It was just beginning to drizzle when Edward turned onto my street. Up until that moment, I had assumed that he'd be staying with me while I spent a few interim hours in the real world.
And then I saw the black, weathered Sedan parked in Charlie's driveway—and heard Edward mutter something unintelligible in a low, harsh voice.
Leaning away from the rain under the shallow front porch, Jacob Black stood behind his father's wheelchair. Billy's face was impassive as stone as Edward parked my truck against the curb. Jacob stared down, his expression mortified.
Edward's low voice was furious. "This is crossing the line."
"He came to warn Charlie?" I guessed, more horrified than angry.
Edward just nodded, answering Billy's gaze through the rain with narrowed eyes.
At least Charlie wasn't home yet. Maybe the disaster could be averted.
"Let me deal with this," I suggested. Edward's black glare made me anxious.
I was surprised that he agreed. "That's probably best. Be careful, though. The boy has no idea."
"Boy? His name is Jacob." I chided him.
Edward looked at me curiously for a moment before simply shrugging.
I sighed and put my hand on the door handle.
"Get them inside," he instructed, "so I can leave. I'll be back around dusk."
"Do you want my truck?" I offered, meanwhile wondering how I would explain its absence to Charlie.
He rolled his eyes. "I could walk home faster than this truck moves."
"You don't have to leave," I said, hopeful.
He smiled at my wistful expression. "Actually, I do. After you get rid of them"—he threw a dark glance in the Black's direction—"you still have to prepare Charlie to meet your new boyfriend." He grinned widely, showing all of his teeth.
I groaned. "Thanks."
He smiled the crooked smile that I loved. "I'll be back soon," he promised.
His eyes flickered back to the porch, and then he leaned in to swiftly kiss me just under the edge of my jaw. My heart lurched, and I, too, glanced toward the porch. Billy's face was no longer impassive, and his hands clutched at the armrests of his chair.
"Soon," I stressed as I opened the door and stepped out into the rain.
I could feel his eyes on my back as I half-ran through the light sprinkle toward the porch.
"Hey, Billy. Hi, Jake." I greeted them as cheerfully as I could manage. "Charlie's gone for the day—I hope you haven't been waiting long."
"Not long," Billy said in a subdued tone. His black eyes were piercing. "I just wanted to bring this up." He indicated a brown paper sack resting in his lap.
"Oh, thanks," I said, though I had no idea what it could be. "Why don't you come in for a minute and dry off?"
I pretended to be oblivious to his intense scrutiny as I unlocked the door, and waved them in ahead of me.
"Here, let me take that," I offered, turning to shut the door. I allowed myself one last glance at Edward. He was waiting, perfectly still, his eyes solemn.
"You'll want to put it in the fridge," Billy noted as he handed me the package. "It's some of Harry Clearwater's homemade fish fry—Charlie's favorite. The fridge keeps it drier." He shrugged.
"Thanks," I repeated, but with feeling this time. "I was running out of new ways to fix fish, and he's bound to bring home more tonight."
"Fishing again?" Billy asked with a subtle gleam in his eyes. "Down at the usual spot? Maybe I'll run by and see him."
"No," I quickly lied, my face going hard. "He was headed someplace new… But he didn't tell me where."
He took in my changed expression and it made him thoughtful.
"Jake," he said, still appraising me. "Why don't you go get that new picture of Rebecca out of the car? I'll leave that for Charlie, too."
"Where is it?" Jacob asked, his voice morose. I glanced at him, but he was staring at the floor, his eyebrows pulling together.
"I think I saw it in the trunk," Billy said. "You may have to dig for it."
Jacob slouched back out into the rain.
Billy and I faced each other in the silence. After a few seconds, the quiet started to feel awkward, so I turned and headed to the kitchen. I could hear his wet wheels squeak against the linoleum as he followed.
I shoved the bag onto the crowded top shelf of the fridge, and spun around to face him. His deeply lined face was unreadable.
"Charlie won't be back for a while." My voice was almost rude.
He nodded in agreement, but said nothing.
"Thanks again for the fish fry," I hinted.
He continued nodding. I sighed and folded my arms across my chest.
He seemed to sense that I had given up on small talk. "Beau," he said, and then he hesitated.
I waited.
"Beau," he said again, "Charlie is one of my best friends."
"Yes."
He spoke each word carefully in his rumbling voice. "I noticed you've been spending time with one of the Cullens."
"Yes," I repeated curtly.
