see why you'd left so abruptly. I tried to explain. I suppose it might not have come out right."
"What did she do?"
"She phased to her human form and - "
"Really?" I interrupted again, shocked this time. I couldn't process that. Leah letting her guard down right in the mouth of the enemy's lair?
"She wanted to... speak to Bella."
"To Bella?"
Edward got all hissy then. "I won't let Bella be upset like that again. I don't care how justified Leah thinks she is! I didn't hurt her - of course I wouldn't - but I'll throw her out of the house if it happens again. I'll launch her right across the river - "
"Hold on. What did she say?" None of this was making any sense.
Edward took a deep breath, composing himself. "Leah was unnecessarily harsh. I'm not going to pretend that I understand why Bella is unable to let go of you, but I do know that she does not behave this way to hurt you. She suffers a great deal over the pain she's inflicting on you, and on me, by asking you to stay. What Leah said was uncalled for. Bella's been crying - "
"Wait - Leah was yelling at Bella about me?"
He nodded one sharp nod. "You were quite vehemently championed."
Whoa. "I didn't ask her to do that."
"I know."
I rolled my eyes. Of course he knew. He knew everything.
But that was really something about Leah. Who would have believed it? Leah walking into the bloodsuckers' place human to complain about how /was being treated.
"I can't promise to control Leah," I told him. "I won't do that. But I'll talk to her, okay? And I don't think there'll be a repeat. Leah's not one to hold back, so she probably got it all off her chest today."
"I would say so."
"Anyway, I'll talk to Bella about it, too. She doesn't need to feel bad. This one's on me."
"I already told her that."
"Of course you did. Is she okay?"
"She's sleeping now. Rose is with her."
So the psycho was "Rose" now. He'd completely crossed over to the dark side.
He ignored that thought, continuing with a more complete answer to my question. "She's... better in some ways. Aside from Leah's tirade and the resulting guilt."
Better. Because Edward was hearing the monster and everything was all lovey-dovey now. Fantastic.
"It's a bit more than that," he murmured. "Now that I can make out the child's thoughts, it's apparent that he or she has remarkably developed mental facilities. He can understand us, to an extent."
My mouth fell open. "Are you serious?"
"Yes. He seems to have a vague sense of what hurts her now. He's trying to avoid that, as much as possible. He... loves her. Already."
I stared at Edward, feeling sort of like my eyes might pop out of their sockets. Underneath that disbelief, I could see right away that this was the critical factor. This was what had changed Edward - that the monster had convinced him of this love. He couldn't hate what loved Bella. It was probably why he couldn't hate me, either. There was a big
difference, though. I wasn't killing her.
Edward went on, acting like he hadn't heard all that. "The progress, I believe, is more than we'd judged. When Carlisle returns - "
"They're not back?" I cut in sharply. I thought of Sam and Jared, watching the road. Would they get curious as to what was going on?
"Alice and Jasper are. Carlisle sent all the blood he was able to acquire, but it wasn't as much as he was hoping for - Bella will use up this supply in another day the way her appetite has grown. Carlisle stayed to try another source. I don't think that's necessary now, but he wants to be covered for any eventuality."
"Why isn't it necessary? If she needs more?"
I could tell he was watching and listening to my reaction carefully as he explained. Tm trying to persuade Carlisle to deliver the baby as soon as he is back."
"What?"
"The child seems to be attempting to avoid rough movements, but it's difficult. He's become too big. It's madness to wait, when he's clearly developed beyond what Carlisle had guessed. Bella's too fragile to delay."
I kept getting my legs knocked out from under me. First, counting on Edward's hatred of the thing so much. Now, I'd realized that I thought of those four days as a sure thing. I'd banked on them.
The endless ocean of grief that waited stretched out before me.