Page 39 of Life and Death
I grinned back. “What do you mean by scary? Tattoos and facial piercings?”
“That’s one definition, I suppose.”
“What’s your definition?”
She ignored me and asked another question. “Do you think I could be scary?” She raised one eyebrow.
I pretended to examine her face for a minute, just as an excuse to stare at her, my favorite thing to do.
Her features were so delicate, so symmetrical. Her face would stop anyone in his tracks, but it wouldn’t make him run in the other direction. The opposite.
“It’s kind of hard to imagine that,” I admitted.
She frowned to herself.
“But, I mean, I’m sure you could be, if you wanted to.”
She tilted her head and gave me an exasperated smile, but didn’t say anything else.
“So are you going to tell me about your family?” I asked. “It’s got to be a much more interesting story than mine.”
She was instantly cautious. “What do you want to know?”
“The Cullens adopted you?”
“Yes.”
I hesitated for a minute. “What happened to your parents?”
“They died many years ago.” Her tone was matter-of-fact.
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t really remember them clearly. Carine and Earnest have been my parents for a long time now.”
“And you love them.” It wasn’t a question. It was obvious in the way she said their names.
“Yes.” She smiled. “I can’t imagine two better people.”
“Then you’re very lucky.”
“I know it.”
“And your brother and sister?”
She glanced at the clock on the dashboard.
“My brother and sister, and Jessamine and Royal for that matter, are going to be quite upset if they have to stand in the rain waiting for me.”
“Oh, sorry, I guess you have to go.”
It was stupid, but I didn’t want to get out of the car.
“And you probably want your truck back before Chief Swan gets home and you have to explain about the syncopal episode.”
She was good with the medical jargon, but then, her mother was a doctor.
“I’m sure he’s already heard. There are no secrets in Forks,” I grumbled.
