storm began。 Most of it went wide； but someone； probably Emmett； threw with uncanny precision； and I
caught a lot of the ricochets off Edward's back。
The car was decorated with more flowers that trailed in streamers along its length； and long gossamer
ribbons that were tied to a dozen shoes—designer shoes that looked brandnew—dangling behind the
bumper。
Edward shielded me from the rice while I climbed in； and then he was in and we were speeding away as
I waved out the window and called 〃I love you〃 to the porch； where my families waved back。
The last image I registered was one of my parents。 Phil had both arms wrapped tenderly around Renee。
She had one arm tight around his waist but had her free hand reached out to hold Charlie's。 So many
different kinds of love； harmonious in this one moment。 It seemed a very hopeful picture to me。
Edward squeezed my hand。
〃I love you；〃 he said。
I leaned my head against his arm。 'That's why we're here；〃 I quoted him。
He kissed my hair。
As we turned onto the black highway and Edward really hit the accelerator； I heard a noise over the
purr of the engine； ing from the forest behind us。 If I could hear it； then he certainly could。 But he said
nothing as the sound slowly faded in the distance。 I said nothing； either。
The piercing； heartbroken howling grew fainter and then disappeared entirely。
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5。 ISLE ESME
〃Houston？〃 I asked； raising my eyebrows when we reached the gate in Seattle。
〃Just a stop along the way；〃 Edward assured me with a grin。
It felt like I'd barely fallen asleep when he woke me。 I was groggy as he pulled me through the terminals；
struggling to remember how to open my eyes after every blink。 It took me a few minutes to catch up with
what was going on when we stopped at the international counter to check in for our next flight。
〃Rio de Janeiro？〃 I asked with slightly more trepidation。
〃Another stop；〃 he told me。
The flight to South America was long but fortable in the wide firstclass seat； with Edward's arms
cradled around me。 I slept myself out and awoke unusually alert as we circled toward the airport with the
light of the setting sun slanting through the plane's windows。
We didn't stay in the airport to connect with another flight as I'd expected。 Instead we took a taxi
through the dark； teeming； living streets of Rio。 Unable to understand a word of Edward's Portuguese
instructions to the driver； I guessed that we were off to find a hotel before the next leg of our journey。 A
sharp twinge of something very close to stage fright twisted in the pit of my stomach as I considered that。
The taxi continued through the swarming crowds until they thinned somewhat； and we appeared to be
nearing the extreme western edge of the city； heading into the ocean。
We stopped at the docks。
Edward led the way down the long line of white yachts moored in the nightblackened water。 The boat
he stopped at was smaller than the others； sleeker； obviously built for speed instead of space。 Still
luxurious； though； and more graceful than the rest。 He leaped in lightly； despite the heavy bags he carried。
He dropped those on the deck and turned to help me carefully over the edge。
I watched in silence while he prepared the boat for departure； surprised at how skilled and fortable
he seemed； because he'd never mentioned an interest in boating before。 But then again； he was good at
just about everything。
As we headed due east into the open ocean； I reviewed basic geography in my head。 As far as I could
remember； there wasn't much east of Brazil。。。 until you got to Africa。
But Edward sped forward while the lights of Rio faded and ultimately disappeared behind us。 On his
face was a familiar exhilarated smile； the one produced by any form of speed。 The boat plunged through
the waves and I was showered with sea spray。
Finally the curiosity I'd suppressed so long got the best of me。
〃Are we going much farther？〃 I asked。
It wasn't like him to forget that I was human； but I wondered if he planned for us to live on this small
craft for any length of time。
〃About another half hour。〃 His eyes took in my hands； clenched on the seat； and he grinned。
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Oh well； I thought to myself。 He was a vampire； after all。 Maybe we were going to Atlantis。
Twenty minutes later； he called my name over the roar of the engine。
〃Bella； look there。〃 He pointed straight ahead。