His eyes narrowed. "Maybe it's none of my business, but I don't think that is such a good idea."
"You're right, Billy," I agreed. "It is none of your business."
He raised his graying eyebrows at my tone. "You probably don't know this, but the Cullen family has an unpleasant reputation on the reservation."
"Actually, I did know that," I informed him in a hard voice. This surprised him. "But that reputation couldn't be deserved, could it? Because the Cullens never set foot on the reservation, do they?" I could see that my less than subtle reminder of the treaty that both bound and protected his tribe pulled him up short.
"That's true," he acceded, his eyes guarded. "You seem… well informed about the Cullens. More informed than I expected."
I stared him down. "Maybe even better informed than you are."
He pursed his lips as he considered that. "Maybe," he allowed, but his eyes were shrewd. "Is Charlie as well informed?"
He had found the weakness in my armor.
"Charlie likes the Cullens a lot," I hedged. He clearly understood my evasion. His expression was unhappy, but unsurprised.
"It's not my business," he said. "But it may be Charlie's."
"Though it would be my business, again, whether or not I think that it's Charlie's business, right?"
I wondered if he even understood my confused question as I struggled not to say anything compromising. But he seemed to. He thought about it while the rain picked up against the roof, the only sound breaking the silence.
"Yes," he finally admitted. "I guess that's your business, too."
"And besides," I continued, "didn't you and Charlie have a sort of falling out the last time you said something to him about the Cullens?"
Billy stiffened, his eyes narrowed but he didn't speak.
"And being that you are such good friends with my dad," I narrowed my eyes back at him, "I would hate to see you two have another falling out over something like that."
For a moment, he seemed very angry, but I wasn't going to back down.
He finally sighed, "You're right." His demeanor shifted, I had won.
I sighed with relief. "Thanks, Billy."
"Just think about what you're doing, Beau," he urged.
"I do, Billy. Every day."
He frowned. "What I meant to say was, don't do what you're doing."
I looked into his eyes, filled with nothing but concern for me, and there was nothing I could say.
Just then the front door banged loudly, and I jumped at the sound.
"There's no picture anywhere in that car." Jacob's complaining voice reached us before he did. The shoulders of his shirt were stained with the rain, his hair dripping, when he rounded the corner.
"Hmm," Billy grunted, suddenly detached, spinning his chair around to face his son. "I guess I left it at home."
Jacob rolled his eyes dramatically. "Great."
"Well, Beau, tell Charlie"—Billy paused before continuing—"that we stopped by, I mean."
"Will do," I muttered.
Jacob was surprised. "Are we leaving already?"
"Charlie's gonna be out late," Billy explained as he rolled himself past Jacob.
"Oh." Jacob looked disappointed. "Well," he hesitated, awkwardly holding out his hand in a goodbye gesture, "I guess I'll see you later, then, Beau."
I may have been mad at Billy, but I couldn't be mad at Jacob. I managed a smile for him, and pulled him by his hand into a quick hug. "See you soon, Jake."
He hugged me tight for a second, smiling.
"Take care, Beau," Billy warned. I didn't answer and Jacob pulled away from our hug, looking morose again. He helped his father out the door. I waved at Jacob, then glanced swiftly toward my now-empty truck, and then shut the door before they were gone.
I stood in the hallway for a minute, listening to the sound of their car as it backed out and drove away. I stayed where I was, waiting for the irritation and anxiety to subside. When the tension eventually faded a bit, I headed upstairs to change out of my nicer clothes into something suitable for baseball.
I dug through my closet, not sure what to expect tonight. As I concentrated on what was coming, what had just happened seemed insignificant. Now that I was removed from Jasper's and Edward's influence, I began to make up for not being terrified before. A whole morning in a house full of vampires and I had survived, not only that, I had met my vampire boyfriend's family. This was serious and dangerous and now I was going to play baseball with vampires in the rain.
I felt the panic rise in my chest; I took a few deep breaths. But I had to remember that I chose this; I made the decision to follow this through. The danger was present, I couldn't fault Billy for being concerned, but I trusted Edward and I trusted his family. Maybe my trust was given too freely, but Edward made it clear that I was always in danger around him and that he would do whatever he could to keep me safe. From his family, from any threat, and especially from himself. I gave up quickly on choosing a practical outfit—throwing on an old flannel shirt and jeans—knowing I would be in my raincoat all night anyway.
My reverie was interrupted by the sound of the phone ringing. I sprinted downstairs to get it. Picking up the phone and remembering to say hello seemed impossible, like I had never done it before. My head was spinning with all my thoughts about the situation I was in.
