Сумерки

           Afeelingofeasespreadthroughme,andIwassuddenlycomfortabledespitewhereIwas.EdwardstaredatJasper,raisingoneeyebrow,andIrememberedwhatJaspercoulddo.

           "Hello,Bella,"Jaspersaid.Hekepthisdistance,notofferingtoshakemyhand.Butitwasimpossibletofeelawkwardnearhim.

           "Hello,Jasper."Ismiledathimshyly,andthenattheothers."It’s

           nicetomeetyouall-youhaveaverybeautifulhome,"Iaddedconventionally.

           "Thankyou,"Esmesaid."We’resogladthatyoucame."Shespokewithfeeling,andIrealizedthatshethoughtIwasbrave.

           IalsorealizedthatRosalieandEmmettwerenowheretobeseen,andIrememberedEdward’stoo-innocentdenialwhenI’daskedhimiftheothersdidn’tlikeme.

           Carlisle’sexpressiondistractedmefromthistrainofthought;hewasgazingmeaningfullyatEdwardwithanintenseexpression.Outofthecornerofmyeye,IsawEdwardnodonce.

           Ilookedaway,tryingtobepolite.Myeyeswanderedagaintothebeautifulinstrumentontheplatformbythedoor.Isuddenlyrememberedmychildhoodfantasythat,shouldIeverwinalottery,Iwouldbuyagrandpianoformymother.Shewasn’treallygood-sheonlyplayedforherselfonoursecondhandupright-butIlovedtowatchherplay.Shewashappy,absorbed-sheseemedlikeanew,mysteriousbeingtomethen,someoneoutsidethe"mom"personaItookforgranted.She’dputmethroughlessons,ofcourse,butlikemostkids,Iwhineduntilsheletmequit.

           Esmenoticedmypreoccupation.