4 breaking dawn破晓-第2部分

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too。　

Of　course；　there　were　drawbacks　to　it　being　Saturday。　As　I　turned　slowly　and　carefully　onto　my　street；　I　
could　see　my　dad's　police　cruiser　in　the　driveway　of　our　home。　He'd　skipped　fishing　again　today。　Still　
sulking　about　the　

wedding。　

So　I　wouldn't　be　able　to　use　the　phone　inside。　But　I　had　to　call___　

I　parked　on　the　curb　behind　the　Chevy　sculpture　and　pulled　the　cell　phone　Edward　had　given　me　for　
emergencies　out　of　the　glove　partment。　I　dialed；　keeping　my　finger　on　the　〃end〃　button　as　the　phone　
rang。　Just　in　case。　

〃Hello？〃　Seth　Clearwater　answered；　and　I　sighed　in　relief。　I　was　way　too　chicken　to　speak　to　his　older　
sister；　Leah。　The　phrase　〃bite　my　head　off　was　not　entirely　a　figure　of　speech　when　it　came　to　Leah。　

〃Hey；　Seth；　it's　Bella。〃　

〃Oh；　hiya；　Bella！　How　are　you？〃　

Choked　up。　Desperate　for　reassurance。　〃Fine。〃　

〃Calling　for　an　update？〃　

〃You're　psychic。〃　

〃Not　hardly。　I'm　no　Alice—you're　just　predictable；〃　he　joked。　Among　the　Quileute　pack　down　at　La　
Push；　only　Seth　was　fortable　even　mentioning　the　Cullens　by　name；　let　alone　joking　about　things　like　
my　nearly　omniscient　sisterinlawtobe。　

〃I　know　I　am。〃　I　hesitated　for　a　minute。　〃How　is　he？〃　

Seth　sighed。　〃Same　as　ever。　He　won't　talk；　though　we　know　he　hears　us。　He's　trying　not　to　think　human；　
you　know。　Just　going　with　his　instincts。〃　



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〃Do　you　know　where　he　is　now？〃　

〃Somewhere　in　northern　Canada。　I　can't　tell　you　which　province。　He　doesn't　pay　much　attention　to　state　
lines。〃　

〃Any　hint　that　he　might。。。〃　

〃He's　not　ing　home；　Bella。　Sorry。〃　

I　swallowed。　〃S'okay；　Seth。　I　knew　before　I　asked。　I　just　can't　help　wishing。〃　

〃Yeah。　We　all　feel　the　same　way。〃　

〃Thanks　for　putting　up　with　me；　Seth。　I　know　the　others　must　give　you　a　hard　time。〃　

〃They're　not　your　hugest　fans；〃　he　agreed　cheerfully。　〃Kind　of　lame；　I　think。　Jacob　made　his　choices；　you　
made　yours。　Jake　doesn't　like　their　attitude　about　it。　'Course；　he　isn't　super　thrilled　that　you're　checking　
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　pletely。　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。　Jacobtherunaway　was　just　one　of　the　straws　on　his　
overburdened　back。　He　was　almost　as　worried　about　me；　his　barelyalegaladult　daughter　who　was　
about　to　bee　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；　panicstricken。　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　nieen　every　stinking　day；　while　Edward　
stayed　frozen　in　all　his　seventeenyearold　perfection；　as　he　had　for　over　niy　years。　Not　that　this　fact　
necessitated　marriage　in　my　book；　but　the　wedding　was　required　due　to　the　delicate　and　tangled　
promise　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　oldfashioned　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　ing；〃　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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I　paused　with　my　hand　on　the　doorknob；　smiling。　Sure；　at　the　time；　Charlie's　words　had　terrified　me。　The　
ultimate　doom：　telling　Renee。　Early　marriage　was　higher　up　on　her　blacklist　than　boiling　live　puppies。　

Who　could　have　foreseen　her　response？　Not　me。　Certainly　not　Charlie。　Maybe　Alice；　but　I　hadn't　
thought　to　ask　her。　

〃Well；　Bella；〃　Renee　had　said　after　I'd　choked　and　stuttered　out　the　impossible　words：　Worn；　I'm　
marrying　Edward。　Tm　a　little　miffed　that　you　waited　so　long　to　tell　me。　Plane　tickets　only　get　more　
expensive。　Oooh；〃　she'd　fretted。　〃Do　you　think　Phil's　cast　will　be　off　by　then？　It　will　spoil　the　pictures　if　
he's　not　in　a　tux—〃　

〃Back　up　a　second；　Mom。〃　I'd　gasped。　〃What　do　you　mean；　waited　so　long？　I　just　got　enen　。　。　。〃—I'd　
been　unable　to　force　out　the　word　engaged—〃things　settled；　you　know；　today。〃　

