4 breaking dawn破晓-第3部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


He　smiled　at　me　and　then　squared　his　shoulders　and　turned　to　my　father。　

〃Charlie；　I　realize　that　I've　gone　about　this　out　of　order。　Traditionally；　I　should　have　asked　you　first。　I　
mean　no　disrespect；　but　since　Bella　has　already　said　yes　and　I　don't　want　to　diminish　her　choice　in　the　
matter；　instead　of　asking　you　for　her　hand；　I'm　asking　you　for　your　blessing。　We're　getting　married；　
Charlie。　I　love　her　more　than　anything　in　the　world；　more　than　my　own　life；　and—by　some　miracle—she　
loves　me　that　way；　too。　Will　you　give　us　your　blessing？〃　

He　sounded　so　sure；　so　calm。　For　just　an　instant；　listening　to　the　absolute　confidence　in　his　voice；　I　
experienced　a　rare　moment　of　insight；　i　could　see；　fleetingly；　the　way　the　world　looked　to　him。　For　the　
length　of　one　heartbeat；　this　news　made　perfect　sense。　

And　then　I　caught　sight　of　the　expression　on　Charlie's　face；　his　eyes　now　locked　on　the　ring。　

I　held　my　breath　while　his　skin　changed　colors—fair　to　red；　red　to　purple；　purple　to　blue。　I　started　to　get　
up—I'm　

not　sure　what　I　planned　to　do；　maybe　use　the　Heimlich　maneuver　to　make　sure　he　wasn't　choking—but　
Edward　squeezed　my　hand　and　murmured　〃Give　him　a　minute〃　so　low　that　only　I　could　hear。　




　　　Page　11　

　　　Generatedby　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　：。processtext。abclit。html　




The　silence　was　much　longer　this　time。　Then；　gradually；　shade　by　shade；　Charlie's　color　returned　to　
normal。　His　lips　pursed；　and　his　eyebrows　furrowed；　I　recognized　his　〃deep　in　thought〃　expression。　He　
studied　the　two　of　us　for　a　long　moment；　and　I　felt　Edward　relax　at　my　side。　

〃Guess　I'm　not　that　surprised；〃　Charlie　grumbled。　〃Knew　I'd　have　to　deal　with　something　like　this　soon　
enough。〃　

I　exhaled。　

〃You　sure　about　this？〃　Charlie　demanded；　glaring　at　me。　

〃I'm　one　hundred　percent　sure　about　Edward；〃　I　told　him　without　missing　a　beat。　

〃Getting　married；　though？　What's　the　rush？〃　He　eyed　me　suspiciously　again。　

The　rush　was　due　to　the　fact　that　I　was　getting　closer　to　nieen　every　stinking　day；　while　Edward　
stayed　frozen　in　all　his　seventeenyearold　perfection；　as　he　had　for　over　niy　years。　Not　that　this　fact　
necessitated　marriage　in　my　book；　but　the　wedding　was　required　due　to　the　delicate　and　tangled　
promise　Edward　and　I　had　made　to　finally　get　to　this　point；　the　brink　of　my　transformation　from　
mortal　to　immortal。　

These　weren't　things　I　could　explain　to　Charlie。　

〃We're　going　away　to　Dartmouth　together　in　the　fall；　Charlie；〃　Edward　reminded　him。　〃I'd　like　to　do　that；　
well；　the　right　way。　It's　how　I　was　raised。〃　He　shrugged。　

He　wasn't　exaggerating；　they'd　been　big　on　oldfashioned　morals　during　World　War　I。　

Charlie's　mouth　twisted　to　the　side。　Looking　for　an　angle　to　argue　from。　But　what　could　he　say？　I'd　
prefer　you　live　in　sin　first？　He　was　a　dad；　his　hands　were　tied。　

〃Knew　this　was　ing；〃　he　muttered　to　himself；　frowning。　Then；　suddenly；　his　face　went　perfectly　
smooth　and　blank。　

〃Dad？〃　I　asked　anxiously。　I　glanced　at　Edward；　but　I　couldn't　read　his　face；　either；　as　he　watched　
Charlie。　

〃Ha！〃　Charlie　exploded。　I　jumped　in　my　seat。　〃Ha；　ha；　ha！〃　

I　stared　incredulously　as　Charlie　doubled　over　in　laughter；　his　whole　body　shook　with　it。　

I　looked　at　Edward　for　a　translation；　but　Edward　had　his　lips　pressed　tightly　together；　like　he　was　trying　
to　hold　back　laughter　himself。　

〃Okay；　fine；〃　Charlie　choked　out。　〃Get　married。〃　Another　roll　of　laughter　shook　through　him。　〃But。。。〃　

〃But　what？〃　I　demanded。　

〃But　you　have　to　tell　your　mom！　I'm　not　saying　one　word　to　Renee！　That's　all　yours！〃　He　busted　into　
loud　guffaws。　




　　Page　12　

　　　Generatedby　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　：。processtext。abclit。html　




