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           "TellCharlieIsaidhi."

           "Iwill."

           "I’llseeyousoon,"sheinsisted."Youcancomehomewheneveryouwant-I’llcomerightbackassoonasyouneedme."

           ButIcouldseethesacrificeinhereyesbehindthepromise.

           "Don’tworryaboutme,"Iurged."It’llbegreat.Iloveyou,Mom."

           Shehuggedmetightlyforaminute,andthenIgotontheplane,andshewasgone.

           It’safour-hourflightfromPhoenixtoSeattle,anotherhourinasmallplaneuptoPortAngeles,andthenanhourdrivebackdowntoForks.Flyingdoesn’tbotherme;thehourinthecarwithCharlie,though,Iwasalittleworriedabout.

           Charliehadreallybeenfairlyniceaboutthewholething.HeseemedgenuinelypleasedthatIwascomingtolivewithhimforthefirsttimewithanydegreeofpermanence.He’dalreadygottenmeregisteredforhighschoolandwasgoingtohelpmegetacar.

           ButitwassuretobeawkwardwithCharlie.Neitherofuswaswhatanyonewouldcallverbose,andIdidn’tknowwhattherewastosayregardless.Iknewhewasmorethanalittleconfusedbymydecision-likemymotherbeforeme,Ihadn’tmadeasecretofmydistasteforForks.

           WhenIlandedinPortAngeles,itwasraining.Ididn’tseeitasanomen-justunavoidable.I’dalreadysaidmygoodbyestothesun.

           Charliewaswaitingformewiththecruiser.ThisIwasexpecting,too.CharlieisPoliceChiefSwantothegoodpeopleofForks.