〃Today？　Really？　That　is　a　surprise。　I　assumed　。。。〃　

〃What　did　you　assume？　When　did　you　assume？〃　

〃Well；　when　you　came　to　visit　me　in　April；　it　looked　like　things　were　pretty　much　sewn　up；　if　you　know　
what　I　mean。　You're　not　very　hard　to　read；　sweetie。　But　I　didn't　say　anything　because　I　knew　it　wouldn't　
do　any　good。　You're　exactly　like　Charlie。〃　She'd　sighed；　resigned。　〃Once　you　make　up　your　mind；　there　
is　no　reasoning　with　you。　Of　course；　exactly　like　Charlie；　you　stick　by　your　decisions；　too。〃　

And　then　she'd　said　the　last　thing　that　I'd　ever　expected　to　hear　from　my　mother。　

〃You're　not　making　my　mistakes；　Bella。　You　sound　like　you're　scared　silly；　and　I'm　guessing　it's　because　
you're　afraid　of　me。〃　She'd　giggled。　〃Of　what　I'm　going　to　think。　And　I　know　I've　said　a　lot　of　things　
about　marriage　and　stupidity—and　I'm　not　taking　them　back—but　you　need　to　realize　that　those　things　
specifically　applied　to　me。　You're　a　pletely　different　person　than　I　am。　You　make　your　own　kinds　of　
mistakes；　and　I'm　sure　you'll　have　your　share　of　regrets　in　life。　But　mitment　was　never　your　problem；　
sweetie。　You　have　a　better　chance　of　making　this　work　than　most　fortyyearolds　I　know。〃　Renee　had　
laughed　again。　〃My　little　middleaged　child。　Luckily；　you　seem　to　have　found　another　old　soul。〃　

〃You're　not。。。　mad？　You　don't　think　I'm　making　a　humongous　mistake？〃　

〃Well；　sure；　I　wish　you'd　wait　a　few　more　years。　I　mean；　do　I　look　old　enough　to　be　a　motherinlaw　to　
you？　Don't　answer　that。　But　this　isn't　about　me。　This　is　about　you。　Are　you　happy？〃　

〃I　don't　know。　I'm　having　an　outofbody　experience　right　now。〃　

Renee　had　chuckled。　〃Does　he　make　you　happy；　Bella？〃　

〃Yes；　but—〃　

〃Are　you　ever　going　to　want　anyone　else？〃　

〃No；　but—〃　

〃But　what？〃　

〃But　aren't　you　going　to　say　that　I　sound　exactly　like　every　other　infatuated　teenager　since　the　dawn　of　



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time？〃　

〃You've　never　been　a　teenager；　sweetie。　You　know　what's　best　for　you。〃　

For　the　last　few　weeks；　Renee　had　unexpectedly　immersed　herself　in　wedding　plans。　She'd　spent　hours　
every　day　on　the　phone　with　Edward's　mother；　Esme—no　worries　about　the　inlaws　getting　along。　
Renee　adored　Esme；　but　then；　I　doubted　anyone　could　help　responding　that　way　to　my　lovable　
almostmotherinlaw。　

It　let　me　right　off　the　hook。　Edward's　family　and　my　family　were　taking　care　of　the　nuptials　together　
without　my　having　to　do　or　know　or　think　too　hard　about　any　of　it。　

Charlie　was　furious；　of　course；　but　the　sweet　part　was　that　he　wasn't　furious　at　me。　Renee　was　the　
traitor。　He'd　counted　on　her　to　play　the　heavy。　What　could　he　do　now；　when　his　ultimate　threat—telling　
Mom—had　turned　out　to　be　utterly　empty？　He　had　nothing；　and　he　knew　it。　So　he　moped　around　the　
house；　muttering　things　about　not　being　able　to　trust　anyone　in　this　world___　

〃Dad？〃　I　called　as　I　pushed　open　the　front　door。　〃I'm　home。〃　

〃Hold　on；　Bells；　stay　right　there。〃　

〃Huh？〃　I　asked；　pausing　automatically。　

〃Gimme　a　second。　Ouch；　you　got　me；　Alice。〃　

Alice？　

〃Sorry；　Charlie；〃　Alice's　trilling　voice　responded。　〃How's　that？〃　

〃I'm　bleeding　on　it。〃　

〃You're　fine。　Didn't　break　the　skin—trust　me。〃　

〃What's　going　on？〃　I　demanded；　hesitating　in　the　doorway。　

〃Thirty　seconds；　please；　Bella；〃　Alice　told　me。　〃Your　patience　will　be　rewarded。〃　

〃Humph；〃　Charlie　added。　

I　tapped　my　foot；　counting　each　beat。　Before　I　got　to　thirty；　Alice　said；　〃Okay；　Bella；　e　in！〃　

Moving　with　caution；　I　rounded　the　litt