1 twilight暮色-第45章

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correct？〃　

〃That's　right；〃　I　answered　immediately；　hiding　my　surprise　at　his　casual　
use　of　the　word。　

He　shook　his　head。　〃You're　incredible。〃　

I　realized；　as　he　drove　my　truck　out　of　the　main　part　of　town；　that　I　had　
no　idea　where　he　lived。　We　passed　over　the　bridge　at　the　Calawah　River；　
the　road　winding　northward；　the　houses　flashing　past　us　growing　farther　
apart；　getting　bigger。　And　then　we　were　past　the　other　houses　altogether；　
driving　through　misty　forest。　I　was　trying　to　decide　whether　to　ask　or　be　
patient；　when　he　turned　abruptly　onto　an　unpaved　road。　It　was　unmarked；　
barely　visible　among　the　ferns。　The　forest　encroached　on　both　sides；　
leaving　the　road　ahead　only　discernible　for　a　few　meters　as　it　twisted；　
serpentlike；　around　the　ancient　trees。　

And　then；　after　a　few　miles；　there　was　some　thinning　of　the　woods；　and　we　
were　suddenly　in　a　small　meadow；　or　was　it　actually　a　lawn？　The　gloom　of　
the　forest　didn't　relent；　though；　for　there　were　six　primordial　cedars　
that　shaded　an　entire　acre　with　their　vast　sweep　of　branches。　The　trees　
held　their　protecting　shadow　right　up　to　the　walls　of　the　house　that　rose　
among　them；　making　obsolete　the　deep　porch　that　wrapped　around　the　first　
story。　

I　don't　know　what　I　had　expected；　but　it　definitely　wasn't　this。　The　
house　was　timeless；　graceful；　and　probably　a　hundred　years　old。　It　was　
painted　a　soft；　faded　white；　three　stories　tall；　rectangular　and　well　
proportioned。　The　windows　and　doors　were　either　part　of　the　original　
structure　or　a　perfect　restoration。　My　truck　was　the　only　car　in　sight。　I　
could　hear　the　river　close　by；　hidden　in　the　obscurity　of　the　forest。　

〃Wow。〃　

〃You　like　it？〃　He　smiled。　

〃It…　has　a　certain　charm。〃　

He　pulled　the　end　of　my　ponytail　and　chuckled。　

〃Ready？〃　he　asked；　opening　my　door。　

〃Not　even　a　little　bit　—　let's　go。〃　I　tried　to　laugh；　but　it　seemed　to　
get　stuck　in　my　throat。　I　smoothed　my　hair　nervously。　

〃You　look　lovely。〃　He　took　my　hand　easily；　without　thinking　about　it。　

We　walked　through　the　deep　shade　up　to　the　porch。　I　knew　he　could　feel　my　
tension；　his　thumb　rubbed　soothing　circles　into　the　back　of　my　hand。　

He　opened　the　door　for　me。　

The　inside　was　even　more　surprising；　less　predictable；　than　the　exterior。　
It　was　very　bright；　very　open；　and　very　large。　This　must　have　originally　
been　several　rooms；　but　the　walls　had　been　removed　from　most　of　the　first　
floor　to　create　one　wide　space。　The　back；　southfacing　wall　had　been　
entirely　replaced　with　glass；　and；　beyond　the　shade　of　the　cedars；　the　
lawn　stretched　bare　to　the　wide　river。　A　massive　curving　staircase　
dominated　the　west　side　of　the　room。　The　walls；　the　highbeamed　ceiling；　
the　wooden　floors；　and　the　thick　carpets　were　all　varying　shades　of　white。　

Waiting　to　greet　us；　standing　just　to　the　left　of　the　door；　on　a　raised　
portion　of　the　floor　by　a　spectacular　grand　piano；　were　Edward's　parents。　

I'd　seen　Dr。　Cullen　before；　of　course；　yet　I　couldn't　help　but　be　struck　
again　by　his　youth；　his　outrageous　perfection。　At　his　side　was　Esme；　I　
assumed；　the　only　one　of　the　family　I'd　never　seen　before。　She　had　the　
same　pale；　beautiful　features　as　the　rest　of　them。　Something　about　her　
heartshaped　face；　her　billows　of　soft；　caramelcolored　hair；　reminded　me　
of　the　ingénues　of　the　silentmovie　era。　She　was　small；　slender；　yet　less　
angular；　more　rounded　than　the　others。　They　were　both　dressed　casually；　
in　light　colors　that　matched　the　inside　of　the　house。　They　smiled　in　
wele；　but　made　no　move　to　approach　us。　Trying　not　to　frighten　me；　I　
guessed。　

