Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [161]
I inhaled deeply. What was the other thing he wanted?
Jacob smiled. Youll like this. His main request is that he be told as little as possible about all of this. If its not absolutely essential for him to know something, then keep it to yourself. Need to know, only.
I felt relief for the first time since Jacob had walked in. I can handle that part.
Other than that, hed just like to pretend things are normal. Jacobs smile turned smug; he must suspect that I would be starting to feel the first faint stirrings of gratitude about now.
What did you tell him about Renesmee? I struggled to maintain the razor edge in my voice, fighting the reluctant appreciation. It was premature. There was still so much wrong with this situation. Even if Jacobs intervention had brought out a better reaction in Charlie than Id ever hoped for
Oh yeah. So I told him that you and Edward had inherited a new little mouth to feed. He glanced at Edward. Shes your orphaned ward-like Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson. Jacob snorted. I didnt think youd mind me lying. Thats all part of the game, right? Edward didnt respond in any way, so Jacob went on. Charlie was way past being shocked at this point, but he did ask if you were adopting her. Like a daughter? Like Im sort of a grandfather? were his exact words. I told him yes. Congrats, Gramps, and all of that. He even smiled a little.
The stinging returned to my eyes, but not out of fear or anguish this time. Charlie was smiling at the idea of being a grandpa? Charlie would meet Renesmee?
But shes changing so fast, I whispered.
I told him that she was more special than all of us put together, Jacob said in a soft voice. He stood and walked right up to me, waving Leah and Seth off when they started to follow. Renesmee reached out to him, but I hugged her more tightly to me. I told him, Trust me, you dont want to know about this. But if you can ignore all the strange parts, youre going to be amazed. Shes the most wonderful person in the whole world. And then I told him that if he could deal with that, you all would stick around for a while and he would have a chance to get to know her. But that if it was too much for him, you would leave. He said as long as no one forced too much information on him, hed deal.
Jacob stared at me with half a smile, waiting.
Im not going to say thank you, I told him. Youre still putting Charlie at a huge risk.
I am sorry about it hurting you. I didnt know it was like that. Bella, things are different with us now, but youll always be my best friend, and Ill always love you. But Ill love you the right way now. Theres finally a balance. We both have people we cant live without.
He smiled his very most Jacob-y smile. Still friends?
Try as hard as I could to resist, I had to smile back. Just a tiny smile.
He held out his hand: an offer.
I took a deep breath and shifted Renesmees weight to one arm. I put my left hand in his-he didnt even flinch at the feel of my cool skin. If I dont kill Charlie tonight, Ill consider forgiving you for this.
When you dont kill Charlie tonight, youll owe me huge.
I rolled my eyes.
He held out his other hand toward Renesmee, a request this time. Can I?
Im actually holding her so that my hands arent free to kill you, Jacob. Maybe later.
He sighed but didnt push me on it. Wise of him.
Alice raced back through the door then, her hands full and her expression promising violence.
You, you, and you, she snapped, glaring at the werewolves. If you must stay, get over in the corner and commit to being there for a while. I need to see. Bella, youd better give him the baby, too. Youll need your arms free, anyway.
Jacob grinned in triumph.
Undiluted fear ripped through my stomach as the enormity of what I was about to do hit me. I was going to gamble on my iffy self-control with my pure human father as the guinea pig. Edwards earlier words crashed in my ears again.