Сумерки

           ButIfoughtagainstthestuporweakly.TherewasjustonemorethingIwantedtotellhim.

           "Edward?"Istruggledtopronouncehisnameclearly.

           "Yes?"

           "I’mbettingonAlice,"Imumbled.

           Andthenthenightclosedoverme.

           EPILOGUE:ANOCCASION

           Edwardhelpedmeintohiscar,beingverycarefulofthewispsofsilkandchiffon,theflowershe’djustpinnedintomyelaboratelystyledcurls,andmybulkywalkingcast.Heignoredtheangrysetofmymouth.

           Whenhehadmesettled,hegotinthedriver’sseatandheadedbackoutthelong,narrowdrive.

           "Atwhatpointexactlyareyougoingtotellmewhat’sgoingon?"Iaskedgrumpily.Ireallyhatedsurprises.Andheknewthat.

           "I’mshockedthatyouhaven’tfigureditoutyet."Hethrewamockingsmileinmydirection,andmybreathcaughtinmythroat.WouldIevergetusedtohisperfection?

           "Ididmentionthatyoulookedverynice,didn’tI?"Iverified.

           "Yes."Hegrinnedagain.I’dneverseenhimdressinblackbefore,and,withthecontrastagainsthispaleskin,hisbeautywasabsolutelysurreal.ThatmuchIcouldn’tdeny,evenifthefactthathewaswearingatuxedomademeverynervous.

           Notquiteasnervousasthedress.Ortheshoe.Onlyoneshoe,asmyotherfootwasstillsecurelyencasedinplaster.Butthestilettoheel,heldononlybysatinribbons,certainlywasn’tgoingtohelpmeasItriedtohobblearound.

           "I’mnotcomingoveranymoreifAliceisgoingtotreatmelikeGuineaPigBarbiewhenIdo,"Igriped.