I　paused　with　my　hand　on　the　doorknob；　smiling。　Sure；　at　the　time；　Charlie's　words　had　terrified　me。　The　
ultimate　doom：　telling　Renee。　Early　marriage　was　higher　up　on　her　blacklist　than　boiling　live　puppies。　

Who　could　have　foreseen　her　response？　Not　me。　Certainly　not　Charlie。　Maybe　Alice；　but　I　hadn't　
thought　to　ask　her。　

〃Well；　Bella；〃　Renee　had　said　after　I'd　choked　and　stuttered　out　the　impossible　words：　Worn；　I'm　
marrying　Edward。　Tm　a　little　miffed　that　you　waited　so　long　to　tell　me。　Plane　tickets　only　get　more　
expensive。　Oooh；〃　she'd　fretted。　〃Do　you　think　Phil's　cast　will　be　off　by　then？　It　will　spoil　the　pictures　if　
he's　not　in　a　tux—〃　

〃Back　up　a　second；　Mom。〃　I'd　gasped。　〃What　do　you　mean；　waited　so　long？　I　just　got　enen　。　。　。〃—I'd　
been　unable　to　force　out　the　word　engaged—〃things　settled；　you　know；　today。〃　

〃Today？　Really？　That　is　a　surprise。　I　assumed　。。。〃　

〃What　did　you　assume？　When　did　you　assume？〃　

〃Well；　when　you　came　to　visit　me　in　April；　it　looked　like　things　were　pretty　much　sewn　up；　if　you　know　
what　I　mean。　You're　not　very　hard　to　read；　sweetie。　But　I　didn't　say　anything　because　I　knew　it　wouldn't　
do　any　good。　You're　exactly　like　Charlie。〃　She'd　sighed；　resigned。　〃Once　you　make　up　your　mind；　there　
is　no　reasoning　with　you。　Of　course；　exactly　like　Charlie；　you　stick　by　your　decisions；　too。〃　

And　then　she'd　said　the　last　thing　that　I'd　ever　expected　to　hear　from　my　mother。　

〃You're　not　making　my　mistakes；　Bella。　You　sound　like　you're　scared　silly；　and　I'm　guessing　it's　because　
you're　afraid　of　me。〃　She'd　giggled。　〃Of　what　I'm　going　to　think。　And　I　know　I've　said　a　lot　of　things　
about　marriage　and　stupidity—and　I'm　not　taking　them　back—but　you　need　to　realize　that　those　things　
specifically　applied　to　me。　You're　a　pletely　different　person　than　I　am。　You　make　your　own　kinds　of　
mistakes；　and　I'm　sure　you'll　have　your　share　of　regrets　in　life。　But　mitment　was　never　your　problem；　
sweetie。　You　have　a　better　chance　of　making　this　work　than　most　fortyyearolds　I　know。〃　Renee　had　
laughed　again。　〃My　little　middleaged　child。　Luckily；　you　seem　to　have　found　another　old　soul。〃　

〃You're　not。。。　mad？　You　don't　think　I'm　making　a　humongous　mistake？〃　

〃Well；　sure；　I　wish　you'd　wait　a　few　more　years。　I　mean；　do　I　look　old　enough　to　be　a　motherinlaw　to　
you？　Don't　answer　that。　But　this　isn't　about　me。　This　is　about　you。　Are　you　happy？〃　

〃I　don't　know。　I'm　having　an　outofbody　experience　right　now。〃　

Renee　had　chuckled。　〃Does　he　make　you　happy；　Bella？〃　

〃Yes；　but—〃　

〃Are　you　ever　going　to　want　anyone　else？〃　

〃No；　but—〃　

〃But　what？〃　

〃But　aren't　you　going　to　say　that　I　sound　exactly　like　every　other　infatuated　teenager　since　the　dawn　of　



Page　13　

　　　Generatedby　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　：。processtext。abclit。html　




time？〃　

〃You've　never　been　a　teenager；　sweetie。　You　know　what's　best　for　you。〃　

For　the　last　few　weeks；　Renee　had　unexpectedly　immersed　herself　in　wedding　plans。　She'd　spent　hours　
every　day　on　the　phone　with　Edward's　mother；　Esme—no　worries　about　the　inlaws　getting　along。　
Renee　adored　Esme；　but　then；　I　doubted　anyone　could　help　responding　that　way　to　my　lovable　
almostmotherinlaw。　

It　let　me　right　off　the　hook。　Edward's　family　and　my　family　were　taking　care　of　the　nuptials　together　
without　my　having　to　do　or　know　or　think　too　hard　about　any　of　it。　

Charlie　was　furious；　of　course；　but　the　sweet　part　was　that　he　wasn't　furious　at　me。　Renee　was　the　
traitor。　He'd　counted　on　her　to　play　the　heavy。　What　could　he　do　now；　when　his　ultimate　threat—telling　
Mom—had　turned　out　to　be　utterly　empty？　He　had　nothing；　and　he　knew　it。　So　he　moped　around　the　
house；　muttering　things　about　not　being　able　to　trust　anyone　in　this　world___　

