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〃Okay； so I passed； right？〃 I said。 〃Now are you going to tell me what this big secret is？〃
Jacob's expression became very nervous。 〃It's nothing you need to worry about this second___〃
I heard Emmett chuckle again—a sound of anticipation。
I would have pressed my point； but as I listened to Emmett； I heard other sounds； too。 Seven people
breathing。 One set of lungs moving more rapidly than the others。 Only one heart fluttering like a bird's
wings； light and quick。
I was totally diverted。 My daughter was just on the other side of that thin wall of glass。 I couldn't see her
—the light bounced off the reflective windows like a mirror。 I could only see myself； looking very
strange—so white and still—pared to Jacob。 Or； pared to Edward； looking exactly right。
〃Renesmee；〃 I whispered。 Stress made me a statue again。 Renesmee wasn't going to smell like an animal。
Would I put her in danger？
〃e and see；〃 Edward murmured。 〃I know you can handle this。〃
〃You'll help me？〃 I whispered through motionless lips。
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〃Of course I will。〃
〃And Emmett and Jasper—just in case？〃
〃We'll take care of you； Bella。 Don't worry； we'll be ready。 None of us would risk Renesmee。 I think
you'll be surprised at how entirely she's already wrapped us all around her little fingers。 She'll be perfectly
safe； no matter what。〃
My yearning to see her； to understand the worship in his voice； broke my frozen pose。 I took a step
forward。
And then Jacob was in my way； his face a mask of worry。
〃Are you sure； bloodsucker？〃 he demanded of Edward； his voice almost pleading。 I'd never heard him
speak to Edward that way。 〃I don't like this。 Maybe she should wait—〃
〃You had your test； Jacob。〃
It was Jacob's test？
〃But—；〃 Jacob began。
〃But nothing；〃 Edward said； suddenly exasperated。 〃Bella needs to see our daughter。 Get out of her
way。〃
Jacob shot me an odd； frantic look and then turned and nearly sprinted into the house ahead of us。
Edward growled。
I couldn't make sense of their confrontation； and I couldn't concentrate on it； either。 I could only think
about the blurred child in my memory and struggle against the haziness； trying to remember her face
exactly。
〃Shall we？〃 Edward said； his voice gentle again。
I nodded nervously。
He took my hand tightly in his and led the way into the house。
They waited for me in a smiling line that was both weling and defensive。 Rosalie was several paces
behind the rest of them； near the front door。 She was alone until Jacob joined her and then stood in front
of her； closer than was normal。 There was no sense of fort in that closeness； both of them seemed to
cringe from the proximity。
Someone very small was leaning forward out of Rosalie's arms； peering around Jacob。 Immediately； she
had my absolute attention； my every thought； the way nothing else had owned them since the moment I'd
opened my eyes。
〃I was out just two days？〃 I gasped； disbelieving。
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The strangerchild in Rosalie's arms had to be weeks； if not months； old。 She was maybe twice the size
of the baby in my dim memory； and she seemed to be supporting her own torso easily as she stretched
toward me。Her shiny bronzecolored hair fell in ringlets past her shoulders。 Her chocolate brown eyes
examined me with an interest that was not at all childlike； it was adult； aware and intelligent。 She raised
one hand； reaching in my direction for a moment； and then reached back to touch Rosalie's throat。
If her face had not been astonishing in its beauty and perfection； I wouldn't have believed it was the same
child。 My child。
But Edward was there in her features； and I was there in the color of her eyes and cheeks。 Even Charlie
had a place in her thick curls； though their color matched Edward's。 She must be ours。 Impossible； but
still true。
Seeing this unanticipated little person did not make her more real； though。 It only made her more
fantastic。
Rosalie patted the hand against her neck and murmured； 〃Yes； that's her。〃
Renesmee's eyes stayed locked on mine。 Then； as she had just seconds after her violent birth； she smiled
at me。 A brilliant flash of tiny； perfect white teeth。
Reeling inside； I took a hesitant step toward her。
Everyone moved very fast。
Emmett and Jasper were right in front of me； shoulder to shoulder； hands ready。 Edward gripped me
from behind； fingers tight again on the tops of my arms。 Even Carlisle and Esme moved to get Emmett's
and Jasper's flanks； while Rosalie backed to the door； her arms clutching at Renesmee。 Jacob moved；
too； keeping his protective stance in front of them。
Alice was the only one who held her place。
〃Oh； give her some credit；〃 she chided them。 〃She wasn't going to do anything。 You'd want a closer
look； too。〃
Alice was right。 I was in control of myself。 I'd been braced for anything—for a scent as impossibly
insistent as the human smell in the woods。 The temptation here was really not parable。 Renesmee's
fragrance was perfectly balanced right on the line between the scent of the most beautiful perfume and the
scent of the most delicious food。 There was enough of the sweet vampire smell to keep the human part
from being overwhelming。
I could handle it。 I was sure。
〃I'm okay；〃 I promised； patting Edward's hand on my arm。 Then I hesitated and added； 〃Keep close；
though； just in case。〃
Jasper's eyes were tight； focused。 I knew he was taking in my emotional climate； and I worked on
settling into a steady calm。 I felt Edward free my arms as he read Jasper's assessment。 But； though Jasper
was getting it firsthand； he didn't seem as certain。
When she heard my voice； the tooaware child struggled in Rosalie's arms； reaching toward me。
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Somehow； her expression managed to look impatient。
〃Jazz； Em； let us through。 Bella's got this。〃
〃Edward； the risk—；〃 Jasper said。
〃Minimal。 Listen； Jasper—on the hunt she caught the scent of some hikers who were in the wrong place
at the wrong time___〃
I heard Carlisle suck in a shocked breath。 Esme's face was suddenly full of concern mingled with
passion。 Jasper's eyes widened； but he nodded just a tiny bit； as if Edward's words answered some
question in his head。 Jacob's mouth screwed up into a disgusted grimace。 Emmett shrugged。 Rosalie
seemed even less concerned than Emmett as she tried to hold on to the struggling child in her arms。
Alice's expression told me that she was not fooled。 Her narrowed eyes； focused with burning intensity on
my borrowed shirt； seemed more worried about what I'd done to my dress than anything else。
〃Edward！〃 Carlisle chastened。 〃How could you be so irresponsible？〃
〃I know； Carlisle； I know。 I was just plain stupid。 I should have taken the time to make sure we were in
a safe
zone before I set her loose。〃
〃Edward；〃 I mumbled； embarrassed by the way they stared at me。 It was like they were trying to see a
brighter red in my eyes。
〃He's absolutely right to rebuke me； Bella；〃 Edward said with a grin。 〃I made a huge mistake。 The fact
that you are stronger than anyone I've ever known doesn't change that。〃
Alice rolled her eyes。 〃Tasteful joke； Edward。〃
〃I wasn't making a joke。 I was explaining to Jasper why I know Bella can handle this。 It's not my fault
everyone jumped to conclusions。〃
〃Wait；〃 Jasper gasped。 〃She didn't hunt the humans？〃
〃She started to；〃 Edward said； clearly enjoying himself。 My teeth ground together。 〃She was entirely
focused on the hunt。〃
〃What happened？〃 Carlisle interjected。 His eyes were suddenly bright； an amazed smile beginning to
form on his face。 It reminded me of before； when he'd wanted the details on my transformation
experience。 The thrill of new information。
Edward leaned toward him； animated。 〃She heard me behind her and reacted defensively。 As soon as
my pursuit broke int