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。
===========================================================================
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