第4部分(第2/7 頁)

ft　radiance　on　the　huge

cedars　that　surrounded　the　house。　Big　bowls　of　flowers—pink　roses—lined　the

wide　stairs　up　to　the

front　doors。

I　moaned。

Edward　took　a　few　deep　breaths　to　calm　himself。　〃This　is　a　party；〃　he　reminded

me。　〃Try　to　be　a　good

sport。〃

〃Sure；〃　I　muttered。

He　came　around　to　get　my　door；　and　offered　me　his　hand。

〃I　have　a　question。〃

He　waited　warily。

〃If　I　develop　this　film；〃　I　said；　toying　with　the　camera　in　my　hands；　〃will

you　show　up　in　the　picture？〃

Edward　started　laughing。　He　helped　me　out　of　the　car；　pulled　me　up　the　stairs；

and　was　still　laughing　as　he

opened　the　door　for　me。

They　were　all　waiting　in　the　huge　white　living　room；　when　I　walked　through　the

door；　they　greeted　me

with　a　loud　chorus　of　〃Happy　birthday；　Bella！〃　while　I　blushed　and　looked

down。　Alice；　I　assumed；　had

covered　every　flat　surface　with　pink　candles　and　dozens　of　crystal　bowls

filled　with　hundreds　of　roses。

There　was　a　table　with　a　white　cloth　draped　over　it　next　to　Edward's　grand

piano；　holding　a　pink　birthday

cake；　more　roses；　a　stack　of　glass　plates；　and　a　small　pile　of　silver…wrapped

presents。

It　was　a　hundred　times　worse　than　I'd　imagined。

Edward；　sensing　my　distress；　wrapped　an　encouraging　arm　around　my　waist　and

kissed　the　top　of　my

head。

Edward's　parents；　Carlisle　and　Esme—impossibly　youthful　and　lovely　as　ever—

were　the　closest　to　the

door。　Esme　hugged　me　carefully；　her　soft；　caramel…colored　hair　brushing

against　my　cheek　as　she　kissed

my　forehead；　and　then　Carlisle　put　his　arm　around　my　shoulders。

〃Sorry　about　this；　Bell