up on him； either。〃
I gasped。 〃I thought he wasn't talking to you？〃
〃He can't hide everything from us； hard as he's trying。〃
So Jacob knew I was worried。 I wasn't sure how I felt about that。 Well； at least he knew I hadn't
skipped off into the sunset and forgotten him completely。 He might have imagined me capable of that。
〃I guess I'll see you at the。。。 wedding；〃 I said； forcing the word out through my teeth。
〃Yeah； me and my mom will be there。 It was cool of you to ask us。〃
I smiled at the enthusiasm in his voice。 Though inviting the Clearwaters had been Edward's idea； I was
glad he'd thought of it。 Having Seth there would be nice—a link； however tenuous； to my missing best
man。 〃It wouldn't be the
same without you。〃
〃Tell Edward I said hi； 'kay？〃
〃Sure thing。〃
I shook my head。 The friendship that had sprung up between Edward and Seth was something that still
boggled my mind。 It was proof； though； that things didn't have to be this way。 That vampires and
werewolves could get along just fine； thank you very much； if they were of a mind to。
Not everybody liked this idea。
〃Ah；〃 Seth said； his voice cracking up an octave。 〃Er； Leah's home。〃
〃Oh！ Bye！〃
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The phone went dead。 I left it on the seat and prepared myself mentally to go inside the house； where
Charlie would be waiting。
My poor dad had so much to deal with right now。 Jacob…the…runaway was just one of the straws on his
overburdened back。 He was almost as worried about me； his barely…a…legal…adult daughter who was
about to become a Mrs。 in just a few days' time。
I walked slowly through the light rain； remembering the night we'd told him___
As the sound of Charlie's cruiser announced his return； the ring suddenly weighed a hundred pounds on
my finger。 I wanted to shove my left hand in a pocket； or maybe sit on it； but Edward's cool； firm grasp
kept it front and center。
〃Stop fidgeting； Bella。 Please try to remember that you're not confessing to a murder here。〃
〃Easy for you to say。〃
I listened to the ominous sound of my father's boots clomping up the sidewalk。 The key rattled in the
already open door。 The sound reminded me of that part of the horror movie when the victim realizes
she's forgotten to lock herdeadbolt。
〃Calm down； Bella；〃 Edward whispered； listening to the acceleration of my heart。
The door slammed against the wall； and I flinched like I'd been Tasered。
〃Hey； Charlie；〃 Edward called； entirely relaxed。
〃No！〃 I protested under my breath。
〃What？〃 Edward whispered back。
〃Wait till he hangs his gun up！〃
Edward chuckled and ran his free hand through his tousled bronze hair。
Charlie came around the corner； still in his uniform； still armed； and tried not to make a face when he
spied us sitting together on the loveseat。 Lately； he'd been putting forth a lot of effort to like Edward
more。 Of course； this revelation was sure to end that effort immediately。
〃Hey； kids。 What's up？〃
〃We'd like to talk to you；〃 Edward said； so serene。 〃We have some good news。〃
Charlie's expression went from strained friendliness to black suspicion in a second。
〃Good news？〃 Charlie growled； looking straight at me。
〃Have a seat； Dad。〃
He raised one eyebrow； stared at me for five seconds； then stomped to the recliner and sat down on the
very edge； his back ramrod straight。
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〃Don't get worked up； Dad；〃 I said after a moment of loaded silence。 〃Everything's okay。〃
Edward grimaced； and I knew it was in objection to the word okay。 He probably would have used
something more like wonderful or perfect or glorious。
〃Sure it is； Bella； sure it is。 If everything is so great； then why are you sweating bullets？〃
〃I'm not sweating；〃 I lied。
I leaned away from his fierce scowl； cringing into Edward； and instinctively wiped the back of my right
hand across my forehead to remove the evidence。
〃You're pregnant！〃 Charlie exploded。 〃You're pregnant； aren't you？〃
Though the question was clearly meant for me； he was glaring at Edward now； and I could have sworn I
saw his hand twitch toward the gun。
〃No！ Of course I'm not！〃 I wanted to elbow Edward in the ribs； but I knew that move would only give
