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Very deliberately； Renesmee waved at him。
Charlie blinked spastically。
Jacob elbowed him。 〃Told you she was special； didn't I？〃
Charlie cringed away from the contact。
〃Oh； c'mon； Charlie；〃 Jacob groaned。 〃I'm the same person I've always been。 Just pretend this afternoon
didn't happen。〃
The reminder made Charlie's lips go white； but he nodded once。 〃Just what is your part in all this； Jake？〃
he asked。 〃How much does Billy know？ Why are you here？〃 He looked at Jacob's face； which was
glowing as he stared at Renesmee。
〃Well； I could tell you all about it—Billy knows absolutely everything—but it involves a lot of stuff about
werewo—〃
〃Ungh！〃 Charlie protested； covering his ears。 〃Never mind。〃
Jacob grinned。 〃Everything's going to be great； Charlie。 Just try to not believe anything you see。〃
My dad mumbled something unintelligible。
〃Woo！〃 Emmett suddenly boomed in his deep bass。 〃Go Gators！〃
Jacob and Charlie jumped。 The rest of us froze。
Charlie recovered； then looked at Emmett over his shoulder。 〃Florida winning？〃
〃Just scored the first touchdown；〃 Emmett confirmed。 He shot a look in my direction； wagging his
eyebrows like a villain in vaudeville。 〃'Bout time somebody scored around here。〃
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I fought back a hiss。 In front of Charlie？ That was over the line。
But Charlie was beyond noticing innuendos。 He took yet another deep breath； sucking the air in like he
was trying to pull it down to his toes。 I envied him。 He lurched to his feet； stepped around Jacob； and
half…fell into an open chair。 〃Well；〃 he sighed； 〃I guess we should see if they can hold on to the lead。〃
26。 SHINY
〃I don't know how much we should tell Renee about this；〃 Charlie said； hesitating with one foot out the
door。 He stretched； and then his stomach growled。
I nodded。 〃I know； i don't want to freak her out。 Better to protect her。 This stuff isn't for the
fainthearted。〃
His lips twisted up to the side ruefully。 〃I would have tried to protect you； too； if I'd known how。 But I
guess you've never fit into the fainthearted category； have you？〃
I smiled back； pulling a blazing breath in through my teeth。
Charlie patted his stomach absently。 〃I'll think of something。 We've got time to discuss this； right？〃
〃Right；〃 I promised him。
It had been a long day in some ways； and so short in others。 Charlie was late for dinner—Sue
Clearwater was cooking for him and Billy。 That was going to be an awkward evening； but at least he'd
be eating real food； I was glad someone was trying to keep him from starving due to his lack of cooking
ability。
All day the tension had made the minutes pass slowly； Charlie had never relaxed the stiff set of his
shoulders。 But he'd been in no hurry to leave； either。 He'd watched two whole games—thankfully so
absorbed in his thoughts that he was totally oblivious to Emmett's suggestive jokes that got more pointed
and less football…related with each aside—and the after…game commentaries； and then the news； not
moving until Seth had reminded him of the time。
〃You gonna stand Billy and my mom up； Charlie？ C'mon。 Bella and Nessie'll be here tomorrow。 Let's
get some grub； eh？〃
It had been clear in Charlie's eyes that he hadn't trusted Seth's assessment； but he'd let Seth lead the way
out。 The doubt was still there as he paused now。 The clouds were thinning； the rain gone。 The sun might
even make an appearance just in time to set。
〃Jake says you guys were going to take off on me；〃 he muttered to me now。
〃I didn't want to do that if there was any way at all around it。 That's why we're still here。〃
〃He said you could stay for a while； but only if I'm tough enough； and if I can keep my mouth shut。〃
〃Yes。。。 but I can't promise that we'll never leave； Dad。 It's pretty complicated___〃
〃Need to know；〃 he reminded me。
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〃Right。〃
〃You'll visit； though； if you have to go？〃
〃I promise； Dad。 Now that you know/usf enough； I think this can work。 I'll keep as close as you want。〃
He chewed on his lip for half a second； then leaned slowly toward me with his arms cautiously extended。
I shifted Renesmee—napping now—to my left arm； locked my teeth； held my breath； and wrapped my
right arm very lightly around his warm； soft waist。
〃Keep real close； Bells；〃 he mumbled。 〃Real close。〃
〃Love you； Dad；〃 I whispered through my teeth。
He shivered and pulled away。 I dropped my arm。
〃Love you； too； kid。 Whatever else has changed； that hasn't。〃 He touched one finger to Renesmee's pink
cheek。 〃She sure looks a lot like you。〃
I kept my expression casual； though I felt anything but。 〃More like Edward； I think。〃 I hesitated； and then
added； 〃She has your curls。〃
Charlie started； then snorted。 〃Huh。 Guess she does。 Huh。 Grandpa。〃 He shook his head doubtfully。 〃Do
I ever get to hold her？〃
I blinked in shock and then composed myself。 After considering for a half second and judging
Renesmee's appearance—she looked completely out—I decided that I might as well push my luck to the
limit； since things were going so well today___
〃Here；〃 I said； holding her out to him。 He automatically made an awkward cradle with his arms； and I
tucked Renesmee into it。 His skin wasn't quite as hot as hers； but it made my throat tickle to feel the
warmth flowing under the thin membrane。 Where my white skin brushed him it left goose bumps。 I wasn't
sure if this was a reaction to my new temperature or totally psychological。
Charlie grunted quietly as he felt her weight。 〃She's。。。 sturdy。〃
I frowned。 She felt feather…light to me。 Maybe my measure was off。
〃Sturdy is good；〃 Charlie said； seeing my expression。 Then he muttered to himself； 〃She'll need to be
tough； surrounded by all this craziness。〃 He bounced his arms gently； swaying a little from side to side。
〃Prettiest baby I ever saw； including you； kid。 Sorry； but it's true。〃
〃I know it is。〃
〃Pretty baby；〃 he said again； but it was closer to a coo this time。
I could see it in his face—I could watch it growing there。 Charlie was just as helpless against her magic
as the rest of us。 Two seconds in his arms； and already she owned him。
〃Can I come back tomorrow？〃
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〃Sure； Dad。 Of course。 We'll be here。〃
〃You'd better be；〃 he said sternly； but his face was soft； still gazing at Renesmee。 〃See you tomorrow；
Nessie。〃
〃Not you； too！〃
〃Huh？〃
〃Her name is Renesmee。 Like Renee and Esme； put together。 No variations。〃 I struggled to calm myself
without the deep breath this tim