〃Dad？〃　I　called　as　I　pushed　open　the　front　door。　〃I'm　home。〃　

〃Hold　on；　Bells；　stay　right　there。〃　

〃Huh？〃　I　asked；　pausing　automatically。　

〃Gimme　a　second。　Ouch；　you　got　me；　Alice。〃　

Alice？　

〃Sorry；　Charlie；〃　Alice's　trilling　voice　responded。　〃How's　that？〃　

〃I'm　bleeding　on　it。〃　

〃You're　fine。　Didn't　break　the　skin—trust　me。〃　

〃What's　going　on？〃　I　demanded；　hesitating　in　the　doorway。　

〃Thirty　seconds；　please；　Bella；〃　Alice　told　me。　〃Your　patience　will　be　rewarded。〃　

〃Humph；〃　Charlie　added。　

I　tapped　my　foot；　counting　each　beat。　Before　I　got　to　thirty；　Alice　said；　〃Okay；　Bella；　e　in！〃　

Moving　with　caution；　I　rounded　the　little　corner　into　our　living　room。　

〃Oh；〃　I　huffed。　〃Aw。　Dad。　Don't　you　look—〃　

〃Silly？〃　Charlie　interrupted。　

〃I　was　thinking　more　like　debonair〃　

Charlie　blushed。　Alice　took　his　elbow　and　tugged　him　around　into　a　slow　spin　to　showcase　the　pale　gray　
tux。　



　　Page　14　

　　　Generatedby　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　：。processtext。abclit。html　




〃Now　cut　that　out；　Alice。　I　look　like　an　idiot。〃　

〃No　one　dressed　by　me　ever　looks　like　an　idiot。〃　

〃She's　right；　Dad。　You　look　fabulous！　What's　the　occasion？〃　

Alice　rolled　her　eyes。　〃It's　the　final　check　on　the　fit。　For　both　of　you。〃　

I　peeled　my　gaze　off　the　unusually　elegant　Charlie　for　the　first　time　and　saw　the　dreaded　white　garment　
bag　laid　carefully　across　the　sofa。　

〃Aaah。〃　

〃Go　to　your　happy　place；　Bella。　It　won't　take　long。〃　

I　sucked　in　a　deep　breath　and　closed　my　eyes。　Keeping　them　shut；　I　stumbled　my　way　up　the　stairs　to　
my　room。　I　stripped　down　to　my　underwear　and　held　my　arms　straight　out。　

〃You'd　think　I　was　shoving　bamboo　splinters　under　your　nails；〃　Alice　muttered　to　herself　as　she　followed　
me　in。　

I　paid　no　attention　to　her。　I　was　in　my　happy　place。　

In　my　happy　place；　the　whole　wedding　mess　was　over　and　done。　Behind　me。　Already　repressed　and　
forgotten。　

We　were　alone；　just　Edward　and　me。　The　setting　was　fuzzy　and　constantly　in　flux—it　morphed　from　
misty　forest　to　cloudcovered　city　to　arctic　night—because　Edward　was　keeping　the　location　of　our　
honeymoon　a　secret　to　surprise　me。　But　I　wasn't　especially　concerned　about　the　where　part。　

Edward　and　I　were　together；　and　I'd　fulfilled　my　side　of　our　promise　perfectly。　I'd　married　him。　That　
was　the　big　one。　But　I'd　also　accepted　all　his　outrageous　gifts　and　was　registered；　however　futilely；　to　
attend　Dartmouth　College　in　the　fall。　Now　it　was　his　turn。　

Before　he　turned　me　into　a　vampire—his　big　promise—he　had　one　other　stipulation　to　make　good　
on。　

Edward　had　an　obsessive　sort　of　concern　over　the　human　things　that　I　would　be　giving　up；　the　
experiences　he　didn't　want　me　to　miss。　Most　of　them—like　the　prom；　for　example—seemed　silly　to　me。　
There　was　only　one　human　experience　I　worried　about　missing。　Of　course　it　would　be　the　one　he　wished　
I　would　forget　pletely。　

Here　was　the　thing；　though。　I　knew　a　little　about　what　I　was　going　to　be　like　when　I　wasn't　human　
anymore。　I'd　seen　newborn　vampires　firsthand；　and　I'd　heard　all　my　familytobe's　stories　about　those　
wild　early　days。　For　several　years；　my　biggest　personality　trait　was　going　to　be　thirsty；　it　would　take　
some　time　before　I　could　be　me　again。　And　even　when　I　was　in　control　of　myself；　I　would　never　feel　
exactly　the　way　I　felt　now。　

Human。。。　and　passionately　in　love。　




Page　15　

　　　Generatedby　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　：。processtext。abclit。html　




I　wanted　the　plete　experience　before　I　traded　in　my　warm；　breakable；　pheromoneriddled　body　for　
something　beautiful；　strong。。。　and　unknown。　I　wanted　a　real　honeymoon　with　Edward。　And；　despite　the　
danger　he　feared　this　w