"Hello?" I managed, awkwardly.
"Beau? It's me," Jessica said.
"Jess? Jess, hey, how are you?" It felt like months rather than days since I'd spoken to Jess. "How was the dance?"
"It was so much fun!" Jessica gushed. Needing no more invitation than that, she launched into a minute-by-minute account of the previous night. Despite the difficult time I was having concentrating, it was nice to listen to her. Jessica, Mike, the dance, the school—they all seemed so far-away. It was grounding to be reminded of reality; to hear how easy it was to just be a human in love with a human. My mind began to wander as I contemplated that thought.
"Did you hear what I said, Beau?" Jess asked, suddenly irritated.
"I'm so sorry, Jess, what?"
"I said, Mike kissed me! Can you believe it?"
"No way!" I laughed, "At the dance?"
"During the last slow dance of the night! He just kissed me!" She sounded so happy, I couldn't help but smile. "It was perfect."
How easy it must be, to just kiss your boyfriend at a dance and not have him want to drink your blood. "That's wonderful, Jess," I said.
"So what did you do yesterday?" Jessica challenged, her voice full of eagerness.
"Oh, well, I went out and enjoyed the sun." I said. Well, it wasn't a lie.
I heard Charlie's car in the driveway.
"Did you ever hear anything more from Edward Cullen?"
The front door slammed and I could hear Charlie banging around under the stairs, putting his tackle away.
"Um, well, about that…" I started slowly.
Jessica practically screamed with excitement, "Tell me everything!" She squealed.
"Hi there, kiddo!" Charlie called as he walked into the kitchen. I waved at him.
Jess heard his voice. "Oh, you're dad's there." She sounded devastated, I couldn't help but snicker a little. "Never mind—we'll talk tomorrow. Beau Swan, you better tell me everything."
"See you in Trig, Jess." I laughed.
"See ya, Beau!" I heard the phone click, and hung up the phone.
"Hey, Dad," I said. He was scrubbing his hands in the sink. "Where's the fish?"
"I put it out in the freezer."
"I'll go grab a few pieces before they freeze—Billy dropped off some of Harry Clearwater's fish fry this afternoon." I worked to sound enthusiastic.
"He did?" Charlie's eyes lit up. "That's my favorite."
Charlie cleaned up while I got dinner ready. It didn't take long until we were sitting at the table, eating in silence. Charlie was enjoying his food. I was wondering how to even begin the conversation, how to bring up the word boyfriend without it feeling as sudden as I knew it was.
"What did you do with yourself today?" he asked, snapping me out of my reverie.
"Well, this afternoon I just hung around the house…" Only the very recent part of this afternoon, actually. I tried to keep my voice upbeat, but my stomach was in knots. "And this morning I was over at the Cullens."
Charlie dropped his fork, my heart landed somewhere with it.
"Dr. Cullen's place?" He asked in astonishment.
I pretended not to notice his reaction. "Yeah."
"What were you doing there?" He hadn't picked his fork back up.
"Well, I sort of have a date with Edward Cullen tonight, and he wanted to introduce me to his parents… Dad?"
It appeared Charlie was having an aneurysm.
"Dad, are you all right?"
"You're going out with Edward Cullen?" He thundered.
Uh-oh. "I thought you liked the Cullens. Besides, I thought you were okay with all… this, Dad."
His mood immediately shifted, he calmed down and put his hand on my arm. "Of course I am," He took a deep breath, "it had nothing to do with that!" He explained, "It's just that he's too old for you!"
I stared at him blankly for a moment. "We're both juniors," I offered. Though, he was more right than he knew.
"Wait…" He paused. "Which one is Edwin?"
"Edward is the youngest, the one with the reddish brown hair." I offered, confused.
"Oh, well, that's"—he struggled—"He's not the big one right? I'm sure he's a nice kid, but he looks too… mature for you. It's not the big one?"
"No, Dad, that's Emmett." I explained feeling relieved.
He considered that for a moment, "And not the other big one with the blond hair?"
"No, Dad," I sighed, "Not Royal, either."
He narrowed his eyes but his look was more curious than anything, "Is this Edwin your boyfriend?"
Oh, god. "It's Edward, Dad."
"Is he?"
"I don't know, maybe."
"You said last night that you weren't interested in any of the boys in town." But he picked up his fork again, so I could tell the worst was over.
"Well, Edward doesn't live in town, Dad."