〃Carlisle；　Esme；〃　Edward's　voice　broke　the　short　silence；　〃this　is　Bella。〃　

〃You're　very　wele；　Bella。〃　Carlisle's　step　was　measured；　careful　as　he　
approached　me。　He　raised　his　hand　tentatively；　and　I　stepped　forward　to　
shake　hands　with　him。　

〃It's　nice　to　see　you　again；　Dr。　Cullen。〃　

〃Please；　call　me　Carlisle。〃　

〃Carlisle。〃　I　grinned　at　him；　my　sudden　confidence　surprising　me。　I　could　
feel　Edward's　relief　at　my　side。　

Esme　smiled　and　stepped　forward　as　well；　reaching　for　my　hand。　Her　cold；　
stone　grasp　was　just　as　I　expected。　

〃It's　very　nice　to　know　you；〃　she　said　sincerely。　

〃Thank　you。　I'm　glad　to　meet　you；　too。〃　And　I　was。　It　was　like　meeting　a　
fairy　tale　—　Snow　White；　in　the　flesh。　

〃Where　are　Alice　and　Jasper？〃　Edward　asked；　but　no　one　answered；　as　they　
had　just　appeared　at　the　top　of　the　wide　staircase。　

〃Hey；　Edward！〃　Alice　called　enthusiastically。　She　ran　down　the　stairs；　a　
streak　of　black　hair　and　white　skin；　ing　to　a　sudden　and　graceful　stop　
in　front　of　me。　Carlisle　and　Esme　shot　warning　glances　at　her；　but　I　
liked　it。　It　was　natural　—　for　her；　anyway。　

〃Hi；　Bella！〃　Alice　said；　and　she　bounced　forward　to　kiss　my　cheek。　If　
Carlisle　and　Esme　had　looked　cautious　before；　they　now　looked　staggered。　
There　was　shock　in　my　eyes；　too；　but　I　was　also　very　pleased　that　she　
seemed　to　approve　of　me　so　entirely。　I　was　startled　to　feel　Edward　
stiffen　at　my　side。　I　glanced　at　his　face；　but　his　expression　was　
unreadable。　

〃You　do　smell　nice；　I　never　noticed　before；〃　she　mented；　to　my　extreme　
embarrassment。　

No　one　else　seemed　to　know　quite　what　to　say；　and　then　Jasper　was　there　—　
tall　and　leonine。　A　feeling　of　ease　spread　through　me；　and　I　was　suddenly　
fortable　despite　where　I　was。　Edward　stared　at　Jasper；　raising　one　
eyebrow；　and　I　remembered　what　Jasper　could　do。　

〃Hello；　Bella；〃　Jasper　said。　He　kept　his　distance；　not　offering　to　shake　
my　hand。　But　it　was　impossible　to　feel　awkward　near　him。　

〃Hello；　Jasper。〃　I　smiled　at　him　shyly；　and　then　at　the　others。　〃It's　

nice　to　meet　you　all　—　you　have　a　very　beautiful　home；〃　I　added　
conventionally。　

〃Thank　you；〃　Esme　said。　〃We're　so　glad　that　you　came。〃　She　spoke　with　
feeling；　and　I　realized　that　she　thought　I　was　brave。　

I　also　realized　that　Rosalie　and　Emmett　were　nowhere　to　be　seen；　and　I　
remembered　Edward's　tooinnocent　denial　when　I'd　asked　him　if　the　others　
didn't　like　me。　

Carlisle's　expression　distracted　me　from　this　train　of　thought；　he　was　
gazing　meaningfully　at　Edward　with　an　intense　expression。　Out　of　the　
corner　of　my　eye；　I　saw　Edward　nod　once。　

I　looked　away；　trying　to　be　polite。　My　eyes　wandered　again　to　the　
beautiful　instrument　on　the　platform　by　the　door。　I　suddenly　remembered　
my　childhood　fantasy　that；　should　I　ever　win　a　lottery；　I　would　buy　a　
grand　piano　for　my　mother。　She　wasn't　really　good　—　she　only　played　for　
herself　on　our　secondhand　upright　—　but　I　loved　to　watch　her　play。　She　
was　happy；　absorbed　—　she　seemed　like　a　new；　mysterious　being　to　me　then；　
someone　outside　the　〃mom〃　persona　I　took　for　granted。　She'd　put　me　
through　lessons；　of　course；　but　like　most　kids；　I　whined　until　she　let　me　
quit。　

