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better at first〃
Charlie trailed off。 It was hard listening to this； knowing how much pain I'd
caused him。
〃But？〃 Alice prompted。
〃She went back to school and work； she ate and slept and did her homework。 She
answered when
someone asked her a direct question。 But she was empty。 Her eyes were blank。
There were lots of
little things—she wouldn't listen to music anymore； I found a bunch of CDs
broken in the trash。 She didn't
read； she wouldn't be in the same room when the TV was on； not that she
watched it so much before。 I
finally figured it out—she was avoiding everything that might remind her of
him。
〃We could hardly talk； I was so worried about saying something that would
upset her—the littlest things
would make her flinch—and she never volunteered anything。 She would just
answer if I asked her
something。
〃She was alone all the time。 She didn't call her friends back； and after a
while； they stopped calling。
〃It was night of the living dead around here。 I still hear her screaming in
her sleep〃
I could almost see him shuddering。 I shuddered； too； remembering。 And then I
sighed。 I hadn't fooled him
at all； not for one second。
〃I'm so sorry； Charlie；〃 Alice said； voice glum。
〃It's not your fault。〃 The way he said it made it perfectly clear that he was
holding someone responsible。
〃You were always a good friend to her。〃
〃She seems better now； though。〃
〃Yeah。 Ever since she started hanging out with Jacob Black； I've noticed a
real improvement。 She has
some color in her cheeks when she es home； some light in her eyes。 She's
happier。〃 He paused； and
his voice was different when he spoke again。 〃He's a year or so younger than
her； and I know she used
to think of him as a friend； but I think maybe it's something more now； or
headed that direction； anyway。〃
Charlie said this in a tone that was almost belligerent。 It was a warning； not
for Alice； but for her to pass
along。 〃Jake's old for his years；〃 he continued； still sounding defensive。
〃He's taken care of his father
physically the way Bella took care of her mother emotionally。 It matured him。
He's a good…looking kid；
too—takes after his mom's side。 He's good for Bella； you know；〃 Charlie
insisted。
〃Then it's good she has him；〃 Alice agreed。
Charlie sighed out a big gust of air； folding quickly to the lack of
opposition。 〃Okay； so I guess that's
overstating things。 I don't know even with Jacob； now and then I see
something in her eyes； and I
wonder if I've ever grasped how much pain she's really in It's not normal；
Alice； and it it frightens me。
Not normal at all。 Not like someone left her； but like someone died。〃 His
voice cracked。
It was like someone had died—like I had died。 Because it had been more than
just losing the truest of
true loves； as if that were not enough to kill anyone。 It was also losing a
whole future； a whole
family—the whole life that I'd chosen
Charlie went on in a hopeless tone。 〃I don't know if she's going to get over
it—I'm not sure if it's in her
nature to heal from something like this。 She's always been such a constant
little thing。 She doesn't get past
things； change her mind。〃
〃She's one of a kind；〃 Alice agreed in a dry voice。
〃And Alice〃 Charlie hesitated。 〃Now； you know how fond I am of you； and I
can tell that she's happy
to see you； but I'm a little worried about what your visit will do to her。〃
〃So am I； Charlie； so am I。 I wouldn't have e if I'd had any idea。 I'm
sorry。〃
〃Don't apologize； honey。 Who knows？ Maybe it will be good for her。〃
〃I hope you're right。〃
There was a long break while forks scraped plates and Charlie chewed。 I
wondered where Alice was
hiding the food。
〃Alice； I have to ask you something；〃 Charlie said awkwardly。
Alice was calm。 〃Go ahead。〃
〃He's not ing back to visit； too； is he？〃 I could hear the suppressed anger
in Charlie's voice。
Alice answered in a soft； reassuring tone。 〃He doesn't even know I'm here。 The
last time I spoke with
him； he was in South America。〃
I stiffened as I heard this new information； and listened harder。
〃That's something； at least。〃 Charlie snorted。 〃Well； I hope he's enjoying
himself。〃
For the first time； Alice's voice had a bit of steel in it。 〃I wouldn't make
assumptions； Charlie。〃 I knew
how her eyes would flash when she used that tone。
A chair scooted from the table； scraping loudly across the floor。 I pictured
Charlie getting up； there was
no way Alice would make that kind of noise。 The faucet ran； splashing against
a dish。
It didn't sound like they were going to say anything more about Edward； so I
decided it was time to
wake up。
I turned over； bouncing against the springs to make them squeak。 Then I yawned
loudly。
All was quiet in the kitchen。
I stretched and groaned。
〃Alice？〃 I asked innocently； the soreness rasping in my throat added nicely to
the charade。
〃I'm in the kitchen； Bella；〃 Alice called； no hint in her voice that she
suspected my eavesdropping。 But she
was good at hiding things like that。
Charlie had to leave then—he was helping Sue Clearwater with the funeral
arrangements。 It would have
been a very long day without Alice。 She never spoke about leaving； and I
didn't ask her。 I knew it was
inevitable； but I put it out of my mind。
Instead； we talked about her family—all but one。
Carlisle was working nights in Ithaca and teaching part time at Cornell。 Esme
was restoring a seventeenth
century house； a historical monument； in the forest north of the city。 Emmett
and Rosalie had gone to
Europe for a few months on another honeymoon； but they were back now。 Jasper
was at Cornell； too；
studying philosophy this time。 And Alice had been doing some personal
research； concerning the
information I'd accidentally uncovered for her last spring。 She'd successfully
tracked down the asylum
where she'd spent the last years of her human life。 The life she had no memory
of。
〃My name was Mary Alice Brandon；〃 she told me quietly。 〃I had a little sister
named Cynthia。 Her
daughter—my niece—is still alive in Biloxi。〃
〃Did you find out why they put