He gave me a disparaging look as he chewed. "Why didn't you say something? Was I being too nosey?"
"No, Dad, not at all. It's just… this is all kind of new, you know? I didn't want to jinx it."
"Huh." He reflected for a minute while he ate another bite. "So you went to meet his folks, eh?"
"Er, yeah. I mean, I already knew Dr. Cullen. But I got to meet his mother."
"Esme Cullen is great—real quiet, but very… kind, I guess is the best word for it. She's a very kind lady."
"Yeah, she is."
"Meeting the parents, though. Isn't that kind of serious? Doesn't that mean he's your boyfriend?"
"Yeah." I felt a smile appearing on my face, despite myself. "I guess he's my boyfriend."
Charlie was trying to look serious—tough dad act—but I could see he was fighting a smile. He seemed genuinely happy.
"So, do I get to meet him?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Will you be on your best behavior?"
He lifted both hands. "What, me? Have I ever embarrassed you before?"
"Have I ever brought over a boy before?"
He huffed, trying to hide a laugh, then changed the subject. "Is he picking you up? When is he coming over?"
"He should be here in a few minutes."
"Where is he taking you?"
"Well, I guess the plan is we're going to play baseball with his family."
Charlie stared at me for one second, and then he busted up. I rolled my eyes and waited for him to finish. "You're playing baseball? You hate sports!"
"Well, I'll probably just watch."
"You must really like this guy."
I thought about shrugging, but I just smiled. "Yeah," I said. "I really do."
I heard an unfamiliar engine roar up to the house, and I looked up in surprise. I jumped up and started cleaning the dishes.
"Oh, leave the dishes, I can do them tonight. Go get ready."
I froze, looking at him suspiciously. I wanted to go brush my teeth, but letting Charlie answer the door made me nervous. He could sense my hesitation.
The doorbell rang, and Charlie stalked off to answer it.
"Dad, be nice."
He spun around and rolled his eyes at me, making a halo sign around his head with his hand. "Oh, go on," he shooed me away.
I bolted up the stairs to the bathroom, grabbing my toothbrush and furiously brushing my teeth.
I heard Charlie open the door downstairs. "Come on in, Edward."
I was relieved that Charlie got his name right.
"Thank you, Chief Swan," I heard Edward say in a respectful voice.
"Go ahead and call me Charlie. Here, I'll take your jacket."
"Thanks, sir."
I finished up in the bathroom and flew down the stairs, they were waiting for me at the bottom. Charlie was doing his best to look stern, Edward was beaming at me.
"Hi," I breathed, sounding more out of breath than I realized I was.
"Have a seat there, Edward." Charlie gestured towards the living room.
I grimaced.
Edward sat down fluidly in the only chair, forcing me to sit next to Chief Swan on the sofa. I quickly shot him a dirty look. He winked behind Charlie's back.
"So I hear you're getting my boy to watch baseball." Only in Washington would the fact that it was absolutely pouring outside have no bearing at all on the playing of outdoor sports.
"Yes, sir, hopefully Beau doesn't mind spending time with my family."
"I'd say it was the baseball he'd mind more."
They both laughed. I shot my dad a look. Where was the best behavior I was promised?
"Should we be on our way?" I suggested. I walked to the hall and pulled on my jacket. They followed.
"Not too late, Beau."
"Don't worry, Charlie, I'll have him home early," Edward promised.
"You take care of him, all right?"
"He'll be safe with me, I promise sir."
Charlie couldn't doubt Edward's sincerity, it rang in every word.
I awkwardly inched out the door, Charlie chuckled, and Edward followed me.
I stopped dead on the porch. There, behind my truck, was a monster Jeep. Its tires were as high as my waist. There were metal guards over the headlights and taillights, and four large spotlights attached to the crash bar. The hardtop was shiny red.
Charlie let out a low whistle.
"Wear your seat belts," he choked out.
Edward followed me around to my side and opened the door. I gauged the distance to the seat and prepared to jump for it. He chuckled, and then lifted me in with one hand. I hoped Charlie didn't notice.
As he went around to the driver's side, at a normal, human pace, I tried to put on my seat belt. But there were too many buckles.
"What's all this?" I asked when he opened the door.
"It's an off-roading harness."
"Oh, god."
I tried to find the right places for all the buckles to fit, but my frustration must have been evident on my face. He smiled and reached over to help me. I was glad that the rain was too heavy to see Charlie clearly on the porch. That meant he couldn't see how Edward's hand lingered at my neck, brushed along my collarbone. I gave up trying to help him and focused on taking a few deep breaths.
