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fabric on the bottom step of the porch。 I loped over to investigate。 Holding my breath； because the
vampire smell stuck to the fabric like you wouldn't believe； I nudged the stack with my nose。
Someone had laid out clothes。 Huh。 Edward must have caught my moment of irritation as I'd bolted out
the door。 Well。 That was。。。 nice。 And weird。
I took the clothes gingerly between my teeth—ugh—and carried them back to the trees。 Just in case this
was some joke by the blond psychopath and I had a bunch of girls' stuff here。 Bet she'd love to see the
look on my human face as I stood there naked； holding a sundress。
In the cover of the trees； I dropped the stinking pile and shifted back to human。 I shook the clothes out；
snapping them against a tree to beat some of the smell from them。 They were definitely guy's clothes—tan
pants and a white button…down shirt。 Neither of them long enough； but they looked like they'd fit around
me。 Must be Emmett's。 I rolled the cuffs up on the shirtsleeves； but there wasn't much I could do about
the pants。 Oh well。
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I had to admit； I felt better with some clothes to my name； even stinky ones that didn't quite fit。 It was
hard not being able to just jet back home and grab another pair of old sweatpants when I needed them。
The homeless thing again—not having anyplace to go back to。 No possessions； either； which wasn't
bothering me too bad now； but would probably get annoying soon。
Exhausted； I walked slowly up the Cullens' porch steps in my fancy new secondhand clothes but
hesitated when I got to the door。 Did I knock？ Stupid； when they knew I was here。 I wondered why no
one acknowledged that—told
me either to come in or get lost Whatever。 I shrugged and let myself in。
More changes。 The room had shifted back to normal—almost—in the last twenty minutes。 The big
flat…screen was on； low volume； showing some chick flick that no one seemed to be watching。 Carlisle
and Esme stood by the back windows； which were open to the river again。 Alice； Jasper； and Emmett
were out of sight； but I heard them murmuring upstairs。 Bella was on the couch like yesterday； with just
one tube still hooked into her； and an IV hanging behind the back of the sofa。 She was wrapped up like a
burrito in a couple of thick quilts； so at least they'd listened to me before。 Rosalie was cross…legged on
the ground by her head。 Edward sat at the other end of the couch with Bella's burrito'ed feet in his lap。
He looked up when I came in and smiled at me—just a little twitch of his mouth—like something pleased
him。
Bella didn't hear me。 She only glanced up when he did； and then she smiled； too。 With real energy； her
whole face lighting up。 I couldn't remember the last time she'd looked so excited to see me。
What was with her？ For crying out loud； she was married＇ Happily married； too—there was no
question that she was in love with her vampire past the boundaries of sanity。 And hugely pregnant； to top
it off。
So why did she have to be so damn thrilled to see me？ Like I'd made her whole freakin' day by walking
through the door。
If she would just not care。。。 Or more than that—really not want me around。 It would be so much easier
to stay away。
Edward seemed to be in agreement with my thoughts—we were on the same wavelength so much lately
it was crazy。 He was frowning now； reading her face while she beamed at me。
〃They just wanted to talk；〃 I mumbled； my voice dragging with exhaustion。 〃No attack on the horizon。〃
〃Yes；〃 Edward answered。 〃I heard most of it。〃
That woke me up a little。 We'd been a good three miles out。 〃How？〃
Tm hearing you more clearly—it's a matter of familiarity and concentration。 Also； your thoughts are
slightly easier to pick up when you're in your human form。 So I caught most of what passed out there。〃
〃Oh。〃 It bugged me a little； but for no good reason； so I shrugged it off。 〃Good。 I hate repeating myself。〃
〃I'd tell you to go get some sleep；〃 Bella said； 〃but my guess is that you're going to pass out on the floor
in about six seconds； so there's probably no point。〃
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It was amazing how much better she sounded； how much stronger she looked。 I smelled fresh blood and
saw that the cup was in her hands again。 How much blood would it take to keep her going？ At some
point； would they start trotting in the neighbors？
I headed for the door； counting off the seconds for her as I walked。 〃One Mississippi。。。 two
Mississippi。。。〃
〃Where's the flood； mutt？〃 Rosalie muttered。
〃You know how you drown a blonde； Rosalie？〃 I asked without stopping or turning to look at her。 〃Glue
a mirror to the bottom of a pool。〃
I heard Edward chuckle as I pulled the door shut。 His mood seemed to improve in exact correlation to
Bella's
health。
〃I've already heard that one；'7Rosalie called after me。
I trudged down the steps； my only goal to drag myself far enough into the trees that the air would be
pure again。 I planned to ditch the clothes a convenient distance from the house for future use rather than
tying them to my leg； so I wouldn't be smelling them； either。 As I fumbled with the buttons on the new
shirt； I thought randomly about how buttons would never be in style for werewolves。
I heard the voices while I slogged across the lawn。
〃Where are you going？〃 Bella asked。
〃There was something I forgot to say to him。〃
〃Let Jacob sleep—it can wait。〃
Yes； please； let Jacob sleep。
〃It will only take a moment。〃
I turned slowly。 Edward was already out the door。 He had an apology in his expression as he
approached me。
〃Jeez； what now？〃
Tm sorry；〃 he said； and then he hesitated； like he didn't know how to phrase what he was thinking。
What's on your mind； mind reader？
〃When you were speaking to Sam's delegates earlier；〃 he murmured； 〃I was giving a play…by…play for
Carlisle and Esme and the rest。 They were concerned—〃
〃Look； we're not dropping our guard。 You don't have to believe Sam like we do。 We're keeping our
eyes open regardless。〃
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〃No； no； Jacob。 Not about that。 We trust your judgment。 Rather； Esme was troubled by the hardships
this is putting your pack through。 She asked me to speak to you privately about it。〃
That took me off guard。 〃Hardships？〃
〃The homeless part； particularly。 She's very upset that you are all so。。。 bereft。〃
I snorted。 Vampire mother hen—bizarre。 〃We're tough。 Tell her not to worry。〃
〃She'd still like to do what she can。 I got the impression that Leah prefers not to