I saw only blackness at first； and the moon's white trail across the water。 But I searched the space
where he pointed until I found a low black shape breaking into the sheen of moonlight on the waves。 As I
squinted into the darkness； the silhouette became more detailed。 The shape grew into a squat； irregular
triangle； with one side trailing longer than the other before sinking into the waves。 We drew closer； and I
could see the outline was feathery； swaying to the light breeze。
And then my eyes refocused and the pieces all made sense： a small island rose out of the water ahead of
us； waving with palm fronds； a beach glowing pale in the light of the moon。
〃Where are we？〃 I murmured in wonder while he shifted course； heading around to the north end of the
island。
He heard me； despite the noise of the engine； and smiled a wide smile that gleamed in the moonlight。
〃This is Isle Esme。〃
The boat slowed dramatically； drawing with precision into position against a short dock constructed of
wooden planks； bleached into whiteness by the moon。 The engine cut off； and the silence that followed
was profound。 There was nothing but the waves； slapping lightly against the boat； and the rustle of the
breeze in the palms。 The air was warm； moist； and fragrant—like the steam left behind after a hot
shower。
〃Isle Esme？〃 My voice was low； but it still sounded too loud as it broke into the quiet night。
〃A gift from Carlisle—Esme offered to let us borrow it。〃
A gift。 Who gives an island as a gift？ I frowned。 I hadn't realized that Edward's extreme generosity was a
learned behavior。
He placed the suitcases on the dock and then turned back； smiling his perfect smile as he reached for
me。
Instead of taking my hand； he pulled me right up into his arms。
〃Aren't you supposed to wait for the threshold？'71 asked； breathless； as he sprung lightly out of the
boat。
He grinned。 〃I'm nothing if not thorough。〃
Gripping the handles of both huge steamer trunks in one hand and cradling me in the other arm； he
carried me up the dock and onto a pale sand pathway through the dark vegetation。
For a short while it was pitch black in the junglelike growth； and then I could see a warm light ahead。 It
was about at the point when I realized the light was a house—the two bright； perfect squares were wide
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windows framing a front door—that the stage fright attacked again； more forcefully than before； worse
than when I'd thought we were headed for a hotel。
My heart thudded audibly against my ribs； and my breath seemed to get stuck in my throat。 I felt
Edward's eyes on my face； but I refused to meet his gaze。 I stared straight ahead； seeing nothing。
He didn't ask what I was thinking； which was out of character for him。 I guessed that meant that he was
just as nervous as I suddenly was。
He set the suitcases on the deep porch to open the doors—they were unlocked。
Edward looked down at me； waiting until I met his gaze before he stepped through the threshold。
He carried me through the house； both of us very quiet； flipping on lights as he went。 My vague
impression of the house was that it was quite large for a tiny island； and oddly familiar。 I'd gotten used to
the paleonpale color scheme preferred by the Cullens； it felt like home。 I couldn't focus on any
specifics； though。 The violent pulse beating behind my ears made everything a little blurry。
Then Edward stopped and turned on the last light。
The room was big and white； and the far wall was mostly glass—standard decor for my vampires。
Outside； the moon was bright on white sand and； just a few yards away from the house； glistening waves。
But I barely noted that part。 I was more focused on the absolutely huge white bed in the center of the
room； hung with billowy clouds of mosquito ting。
Edward set me on my feet。
〃I'll。。。 go get the luggage。〃
The room was too warm； stuffier than the tropical night outside。 A bead of sweat dewed up on the nape
of my neck。 I walked slowly forward until I could reach out and touch the foamy ting。 For some
reason I felt the need to make sure everything was real。
I didn't hear Edward return。 Suddenly； his wintry finger caressed the back of my neck； wiping away the
drop of perspiration。
〃It's a little hot here；〃 he said apologetically。 〃I thought。。。 that would be best。〃
〃Thorough；〃 I murmured under my breath； and he chuckled。 It was a nervous