第20部分(第4/7 頁)

xuberant　than　before。　It　reminded　me　so　clearly

of　my　first　months　in

Forks。　I'd　e　full　circle；　and　now　everything　felt　like　an　echo—an　empty

echo；　devoid　of　the　interest　it

used　to　have。

The　next　night；　Charlie　didn't　seem　the　smallest　bit　surprised　to　find　Jacob

and　me　sprawled　across　the

living　room　floor　with　our　books　scattered　around　us；　so　I　guessed　that　he　and

Billy　were　talking　behind

our　backs。

〃Hey；　kids；〃　he　said；　his　eyes　straying　to　the　kitchen。　The　smell　of　the

lasagna　I'd　spent　the　afternoon

making—while　Jacob　watched　and　occasionally　sampled—wafted　down　the　hall；　I

was　being　good；

trying　to　atone　for　all　the　pizza。

Jacob　stayed　for　dinner；　and　took　a　plate　home　for　Billy。　He　grudgingly　added

another　year　to　my

negotiable　age　for　being　a　good　cook。

Friday　was　the　garage；　and　Saturday；　after　my　shift　at　Newton's；　was　homework

again。　Charlie　felt

secure　enough　in　my　sanity　to　spend　the　day　fishing　with　Harry。　When　he　got

back；　we　were　all

done—feeling　very　sensible　and　mature　about　it；　too—and　watching　Monster

Garage　on　the　Discovery

Channel。

〃I　probably　ought　to　go。〃　Jacob　sighed。　〃It's　later　than　I　thought。〃

〃Okay；　fine；〃　I　grumbled。　〃I'll　take　you　home。〃

He　laughed　at　my　unwilling　expression—it　seemed　to　please　him。

〃Tomorrow；　back　to　work；〃　I　said　as　soon　as　we　were　safe　in　the　truck。　〃What

time　do　you　want　me　to

e　up？〃

There　was　an　unexplained　excitement　in　his　answering　smile。　〃I'll　call　you

first；　okay？〃

〃Sure。〃　I　frowned　to　myself；　wondering　what　was　up。　His　smile　widened。

I　cleaned　the　house　the　next　morning—waiti