"How will you reach your mommy?"
"They don't have a permanent number except at the house—she's supposed to check her messages regularly."
"Jasper?" Alice asked.
"What?"
"What do you think about it?"
He paused. "What do I think about what?"
Alice sighed and nodded, giving me the go ahead. I reached eagerly for the phone and dialed the familiar number, the one I'd come to know as my own since we'd escaped the dismal town of Forks. The phone rang four times, and then I heard my mom's breezy voice telling me to leave her a message.
"Mom," I said after the beep, "me. It's me. Listen, I need you to do something. It's important. As soon as you get this message, call me at this number." Alice was already at my side, writing the number for me on the bottom of her picture. I read it carefully, twice. "It's 360-273-8326. Please don't go anywhere until you talk to me; your life could be in danger. Don't worry about me, I'm okay." I winked at Alice and Jasper. "But I have to talk to you right away, no matter how late you get this call, all right? Okay. I love you Mom. Bye." I closed my eyes and prayed to God with all my might that no unforeseen change of plans would bring her home before she got my message.
I settled into the sofa, nibblering on a plate of left-over fruit, anticipating another long evening/day. I thought about calling Charlie, telling him that there might be a vampire after him, too, but I wasn't sure if he'd believe me or not. I concentrated on the news, watching out for stories about Florida maulings, or about spring training massacres due to blitzkrieg vampire strikes, vampire-related hurricanes or joint Arab-Vampire terrorist attacks—anything that might send them home early.
Immortality must grant endless patience. Neither Jasper nor Alice seemed to feel the need to do anything at all. Since I hung up the phone and flooped down on the couch, the two of them

422

Chapter 20

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