Esme　noticed　my　preoccupation。　

〃Do　you　play？〃　she　asked；　inclining　her　head　toward　the　piano。　

I　shook　my　head。　〃Not　at　all。　But　it's　so　beautiful。　Is　it　yours？〃　

〃No；〃　she　laughed。　〃Edward　didn't　tell　you　he　was　musical？〃　

〃No。〃　I　glared　at　his　suddenly　innocent　expression　with　narrowed　eyes。　〃I　
should　have　known；　I　guess。〃　

Esme　raised　her　delicate　eyebrows　in　confusion。　

〃Edward　can　do　everything；　right？〃　I　explained。　

Jasper　snickered　and　Esme　gave　Edward　a　reproving　look。　

〃I　hope　you　haven't　been　showing　off—　it's　rude；〃　she　scolded。　

〃Just　a　bit；〃　he　laughed　freely。　Her　face　softened　at　the　sound；　and　they　
shared　a　brief　look　that　I　didn't　understand；　though　Esme's　face　seemed　
almost　smug。　

〃He's　been　too　modest；　actually；〃　I　corrected。　

〃Well；　play　for　her；〃　Esme　encouraged。　

〃You　just　said　showing　off　was　rude；〃　he　objected。　

〃There　are　exceptions　to　every　rule；〃　she　replied。　

〃I'd　like　to　hear　you　play；〃　I　volunteered。　

〃It's　settled　then。〃　Esme　pushed　him　toward　the　piano。　He　pulled　me　
along；　sitting　me　on　the　bench　beside　him。　

He　gave　me　a　long；　exasperated　look　before　he　turned　to　the　keys。　

And　then　his　fingers　flowed　swiftly　across　the　ivory；　and　the　room　was　
filled　with　a　position　so　plex；　so　luxuriant；　it　was　impossible　to　
believe　only　one　set　of　hands　played。　I　felt　my　chin　drop；　my　mouth　open　
in　astonishment；　and　heard　low　chuckles　behind　me　at　my　reaction。　

Edward　looked　at　me　casually；　the　music　still　surging　around　us　without　a　
break；　and　winked。　〃Do　you　like　it？〃　

〃You　wrote　this？〃　I　gasped；　understanding。　

He　nodded。　〃It's　Esme's　favorite。〃　

I　closed　my　eyes；　shaking　my　head。　

〃What's　wrong？〃　

〃I'm　feeling　extremely　insignificant。〃　

The　music　slowed；　transforming　into　something　softer；　and　to　my　surprise　
I　detected　the　melody　of　his　lullaby　weaving　through　the　profusion　of　
notes。　

〃You　inspired　this　one；〃　he　said　softly。　The　music　grew　unbearably　sweet。　

I　couldn't　speak。　

〃They　like　you；　you　know；〃　he　said　conversationally。　〃Esme　especially。〃　

I　glanced　behind　me；　but　the　huge　room　was　empty　now。　

〃Where　did　they　go？〃　

〃Very　subtly　giving　us　some　privacy；　I　suppose。〃　

I　sighed。　〃They　like　me。　But　Rosalie　and　Emmett…〃　I　trailed　off；　not　sure　
how　to　express　my　doubts。　

He　frowned。　〃Don't　worry　about　Rosalie；〃　he　said；　his　eyes　wide　and　
persuasive。　〃She'll　e　around。〃　

I　pursed　my　lips　skeptically。　〃Emmett？〃　

〃Well；　he　thinks　I'm　a　lunatic；　it's　true；　but　he　doesn't　have　a　problem　
with　you。　He's　trying　to　reason　with　Rosalie。〃　

〃What　is　it　that　upsets　her？〃　I　wasn't　sure　if　I　wanted　to　know　the　
answer。　

He　sighed　deeply。　〃Rosalie　struggles　the　most　with…　with　what　we　are。　
It's　hard　for　her　to　have　someone　on　the　outside　know　the　truth。　And　
she's　a　little　jealous。〃　

〃Rosalie　is　jealous　of　me？〃　I　asked　incredulously。　I　tried　to　imagine　a　
universe　in　which　someone　as　breathtaking　as　Rosalie　would　have　any　
possible　reason　to　feel　jealous　of　someone　like　me。　

〃You're　human。〃　He　shrugged。　〃She　wishes　that　she　were；　too。〃　

〃Oh；〃　I　muttered；　still　stunned。　〃Even　Jasper；　though…〃　

〃That's　really　my　fault；〃　he　said。　〃I　told　you　he　was　the　most　recent　to　
try　our　way　of　life。　I　warned　him　to　keep　his　distance。〃　

I　thought　about　the　reason　for　that；　and　shuddered。　

〃Esme　and　Carlisle…　？〃　I　continue