第16部分(第3/7 頁)

bsolutely。　I　just　wanted　to　see　Jacob—I　haven't　seen　him　in　forever。〃

Jacob's　eyes　brightened　at　my　words。　He　was　smiling　so　big　it　looked　like　it

would　hurt　his　cheeks。

〃Can　you　stay　for　dinner？〃　Billy　was　eager；　too。

〃No；　I've　got　to　feed　Charlie；　you　know。〃

〃I'll　call　him　now；〃　Billy　suggested。　〃He's　always　invited。〃

I　laughed　to　hide　my　disfort。　〃It's　not　like　you'll　never　see　me　again。　I

promise　I'll　be　back　again

soon—so　much　you'll　get　sick　of　me。〃　After　all；　if　Jacob　could　fix　the　bike；

someone　had　to　teach　me

how　to　ride　it。

Billy　chuckled　in　response。　〃Okay；　maybe　next　time。〃

〃So；　Bella；　what　do　you　want　to　do？〃　Jacob　asked。

〃Whatever。　What　were　you　doing　before　I　interrupted？〃　I　was　strangely

fortable　here。　It　was　familiar；

but　only　distantly。　There　were　no　painful　reminders　of　the　recent　past。

Jacob　hesitated。　〃I　was　just　heading　out　to　work　on　my　car；　but　we　can　do

something　else〃

〃No；　that's　perfect！〃　I　interrupted。　〃I'd　love　to　see　your　car。〃

〃Okay；〃　he　said；　not　convinced。　〃It's　out　back；　in　the　garage。〃

Even　better；　I　thought　to　myself。　I　waved　at　Billy。　〃See　you　later。〃

A　thick　stand　of　trees　and　shrubbery　concealed　his　garage　from　the　house。　The

garage　was　no　more　than

a　couple　of　big　preformed　sheds　that　had　been　bolted　together　with　their

interior　walls　knocked　out。

Under　this　shelter；　raised　on　cinder　blocks；　was　what　looked　to　me　like　a

pleted　automobile。　I

recognized　the　symbol　on　the　grille；　at　least。

〃What　kind　of　Volkswagen　is　that？〃　I　asked。

〃It's　an　old　Rabbit—1986；　a　classic。〃

〃How's　it　going？〃

〃Almost　finished；〃　he　said　cheerf