Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [165]
Shes 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 Zeuss younger, better-looking 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 Charlies ear; only Charlie didnt know we could all hear.
Need to know, Charlie. Its 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 dont want to know everything, but Im done with the lies!
Im sorry, Edward said calmly, but you need to know the public story more than you need to know the truth. If youre going to be part of this secret, the public story is the one that counts. Its to protect Bella and Renesmee as well as the rest of us. Can you go along with the lies for them?
The room was full of statues. I crossed my ankles.
Charlie huffed once and then turned his glare on me. You mightve given me some warning, kid.
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 Charlies face in her thoughts. There was a subtle edge to the message that made me think that shed understood Edwards 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?
Um
Three months, Edward said, and then added slowly, rather, shes the size of a three-month-old, more or less. Shes 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, didnt I?
Charlie cringed away from the contact.
Oh, cmon, Charlie, Jacob groaned. Im the same person Ive always been. Just pretend this afternoon didnt happen.
The reminder made Charlies 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 Jacobs 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. Everythings 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.
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