Edward turned the key and the engine roared to life. We pulled away from the house.
"This is a… um… big Jeep you have."
"It's Emmett's. I didn't think you'd want to run the whole way."
"Where do you keep this thing?"
"We remodeled one of the outbuildings into a garage."
"Oh, of course." I rolled my eyes.
He glanced at me, grinning.
Then something sunk in.
"Run the whole way? As in, we're still going to run part of the way?" My voice started sounding nervous.
He continued grinning. "You're not going to run."
"I don't need to spend the evening suffering from a dizzy spell in front of your family."
"Keep your eyes closed, you should be fine."
I shook my head, sighed, then reached over and took his hand. "Hi. I missed you."
He laughed and interlocked his fingers with mine. "I missed you, too. Isn't that strange?"
"Strange?"
"You'd think I'd have learned more patience over the last hundred years. And here I am, finding it difficult to pass an afternoon without you."
"I'm okay with that." I smiled.
He leaned over to kiss the top of my head, and then let out a long groan. I looked at him, puzzled.
"You smell so good in the rain," he explained.
"In a good way, or in a bad way?"
He sighed. "Both, always both."
I don't know how he found his way in the gloom and downpour, but he somehow found a side road that was less of a road and more of a mountain path. For a long while conversation was impossible, because I was bouncing up and down on the seat like a jackhammer. He seemed to enjoy the ride, though, smiling hugely the whole way.
And then we came to the end of the road; the trees formed green walls on three sides of the Jeep. The rain was a mere drizzle, slowing every second, the sky brighter through the clouds.
"Sorry, Beau, we'll have to go on foot from here."
"You know what? I'll just wait here."
"What happened to all your courage? You were extraordinary this morning."
"I haven't forgotten the last time yet." Could it have been only yesterday?
He was around to my side of the car in a blur. He started unbuckling me.
"I'll get those, you go on ahead," I protested. He was finished before I got the first few words out.
I sat in the car, looking at him.
"You don't trust me?" He asked, his voice full of mock hurt.
"Trust really isn't the issue. Me being a dizzy mess on the ground is the issue."
He laughed, pulled me from the Jeep, and set my feet on the ground. It was barely misting now; Alice was going to be right.
"Do you remember what I was saying about mind over matter?" he asked.
"Yes…"
"Maybe if you concentrated on something else."
"Like what?"
He smiled and placed his hands against the Jeep on either side of my head and leaned forward, and I leaned back against the door. He leaned in even closer, his face inches from mine.
"When we're running—and yes, that part is nonnegotiable—I want you to concentrate on this."
Slowly, he moved in closer, turning his face to the side so that we were cheek to cheek, his lips at my ear. One of his hands slide down to my waist.
"Just remember us… like this…"
His lips pulled softly on my earlobe, then moved slowly across my jaw and down my neck. I rested my hands on his strong chest.
"You're not breathing, Beau," he murmured.
I sucked in a loud breath.
He kissed under the edge of my jaw, then along my cheekbone. "Still worried?"
"A bit."
He chuckled. Both his hands were on my waist now, and he lightly kissed one eyelid and then the next.
"Edward," I breathed.
Then his lips were on mine, almost roughly and full of urgency. I instinctively wrapped my arms around his stone neck and his lips pressed, unyielding, against my own. His body leaned into mine, pinning me between him and the Jeep. My heart was beating frantically, and I whimpered softly. I heard him moan against my mouth. I sighed, and my lips parted, deepening the kiss.
He staggered back, breaking my grip effortlessly.
"Damnit, Beau!" he broke off, gasping. "You'll be the death of me, I swear you will."
I took a few deep breaths as I gazed into his wild eyes.
"You're indestructible," I practically panted the words out.
"I might have believed that before I met you."
I laughed at him, but he suddenly seemed very serious. I reached out my hand and placed it on his cheek. He turned his head to kiss my palm, his eyes still on me. He groaned; a reluctant, yearning groan.
"Let's get out of here before I do something really stupid," he growled.
He threw me across his back as he had before, and I could see the extra effort it took for him to be as gentle as he was. I locked my legs around his waist and secured my arms in a choke hold around his neck.
"Don't forget to close your eyes," he warned severely.
I quickly tucked my face into his neck, and squeezed my eyes shut. Another groan escaped his lips.
"Damn…" He growled. I couldn't help but smirk.
