友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
4 breaking dawn破晓-第49部分
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!
Page 297
Generatedby ABC Amber LIT Converter; :。processtext。abclit。html
Knock; knock; knock。
I inhaled for what might be the last time。 Renesmee nestled deeper into my arms; hiding her face in my
hair。
Carlisle answered the door。 His stressed expression changed to one of wele; like switching the
channel on the TV。
〃Hello; Charlie;〃 he said; looking appropriately abashed。 After all; we were supposed to be in Atlanta at
the Center for Disease Control。 Charlie knew he'd been lied to。
〃Carlisle;〃 Charlie greeted him stiffly。 〃Where's Bella?〃
〃Right here; Dad。〃
Ugh! My voice was so wrong。 Plus; I'd used up some of my air supply。 I gulped in a quick refill; glad
that Charlie's scent had not saturated the room yet。
Charlie's blank expression told me how off my voice was。 His eyes zeroed in on me and widened。
I read the emotions as they scrolled across his face。
Shock。 Disbelief。 Pain。 Loss。 Fear。 Anger。 Suspicion。 More pain。
I bit my lip。 It felt funny。 My new teeth were sharper against my granite skin than my human teeth had
been against my soft human lips。
〃Is that you; Bella?〃 he whispered。
〃Yep。〃 I winced at my windchime voice。 〃Hi; Dad。〃
He took a deep breath to steady himself。
〃Hey; Charlie;〃 Jacob greeted him from the corner。 〃How're things?〃
Charlie glowered at Jacob once; shuddered at a memory; and then stared at me again。
Slowly; Charlie walked across the room until he was a few feet away from me。 He darted an accusing
glare at Edward; and then his eyes flickered back to me。 The warmth of his body heat beat against me
with each pulse of his heart。
〃Bella?〃 heasked again。
I spoke in a lower voice; trying to keep the ring out of it。〃It's really me。〃
His jaw locked。
〃I'm sorry; Dad;〃 I said。
〃Are you okay?〃 he demanded。
Page 298
Generatedby ABC Amber LIT Converter; :。processtext。abclit。html
〃Really and truly great;〃 I promised。 〃Healthy as a horse。〃
That was it for my oxygen。
〃Jake told me this was。。。 necessary。 That you were dying。〃 He said the words like he didn't believe them
one bit。
I steeled myself; focused on Renesmee's warm weight; leaned into Edward for support; and took a deep
breath。
Charlie's scent was a fistful of flames; punching straight down my throat。 But it was so much more than
pain。 It was a hot stabbing of desire; too。 Charlie smelled more delicious than anything I'd ever imagined。
As appealing as the anonymous hikers had been on the hunt; Charlie was doubly tempting。 And he was
just a few feet away; leaking mouthwatering heat and moisture into the dry air。
But I wasn't hunting now。 And this was my father。
Edward squeezed my shoulders sympathetically; and Jacob shot an apologetic glance at me across the
room。
I tried to collect myself and ignore the pain and longing of the thirst。 Charlie was waiting for my answer。
〃Jacob was telling you the truth。〃
〃That makes one of you;〃 Charlie growled。
I hoped Charlie could see past the changes in my new face to read the remorse there。
Under my hair; Renesmee sniffed as Charlie's scent registered with her; too。 I tightened my grip on her。
Charlie saw my anxious glance down and followed it。 〃Oh;〃 he said; and all the anger fell off his face;
leaving only shock behind。 〃This is her。 The orphan Jacob said you're adopting。〃
〃My niece;〃 Edward lied smoothly。 He must have decided that the resemblance between Renesmee and
him was too pronounced to be ignored。 Best to claim they were related from the beginning。
〃I thought you'd lost your family;〃 Charlie said; accusation returning to his voice。
〃I lost my parents。 My older brother was adopted; like me。 I never saw him after that。 But the courts
located me when he and his wife died in a car accident; leaving their only child without any other family。〃
Edward was so good at this。 His voice was even; with just the right amount of innocence。 I needed
practice so that I could do that。
Renesmee peeked out from under my hair; sniffing again。 She glanced shyly at Charlie from under her
long lashes; then hid again。
〃She's。。。 she's;well; she's a beauty。〃
〃Yes;〃 Edward agreed。
Page 299
Generatedby ABC Amber LIT Converter; :。processtext。abclit。html
〃Kind of a big responsibility; though。 You two are just getting started。〃
〃What else could we do?〃 Edward brushed his fingers lightly over her cheek。 I saw him touch her lips for
just a moment—a reminder。 〃Would you have refused her?〃
〃Hmph。 Well。〃 Heshook his head absently。 〃Jake says you call her Nessie?〃
〃No; we don't;〃 I said; my voice too sharp and piercing。 〃Her name is Renesmee。〃
