nd me, still clapping.

Thanks so much, Alice, Edward said acidly, coming from behind me. I turned to let him have it, but his expression was so worried and upset that I couldnt speak my complaints. I threw my arms around him instead, hiding my face, just in case the angry moisture in my eyes made it look like I was crying.

Vegas, Edward promised in my ear.

Not a chance, Alice gloated. Bella would never do that to me. You know, Edward, as a brother, you are sometimes a disappointment.

Dont be mean, I grumbled at her. Hes trying to make me happy, unlike you.

Im trying to make you happy, too, Bella. Its just that I know better what will make you happy . . . in the long run. Youll thank me for this. Maybe not for fifty years, but definitely someday.

I never thought Id see the day where Id be willing to take a bet against you, Alice, but it has arrived.

She laughed her silvery laugh. So, are you going to show me the ring?

I grimaced in horror as she grabbed my left hand and then dropped it just as quickly.

Huh. I saw him put it on you. . . . Did I miss something? she asked. She concentrated for half a second, furrowing her brow, before she answered her own questions. No. Weddings still on.

Bella has issues with jewelry, Edward explained.

Whats one more diamond? Well, I guess the ring has lots of diamonds, but my point is that hes already got one on 

Enough, Alice! Edward cut her off suddenly. The way he glared at her . . . he looked like a vampire again. Were in a hurry.

I dont understand. Whats that about diamonds? I asked.

Well talk about it later, Alice said. Edward is right  youd better get going. Youve got to set a trap and make camp before the storm comes. She frowned, and her expression was anxious, almost nervous. Dont forget your coat, Bella. It seems . . . unseasonably cold.

Ive already got it, Edward assured her.

Have a nice night, she told us in farewell.

It was twice as far to the clearing as usual; Edward took a long detour, making sure my scent would be nowhere near the trail Jacob would hide later. He carried me in his arms, the bulky backpack in my usual spot.

He stopped at the farthest end of the clearing and set me on my feet.

All right. Just walk north for a ways, touching as much as you can. Alice gave me a clear picture of their path, and it wont take long for us to intersect it.

North?

He smiled and pointed out the right direction.

I wandered into the woods, leaving the clear yellow light of the strangely sunny day in the clearing behind me. Maybe Alices blurred sight would be wrong about the snow. I hoped so. The sky was mostly clear, though the wind whipped furiously through the open spaces. In the trees it was calmer, but much too cold for June  even in a long-sleeved shirt with a thick sweater over the top, there were goose bumps on my arms. I walked slowly, trailing my fingers over anything close enough: the rough tree bark, the wet ferns, the moss-covered rocks.

Edward stayed with me, walking a parallel line about twenty yards away.

Am I doing this right? I called.

Perfectly.

I had an idea. Will this help? I asked as I ran my fingers through my hair and caught a few loose strands. I draped them over the ferns.

Yes, that does make the trail stronger. But you dont need to pull your hair out, Bella. It will be fine.

Ive got a few extras I can spare.

It was gloomy under the trees, and I wished I could walk closer to Edward and hold his hand.

I wedged another hair into a broken branch that cut through my path.

You dont need to let Alice have her way, you know, Edward said.

Dont worry about it, Edward. Im not going to leave you at the altar, regardless. I had a sinking feeling that Alice was going to get her way, mostly because she was totally unscrupulous when there was something she wanted, and also because I was a sucker for guilt trips.

Thats not what Im worried about. I want this to be what you want it to be.

I repressed a sigh. It would hurt his feelings if I told the truth  that it didnt really matter, because it was all just varying degrees of awful anyway.

Well, even if she does get her way, we can keep it small. Just us. Emmett can get a clerical license off the Internet.

I giggled. That does sound better. It wouldnt feel very official ifEmmett read the vows, which was a plus. But Id have a hard time keeping a straight face.

See, he said with a smile. Theres always a compromise.

It took a while for me to reach the spot where the newborn army would be certain to cross my trail, but Edward never got impatient with my pace.

He had to lead a bit more on the way back, to keep me on the same path. It all looked alike to me.

We were almost to the clearing when I fell. I could see the wide opening ahead, and thats probably why I got too eager and forgot to watch my feet. I caught myself before my head bashed into the nearest tree, but a small branch snapped off under my left hand and gouged into my palm.

Ouch! Oh, fabulous, I muttered.

Are you all right?

Im fine. Stay where you are. Im bleeding. It will stop in a minute.

He ignored me. He was right there before I could finish.

Ive got a first aid kit, he said, pulling off the backpack. I had a feeling I might need it.

Its not bad. I can take care of it  you dont have to make yourself uncomfortable.

Im not uncomfortable, he said calmly. Here  let me clean it.

Wait a second, I just got another idea.

Without looking at the blood and breathing through my mouth, just in case my stomach might react, I pressed my hand against a rock within my reach.

What are you doing?

Jasper willlove this, I muttered to myself. I started for the clearing again, pressing my palm against everything in my path. Ill bet this really gets them going.

Edward sighed.

Hold your breath, I told him.

Im fine. I just think youre going overboard.

This is all I get to do. I want to do a good job.

We broke through the last of the trees as I spoke. I let my injured hand graze across the ferns.

Well, you have, Edward assured me. The newborns will be frantic, and Jasper will be very impressed with your dedication. Now let me treat your hand  youve gotten the cut dirty.

Let me do it, please.

He took my hand and smiled as he examined it. This doesnt bother me anymore.

I watched him carefully as he cleaned the gash, looking for some sign of distress. He continued to breathe evenly in and out, the same small smile on his lips.

Why not? I finally asked as he smoothed a bandage across my palm.

He shrugged. I got over it.

You . . .got over it ? When? How? I tried to remember the last time hed held his breath around me. All I could think of was my wretched birthday party last September.

Edward pursed his lips, seeming to search for the words. I lived through an entire twenty-four hours thinking that you were dead, Bella. That changed the way I look at a lot of things.

Did it change the way I smell to you?

Not at all. But . . . having experienced the way it feels to think Ive lost you . . . my reactions have changed. My entire being shies away from any course that could inspire that kind of pain again.

I didnt know what to say to that.

He smiled at my expression. I guess that you could call it a very educational experience.

The wind tore through the clearing then, lashing my hair around my face and making me shiver.

All right, he said, reaching into his pack again. Youve done your part. He pulled out my heavy winter jacket and held it out for me to slide my arms in. Now its out of our hands. Lets go camping!

I laughed at the mock enthusiasm in his voice.

He took my bandaged hand  the other was in worse shape, still in the brace  and started toward the other side of the clearing.

Where are we meeting Jacob? I asked.

Right here. He gestured to the trees in front of us just as Jacob stepped warily from their shadow