I could hardly tell we were moving. I could feel him gliding along beneath me, but he could have been strolling down the sidewalk, the movement was so smooth. I was tempted to peek, just to see if he was really flying through the forest like before, but I resisted. It wasn't worth that awful dizziness. I contented myself with listening to his carefully measured breath come and go evenly.
I wasn't quite sure we had stopped until he reached back and touched my hair.
"It's over, Beau."
I dared to open my eyes, and, sure enough, we were at a standstill. I stiffly unlocked my stranglehold on his body and slipped to the ground, landing on my backside.
"Oh!" I huffed as I hit the wet ground.
For a second he stared at me like he wasn't sure if he was still too mad to find me funny, but then he must have decided that he wasn't too mad.
My bewildered expression must have pushed him over the edge, and he broke into a roar of laughter.
I got up slowly and brushed the mud and weeds off the back of my jeans. That only made him laugh harder. I rolled my eyes, and began to stride off into the forest.
I felt his arm around my waist.
"Where are you going, Beau?"
"To watch the baseball game?" I raised an eyebrow.
"It's the other way."
I pivoted in his arms. "Okay."
He put his other arm around my waist and pulled me back into is chest, he kissed my ear softly.
"Don't be mad at me for laughing, I couldn't help myself. You should have seen your face." He chuckled before he could stop himself.
"What, you can be mad but I can't?" I asked incredulously, raising my eyebrows. "I thought you were getting better about your temper."
"I wasn't mad at you."
"I believe you said I would be the death of you." I pointed out.
"That was simply a statement of fact." He spun me around to face him. "I wasn't mad at you." He was suddenly intense, all trace of teasing gone.
"Then why did you get so upset?" I tilted my head, questioning. "I know it's not because it was a bad kiss. Because that was one of my better ones, I think."
He laughed again, loudly. "Oh, but that was the problem." His eyes were full of adoration. "I could never be mad at you, Beau." He explained. "So kind, so patient, and brave…" He sighed, "I infuriate myself," he said gently. "The way I can't seem to keep from putting you in danger. The way you kissed me back at the Jeep was…" His eyes closed and he took a deep breath, "beyond anything I had experienced thus far."
"That's saying something," I quipped, a little too smug, "we've been doing a lot of kissing the last couple days."
He smiled, but his eyes were sad. "Yes," he put his hand on my face, rubbing my cheek with his thumb, "but what if lose control? What if I hurt you? Sometimes I truly hate myself. I should be stronger, I should be able to—"
I stopped him with a kiss, this time he froze; remaining still as a statue for a moment, before his hands found their way to my waist and his body relaxed. I pulled away, slowly. His face looked serene, blissful.
"You're doing a fantastic job," I smiled. "And I trust you. Completely. So give yourself a little credit."
"I love you," he said. "It's a poor excuse for what I'm doing, but it's still true."
It was the first time he'd said he loved me—in so many words. He might not realize it, but I certainly did.
"Now, where were we," he continued, and he bent to softly brush his lips against mine.
I sighed, contended. "You promised Chief Swan that you would have me home early, remember? We'd better get going."
He nodded.
"And, as long as you don't lose complete control," I grinned, "I don't mind if you lose a little more control next time we kiss."
A look of utter bliss passed across his handsome face and he sighed. "I think I can manage that." He smiled, widely.
"Let's go." I smiled back.
"Mmmm," he sighed again, "Yes, sir."
He smiled wistfully and released all of me but one hand. He laced his long, cold fingers through mine and led me a few feet through the tall, wet ferns and draping moss, around a massive hemlock tree, and we were there, on the edge of an enormous open field in the lap of the Olympic peaks. It was twice the size of any baseball stadium.
I could see the others all there; Esme, Emmett, and Royal, sitting on a bare outcropping of rock, were the closest to us, maybe a hundred yards away. Much farther out I could see Jasper and Alice, at least a quarter mile apart, appearing to throw something back and forth, but I never saw any ball. It looked like Carlisle was marking bases, but could they really be that far apart.
When we came into view, the three on the rocks rose. Esme started toward us. Emmett followed after a long look at Royal's back; Royal had risen fluidly and strode off toward the field without a glance in our direction. My stomach began to knot in response.
"Was that you we heard, Edward?" Esme asked as she approached.
"It sounded like a bear choking," Emmett clarified.
I smiled at Esme. "That was him."
"Beau was being unintentionally funny," Edward explained, quickly settling the score.