Charlie refocused on me。 〃How do you feel about this? Maybe Carlisle and Esme could—〃
〃She's mine;〃 I interrupted。 〃I want her。〃
Charlie frowned。 〃You gonna make me a grandpa so young?〃
Edward smiled。 〃Carlisle is a grandfather; too。〃
Charlie shot an incredulous glance at Carlisle; still standing by the front door; he looked like Zeus's
younger; betterlooking brother。
Charlie snorted and then laughed。 〃I guess that does sort of make me feel better。〃His eyes strayed back
to Renesmee。 〃She sure is something to look at。〃 His warm breath blew lightly across the space between
us。
Renesmee leaned toward the smell; shaking off my hair and looking him full in the face for the first time。
Charlie gasped。
I knew what he was seeing。 My eyes—his eyes—copied exactly into her perfect face。
Charlie started hyperventilating。 His lips trembled; and I could read the numbers he mouthed。 He was
counting backward; trying to fit nine months into one。 Trying to put it together but not able to force the
evidence right in front of him to make any sense。
Jacob got up and came over to pat Charlie on the back。 He leaned in to whisper something in Charlie's
ear; only Charlie didn't know we could all hear。
〃Need to know; Charlie。 It's okay。 I promise。〃
Charlie swallowed and nodded。 And then his eyes blazed as he took a step closer to Edward with his
fists tightly clenched。
〃I don't want to know everything; but I'm done with the lies!〃
〃I'm sorry;〃 Edward said calmly; 〃but you need to know the public story more than you need to know
the truth。 If you're going to be part of this secret; the public story is the one that counts。 It's to protect
Bella and Renesmee as well as the rest of us。 Can you go along with the lies for them?〃
The room wasfull of statues。 I crossed my ankles。
Charlie huffed once and then turned his glare on me。 〃You might've given me some warning; kid。〃
Page 300
Generatedby ABC Amber LIT Converter; :。processtext。abclit。html
〃Would it really have made this any easier?〃
He frowned; and then he knelt on the floor in front of me。 I could see the movement of the blood in his
neck under his skin。 I could feel the warm vibration of it。
So could Renesmee。 She smiled and reached one pink palm out to him。 I held her back。 She pushed her
other
hand against my neck; thirst; curiosity; and Charlie's face in her thoughts。 There was a subtle edge to the
message that made me think that she'd understood Edward's words perfectly; she acknowledged thirst;
but overrode it in the same thought。
〃Whoa;〃 Charlie gasped; his eyes on her perfect teeth。 〃How old is she?〃
〃Urn。。。〃
〃Three months;〃 Edward said; and then added slowly; 〃rather; she's the size of a threemonthold; more
or less。 She's younger in some ways; more mature in others。〃
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。〃
Page 301
Generatedby ABC Amber LIT Converter; :。processtext。abclit。html
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
halffell 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 footballrelated with each aside—and the aftergame mentaries; 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 plicated___〃
〃Need to know;〃 he reminded me。
Page 302
Generatedby ABC Amber LIT Converter; :。processtext。abclit。html
〃Right。〃
〃You'll visit; though; if you have to go?〃
〃I promise; Dad。 Now that you knowusf 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 posed myself。 After considering for a half second and judging
Renesmee's appearance—she looked pletely 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 featherlight 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 e back tomorrow?〃
Page 303
Generatedby ABC Amber LIT Converter; :。processtext。abclit。html
〃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 time。 〃Do you want to hear her middle name?〃
〃Sure。〃
〃Carlie。 With a C。 Like Carlisle and Charlie put together。〃
Charlie's eyecreasing grin lit up his face; taking me off guard。 〃Thanks; Bells。〃
〃Thank you; Dad。 So much has changed so quickly。 My head hasn't stopped spinning。 If I didn't have
you now; I don't know how I'd keep my grip on—on reality。〃 I'd been about to say my grip on who I
was。 That was probably more than he needed。
Charlie's stomach growled。
〃Go eat; Dad。 We will be here。〃 I remembered how it felt; that first unfortable immersion in fantasy
—the sensation that everything would disappear in the light of the rising sun。
Charlie nodded and then reluctantly returned Renesmee to me。 He glanced past me into the house; his
eyes were a little wild for a minute as he stared around the big bright room
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!