charlie—maybe it would make him feel just a little better to e home to a
clean； organized house。 I
started with the bathroom—it showed the most signs of neglect。
While I worked； Alice leaned against the doorjamb and asked nonchalant
questions about my； well； our
high school friends and what they been up to since she'd left。 Her face stayed
casual and emotionless； but
I sensed her disapproval when she realized how little I could tell her。 Or
maybe I just had a guilty
conscience after eavesdropping on her conversation with Charlie yesterday
morning。
I was literally up to my elbows in et； scrubbing the floor of the bathtub；
when the doorbell rang。
I looked to Alice at once； and her expression was perplexed； almost worried；
which was strange； Alice
was never taken by surprise。
〃Hold on！〃 I shouted in the general directi