Alice had left her position and was running, or dancing, toward us. She hurtled to a fluid stop at our feet. "It's time," she announced.
As soon as she spoke, a deep rumble of thunder shook the forest beyond us, and then crashed westward toward town.
"Eerie, isn't it?" Emmett said with easy familiarity, winking at me.
"Let's go!" Alice reached for Emmett's hand and they darted toward the oversized field; she ran like a gazelle. He was nearly as graceful and just as fast—yet Emmett could never be compared to a gazelle.
"Are you ready for some ball?" Edward asked, his eyes eager, bright.
His enthusiasm was contagious, I smiled at him. "Go team!"
He laughed, quickly running his fingers through my hair, then bounded off after the other two. His run was more aggressive, a cheetah rather than a gazelle, and he quickly overtook them. The grace and power was breathtaking.
"Shall we go watch?" Esme asked in her soft, melodic voice, and I realized I was staring openmouthed after them. I quickly reassembled my expression and nodded. Esme kept a few feet between us, and I wondered if she was still being careful not to frighten me. She matched her stride to mine without seeming impatient at the pace.
"You don't play with them?" I asked.
"No, I prefer to referee. I like keeping them honest."
"She thinks we cheat!" Emmett called from way off in the field
"I know you do!" Esme called back, laughing. "You should hear the arguments they get into! Actually, I hope you don't, you would think they were raised by a pack of wolves."
"You sound like my mom." I laughed.
She laughed too, "Well, I do think of them as my children in most ways. I never could get over my mothering instincts—did Edward tell you I had lost a child?"
"No," I murmured, stunned, scrambling to understand what lifetime she was remembering.
"Yes, my first and only baby. He died just a few days after he was born, the poor tiny thing," she sighed. "It broke my heart—that's why I jumped off the cliff, you know," she added calmly.
"Oh, Edward just said you fell…"
"Always the gentleman." She smiled. "Edward was the first of my new sons. I've always thought of him that way, even though he's older than I, in one way at least." She smiled at me warmly. "That's why I'm so happy that he's found you, dear." The endearment sounded very natural on her lips. "He's been the odd man out for far too long; it's hurt me to see him alone."
"You don't mind, then?" I asked, feeling hesitant. "That we're… all wrong for each other?"
"No." She was thoughtful. "You're what he wants, and you want him. It will work out, somehow." She said, though her forehead creased with worry. Another peal of thunder began.
Esme stopped then; apparently, we'd reached the edge of the field. It looked as if they had formed teams. Edward was far out in left field, Carlisle stood between the first and second bases, and Alice held the ball, positioned on the spot that must be the pitcher's mound.
Emmett was swinging an aluminum bat; it whistled almost untraceably though the air. I waited for him to approach home plate, but then realized, as he took his stance, that he was already there—farther from the pitcher's mound than I would have thought possible. Jasper stood several feet behind him, catching for the other team. Of course, none of them had gloves.
"All right," Esme called in a clear voice, which I knew even Edward would hear, as far out as he was. "Batter up."
Alice stood straight, deceptively motionless. Her style seemed to be stealth rather than an intimidating windup. She held the ball in both hands at her waist, and then, like the strike of a cobra, her right hand flicked out and the ball smacked into Jasper's hand.
"That was a strike, right?" I whispered to Esme.
"That's right," she smiled. Jasper hurled the ball back to Alice's waiting hand. She permitted herself a brief grin. And then her hand spun out again.
This time the bat somehow made it around in time to smash into the invisible ball. The crack of impact was shattering, thunderous; it echoed off the mountains—I immediately understood the necessity of the thunderstorm and struggled to understand how the bat and ball didn't just shatter like glass from the impact.
The ball shot like a meteor above the field, flying deep into the surrounding forest.
"That's got to be a home run," I murmured.
"Wait," Esme cautioned, listening intently, one hand raised.
Emmett was a blur around the bases, Carlisle shadowing him. I realized Edward was missing.
"Out!" Esme cried in a clear voice. I stared in disbelief as Edward sprang from the fringe of the trees, ball in his upraised hand, his wide grin visible even to me.
"Emmett hits the hardest," Esme explained, "But Edward runs the fastest."
The inning continued before my incredulous eyes. It was impossible to keep up with the speed at which the ball flew, the rate which their bodies raced around the field.
I learned the other reason they waited for a thunderstorm to play when Jasper, trying to avoid Edward's infallible fielding, hit a ground ball toward Carlisle. Carlisle ran into the ball, and then raced Jasper to first base. When they collided, the sound was like the crash of two massive falling boulders. I jumped up in concern, but they were somehow unscathed..
