1 twilight暮色-第37部分

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darkness。　In　the　passenger　seat　was　a　much　older　man；　a　heavyset　man　with　
a　memorable　face　—　a　face　that　overflowed；　the　cheeks　resting　against　his　
shoulders；　with　creases　running　through　the　russet　skin　like　an　old　
leather　jacket。　And　the　surprisingly　familiar　eyes；　black　eyes　that　
seemed　at　the　same　time　both　too　young　and　too　ancient　for　the　broad　face　
they　were　set　in。　Jacob's　father；　Billy　Black。　I　knew　him　immediately；　
though　in　the　more　than　five　years　since　I'd　seen　him　last　I'd　managed　to　
forget　his　name　when　Charlie　had　spoken　of　him　my　first　day　here。　He　was　
staring　at　me；　scrutinizing　my　face；　so　I　smiled　tentatively　at　him。　His　
eyes　were　wide；　as　if　in　shock　or　fear；　his　nostrils　flared。　My　smile　
faded。　

Another　plication；　Edward　had　said。　

Billy　still　stared　at　me　with　intense；　anxious　eyes。　I　groaned　
internally。　Had　Billy　recognized　Edward　so　easily？　Could　he　really　
believe　the　impossible　legends　his　son　had　scoffed　at？　

The　answer　was　clear　in　Billy's　eyes。　Yes。　Yes；　he　could。　

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12。　BALANCING　




〃Billy！〃　Charlie　called　as　soon　as　he　got　out　of　the　car。　

I　turned　toward　the　house；　beckoning　to　Jacob　as　I　ducked　under　the　
porch。　I　heard　Charlie　greeting　them　loudly　behind　me。　

〃I'm　going　to　pretend　I　didn't　see　you　behind　the　wheel；　Jake；〃　he　said　
disapprovingly。　

〃We　get　permits　early　on　the　rez；〃　Jacob　said　while　I　unlocked　the　door　
and　flicked　on　the　porch　light。　

〃Sure　you　do；〃　Charlie　laughed。　

〃I　have　to　get　around　somehow。〃　I　recognized　Billy's　resonant　voice　
easily；　despite　the　years。　The　sound　of　it　made　me　feel　suddenly　younger；　
a　child。　

I　went　inside；　leaving　the　door　open　behind　me　and　turning　on　lights　
before　I　hung　up　my　jacket。　Then　I　stood　in　the　door；　watching　anxiously　
as　Charlie　and　Jacob　helped　Billy　out　of　the　car　and　into　his　wheelchair。　

I　backed　out　of　the　way　as　the　three　of　them　hurried　in；　shaking　off　the　
rain。　

〃This　is　a　surprise；〃　Charlie　was　saying。　

〃It's　been　too　long；〃　Billy　answered。　〃I　hope　it's　not　a　bad　time。〃　His　
dark　eyes　flashed　up　to　me　again；　their　expression　unreadable。　

〃No；　it's　great。　I　hope　you　can　stay　for　the　game。〃　

Jacob　grinned。　〃I　think　that's　the　plan　—　our　TV　broke　last　week。〃　

Billy　made　a　face　at　his　son。　〃And；　of　course；　Jacob　was　anxious　to　see　
Bella　again；〃　he　added。　Jacob　scowled　and　ducked　his　head　while　I　fought　
back　a　surge　of　remorse。　Maybe　I'd　been　too　convincing　on　the　beach。　

〃Are　you　hungry？〃　I　asked；　turning　toward　the　kitchen。　I　was　eager　to　
escape　Billy's　searching　gaze。　

〃Naw；　we　ate　just　before　we　came；〃　Jacob　answered。　

〃How　about　you；　Charlie？〃　I　called　over　my　shoulder　as　I　fled　around　the　
corner。　

〃Sure；〃　he　replied；　his　voice　moving　in　the　direction　of　the　front　room　
and　the　TV。　I　could　hear　Billy's　chair　follow。　

The　grilled　cheese　sandwiches　were　in　the　frying　pan　and　I　was　slicing　up　
a　tomato　when　I　sensed　someone　behind　me。　

〃So；　how　are　things？〃　Jacob　asked。　

〃Pretty　good。〃　I　smiled。　His　enthusiasm　was　hard　to　resist。　〃How　about　
you？　Did　you　finish　your　car？〃　

