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 dr