"Safe," Esme called in a calm voice.
Emmett's team was up by one—Royal managed to soar around the bases after tagging up on one of Emmett's long flies—when Edward caught the third out. He sprinted to my side, sparkling with excitement.
"What do you think?"
"One thing's for sure, I'll never be able to sit through dull old Major League Baseball again."
"I'm sure you're heartbroken." He laughed.
"It's a little funny," I teased.
"What is?" he asked, puzzled.
"Vampire baseball. It's just so funny to think about it."
He flashed his special crooked smile, leaving me breathless.
"I'm up," he said, heading for the plate.
He played intelligently, keeping the ball low, out of reach of Royal's always-ready hand in the outfield, gaining two bases like lightening before Emmett could get the ball back into play. Carlisle knocked one so far out of the field—with a boom that hurt my ears—that he and Edward both made it in. Alice slapped them dainty high fives.
The score constantly changed as the game continued, and they razzed each other like any street ballplayers as they took turns with the lead. Occasionally Esme would call them to order. The thunder rumbled on, but we stayed dry, as Alice had predicted.
Carlisle was up to bat, Edward catching, when Alice suddenly gasped. My eyes were on Edward and I saw his head snap up to look at her. Their eyes met and something flowed between them in an instant. He was at my side before the others could ask Alice what was wrong.
"Alice?" Esme's voice was tense.
"I didn't see—I couldn't tell," she whispered.
All the others were gathered by this time.
"What is it, Alice?" Carlisle asked with the calm voice of authority.
"They were traveling much quicker than I thought. I can see I had the perspective wrong before," she murmured.
Jasper leaned over her, his posture protective. "What changed?" he asked.
"They heard us playing, and it changed their path," she said, contrite, as if she felt responsible for whatever had frightened her.
Seven pairs of quick eyes flashed to my face and away.
"How soon?" Carlisle said, turning toward Edward.
A look of intense concentration crossed his face.
"Less than five minutes. They're running—they want to play." He scowled
"Can you make it?" Carlisle asked him, his eyes flicking toward me again.
"No, not carrying—" He cut short. "Besides, the last thing we need is for them to catch the scent and start hunting."
"How many?" Emmett asked Alice.
"Three," she answered tersely.
"Three!" he scoffed. "Let them come." The steel bands of muscle flexed along his massive arms.
For a split second that seemed much longer than it really was, Carlisle deliberated. Only Emmett seemed unperturbed; the rest stared at Carlisle's face with anxious eyes.
"Let's just continue the game," Carlisle finally decided. His voice was cool and level. "Alice said they were simply curious."
All this was said in a flurry of words that lasted only a few seconds. I had listened carefully and caught most of it, though I couldn't hear what Esme now asked Edward with a silent vibration of her lips. I only saw the slight shake of his head and the look of relief on her face.
"You catch, Esme," he said. "I'll call it now." And he planted himself in front of me.
The others returned to the field, warily sweeping the dark forest with their sharp eyes. Alice and Esme seemed to orient themselves around where I stood. Royal was the last to move. He glared at me for a moment before he started moving back to the field.
I stated the obvious. "The others are coming now."
"Yes, stay very still, keep quiet, and don't move from my side, please." He hid the stress in his voice well, but I could hear it. I pulled the collar of my raincoat up around my neck.
"That won't help," Royal muttered back at us. "I could smell him across the field."
"I know." A hint of frustration colored Edward's tone.
Carlisle stood at the plate, and the others joined the game halfheartedly.
"What did Esme ask you?" I whispered.
He hesitated for a second before he answered. "Whether they were thirsty," he muttered unwillingly.
The seconds ticked by; the game progressed apathetically now. No one dared to hit harder than a bunt, and Emmett, Royal, and Jasper hovered in the infield. Now and again, despite the fear that numbed my brain, I was aware of Royal's eyes on me. They were expressionless, but something about the way he held his mouth me think he was angry.
Edward paid no attention to the game at all, eyes and mind ranging the forest.
"I'm sorry, Beau," he muttered fiercely. "It was stupid and irresponsible of me to expose you like this. I'm so sorry."
I heard his breath stop, and his eye zeroed in on right field. He took a half step, angling himself between me and what was coming.
Carlisle, Emmett, and the others turned in the same direction, hearing sounds of passage much too faint for my ears.
I held my breath as I realized that what was coming now was going to change everything.