Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [98]
The baby, the baby. Like that was all that mattered. Bellas life was a minor detail to her-easy to blow off.
Edwards face went white as snow. His hands curved into claws. Totally egotistical and indifferent, Rosalie twisted in her chair so that her back was to him. He leaned forward, shifting into a crouch.
Allow me, I suggested.
He paused, raising one eyebrow.
Silently, I lifted my doggy bowl off the floor. Then, with a quick, powerful flip of my wrist, I threw it into the back of Blondies head so hard that-with an earsplitting bang-it smashed flat before it ricocheted across the room and snapped the round top piece off the thick newel post at the foot of the stairs.
Bella twitched but didnt wake up.
Dumb blonde, I muttered.
Rosalie turned her head slowly, and her eyes were blazing.
You. Got. Food. In. My. Hair.
That did it.
I busted up. I pulled away from Bella so that I wouldnt shake her, and laughed so hard that tears ran down my face. From behind the couch, I heard Alices tinkling laugh join in.
I wondered why Rosalie didnt spring. I sort of expected it. But then I realized that my laughing had woken Bella up, though shed slept right through the real noise.
Whats so funny? she mumbled.
I got food in her hair, I told her, chortling again.
Im not going to forget this, dog, Rosalie hissed.
Snot so hard to erase a blondes memory, I countered. Just blow in her ear.
Get some new jokes, she snapped.
Cmon, Jake. Leave Rose alo- Bella broke off mid-sentence and sucked in a sharp breath. In the same second, Edward was leaning over the top of me, ripping the blanket out of the way. She seemed to convulse, her back arching off the sofa.
Hes just, she panted, stretching.
Her lips were white, and she had her teeth locked together like she was trying to hold back a scream.
Edward put both hands on either side of her face.
Carlisle? he called in a tense, low voice.
Right here, the doctor said. I hadnt heard him come in.
Okay, Bella said, still breathing hard and shallow. Think its over. Poor kid doesnt have enough room, thats all. Hes getting so big.
It was really hard to take, that adoring tone she used to describe the thing that was tearing her up. Especially after Rosalies callousness. Made me wish I could throw something at Bella, too.
She didnt pick up on my mood. You know, he reminds me of you, Jake, she said-affectionate tone-still gasping.
Do not compare me to that thing, I spit out through my teeth.
I just meant your growth spurt, she said, looking like Id hurt her feelings. Good. You shot right up. I could watch you getting taller by the minute. Hes like that, too. Growing so fast.
I bit my tongue to keep from saying what I wanted to say-hard enough that I tasted blood in my mouth. Of course, it would heal before I could swallow. Thats what Bella needed. To be strong like me, to be able to heal
She took an easier breath and then relaxed back into the sofa, her body going limp.
Hmm, Carlisle murmured. I looked up, and his eyes were on me.
What? I demanded.
Edwards head leaned to one side as he reflected on whatever was in Carlisles head.
You know that I was wondering about the fetuss genetic makeup, Jacob. About his chromosomes.
What of it?
Well, taking your similarities into consideration-
Similarities? I growled, not appreciating the plural.
The accelerated growth, and the fact that Alice cannot see either of you.
I felt my face go blank. Id forgotten about that other one.
Well, I wonder if that means that we have an answer. If the similarities are gene-deep.
Twenty-four pairs, Edward muttered under his breath.
You dont know that.
No. But its interesting to speculate, Carlisle said in a soothing voice.
Yeah. Just fascinating.
Bellas light snore started up again, accenting my sarcasm nicely.
They got into it then, quickly taking the genetics conversation to a point where the only words I could understand were the thes and the ands. And my own name, of course. Alice joined in, commenting