me a bruise。 I'd told Edward that people would immediately jump to this conclusion！ What other
possible reason would sane people have for getting married at eighteen？ （His answer then had made me
roll my eyes。 Love。 Right。）
Charlie's glower lightened a shade。 It was usually pretty clear on my face when I was telling the truth；
and he believed me now。 〃Oh。 Sorry。〃
〃Apology accepted。〃
There was a long pause。 After a moment； I realized everyone was waiting for me to say something。 I
looked up at Edward； panic…stricken。 There was no way I was going to get the words out。
He smiled at me and then squared his shoulders and turned to my father。
〃Charlie； I realize that I've gone about this out of order。 Traditionally； I should have asked you first。 I
mean no disrespect； but since Bella has already said yes and I don't want to diminish her choice in the
matter； instead of asking you for her hand； I'm asking you for your blessing。 We're getting married；
Charlie。 I love her more than anything in the world； more than my own life； and—by some miracle—she
loves me that way； too。 Will you give us your blessing？〃
He sounded so sure； so calm。 For just an instant； listening to the absolute confidence in his voice； I
experienced a rare moment of insight； i could see； fleetingly； the way the world looked to him。 For the
length of one heartbeat； this news made perfect sense。
And then I caught sight of the expression on Charlie's face； his eyes now locked on the ring。
I held my breath while his skin changed colors—fair to red； red to purple； purple to blue。 I started to get
up—I'm
not sure what I planned to do； maybe use the Heimlich maneuver to make sure he wasn't choking—but
Edward squeezed my hand and murmured 〃Give him a minute〃 so low that only I could hear。
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The silence was much longer this time。 Then； gradually； shade by shade； Charlie's color returned to
normal。 His lips pursed； and his eyebrows furrowed； I recognized his 〃deep in thought〃 expression。 He
studied the two of us for a long moment； and I felt Edward relax at my side。
〃Guess I'm not that surprised；〃 Charlie grumbled。 〃Knew I'd have to deal with something like this soon
enough。〃
I exhaled。
〃You sure about this？〃 Charlie demanded； glaring at me。
〃I'm one hundred percent sure about Edward；〃 I told him without missing a beat。
〃Getting married； though？ What's the rush？〃 He eyed me suspiciously again。
The rush was due to the fact that I was getting closer to nineteen every stinking day； while Edward
stayed frozen in all his seventeen…year…old perfection； as he had for over ninety years。 Not that this fact
necessitated marriage in my book； but the wedding was required due to the delicate and tangled
compromise Edward and I had made to finally get to this point； the brink of my transformation from
mortal to immortal。
These weren't things I could explain to Charlie。
〃We're going away to Dartmouth together in the fall； Charlie；〃 Edward reminded him。 〃I'd like to do that；
well； the right way。 It's how I was raised。〃 He shrugged。
He wasn't exaggerating； they'd been big on old…fashioned morals during World War I。
Charlie's mouth twisted to the side。 Looking for an angle to argue from。 But what could he say？ I'd
prefer you live in sin first？ He was a dad； his hands were tied。
〃Knew this was coming；〃 he muttered to himself； frowning。 Then； suddenly； his face went perfectly
smooth and blank。
〃Dad？〃 I asked anxiously。 I glanced at Edward； but I couldn't read his face； either； as he watched
Charlie。
〃Ha！〃 Charlie exploded。 I jumped in my seat。 〃Ha； ha； ha！〃
I stared incredulously as Charlie doubled over in laughter； his whole body shook with it。
I looked at Edward for a translation； but Edward had his lips pressed tightly together； like he was trying
to hold back laughter himself。
〃Okay； fine；〃 Charlie choked out。 〃Get married。〃 Another roll of laughter shook through him。 〃But。。。〃
〃But what？〃 I demanded。
〃But you have to tell your mom！ I'm not saying one word to Renee！ That's all yours！〃 He busted into
loud guffaws。
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