Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [94]
Shes all right, Edward whispered. Or, the same, I should say.
Edward was on the couch with his face in his hands; he hadnt looked up to speak. Esme was next to him, her arm wrapped tight around his shoulders.
Hello, Jacob, she said. Im so glad you came back.
Me, too, Alice said with a deep sigh. She came prancing down the stairs, making a face. Like I was late for an appointment.
Uh, hey, I said. It felt weird to try to be polite.
Wheres Bella?
Bathroom, Alice told me. Mostly fluid diet, you know. Plus, the whole pregnancy thing does that to you, I hear.
Ah.
I stood there awkwardly, rocking back and forth on my heels.
Oh, wonderful, Rosalie grumbled. I whipped my head around and saw her coming from a hall half-hidden behind the stairway. She had Bella cradled gently in her arms, a harsh sneer on her face for me. I knew I smelled something nasty.
And, just like before, Bellas face lit up like a kids on Christmas morning. Like Id brought her the greatest gift ever.
It was so unfair.
Jacob, she breathed. You came.
Hi, Bells.
Esme and Edward both got up. I watched how carefully Rosalie laid Bella out on the couch. I watched how, despite that, Bella turned white and held her breath-like she was set on not making any noise no matter how much it hurt.
Edward brushed his hand across her forehead and then along her neck. He tried to make it look as if he was just sweeping her hair back, but it looked like a doctors examination to me.
Are you cold? he murmured.
Im fine.
Bella, you know what Carlisle told you, Rosalie said. Dont downplay anything. It doesnt help us take care of either of you.
Okay, Im a little cold. Edward, can you hand me that blanket?
I rolled my eyes. Isnt that sort of the point of me being here?
You just walked in, Bella said. After running all day, Id bet. Put your feet up for a minute. Ill probably warm up again in no time.
I ignored her, going to sit on the floor next the sofa while she was still telling me what to do. At that point, though, I wasnt sure how She looked pretty brittle, and I was afraid to move her, even to put my arms around her. So I just leaned carefully against her side, letting my arm rest along the length of hers, and held her hand. Then I put my other hand against her face. It was hard to tell if she felt colder than usual.
Thanks, Jake, she said, and I felt her shiver once.
Yeah, I said.
Edward sat on the arm of the sofa by Bellas feet, his eyes always on her face.
It was too much to hope, with all the super- hearing in the room, that no one would notice my stomach rumbling.
Rosalie, why dont you get Jacob something from the kitchen? Alice said. She was invisible now, sitting quietly behind the back of the sofa.
Rosalie stared at the place Alices voice had come from in disbelief.
Thanks, anyway, Alice, but I dont think Id want to eat something Blondies spit in. Id bet my system wouldnt take too kindly to venom.
Rosalie would never embarrass Esme by displaying such a lack of hospitality.
Of course not, Blondie said in a sugar-sweet voice that I immediately distrusted. She got up and breezed out of the room.
Edward sighed.
Youd tell me if she poisoned it, right? I asked.
Yes, Edward promised.
And for some reason I believed him.
There was a lot of banging in the kitchen, and-weirdly-the sound of metal protesting as it was abused. Edward sighed again, but smiled just a little, too. Then Rosalie was back before I could think much more about it. With a pleased smirk, she set a silver bowl on the floor next to me.
Enjoy, mongrel.
It had once probably been a big mixing bowl, but shed bent the bowl back in on itself until it was shaped almost exactly like a dog dish. I had to be impressed with her quick craftsmanship. And her attention to detail. Shed scratched the word Fido into the side. Excellent handwriting.
Because the food looked