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let me play； only Alice would play games with me anymore。 Alice went to her puter just around the corner from them and I could hear her monitors sing to life。 Alice was working on a fashion design project for Rosalie s wardrobe； but Rosalie did not join her today； to stand behind her and direct cut and color as Alice s hand traced over the touch sensitive screens
（Carlisle and I had had to tweak that system a bit； given that most such screens responded to temperature）。 Instead； today Rosalie sprawled sullenly on the sofa and started flipping through twenty channels a second on the flat screen； never pausing。 I could hear her trying to decide whether or not to go out to the garage and tune her BMW again。 Esme was upstairs； humming over a new set of blue prints。 Alice leaned her head around the wall after a moment and started mouthing Emmett s next moves Emmett sat on the floor with his back to her to Jasper； who kept his expression very smooth as he cut off Emmett s favorite knight。 And I； for the first time in so long that I felt ashamed； went to sit at the exquisite grand piano stationed just off the entryway。 I ran my hand gently up the scales； testing the pitch。 perfect。 The tuning was still Upstairs； Esme paused what she was doing and cocked her head to the side。 I began the first line of the tune that had suggested itself to me in the car today； pleased that it sounded even better than I d imagined。 Edward is playing again； Esme thought joyously； a smile breaking across her face。 She got up from her desk； and flitted silently to the head of the stairs。 I added a harmonizing line； letting the central melody weave through it。 Esme sighed with contentment； sat down on the top step； and leaned her head against the banister。 A new song。 It s been so long。 What a lovely tune。 I let the melody lead in a new direction； following it with the bass line。 Edward is posing again？ Rosalie thought； and her teeth clenched together in fierce resentment。 In that moment； she slipped； and I could read all her underlying outrage。 I saw why she was in such a poor temper with me。 Why killing Isabella Swan had not bothered her conscience at all。 With Rosalie； it was always about vanity。 The music came to an abrupt halt； and I laughed before I could help myself； a sharp bark of amusement that broke off quickly as I threw my hand over my mouth。 Rosalie turned to glare at me； her eyes sparking with chagrined fury。 Emmett and Jasper turned to stare； too； and I heard Esme s confusion。 downstairs in a flash； pausing to glance between Rosalie and me。 Don t stop； Edward； Esme encouraged after a strained moment。 I started playing again； turning my back on Rosalie while trying very hard to control the grin stretching across my face。 She got to her feet and stalked out of the room； more angry than embarrassed。 But certainly quite embarrassed。 If you say anything I will hunt you like a dog。 I smothered another laugh。 Esme was
What s wrong； Rose？ Emmett called after her。 Rosalie didn t turn。 She continued； back ramrod straight； to the garage and then squirmed under her car as if she could bury herself there。 What s that about？ Emmett asked me。 I don t have the faintest idea； I lied。 Emmett grumbled； frustrated。 Keep playing； Esme urged。 My hands had paused again。 I did as she asked； and she came to stand behind me； putting her hands on my shoulders。 The song was pelling； but inplete。 seem right somehow。 It s charming。 Not yet。 Is there a story to it？ she asked； a smile in her voice。 This gave her very great pleasure； and I felt guilty for having neglected my music for so long。 It had been selfish。 It s a lullaby； I suppose。 I got the bridge right then。 next movement； taking on a life of its own。 A lullaby； she repeated to herself。 There was a story to this melody； and once I saw that； the pieces fell into place effortlessly。 The story was a sleeping girl in a narrow bed； dark hair thick and wild and twisted like seaweed across the pillow Alice left Jasper to his own devices and came to sit next to me on the bench。 In her trilling； wind chime voice； she sketched out a wordless descant two octaves above the melody。 I like it； I murmured。 But how about this？ It led easily to the Does it have a name？ I toyed with a bridge； but it didn t Esme asked。 I added her line to the harmony my hands were flying across the keys now to work all the pieces together modifying it a bit； taking it in a new direction She caught the mood； and sung along。 Yes。 Perfect； I said。 Esme squeezed my shoulder。 But I could see the end now； with Alice s voice rising above the tune and taking it to another place。 I could see how the song must end； because the sleeping girl was perfect just the way she was； and any change at all would be wrong； a sadness。 The song drifted toward that realization； slower and lower now。 Alice s voice lowered； too； and became solemn； a tone that belonged under the echoing arches of a candlelit cathedral。 I played the last note； and then bowed my head over the keys。
Esme stroked my hair。 It s going to be fine； Edward。 This is going to work out for the best。 You deserve happiness； my son。 Fate owes you that。 Thanks； I whispered； wishing I could believe it。 Love doesn t always e in convenient packages。 I laughed once without humor。 You； out of everyone on this pla； are perhaps best equipped to deal with such a difficult quandary。 You are the best and the brightest of us all。 I sighed。 Every mother thought the same of her son。 Esme was still full of joy that my heart had finally been touched after all this time； no matter the potential for tragedy。 She d thought I would always be alone She ll have to love you back； she thought suddenly； catching me by surprise with the direction of her thoughts。 If she s a bright girl。 She smiled。 But I can t imagine anyone being so slow they wouldn t see the catch you are。 Stop it； Mom； you re making me blush； I teased。 did cheer me。 Her words； though improbable； Alice laughed and picked out the top hand of Heart and Soul。 I grinned and pleted the simple harmony with her。 Then I favored her with a performance of Chopsticks。 She giggled； then sighed。 So I wish you d tell me what you were laughing at Rose about； Alice sa