Сумерки

           "No,she’srighthere."Sheheldthephoneouttome.Yourmother,shemouthed.

           "Hello?"

           "Bella?Bella?"Itwasmymother’svoice,inafamiliartoneIhadheardathousandtimesinmychildhood,anytimeI’dgottentooclosetotheedgeofthesidewalkorstrayedoutofhersightinacrowdedplace.Itwasthesoundofpanic.

           Isighed.I’dbeenexpectingthis,thoughI’dtriedtomakemymessageasunalarmingaspossiblewithoutlesseningtheurgencyofit.

           "Calmdown,Mom,"Isaidinmymostsoothingvoice,walkingslowlyawayfromAlice.Iwasn’tsureifIcouldlieasconvincinglywithhereyesonme."Everythingisfine,okay?JustgivemeaminuteandI’llexplaineverything,Ipromise."

           Ipaused,surprisedthatshehadn’tinterruptedmeyet.

           "Mom?"

           "BeverycarefulnottosayanythinguntilItellyouto."ThevoiceIheardnowwasasunfamiliarasitwasunexpected.Itwasaman’stenorvoice,averypleasant,genericvoice-thekindofvoicethatyouheardinthebackgroundofluxurycarcommercials.Hespokeveryquickly.

           "Now,Idon’tneedtohurtyourmother,sopleasedoexactlyasIsay,andshe’llbefine."HepausedforaminutewhileIlistenedinmutehorror."That’sverygood,"hecongratulated."Nowrepeatafterme,anddotrytosoundnatural.Pleasesay,’No,Mom,staywhereyouare.’"

           "No,Mom,staywhereyouare."Myvoicewasbarelymorethanawhisper.

           "Icanseethisisgoingtobedifficult."Thevoicewasamused,stilllightandfriendly.