〃No。〃　He　frowned。　〃I　still　need　parts。　We　borrowed　that　one。〃　He　pointed　
with　his　thumb　in　the　direction　of　the　front　yard。　

〃Sorry。　I　haven't　seen　any…　what　was　it　you　were　looking　for？〃　

〃Master　cylinder。〃　He　grinned。　〃Is　something　wrong　with　the　truck？〃　he　
added　suddenly。　

〃No。〃　

〃Oh。　I　just　wondered　because　you　weren't　driving　it。〃　

I　stared　down　at　the　pan；　pulling　up　the　edge　of　a　sandwich　to　check　the　
bottom　side。　〃I　got　a　ride　with　a　friend。〃　

〃Nice　ride。〃　Jacob's　voice　was　admiring。　〃I　didn't　recognize　the　driver；　
though。　I　thought　I　knew　most　of　the　kids　around　here。〃　

I　nodded　nonmittally；　keeping　my　eyes　down　as　I　flipped　sandwiches。　

〃My　dad　seemed　to　know　him　from　somewhere。〃　

〃Jacob；　could　you　hand　me　some　plates？　They're　in　the　cupboard　over　the　
sink。〃　

〃Sure。〃　

He　got　the　plates　in　silence。　I　hoped　he　would　let　it　drop　now。　

〃So　who　was　it？〃　he　asked；　setting　two　plates　on　the　counter　next　to　me。　

I　sighed　in　defeat。　〃Edward　Cullen。〃　

To　my　surprise；　he　laughed。　I　glanced　up　at　him。　He　looked　a　little　
embarrassed。　

〃Guess　that　explains　it；　then；〃　he　said。　〃I　wondered　why　my　dad　was　
acting　so　strange。〃　

〃That's　right。〃　I　faked　an　innocent　expression。　〃He　doesn't　like　the　
Cullens。〃　

〃Superstitious　old　man；〃　Jacob　muttered　under　his　breath。　

〃You　don't　think　he'd　say　anything　to　Charlie？〃　I　couldn't　help　asking；　
the　words　ing　out　in　a　low　rush。　

Jacob　stared　at　me　for　a　moment；　and　I　couldn't　read　the　expression　in　
his　dark　eyes。　〃I　doubt　it；〃　he　finally　answered。　〃I　think　Charlie　chewed　
him　out　pretty　good　last　time。　They　haven't　spoken　much　since　—　tonight　
is　sort　of　a　reunion；　I　think。　I　don't　think　he'd　bring　it　up　again。〃　

〃Oh；〃　I　said；　trying　to　sound　indifferent。　

I　stayed　in　the　front　room　after　I　carried　the　food　out　to　Charlie；　
pretending　to　watch　the　game　while　Jacob　chattered　at　me。　I　was　really　
listening　to　the　men's　conversation；　watching　for　any　sign　that　Billy　was　
about　to　rat　me　out；　trying　to　think　of　ways　to　stop　him　if　he　began。　

It　was　a　long　night。　I　had　a　lot　of　homework　that　was　going　undone；　but　I　
was　afraid　to　leave　Billy　alone　with　Charlie。　Finally；　the　game　ended。　

〃Are　you　and　your　friends　ing　back　to　the　beach　soon？〃　Jacob　asked　as　
he　pushed　his　father　over　the　lip　of　the　threshold。　

〃I'm　not　sure；〃　I　hedged。　

〃That　was　fun；　Charlie；〃　Billy　said。　

〃e　up　for　the　next　game；〃　Charlie　encouraged。　

〃Sure；　sure；〃　Billy　said。　〃We'll　be　here。　Have　a　good　night。〃　His　eyes　
shifted　to　mine；　and　his　smile　disappeared。　〃You　take　care；　Bella；〃　he　
added　seriously。　

〃Thanks；〃　I　muttered；　looking　away。　

I　headed　for　the　stairs　while　Charlie　waved　from　the　doorway。　

〃Wait；　Bella；〃　he　said。　

I　cringed。　Had　Billy　gotten　something　in　before　I'd　joined　them　in　the　
living　room？　

