按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Alice led the way inside； heading for the stairs。 “These things take time； Bella；” Alice explained。 Her tone
seemed 。 。 。 evasive。 “I mean； I wasn’t sure things were going to turn out this way； but there was a distinct
possibility。 。 。 。”
“When？” I asked again。
“Perrine Bruyere has a waiting list； you know；” she said； defensive now。 “Fabric masterpieces don’t
happen overnight。 If I hadn’t thought ahead； you’d be wearing something off the rack！”
It didn’t look like I was going to get a straight answer。 “Per — who？”
“He’s not a major designer； Bella； so there’s no need to throw a hissy fit。 He’s got promise； though； and
he specializes in what I needed。”
“I’m not throwing a fit。”
“No； you’re not。” She eyed my calm face suspiciously。 Then； as we walked into her room； she turned on
Edward。
“You — out。”
“Why？” I demanded。
“Bella；” she groaned。 “You know the rules。 He’s not supposed to see the dress till the day of。”
I took another deep breath。 “It doesn’t matter to me。 And you know he’s already seen it in your head。 But
if that’s how you want it。 。 。 。”
She shoved Edward back out the door。 He didn’t even look at her — his eyes were on me； wary； afraid
to leave me alone。
I nodded； hoping my expression was tranquil enough to reassure him。
Alice shut the door in his face。
“All right！” she muttered。 “C’mon。”
She grabbed my wrist and towed me to her closet — which was bigger than my bedroom — and then
dragged me to the back corner； where a long white garment bag had a rack all to itself。
She unzipped the bag in one sweeping movement； and then slipped it carefully off the hanger。 She took a
step back； holding her hand out to the dress like she was a game show hostess。
“Well？” she asked breathlessly。
I appraised it for a long moment； playing with her a bit。 Her expression turned worried。
“Ah；” I said； and I smiled； letting her relax。 “I see。”
“What do you think？” she demanded。
It was my Anne of Green Gables vision all over again。
“It’s perfect； of course。 Exactly right。 You’re a genius。”
She grinned。 “I know。”
“Nineteen…eighteen？” I guessed。
“More or less；” she said； nodding。 “Some of it is my design； the train； the veil。 。 。 。” She touched the white
satin as she spoke。 “The lace is vintage。 Do you like it？”
“It’s beautiful。 It’s just right for him。”
“But is it just right for you？” she insisted。
“Yes； I think it is； Alice。 I think it’s just what I need。 I know you’ll do a great job with this 。 。 。 if you can
keep yourself in check。”
She beamed。
“Can I see your dress？” I asked。
She blinked； her face blank。
“Didn’t you order your bridesmaid dress at the same time？ I wouldn’t want my maid of honor to wear
something off the rack。” I pretended to wince in horror。
She threw her arms around my waist。 “Thank you； Bella！”
“How could you not see that one coming？” I teased； kissing her spiky hair。 “Some psychic you are！”
Alice danced back； and her face was bright with fresh enthusiasm。 “I’ve got so much to do！ Go play with
Edward。 I have to get to work。”
She dashed out of the room； yelling； “Esme！” as she disappeared。
I followed at my own pace。 Edward was waiting for me in the hallway； leaning against the wood…paneled
wall。
“That was very； very nice of you；” he told me。
“She seems happy；” I agreed。
He touched my face； his eyes — too dark； it had been so long since he’d left me — searched my
expression minutely。
“Let’s get out of here；” he suddenly suggested。 “Let’s go to our meadow。”
It sounded very appealing。 “I guess I don’t have to hide out anymore； do I？”
“No。 The danger is behind us。”
He was quiet； thoughtful； as he ran。 The wind blew on my face； warmer now that the storm had really
passed。 The clouds covered the sky； the way they usually did。
The meadow was a peaceful； happy place today。 Patches of summer daisies interrupted the grass with
splashes of white and yellow。 I lay back； ignoring the slight dampness of the ground； and looked for pictures in
the clouds。 They were too even； too smooth。 No pictures； just a soft； gray blanket。
Edward lay next to me and held my hand。
“August thirteenth？” he asked casually after a few minutes of comfortable silence。
“That gives me a month till my birthday。 I didn’t want to cut it too close。”
He sighed。 “Esme is three years older than Carlisle — technically。 Did you know that？”
I shook my head。
“It hasn’t made any difference to them。”
My voice was serene； a counterpoint to his anxiety。 “My age is not really that important。 Edward； I’m
ready。 I’ve chosen my life — now I want to start living it。”
He stroked my hair。 “The guest list veto？”
“I don’t care really； but I 。 。 。” I hesitated； not wanting to explain this one。 Best to get it over with。 “I’m not
sure if Alice would feel the need to invite 。 。 。 a few werewolves。 I don’t know if 。 。 。 Jake would feel like 。 。 。
like he should come。 Like that’s the right thing to do； or that I’d get my feelings hurt if he didn’t。 He shouldn’t
have to go through that。”
Edward was quiet for a minute。 I stared at the tips of the treetops； almost black against the light gray of the
sky。
Suddenly； Edward grabbed me around the waist and pulled me onto his chest。
“Tell me why you’re doing this； Bella。 Why did you decide； now； to give Alice free reign？”
I repeated for him the conversation I had with Charlie last night before I’d gone to see Jacob。
“It wouldn’t be fair to keep Charlie out of this；” I concluded。 “And that means Renée and Phil。 I might as
well let Alice have her fun； too。 Maybe itwill make the whole thing easier for Charlie if he gets his proper
goodbye。 Even if he thinks it’s much too early； I wouldn’t want to cheat him out of the chance to walk me
down the aisle。” I grimaced at the words； then took another deep breath。 “At least my mom and dad and my
friends will know the best part of my choice； the most I’m allowed to tell them。 They’ll know I chose you； and
they’ll know we’re together。 They’ll know I’m happy； wherever I am。 I think that’s the best I can do for
them。”
Edward held my face； searching it for a brief time。
“Deal’s off；” he said abruptly。
“What？” I gasped。 “You’re backing out？ No！”
“I’m not backing out； Bella。 I’ll still keep my side of the bargain。 But you’re off the hook。 Whatever you
want； no strings attached。”
“Why？”
“Bella； I see what you’re doing。 You’re trying to make everyone else happy。 And I don’t care about
anyone else’s feelings。 I only need you to be happy。 Don’t worry about breaking the news to Alice。 I’ll take
care of it。 I promise she won’t make you feel guilty。”
“But I —”
“No。 We’re doing this your way。 Because my way doesn’t work。 I call you stubborn； but look at what
I’v