Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [153]
Alice tugged my elbow, and I couldnt stop smiling as I followed her into the purple night. Only Edward came with us.
Theres the enthusiasm Im looking for, Alice murmured approvingly. Then she dropped my arm, made two lithe bounds, and leaped over the river.
Cmon, Bella, she called from the other side.
Edward jumped at the same time I did; it was every bit as fun as it had been this afternoon. Maybe a little bit more fun because the night changed everything into new, rich colors.
Alice took off with us on her heels, heading due north. It was easier to follow the sound of her feet whispering against the ground and the fresh path of her scent than it was to keep my eyes on her through the thick vegetation.
At no sign I could see, she whirled and dashed back to where I paused.
Dont attack me, she warned, and sprang at me.
What are you doing? I demanded, squirming as she scrambled onto my back and wrapped her hands around my face. I felt the urge to throw her off, but I controlled it.
Making sure you cant see.
I could take care of that without the theatrics, Edward offered.
You might let her cheat. Take her hand and lead her forward.
Alice, I-
Dont bother, Bella. Were doing this my way.
I felt Edwards fingers weave through mine. Just a few seconds more, Bella. Then shell go annoy someone else. He pulled me forward. I kept up easily. I wasnt afraid of hitting a tree; the tree would be the only one getting hurt in that scenario.
You might be a little more appreciative, Alice chided him. This is as much for you as it is for her.
True. Thank you again, Alice.
Yeah, yeah. Okay. Alices voice suddenly shot up with excitement. Stop there. Turn her just a little to the right. Yes, like that. Okay. Are you ready? she squeaked.
Im ready. There were new scents here, piquing my interest, increasing my curiosity. Scents that didnt belong in the deep woods. Honeysuckle. Smoke. Roses. Sawdust? Something metallic, too. The richness of deep earth, dug up and exposed. I leaned toward the mystery.
Alice hopped down from my back, releasing her grip on my eyes.
I stared into the violet dark. There, nestled into a small clearing in the forest, was a tiny stone cottage, lavender gray in the light of the stars.
It belonged here so absolutely that it seemed as if it must have grown from the rock, a natural formation. Honeysuckle climbed up one wall like a lattice, winding all the way up and over the thick wooden shingles. Late summer roses bloomed in a handkerchief-sized garden under the dark, deep-set windows. There was a little path of flat stones, amethyst in the night, that led up to the quaint arched wooden door.
I curled my hand around the key I held, shocked.
What do you think? Alices voice was soft now; it fit with the perfect quiet of the storybook scene.
I opened my mouth but said nothing.
Esme thought we might like a place of our own for a while, but she didnt want us too far away, Edward murmured. And she loves any excuse to renovate. This little place has been crumbling away out here for at least a hundred years.
I continued staring, mouth gaping like a fish.
Dont you like it? Alices face fell. I mean, Im sure we could fix it up differently, if you want. Emmett was all for adding a few thousand square feet, a second story, columns, and a tower, but Esme thought you would like it best the way it was meant to look. Her voice started to climb, to go faster. If she was wrong, we can get back to work. It wont take long to-
Shh! I managed.
She pressed her lips together and waited. It took me a few seconds to recover.
Youre giving me a house for my birthday? I whispered.
Us, Edward corrected. And its no more than a cottage. I think the word house implies more legroom.
No knocking my house, I whispered to him.
Alice beamed. You like it.
I shook my head.
Love it?
I nodded.
I cant wait to tell Esme!
Why didnt she come?
Alices smile faded a little, twisted just off what it had been, like my question was hard to answer. Oh, you know they all remember how you are about presents. They didnt want to put you under too