Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [164]
Hello, Charlie, he said, looking appropriately abashed. After all, we were supposed to be in Atlanta at the Center for Disease Control. Charlie knew hed been lied to.
Carlisle, Charlie greeted him stiffly. Wheres Bella?
Right here, Dad.
Ugh! My voice was so wrong. Plus, Id used up some of my air supply. I gulped in a quick refill, glad that Charlies scent had not saturated the room yet.
Charlies 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 wind-chime voice. Hi, Dad.
He took a deep breath to steady himself.
Hey, Charlie, Jacob greeted him from the corner. Howre 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? he asked again.
I spoke in a lower voice, trying to keep the ring out of it. Its really me.
His jaw locked.
Im sorry, Dad, I said.
Are you okay? he demanded.
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 didnt believe them one bit.
I steeled myself, focused on Renesmees warm weight, leaned into Edward for support, and took a deep breath.
Charlies 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 Id 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 wasnt 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 Charlies 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 youre 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 youd 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.
Shes shes, well, shes a beauty.
Yes, Edward agreed.
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. He shook his head absently. Jake says you call her Nessie?
No, we dont, I said, my voice too sharp and piercing. Her name is Renesmee.
Charlie