But　Charlie　was　relaxed；　still　grinning　from　the　unexpected　visit。　

〃I　didn't　get　a　chance　to　talk　to　you　tonight。　How　was　your　day？〃　

〃Good。〃　I　hesitated　with　one　foot　on　the　first　stair；　searching　for　
details　I　could　safely　share。　〃My　badminton　team　won　all　four　games。〃　

〃Wow；　I　didn't　know　you　could　play　badminton。〃　

〃Well；　actually　I　can't；　but　my　partner　is　really　good；〃　I　admitted。　

〃Who　is　it？〃　he　asked　with　token　interest。　

〃Um…　Mike　Newton；〃　I　told　him　reluctantly。　

〃Oh　yeah　—　you　said　you　were　friends　with　the　Newton　kid。〃　He　perked　up。　
〃Nice　family。〃　He　mused　for　a　minute。　〃Why　didn't　you　ask　him　to　the　
dance　this　weekend？〃　

〃Dad！〃　I　groaned。　〃He's　kind　of　dating　my　friend　Jessica。　Besides；　you　
know　I　can't　dance。〃　

〃Oh　yeah；〃　he　muttered。　Then　he　smiled　at　me　apologetically。　〃So　I　guess　
it's　good　you'll　be　gone　Saturday…　I've　made　plans　to　go　fishing　with　the　
guys　from　the　station。　The　weather's　supposed　to　be　real　warm。　But　if　you　
wanted　to　put　your　trip　off　till　someone　could　go　with　you；　I'd　stay　
home。　I　know　I　leave　you　here　alone　too　much。〃　

〃Dad；　you're　doing　a　great　job。〃　I　smiled；　hoping　my　relief　didn't　show。　
〃I've　never　minded　being　alone　—　I'm　too　much　like　you。〃　I　winked　at　him；　
and　he　smiled　his　crinklyeyed　smile。　



I　slept　better　that　night；　too　tired　to　dream　again。　When　I　woke　to　the　
pearl　gray　morning；　my　mood　was　blissful。　The　tense　evening　with　Billy　
and　Jacob　seemed　harmless　enough　now；　I　decided　to　forget　it　pletely。　
I　caught　myself　whistling　while　I　was　pulling　the　front　part　of　my　hair　
back　into　a　barrette；　and　later　again　as　I　skipped　down　the　stairs。　
Charlie　noticed。　

〃You're　cheerful　this　morning；〃　he　mented　over　breakfast。　

I　shrugged。　〃It's　Friday。〃　

I　hurried　so　I　would　be　ready　to　go　the　second　Charlie　left。　I　had　my　bag　
ready；　shoes　on；　teeth　brushed；　but　even　though　I　rushed　to　the　door　as　
soon　as　I　was　sure　Charlie　would　be　out　of　sight；　Edward　was　faster。　He　
was　waiting　in　his　shiny　car；　windows　down；　engine　off。　

I　didn't　hesitate　this　time；　climbing　in　the　passenger　side　quickly；　the　
sooner　to　see　his　face。　He　grinned　his　crooked　smile　at　me；　stopping　my　
breath　and　my　heart。　I　couldn't　imagine　how　an　angel　could　be　any　more　
glorious。　There　was　nothing　about　him　that　could　be　improved　upon。　

〃How　did　you　sleep？〃　he　asked。　I　wondered　if　he　had　any　idea　how　
appealing　his　voice　was。　

〃Fine。　How　was　your　night？〃　

〃Pleasant。〃　His　smile　was　amused；　I　felt　like　I　was　missing　an　inside　
joke。　

〃Can　I　ask　what　you　did？〃　I　asked。　

〃No。〃　He　grinned。　〃Today　is　still　mine。〃　

He　wanted　to　know　about　people　today：　more　about　Renée；　her　hobbies；　what　
we'd　done　in　our　free　time　together。　And　then　the　one　grandmother　I'd　

known；　my　few　school　friends　—　embarrassing　me　when　he　asked　about　boys　
I'd　dated。　I　was　relieved　that　I'd　never　really　dated　anyone；　so　that　
particular　conversation　couldn't　last　long。　He　seemed　as　surprised　as　
Jessica　and　Angela　by　my　lack　of　romantic　history。　

〃So　you　never　met　anyone　you　wanted？〃　he　asked　in　a　serious　tone　that　
made　me　wonder　what　he　was　thi